The Tribe That Vanished From Legend

GaroThroughout Majora’s Mask Month here at Zelda Dungeon we’ll be featuring some new Majora’s Mask articles! In addition to this we will be revisiting some of the best Majora’s Mask Articles from our own collection as well as featuring a number of articles originally posted on Zelda Informer that are known as Bombers Articles. These articles are respected sources of popular theories, thourough analysis and general praise of Majora’s Mask and related topics. The first article I’d like to feature is The Tribe That Vanished From Legend.

At the beginning of Majora’s Mask, the Happy Mask Salesman tells us of an old tribe that used Majora’s mask for hexing rituals. It’s quite a curious statement and it isn’t much further explored during the game. Luckily, the few hints that are dropped in the game can help us form some theories. One such theory is explained in this article. The author makes several valid assumptions including the theory that the mask takes control and possesses it’s host and the theory that the Happy Mask Salesman is neither Hylian nor Terminian. He also uses evidence from the Majora’s Mask manga, but notes that these aren’t considered part of the canon. His final conclusions are rather far fetched, but the logic throughout the article is sound.

On the other hand, we have a tiny in-game allusion to the Ikana Kingdom and the Garo Nation, which when investigated, in my humble opinion, reveals a great deal more about the nature of the two extinct races and their relationship with the mask.[…] [W]e are told that today, the Garo are nothing but empty shells. We know that Majora’s Mask devours its hosts, and begins using them as puppets. Therefore, is it possible that the Garo are the tribe that used the mask for hexes?
Nowhere is it said that the people of Ikana, or the Gibdos, are empty. The reason that the Garo are specifically referenced to being empty could be that Majora’s Mask fed off them, as it gave them the power to overthrow their enemies. As stated, the user of the mask would have its life essence drained by the mask. The results of this for the Garo Nation were quite literal – they were left soulless.

After a quick read of this quote the claims may seem outlandish, but on a solid read of the article it’s quite easy to see how the author drew his conclusions. I was only able to cover a few of his reasonings in the intro so I encourage you to read the whole article. It’s curious that the Happy Mask Salesman would refer to the tribe they way he did making the people seem old and forgotten, when he was in fact referring to the Garo.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Did the Garo use Majora’s Mask during rituals? Do you think the author is way off base? Let us know in the comments and keep your eye out for more Majora’s Mask Month articles!

Source: Zelda Informer
Related: Majora’s Mask Walkthrough

Sorted Under: Majora's Mask