The Imprisoning War Thread #056

[Mr. Lexxi Aileron]

One of the biggest issues that divides theorists is the placement of ALttP's Imprisoning War. Is it a conflict that occurred during the age of OoT, when the Evil King Ganon first appeared within the known timeline? Or has the introduction of TWW and TP into the timeline delegated the placement of the war to a period closer to the contemporary placement of ALttP?

The Imprisoning War at the time of ALttP's first release

1. ALttP's backstory spoke of the origins of the Triforce, the Hylian people featured in the first two games, and of Ganon.
2. Ganon, who is born in the Imprisoning War when the evil thief Ganondorf touched the Triforce, is supposed to be the same character who threatens Hyrule throughout the series. At the time of ALttP's release, this meant only ALttP and LoZ Ganon.
3. The manual speaks also of a war that broke out over the Sacred Realm connected to Hyrule. No one was able to find the entrance during this struggle.
4. The Imprisoning War occurs many generations before ALttP.
5. Ganon's power cannot break the sages' seal, even when backed by the Triforce. Only the power of the descendants of the sages can do that. The seal is intact when ALttP begins.
6. The Master Sword was forged some time before the Imprisoning War, and the sages had to search for both it and a hero.
7. Most of the Knights of Hyrule were wiped out during Ganon's attack on the castle. Link is the last remaining member of a bloodline of a family of Knights who fought in the Imprisoning War. Only a member of that bloodline can claim the Master Sword.
8. The Imprisoning War and/or ALttP itself takes place during the renowned period when Hyrule is one kingdom.

Lex's Commentary

1. Based on this, given the information available at the time, the only logical progression of timeline events established thus far could be: Creation -> Emergence of the Hylia -> Battles over the Sacred Realm -> Ganon takes the Triforce -> Imprisoning War -> ALttP -> -> Sleeping Zelda -> LoZ -> AoL.
2. This seems to suggest that the demonic essence of Ganon, unlike those of Link and Zelda, transcends death, since Ganon obviously dies in both games in which he appears up to this point. Also, notably the backstory never specifies how much of the Triforce's power Ganon obtained.
3. The fact that no one found the Sacred Realm during this struggle is significant because it shows us that it was well-hidden prior to this point.
4. The number of generations is not specified. It is at least a few centuries, however, based on the words of a talking tree in the Dark World. It could be a small number or a larger number.
5. It is impossible for Ganon to break the sages' seal without using the sages' power.
6. This implies that the location of the Master Sword is not known to those sages involved in the search, and they may even believe its existence to be a myth.
7. The specific bloodline of knights may not necessarily be synonymous to the actual Order of Knights. This bloodline persists from the Imprisoning War to ALttP.
8. The Japanese box text says "the stage is set" during this time, but it could be talking about the backstory or the in-game events, or both.

The Imprisoning War at the time of OoT's release

1. OoT's story is developed as a telling of of the Imprisoning War. It references all the origin elements established in ALttP's original release.
2. Ganondorf manages to enter the Sacred Realm and touch the Triforce. He gains only the Triforce of Power. Using the Triforce of Power, he can take on a demonic form which the game refers to as "Ganon."
3. There echo stories of a war, but its cause is unknown. Hyrule's history is described as a "bloody" one of "greed and hatred." Long before OoT, the sages built the Temple of Time to protect the Triforce from evil ones.
4. OoT sheds no clarity as to how long it occurs before ALttP.
5. Ganondorf threatens to one day break the sages' seal.
6. The Master Sword is known as a "legendary blade," and when Link takes it, he is whisked away along with it into the Sacred Realm.
7. The whole of Hyrule Castle is obliterated, and there are no loyal warriors of Hyrule to be seen, save for the sages.
8. The war prior to Hyrule is said to have occurred before Hyrule became one kingdom.

Lex's Commentary

1. OoT's storytelling obviously points to its placement as the Imprisoning War, since its history aligns neatly with the history established in ALttP.
2. The demonic essence and name of "Ganon" seems to be attributed to and associated with the demonic form that he takes.
3. Based on OoT's status as a telling of the Imprisoning War, this other war is most likely the struggle over the Sacred Realm. That it is hidden in the Temple of Time explains why no one was ever able to get into the Sacred Realm. (Note to TP theorists: This most likely means that the Temple of Time was not built after the shadow clan invaded Hyrule, since that war, too, seems to be the same war referenced here.)
4. The distance between the Imprisoning War and ALttP is still an unknown number of generations.
5. Since Ganondorf needs the power of the sages to break the seal, we can safely say that it is not broken save for in ALttP.
6. Link's disappearance is likely why the original manual says that they could not find a hero or the sword in time to prevent the attack on the castle. That the Master Sword is described as "legendary" is probably meant solely to set the context for it and its user being sought after by the sages. (Note: In OoT, we know for certain that Zelda sought him out, but it is unknown whether the other sages even knew of the Sword's existence.)
7. This is almost certainly a display of the extent of Ganon's attack on the castle during the Imprisoning War, with the lack of soldiers indicating the extermination of the Knights.
8. This would mean the Imprisoning War occurs during the time when Hyrule was one kingdom, which leaves the box quote ambiguous.

• Nothing in OoT accounts for Ganon's possession of the full Triforce in ALttP.
• ALttP suggests that a hero was sought out, but does not tell us whether one was found. The game does, however, imply that ALttP Link is not the first hero to use the Master Sword, which allows for the war to still feature a hero who is unremembered by the time of ALttP.

The Imprisoning War at the time of TWW's release

1. TWW's story is a sequel to OoT's story, and has Ganon escaping from the Sacred Realm and invading Hyrule again, leading to a flood.
2. Ganon has the Triforce of Power when the game begins, and goes by the name of "Ganon" even though he only ever appears in his human form.
3. There is no reference to the wars over the Sacred Realm.
4. At least a few hundred years pass between OoT and TWW.
5. Ganondorf did not, insofar as the game tells us, ever manipulate the powers of the sages.
6. The Master Sword is moved to Hyrule Castle and used as a key to seal Hyrule. It loses its power to repel evil [most likely] sometime before this.
7. The Hylian Knights may have been active between OoT and TWW.
8. The Great Flood would end the period during which Hyrule was one kingdom.

Lex's Commentary

1. This interrupts a simple, direct flow of events from OoT to ALttP, as Ganon has been displaced from the seal. At present, there are two solutions: (1) to assume the Imprisoning War has been removed from OoT and moved elsewhere; (2) to assume Ganon from the Imprisoning War leaves the Sacred Realm prior to ALttP, is reborn, and finds himself stuck in it again. We cannot presume the events of TWW to be a demonstration of intent for either solution over the other.
2. The human character maintains the demonic attributes. This can also be seen in the transformation of his physical figure between Child and Adult OoT.
3. This is because the Sacred Realm does not feature in TWW. Note that the sages who sealed Ganon are not mentioned, either.
4. This could span part of the gap between OoT and ALttP.
5. Given what we know about the strength of the sages' seal from ALttP, this most likely means that Ganon did not break the seal. However, only a Japanese translation of the game could tell us whether this is true or not, and none is presently available. (Note: If the seal is indeed broken, then we cannot assume the seal from OoT is the same seal in ALttP, and the connection between OoT and the IW ultimately fails to have any meaning for ALttP.)
6. This, at the least, demonstrates that the Master Sword can be mobile behind-the-scenes and between games. It also shows that it is capable of losing its power, which could be drafted into another game (filling a plothole in OoS/OoA?).
7. While this speaks nothing for the Family of Knights, it indicates that the organization of Knights itself waxes and wanes in membership, usually being mostly eradicated when Ganon attacks (possibly due to attempts to eliminate the bloodline?).
8. If OoT is still supposed to be the Imprisoning War, then this means ALttP does not occur during the time period in which Hyrule was one kingdom, which means the sole acknowledgment of ALttP's relationship to the original games does not speak in reference to the events of ALttP itself, but instead to its backstory only. Therefore, there is no proof that ALttP goes before LoZ/AoL, especially not now that it is shown to have no direct connection to OoT, either.

• The Triforce is reunited and brought into the hands of a king, which sets a context that is appropriate for placements of LoZ/AoL, ALttP, and OoS/OoA. (Note: Personally, I err to LoZ/AoL, as this is the only time in the series in which a king actually appears in a game and owns the full Triforce, and such a state is necessary for AoL's backstory. Combine this with the LoZ/AoL kingdom's need for restoration, and TWW sets up a strong context for the 2D games, despite ending the OoT arc without resolving the ALttP scenario.)
• The Great Flood provides the context for the diminishing of the Hylian blood and of the Hylian language. The latter happens specifically, and many view the former as being underway already as well.
• The Great Flood is not mentioned in ALttP, but this is quite clearly because TWW had not been envisioned when ALttP was in development.

The Imprisoning War at the time of FSA's release

1. FSA's placement relative to the rest of the series is unknown from a plot standpoint, although it features mostly elements from TWW and ALttP.
2. Ganondorf has a completely different backstory than he does in OoT. He obtains his demonic character by claiming a trident containing the powers of darkness.
3. The Sacred Realm is again not mentioned in FSA, although the Dark World is featured, and is described in much the same vein.
4. It is unknown how much time passes between the previous chapters of the main series and FSA, much less how much time passes between it and the next one.
5. Ganondorf creates Shadow Link to use as a doppelganger for the kidnapping of the maidens.
6. The Master Sword does not feature in FSA, but that is because it is a chapter of the FS series. The Four Sword is also described as having the power to repel evil.
7. The Knights of Hyrule are again eradicated in FSA by Ganon, this time in order to seal away the four royal jewels.
8. Hyrule occupies more or less the same volume of territory occupied in OoT and ALttP.

Lex's Commentary

1. Where a new installment in the series draws most of its influences almost always winds up being close to it in the timeline. The elements from ALttP, however, are story-sensitive, and the atmosphere of the game tends to favour a pre-ALttP placement. (Note: This is because buildings seen as very much intact in FSA are in ruins in ALttP; because the maidens have very strong powers in FSA, but most of the strong powers among Hyrule's people are lost in ALttP; thieves from Kakariko Village disappear from the village, but appear in the Lost Woods, when this is precisely the same scenario shown as happening before ALttP; etc. etc. I would defy someone to show me any evidence that can only point to a post-ALttP placement.)
2. This is a completely new Ganondorf who is able to revive an ancient power, the power of darkness (which, as TP will later reveal, is a power exclusive to Ganon's demonic nature).
3. The Dark World may be residual from the Evil Realm of OoT. This, however, seems to contradict the idea that it is still sealed, but the opening of the Moon Gates may override this. It is also possible that the imprisonment of the maidens is responsible for the appearance of the portals, or that this is simply FSA Ganon's demon realm, which he is trying to extend into the Light World.
4. The timing of FSA is highly irrelevant, however.
5. Ganon's knowledge of the maidens from FSA would explain why he knows to go after maidens in ALttP in order to break the seal. However, this could just as easily have been learned by Agahnim.
6. The Master Sword may be hidden/forgotten/lost.
7. The Knights seem definitely to be a group that reforms constantly.
8. This could indicate a progression between OoT, FSA, and ALttP that does not include TWW (Child Timeline); FSA's Hyrule, however, is not a "land surrounded by mountains and forests," while OoT's is (see TP). This would mean, by extension, that ALttP's is not, either.

• FSA provides a new Ganon who is sealed. Given the oddity of Ganon being inserted into a subseries that originally featured Vaati as the main villain, unless it is mere coincidence that this would resolve the missing Ganon problem of the OoT-TWW-ALttP progression, this is probably why Ganon appears in FSA.
• Despite Ganon being sealed in the Four Sword (the connection of Ganon to the Four Sword is oddly evocative of the Four Sword being broken in his final stronghold in ALttP), the maidens seal away the sword itself in the end of the game, so Ganon could yet be sealed back in the Sacred Realm.

The Imprisoning War at the time of ALttP's re-release

The story is limited to these core facts:

"Long ago, in Hyrule, a beautiful kingdom surrounded by forests
and mountains, legends told of an omnipotent Golden Power that lay hidden. It was hidden in a sacred realm beyond the reach of men, but one day a doorway to that realm was suddenly opened. Hoping to claim the Golden Power as their own, the people began to quarrel and fight. Many sought to enter the hidden Golden Land.

But none returned, and instead evil power began to issue forth from the dark portal. So the king commanded seven sages to seal the gate to the land of the Golden Power. Many brave knights were lost in the battle to protect the sages from the tides of evil, but the seal was cast! Evil flowed no more! And the seal would remain for all time, or so the people hoped."

The manual also adds that the Triforce still lay hidden in the Sacred Realm when these events began, with the Creation as a reference point, which can only mean that the Triforce was taken from the Sacred Realm for the first time in the Imprisoning War! Not that this wasn't clear from the fact that the legends of its hiding place are what leads people to find it anyway. Given this, the Imprisoning War can only occur during the point in the timeline occupied by OoT, in any case.

Either that, or we have a direct and blatant inconsistency of fact that exists in the late-IW solution to ALttP's Ganon problem. Since this problem is nonexistent in the "same seal" solution, I propose that the "same seal" solution is the more valid, based on evidence. It stands under what evidence exists now, and requires less presumptions as to the circumstances under which it takes place (most presumptions that allow for that placement are related to whether or not games can be placed post-TWW, which has nothing directly to do with the main dilemma; placing games post-TP requires different presumptions of the same nature).

Thus, I have compiled (for I believe the third time) a description of the entire Imprisoning War saga, according to OoT, TWW, TP, and ALttP.

ALttP references are in the standard text color.
OoT references are in green.
TWW references are in blue.
TP references are in red.


The Creation of Hyrule

Before time began, before spirits and life existed, three golden goddesses descended upon the chaos that was Hyrule: Din, the goddess of power; Nayru, the goddess of wisdom; Farore, the goddess of courage. Using their various abilities, they brought order and life to the world. Din, with her strong flaming arms, cultivated the land and created the red earth. Nayru poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world. Farore, with her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law—the animals that crawl the land and the birds that soar in the sky, and all of the living creatures of the world.

The three great goddesses, their labors completed, departed for the heavens. They consummated the land with a symbol forged of their own powers, in the form of sacred golden triangles which remained at the point where the goddesses left the world: the Triforce. The three goddesses hid the Triforce containing the power of the gods somewhere in Hyrule, a beautiful kingdom surrounded by forests and mountains, to govern the land. Since then, the sacred triangles have become the basis of our world's providence. And the resting place of the triangles has become the Sacred Realm. They would shine in the Sacred Realm until one who was worthy of inheriting those powers appeared.

The Triforce is a balance that weighs the three forces: Power, Wisdom and Courage. If the heart of the one who holds the sacred triangle has all three forces in balance, that one will gain the True Force to govern all—the power to grant the wish of the one who holds the Triforce in his hands. But, if that one's heart is not in balance, the Triforce will separate into three parts: Power, Wisdom and Courage. Only one part will remain for the one who touched the Triforce—the part representing the force that one most believes in. If that one seeks the True Force, that one must acquire the two lost parts. Those two parts will be held within others chosen by destiny, who will bear the Triforce mark on the backs of their hands.


The Lore of the Hylia

The Triforce itself cannot judge between good and evil. That is because only the gods can do that. If someone with a righteous heart makes a wish, it will lead Hyrule to a golden age of prosperity. If someone with an evil mind has his wish granted, the world will be consumed by evil. The stronger the wish, the more powerful the Triforce's expression of that wish. So, the ancient Sages built the Temple of Time to protect the Triforce from evil ones. The entrance was sealed with a stone wall called the Door of Time.

It could not be assumed that only a good person would get their hands on the Triforce. For that reason, the people of Hyrule were told by the gods to make a sacred blade which evil ones may never touch that would repulse any evil that may kidnap the Triforce: the blade of evil's bane, the Master Sword. The Master Sword—the evil-destroying sword— was crafted by the wisdom of the ancient sages and was the final key to the Sacred Realm. According to the tales handed down by the Hylians, only the Hero who has destroyed three great evils and won three crests can wield the sword. It is said that even now it rests deep in a sacred grove.

This documentation was written by the race of Hylia, the chosen people capable of hearing the voices of the gods. It is said that their long, pointed ears enabled them to hear special messages from the gods, and that they mastered mysterious powers. Their descendants settled in various parts of the world and passed on their knowledge and magical lore to all people. But the blood of the Hylia has grown thin over time. Hyrule, where many Hylian relics have been left, is an area very much tied to myth.

Here is gathered Hyrule's bloody history of greed and hatred...


The Prolonged Wars

For ages, the people lived at ease, content in mind and body. But soon, word of the Sacred Realm spread through Hyrule.* One such example is an old saying about the Triforce. "The golden power lies somewhere descended from the heavens. He who claims it as his own shall have his desires granted by the gods."

Before the King of Hyrule unified the country, there was a fierce war in the world. The people, seeking the Golden Power, began searching for the Sacred Realm. Some said the Triforce lay under the relics of the desert or inside the graves of the race of people in the high mountains, but no one ever found it. That yearning for the Triforce soon turned to lust for power, which in turn led to the spilling of blood. Soon the only motive left among those searching for the Triforce was pure greed. The people began to quarrel and fight, and friendly people had to live with unrest.

Among those living in the light, interlopers who excelled at magic appeared. Wielding powerful sorcery, they tried to establish dominion over the holy land of Hyrule. A great battle ensued. It was then that the goddesses ordered the three light spirits to intervene. They sealed away the great magic those individuals had mastered.


The Imprisoning War

Ganondorf, the leader of the Gerudos who hail from the desert far to the west, ceaselessly used his vile, sorcerous powers in his search for the Sacred Realm. He was known as a demon thief, an evil-magic wielder renowned for his ruthlessness. With his followers, he stole from women and children, and even killed people. His band of thieves invaded Hyrule in the hopes of establishing dominion over the Sacred Realm.

One day, the entrance to the Sacred Realm was suddenly opened. Though the Door of Time had been opened in the name of peace, Ganondorf used it to enter the forbidden Sacred Realm! The land was like no other. In the Temple of Light, the Triforce shone from its resting place high above the world. Ganondorf fought his way past his followers in a lust for the Golden Power. After vanquishing his own, the leader stood triumphant over the Triforce and grasped it with his blood-stained hands.

The emblems' spirits began to whisper: "If there is anything you desire, then I shall desire it too." Ganondorf had only one wish: to merge shadow and light, and make darkness.

But when he laid his hands on the Triforce, it separated into three parts. Only the Triforce of Power remained in Ganondorf's hand. The strength of the Triforce of Power enabled him to become a mighty, evil king. Indeed, Ganon, the Demon King of Darkness, the one who has threatened Hyrule, was born at this time. He went on to invade the Sacred Realm, and it became a world of evil. But his dark ambitions were not satisfied. To gain complete mastery of the world, Ganondorf started looking for those chosen by destiny to hold the two other Triforce parts.

In time, evil power began to flow from the Golden Land. Greedy men were drawn there and consumed by this power, and disappeared. Black clouds permanently darkened the sky, and many disasters beset Hyrule.

An order of knights protected Hylian royalty. The King of Hyrule called upon the Seven Sages of Hyrule, as well as the Knights to seal the source of this evil. It has been said that whenever disaster waylays the royal family, a Hero shall emerge from the bloodline of the Knights of Hyrule. The Sages first had to search for the existence of the Master Sword and a hero to use it. Because of the evil power in the temples, however, they could not hear the awakening call from the Sacred Realm.

Ganon's evil army swarmed from the tainted Golden Land into Hyrule and attacked the castle. The Knights took the full brunt of the fierce attack, and although they fought courageously, many a brave soul was lost that day. His evil power radiated from the temples of Hyrule, and in seven short years, it transformed Hyrule into a world of monsters.

But then, just as all hope had died, and the hour of doom seemed at hand, a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere. Wielding the blade of evil’s bane, he awakened those called to be Sages, who dwelt in the five temples. The Sages’ seals contained all the evil power in the void of the Realm. Together with the Hero, the awakened ones lured Ganondorf back into the Sacred Realm, sealed the door, and returned the light of peace to the world.

All of Hyrule rejoiced at the victory that upheld peace and order over Ganon's misuse of the Triforce's power. This war, which had claimed many lives, became known as the Imprisoning War in stories told in later centuries. The boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as the Hero of Time. The boy's tale was passed down through generations until it became legend.

And the seal would remain for all time, or so the people hoped.

[Erimgard]

Ah Lex, this is why I love it when you post

The only thing I have to add is that in aLttP we are told it's been "3 or 4 generations" since the Hylian Knights were killed, but the GBA re-release does not give a time limit.

[Hombre de Mundo]

Originally Posted by Erimgard

Ah Lex, this is why I love it when you post

This is also why I never reply in his threads. All I have to say is "uh huh" and nod... and that's it.

I guess I can say good work on typing it all together, but I can't possibly say more than that.

[Sage of Earth]

All I have to say is that I reckon that at some point during the seven years Link slept, at least one actual battle occurred between the forces of Ganondorf and the Hylian Military, thus allowing it to be referred to as a "war". You seem to have covered this by saying some of the Knights of Hyrule died as a result, and that no one seems to be left when Link wakes up, so yeah.

[Yukikoua]

Originally Posted by Erimgard

The only thing I have to add is that in aLttP we are told it's been "3 or 4 generations" since the Hylian Knights were killed, but the GBA re-release does not give a time limit.

That, my Good Sir, is what we call a 'retcon'. Sega does one on Sonic's universe every two hours.

While I only skimmed, it seemed quite logical.

[Erimgard]

Originally Posted by Yukikoua

That, my Good Sir, is what we call a 'retcon'. Sega does one on Sonic's universe every two hours.

While I only skimmed, it seemed quite logical.

This I know.
I believe it was done specifically to put distance in between the IW and aLttP.

I was just correcting Lex, because in the first section, he said it's not known how many generations have passed.

[TheManInTheMoon]

The only thing I have to add is that in aLttP we are told it's been "3 or 4 generations" since the Hylian Knights were killed, but the GBA re-release does not give a time limit.

That was a NoA mistranslation right off the bat

[Mr. Lexxi Aileron]

Originally Posted by MercuryMule

That was a NoA mistranslation right off the bat

Anything that was actually changed in the ALttP manual was due to mistranslations.

Any text that was added is actually just more fluff from NoA, although most of it is accurate to some extent.

[Erimgard]

Originally Posted by MercuryMule

That was a NoA mistranslation right off the bat

Heh...what surprise. Thanks for informing me.

[Ganon the King]

There is one thing I'd like to say.

In ALttP, the triforce is whole. At the end of Ocarina of Time however.... was it split or whole? It leads me to believe it should have been whole and in one piece at the end of Ocarina of Time... but unfortunately we know better and it wasn't. So Alttp therefore can't be placed after Ocarina of Time or anywhere at all. This is talking as if TWW or TP or any other game after OoT/MM haven't been released yet. Funnily enough TP just made everything more confusing. Unless the triforce came back together at the end?

[TheManInTheMoon]

So Alttp therefore can't be placed after Ocarina of Time or anywhere at all.

Nothing in ALttP requires that the triforce be whole and in the SR directly from the IW to ALttP.

This is talking as if TWW or TP or any other game after OoT/MM haven't been released yet.

Well, Miyamoto's timeline at the time was OoT - LoZ/AoL - AlttP...
if nothing else it accounts for the state of the triforce.

[Ganon the King]

Originally Posted by MercuryMule

Nothing in ALttP requires that the triforce be whole and in the SR directly from the IW to ALttP.

*Sigh*

I am rusty with Alttp

[Ogmios22188]

Originally Posted by MercuryMule

Nothing in ALttP requires that the triforce be whole and in the SR directly from the IW to ALttP.

Why not? Isn't the purpose of a backstory to recall the events that happened directly before the game itself?

[Erimgard]

Originally Posted by Ogmios22188

Why not? Isn't the purpose of a backstory to recall the events that happened directly before the game itself?

Nope.
The game states multiple times that the Imprisoning War [or it's Japanese title, which is much more appropriate: Seal War] happened long ago.

The backstory is the explanation of how the Seal was cast. I believe that's why Ganon's role in it is heavily downplayed in the GBA manual.
Nothing requires a direct progression of Seal War-aLttP

[Mr. Lexxi Aileron]

Originally Posted by Ogmios22188

Why not? Isn't the purpose of a backstory to recall the events that happened directly before the game itself?

Like TP's backstory, which actually happened long before OoT, but grazes over what happened to Ganon, the main villain?

Or does the fact that ALttP's backstory references creation mean that it's the first game, along with OoT and TP?

So, to answer your question: not necessarily.

[bitterlime]

Wow! All can say that it makes plenty sense and that I love how much effort went into this.

[Purplemaker]

Originally Posted by Sage of Earth

All I have to say is that I reckon that at some point during the seven years Link slept, at least one actual battle occurred between the forces of Ganondorf and the Hylian Military, thus allowing it to be referred to as a "war". You seem to have covered this by saying some of the Knights of Hyrule died as a result, and that no one seems to be left when Link wakes up, so yeah.

I agree with this. But I also think that another part of the Imprisoning War (the part with the 'interlopers' referred to in TP.) occured before Oot, right around when Link was born and left in the woods by his mother.

Soo...two parts of the Imprisoning War? Maybe. I don't see any evidence against it.