Bongo Bongo

Bongo Bongo is a twisted, deformed, and malicious spirit. Its true origins are unknown, but scholars theorize that its creation was in some way related to the ancient Sheikah splinter group that betrayed their oath to the Hylian royal family. This lost tribe of Sheikah committed such high treason that they were banished by both the Hylian royals and the other Sheikah following a bloody war. The fate of this lost tribe of Sheikah oath-breakers is unknown, though they may have found refuge in the Twilight Realm after their exile from Hyrule. There, the ages and magical energy of the Twilight Realm may have twisted them into the Twili race. Though Hylian historians debate the ultiamte fate of the Sheikah betrayers, there are myriad clear connections between Bongo Bongo and the Sheikah tribe that lend credence to this theory of association. The phantom's large central eye is reminiscent of the Sheikah's emblem, a stylized spyglass with a single eye at its center. Additionally, Bongo Bongo is referred to in ancient texts as the "Phantom Shadow Beast". In ancient Hylian glyphic script the symbol for "Shadow" is often also used to refer to the Sheikah, which is the origin of their colloquial moniker of "Shadow Folk". Finally, though various sinister happenings throughout Hyrule are often attributed to Bongo Bongo's presence by Hylian mystis, the entity's true residence appears to be the Sheikah's Shadow Temple beneath Kakariko Village. The Village itself is purported to be the birthplace of the Sheikah tribe. One legend of Hyrule is that Bongo Bongo was once the leader of the Sheikah traitors, and while his people were simply exiled following the ensuing conflict, their leader was instead mutilated and burried beneath the well in Kakariko village. Bongo Bongo's appearance, with its disembodied hands and bloodied neck, as though it suffered various brutal punishments, would appear to support this myth. 5 If indeed Bongo Bongo was once the leader of the treasonous Sheikah, this could also offer an alternative origin to the various torture chambers at the bottom of the Kakariko well. Though superstitions about the Sheikah claim that they once served as the Hylian royal family's enforcers, making use of these devices, it is instead possible that they were used in the torture and execution of Bongo Bongo when it was still a living being. Bongo Bongo also has the ability to morph into shadows, a fabled skill of the ancient Sheikah people. If this theory is to be believed, then Bongo Bongo may be a manifestation of the Sheikah leader's evil intentions, twisted and mutated by the magical ramifications of breaking the tribe's sacred oath. One other possible origin of Bongo Bongo may be that it is in fact a member of the Interlopers, an ancient race of magic users who attempted to invade the Sacred Realm and steal the Triforce. These Interlopers are also rumored to have been the ancestors of the Twili. The Twili Shadow Beasts also bear some resemblance to Bongo Bongo, in addition to being similarly named. Additionally, the Mirror of Twilight is known to have been used to bind certain interlopers to specific locations throughout Hyrule in a manner similar to Bongo Bongo's apparent incarceration in the Shadow Temple.

Two Hands, One Eye. Bongo Bongo's appearance is that of a twisted central body with a bloody neck and large central eye that takes up nearly all of the creature's "head". It also has two large disembodied hands (complete with bloodied wrist stumps) which float near the body. These hands can act independently of one another, or coordinate their attacks. The body of Bongo Bongo has the ability to become invisible at will, and will often do so, however if the hands are incapacitated, the body will become visible again. Other than this defensive mechanism, the body itself has few abilities, other than casting spells, and can only move short distances at a time. Bongo Bongo's spells can affect its hands, though these are treated as separate creatures. Bongo Bongo's hands, though dangerous, appear to be extremely susceptible to pain, and will become inert and incapacitated for short periods of time after taking damage.