Races in The Legend of Zelda series
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The Legend of Zelda series of video games has a diverse range of races living in the games' world. Because of the mystery surrounding the series' chronology, it is mostly unknown how the games connect together and which event takes place after another.
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Deku Scrubs
The Deku Scrub (Deku Nuts in the Japanese version. Deku is the Japanese word for "wooden figurine") race consists of several species of plant-like humanoids first introduced in Ocarina of Time. Deku Scrubs have leaves on their heads where humans have hair and are perhaps photosynthetic. They often have red, glowing eyes, and their mouths are short, hollow tubes. It has been shown, however, that some may be able to hop across the surface of the water due to their presumably low body density, as evidenced by Deku Scrub Link. They shoot Deku Nuts out of their mouths, similarly to how Octoroks shoot rocks. Some Deku Scrubs may be able blow bubbles of an unspecified liquid (perhaps sap) from their mouths, as this ability is present in Deku Scrub Link. They are seemingly made entirely out of wood; they perish quickly if set on fire. Deku Scrubs typically live or hide inside Deku Flowers or nests made out of leaves, from which they can pop out momentarily to attack or speak to anyone nearby. They also use flowers growing out of their own bodies as helicopter rotors to fly. In general, Deku Scrubs are rather territorial and often attack anyone who approaches them while hidden in their Deku Flowers/nests. They will hide if their enemies get too close.
There are 3 main subspecies of the Deku race:
- Deku Scrubs: These are the most common scrubs of the Deku race and have green leaves. They will often babble useful information if caught.
- Mad Scrubs: These scrubs have red and yellow leaves and are not known to talk. They tend to be the most violent species as per their name. In Ocarina of Time, they shoot three Deku Nuts in a row at Link. Once struck, they spin quickly and erratically from their Deku Flowers in a hostile defensive maneuver, and then run away from Link (although they will enter any Deku nests that they come across). Mad Scrubs will sink in water, and can apparently breathe under water as well, although they become immobilized.
- Business Scrubs: These scrubs are seemingly more intelligent than general Deku Scrubs, especially in that they have entered the world of commerce. Their bodies are more spherical, and they have arms unlike other Deku Scrubs. They have green leaves (like regular Deku Scrubs) and offer to sell their wares and services when approached or forcibly coerced into vending. They appear in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and The Minish Cap.
Society
In Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages Deku Scrubs do not look much like the original ones, appearing more like Octoroks. That was probably due to the size of the sprites which lacked detail. There was also a new kind of Deku Scrub in the games that loved music and would often give Link some information or would fill up his Seed Satchel. In Majora's Mask, Link is able to turn himself into a Deku Scrub; at the beginning of the game, he is stuck in this form until retrieving the Ocarina of Time. The form has a number of useful abilities, however, such as stunning enemies by spinning into them, hopping across the surface of water, blowing magical bubbles at enemies to damage them and utilizing Deku Flowers to hover through the air. However, ordinary Deku Scrubs have never been observed doing any of these. Found in the alternate world of Termina is the kingdom of intelligent Deku Scrubs, who have connections with the Woodfall Dungeon. These Deku demonstrated a form of government, with a "Deku King" that presumably rules over all other Deku in the land of Termina. Deku society was depicted similar to the Zora, with a Royal family with attentance of commoners that resided in a domain. If Link used his Deku transformation, he could converse with them more openly and the Deku were shown to be quite intelligent. Dekus play large pipes which they use for ceremonies. In Majora's Mask, the Deku Princess can use one, and usually does to gain access to the Woodfall Temple. Link can use one when he turns into a Deku Scrub as a replacement for his ocarina.
The Deku Scrubs of Termina are shown to be very reclusive, and they believe they are superior to the other races. Along with the Russian-style music of the Deku Palace and the shape and form of the Deku King, the Terminan Deku tribe may have been based on Russia, or even more specifically the Soviet Union.
Deku Flowers
Deku Flowers are bush-like flowers from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Deku scrubs hide in these bush-like plants, which they sometimes use to shoot themselves up in the air to launch or fly. They shoot deku nuts at people or other creatures as defense. (Usually being Link.) These flowers come in two breeds: pink and yellow. The pink ones have a few green leaves at the bottom, four pink petals, and a yellow center. The yellow ones have many dark yellow leaves at the bottom, yellow petals, and a green center. The flowers have different launch strengths, pink being the weaker, and yellow being the stronger. These flowers also appear in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons. The flower can only be used in spring because in the other seasons, the flower will be a bud. In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link can enter the flower if he is a Deku Scrub only. In the beginning of the game, Link has no choice to be a Deku scrub, until slightly later in the game. These flowers help Link in his Deku Scrub form throughout the game when he uses the Deku Mask to turn into a Deku Scrub. They help launch Link to pass difficult tasks and to reach high places.
Notable Deku Scrubs
Fairies
The Fairies are among the most magical and kindest races in The Legend Of Zelda series. Introduced in the very first The Legend of Zelda, they always aid Link in his quest in some way. They at first appeared to be all female, but a male member of the race was introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Still, it appears males are rather rare. There are two different kinds of Fairies: the common Fairies and the Great Fairies.
Fairies
They are small humanlike creatures with wings. Usually, only their glow and wings can be seen. They can be found everywhere, but they usually reside in a Fairy Fountain or Fairy Spring, sometimes under the protection of a Great Fairy. These Fairies heal Link when he approaches and Link can put them in bottles for later use. If Link dies when he has a bottled Fairy with him, he or she will bring him back to life and then disappear (fly off).
Notable Fairies
Great Fairies
While the common fairies don't possess a lot of magical strength, Great Fairies are true magic wielders. Their looks differ greatly from game to game, but their purpose remains. They can only be found in a Fairy Fountain or Fairy Spring and either give Link upgrades or new items. Sometimes they give it to Link for free, but more often they require Link to do a little quest first.
Notable Great Fairies
Gorons
Gorons (Or Grons to some) are a humanoid, rock-eating race that dwell in the mountains. Despite their hulking appearance, Gorons are a relatively peaceful species when they come in contact with the other races. However, Gorons are known to deeply respect individuals who display a great amount of strength, and particularly enjoy matching their strength with others in sumo wrestling matches (as seen in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess). Gorons are usually considered, perhaps superficially, to be of low intelligence, although there is no particular indication of this in the games. They may also be fooled by appearances due to bad eyesight, similar to moles, as they are a subterranean species. Almost all Gorons say "goro" at the end of most of their sentences, but this was removed from the English versions of the games, save for a few rare cases such as the Goron tourist in Majora's Mask and some occasions during The Minish Cap.
Biology
Gorons are physically larger than an average human. They appear to be muscular, but their large bellies provide contrast. They maintain a strict diet of rocks and iron which, as a result, develops a rocky formation on their backs as they age. From the size of the Goron Elder's growths in Majora's Mask, it would seem that these continue to grow throughout their lives. Due to their enormous weight, they are helpless in water because they will sink to the bottom. It is apparent in the Goron world that some Gorons grow to exaggeratedly huge sizes (though very rare), as seen in the case of a massive Goron named "Biggoron", who was several hundred times larger than the normal species and his younger brother Mediggoron. Another feature of Goron biology is their ability to curl into a fetal position (with their heads tucked between their legs). This is the Goron's position when left unattended, or when they are sleeping. Gorons use this form for transportation as well. Best illustrated in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Gorons roll rapidly at speeds up to 60-70 MPH. Gorons who are endowed with fairy magic can grow metal spikes, which can be used as weapons. Gorons are also resistant to heat, to the point of being able to walk through lava, however they are heavy like rocks and sink in deep water. This is a valuable capability when searching for food inside mountains. Most of them also have tattoos on their chests (usually present on both pectoral muscles and occasionally on other parts of their bodies), which are often tribal-style symbols and the most common symbol is a spiky pawprint shape resembling the Goron's Ruby (belonging to the tribe leader, Darunia, in Ocarina of Time). They consider the Rock Sirloin to be a delicacy.
Gender
The Gorons who appear in the games never show any visible cues to indicate their gender, and all Gorons who are referred to in the third person in in-game dialogue are called "he" and "him." Furthermore, in Goron culture it is customary to call other Gorons "brother," as well as those who have earned the title (like Link and the King of Hyrule). Gorons are presumably all male, as outside of the manga no female or feminine-looking gorons have appeared; another possibility is that they do not normally distinguish between genders. It is therefore unclear how they reproduce, but they are obviously able to as Darunia bears a son in Ocarina of Time, named after Link (or whatever the player decides to name Link in the game). One theory based on the crater nearly everyone of the Zelda games introduce the goron race to the main character in, is that they lay "Rock" Like eggs, based on their diet of them. Though there are no facts to support this, their rock like bodies and surroundings make it plausible. Goron males appear to remain fertile well into old age; the ancient Goron Elder of Majora's Mask has an infant son. Feminine-looking Gorons have been known to appear in the Legend of Zelda manga, but the manga are considered non-canonical. A feminine-looking Goron did however appear in Majora's Mask at the inn in Clock Town on the first day. In Twilight Princess, the 4 Goron Elders, are shown to be less Goron-like in appearence. Also, the young Gorons (children) are shown to have rocky growths on top of their heads, while the older (adults) tend to not (with exception of a few guards).
The Goron "special crop"
Gorons grow Bomb Flowers, their "special crop" which resemble bombs in both appearance and function. These look like a standard bomb with a flower growing on top, and 3 large leaves growing outwards. Bomb Flowers will only grow in a dark area. Underneath the "bomb" is the stem (with the leaves growing out), but normally this is not visible. Bomb Flowers break easily from their stems but once plucked they soon explode (although not as soon as would a regular bomb). The stem and leaves of the flower are bomb-proof so a bomb-flower can not blow itself up, perhaps a defense-mechanism. Apparently Gorons use the plant for mining. These plants make an appearance in The Wind Waker on Dragon Roost Island. Bomb Flowers are also grown in the northern region of Labrynna (it is the main export of the Rolling Ridge Goron tribe) and the volcanic world of Subrosia (specifically, in Lava Lake) in the Oracle games. They also make an appearance in Ocarina of Time, in which the bomb flowers are used before gaining the bomb bag in Dodongo's Cavern, they are also used to gain entry to Dodongo's Cavern, and are known to take up to twice as long to explode as a regular bomb. In The Wind Waker, Bomb Flowers are referred to as Bomb Fruit, are more blue in color and don't take as long to explode as Bomb Flowers do. They grow on Dragon Roost Island mainly, but are also found on small islands around the Great Sea.
Goron culture
Apparently Goron culture revolves around brotherhood, honor, and strength. It appears that they do not find mining their ancestors' corpses dishonorable or unethical. They are a peaceful, sometimes indolent race with little ability to defend themselves, although they are quite large and strong. Most Goron societies seem to rely on a few (sometimes only one) powerful warriors to protect the entire clan. Due to the toughness of the Goron race and the shortage of deadly predators in their environment, some tribes get along well with no warriors at all. As mentioned above, Gorons are often considered to be dull-witted, though a more accurate description would be "simple." They prefer basic pleasures such as eating, dancing, and bathing in Hot Springs, though some are also skilled craftsmen, blacksmiths, or sculptors. They are fond of Drums as seen in Majoras Mask. In Twilight Princess, Gorons also enjoy sumo wrestling and boxing. Another notable aspect is that in Ocarina of Time, all Gorons love to hear the music of the Kokiri Forest (known as "Saria's Song") that comes through a secret passageway to the Lost Woods. Upon hearing this music the Goron's spirit is lifted, all depression and stress disappears, and they want to just dance like crazy. The player can use this to their advantage to persuade Darunia to give up the Spiritual Stone of Fire a.k.a the Goron's Ruby.
Gorons in The Wind Waker
In The Wind Waker, three Gorons, traveling merchants, are seen on separate islands, although their race is never explicitly referred to. The Goron symbol appears on their packs, and if the player uses the Deku Leaf to blow a gust of air at one of them, his hat will temporarily fly off, revealing his surprised, and clearly Goron, face. No explanation is given as to the dramatic drop in the size of the Goron population; it is possible that the lack of land (and therefore rocks) has resulted in near-extinction of the Goron race by the time of The Wind Waker, which is hundreds of years after The Ocarina of Time. It is also possible that the Gorons moved to another land, and only the traveling merchants have reason to be among the islands where The Wind Waker takes place.
Gorons in Twilight Princess
In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the Goron's have constructed a large mining complex within Death Mountain and they have also become more mechanical and industrialized developing magnetic cranes and elevator systems. They also guard a Fused Shadow piece and the Hero's Bow. The Gorons are governed by four tribal Elders and their Patriarch Darbus. In the game, Link is at first is not at all welcomed by the Gorons, who attack him on sight. Their tribe's Patriarch, Darbus, had become possessed by the dark magic of the Fused Shadow which transformed him into an uncontrollable monster, the Twilit Igniter Fyrus. The four Goron Elders managed to subdue him and lock him away deep within the mines for the safety of the tribe and cut off relations with Kakariko Village. Link is forced to beat the elder, Gor Coron, in a sumo wrestling contest (using the Iron Boots to even the playing field) to earn their respect and gain entry to the Goron mines. In the mines, he is forced to fight the armored Goron, Dangoro, that protects the Hero's Bow and eventually the transformed Darbus. After freeing Darbus from the influence of the Fused Shadow, the Gorons restore relations with Kakariko Village, many of them (including two of the Goron elders) venture down to Kakariko to help (one young Goron sets up a small shop that opens at night; while the two Goron elders help Malo Mart collect donations to rebuild the east bridge of Castle Town and buy the overpriced shop in Castle Town). The Gorons also help Link by restoring the southern pathway that leads into Castle Town and by selling him arrows, lantern oil, potions, hot spring water, etc. Link can also save a Goron who accidentally got himself encased inside the hardened chunk of molten rock that he uses to unfreeze Zora's Domain.
The Gorons love bathing in hot springs and enjoy sumo wrestling (though its popularity seem to waned among the younger Gorons). The mayor of Ordon, Bo is one of a few people known to have beaten a Goron at sumo (the other would be Link) in his youth, though he cheated by using Iron Boots (it helped him even the playing field as Goron have considerable weight and are much stronger than humans/hylians), in any case he defeated Gor Coron, the Goron Sumo champion and gained the Goron's respect. Link later borrowed the Iron Boots from Bo, and gained respect from the Gorons the same way.
Twilight Princess is the first Zelda game where Link must fight Gorons. It is the first game to feature a Goron boss (two, to be precise). Link also fights regular Gorons at first, but they are more obstacles than true enemies, as they can not be defeated, only stunned.[1]
Gorons have also apparently picked up the ability to stay underwater for extended periods of time and not need to breathe, as demonstrated by both a child Goron in the hot springs and the adult Goron Link frees from the rock in Zora Domain.
Notable Gorons
Humanoids
Hylians
Hylians are a human-like race from the fictional world of Hyrule. However, there are some instances where Hylians refer themselves as humans instead.
Hylians were the first race to establish organized civilization in ancient Hyrule, though in Twilight Princess, the Oocca are said to have created Hylians. Unlike several other races in the series, Hylians tend to live in highly populated cities. The series' hero, Link, and the Princess Zelda are the best known Hylians.
The term "Hylian" generally refers to a member of the Hylian race, as opposed to "Hyrulean", which refers to any inhabitant of Hyrule. According to the A Link to the Past instruction manual, Hylians were born with magic-infused blood, endowing them with psychic powers and skill in wizardry. It is also believed that the Hylians' pointed ears allow them to hear the messages of the gods.Many people refer to them as elfs. [2]
In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, most Hylians live within the fortified walls of Hyrule Castle Town or the small, neighboring village of Kakariko. Besides living in the bustling marketplace, other citizens of the kingdom inhabit territory outside of the protected city.
The ancient language of the Hylians, known simply as Hylian, is derived from Japanese hiragana, katakana, and romaji.[3]
Sheikah
The Sheikah were an ancient clan of ninja-like warriors that swore to protect the Hylian Royal Family, often times refered to as the "shadows"' of the Hylians. At the time of Ocarina of Time, the last true living member of the tribe is Impa, Princess Zelda's nursemaid. Little is known of the tribe, but it has been implied that the Sheikah were incredibly agile and had magical prowess similar to Hylians.
Humans
The Humans are rarely specifically mentioned in the series, but are nonetheless part of the Zelda Universe. They seem close to the Hylians, the only physical difference being the ears, and often live with them in the same towns. Their numbers are not big in Hyrule and Termina, but they are the majority race in Holodrum and Labrynna.
In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess a village called Ordon Village is located south of Faron Woods. Except for Link, all its inhabitants are humans. They are farmers and apparently quite successful, since products from Ordon Village can even be found in the most northern regions.
Also, in "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess", the "humans" all have the pointed ears of Hylians, thus rendering a theory that Hylians are merely a race of humans, or that the word "human," when used in the Legend of Zelda games, merely refers to Hylians and Terminans being humanoid beings.
Wind Tribe
The Wind Tribe is a group of people who live on the Cloud Tops and guard the Palace of Winds. They also built the Wind Ruins and the Wind Fortress in south western Hyrule. They are skilled at finding kinstones and seem to have a connection with the Minish who built the Armos statues that guard the Wind Ruins. These people might have been kicked out by Vaati since he is seen dwelling in the Palace of Winds later. The Guardian of the Wind Ruins in the Minish Cap is called Mazaal and is almost identical to Gohdan, guardian of the Tower of the Gods in The Wind Waker.
Gerudo
The Gerudo are a tribe of thieves from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, and The Legend of Zelda: Four Sword Adventures. Their race consists entirely of women, but according to information given in Ocarina of Time, one man is born every hundred years, and is destined to become the king of the Gerudo tribe. Ganondorf, the main antagonist of the series, is a Gerudo.
The Gerudo live primarily in the desert of Hyrule, which is referred to as the Gerudo Desert. Their territory is marked with an intricately designed fortress, which is constantly guarded.
Several hints in Ocarina of Time explain that Gerudo women are often found looking for Hylian men, assumedly for reproduction purposes. In fact, when wearing the Gerudo Mask and talking to Talon, he will remark the mask looks like Malon's mother. Immediately thereafter he denies it though.Gerudo women are generally short-tempered and aggressive, willing to take on any man trespassing on their ground.
Notable Gerudo
Keaton
Keatons are fictional fox characters that appear in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. However, they are real creatures in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. They are magical creatures that bear the appearance of a golden fox with three tails. They also sport black fur at the tips of their ears and tails. The most distinctive feature about these creatures is their closed or slanted eyes. Keatons recognize each other by the sheen of their tails, as explained by the Keaton in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. In the game if you wear the Keaton mask and pick up a bush that is surrounded by other bushes, a Keaton will ask you trivial questions. If you get them all right it will give you a prize. They are based on the kitsune of japanese mythology.
Strangely enough, in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, the Keatons are enemies. They are more humanoid, have a brown or grey fur and don't seem to have more than one tail. They are thieves that will attack Link on sight.
Kokiri
Kokiri are a humanoid fairy folk from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time who inhabit the Kokiri Forest. Cautious, child-like, and secretive, the Kokiri believe that they will die if they leave the forest (this is contradicted by the Kokiri appearing in the Lon Lon Ranch in one scene, however; it is implied in other ways that this misinformation has been fed to them by the Great Deku Tree). Therefore, most Kokiri never leave the forest and know nothing about the outside world and instead only the magics of the forest. Though they appear as children, the Kokiri are actually ageless and never grow old. This idea could be influenced by the story of Peter Pan as he never grew old and had a guardian fairy watching over him. Each Kokiri has a guardian fairy that plays the role of friend, parent, guardian, and teacher. They are watched over by the Great Deku Tree, and later Saria, the Sage of Forest. Mido is a bully and the boss of all the Kokiri. He's always insulting Link as a child, saying that he'll never be one of the Kokiri, and is apparently jealous that he is favored by Saria and the Great Deku Tree. After completing the "Inside the Great Deku Tree" quest, the Deku Tree dies by the evil that was inside him. Mido blames Link that he killed the tree, and told the other Kokiri that he did it, also. Saria, however, stood up for Link in his defense. Later in the game, once Link is a young adult and returns to the Kokiri Forest for the Forest Temple quest, Link enters the Lost Woods to find Mido blocking off Link's path to the rest of the journey towards the Sacred Forest Meadow, saying that no one's allowed in there by the orders of Saria, which is then when Link plays Saria's Song, making Mido realize that he and Saria must be friends, and lets him go on ahead. Besides Saria, Mido seems to be the only Kokiri who thinks that adult Link might possibly be the young Link he once knew, but is skeptical. After the Forest Temple is completed, Mido asks him to apologize to Link the next time he saw him, the younger version of Link he knew, for the Kokiri never grow up, and says that he's sorry for being so mean to him. He was about to say that Saria liked him, but never finished his thought, making players believe that Saria had some sort of crush towards Link as a child. In the Manga, it's been confimed that Kokiri feed on the fruit of the forest.
The Kokiri are "the spirits of the forest" and were probably created by the Deku Tree. Kokiri always wear green tunics and have pointy ears. The males wear green hats and the females have green headbands. It is possible for a Kokiri to have green hair, hence Saria's hair. There have been two records of Kokiri sages known to have aided the legendary hero Link. The first is Saria, the Sage of Forest, whom was awakened by the Hero of Time after Link completed the Forest Temple. The other is Fado, the Sage of Wind, who appears in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Also known for his excellent skill with the violin, Fado stayed in the Wind Temple and prayed for the Master Sword, until he was killed by the evil Ganondorf, who removed his soul. Fado does not make an appearance in the Kokiri Forest in Ocarina of Time for some reason, but instead has a recycled name from another Kokiri who had the name first: the blonde, twin-bunned female on the large stump in the Kokiri Forest whose name isn't revealed in the game. An interesting note is that all named Kokiri, except for Saria because she was named after a town from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, have their names created from the concatenation of 2 words from the solfege musical scale "do re mi fa so la ti do." Mido = Mi + Do. Fado = Fa + Do. It is worthy of mention that even then, all the letters in Saria's name can also be found in the solfege musical scale, with no overlapping letters ("S" from So, "A" from Fa, "R" from Re, "I" from Ti, and "A" from La).
Notable Kokiri
Skull Kids - The Kokiri's Counterparts
The "Skull Kids", a race that plays the flute and appear in the Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess, are suggested (by Navi) to be what Kokiri become if they get lost in the woods and can't get back out. She also describes them as "unhappy not to have a face". However, Skull Kids are not the only example of creatures being warped by Kokiri Forest; according to a young Kokiri named Fado, that Link meets on one of his sidequests, Hylians become Stalfos when they get lost in the forest. Skull Kids seem to be somewhat undead like a Stalfos or Stalchild and are often described as imps.
Koroks
Koroks are a race from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. They come from an area called the Forest Haven, but spend most of their lives away from it. They have wooden-like bodies (somewhat similar to Deku Scrubs) and wear what look like masks made from various types of leaves, as they have no real face, as can be seen by positioning the camera to look behind the leaf (Although this could just be a graphical oversight). Koroks are very light, and can travel on the wind by using sprouts as propellers.
Most Koroks actually spend most of their lives far away from Forest Haven, planting the seeds of the Great Deku Tree; they only return to Forest Haven once a year, for an annual ceremony held when the Great Deku Tree bears seeds so they can take off again. The only Koroks that do not leave are Makar (who plays his violin at the ceremony) and Hollo (who studies potion-making and uses Boko Baba Seeds to concoct his brews).
The Great Deku Tree states that the Koroks once had different forms, and Makar (a Korok) carries the same violin that once belonged to Fado, the Sage of Wind (a Kokiri), and is destined to be his successor. This information seems to suggest that the Koroks are the descendants of the Kokiri.
Notable Koroks
Minish (Picori)
Minish (known to Hyruleans as Picori) first appeared in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. They are a tiny race the size of a thumb, who came from another world and later settled in Hyrule; this world can be reached when a door within Hyrule Castle courtyard opens once every century. It is said that when monsters threatened mankind, the Minish gave a legendary sword and a golden light to a courageous man, now known as the Hero of Men, destined to ward off the monsters. They have faded into a Santa Claus-like myth over the past century, with parents telling children that they are only seen by good, well behaved children, and most adults doubt their existence. However, the Royal Family of Hyrule guards the secret that the Minish do exist, and that they have small societies all over Hyrule that are accessible via shrinking portals.. Most of the Minish in Hyrule came from the first portal opening and seem uninterested in returning to their world. The Minish exist to please humans; hence they stay in Hyrule to help humans with day to day tasks such as shoe making and bread baking. Also, it is known that the Minish placed objects under rocks and weeds to "please people", which explains how the objects such as Rupees and items appeared under said objects in the previous games. There are several different types of Minish, defined by where they live.
Types of Minish
- Forest Minish - They are the most common type of Minish found in Hyrule. They delight in making humans happy by hiding helpful items and Rupees under grass and rocks all over Hyrule. They also harvest Pico Blooms and leave them where humans can find them (human use the Pico Bloom's nectar to make Picolyte). Forest Minish often wear red caps. Some Forest Minish appear to wear clothes made from grass & leaves, others do not. Some also appear to have feather-like tails.
- Town Minish - These Minish like humans so much that they moved from Minish Village into Hyrule Castle Town itself. They make their homes in the rafters and walls of buildings in the Town of Hyrule. They try to make humans happy, though it sometimes backfires. Some even work alongside humans (usually without their knowledge), like in Rem's Shoe Store (a reference to the folkloric myth of small fairies or brownies helping cobblers in the night). In Wheaton & Pita Bakery, the Town Minish may be responsible for the Kinstones sometimes being found in the Bakery's pastries. Town Minish wear clothes made from fibers. Their clothes come in different color the most common of which is blue. Other colors include: Red, Brownish-green, & pink. The rarest color (according to one Minish) is yellow. Town Minish also don't seem to have feather-like tail at all.
- Mountain Minish - A rare type of Minish that live in Mount Crenel. There are seven Mountain Minish (eight including their mentor/leader Melari). These seven Minish are the students of Melari that followed him from their home in Minish Village to Mount Crenel so they could be closer to the iron ore they use in their metallurgy. As a result their lives revolve around mining ore & working with metal. They seem to wear eye-protectors and appear to be much stronger than other Minish. They seem to enjoy singing while they work, so much so that they created the "Ting Tong Song". The song goes as follows:
"Ting along, tong along!
Dig along fer iron!"
"Ting along, tong along!
Dig down, Dig around!
Dig the ground fer iron!
"Ting along, tong along!
Deep down, dig down!
Dig joy in the ground!"
"Ting along, tong along!
Diggin' holes for Kinstones!"
"Ting along, tong along!
It's time for a sleeping song!"
Their song and appearance is actually a sign that they are full-fledged Mountain Minish now.
- Otherworld Minish/Ancient Picori - Are a type of Minish that live in a world that exists outside the world of Hyrule. All the Minish that exist in Hyrule are descended from this group of Minish, as the Minish themselves are not of Hyrulean origin. These Minish were responsible for the creation of both the legendary Picori Blade & the Mythical Light Force. They seem extremely knowledgeable in magic and ways to combat evil. None of these Picori appear in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Some people have suggested that Vaati and Ezlo are Otherworld Minish, but since they both did not know where the only portal between the Minish World and Hyrule was located, it's unlikely they are. The ancestral Picori (Minish) are honored once a year in Hyrule during the Picori Festival.
Notable Minish (Picori)
Oocca
The Oocca are a race living in the sky. They look like yellow Cuccos with a pale humanlike head. Their children look like small pale humanlike heads with wings. They were first introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
Not much is known about them. They live in the City in the Sky, but it's unclear if they have always lived there. At least, unlike the Zoras who built Zoras' Domain or the Hylians who built Castle Town and Hyrule Castle, the Oocca don't seem to maintain the City in the Sky. It's in pretty bad shape and a lot of the damage can not be caused by Argorok. The city also doesn't seem designed for them and the Oocca Ooccoo couldn't even get back without the help of Link. It is also implied by Shad that it were the Oocca who created the Hylians. This doesn't match with the idea that the Hylians were created after the image of the Goddesses. It's possible he's mixing them up with another race. It is known though that the Oocca once had good contact with the royal Hylian Family.
Notable Oocca
Rito
The Rito (or "Bird People") are a race of bird-like humanoids in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Their main habitat is on Dragon Roost Island, in which all known Rito reside. They have a tribal elder, with numerous followers and elaborately dressed guards. They are believed to be relatives of the Zoras of Ocarina of Time. No Rito is born with wings, and must visit the tribes' guardian, the great dragon Valoo, to receive one of his scales which enables them to grow wings. It is a coming of age ceremony of the Rito, to journey to the great Valoo to receive their scale. Children with no wings are called chicks. Rito are viewed upon by outsiders somewhat dubiously. Some have an inexplicable bigotry directed towards them, perhaps out of jealousy. Still, Rito are widely accepted as mail carriers, as only they can traverse the seas without cumbersome ships. Rito are capable of flying quickly, and full-grown members can carry humans for a short time. The Rito may be inspired by the Watarara race in one of the Zelda mangas (generally considered not to be canon). These people were more like giant birds than humans, but had a similar gaining of wings past a certain age and the same chieftain leadership structure. Rito resemble condors, and seem to have some relation with the Andean culture: males have dark skin and the main theme of the Rito Island contains some andean instruments such as zampoña (aka pan pipes) and charango.
One Rito, Medli, tells Link that the Rito were once without wings, and it is also revealed in the game that she is a descendant of the Zora sage Laruto. Though, in the Japanese text of The Wind Waker, "descendant" is not used in the context of a direct relative, but rather Makar and Medli are descendants of the Sage Bloodline. It should also be noted that the sages seem to be able to pass down their power and responsibility as seen in the maidens of A Link to the Past. This is also considerable when taking into account that it has been implied by a gossip stone that Kaepora Gaebora, from Ocarina of Time, was the reincarnation of a sage. Additionally, one of the Rito postman's figurines says he is descendant of a famous post man. The postman in question bears a strong resemblance to the postman in Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess and the rabbit-obbsessive runner in Ocarina of Time. Curiously, but fittingly, they would seem to have been messenger-people even before their deal with Valoo. The word Rito may be a play on "tori", the Japanese word for bird.
Notable Rito
Subrosians
Subrosians are a mysterious race from the subterranean world of Subrosia, featured in the game The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons. They have large, glowing eyes, come to Link's knee in height, and always wear hooded cloaks, somewhat like Jawas. In Subrosia, their currency is "ore chunks" instead of rupees. They are nearly impervious to heat, and can often be seen "hot-tubbing" in lava pools. Subrosians also do a dance called the Subrosian Dance. If one does the Subrosian Dance well he can win many prizes such as a Boomerang and the Strange flute. They find outsiders strange and sometimes do not even understand their Logic. The world of Subrosia is connected to the land of Holodrum through a number of vortex-looking portals. The Temple of Seasons, which was thought to vanish when Onox made it sink into the ground, was instead to be found in Subrosia. Link must return to this temple four times in order to complete the quest. In Subrosia there is a Smithy where Subrosians combine Blue Ore and Red Ore to create Hard Ore, a rare raw material used to make special items such as an Iron Shield. They supposedly reappear in the Tingle RPG.
Notable Subrosians
Tokay
Tokay are a race of lizard people who live on an island off the coast of Labrynna. The name 'Tokay' is derived from a species of gecko. They value possessions and are often quite deceitful. Tokays steal the player's items when Link becomes shipwrecked on their island in the Oracle of Ages. In order to retrieve his stolen items, Link plays minigames and trades with the Tokays. Because they have never been off Crescent Island, they think that outsiders are tokay as well (They refer to Link as a "Strange Tokay"). The Tokay once played a game called Wild Tokay, where one person throws chunks of meat to a number of passing Tokay. A prize was to be given to the player if he managed to throw meat to each of the Tokay. The Tokay also reapear in Legend of Zelda twilight princess as enemies hiding in giant bubbles.
Twili
Twili are descendants of the sorcerors that attempted to seize control of the Sacred Realm after the creation of the Triforce. They were seized by the three Goddesses, Din, Nayru, and Farore, with the aid of the Light Spirits, and banished to a purgatory known as the Twilight Realm. Over a long period of time, the Twili have evolved from their original forms to a unique, demon-like, but gentle-looking race. Two major characters of Twilight Princess, Zant and Midna, are members of this race. During Zant's quest for kingship, many of the Twili were transformed into small, imp-like creatures or shadow beasts, leaving Link to revert those still capable of becoming Twili to their normal selves. In this true form their skin is mostly black with markings on their bodies reminiscient of patterns seen in the Twilight Realm. Their faces, necks, and chests tend to be gray in a marked contrast to the rest of their bodies. The Twili have a stretched appearance, with long limbs, necks, and heads, and great variances in overall height and girth. It also appears that common Twili are incapable of speaking Hylian (the primary language of those who dwell in Hyrule) and appear to only be able utter a moan when Link draws near (it is speculated that this is their native language).
Notable Twili
Yeti
The Yeti live in the colder northern regions of Hyrule. They were first introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
(Since in the game only two Yeti appear, it's hard to say whether other Yeti also look like them.) The males are quite big, easily two times the size of a Human and have a big, beaverlike tail. Their fur is white. The males are very strong and can easily knock members of other races down. The female on the other hand is only a bit bigger than a Human and has no tail. It's unknown how strong the females are.
Yeti speak Hylian, but not very fluently. Though thought to be large man-eating monsters, the Yeti are actually kindhearted and generous. Yeto makes Reekfish soup and offers Link to fill a bottle with it as many times as he likes. He kindly tells Link he looks delicious in his wolf form but decides against making him into a meal, as he already has plenty of food. Yeta gives Link a map of their mansion to help him find the Mirror Shard and points out the direction he should go next to find it, though her instructions are wrong the first few times as the shard has mysteriously made her sick.
Notable Yeti
Zoras
Zoras were originally fire-breathing aquatic enemies that appeared in the earlier, two-dimensional games of the series. With the arrival of Ocarina of Time, Zoras were reintroduced as a more intelligent, anthropomorphic race of peaceful creatures with a developed culture and society. As of Oracle of Ages, official terminology has been defined to differentiate the two species; the hostile enemies are known as "river Zoras" and the kindly humanoids are called "sea Zoras" (in the 3D Zelda games, Octoroks often serve the same purpose as the river Zoras).[4]. It is generally accepted that "Zora" refers to sea Zoras, as they are the more prominent of the two species, whereas river Zoras have been given other names such as "Zora's spawn" or "Zolas". The Oracle games are the only two games to feature both river and sea Zoras, and elaborate on the difference between them. It is likely that, given the inspiration for Princess Zelda's name (Zelda Fitzgerald), the name of the race was inspired by Zora Neale Hurston. [citation needed]
Biology
Zoras resemble other marine creatures in their body structure. Many do not wear clothing, though certain members of their species do wear human dress, or (as shown in Twilight Princess) where a helmet that completely incases their head as shown with the guards. They are generally covered in silver scales, which give them a pale blue sheen from a distance, and they have dark blue spots on their extremities. Where humans might have long hair, average Zoras have rear-hanging caudal extensions of their heads shaped like the tails of dolphins, perhaps as a cephalized form of dorsal fin. These tails undulate periodically, which gives a Zora's head the unique semblance of a fish. Zoras have two large ulnar fins located distally on their forearms, and some have smaller fins at their ankles. They are sometimes depicted as having webbed feet and hands. They lack ears in the traditional sense, but do have pronounced noses. In previous games in the series, Zoras had no visible gills, yet could breathe underwater, but in Twilight Princess, Zoras had gills on their abdomen, analogous to the placement of lungs on a human. As with Deku Scrubs and Gorons, Zoras who are important to the storyline are physically distinct from the general public.
The gender of common Zoras is not well defined in the video games, as their physical appearance is not wholly conclusive on the matter. Princess Ruto, however, is notably female, having a distincly wider head with a second lateral pair of eyes (or possibly external eardrums) and a semblance of breasts, which more clearly define her femininity if not serving any practical use. In addition, a Zora queen in Twilight Princess is also female, as well as having a distinct red coloration, though she appeared as a ghost and thus her color in life would not be known. As far as appearances are considered, it is possible that all common Zoras are male and that only a few females exist or are seen — the distinctly mentioned in the games are Princess Ruto, Lulu and Laruto. In Twilight Princess, a Zora reffered to as 'she' helps with the river boat-rental on the Zora River. Although in Twilight Princess the Zoras had clearly female vocalisation, when the character listened to them.
Certain other features of the Zoran anatomy are revealed when the player can inhabit the body of the Zora Mikau in Majora's Mask. When Link assumes his streamlined Zoran form he can swim with great ease and agility, using his forearm fins to perform barrel rolls or to jump out of the water. Moreover, these fins are specialized for Link's fighting needs. They can grow larger to serve as sharp-edged weapons similar to swords, and even be projected as twin boomerangs; they retract again when not in use. Link's right fin also grows to become his shield when defending. Additionally, Zoras who possess magical power have the ability to create electric fields around their bodies as a defense mechanism when swimming, much like electric eels. This ability has only been seen/used in Majora's Mask, however, and it is unknown whether the ability will appear in later games. All Zoras are powerful swimmers (in fact, powerful enough to swim up waterfalls).
It is also revealed in Majora's Mask that Zoras lay eggs to reproduce. Zora eggs need to be kept in cold, clean water in order to develop healthily, and every egg from the same clutch must be kept together in order for them to hatch. Newborn Zoras are tadpole-like with a circular body and a long, skinny tail ending in a fluke.
Culture
Zoran life revolves around water, and though they can live both on land and in the water, they prefer the water. Beyond routine swimming and fishing activities, Zoras are very reverent and respectful to nature and other races while maintaining their own cultural identity in seclusion. In Ocarina of Time, they possess the Zora's Sapphire, the Spiritual Stone of Water, and are thus an integral part of Hyrulean history. Zoras are also known to enjoy music, such as the stylings of "The Indigo-Go's." It is also revealed in Twilight Princess that Kakariko Village is sacred to the Zora and that it is where all Zoras go to be buried when they die, if there are no complications in getting there.
Zora government is monarchial. King Zora was present in Ocarina of Time, and Princess Ruto is his daughter (although, in Twilight Princess, after unfreezing part of Lake Hylia, a ghost of a Queen, named Queen Rutela, asks you to find and save her son, Prince Ralis. Rutela also mentions that her husband, King Zora, died some time ago). King Zora's wife is not present in Ocarina of Time, however. Among other details, he is responsible for maintaining order among his people, overseeing care for Jabu-Jabu and assuring that the waters upon which he and all creatures rely are clean and pure.
Zoras honor Lord Jabu-Jabu as their guardian and water spirit. As such, he is often assigned attendants to feed him with smaller fish and care for his well-being. He is immensely large to the point that one could become lost in his innards, which are often the location of dungeons in the series. Jabu-Jabu's supposed incarnation in The Wind Waker, Jabun, is likewise a revered water spirit and protector of the seas, and thus would also serve as the object of the Zoras' worship. However, since Zoras do not appear in that particular game, it is really unknown whether Jabun is important to the plot or merely someone to give Link Nayru's Pearl and send him on his way.
A common greeting used between Zoras is "Are the fins damp lately?" Also, it is not smart to use water analogies with Zoras.
Locations
Zoras have appeared in different places throughout the games of the series:
- In Ocarina of Time, Zoras primarily reside in Zora's Domain, while some appear in Lake Hylia where the Water Temple is situated. Although they do not reside in the sea, they are of the same species as the sea Zoras and are the only species of the two present in the game. Princess Ruto and King Zora appear in this game as the royalty overseeing Zora's Domain. King Zora holds sway over the waterways of Hyrule, notably Zora's River, and made a concord with the king of Hyrule to keep the river pure in return for peaceful seclusion at its headwaters. Lord Jabu-Jabu lives within Zora's Fountain, the source of Zora's River, with Princess Ruto as his dutiful caretaker.
- In Majora's Mask, Zoras are found primarily in Zora Hall in the Great Bay, which is more of a concert hall than a residence like Zora's Domain. The Zoran royalty and culture of Hyrule is not paralleled in Termina, where the only unique Zoras are the members of the band "The Indigo-Go's". It is notable, however, that the lead singer Lulu is Princess Ruto's Terminan counterpart. It is possible that other Zoras and Zora homes are found further out in the bay or at sea, beyond the boundary of where Link can swim.
- In Oracle of Ages, most Zoras live in Zora Village, a small underwater settlement in the western Zora Seas, which Link can access with the Mermaid Suit. In this village, King Zora rules from his underwater palace near where Jabu-Jabu is enshrined, but Princess Ruto is conspicuously absent. In Present time, King Zora has perished due to Veran's poisonous bubbles on the sea. He is still alive in the Past, albeit gravely ill, while Jabu-Jabu is still a baby. In Link's quest for the Essences of Time, it is his duty to cure King Zora in the Past in order to be granted access to the mature Jabu-Jabu's belly in the Present. A few Zoras live outside of Zora Village, including a lone, elderly Zora in a grotto on the Coast of No Return and a Zora in a linked game of Oracle of Seasons, who both provide items that help power up Link's arsenal. Notably the old Zora was the one to find Link's broken "Noble Sword" and in the linked game, Zora royalty must also "sharpen" it to become the Master Sword, implying King Zora may be of the same bloodline as Ruto.
- In Twilight Princess, Zoras again primarily reside in Zora's Domain, while some appear in Lake Hylia. Although they do not reside in the sea, they are of the same species as the sea Zoras and are the only species of the two present in the game. Zoras are first seen as spirits when Link falls into the mostly dried out Lake Hylia, and it is later turned out that the rest have been frozen solid in Zora's Domain (which also stopped the water flow). Link eventually saves the Zoras from the ice, and meets the ghost of Rutela, a Zora Queen who was executed by Zant. She tells Link to save her injured son, Prince Ralis, which Link eventually does. Rutela then gives him the Zora Armor, which is necessary to get into the Zora's sacred Lakebed Temple.
The Wind Waker and evolution
Zoras do not inhabit the Great Sea in The Wind Waker. In the game Medli (a Rito) is awakened as a sage of the Earth Temple; it is earlier revealed by the former Earth Sage Laruto, a female Zora, that the new sage would carry on her bloodline and, by extension, that of the Zoras. This could imply that the Rito decended from the Zora. Supportive evidence to this theory includes the Zora's royal insignia, Zora's Sapphire, which appears on Medli's clothes and Komali's necklace, and the use of royal titles (such as Prince Komali) as the Zoras do in their culture. This may also be based on the myth about the half bird/half woman hybrids, the sirens, evolving into mermaids and vice versa. Nevertheless, fans are often at odds on this issue, as is still unknown if the Rito naturally evolved from Zoras or succeeded them by other, possibly magical or divine means. One theory suggests that only the River Zoras evolved into the Rito, since the majority of the water is salt water. In The Wind Waker they must have evolved to survive without fresh water, and thus into the Rito. However, it should be noted that River Zoras are monsters (also known as Zolas) whereas the peaceful humanoid Zoras are in fact the sea Zoras. It should also be noted that in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, the Zoras live in the sea without any problems. Another is that, due to the Great Sea having no fish, the Zora died out or evolved into Rito with perhaps the help of Valoo. It is possible that Valoo transformed the Zora, so that they could not re-discover Hyrule. However, all seven of the maidens from A Link to the Past were human despite the races of the original seven. Since the figurine of one of the Rito suggest that he is a descendant of the Hylian Running Man.
Notable Zoras
Zuna
In Four Swords Adventures, a green-skinned race that lived near the Gerudo but deeper into the desert was introduced. The Zunas ancestors were the builders of the Pyramid and may be creators of the Trident of Power found inside the Pyramid. The inscription on the stone tablet behind the Trident shows that it was designed for evil purposes by an evil race. One of the maidens says to Link that a dark tribe tried to invade Hyrule, but were defeated and sealed inside the Dark Mirror, found inside the Temple of Darkness. It seems to fit that the evil tribe that was sealed inside the Dark Mirror, are the Zunas ancestors, as they may have used their Trident to attempt to take over Hyrule. But there is no real evidence to support this theory. The Zunas dress is quite different to that of the Gerudo: some of them wear white ankle-length cloaks and a white turban that has what appears to be a Roc's Feather sticking out of the top. Others wear red ankle-length cloaks that cover their mouths and a red turban that has a red headress hanging down from it. There is also a small white flower atop the red turban.
Though no Zuna in Four Swords Adventures is worthy of the title "notable", some people have suggested that Agahnim, one of the main enemies in A Link To The Past, is in fact a Zuna. His clothes and skincolour match the description of the Zunas. Four Swords Adventures seems to be very close in time and theme to A Link To The Past making it also possible storywise.
See also
References
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