Summary
Like the previous titleBreath of the Wild,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomfeatures three labyrinths for Link to explore. Each contains valuable rewards, including shrines to solve and pieces of a rare armor set. However,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomnever clarifies exactly what these labyrinths are, nor who the mysterious voices are that address Link as he makes his way through each one. Through context clues, players can develop theories about these voices' identities, but a conclusive answer is never given.
They May Be Connected To The Triforce
The three voices who address Link in the labyrinths refer to themselves as “the ruler of boars,” “the ruler of owls,” and “the ruler of dragons.” Each of these animals can be connected to one of the three pieces of theTriforce, the powerful artifact that has appeared in manyZeldagames.
The three pieces of the Triforce do not physically appear inTears of the Kingdom,but these labyrinth voices may be alluding to this iconic series element.
They Are Zonai - Perhaps The Dragons
It is likely that, like the Shrines of Light and devices around Hyrule, the labyrinths were built by members of the long-lost Zonai race. Their purpose is likely to test heroes like Link. However, it is unclear exactly which Zonai built the threeLomei Labyrinths. It probably was not King Rauru or his sister Mineru, as they were preoccupied dealing with Ganondorf’s invasion, and neither was shown to have any connection with owls, boars, or dragons.
While it’s certainly possible that the labyrinths were created by unnamed Zonai far in Hyrule’s distant past, there is another possibility. The creators could have been Farosh, Dinraal, and Naydra, three of the great dragons who fly around Hyrule inBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom. TotKsuggests that the dragons were once humanoids who consumed Zonai sacred stones. They could have made the labyrinths before turning into dragons. This also fits because the dragons share names with the three goddesses of Hyrule, who are also traditionally connected with the parts of the Triforce.
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They May Be Connected To A Version Of Ganondorf
One other possible hint to the voices' identity comes in the form of Link’s reward for completing the labyrinths: the three pieces of the Evil Spirit Armor set. This armor was inspired by Ganondorf’s appearance - specifically hisOcarina of TimeandTwilight Princesslook. The voices acknowledge this, describing the items as “wreathed in otherworldly evil.” It is possible that the voices are connected to a version ofGanondorf, possibly one from a separate timeline toBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom.They could have been allies of his or heroes who fought against him but have chosen to preserve his armor for Link to wear.
Nintendo is currentlynot planning DLC forTears of the Kingdom, nor will the next game reportedly be aTotKsequel. That means it is possible that these mysterious characters - and their connections to the Dragons, the Triforce, or Ganondorf - may remain unclear for good.
