The Legend of Zelda Theory: The Arbiter's Grounds 

Even Ganondorf hated the water temple, and took out his rage on the Sage of Water.

My theory was that after Zelda was informed of what would happen with Ganon at the end of oot, the king declared all Gerudo criminals and banished all of them to the Twilight. That's why the mirror is set in the Gerudo desert, and why Ganon would be executed there. There he would be chained and forced to watch his people vanish forever. Midna says she is a descendant of the tribe that was banished there, which could imply she is a "Gerudo". Another interesting thing was that in TP and MM, interlopers/criminals were using dark magic. The king could have thought that the Gerudo were always going to be a problem and banished them to the Twilight. ANOTHER THING TO MENTION Midna talks to Zant in one of their cutscenes and says the power he seeks is the one they lost their king too. Their king could easily have been Ganondorf from OOT, because he sought the Triforce and all power. If you read all of this I love you.

Completely unrelated to Zelda ;p, but I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a fantastic new year :)

I believe that there are still remains from the Other Gerudo temple. If you go to the mirror chamber and stand at the second window from the left/right (depending on if you play it on the Wii or GameCube) you can see the same carving of the Sand Goddess from Ocarina Of Time in one of the "rocks". You can only see the carving by using the Hawk Eye goggles at sunset when everything is orangey.... It's only visible for a few seconds at a time but I wouldn't doubt for a second that it's not the same carving.

Nice mic improvements. Great video by the way!

I don't know why that I didn't check your channel out sooner! Your videos are amazing!!!

I goto say i have been watching your zelda theory videos, and i love them, you make me think of zelda in a much deeper way! Subscribed, liked and shared.

This is great, thank you, you actually told me something I didn't know that makes the Arbiter Grounds make so much more sense. I was recently playing through Twilight Princess with a friend who was interested in the story but not really to play. It was when we were at the Arbiter's Grounds when he asked about it being a prison and I agreed that I couldn't see how it had been a prison. So knowing it was a change in translation and that it was actually the execution ground of Ganondorf makes the whole area make more sense in design and structure. Also, loved the map image comparing OoT and TP's maps and the location of Lake Hylia, I love how the path to the OoT Desert lines up so well.

Regarding Stallord, in my opinion he could have been used in gladiatorial events. If the Arbitor's Grounds was a prison, then Death Sword may be the vengeful spirit of a Warden. If the Gerudo were captured, the survivors may have revolted and went into exile, returning sometime before Four Swords Adventures to make amends with the rest of Hyrule and become friendly neighbors.

You do such an AMAZING job on these videos/theories. Your work on the Song of Storms is simply brilliant. Please PLEASE don't stop!!! I've adopted many of your theories into my own so thanks to you and kelp up this amazing work.

i miss you vortexxy )':

Randomly found your channel, amazing stuff, I subscribed :)

been following your videos for a while now, very interesting theories and a very lovely voice to listen to. i really like your videos (i'd even dare say they are the best zelda theory videos on youtube). keep doing whatever you're doing, loving it!

Hey awesome videos. I went back and thumbed up all of them. Make more please!!! Lol take your time.

I like how this video about deserts was published on Christmas.

I find you just simply outstanding! You deserve way more likes and subs. Your theories are so good! Have so much evidence and are just brilliant! I think you do a great job of telling the untold of Zelda. Also your probably gonna do some theory's on Wind Waker, Skyward Sword and some of the 2D Zelda games?

I have been watching some of your videos now, good job. :) Very interesting theories, and you must have spent quite some time with research and putting all this stuff together. Thumbs up! There is just one little thing I want to point out (not sure if someone has mentioned it before, and it's not really that important anyway) but Sheik's name is actually pronounced as "Sheek" not "Shaik" :) (シーク in the Japanese original) Keep up the good work and have a nice day :)

Any chance you could do a theory/prediction on where in the timeline will the next Zelda game be placed? (maybe based in internal factors such as items or landmarks or external factors like release dates in the different timelines). I know there is practicly no footage or info about the game but it would be amazing if you were close. My random guess is that is very close somehow to Wind Waker but only because of the art style haha P.S.: Love your editing style, just found your channel and subscribed

Great video. I have also a theory that Skyward Sword's Temple of Time is actually Twilight Princess' Arbiter's Ground and that the Mirror of Twilgiht was the gate that Impa and Zelda left there. The ressemblance is annoying. :)

Ok, so like, I happened to come across your channel and am really enjoying your videos. I noticed it hasn't even been a year since you started. Doing a pretty good job. Keep it up! Subscribed! :D

It is also likely that the reason that 5 new sages were awoken in the adult timeline was due to the fact that Ganondorf likely killed the original sages like he did to the sages responsible for helping power the Master Sword prior to Wind Waker. Ganondorf would have likely killed them too had he of known of their existence in Ocarina of Time. The ease with which he kills the original sage of water in Twilight Princess shows just fragile they are though I am surprised that he was not replaced already seeing as almost a century had to have past between Ganondorf's failed execution and Zant's invasion. The only way it could have ended up worse for them was if Majora's Mask had to have survived it's battle with the Hero of Time and simply lay dormant until Ganondorf's failed execution and awoken only to give Ganondorf it's power.

This is my first time seeing this video. I somehow missed it. I found it very entertaining. It's too bad she was never able to do theories on more recent Zelda's. They would have been amazing I'm sure. I am glad she got to cover the N64 and Gamecube games, as those are my favorites.

That was really well thought out, all of those connections hadn't even occurred to me!

this video had way more lore theory than I expected. it blew me away.

I ust realized this, but Rauru's shadow in his forehead makes the Triforce! I don't know if that was intentional or just a hardware limitation causing a coincidence, but still, HOLY CRAP!

Your videos are great, continue to do them, Merry Christmas

Sorry to contradict your theory but isn't twilight princess after ocarina of time?

Also on Stallord, I have a theory; Although it seems that fans have sided on what OoT boss (Dodongo or Volvagia) Stallord actually seems to be a bit of both Volvagia and King Dodongo (or at least that giant skeletal dodongo in the Dodongo's Cavern main chamber.) That could explain its giant size to the giant Dodongo and similar fighting styles to Volvalgia. They are also located in Death Mountain, which is right next to Gerudo Desert. Probably someone has been taking the remains. What do you think of that theory?

I'v watch a few of your theory videos and they make a lot of sense. And they really got me thinking about all the story lines and history that they tell from all they way back to the first game for NES. Could it be possible that we've been playing the games backwards since day 1? Because of how the history lines up in reverse? If you think about it the on that came out for the Wii U " Hyrule Warrios " it vary well could be the war that was going on when the Goddess made Skyloft then later sealed away the evil.

Hello, dear! Excellent channel. =) Videos well edited, a nice and symmetric logo and a beautiful voice. Makes me want to see a picture of you. ;) Anyway, answer me if you please, Since TP happens in the Child Timeline, are these SAGES the spirits of water, fire etc. in their PURE forms? I mean... in the Adult timeline they encarnated in Saria, Ruto and folks because it was necessary to stop Ganondorf. So are these "oldmen with mask-like faces" the ethereal spirits, not in flesh?

Cool vid Vortex! :D really loving these! Can you do one on the swamp in Maroja's mask? For some reason that one really creeped me out as a kid!

such a good topic to cover! I always thought that the arbiter's grounds was prrtty creepy and not really covered all that much. Can't wait to see what's next!

You deserve way more views... Those will come, I'm sure.

Since Ganondorf has the Triforce of Power, either he, or somebody else with an unbalanced heart, managed to enter the Temple of Time and attempted to take the entire Triforce so it broke and found Ganondorf. Yet the sages seemed to be unaware of this happening. Also the Sages seem to have left the Temple of Time and relocated to the Arbiter's Ground. They weren't there when you got the Master sword. I don't know if the Gerudo built the Spirit Temple and Arbiter's ground themselves. It could have been somebody else we don't even know of and the Gerudo settled there later, adopting the religion in it. The Mirror of Twilight itself seems to be an instrument of the Goddesses with the Triforce in the middle. This mirror sounds very old as it was used to seal away the people who had the fused shadow and took control of the Triforce when it was still intact and before it was placed in the Temple of Time.

So I hear there's a Twilight Princess HD potentially in the works. Man oh man, can I not wait.

Yes, makes perfect sense. I always thought they were either two different structures or two separate sides of the same mountain. See my two different Temple of Time theory on another of your videos - it makes sense that the Temple of Time in TP is a different and much older temple than the one build by Rauru in Hyrule Castle Town in OoT. The smaller temple in OoT is in the Lanayru Province on its eastern edge, far north of Lake Hylia, while the much larger temple in TP is on the western edge of the Faron Province, far south of Lake Hylia. The temple is in ruins, meaning its construction took place long, long ago, and perhaps Rauru found the temple and built a new one in Lanayru, moving the Master Sword to a new resting place. When Link left Hyrule in MM, the sword was moved back to its old pedestal in Faron to keep it hidden and prevent Ganondorf from using it to obtain the Triforce.

Nice video great theory merry christmas:)

I haven't played TP in forever but could you analyze the dialogue and symbols on the sages to see if some of the sages from OoT might be there. I know they're ancient but it's also been like a long time since OoT.

Your videos are awesome. Keep it up c:

Can I recommend theories? I want to see your take on the bosses, what they are, why they are in their respected bosses, how they died in the case of the ones that are undead or reborn

Japanese text (Auru, TwiPri): かつて、あのゲルド砂漠には ある大罪人を罰した処刑場があったそうです 何でも、その大罪人は 処刑場にある呪われた鏡によってあの世に送り込まれてしまったとか・・・ Translation: "Once, I heard it said that Gerudo desert had an execution site which had punished some great criminals. I am told that these great criminals were dispatched to the other world by means of an accursed mirror kept there at the site…" The word used for criminals here doesn't have a pluralizing suffix. However, the word isn't typically pluralized. It would only be singular through context, such as, having the character for "one" before the word. In fact, this same usage is used in the Tingle outfit location description given by Misko the bandit, referring to the Hyrule Castle Town prison were "sinners (罪人) were punished."

TP follows the childhood timeline of OoT, but in OoT the Spirit Temple is Already built when the events of TP occur (doesn't disprove that the Arbiter Grounds were built first but just wanted to clarify)

Once again a good video! :P. Just asking, what do you use to edit your videos? Thanks! ;)

This theory actually meshes very well with one by +m. Productions, with the interlopers being the Sheikah.

possibly the reason why the gerudo aren't present in twilight is maybe the hylians did actually went to war with them so that another Gannon wouldn't appear.

It Is Likely Made By The Gerudo Or Maybe The King Of Hyrule After Ocarina Of Time Had It Built while Ganondorf Was Being Held Prisoner By The Sages After His Defeat By The Hero Of Time Cause It's A Split Timeline It May Have Taken A Few Years To Build Before Ganondorf Was Sealed Within The Mirror Of Twilight, Maybe the Gerudo Who Were Against Ganon For Example Nabooru Had It Built To Keep Ganon Imprisoned. The Spirit Temple May Have Been Inspired By Arbiter's Ground And Was Built. It Is Possible That Telma May Be Part Gerudo In Fact She May Be The Last Gerudo To Exist And Maybe She Ordered Auru To Investigate Arbiter's Ground To Possibly Learn Of Her Gerudo Heritage.

Is there a chance that you will do a theory involving Wind Waker? Wind Waker is currently my favorite in the series but it is also the one that I have the most questions about. Such as why several characters still believe that the spirit of the hero still exists and if events that occurred in Ocarina had affected the curse Demise had left in Skyward Sword.

yup, you hooked me. Im subscribing. Love the videos

I believe the Interlopers were an alliance of Gerudo and Shiekah apostates. They crafted things like the Lens of Truth and Majora's Mask during that war. After their defeat and banishment to the Twilight Realm the Shadow Temple and Arbiter's Grounds were erected or repurposed as monuments to their greed and history, and a tear was added to the Shiekah sigil.

I really like your videos, you should be much more well known. Also, if I may ask, where are you from? I will take a wild guess and say Spain.

// I kinda had a little theory on Arbiter Grounds where it was once the Forest Temple, and the forest dried out into a desert. It kinda came from the poe thing. I think the map was flipped in Hyrule Historia because I SWEAR it was around the same place as the Forest Temple if Hyrule gained a little more land in the south when I looked at it on the game. But I could be wrong You have more proof anyways

My dominant thought coming out of almost every one of these is, besides, "Wow that was interesting" is, "Man, I never thought of Hyrule being ruled by so many war-hungry dickheads"

I agree that after the royal family discovered Ganondorf's betrayal they invaded the desert to stop the Gerudo, imprisoning them for the fact that they are thieves and spawned Ganondorf. The Hylians must have then transformed the Spirit Temple by carving out the rock face that was around the Goddess of Sand statue and building the Colosseum-like exterior of Arbiter's Grounds. The Gerudo were probably executed, but some could have moved deeper into the desert away from Hyrule. The differences between the Japanese and English text are just errors in translation, so we probably don't have to worry about that. Great video, but be sure that you keep the official Zelda timeline in mind. You went back and forth from TP first then OoT, and visa-verse.

Merry christmas vortexx!

So I have a suggestion for what might be an interesting theory. What connect do the various dungeons in the first legend of zelda have to dungeons later in the series? Are they old dungeons left to rot over time? Are they new monuments created more recently? I have no clue, but I'd like to know! So if it interests you too, i'd love to see a video on it :D

Merry Christmas Vortex. :) and I can only see the arbiters temple to kill Ganondorf only, not other people. I'd go with the Japanese version it makes more since.

Loving your theories :)

I have a theory about the sages in twilight princess. Since you see sages in the arbiters grounds and they are refereed as sages in the game as sages they could have already existed in oot they just needed a body to manifest in. So I think they posseded some people exploring gerudo valley some time after oot becoming the sages in to

Love your videos, just binged watched all of them. i wanted to ask your opinion on termina. i never really thought of it as a parallel dimension to hyrule. i just thought of it as another country in the same world presumably to the east if the entrance is the lost woods. the only thing i can find that states that it is a parallel is the manga, which is non canon and hyrule historia which describes it in the title of the page about MM and no where else. i know you mentioned it could be a hell to hyrule but i thought maybe the dark world from alltp would be a better fit for that or the parallel dimension part at least since it is the same map but different, where as termnia is a different land with the same character models, but since they only made it in a year i can see why they would use the same assets as OoT. A second question is at the end of OoT how far did zelda send link back to the past. it seems like the little cut scene they showed was when link and zelda met for the first time. (im not sure if zelda had any knowledge of what went on in the future) but i can only presume it was after link opened the door to the temple of time and the sacred realm if he possessed the triforce of corrage and ganon possessed the triforce of power as shown in TP. but if that is the case why is zelda back in hyrule castle and not running with impa, by that point ganon should have attacked hyrule castle. hystoria states it was before he pulled the master sword, but that would created a time paradox since he already has the triforce. much like how the song of storms works out. also if he did have the triforce of courage why does it not show up in MM did he give it to king as proof or just not need it. sorry for the really long post. A few questions sounded a lot faster in my head then actually typing it and seeing the wall of text >.>

This is a very explanatory video, but I have one question: If the Sages have been guarding the Mirror of Twilight since ancient times, why would they let a Gerudo come in contact with it? And really, why would they allow the Gerudos to build a temple around something so dangerous in the first place?

Made my Christmas. Thanks vortex

Great video !!! Whooo . 29 dislikes ?? Damn ganon looking up zelda lore xD

Something i didn't quite understand, the mirror was guarded after ganondorf was sealed? and then the construction of the arbiter grounds happened after that and after that OoT? but, didn't the imprisonment of Gannondorf happened AFTER OoT?

Your theory series are great!!

...so are the sages in the child link timeline, Saria, Darunia, Ruto, Impa, and, Nabooru? if not who or what are they...?

This is a nice theory and all, but I don't think the Arbiter's Grounds and the Spirit Temple are two different locations, but one and the same, changed over time. When the Hylians invaded and defeated the Gerudo, they most likely destroyed the Spirit Temple and built the Arbiter's Grounds over it. It would be adding insult to injury, first tearing down the Gerudo's holy site, then building a prison over it and imprisoning the Gerudo rebels inside of it.

The thing about TP that always bugged me was its placement in the timeline. Ganondorf could not possibly have the Triforce of Power because in this timeline Link never opened the Door of Time, allowing Ganondorf into the Sacred Realm to obtain it. So how could Ganondorf even save himself from his demise at the Sages?

So the Ganondorf that was half-executed by the sages was actually the OOT Ganondorf, and that execution happened in the OOT time period? That would actually make a lot of sense.

I can't wait till you do the City In the Sky :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ( especially you Vortexx)

You brought up some interesting points, however, i would like to point out that, based on the timeline provided by hyrule historia and yourself in "the temple of time" OoT predeceases TP. I think that you are correct with the relation between the two, though; just backwards. Oh, by the way, i'm going to look at it again when i have the chance, but i thought that the symbol on the broken tower of arbiter's grounds, the one with no sage, was the symbol of the sage of forest. Besides that, i believe that this video was very interesting.

Even though Majora's Mask was the official sequel, this game feels like the sequel to Ocarina of Time. It's definitely the spiritual successor.

I love watching these theories! They really make me think!

Merry Christmas! And happy holidays!

1:27 At least I don't have to back to where I found Ruto.

You said that the Gerudo wouldn't allow the mark of Hyrule on their grounds but you can find the Triforce in the Spirit Temple.

Forget BOTH my earlier comments, it appears you used a bunch of songs. The first two are from the 25th Anniversary soundtrack, but could you tell me what the rest are? Thanks.

Great theory and happy holidays even though it's still November, it's Native American Heritage Month.

9:00 Child Link was no match for him, really? The events of Majora's Mask had to have taken place before Ganondorf's failed execution so Young Link had to have been in possession of the Fierce Deity's Mask by that point. The Fierce Deity vs. Ganondorf without the Triforce of Power. nuff said.

Just in time for Christmas :P

I have a theory my self, The part of the Gerudo Desert we see in TP could ACTUALLY be the Desert Wasteland from OoT. Please don't hate on my comment for this all you commenters. It is technically possible. and the Lava place (cant remember the name) from Skyward Sword could be an early Death Mountain! Forest area? (again cant remember the name) The Lost Woods and Kokiri forest. Because the little critters there cry out Kree kree/Kori Kori! it could have been mistaken for Kokiri

When I was looking at the scenes of Gannondorf's execution, I noticed something about his hand...the middle triangle was glowing.

So why haven't you done any theory videos on Lakebed Temple or other dungeons from Twilight Princess?

Okay, what bugs me about Kaepora Gaebora is that he resembles Gaepora, the father of Zelda's (rather, Hylia's) first incarnation. Is it possible that Rauru is a rencarnation of Gaepora? And that at one point, that Sage of Light was the father of the Sage of Time? Because, if so, then the Legend of Zelda may be more complicated than Kingom Hearts.

The Arbiter Grounds are a ruined Gerudo settlement built next to a Mirror of Twilight of Bellum that had been washed onto the surface. It lies around 32 km south of the Gerudo capital of Ashinon. In the campaign, it begins under control of the Forces of Twilight. found hyruleconquest.wikia.com/wiki/Arbiter_Grounds

vortex you may have heard this before but you made a mistake, Twilight princess take place after ocarina of time so calling the arbiter's grounds can't be the predicesuccer (prediseccur?predissocesor? anyone know how to spell that?) to the spirit temple. spirit temple however can become arbiter's grounds.

I have a question, if in the child link timeline, ganondorf never entered the sacred realm due to link leaving hyrule, how did ganondorf have the triforce of power in twilight princess?

I love this theory my only nit picking is. if child link was sent back to just before he pulled the master sword. then there is no way ganondorf could have had access to the triforce. since he used the same portal link used to enter the temple of light. therefore how can he have the triforce of power in Twilight Princess? wouldn't the triforce still be whole inside the temple of light?

Where are you from? Your accent caught my attention and won't let go...

So any theories on why these sages are all twins and ghost-like while in OOT we had to find new sages? Where the freak were these ones what are they new and were formed after Link in OOT told them of Ganon's plan? Isn't the TP Ganon suppose to be the same exact Ganon from OOT? I think the reason for him looking different is the Twi Realm as sure he's been there for a long time so the sun there affected his skin. EDIT:Ah I see....guess that's a OK theory as maybe Ganon killed them in the adult timeline, that makes sense. Btw in OOT in the room where you can open the Shadow Temple by lighting the torches, isn't the makings on the floor similar to that of the Mirror Of Twi? EDIT:AGAIN:Also that monster is male is it not? If your theory is true than the Gerudo had a new male/king that was born after Ganon was sealed, or if that was before Ganon was born than maybe the king right before him? EDIT FOR A 3RD TIME:Say in that room with the many undead soldiers, any idea what that THING was? I'm sure it killed all those soldiers but died there as well, maybe the Gerudo found the monster or simply woke it up and it was way the Royal Family sent soliders there? You can't a theory on this area without mentioning that creature, so maybe do a short video on it?

Anyone else notice how the sand goddess statue in Ocarina is painted green in such a way that it looks like a female Link?

Just a thought but I think I found a kinda major hole. How does Gannondorf gain the triforce of power in the timeline of child link? Cause in the child link timeline, He never opened the sacred realm for gannon to gain the power. Not just that, no one would be able to open it cause more than likely link took the kikori emerald with him when he left hyrule. since in both time lines the great deku tree is dead and entrusted the emerald to link. granted he could have trusted it to saria or some of the other children, but to help keep the sacred realm sealed and protected from evil.

At 2:00 did any body heard in the background in the song "Sorry Midna" ? Or is it just me ?

Nice map at 9:42 :)

what song was playing during the scene with Ganondorf's execution?

Great Job!

Unrelated question, but if Hyrule Warriors was canon where would you consider it to be on the timeline?

Hmm.... interesting... but the thing is... ALL of this would have to take place within like... a year or so.. because you go to the spirit temple as child link. And the fact that ocarina takes place before TP, it all seems to be backwards

one problem with this theory I think it said they were unable to get to their temple that they prayed at somewhere

Am i the only one who saw a connection with the temple of time in Skyward Sword and the Arbiter's Grounds? First thing i thought of when i got to that part of the game =P