Twilight Princess - Triforce, or just a mark?

Some have argued that there is no definitive proof that Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf actually possess the physical Triforce pieces during Twilight Princess, and that the markings on their hands merely mean they are chosen by the gods, as seen in OoX and AoL. However, I recently discovered a difference, or at least what looks to be one.

In Twilight Princess, it's shown that the Triforce mark glows when one is actually using the Triforce or showing it to somebody. However, Link, in this screen shot, merely has a grey triforce mark rather than the traditional glowing golden one.



This, at least in my opinion, would be similar to the Triforce of Courage's state in AoL. This screen shot, IMO, merely shows that Link is chosen by the gods. However, there is, however, a distinction later. When Link transforms into a wolf, the Triforce mark is gold and glows, but because I don't have a picture, I'll use this as an example.



This glowing state would show that the meaning of the two marks are different. If it merely meant Link was chosen by the gods, his Triforce mark would have stayed gray for the entire game, but it eventually glows gold in certain situations.

So does this mean the three characters really do physically possess their respective Triforce pieces, or not? Discuss.

I guess it would make sence for the Triforce to be actually held by them, If they really split when touched, It would make sence to be held close by the person who holds there domain the closet. Link may be chosen by the gods, but the Triforce seems to have its own agender based on its function, which in sperate peices is seek one whos closet to its domain, Zelda, Link and Ganondorf just so happen to be that, I don't think Zelda and Ganondorf was chosen by the goddessess and yet the triforces chose them just the same as Link.

If the Triforce was indeed physically possessed in TP, then what happend to it at this moment?

It certainly didn't dump down on the ground, or fly off to the skies like it usually does.

Also, Ganon did seem rather fragile in TP unlike in OoT where we know he physically possessed the ToP and it never left him despite being stabbed by the MS etc. etc.

I think there's reasons to belive that the Triforce possessed in TP is just a connection, as it was in OoX - With the Triforce being situated elsewhere ( imo SR ).

Ganon is wearing a glove when it is not glowing you cannot see the mark through the glove genius.

Edit: We are shown Link with the mark and he is bare handed when he is wearing gloves we don't see it.

Edit 2: I believe they posses the Triforce.

It seems to me like the gray thing means they are marked by the gods. However when the marks glow I believe that is symbolic of them gaining their power and in turn the triforce itself.

For instance when Link's mark glowed he became a wolf. Now it seems like those with the Triforce pieces aren't turned to spirits by the Twilight so perhaps the mark protected him and allowed him to become a wolf instead.

When it glowed for Ganon he suddenly gained incredible strength so I think it's safe to assume he obtained the actual triforce.

As for the ending perhaps Ganon's death caused it to be passed on to the next bearer of the TOP.

Originally Posted by Navi the Fairy

Ganon is wearing a glove when it is not glowing you cannot see the mark through the glove genius.

Oh, wutta genius you are.

He died. Had he physically possessed the Triforce, like in OoT, he wouldn't have. Also, he died as a result of the Triforce fading, which means that either
1. The Triforce that physically existed inside of him left him. This is questionable, seeing how we see no trace of the Triforce after that. If it physically existed at the place like in Wind Waker it would be reasonable that it show up.
2. It's just a connection to the Triforce, with the Triforce being situated elsewhere. Hence, when he loses that connection he loses his power and there is no reason for the Triforce to be seen as it is elsewhere.

In this case wouldn't he have died when the sages stabbed him with a sword? ^

Nerushi: But in OOT it didn't leave him because he was sealed he didn't actually die. In TP he clearly died. When are we given any indication someone can have the Triforce's power without physically possessing it?

Originally Posted by Nerushi

He died. Had he physically possessed the Triforce, like in OoT, he wouldn't have.

In Twilight Princess, Ganondorf was hindered by the scar left by the Sages' execution attempt. The scar was a weak point throughout the game; merely transforming into Ganon made it begin to bleed, it was the only thing that could truly be harmed in the Dark Beast Ganon and Dark Lord Ganondorf fights, and in TP's ending the Master Sword is rammed through the center of the wound. Ganondorf's loss of the ToP in TP's ending is likely due to the Master Sword being rammed through the scar.

Regarding the topic at hand, I agree that Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf had their pieces of the Triforce in TP. We see all the signs of a Triforce bearer, and the acts performed in TP far outclass what the marks did in AoL and OoX.

Originally Posted by Nerushi

He died. Had he physically possessed the Triforce, like in OoT, he wouldn't have.

So he didn't die at the end of LoZ, despite having the Triforce of Power? Well, damn.

Originally Posted by Nerushi

1. The Triforce that physically existed inside of him left him. This is questionable, seeing how we see no trace of the Triforce after that. If it physically existed at the place like in Wind Waker it would be reasonable that it show up.

We're talking about different games here. The rules surrounding the Triforce have never stayed exactly the same between games, so we have no reason to believe TP definitely goes by that rule. Remember OoT? OoT mentioned that Triforce bearers gain the triforce by touching it in the Sacred Realm, but TP shows that other ways exist.

Originally Posted by Nerushi

2. It's just a connection to the Triforce, with the Triforce being situated elsewhere. Hence, when he loses that connection he loses his power and there is no reason for the Triforce to be seen as it is elsewhere.

So you'd rather make up some fanfiction "connection to the Triforce" bull than go by the probability that, if he is shown with the triforce in-game, he has the Triforce? What does it mean when he says:

"He who wields this power (Triforce) would make a suitable king for this world, don't you think?"

He has to literally wield and possess the Triforce of Power for this quote to make any bit of sense.

I took the situation to mean the Master Sword expelled the Triforce from his body, serving it's purpose in protecting the Triforce, which is why he did not die or lose the Triforce when the Sages stabbed him. Zant's neck breaking merely meant, at least in my opinion, the classic Demon God/Minion connection of Japanese mythology, which is clearly what Ganondorf/Zant's relationship is modeled after, has been broken by Zant cracking his neck, refusing to be brought back to life, so Ganondorf was unable to revive himself.

Originally Posted by Link92

So he didn't die at the end of LoZ, despite having the Triforce of Power? Well, damn.




We're talking about different games here. The rules surrounding the Triforce have never stayed exactly the same between games, so we have no reason to believe TP definitely goes by that rule. Remember OoT? OoT mentioned that Triforce bearers gain the triforce by touching it in the Sacred Realm, but TP shows that other ways exist.




So you'd rather make up some fanfiction "connection to the Triforce" bull than go by the probability that, if he is shown with the triforce in-game, he has the Triforce? What does it mean when he says:

"He who wields this power (Triforce) would make a suitable king for this world, don't you think?"

He has to literally wield and possess the Triforce of Power for this quote to make any bit of sense.

I pretty much agree with this.

Originally Posted by Link92

So he didn't die at the end of LoZ, despite having the Triforce of Power? Well, damn.

He died, but - The Triforce also dumped down on the ground in that game. Well, damn.

Originally Posted by Link92

We're talking about different games here. The rules surrounding the Triforce have never stayed exactly the same between games, so we have no reason to believe TP definitely goes by that rule. Remember OoT? OoT mentioned that Triforce bearers gain the triforce by touching it in the Sacred Realm, but TP shows that other ways exist.

Yes, these 'other way' you speak of is exactly what I am advocating. They don't happen randomly though. There a reason why Ganondorf 'attained' the Triforce - Which could be explained if one look back upon the OoT CT ending.

Originally Posted by Link92

So you'd rather make up some fanfiction "connection to the Triforce" bull than go by the probability that, if he is shown with the triforce in-game, he has the Triforce? What does it mean when he says:

"He who wields this power (Triforce) would make a suitable king for this world, don't you think?"

He has to literally wield and possess the Triforce of Power for this quote to make any bit of sense.

He can still have power because of his connection to the Triforce - Fact is, that power went to him and leaves him tracelessly. The irregular behaviour of the Triforce is the whole reason I am arguing this.

Originally Posted by Link92

I took the situation to mean the Master Sword expelled the Triforce from his body, serving it's purpose in protecting the Triforce, which is why he did not die or lose the Triforce when the Sages stabbed him.

Apparently the MS didn't serve it purpose in the other games then as he has been stabbed worse. Of course, there's his 'weakness' which Average Gamer was talking about.

However, still doesn't change my point of view on this matter. The Triforce randomly appears to save Ganondorf and then disappears tracelessly.

The fact that they where so totally avoiding even mentioning the Triforce in name, or that Ganondorf didn't seem to have the as goal of reuniting the whole Triforce - Something which could be done just by having all three beares present in WW, added to the irregular behaviour of the it makes me belive that after the CT ending the Triforce never left the SR. Link who still had a connection to it after returning from the future was the catalyst to this. Never touching the Triforce, but still connected to it because it - as such, the other would also be connected to it.

Nerushi: Okay I don't think anything about the triforce can be called irregular behavior how should we know the way it reacts or whether it reacts consistently? Besides why would he have the power without possessing the actual artifact? That's the whole point of him trying to get a hold of it so he could have it's power now you're trying to promote some **** that it can send its power to others?

Oni: TP suggest he never did get a hold of it, that he failed and was captured. Had he gotten a hold of it he wouldn't have been captured because then he would have had power. Instead, he was saved by a divine prank i.e. their connection to the Triforce ( from the AT ) still existing despite anyone never touching the Triforce. That is irregular behaviour if you ask me.

In OoX, Link did not have the Triforce, but he had the sacred mark.

Having that mark means he was chosen by the gods.

watties: Agreed so what is the point of this statement?

Nerushi: You still don't get it do you. If the triforce can send its power to him without it actually coming to him than what's the point of even getting it out of the SR? A more likely solution is that when Link returned in OOT's end the triforce split and went to the three bearers(this is why Link has it in the end) Ganon didn't know he had it until he was near death because he never obtained it directly. And still with this irregular behavior I would really like to know why there have to be a list of set in stone rules for a MAGICAL OMNIPOTENT artifact. And even if there were how should we know whether or not we know all the rules?

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

watties: Agreed so what is the point of this statement?

Nerushi: You still don't get it do you. If the triforce can send its power to him without it actually coming to him than what's the point of even getting it out of the SR? A more likely solution is that when Link returned in OOT's end the triforce split and went to the three bearers(this is why Link has it in the end) Ganon didn't know he had it until he was near death because he never obtained it directly. And still with this irregular behavior I would really like to know why there have to be a list of set in stone rules for a MAGICAL OMNIPOTENT artifact. And even if there were how should we know whether or not we know all the rules?

Uh agreed with your statement

The point was to answer the original question.

Watties: Oh I wasn't sure what that comment was about sorry.

Originally Posted by Watties

In OoX, Link did not have the Triforce, but he had the sacred mark.

Having that mark means he was chosen by the gods.

Hi, I'm Watties. I didn't understand the meaning of the first post in the thread.

Originally Posted by Nerushi

TP suggest he never did get a hold of it, that he failed and was captured. Had he gotten a hold of it he wouldn't have been captured because then he would have had power. Instead, he was saved by a divine prank i.e. their connection to the Triforce ( from the AT ) still existing despite anyone never touching the Triforce. That is irregular behaviour if you ask me.

The divine prank was Ganondorf obtaining the Triforce. If he didn't obtain the physical triforce, this would make no sense. "By some divine prank, he was chosen to wield the power of the gods, but doesn't actually have it"?9

Originally Posted by Nerushi

The fact that they where so totally avoiding even mentioning the Triforce in name,

A common tactic in story telling. It could have merely been so players new to the series didn't get confused. The game keeps telling us over and over that Triforce wielders are superior to the power of the Twili. Link maintains his physical form and is in some ways even more dangerous in his new form because the Triforce allowed him to do so in Twilight. Ganondorf tosses Midna aside repeatedly like nobody's business despite her having the Fused Shadow, because he possesses the Triforce, etc. It was to show that:

Power of the Goddesses > Power of the Twili

If they didn't actually possess the Triforce pieces, this wouldn't make sense.

Power of people who are chosen by the gods but don't actually have their power > Power of the Twili?

Originally Posted by Nerushi

or that Ganondorf didn't seem to have the goal of reuniting the whole Triforce

Then why did he possess Zelda? Seems to me because she had the Triforce of Wisdom. He even talks about the "absolute power" while looking directly at Zelda's lifeless body, as the game shows in the Hyrule Castle confrontation cutscene at the end.

And this idea of these characters just having "a connection" to the Triforce in TP is never implied in-game. It is, however, stated, that these characters possess the power of the goddesses, which we know is the Triforce. It's not called the Triforce in-game, it's not 100% said that "I have the physical Triforce, which is NOT in the Sacred Realm," but it's stated.

Originally Posted by Nerushi

The Triforce that physically existed inside of him left him. This is questionable, seeing how we see no trace of the Triforce after that. If it physically existed at the place like in Wind Waker it would be reasonable that it show up.

It's possible that Ganon (and Link and Zelda) really did receive their Triforce pieces directly from the gods. I always interpreted the fading at the end as the gods returning the Triforce to the sacred realm, now that the little drama they staged has ended.

As for the comparison with AoL and OoX, I'd like to point out that in AoL Link's mark indicates that he was chosen by the king's spell, not by the gods. Assuming a post-AoL placement for OoX, we can reason that OoX Link bears the mark for the same reason.