This one's outdated, updated version below. Spoiler (Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content) Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler Race:Sea Zora Sea Zora are a playable race on Hyrule Castle. As one of the fourteen common races, any player can choose to make a Sea Zora character. Since Sea Zora are considered a human-race, a Sea Zora is detested by most monster-races. The Sea Zora are generally not welcome in any society of monster-races, and will likely be attacked on sight if attempting to even approach one. Canonically, the distinct type of civilized Zora known as Sea Zora initially appeared in Ocarina of Time. They are separate from the more monstrous variety of Zora known as River Zora. Despite their similar heritage and names, River Zora and Sea Zora consider themselves as different from each other as night and day. Character Creation Brief Sea Zora (often simply called Zora) are the most prominent amphibious race of humanoids in and around the mainland of Hyrule. While their namesake may indicate otherwise, Sea Zora are able to thrive in both salt water and fresh water, although they may prefer the prior. Despite this, the largest settlement of Zora is the Zora's Domain of Lake Hylia, a freshwater city, but they may also be found in other settlements throughout the rivers and tributaries of Hyrule, as well as the Great Sea. While Sea Zora and River Zora are technically similar races and share common ancestry, it is a grave mistake to consider them one and the same. Sea Zora view their cousins as bloodthirsty, mad savages who know only violence. By contrast, River Zora look at their relatives as arrogant fools who don't understand the importance of survival of the fittest. Sea Zora physicality is as diverse as the family of creatures called fish. Some will attain an adult height of only a few inches taller than a typical Hylian, where others may grow to nearly twice that height. Sea Zora may have scales of a variety of colours and fins of various shapes. The primary language spoken by Sea Zora is Zoran, but most also speak Hyrulean as well, due to the latter’s expansive use across the land. Needless to say, Sea Zora are far more accustomed to living, moving and fighting underwater, and have a natural advantage over races that are not and cannot naturally become amphibious. Sea Zora are very dependant on water, as their gills must remain moist in order to breathe and survive. A Sea Zora begins with a PWC of 1/2/1, having a 2 in Wisdom. This starting PWC can be defied by using the Exception racial perk during character creation. Every Sea Zora inherently has two innate racial perks: Amphibious and Zora Weakness. On top of those two, a Sea Zora character can have up to three racial perks of choice. In addition to the general perks available to every race, a Sea Zora can also choose from: Aquatic Affinity: a trait which makes it easier for the Sea Zora to gain Water-based treasures Boomerang Fins: a technique enabling the Sea Zora to grow, wield, and throw razor-sharp fins as natural weaponry Electric Aura: an offensive ability which momentarily surrounds the Sea Zora in an electrifying barrier Hookshot: a mechanical grappling hook and weapon, favored for its ability to function underwater Magic Proficiency: a trait which enables the Sea Zora to start with more Wisdom-based treasures Sonata of Soothing: a well-known magical song among Sea Zoras, which can heal wounds when played well Recommended Origins If you've never made a character before and intend to make a Sea Zora, you may take inspiration from one of the following three origins. If you've made a character before, these example origins may provide inspiration for your character. Citizen of Zora's Domain All your life, you have lived in Zora's Domain, a peaceful and majestic stronghold on the bottom of Lake Hylia. It's been a comfortable underwater life, where you've likely remained safe and perhaps even completely untouched by the invasion of Ganon. Like most of your Sea Zora kin, your pursuits have probably been peaceful up until now, whether you were part of the Zora Guard, a member of one of the popular Zora musical bands, took your time studying magic, or something else entirely. A Citizen of Zora's Domain begins with a PWC of 1/2/1, with 4 additional points distributed as you see fit. Its racial perks include Amphibious, Zora Weakness, Electric Aura , Magic Proficiency, and Sonata of Soothing. Eastern Sea Zora Brothers to the Zora of Lake Hylia, you and your people have lived instead in the depths of the Great Sea for centuries. The harsh environment under such depths has caused your people to become both hardy and stronger than your cousins. Not only are you constantly coping with immense water pressure, but deep-sea Octorocks and other oceanic monsters have needed to be warded off regularly by you or your fellow Zora. While your life isn't as peaceful as those of the Domain, it has been no less rewarding. A Citizen of Zora's Domain begins with a PWC of 1/2/1, with 4 additional points distributed as you see fit. Its racial perks include Amphibious, Zora Weakness, Electric Aura , Hookshot, and Boomerang Fins. Physiology While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's appearance and biology. While Sea Zora are a two-gender race, the differences are subtle to those who don't live among them. When Zora give birth, several soft eggs are produced at once. In the rare instance a Sea Zora mates with a River Zora, the offspring typically take after the mother; it is seemingly impossible to make a hybrid which shares qualities of both Sea and River Zora. An infant Sea Zora takes on the shape of a pale tadpole-like creature (as opposed to a darker River Zora tadpole) which can't leave water, until it develops a more humanoid shape during childhood. A Zora matures and ages at a rate nearly identical to a Hylian. A Zora reaches adulthood slightly before the age of 20. Sea Zora tend towards more slender and sleek forms compared to Hylians, and especially compared to bulkier River Zora. Because a typical Zora lives its childhood and in some case almost its entire life underwater, it often takes a Zora a great deal of effort and training to move above water as skillfully as a Hylian does, but many adventurers and travelers accomplish this adaptation. The size of a Sea Zora may vary greatly between individuals, with the “average height” of a Sea Zora anywhere between 6 to 8 feet tall. On very infrequent occasions will a Sea Zora grow to gargantuan proportions; this usually occurs only in the wealthy or venerated, as Sea Zora tend to remain slender and muscular from the exertion of constant swimming. These extraordinarily large individuals typically have difficulty with movement ordinary Zora excel at. The majority of Zora have long caudal fins extending backwards from their skull, usually resembling the tail of a dolphin, but some have unusual variations that may cause their fin to resemble different varieties of marine life. The reason for this is unknown. Sea Zora’s gills are located along their sides between their ribs, allowing the passage of water away from their lungs. Different genealogies of Sea Zora have contributed various colourations and minor traits to the modern gene pool, commonly separated into three main groups analogous to ethnic differences in Hylians. The first are covered uniformly in scales of either white or blue, with prominent beak-like noses and deep black eyes lacking visible sclera. This group is more distinct from the other two, which are quite similar. The second and third both tend to have warmer hues of scales and a white or cream underbelly, as well as having brightly coloured eyes. The main distinguishing trait lays in facial structure; the second often has a vestigial rostrum that may be mistaken for a prominent forehead and flat nose, while the third has an undeniable, large rostrum extending forward. These sets of traits may be intermingled in a vast variety of combinations. All three have slender fins at the forearms, and many have smaller fins at the legs, with flipper-like feet. Skilled Zora are able to harden these fins into blades, for use in combat. While smaller communities of Sea Zora may have kept these three physicalities separated, the main community in Zora’s Domain makes no such distinction, and many Sea Zora have blends of various traits from any and all of the three above varieties. Unlike River Zora, a Sea Zora's body is particularly susceptible to drying up from flames, and is highly flammable. Any fire-based attack against them is known to be particularly effective. River Zora have adapted by widely mastering the Fire spell to exploit this, while Sea Zora themselves have made widespread use of Electric Aura to target the River Zora's own weakness to electric shocks. Culture While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's habitats and society. Sea Zora typically speak Zoran, a language best spoken underwater but suitable for land communication as well; however, the closeness of their race to the Hyrulean kingdom resulted in most Sea Zora also learning the Hylian language. As a result, most Sea Zora are bilingual. The aftermath of the Imprisoning War caused Sea Zora to be labeled a "human race" in Hyrule. As a result, they are generally on good terms with other human races, particularly Hylians. By contrast, they have such disdain with so-called "monster races" that is isn't abnormal to attack them on sight. A typical Sea Zora's disdain for any River Zora is particularly high, as it has been for centuries. Sea Zora are monarchal, with one’s allegiance to the Zoran monarch often more pronounced the closer they reside to the home kingdom. The most prominent Sea Zora societies in Hyrule include the Kingdom of Zora's Domain, and underwater cities throughout Great Bay. Outside of Hyrule, the simply named Zora Village off the coast of Labrynna is the most well-known. There are numerous smaller settlements that are widespread throughout any underwater or water-adjacent locations. With the notable exception of Lake Hylia, Sea Zoras prefer to avoid entering freshwater, as such locations are the ancestral domain of their enemies the River Zora. Sea Zora are also typically at least somewhat spiritual, often aligning with respect or worship of the Zoran great fish-deity Jabu-Jabu, the Hylian wisdom goddess Nayru, or both, with some sects representing the two as a syncretic dual deity, most commonly referred to as Jabu-Nayru. Worship of Jabu-Jabu was the primary instigator in the ancient split between the two Zora species. Both types of Zora believe that their original patron deity was the great fish, Jabun, who passed away centuries ago. Sea Zora believe he was reincarnated as Jabu-Jabu, whereas River Zora believe this to be sacrilegious, and that Jabun is irreplaceable. Sea Zora share a rich culture that prioritises value and creation. Many Sea Zora are well-known for practicing esoteric magic, and the role of the arts is deeply enshrined in Zoran culture. Use of both traditional Zoran musical instruments and those adopted by other races is an important aspect of Zoran life. The music of an all-Zora band, the Indigo-Go's, is famous throughout Hyrule and all the known world. There are also Sea Zora warriors, particularly in those settlements that have above-ground elements; however, for many the underwater nature of their homes keeps them safe from attack by land-based enemies and monsters. While some places do still experience danger from water-dwelling foes, this relative safety allows many to experience a peaceful lifestyle. History While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's origins and development. Ancient fossils suggest that thousands and thousands of years ago, an ice age tore through the ecosystem of the planet. It is believed this sudden change in climate caused an unnamed aquatic race to divert into a branched evolution, which at the very least created what would become three separate races--the Parella, a reptilian race, and the Zora themselves. It is known that at one point all Zora worshipped a great fish known as Jabun, who they held to be the sacred Patron Deity for their entire race. As few written records exist from this time, much information regarding Jabun's legacy has been lost to time, but he was widely reverred among at least the Zora race. For reasons unknown, Jabun died at some point during the ice age--making him one of few deities who permanently deceased without resurrection. Some Zora insisted that Jabun reincarnated to another create fish, christened Jabu-Jabu, while others insisted this was a false god, and sacreligious to the memory of Jabun. In time, this difference in belief would cause the race to evolve divergently into the present-day Sea Zora (following Jabu-Jabu) and River Zora (venerating Jabun). Near the end of the ice age, the Parella stayed in deep oceans and remained purely aquatic, while the reptilians adapted to land and become almost entirely terrestrial. The Zora themselves were the only ones to become wholly amphibious, living primarily on saltwater coasts and freshwater reservoirs on and near a continent that would later become known as Hyrule. Due to religious differences regarding Jabun and Jabu-Jabu, Zora decided to inhabit different locations to avoid a disastrous religious war. Those who believed in Jabu-Jabu settled in saltwater became sleeker, more light colored Sea Zora. Those who viewed Jabu-Jabu as sacreligious settled primarily in freshwater would evolve into a darker, stockier tace known as River Zora. Despite this widespread agreement to diverge into two separate peoples, River Zora and Sea Zora shared a mutual disdain that could hardly be contained. Small, localized battles and hateful acts would occur between them in the centuries which followed, even continuing into modern day. As Sea Zora spread, they encroached upon freshwater lands. Somewhat ironically, their greatest settlement, Zora's Domain, was founded and still exists today in the freshwater reservoir of what would become known as Lake Hylia, which eventually became a kingdom in its own right. Eventually, this was paralleled by a River Zora kingdom established in Eyeglass Lake. The Hylian race, which was only just beginning to expand into the sea, discovered the Zora race on the very outskirts of their society. At the time, the Hylians were beginning to settle the continent of Labyrinna, which was the most western portion of Zora expansion. It is through this encounter that Hylians made contact with the aptly named Zora Village, and thereby learn the distinction between Sea Zora and River Zora. At that time, they intended to remain neutral in the Zora conflict. In the years which followed, however, Hylians expanded further and further into Labyrinna and Hyrule, lands which surrounded the ancestral homes of both Sea and River Zora. As a result, over the course of a century, both forms of Zora and their kingdoms would put increasing pressure on the settling Hylians to choose a side. Ultimately they sided with Sea Zoras, who the King Hyrule of the time decided had more in common with the Hylian people. Unsurprisingly, this summoned outrage across all River Zora, and further deepened the rift between the two races. While Sea Zora as a whole became an ally of the Hylian Kingdom, River Zora began to ritualistically attack Hylians on sight out of sheer contempt. In time, Sea Zora and Hylians delegated River Zora to the status of mere monsters--no different than Moblins or Lynels. As Hylians rapidly encroached through Hyrule, they settled and overtook territory that was once inhabited by what they called monsters--including the fresh waters and swamps that had traditionally belonged to River Zora. In time, the race would come to only find safe haven in Moruge Swamp, an area considered badlands by Hylians. Sea Zora also saw their race impacted by the expansion of Hylian settlement, and nomadic lifestyles became less and less common as centralised settlement was prioritised. This status quo would continue uninterrupted until the dawn of the Imprisoning War, nearly a century ago today. In this conflict, the Gerudo Kingdom, a section of Hyrule known as Northern Hyrule, and Southern Hyrule all engaged in a massive three-way war which engulfed almost two entire continents. Sea Zoras sided predominately with Northern Hyrule, whereas River Zoras largely became an honorary ally of the Gerudo Kingdom. It was the first time in centuries the River Zora had experienced a positive cultural relationship with a race other than their own, and the first time the Sea Zora had an opportunity to prove their worth as more than just residents of the waterways to Hyrule. The Sea Zora saw a swell of warrior culture, dedicated to showing they were not simply a lesser power but equal allies with the Kingdom of Hyrule. The Hylian forces were successful, leading to an era of prosperity and greater respect from the Hylian kingdom. Their alliance was no longer based solely on an ancient king's choice of ideology, but forged on the battlefield, and set in stone. Many settlements would feature permanent monuments, recording the Sea Zora bravery and history. The River Zora, meanwhile, grew more reclusive and monstrous, for many viewed as no different than any other monster. In the decades after the Imprisoning War, both Sea Zora and River Zora experienced a relative peace their race hadn't experienced in centuries. This would last until Ganon, who was eponymously imprisoned in the Dark World at the end of the war, suddenly appeared again to invade Hyrule anew. This resurgence occurred approximately 20 years prior to this day. This war, Ganon's War, still simmers today. Ganon's influence has renwed the human-races' disdain of monster-races, who themselves have in part sided with Ganon against Hylians and all for which they stand. The deep-seated hatred between River Zora and Sea Zora was renewed for the modern generation. EDIT: Noticed I'd missed removing an old sentence from the original entry that described their height as similar to Hylians. FWIW as well, could be worth inserting an image of a TP or BotW style Zora in the page as well, but that's not vital to the update.
Physiology: I am fine with the physiology write up overall, though I wonder if there's too much detail given with the physical differences between genealogies. It is not necessarily a problem, I just err on the side of simplicity and vagueness with racial write ups. Culture: I am fine with this. While not necessary, if you want to add this, you could write something about how the Zoran language has dialectic differences between Sea and River Zora. Currently the language page says how they developed their own dialects to differentiate from other another, but there's no detail on how. Not necessary to add, but if you'd like to it could be interesting. History: I know you mostly just copied from the existing library page from this, so it's fine to keep it if you want. I think it mostly focuses on the River Zora, though- certainly their relationship with them is important, but they almost feel more relevant than the Sea Zora in the write up. This is because the same write-up was just used for both Zora pages, and again I'm fine with just keeping it as is. If you'd like to change it up to make more about the Sea Zora specifically or add details for them, though, feel free to write something up and I can review it.
Thank you for the feedback! I'll see if I can simplify the genealogy bit while still making clear that players can choose any of the canon Zora appearances - the original article was specific about OOT Zora only and described their appearance. Good catch as well, I'll add some talk of the language! Didn't think of that. Also very happy to elaborate on history, will keep it along current lines but give them a bit more independent history. Watch this space lol
I'm in support of expanding and potentially fixing problems with existing pages, including improving and updating the depictions of races like this. There's a number of ones that could take some notes from BotW too since members will be using that as a reference in RP still. For the most part, great job! I see that most of the lore on Jabu-Jabu and Jabun is intact from the library page. I have spent over a decade now exploring Jabun's death with my silly characters, and something I would support is keeping his death vague on the official page so I can have fun screwing around with my insane storyline. Although I didn't really keep this in mind, it's possible I hadn't seen the Zora page in many years since I hadn't created one of my own. Clooby had me under the impression most deity depictions were supposed to be vague in the event more History would be added about them. However, what I'm getting at is my personal lore would imply that since Eve knew Jabun in life this race page would date her as "many centuries" possibly over 300 years old. I will not comment about the ramifications of that, but the whole thing makes me laugh. It sounds like to play fair I would have to change it somehow in my upcoming character plot threads. I can see how Jabun being alive within the century Jabu-Jabu is may cause more problems. This ended up a lot more text than I had planned.
Alrighty, have updated based on feedback and significantly rewritten the history section to be more centric of Zoran development. To pair with this I've actually done a River Zora write-up too but this can be disregarded if inconvenient. In terms of the artwork for the Sea Zora page, because this new write up encompasses all three kinds of Zora but you can't find an image of all three in the same art style, I am happy to do a generic artwork showing a generic oot, tp and botw Zora standing next to each other to have a single image that shows all three. Let me know if you want something like that and I can whip it up, wouldn't be too much trouble at all. I'd do a matching one for the River Zora page just because... well, our image is Oren, the least River Zora-y River Zora in the games. Sea Zora Sea Zora Writeup (Move your mouse to reveal the content) Sea Zora Writeup (open) Sea Zora Writeup (close) Race:Sea Zora Sea Zora are a playable race on Hyrule Castle. As one of the fourteen common races, any player can choose to make a Sea Zora character. Since Sea Zora are considered a human-race, a Sea Zora is detested by most monster-races. The Sea Zora are generally not welcome in any society of monster-races, and will likely be attacked on sight if attempting to even approach one. Canonically, the distinct type of civilized Zora known as Sea Zora initially appeared in Ocarina of Time. They are separate from the more monstrous variety of Zora known as River Zora. Despite their similar heritage and names, River Zora and Sea Zora consider themselves as different from each other as night and day. Character Creation Brief Sea Zora (often simply called Zora) are the most prominent amphibious race of humanoids in and around the mainland of Hyrule. While their namesake may indicate otherwise, Sea Zora are able to thrive in both salt water and fresh water, although they may prefer the prior. They also may live comfortably in brackish waters. The largest settlement of Zora is the Zora's Domain in the waters of Lake Hylia - while the higher regions of the lake are freshwater, lower areas have notably higher salinity and the city is grounded in brackish water. Zora may also be found in other settlements throughout the rivers and tributaries of Northern Hyrule, as well as the Great Sea. While Sea Zora and River Zora are technically similar and share distant common ancestry, it is a grave mistake to consider them one and the same. Sea Zora view their cousins as bloodthirsty, mad savages who know only violence. By contrast, River Zora look at their relatives as arrogant fools who don't understand the importance of survival of the fittest. Sea Zora physicality is as diverse as the family of creatures called fish. Some will attain an adult height of only a few inches taller than a typical Hylian, where others may grow to nearly twice that height. Sea Zora may have scales of a variety of colours and fins of various shapes. The primary language spoken by Sea Zora is Zoran, but most also speak Hyrulean as well, due to the latter’s expansive use across the land. Needless to say, Sea Zora are far more accustomed to living, moving and fighting underwater, and have a natural advantage over races that are not and cannot naturally become amphibious. Sea Zora are very dependent on water, as their gills must remain moist in order to breathe and survive. A Sea Zora begins with a PWC of 1/2/1, having a 2 in Wisdom. This starting PWC can be defied by using the Exception racial perk during character creation. Every Sea Zora inherently has two innate racial perks: Amphibious and Zora Weakness. On top of those two, a Sea Zora character can have up to three racial perks of choice. In addition to the general perks available to every race, a Sea Zora can also choose from: Aquatic Affinity: a trait which makes it easier for the Sea Zora to gain Water-based treasures Boomerang Fins: a technique enabling the Sea Zora to grow, wield, and throw razor-sharp fins as natural weaponry Electric Aura: an offensive ability which momentarily surrounds the Sea Zora in an electrifying barrier Hookshot: a mechanical grappling hook and weapon, favored for its ability to function underwater Magic Proficiency: a trait which enables the Sea Zora to start with more Wisdom-based treasures Sonata of Soothing: a well-known magical song among Sea Zoras, which can heal wounds when played well Recommended Origins If you've never made a character before and intend to make a Sea Zora, you may take inspiration from one of the following three origins. If you've made a character before, these example origins may provide inspiration for your character. Citizen of Zora's Domain All your life, you have lived in Zora's Domain, a peaceful and majestic stronghold on the bottom of Lake Hylia. It's been a comfortable underwater life, where you've likely remained safe and perhaps even completely untouched by the invasion of Ganon. Like most of your Sea Zora kin, your pursuits have probably been peaceful up until now, whether you were part of the Zora Guard, a member of one of the popular Zora musical bands, took your time studying magic, or something else entirely. A Citizen of Zora's Domain begins with a PWC of 1/2/1, with 4 additional points distributed as you see fit. Its racial perks include Amphibious, Zora Weakness, Electric Aura , Magic Proficiency, and Sonata of Soothing. Eastern Sea Zora Brothers to the Zora of Lake Hylia, you and your people have lived instead in the depths of the Great Sea for centuries. The harsh environment under such depths has caused your people to become both hardy and stronger than your cousins. Not only are you constantly coping with immense water pressure, but deep-sea Octoroks and other oceanic monsters have needed to be warded off regularly by you or your fellow Zora. While your life isn't as peaceful as those of the Domain, it has been no less rewarding. A Citizen of Zora's Domain begins with a PWC of 1/2/1, with 4 additional points distributed as you see fit. Its racial perks include Amphibious, Zora Weakness, Electric Aura , Hookshot, and Boomerang Fins. Physiology While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's appearance and biology. While Sea Zora are a two-gender race, the differences are subtle to those who don't live among them. When Zora give birth, several soft eggs are produced at once. In the rare instance a Sea Zora mates with a River Zora, they will usually not produce viable offspring. If they do successfully have offspring, that offspring will typically take after the mother; it is seemingly impossible to make a hybrid which shares qualities of both Sea and River Zora. An infant Sea Zora takes on the shape of a pale tadpole-like creature (as opposed to a darker River Zora tadpole) which can't leave water, until it develops a more humanoid shape during childhood. Zora age somewhat slower than Hylians, and their lifespans may vary. Sea Zora tend towards more slender and sleek forms compared to Hylians, and especially compared to the bulkier River Zora. The size of a Sea Zora may vary greatly between individuals, with the “average height” of a Sea Zora anywhere between 6 to 8 feet tall. On very infrequent occasions will a Sea Zora grow to gargantuan proportions; this usually occurs only in the wealthy or venerated, as Sea Zora tend to remain slender and muscular from the exertion of constant swimming. These extraordinarily large individuals typically have difficulty with movement ordinary Zora excel at. Sea Zora have long caudal fins extending backwards from their skull, usually resembling the tail of a fish or dolphin, but some have unusual variations that may cause their fin to resemble different varieties of marine life. The reason for this is unknown. Sea Zora’s gills are located along their sides between their ribs, allowing the passage of water away from their lungs. Different genealogies of Sea Zora have contributed various colourations and minor traits to the modern gene pool, commonly separated into three main groups analogous to ethnic differences in Hylians; a Zora may have these traits in a variety of combinations. The first group contributes pale blue scales, deep black eyes and prominent nose-like rostrums; the latter two groups contribute more varied scale colours and brightly coloured eyes, divided by minor differences in anatomy such as the size and position of the rostrum, and length of the legs. All three have slender fins at the forearms, and many have smaller fins at the legs, with flipper-like feet. Skilled Zora are able to harden these fins into blades, for use in combat. Because a typical Zora lives its childhood and in some cases its entire life underwater, it often takes them a great deal of effort and training to move above water as skillfully as a Hylian does, but many adventurers and travelers accomplish this adaptation. Unlike River Zora, a Sea Zora's body is particularly susceptible to drying up from flames, and the coat of their scales is unfortunately somewhat flammable. Any fire-based attack against them is known to be particularly effective. River Zora have adapted by widely using their ability to spit fireballs through the Fire spell to exploit this, while Sea Zora themselves have made widespread use of their bioelectricity through Electric Aura to target the River Zora's own weakness to electric shocks. Culture While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's habitats and society. Sea Zora share a rich culture that prioritises value and creation. Many Sea Zora are well-known for practicing esoteric magic, and the role of the arts is deeply enshrined in Zoran culture. Use of both traditional Zoran musical instruments and those adopted by other races is an important aspect of Zoran life. The music of an all-Zora band, the Indigo-Go's, is famous throughout Hyrule and all the known world. There are also many well-known Sea Zora warriors, particularly in those settlements that have above-ground elements; however, for many the underwater nature of their homes keeps them safe from attack by land-based enemies and monsters. While some places do still experience danger from water-dwelling foes, this relative safety allows many to experience a peaceful lifestyle. Craftsmanship is highly valued, with the crafting of jewellery, musical instruments, weaponry and light armour commonly respected. Sea Zora typically speak Zoran, a language best spoken underwater but suitable for land communication as well; however, the closeness of their race to the Hyrulean kingdom resulted in most Sea Zora also learning the Hylian language. Because of this, most Sea Zora are bilingual. The modern languages of both Sea and River Zora shared a common root. When language drift began to separate the spoken dialects of the two races, Sea Zora in particular deliberately leaned into the process. Speakers of the Sea and River dialects may be able to eke out simplistic common vocabulary, but the dialects have become different enough over the generations to barely be intelligible to speakers of the other. The Sea Zora dialect takes influences from the more rounded tones of the Hylian language, while the River Zora dialect is much more abrupt and guttural due to the major influence of Beastspeak on its development. Sea Zora are monarchal, with one’s allegiance to the Zoran monarch often more pronounced the closer they reside to the home kingdom. The most prominent Sea Zora societies in Hyrule include the Kingdom of Zora's Domain, and underwater cities throughout Great Bay. Outside of Hyrule, the simply named Zora Village off the coast of Labrynna is the most well-known. There are numerous smaller settlements that are widespread throughout any underwater or water-adjacent locations. While Sea Zora have spread across waterways and coastal areas across Northern Hyrule, they typically prefer to avoid entering freshwater in Southern Hyrule, as such locations are the ancestral domain of their enemies the River Zora. Sea Zora are also typically at least somewhat spiritual, often aligning with respect or worship of the Zoran great fish-deity Jabu-Jabu, the Hylian wisdom goddess Nayru, or both, with some sects representing the two as a syncretic dual deity, most commonly referred to as Jabu-Nayru. Worship of Jabu-Jabu was the primary instigator in the ancient split between the two Zora species. Both types of Zora believe that their original patron deity was the great fish, Jabun, who passed away centuries ago. Sea Zora believe that while Jabun’s body was slain, his divine spirit cannot be, and that he was reincarnated as Jabu-Jabu. Jabu-Jabu resides in Lake Hylia, having followed the Sea Zora to their primary abode. The aftermath of the Imprisoning War caused Sea Zora to be labeled a "human race" in Hyrule. As a result, they are generally on good terms with other human races, particularly Hylians. By contrast, they have such disdain with so-called "monster races" that is isn't abnormal to attack them on sight. A typical Sea Zora's disdain for any River Zora is particularly high, as it has been for centuries. History While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's origins and development. Ancient fossils suggest that thousands and thousands of years ago, an ice age tore through the ecosystem of the planet. It is believed this sudden change in climate caused an unnamed aquatic race to divert into a branched evolution, which at the very least created what would become three separate races--the Parella, a reptilian race, and the ancestor race of the Zora. Near the end of the ice age, the Parella stayed in deep oceans and remained purely aquatic, while the reptilians adapted to land and become almost entirely terrestrial. The early ancestor race of the Zora was the only race to become wholly amphibious, living primarily on saltwater coasts and freshwater reservoirs on and near a continent that would later become known as Hyrule. It is known that at one point the ancestral species of both kinds of Zora worshipped a great fish known as Jabun, who they held to be the sacred Patron Deity for their entire race. As few written records exist from this time, much information regarding Jabun's legacy has been lost to time, but he was widely revered among at least the Zora race. For reasons unknown, Jabun died at some point during the ice age--making him one of few deities in Hyrule’s history to die. This incident resulted in a schism within the species that would eventually lead to their divergent evolution. The ancestors of the race that would later be called Sea Zora denied the permanence of their god’s death, believing that Jabun’s spirit could not be truly killed. They insisted that Jabun had reincarnated into another great fish, christened Jabu-Jabu, and continued to structure their worship and belief systems around the new great fish invited into their midst. This belief is maintained to this day, with Jabu-Jabu held as the guardian deity of their race. The ancestors of the River Zora felt that Jabun was irreplaceable and that venerating Jabu-Jabu was sacrilegious. Unable to reconcile this difference in belief and values, violence ensued, and the ancestors of the Sea Zora and River Zora went their separate ways. The ancestors of the Sea Zora at first settled along coastlines and in the sea, and over generations evolved into sleeker and more aquadynamic forms than their now distantly related cousins, the River Zora. Despite this widespread agreement to diverge into two separate peoples, River Zora and Sea Zora shared a mutual disdain that could hardly be contained. Small, localized battles and hateful acts would occur between them in the centuries which followed, continuing into modern day. These conflicts, for many generations, saw outreaches of each race pushing for more territory. While their name’s reference to the ocean remained, the Sea Zora worked their way north into Northern Hyrule’s rivers while the River Zora migrated south into the marshes and bogs of Southern Hyrule. This resulted in a notable settlement being founded in the bountiful waters of Lake Hylia. It was due to this expansion along Hyrule’s waterways that Zora came into contact with the Hylian race. The Sea Zora were quick to explain the difference between themselves and their more reactive cousins to the Hylians; at the time, the Hyrulean policy was to remain neutral in the conflict between the two races. While early Sea Zora attitudes kept Hylians at arm's length, wanting to protect their lands and waters against the colonial force, it rapidly became clear that the Hylian colonization would not be stopped, and that survival in their war against the River Zora likely depended on whether or not they were able to ally with Hyrule. In the years which followed, Hylians expanded further and further across the land, surrounding and in some cases encroaching on the ancestral homes of both Sea and River Zora. As a result, over the course of a century, both forms of Zora would put increasing pressure on the Hylians to choose a side. Ultimately they sided with Sea Zora, who the King Hyrule of the time decided had more in common with the Hylian people, and were more likely to be useful and subservient to the Hylian cause. Unsurprisingly, this summoned outrage across all River Zoras, and further deepened the rift between the two races. While Sea Zoras as a whole became an ally of the Hyrulean Kingdom, River Zoras began to ritualistically attack Hylians on sight out of sheer contempt. Sea Zora instead focused on the preservation of their way of life, prioritising their continued culture, independence, and racial identity through the turbulent transition to becoming a vassal state. The dilemma of cultural continuity as Zora and their ways of leadership were superceded by those of Hyrule would be an ongoing influence for Sea Zora for generations. The newfound goodwill from the Hyrulean Kingdom resulted in an explosion of the Sea Zora population, most notably transforming the Lake Hylia settlement into the heartland of their people - Zora's Domain. Once solely accessible underwater, the city now sees spiralling architecture rising above the water level, accommodating above-water living and visits from non-aquatic races. Following the transition, Sea Zora entered an age of prosperity, with music, craft, spirituality and wisdom becoming a prized element of their culture. Lord Jabu-Jabu was escorted up the river by an armed guard of Sea Zora to his permanent home in Lake Hylia, and the first Zora monarch was crowned. The emblem of the Zora people came to be a crest of three crescents; a circular symbol of rebirth merged with the sigil of wisdom adopted from the Hylian people. While Sea Zora in modern times benefit from their alliance with Hyrule, some Zora and some Royal Zora policy favours a degree of separatism. This is due to the spread of Hyrule and Hylian colonization, which in many areas resulted in resources and areas that were once Zoran being ceded to the Hylians, as well as a degree of a loss of identity and independence. Zora may vary in their perspectives on the relationship between the two kingdoms; prosperity and safety in return for the majority of their territory becoming Hyrulean and the expectation of vassal status is a frequent topic of political debate. In time, Sea Zora and Hylians delegated River Zora to the status of mere monsters--no different than Moblins or Lynels. As Hylians rapidly encroached through Hyrule, they encroached and overtook territory that was once inhabited by what they called monsters--including the freshwaters and swamps that had traditionally belonged to River Zora. Hylians’ colonisation of the continent put more distance between the Sea and River Zora, the final influence on the cultural, linguistic and physical divergence of the two Zora races. This status quo would continue uninterrupted until the dawn of the Imprisoning War, nearly a century ago today. Before being exposed to the expansion of the Hyrulean Kingdom, Zora conflict had largely been against River Zora and monsters. The Imprisoning War was instead a three-way civil war that engulfed the continent, drawing in multiple races on all fronts. The Sea Zora of course allied with the Hyrulean Kingdom of Northern Hyrule, as a vassal state. Beyond this, the Zora were eager to prove their worth beyond simply vassals, to fight for recognition of the contributions they made to Hyrule. This time saw a sharp rise in warrior culture among Sea Zora and the expansion of typical Zoran weaponcraft to include weapons for use above water, such as swords, shields and bows. In the decades following the Imprisoning War, Zora experienced a relative peace they had not been able to enjoy in centuries. This would last until the invasion of Ganon. Zora in the lower, underwater regions of Zora’s Domain, the Great Bay and other underwater settlements were somewhat safe, but the alliance with the Hyrulean Kingdom saw many Zora return to combat in an attempt to defend their peace. This war, Ganon's War, still simmers today. Ganon's influence has renewed the human-races' disdain of monster-races, who themselves have in part sided with Ganon against Hylians and all for which they stand. The deep-seated hatred between River Zora and Sea Zora has been renewed, particularly with the threat River Zora pose in even the safest of underwater havens. Despite this, the Sea Zora commitment to virtue and peace continues; with the goodwill of Jabu-Jabu at their back, many believe that justice and wisdom will surely prevail. River Zora River Zora Writeup (Move your mouse to reveal the content) River Zora Writeup (open) River Zora Writeup (close) Race:River Zora River Zora are a playable race on Hyrule Castle. As one of the fourteen common races, any player can choose to make a River Zora character. Since River Zora are considered a monster-race, a River Zora is abhorred by most human-races. The River Zora will not be welcome in human-race villages, and will likely be attacked on sight if attempting to even approach such a village. Canonically, the distinct type of dark-blue or green-colored Zora known as River Zora first appeared in the very first The Legend of Zelda game. They are separate from the lighter-colored variety of Zora known as Sea Zora. Despite their similar heritage and names, River Zora and Sea Zora consider themselves as different from each other as night and day. Character Creation Brief Although less populous and organized than Sea Zora, River Zora, sometimes referred to as Zola or Swamp Zora, are the second most prominent amphibious race in the known world. Despite their namesake, River Zora can live comfortably in either freshwater or saltwater, though they generally prefer the prior. They also may live comfortably in swamps and muddy transition waters. The two largest gatherings of River Zora include Eyeglass Lake and Moruge Swamp. It is common to find small wandering batches of them virtually everywhere throughout the world, however, especially in rivers and swamps. While Sea Zora and River Zora are technically similar races and share distant common ancestry, it is a grave mistake to consider them one and the same. River Zora look at their relatives as arrogant fools who don't understand the importance of survival of the fittest. By contrast, Sea Zora view their cousins as bloodthirsty, mad savages who know only violence. A River Zora stands about as tall as a typical Hylian, only slightly taller on average, and have a bulky or stocky frame that causes them to appear more physically powerful. They are covered with camouflaging scales of either a dark green, greenish-blue, or brown-green. In sharp contrast to the rest of their body, they have bright orange spines, lips, and fins. Unlike Sea Zora, they have prominent claws and fangs. The language spoken by River Zora varies based on locale. While the language of their heritage is the River Zora dialect of Zoran, the more commonly spoken language has over the centuries become Beastspeak due to their finding kinship among monster-races. Needless to say, they're much more accustomed to living, fighting, and manoeuvring underwater compared to races which cannot naturally become amphibious. They are known to be very dependent on water, as their bodies need to remain moist to survive. A River Zora begins with a PWC 2/1/1, having a 2 in Power. This starting PWC can be defied by using the Exception racial perk during character creation. Every River Zora inherently has two innate racial perks: Amphibious and Zora Weakness. On top of those two, a River Zora character can have up to three racial perks of choice. In addition to the general perks available to every race, a River Zora can also choose from: Aqua Grenade: a powerful spell that creates an projectile explosive of water Aquatic Affinity: a trait which makes it easier for the River Zora to gain Water-based treasures Boomerang Fins: a technique enabling the Zora to grow, wield, and throw razor-sharp fins as natural weaponry Fire: an offensive spell which allows a River Zora to spit a fireball from their mouth or throw it from their hand. Warrior's Training: a trait which enables the River Zora to start with more Power-based treasures Whirlpool: a useful spell that can whirlpools in water, ideal for trapping and attacking land-dwellers attempting to invade the River Zora's territory Recommended Origins If you've never made a character before and intend to make a River Zora, you may take inspiration from one of the following three origins. If you've made a character before, these example origins may provide inspiration for your character. Fighter of Moruge Swamp To the south of Lake Hylia and to the south of the Lost Woods lies your homeland, Moruge Swamp. As a River Zora, you have sharp claws, fangs, and spines with which to do battle, strong and durable bodies, and murky scales which blend well into the murky waters of Moruge. Your goal in life is almost assuredly to defend your homeland from Sea Zora and other threats of this vicious swamp. All the while, you seek to expand the borders of your people into the lands of those blatantly inferior blue-gill trash... A Fighter of Moruge Swamp begins with a PWC of 2/1/1, with 4 additional points distributed as you see fit. Its racial perks include Amphibious, Zora Weakness, Fire , Whirlpool, and Warrior's Training. Explorer of Eyeglass Lake Deep in the chaotic lands of Southern Hyrule, beyond the southern reaches of Tantari Desert, lies a reservoir which has become known as Eyeglass Lake. In decades past, your people ventured deep into these foreign waters, wishing to distance yourselves from the savage wilderness of Moruge and the haughty nature of the despicable Sea Zora. Here, in the disturbed remnants of Ganon's War, you have found freedom, unbound by Hyrulean laws and unrestricted by the perilous dangers of swamp life. Alas, the lake is large, and your people within it are few. For better or worse, you've likely spent plenty of time exploring the new habitat of your lake--and, perhaps, the areas beyond it. An Explorer of Eyeglass Lake begins with a PWC of 2/1/1, with 4 additional points distributed as you see fit. Its racial perks include Amphibious, Zora Weakness, Aqua Grenade , Boomerang Fins, and Warrior's Training. Physiology While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's appearance and biology. While River Zora are a two-gender race, the differences are subtle to those who don't live among them. When Zora give birth, several soft eggs are produced at once. In the rare instance a River Zora mates with a Sea Zora, they will usually not produce viable offspring. If they do successfully have offspring, that offspring will typically take after the mother; it is seemingly impossible to make a hybrid which shares qualities of both Sea and River Zora. An infant River Zora takes on the shape of a dark tadpole-like creature (as opposed to a Sea Zora's lighter shade) which can't leave water, until it develops a more humanoid shape during childhood. River Zora age somewhat slower than Hylians, and their lifespans may vary. River Zora tend to have bulkier frames compared to Hylians, and especially compared to the sleeker Sea Zora. River Zora typically do not have the broad range of physical variation their cousins may have. Their average height is approximately equal or slightly higher than that of a Hylian, but they are generally stockier and heavier, building more muscle than many other races. A River Zora's body is completely covered in hard scales which are almost uniformly a musty green color, although many do have pale cream to white stomachs. They have spined, orange-red fins across their heads and often down their back; unlike their cousins, these fins usually do not extend along the arms and legs. The exact placement of these fins vary from one River Zora to another, and they typically have fishlike lips that match the colour of these fins. Because a typical River Zora lives its childhood and in some cases its entire life underwater, it often takes them a great deal of effort and training to move above water as skillfully as a Hylian does, but many adventurers and travelers accomplish this adaptation. Unlike Sea Zora, a River Zora's body is particularly susceptible to danger from electric shocks, and the coat of their scales is highly conductive. Any electricity-based attack against them is known to be particularly effective. Sea Zora have adapted by widely using their biolectricity through the Electric Aura spell to exploit this, while River Zora themselves have made widespread use of their ability to spit fireballs through the Fire Spell to target the Sea Zora's own weakness to fire. Culture While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's habitats and society. River Zora culture prioritises strength, hunting and warriorship. River Zora may often be quite isolationist, and cultural values of their superiority over other races prevail. They often value the concept of survival of the fittest, and believe that River Zora have always been the fittest of Hyrule's races. While River Zora have been reactive, hateful of other races, and likely to quickly resort to force for as long as their oral history can track, this has become more pronounced following the alliance between their Sea Zora cousins and the Hylians. River Zora are often masters of their environment, relying on their naturally gifted claws, teeth and fire alongside their intimate knowledge of their waterways more than they rely on crafted weaponry. While many River Zora do use weapons, claw-to-claw combat is something the majority are familiar and comfortable with. They typically do not wear armour; with their stocky frames already more suited for battle than aquadynamics, adding excess weight is not a popular choice. Some River Zora do make the compromise in order for greater land defence, depending on their lifestyle. River Zora generally speak Beastspeak and/or the River dialect of Zoran. Most River Zora are able to comfortably speak both, and their primary language is usually influenced by their proximity to allied monster groups. The modern languages of both River and Sea Zora share a common root, but hundreds of years of language drift and deliberate cultural separation have greatly divided the two. Speakers of the River and Sea dialects may be able to eke out simplistic common vocabulary, but the dialects have become different enough over the generations to barely be intelligible to speakers of the other. The River Zora dialect has been majorly influenced by Beastspeak and so has a much more abrupt sound than the rounded tones of the Sea Zora dialect, which was influenced by the Hylian language. River Zora often live in smaller groups, with larger settlements generally formed for the purpose of collective defensive value and pooling resources. The most prominent of these settlements include the Kingdom of Eyeglass Lake, and numerous amphibious villages throughout Moruge Swamp. Like most monster races, they also are a common sight in Monster Village. In many cases, the isolationist nature of many River Zora may lead to one or two individuals living alone in a river, stream, bog or pond, a solitary style of life shared by few races other than Yeti. They usually do not maintain family units as many other races might, with young often migrating to other waterways as soon as their limbs have come in. River Zora are generally less skilled with magic than other races. Despite these limitations, their bodies are inherently stronger than their Sea Zora cousins, and life in swamplands and rivers has overall made them tougher not only in terms of stamina but disease immunity as well. The River Zora relationship with their ancient guardian deity now aligns closer to a motivation for violence than true religion or spirituality. Contempt for all deities and traditions is common. Both types of Zora believe that their original patron deity was the great fish, Jabun, who passed away centuries ago. River Zora believe that the death of their deity is the defining moment in their history, and to align with any other deity is taboo and against the very nature of their society. Some River Zora maintain a religious connection to Jabun, but many are far more focused on the blasphemy of Sea Zora in replacing Jabun rather than venerating their long dead god. The aftermath of the Imprisoning War caused River Zora to be labeled a "monster race" in Hyrule. As a result, they are generally on good terms with other monster races, and have such disdain with so-called "human races" that it isn't abnormal to attack them on sight. A typical River Zora's disdain for any Sea Zora is particularly high, as it has been for centuries. History While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's origins and development. Ancient fossils suggest that thousands and thousands of years ago, an ice age tore through the ecosystem of the planet. It is believed this sudden change in climate caused an unnamed aquatic race to divert into a branched evolution, which at the very least created what would become three separate races--the Parella, a reptilian race, and the ancestor race of the Zora. Near the end of the ice age, the Parella stayed in deep oceans and remained purely aquatic, while the reptilians adapted to land and become almost entirely terrestrial. The early ancestor race of the Zora was the only race to become wholly amphibious, living primarily on saltwater coasts and freshwater reservoirs on and near a continent that would later become known as Hyrule. It is known that at one point the ancestral species of both kinds of Zora worshipped a great fish known as Jabun, who they held to be the sacred Patron Deity for their entire race. As few written records exist from this time, much information regarding Jabun's legacy has been lost to time, but he was widely revered among at least the Zora race. For reasons unknown, Jabun died at some point during the ice age--making him one of few deities in Hyrule’s history to die. This incident resulted in a schism within the species that would eventually lead to their divergent evolution. The ancestors of the race that would later be called Sea Zora denied the permanence of their god’s death, believing that Jabun’s spirit could not be truly killed. They insisted that Jabun had reincarnated into another great fish, christened Jabu-Jabu. The ancestors of the River Zora felt that Jabun was irreplaceable and that venerating Jabu-Jabu was sacrilegious, a horrific insult to their recently deceased guardian. They saw this as a weakness of spirit, that those worshipping Jabu-Jabu were so desperate to have a deity they would so easily turn to another great fish. Unable to reconcile this difference in belief and values, violence ensued, and the ancestors of the River Zora and Sea Zora went their separate ways. The ancestors of the River Zora at first settled along tributaries and streams, and over generations evolved into broader and tougher forms than their now distantly related cousins, the Sea Zora. Despite this widespread agreement to diverge into two separate peoples, River Zora and Sea Zora shared a mutual disdain that could hardly be contained. Small, localized battles and hateful acts would occur between them in the centuries which followed, continuing into modern day. These conflicts, for many generations, saw outreaches of each race pushing for more territory. While their name’s reference to the rivers remained, the River Zora worked their way south into the marshes and bogs of Southern Hyrule while the Sea Zora migrated north into Northern Hyrule’s rivers. It was this migration that would deal a crushing blow to the River Zora in their fight against their weak-willed cousins. Zora had now made contact with the Hylian race, rapidly expanding across the continent. At first the Hylians remained neutral in the fight between the two races, with promising dialogue between the River Zora and Hylians about the value of tradition and strength. However, generations of isolationism and superiority led some River Zora to small guerilla-style attacks and raids on the trailing edges of Hyrule’s expansion. While many of their raids were justified resistance against colonization, the many attacks on civilians and civilian settlements and the brutal nature of their attacks came to be regarded as repellant even by other races resisting Hylian expansion. The River Zora maintained that they held cultural and physical superiority over all races, particularly given their control of many freshwater resources. River Zora historically maintained a supremacist culture, and the violent nature of this was considered a hazard to any venturing too near fresh water. In the years which followed, Hylians expanded further, surrounding the ancestral homes of both Sea and River Zora. As a result, over the course of a century, both forms of Zora would put increasing pressure on the Hylians to choose a side. Ultimately they sided with Sea Zora, who the King Hyrule of the time decided had more in common with the Hylian people, as the River Zora supremacist culture and violence were deemed a harm to all races of the land. Unsurprisingly, this summoned outrage across all River Zora, and further deepened the rift between the two races. While Sea Zora as a whole became an ally of the Hyrulean Kingdom, River Zora began to ritualistically attack Hylians on sight out of sheer contempt. The early alliance between Sea Zora and Hyrule was uneasy given the colonial intent of Hyrule, but the ongoing pressure and attacks from the River Zora were directed at both, as River Zora rejected the principles held by the majority of other races and aligned much more strongly with the goals of violently demonstrating their superiority over all other races. River Zora came to believe that other races were weak and undeserving of the land, and acted accordingly. The alliance between the Hylians and Sea Zora proved to be a major influence on the River Zora race. Major changes in territory occurred; some rivers were willingly abandoned due to their proximity to Hylian settlement, but many saw River Zora driven out by the rapidly encroaching force of the Hylians, overtaking territory that had traditionally belonged to River Zora. Individual River Zora remained scattered across Hyrule, but the bulk of the race formed a stronger settlement in the south, establishing their haven in Moruge Swamp, which Hylians considered badlands. This status quo would continue uninterrupted until the dawn of the Imprisoning War, nearly a century ago today. Before being exposed to the expansion of the Hyrulean Kingdom, River Zora conflict had largely been against Sea Zora and other threats to their territory. The Imprisoning War was instead a three-way civil war that engulfed the continent, drawing in multiple races on all fronts. The River Zora found themselves an honorary ally of the Gerudo Kingdom, alongside many other “monster” races. It was the first time in centuries the River Zora had experienced a positive cultural relationship with a race other than their own. Unfortunately for the River Zora, the Gerudo Kingdom was all but demolished in this conflict. Despite losing the war, River Zora became respectable allies of the numerous monster races who fought alongside them--Moblins, Lizalfos, Stalfos, Poes, Lynels, and in part the Gerudo, who would come to be seen as neutral by many. While most River Zora remained in their ancestral homelands in Moruge Swamp and Eyeglass Lake, they could now find refuge in lands such as Monster Village and the Lower Wilds. With these other 'monster' races, River Zora were able to share in their disgust with the entirety of Hylian and Sea Zora races--and all their 'human'-race allies. The River Zora superiority culture blended in part with that of monster races, leading to changes and in some cases abandonment of cultural expression, in favour of alignment with the wild and bestial culture shared between monsters. In the decades following the Imprisoning War, River Zora regrouped and made connections with other monster races. While the alliance was and continues to be unsteady, with members of all monster races still prone to acts of aggression against the others, this cultural interchange resulted in rapid language transformation. The River dialect of Zoran quickly began to majorly incorporate elements and vocabulary from what Hylians called “Beastspeak”, finally ending the last cultural connection shared between the River Zora and their Sea Zora counterparts. This would last until the invasion of Ganon. While some River Zora remained outside the war and rare individuals even defected, the majority of River Zora joined the monster races in Ganon’s army, triumphant at the opportunity to exact their vengeance on Hylians and the Sea Zora and follow through on their ideal of driving out or ending the other races of the land. This war, Ganon's War, still simmers today, with the disdain between human-races and monster-races at a high. River Zora have delighted in increasing attacks on all non-monster races in Hyrule, especially their Sea Zora cousins, and many hope that Ganon will emerge victorious.
