Happy Mask Salesman = Ancient One?

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE HAPPY MASK SALESMAN




"Now, that tribe from the legend has vanished, so no one really knows the true nature of the mask's power...But I could feel it."--The Happy Mask Salesman



I don't think anyone has said this yet on the site, if they did, I hopefully brought some new ideas. Anyways, I have a very plausible theory about the most mysterious Zelda character ever, the Happy Mask Salesman. I already posted this on another thread, but since it is a pretty big theory, I started my own.


OK, here's my theory: the Happy Mask Salesman is in fact a, or possibly, THE surviving member of the 'Ancient Ones'. I'm sure that I'm not the first to think of this, but here's my reasoning:

First off, we all must admit that the HMS isn't just some creeper who follows Link around and attacks him. He obviously has many magical powers: Warping around, making the piano randomly appear and disappear, and knowing how Link got each mask. No other character in the game, short of Majora and monsters have powers like this, if I am not mistaken.

Now, we know that the Ancient Ones sealed Majora's Mask away in shadows, and the HMS somehow managed to recover it. This proves two things: 1( the Ancient Ones were skilled magic users (the HMS backs this up by mentioning their vexing rituals) and 2( the mask was probably put somewhere magical, possibly even in an alternate dimension, not in, say, a cave under Termina Field where Guru-Guru could come across it. Therefore, the HMS almost certainly had at least partial knowledge of its whereabouts and how to get it, and he also probably had to use his powers.

There are a few other things that make me question the HMS's background, too. First off, when you enter the clock tower where HMS seems never to budge from, time will stop completely. Is the HMS causing that? Many players probably never let the moon fall, but if it does, the screen will go black and a text box appears with the words "you've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" This is the exact same line that the HMS says when he first appears, referring to Link's transformation. (Or is he? By arriving in Termina, has Link met with another, unknown terrible fate?) The usage of this quote makes me think that it is the HMS speaking, and he somehow survived the moon. This would not come as a surprise if he was indeed an Ancient One, as they probably knew that Majora could destroy the world and prepared for its wrath in case they did not seal it away properly or in time. He also knew the exact amount of time it would take for the moon to crash -- either he created some sort of equation, or he was familiar with Majora's powers. Most puzzling of all is when Link first travels back in time after reobtaining his ocarina. The HMS immediately asks if he recovered the items, but to him, it would seem like Link had merely just walked back in the door. The HMS clearly knew of the existence of the Song of Time and that if Link recovered his Ocarina, he could use it to save Termina. Why else would the HMS reward Link for recovering LINK's item? In fact, the HMS seemed to think it even more important than Majora's Mask, as he did not ask about the mask until after teaching Link the Song of Healing. Wait a second ... Did someone say Song of Healing? That's the song that traps spirits inside of masks, which is what someone did to Majora. Looks to me like the Ancient Ones used the song to trap Majora in the mask. As it was so powerful, I doubt the Ancient Ones would have shared it lightly ... So how else would the HMS know it. Perhaps the Ancient Ones even composed one or both songs.

Now, I know you are probably thinking that everything I have said so far is pointless BS, because the HMS himself said that the Ancient Ones had died out, leaving no one to restrain Majora. However, if the HMS was the last surviving member, and too weak to deal with the mask himself, he may have been lying to cover up his failure. He also says that no one now knows the true power of the mask, but he could feel it. This counteracts with some of my other points, but I believe that it is also a lie to go along with his first lie. He actually knows the full power, or at least has extensive knowledge of it. He says that he "can feel it" to explain why he knows it has power.

So, due to his many magical powers, survival of the apocalypse, extensive knowledge of the Ancient Ones, the magical songs, and the hiding place of Majora's Mask, as well as the mysterious pausing of time in the clock tower, it seems only logical that the Happy Mask Salesman is a surviving member of the Ancient Ones. Please tell me what you think of this theory!

"Believe in your strengths...Believe..."--Happy Mask Salesman

Um so theorizing aside for a minute, why did you decide to post on ancient threads? This thread seems fine, but its almost as if you typed Happy Mask Salesman in the search function and replied to whichever one you fancied. Big No No

Back on topic, I think your reading to much into things with your "toes theory" being complete fanfic

First off, when you enter the clock tower where HMS seems never to budge from, time will stop completely. Is the HMS causing that? Most likely.

That kills it for me, I seriously doubt it~

Its a nice try, but I too think its just too much over-thinking~

And yea, why the constant necro-posting? If you want people to know, just make your own thread from the start, don't shove into people's faces~

This is like the 6th HMS thread on this page. LOL when did he get so popular here?

I think you're looking too much into things.

The mask salesman plays a very small role in both OoT and MM. He wouldn't be such a significant character.

He could be, but it's unlikely.

I used to think the HMS was a bit of a shady character and with good reason but I think he might just be a man (thing?) who has an odd love/fetish over masks.

I like that in the official art they drew in the Mario mask, even though it was a cameo in the game. XP

Ohh, The Legend of Zelda is so fun.

Originally Posted by clebybeb

Long, pointy, perhaps less than five toes could be a characteristic of the Ancient Ones.

Doubt it. You can have five toes and yet still wear long, pointy shoes.

Originally Posted by The Baton of the Wind

The mask salesman plays a very small role in both OoT and MM. He wouldn't be such a significant character.

Really? i can see what you mean about him in OoT but i would say he plays quite a large role in MM being that he sets you off on your initial task.

^ But you don't see him much. And though his Song of Healing played a more large role, he himself didn't play much of a role. Although, through things like the Song of Healing and such; I suppose it makes his role a bit bigger.

But his role isn't so big that he's like an ancient one, or anything like a sage. He's just an insightful fellow who likes masks and spreading happiness.

Before I start, there's no need to revive all the old threads based on the Happy Mask Salesman. It just spams up the forum. Locking 5 threads in a row is a new record for me.

If you have a theory to share - instead of reviving every thread that relates to the topic you're explaining about, just make a brand new thread.

Originally Posted by clebybeb

First off, when you enter the clock tower where HMS seems never to budge from, time will stop completely. Is the HMS causing that? Most likely.

If you talk to everyone else, time freezes as well.

Long, pointy, perhaps less than five toes could be a characteristic of the Ancient Ones. My guess -- and this is nothing but a guess -- is that the Ancient Ones have their own look entirely, and the HMS changed it to pass as a Hylian, but kept his feet the same to have some part of him left. Remember, we never see his feet in OoT.

Like what Cereal Bawks said, you can have five toes and still wear pointy shoes. The Skull kid is another character who wears pointed shoes.



You have an interesting theory behind the HMS, but at the same time you seem to be thinking into this a bit too much.

Originally Posted by The Baton of the Wind

^ But you don't see him much. And though his Song of Healing played a more large role, he himself didn't play much of a role. Although, through things like the Song of Healing and such; I suppose it makes his role a bit bigger.

But his role isn't so big that he's like an ancient one, or anything like a sage. He's just an insightful fellow who likes masks and spreading happiness.

You Make a fair point.
I agree with you

OK, I have a lot of replies for you people. I haven't been on ZU in forever and can't figure out how to do multiple quotes at once (I know, stupid) so I just won't do quotes. If someone could tell me how, I would be grateful.

To the people whining about me having posted on old threads: Sorry about that, I didn't realize they were so old. I should have checked, but as I said, I haven't touched this site in FOREVER. I wanted to post my theory on them so that more people would see it, and I didn't realize how long it would be until I typed everything up. I know, excuses, but it's true. And OniLink, you are partially right -- the thread I posted the entire theory on was something I came across accidentally, after it, I DID search for Happy Mask Salesman to check if anyone else had already posted this. We don't want duplicates, do we?

People saying that I am over-thinking it: You are probably right, I highly doubt that Nintendo meant for all of or even any of these concepts to be true. However, we already know that many secrets have been hidden in Zelda games, and even if it isn't true, it is still fun to theorize a mysterious character. You don't have to participate if you don't want. It certainly is much less over-thinking than a lot of the other theories we've seen...

As for the shoes: It probably doesn't make the difference, HMS is already dressed weirdly. However, if he IS an Ancient One, it could be a possibility, whether Nintendo meant it or not. I'm going to ditch that part, though -- it is extremely far fetched.

People saying that HMS is just a normal guy who likes masks and wandered across Majora's Mask: You obviously did not read my theory at all. A normal guy does NOT make a piano appear out of nowhere, warp, disappear into thin air (the ending) and know everything that Link is doing. Also, Majora's Mask was SEALED IN THE SHADOWS. Perhaps this is even the gap between Termina and Hyrule (Ganondorf said that he would banish Phantom Ganon to the "gap between dimensions" in OoT). I don't see how he could just come across it.

People saying he is a minor character: he certainly is a minor character in OoT, but we are talking MM here. Even though he does not appear much in the game, he plays a significant role by healing Link, warning him of the moon, and being present at the beginning and ending of the game. Even if he does not play a major role, he is certainly very mysterious and has some sort of background.

Eternal Legend: I'm not referring to when you talk to him. When you are in the tower, the timer completely disappears even during gameplay. There is obviously a reason why Nintendo included this. Perhaps it is to keep it consistent with the first time you visit it, because there is no timer there, but Zelda games have never been necessarily consistent. There is really nothing to do there, so there is no reason why you should need more time. Again, I am probably over-thinking things, but I had a possibly ludicrous idea as to why this is --

THE CLOCK TOWER ISN'T IN TERMINA!

I mean, it could make some sense. Since you are safe outside of Termina, there would be no need for the timer. Also, it explains how the HMS survives the apocalypse, if indeed he does. Many people see the cliff with the glowing creepy things to be the entrance to Termina, or the twisty tunnel, but perhaps the cliff just takes you to the gap between dimensions, and the clock tower transports you to Termina. To cross the gap between dimensions, it would have to be someone very special to survive the great fall, cross the pits, and open the huge door. Perhaps the goddesses created these obstacles so that only someone worthy of being the hero would come.

That sounded WAY better in my head.

If you don't like my theory, than you can diss it, but please do so respectfully and give a good reason.

---------- Post added at 01:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

Before I start, there's no need to revive all the old threads based on the Happy Mask Salesman. It just spams up the forum. Locking 5 threads in a row is a new record for me.

If you have a theory to share - instead of reviving every thread that relates to the topic you're explaining about, just make a brand new thread.



If you talk to everyone else, time freezes as well.



Like what Cereal Bawks said, you can have five toes and still wear pointy shoes. The Skull kid is another character who wears pointed shoes.



You have an interesting theory behind the HMS, but at the same time you seem to be thinking into this a bit too much.

Do you define an old thread by the time the thread was made, or the latest comment? I know, I'm an idiot.

Originally Posted by clebybeb

Do you define an old thread by the time the thread was made, or the latest comment? I know, I'm an idiot.

An old thread is defined by the latest comment.

To multi-quote, you press the "+ button on all the posts you want to quote, and then press "Quote" on the last one so you can reply to all of them.

Plus, I think this mask guy is different than the one from Hyrule. For one, it doesn't say he was ever in the Lost Woods. Kind of like how there are other characters who are just like those from Ocarina of Time, yet they're different people in an alternate world. I think its the same with the mask salesman in Majora's Mask.

Originally Posted by Swift_Knight

An old thread is defined by the latest comment.

To multi-quote, you press the "+ button on all the posts you want to quote, and then press "Quote" on the last one so you can reply to all of them.

Thank you! GWAHAHAHA it worked!

Originally Posted by The Baton of the Wind

Plus, I think this mask guy is different than the one from Hyrule. For one, it doesn't say he was ever in the Lost Woods. Kind of like how there are other characters who are just like those from Ocarina of Time, yet they're different people in an alternate world. I think its the same with the mask salesman in Majora's Mask.

Either way, it doesn't make a difference to my theory, does it? We're talking Majora's Mask here.

Even if not all of my reasoning is correct, I am really starting to think that the developers really did mean for HMS to be an Ancient One. That's just me, but it's something for theorists to keep in mind.

I'm confused as to why people think HMS is just a 'normal guy'.

...Really? I have plenty of ideas surrounding HMS, but normal is far from it. He practically breaks the 4th wall of the MM world.

I think the HMS Is Majora or is strongly connected with the mask in someway. Think about it the evidence is there The moon Children look striking like him, and after link has defated Majoras mask HMS picks up the mask and he sounds upset sad almost that his prized possion has lost its luster "Oh...... The Evil power Has left the mask",
Also seeing mad at Link for taking away its power and not just returning it to him an example of this is he wants link to leave Termina saying someing along the lines of isnt it about time you return home to.Prehaps he wanted link to leave so he may plan wicked deeds with majoras mask now he has it back.Also talking to Link about how long a parting may last and its up to him to choose if he wants to return maybe a sending challange to our hero after the mask has been refuled or some other plot either way I hope we get to return to the twisted land of Termina someday. I like This Thread

Originally Posted by nugget21

I think the HMS Is Majora or is strongly connected with the mask in someway. Think about it the evidence is there The moon Children look striking like him, and after link has defated Majoras mask HMS picks up the mask and he sounds upset sad almost that his prized possion has lost its luster "Oh...... The Evil power Has left the mask",
Also seeing mad at Link for taking away its power and not just returning it to him an example of this is he wants link to leave Termina saying someing along the lines of isnt it about time you return home to.Prehaps he wanted link to leave so he may plan wicked deeds with majoras mask now he has it back.Also talking to Link about how long a parting may last and its up to him to choose if he wants to return maybe a sending challange to our hero after the mask has been refuled or some other plot either way I hope we get to return to the twisted land of Termina someday. I like This Thread

He wasn't upset at all that the power was gone, especially since he was dreading the evil power of the mask when Link told him he lost it in the first place. Besides, highly doubt the HMS is Majora seeing how the HMS is still around after Link destroyed him~

Originally Posted by nugget21

I think the HMS Is Majora or is strongly connected with the mask in someway. Think about it the evidence is there The moon Children look striking like him, and after link has defated Majoras mask HMS picks up the mask and he sounds upset sad almost that his prized possion has lost its luster "Oh...... The Evil power Has left the mask",
Also seeing mad at Link for taking away its power and not just returning it to him an example of this is he wants link to leave Termina saying someing along the lines of isnt it about time you return home to.Prehaps he wanted link to leave so he may plan wicked deeds with majoras mask now he has it back.Also talking to Link about how long a parting may last and its up to him to choose if he wants to return maybe a sending challange to our hero after the mask has been refuled or some other plot either way I hope we get to return to the twisted land of Termina someday. I like This Thread

I agree with you that HMS may be an incarnation of Majora, but I have never played the game myself and am only making a theory based on the data presented in this thread and what I've heard over time. However, I think it more likely that a being of chaos like Majora would be setting Link up and helping him because it is like a game to him. If he truly was Majora it wouldn't make sense that he is upset about the mask's loss of power because he would already have it himself.

By the way, Electricgoose6464, I respect the amount of work you put into your research to create an argument and I enjoy reading your theories. In this case I think that your theory is very valid and is potentially what Nintendo had in mind while writing the game's script. Keep it up!