Back in the mists of time, before the era
of Gannondorf, Hyrule was a land of fabulous palaces and magic.
It was also a troubled land, and the divisions of Light and Dark
were tearing it apart. The origins of the conflict lay even deeper
in the shadows of time, with the coming of the Triforce and the
greed of Ganondorf, King of Thieves.In the Golden Land, where
it was placed by the creators of the world, the Triforce beckoned
to people. Ganon and his band of thieves long searched for the
secret entrance to the Golden Land, eventually stumbling upon
it. Then Ganon defeated his fellows for possession of the Triforce.
In a period known as the Imprisoning War, the King of Hyrule
brought seven wise men together to seal the door to the Golden
Land, for Ganon's evil power had been spilling forth, causing
a corruption and darkness.
The once peaceful land became a place of
dreadful rumors of the coming of a magical enemy. At this time
the Master Sword was forged, but there was no hero valiant enough
to wield it.Before the wise men could seal off the Golden Land
and the Triforce, Ganon's army surged into Hyrule and besieged
the castle. The Knights of Hyrule fought heroically, but the
Triforce of Power controlled their enemies, giving them inhuman
strength. The battle raged back and forth through the gate. Many
foes fell in the tide of battle, but too many Knights also were
lost. It seemed that they were beyond hope.Then, at the end of
the day, the wise men finally succeeded in blocking the door
to Ganon's Realm. With the power of their master removed, the
enemies fled or threw themselves into the moat. Hyrule was saved
and over the years the Golden Land, which then became known as
the Dark World, faded from the memory of people.
The people of Hyrule may have forgotten
about the Dark World, but the master of that evil land had not
forgotten about Hyrule. Ganon brooded in his prison, surrounded
by reminders of his fall. He grew ever more bitter as the dark
years passed like the wailing of cold winds on a winter's night.
Ambition burned in his eyes. He would find a way to wreak vengeance
and claim total power.Many centuries passed with Ganon and the
Triforce safely locked away. Then the disasters began: plague,
drought, quakes, and fire. The King sought sage advice and a
wizard named Agahnim stepped forth and ended the strange disasters.
He became a powerful advisor to the King, but he kept his true
plans to himself. It seemed like a Golden Age, but it wouldn't
last. Once Agahnim had consolidated his power, he began to abuse
it. First to fall victim were the ancestors of the seven wise
men. The wizard imprisoned six maidens in
crystal cocoons and they were never seen again. Then Princess
Zelda herself was taken as she sent a telepathic plea into the
night.
The Hylian gift that enabled Zelda to send
her message also allowed Link to hear. Having received Zelda's
message, Link felt compelled to save her, but his uncle forbade
him to leave the house. Link's uncle thought that the lad's courage
outweighed his common sense, yet he knew something had to be
done to save Zelda. Turning away from Link, he gripped his sword.
He knew a secret entrance into the castle, although he didn't
know the way out.Link couldn't tell how much time had passed
since his Uncle had left - a minute? an hour? The only thing
he knew was that Zelda had spoken to him. He had to help her!
Taking a lamp to light his way, Link stepped into the lashing
rain and headed toward the castle.As Link floundered about in
the storm, he heard a second telepathic message from Zelda telling
of a secret route into the castle. When he found the entrance,
he also found his uncle inside, wounded and unable to carry on.
Link took his Uncle's sword and promised to return. Then the
great quest began...
Hyrule: The Land of Zelda -
"The Legend of Zelda" is a registered trademark of Nintendo.