Universe of The Legend of Zelda

"Hylia" redirects here. For the bird species with "Hylia" in their names, see Tit-hylia and Green Hylia.

The fictional universe depicted in The Legend of Zelda series of video games consists of a variety of lands, the most commonly appearing of these being Hyrule (ハイラル, Hairaru^?), and was created by Japanese video game developer Shigeru Miyamoto.

Hyrule

The Bridge of Eldin, as seen in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

The land of Hyrule (ハイラル, Hairaru^?), first depicted in The Legend of Zelda, is the main setting of the series. Many designated areas of Hyrule appear throughout the series, such as the Lost Woods, Kakariko Village, Death Mountain and Lake Hylia. Several games in the series are set in lands other than Hyrule, including Link's Awakening, set on Koholint Island; Majora's Mask, set in Termina; Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, set in Holodrum and Labrynna, respectively; The Wind Waker; Phantom Hourglass, both set on the Great Sea, a flooded Hyrule (although a large portion of Phantom Hourglass takes place in the World of the Ocean King, which is in another dimension); and Skyward Sword, set on Skyloft, a group of islands floating above the clouds.

Hyrule was formed by three goddesses (三柱の女神, Mihashira no Megami^?) Din (ディン^?), Farore (フロル, Faroru^?), and Nayru (ネール, Nēru^?). According to Hylian legend as depicted in Ocarina of Time, Din created the physical geography of the realm, Nayru created the laws to govern the land, and Farore created the races to uphold the law and the flora and fauna that inhabit the world. Once the goddesses had completed their tasks, they departed for the heavens, and left behind three golden triangles. In these, they put their power to govern all things; this relic became known as the Triforce.^[1] The realm itself was eventually named after its dominant race, the Hylia.^[2]

Hylian is a constructed language that first appears in A Link to the Past, where it is identified as "the ancient language of the Hylians". In A Link to the Past, its written form is composed of symbols that have to be translated by Link to progress in the game. In The Wind Waker, three spirits, the angler fish-like Jabun, the dragon Valoo, and the Deku Tree, as well as the King of Red Lions, can speak it. In Japan, an explanation on the Hylian alphabet was printed on the back of the instruction manual, showing the language written with a phonographic writing system, or syllabary, like Japanese.^[3] Since then two more Hylian scripts have been developed and/or deciphered for the public: the Old Hylian Syllabary used in Ocarina of Time, the Modern Hylian Syllabary used in The Wind Waker, and the Hylian Alphabet used in Twilight Princess. The first two are used for transcribing Japanese, while the last is used to transcribe English.^[4]

The currency of the Hyrule and other areas is called the "Rupee" (ルピー, Rupī^?), which resemble hexagonal crystals or gems, and come in various colors which determine value. In Oracle of Seasons, the Subrosian race accepts only Ore Chunks as currency, and in Four Swords Adventures, Force Gems are used rather than Rupees. Rupees are also absent in The Adventure of Link, which has no apparent in-game currency system. The original The Legend of Zelda only has flashing Rupees, worth one, and blue Rupees, worth five. In the original, they were called "Rupies", this was later changed. Subsequent games introduced more colors and sizes for Rupees, each denoting a specific value. Generally, green Rupees have the least value, while huge gold or silver Rupees have the most. In Phantom Hourglass, there were black Rupees called "Rupoor" that would steal a certain amount of Rupees depending on its size.

Hylian geography

• 'Death Mountain (デスマウンテン, Desu Maunten^?) is a recurring area which first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda. It is often simply a mountain, though other times it is a volcano. In all its appearances, Death Mountain has many caves and dungeons, such as Ganon's lair in The Legend of Zelda, and Goron City, the Fire Temple and Dodongo's Cavern (ドドンゴの洞窟, Dodongo no Dōkutsu^?) in Ocarina of Time. Spectacle Rock, two large rock formations next to each other, is another recurring trait.

• Ganon's Castle (ガノン城, Ganon Shiro^?) has acted as the final dungeon and battleground between Link and Ganon in several games.

• The Great Sea (大海原, Ōunabara^?) is formed in The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass after Hyrule has been flooded by a deluge. Only a collection of mountaintops are still visible above the water, and these form the 65 islands and archipelagos of the Great Sea. Due to the relatively small size of many of the islands, there are large expanses of ocean between each island. Due to the vast nature of the sea, most navigation requires the use of charts. On the islands of the Great Sea, local commerce is quite advanced. Most of the food is gathered from fishing and small farms, though there are also active merchant, salvage, and shipbuilding businesses. One huge continent resides out in the ocean named New Hyrule which is where Spirit Tracks is set.

• Hyrule Castle (ハイラル城, Hairaru-jō^?) is the home and seat of the royal family of Hyrule. The castle's first appearance was in A Link to the Past, the third game in the series. It is often a central area that Link must enter during his quest.

• Kakariko Village (カカリコ村, Kakariko-mura^?) is a village that first appears in A Link to the Past and has since reappeared in Ocarina of Time, Four Swords Adventures and Twilight Princess. Kakariko is often portrayed as a prosperous small town. However, in Twilight Princess, almost all of the villagers have been kidnapped by Shadow Beasts, and the village appears similar to a ghost town.

• Lake Hylia (ハイリア湖, Hairia-ko^?) is a large lake located in Hyrule. In most games, it is fed by the Zoras who live in "Zora's Domain". In Ocarina of Time it is also a shortcut to Zora's domain

• The Lost Woods (迷いの森, Mayoi no Mori^?) is a large, maze-like forest that appears in various titles. It is the resting place of the Master Sword in A Link to the Past and Twilight Princess, and it is the location of the Sacred Forest Meadow and Forest Temple in Ocarina of Time. In Spirit Tracks it is the location of the Forest Sanctuary. In many games, the Lost Woods is a maze that leads Link in circles, with the correct path indicated by a recurring melody.

• Temple of Time (時の神殿, Toki no Shinden^?) The temple that houses the Master Sword in the game Ocarina of Time. It is one of the dungeons in Twilight Princess. To gain access to some areas such as the temple itself, the Master Sword is used as a key frequently throughout the dungeon.

Master Sword

Artwork of the Master Sword in its pedestal from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Master Sword (マスターソード, Masutā Sōdo^?), also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", is a magic sword that often acts as the ultimate weapon for Link as the chosen hero to defeat Ganon and doubles as a key to the Sacred Realm. First introduced in A Link To The Past, It has the power to "repel evil", which enables it to overcome powerful dark magic and evil beings and keep them from using the sword. It was forged at the direction of the godessess in order to prevent the Triforce from falling into evil hands.^[5] The sword traditionally rests in sacrosanct locations indigenous to Hyrule, such as the Temple of Time or the Lost Woods. Similar to Arthurian legend, the Master Sword is often first obtained by pulling it from a stone.

The sword is often not at full power, leading it to need to be "recharged" in some way, or have its power increased beyond its standard level to fight Ganon. There are some situations when the blade, already at full power, can be further improved; in A Link to the Past, it was tempered to the Tempered Sword. It can later be upgraded to the Golden Sword. Similarly, in Twilight Princess, the sword is powered by two Sols in the Palace of Twilight. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker establishes that the sword needs the power of two sages praying to the gods in order to keep its powers, or else it will no longer be able to prevent an evil person from gaining the Triforce.^[6] In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Link wields the titular weapon which has a sentient female personality named Fi. The Skyward Sword will transform into the Master Sword later in the game.^[7]

The Master Sword is a double-edged one-handed sword. The blade cross-section is hexagonal with no fuller. On the flats of the blade near the hilt is a Triforce symbol, etched into the steel or emblazoned in gold. It has a blue or purple curved crossguard in the shape of a pair of wings with a small yellow jewel where it meets the hilt. The hilt is often padded red with a non-ornate blue pommel. Since The Wind Waker, the Master Sword's blade glows white when it is revived by the sages in the mid-game.

Nintendo Power listed the Master Sword as one of the best weapons, stating that it is more than just a powerful sword, but also important to Link's adventures.^[8]

Triforce

For the arcade system board, see Triforce (arcade system board).

The Triforce is represented throughout the series as three conjoined golden triangles, with one triangle placed above two more.

The Triforce (トライフォース, Toraifōsu^?), also called "Power of the Gods" (神の力, Kami no Chikara^?) and the "Golden Triangle" (黄金の大三角, Kogane no Dai Sankaku^?) in the game Twilight Princess, is a triangular sacred relic that represents the essences of the Golden Goddesses. It is made up of three smaller triangles known as the Triforce of Wisdom (知恵のトライフォース, Chie no Toraifōsu^?), Triforce of Power (力のトライフォース, Chikara no Toraifōsu^?) and Triforce of Courage (勇気のトライフォース, Yūki no Toraifōsu^?). Each of these embody the essence of their respective goddess, and bestow certain boons on their bearers. In most of its appearances, the Triforce or its pieces, manifest as a marking on the hands of their bearers. These markings resonate when near each other, and the Triforce pieces can emerge from their bearers.

When united, the Triforce allows one who touches it to make a wish that lasts until he dies or the wish is fulfilled. However, if the one who finds it does not possess a balance of the three virtues it represents, the pieces split into its three components and the finder is left with the one which represents the characteristic he values most; the other two pieces do likewise with two other characters "chosen by destiny." Ganon makes it his goal to obtain the Triforce in various games, often having a single piece himself that he uses to further his goals.

The Triforce of Power holds the presence of Din, the goddess of Power, and radiates the physical, and magical power of its bearer. It is usually associated with Ganon, who is power-hungry. The Triforce of Wisdom embodies the essence of Nayru, the goddess of Wisdom, and amplifies the wisdom and mystical powers of its bearer. It is usually associated with Princess Zelda, whose great wisdom brings peace and prosperity to Hyrule. The Triforce of Courage embodies the essence of Farore, the goddess of Courage, and seems to amplify the courage and adventuring skills of its bearer. It is usually associated with Link, the main protagonist of the series, who bravely defends Hyrule from Ganon.

This ancient relic in A Link To The Past was sealed away and protected in the sacred realm by the seven wise men.

The Triforce design is paid homage in the design of Gideon Graves' logo in the Scott Pilgrim universe, though it is inverted and triangular letter Gs fill the points. This design is used both in the graphic novel series and the 2010 film adaptation.

Races

Anouki

Anouki (ユキワロシ, Yukiwaroshi^?) are an Inuit-like race which appear to be a cross between reindeer and penguins. There are different variations of them with purple, red, (which is found in a store at the winter realm sanctuary) blue, and yellow shirts and have either facial hair or small or big antlers. They are found on the Isle of Frost in the World of Ocean King and in Anouki Village in New Hyrule. In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the Anouki are the only race in the snow realm.

Bulblin

Bulbins (ブルブリン, Buruburin^?) are a green, horned race, resembling the orcs of classic fantasy. They are cowardly and always fight for the stronger side. They are led by King Bulblin (キングブルブリン, Kinguburuburin^?),^[9] who unlike the rest has the ability to talk.^[10] Bulbins usually fight with heavy clubs or flaming arrows, and commonly ride on boars.^[9] They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Cobble

The Cobble are a race that appear in Phantom Hourglass. The Cobble once inhabited a prosperous land called the Cobble Kingdom. By the time the game takes place, the only Cobble that remain are ghosts of the soldiers and King Mutoh, all of whom dress similar to the Ancient Egyptians and reside within their respective temples, all of which are shaped like pyramids. The Isle of Ruins in the Northeastern Sea is all that remains of the once-mighty kingdom, and Link must visit there to retrieve the Aquanine, a pure metal entrusted to the Cobble by the Ocean King. There, he delves beneath Mutoh's Temple and destroys a corrupt Cobble war machine that has been disrupting the king's eternal rest. Also, Astrid, the fortune-teller living on the Isle of Ember, tells Link that she and her deceased assistant, Kayo, are part of the Cobble race.

Deku

Two Deku Scrubs, as they appear in Majora's Mask

The Deku (デクナッツ, Dekunattsu^?) are a race of plant-like creatures which are introduced in Ocarina of Time. They appear mostly in the overworld and dungeons. Deku are generally short and have leaves sprouting out from their heads. They often have red, glowing eyes, and their mouths are short, hollow tubes that can shoot "Deku Nuts." Their bodies consist entirely of wood and leaves, and they perish quickly if set on fire. They can fly by using large leaves to glide, and some can use the leaves on their head to fly for indefinite periods after taking off from a "Deku Flower."

There are four types of Deku depicted in the series: Deku Scrubs, Mad Scrubs, Business Scrubs and Royal Scrubs. Deku Scrubs are the most common type, which have green leaves. They often give information when caught. Mad Scrubs are violent, have red and yellow leaves, and do not talk. Business Scrubs are traders who offer to sell their wares and services. Royal Scrubs have larger heads, bigger eyes, smaller mouths, and they also have extra leaves covering their body.

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link can inhabit the body of an unknown Deku Scrub (who is rumored to be the son of the Deku King's butler) and can fly for a limited time with use of a Deku Flower and can shoot bubbles from its mouth (once he receives the magic meter from the Great Fairy).

Fairy

Fairies (妖精, Yōsei^?) are a magical and benevolent race that aid Link during his quest in most games in the series. Fairies appear as small, winged humanoids, who are often obscured by emitted light. They can be found in many places, but usually reside in a Fairy Fountain or Fairy Spring, sometimes under the protection of a Great Fairy (大妖精, Ōyōsei^?), which are the size of humans. These Fairies from the fountains will heal Link when he approaches, and if he traps one in a bottle, Link can release the fairy to have it heal him, or it will resurrect him if he dies. In Ocarina of Time, Guardian Fairies travel with the Kokiri and give them advice. One of these is Navi, who serves as Link's guardian fairy, or Tatl in Majora's Mask. In some of the games, such as The Minish Cap, players will be tested of their honesty and if they are, fairies give them gifts and upgrades.

Gerudo

The Gerudo (ゲルド^?) are a tribe of women thieves who mainly are desert-dwellers. Distinguishing physical traits of Gerudo typically include bronzed skin, scarlet hair, aquiline noses, gold eyes and, unlike the Hylia, round ears. Apart from a single male born to the Gerudo every hundred years, the race consists entirely of women. By Gerudo law, this man must become king of the tribe.^[11] Ganondorf, the main antagonist of the series, is one such man and is king of the Gerudo in Ocarina of Time. It is suggested that the Gerudo sometimes seek men from outside the tribe as partners.^[12] Although nothing is ever really confirmed, it is also thought that the Gerudo kidnap men when they need to reproduce. Gerudos appear as pirates in Majora's Mask, where they live in the ocean at Great Bay, are ruled by a woman instead of a man, and are enemies with the Zoras. They search for treasures in the sea (usually ending in trouble and failure, as seen when they steal the Zora Eggs laid by Lulu following a hint given by Skull Kid to invade Great Bay Temple) and assault unaware Zoras and fishermen, although they do not approach Clock Town.

Goron

A Goron as seen in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

The Goron (ゴロン^?) are a race of strong but peaceful mountain-dwelling rock monsters who first appear in Ocarina of Time as friendly characters, also appearing in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker as nomadic traders. Goron culture revolves around brotherhood and strength, usually referring to each other and those they deem strong as "Brother." Gorons show high regard for individuals who display great strength, and particularly enjoy matching their strength with others in sumo wrestling matches.^[13] While not all the games which feature Gorons include full tribes, those that do depict Goron policy as headed by a single patriarch, sometimes aided by one or more Goron Elders, who assume leadership of the tribe when the patriarch cannot. Darunia (ダルニア^?) was the patriarch in the game Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The Goron elders in Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess were: Gor Coron (ドン・コローネ, Don Korōne^?), Gor Amoto (ドン・シーゲル, Don Sīgeru^?) Gor Ebizo (ドン・エビーゾ, Don Ebīzo^?) and Gor Liggs (ドン・レゲーヌ, Don Regūnu^?)

For leisure, Gorons enjoy music and dance, rolling/racing,^[14] games,^[15] sumo wrestling, and bathing in hot springs. Gorons have taken on occupations such as crafting, blacksmithing, sculpting, demolition, and merchantry (usually explosives, which they are experts in producing). Gorons maintain a diet of rocks and iron.^[16][17] They also eat rock sirloin, amber, and metal shields as delicacies. Gorons enter the fetal position, similar to an armadillo, for several purposes, such as resting, crushing obstacles, assaulting enemies, and transportation by rolling to great speeds. Gorons endowed with fairy magic can grow metal spikes while rolling.^[18]

Gorons make their return in Skyward Sword, but it is still not known what region they live in; it has been speculated that they are a nomadic people.

Gorons are universally male humanoids with generally beige skin, long arms, short legs, hulking shoulders, and virtually unnoticeable necks. Gorons seen in the games have round, purple eyes as well as prominent, rotund bellies. Unlike humans, Gorons lack external hearing organs; like reptiles, Gorons' ears are simply holes at the sides of their heads. By adulthood, Gorons appear to gain rock-like protrusions on their backs as well as in places where human hair would be on their faces. Most are the size of an average human, though some such as Biggoron (ダイゴロン, Daigoron^?) can grow as large as a mountain. Due to their great density, Gorons sink to the bottom of bodies of water and are thus helpless in such an environment. However, they do not require respiration to survive, as a Goron child proves by resting underwater, mentioning that he never feels the need to take a breath. Also, in Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, a Goron becomes permanently submerged in the main pool in Zora's Domain, but rather enjoys the cold water rather than drowning.^[19] Gorons are exceptionally resistant to heat, to the point of being able to walk through shallow lava.

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link can inhabit the body of the deceased Goron hero Darmani and use the ability to roll and punch as hard as the Megaton Hammer from Ocarina of Time.

Human

Humans are a common race similar to Hylians although can be told apart with the structure of their ears. A community of humans live in Ordon Village in Hyrule as well as other countries of the Light World such as Holodrum, Labrynna and islands of the Great Sea. In Ocarina of Time you can find humans in Kakariko Village and In the Marketplace just outside of Hyrule castle

Hylian

Hylians (ハイリア族, Hairia-zoku^?) are an elf-like race that make up the main population of Hyrule.^[20] They were the first race to establish organized civilization in ancient Hyrule and are born with magic-infused blood, said to be a gift from the gods, endowing them with psychic powers and skill in wizardry. Their long, pointed ears allow them to hear messages from the gods. Link and Princess Zelda belong to this race in most games in the series. In some games, such as Twilight Princess, Hylians are referred to as "humans", possibly because the only difference between the Hylians and Humans are their ears, making it simpler to refer to both races as "Humans".

Keaton

Keaton (キータン, Kītan^?) are a generally-benevolent, three-tailed fox-like race, mostly found in Termina. They normally stay hidden from sight, although they reveal themselves to Link and challenge him with a quiz if he wears a Keaton Mask. No known Keaton exist in Hyrule at the time of Ocarina of Time, although at least one of them is a well-known fictional character in Hyrule Castle Town.^[21][22] By the time of The Minish Cap, however, some rather thuggish Keaton roam the Hyrule countryside, now walking on their hindpaws and with only one tail instead of three; if they injure Link, he loses a few Rupees. They bear a striking resemblance to Ninetails, which was in turn based on the Japanese mythological kitsune. Their faces also resemble that of the Pokemon Pikachu.

Kikwi

The Kikwi are an avian race in "Skyward Sword" who inhabit the Faron Forest region. They have the appearance of a black-and-white wingless bird wearing a mask. Their name is a reference to both the kiwi bird and fruit - both of which they resemble. They have the ability to partially bury themselves underground and cause a plant to blossom from their backs, in an attempt at hiding. They are rumored to be related to the Kokiri/Koroks, being a forest-dwelling race led by a guardian figure with large facial hair.

Kokiri and Koroks

The Kokiri Zoku (コキリ族^?) are a humanoid fairy race in Ocarina of Time who inhabit the Kokiri Forest. They are ageless, child-like elves created by the Great Deku Tree, and each has a guardian fairy that plays the role of friend, parent, guardian, and teacher. Cautious and secretive, these elven creatures believe that they will die if they leave the forest.^[23] It is also suggested that if they wander too deep into the forest and remain there for too long, they will become a skull kid. Interestingly, they bear a slight resemblance to Peter Pan, as they are both children, elf-like, wear similar clothing, live in a forest, are accompanied by a Fairy and most importantly, never grow up.

The Koroks (コログ, Korogu^?) of Wind Waker are said to have been transformed from the Kokiri.^[24] They are small creatures with bodies that look like wood and masks made from leaves. They are very light, which allows them to travel by using sprouts as propellers over wind currents. They leave their home, the "Forest Haven", in order to plant seeds from the Great Deku Tree all over the world, and only return once a year to hold a ceremony to obtain more seeds.

Lokomo

Lokomos (ロコモ, Rokomo^?) are a humanoid race first appearing in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. All but one of the encountered Lokomo are sages who reside in the five realms of New Hyrule, as well as the Tower of Spirits. They are distinguishable by their pointed ears (similar to Hylians) and their short legs, forcing them to use motorized carts for transportation. However, a Lokomo named Byrne [Staven in the European version] is capable of walking on his legs and is exceptionally strong.

Oocca

The Oocca (天空人, Tenkūto "sky people"^?) are a race of birds with long necks and human-like faces that appear in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. They live in the "City in the Sky (天空都市, Tenkū Toshi "sky city"^?)",^[25] an airborne city that acts as the seventh dungeon in the Twilight Princess. An Oocca woman named Ooccoo (おばちゃん, Oba-san "aunt"^?) is found in the game's dungeons, and can warp the player back to the entrance to the dungeon. Ooccoo's son, Ooccoo Jr (ぼくちゃん, Boku-san "I/me-san"^?), warps the player back to where Ooccoo was used to warp out. They bear a striking resemblance to the statue in M.C. Escher painting, Another World. In Twilight Princess, these creatures are mentioned to be closer to the gods than the hylians. They were the race who created hylians, and at the same time created a new capital in the skies for them to live in. In Twilight Princess, Link reaches this city by shooting himself out of an enormous reconstructed ancient cannon.

Minish

Minish, also referred to as Picori (ピッコル, Pikkoru^?), are small humanoid creatures similar in size of bugs that tend to be helpful, although Vaati (グフー, Gufū hurricane^?) was an example of an evil Picori. They're only visible to children and tend to live in forests, but also appear inside of buildings and holes in and around various spots of Hyrule. Three variations of the Minish which can be distinguished by their attire: Forest Minish, Town Minish and Mountain Minish. They first appear in The Minish Cap.

Mogma

The Mogma are a mole-like race from "Skyward Sword" who live in the Eldin Volcano region. They appear to be anthropmorphic rodentine creatures with elongated arms, and each has their own distinctive hairstyle. The Mogma hide underground by burrowing with their claws. They are often mistaken for Gorons.

Parella

The Parella are an aquatic race from "Skyward Sword" who live in the underwater spiraling caverns of Lake Floria. They are a squid-like race, and look almost like the aquatic Octoroks from "Ocarina of Time". Interestingly, conical spirals seem to be a major part of their design, appearing as both their central body and the shape of their dwellings. Red coral grows from their heads.

Rito

The Rito (リト^?), also known as the 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, an island on the Great Sea. They have a tribal elder, with numerous followers and elaborately dressed guards. No Rito is born with wings, and instead, must visit the tribes' guardian, the great Sky Spirit, 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 without wings are called Fledglings.

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 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time manga, 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 Dragon Roost Island contains some Andean instruments such as zampoña (or pan pipes) and charango.

Rito are humanoid, bird-like creatures. They have a mix of human and animal biological characteristics, with very distinctive traits. The Rito appear to be covered by dark shaded skin or feathers. Most Rito have red colored eyes, although the Rito Chieftain has yellow eyes. They, like many other races in the series, have pointed ears. The Rito have bird-like feet as well, though oddly without talons. Rito also have some sort of beak where a human's nose would be found, though the shape and size of this beak varies through different Rito. Unlike normal birds this beak appears to be only used for smelling, and cannot be used as a mouth, the Rito have a more human-like mouth below this beak.

Throughout a young Rito's childhood, he or she is called a Fledgling and is flightless without any wings. After a child reaches a certain age they can only receive their wings after they retrieve a scale from the dragon, Valoo. Their wings are unique in that they protrude from their forearms, similar to where a Zora's fins would be. These have an appearance similar to the sleeves of a cloak when the Rito is not in flight. While not in use wings of a Rito are mostly white with black colored plumage located along the ends. When in flight the top of a Rito's wings are colored brown with black along the edges while the bottoms of the wings contain white colored plumage along the wings interior. However Medli has pure white colored wings, possibly suggesting that female Rito have white wings or that her wings are not fully grown yet.

Most Rito are able to fly over a great distance and can hover in place, but some like Medli have trouble flying for long periods of time. This is likely due to inexperience at flying, however. Like humans, Rito's heads are covered by hair that are of different colors and lengths for each person. Most males, however, seem to have white colored hair, even at a young age.

It is revealed in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker that the Rito are descended from the Zora; when Hyrule was flooded, they evolved into bird-like creatures to better suit their surroundings. This is supported by Medli when she gives Link the Grappling Hook, stating that it was used by the Rito before they evolved wings. This hints that they used it when they were Zoras or when they were changing from Zoras to Rito.

Salvo(?)

The Salvo (Sarubo^?) are a mechanical race from "Skyward Sword", and next to nothing is known about them besides their appearance and Japanese name (and likely English translation). They appear to be a race focused on the salvaging of scrap metal.

Sheikah

The Sheikah (シーカー, Shīkā^?) are an ancient clan of mysterious ninja-like warriors, often referred to as the "shadows" of the Hylians, sworn to protect the Hylian Royal Family.^[26] Eventually Impa during Ocarina of Time and Impaz during Twilight Princess are the last surviving members of the tribe. The Sheikah's symbol of a crying eye is commonly seen in the series, even in games where the Sheikah are not present. In the Ocarina of Time manga, it is explained by Sheik that the symbol of the Sheikah used to only consist of a normal eye but was changed when a betrayal occurred, context suggests the Royal Family somehow betrayed the Sheikah and the teardrop was added to represent the sorrow of their tribe. In Ocarina of Time they are referred to as an extinct race, with Impa being the only surviving member (even though Princess Zelda poses as one while hiding from Ganondorf), and builders of the Shadow Temple. The reason for constructing this eerie mysterious structure is not fully known. It is said that the Sheikah people were fascinated by a search for truth. They were also the creators of the mask of truth (sold by the happy mask salesmen of castle town in Ocarina of Time).

Light Spirits

There are four Light Spirits (光の精霊, Hikari no Seirei^?) throughout Hyrule, with all the light spirits being a light gold. All of the light spirits are located in the Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess.

The first light spirit is Ordona (ラトアーヌ, Ratoānu^?), best described as an Ordon Goat. Ordona has a spiraling circular orb in between her antlers and first appears at Ordon Spring. She appears once Link has defeated the first Twilit Messenger.

The second light spirit, Faron (フィローネ, Firōne^?), is described as a monkey/ape. He is holding his golden orb with his tail eclipsed over his head. He appears in Faron Spring, and will fully appear when Link has completed the first collection of electric bugs.

The third light spirit, Eldin (オルディン, Orudin^?), is described as an eagle, with his orb between his feet. He appears in the lake near the shaman's house in Kakariko Villiage, and will fully appear once Link has completed the second collection of electric bugs.

The fourth and last light spirit, Lanayru (ラネール, Ranēru^?), is described as a serpent, with his orb inside his mouth. He appears in the cave at Lake Hylia. He fully appears when Link has completed the third and final collection of electric bugs. But once Link is back to his human form, and after Lanayru tells him the story of the three goddesses and the three Fused Shadows, Zant appears. Zant will then embed the Shadow Crystal in Link's skull that will allow Link to transform into his human and wolf form.

Subrosian

Subrosians (ウーラ, Ūra^?) are a mysterious race which live in the subterranean world of Subrosia. They have large glowing eyes and are always seen wearing either green, blue or red hooded cloaks, (though one Subrosian wears a yellow cloak with a ribbon). They are shy when around people of other races and prefer to be rarely seen. They can survive in lava and tend to relax in pools of lava, and use a currency made of metal rocks found in the ground called Ore Chunks. They first appear in Oracle of Seasons.

Tokay

Tokay (トカゲ人, Tokagejin lizard people^?) are a race of reptilian lizards with green scales and tails who reside on Crescent Island in Labrynna. They are known to search for valuable items that they can find and are known to be deceitful. They are also expert gardeners which are able to grow scent seeds from seedlings over a course of four hundred years. They have never seen anyone from other races so when they see Link, they think he's a Tokay without a tail and call him "Strange Tokay". They first appear in Oracle of Ages.

Twili

Twili (トワイライトの民, Towairaito no Tami People of the Twilight^?) are a race which come from the Twilight Realm. They are the descendants of the Dark Interlopers which were sent to the Twilight Realm by the Golden Goddesses (三柱の女神, Mihashira no Megami Three Goddesses^?) after trying to seize control of the Sacred Realm and later evolved to what they are now. Eventually, they abandoned their plans to rule the Sacred Realm and Hyrule and became peacefully adapted to their new lifestyle in the Twilight Realm. One member of their race is Midna (ミドナ, Midona^?). They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Zant (ザント, Zando^?) was also part of this race. He was granted the power to overthrow Midna by Ganon and then served Ganon in taking over Hyrule. It is possible that the Interlopers were either the Sheikah since there is a symbol on Zant's throne and they were allies of The Royal Family, or they were the Gerudo since that the Twili were a tribe of thieves and the entrance of the Twilight Realm in the Gerudo Desert. Is is also known that the recurring villain, Dark Link, might be a Interloper or possibly a relative to them, for which it is unknown.

The skin tone of the Twili is mostly black while their faces, necks, and chest tend to have gray and patterns in a marked contrast to the rest of their bodies. The Twili have a stretched, elongated appearance, with long limbs, necks, and heads, and great variances in overall height and girth (although the shorter Twili could just be children, which would also explain their girth). It also appears that common Twili are incapable of speaking the Hylian Language, and appear to only be able to utter a moan when Link draws near, which may be their own language. If this is the case, those moans may possibly be speeches that sound like moans because Link does not understand the language.

Yeti

Yeta (マトーニャ, Matōnya^?) and Yeto (ドサンコフ, Dosankofu^?) in Snowpeak Ruins in the game Twilight Princess were Yetis (雪男, yukiotoko^?).^[27] Yeto helps link by giving him soup that heal up to eight hearts of his health. Male Yetis look like the real-life Yeti only they have large, beaver tails, have saddles for hats and speak with poor grammar. The females, however, are smaller than the males and wear an armless sweater, showing no arms or tail.

Zora

A Zora, as depicted in Twilight Princess

The Zora (ゾーラ, Zōra^?) are a race of piscine humanoids which appear in nearly every game of the series. Zoras rely heavily on water, in fact they can only live on "land for limited time periods," ^[28] and reflect this dependency in their culture. Zoras are mostly seen gracefully swimming about and frolicking in water. Besides routine swimming and sports, Zoras also enjoy music.^[29]

Most Zoras do not wear clothing, and they are generally covered in silver scales, which give them a pale blue sheen from a distance. Where humans sometimes have long hair, average Zoras have rear-hanging caudal extensions that resemble tails. These tails undulate periodically, which gives a Zora's head the unique semblance of a fish. They are sometimes depicted as having webbed feet (except for Queen Rutela from Twilight Princess who appears to have two flat mermaid-like fins that fall down like a skirt) and hands. They lack ears in the traditional sense, but do have pronounced noses and gills on their abdomen. Their fins can be used to fight by extending out to serve as sharp-edged weapons. Zoras lay eggs to reproduce. Zora eggs need to be kept in cold, clean water to develop healthily, and every egg from the same clutch must be kept together for them to hatch. Newborn Zoras are tadpole-like with a circular body and a long, skinny tail ending in a fluke.

Zora government is apparently monarchical, either ruled by a king, King Zora (キングゾーラ, Kinguzōra^?), or queen, such as Queen Rutela (ルテラ, Rutera^?) from the game Twilight Princess. Two different tribes exist, "river Zora" are more violent and are able to shoot fire, while "sea Zora" make up the friendly Zoras. The Zora Royal Family is responsible for maintaining order among their people, overseeing care for Jabu Jabu (ジャブジャブ^?), whom they worship as a guardian god,^[30] and assuring that the waters upon which he and all creatures rely are clean and pure.

The Zora appear to be an extinct race in the Wind Waker game; a sage named Laruto (ラルト, Raruto^?) is encountered in spirit. They may be linked to the Rito (リト^?) race of bird people, along with the Princess Ruto (ルト^?).

In The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, there are monsters known as Zora Warriors who often emerge from bodies of water. However, it is unknown if and how they are related to the Zoras mentioned in earlier games.

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link is able to inhabit the body of the Zora Mikau, who was killed by Gerudo pirates, and can use his fins as boomerangs.

Creatures

• Armos (アモス, Amosu^?) are living statues or suits of armor that come to life and attack enemies when touched. The Minish Cap features them as guards created by the Wind Tribe. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Beamos (ビーモス, Bīmosu^?) are pillar-mounted mechanical eyes that rotate 360 degrees in search of intruders. They fire beams at the intruders while they are in sight, and they often keep tracking them as they move about. They first appeared in A Link to the Past.
• Biri and Bari (ゴーリア, Gōria^?) are electrified jellyfish that can live in or out of water. They often split into smaller duplicates after being attacked.
• Blade Traps are actually not enemies, but indestructible metallic devices armed with spikes. Some sense intruders and fly towards them, while others move in a set pattern. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Bubbles (バブル, Baburu^?), also known as Anti-Fairies or Wisps, are flaming skull enemies able to sprout wings. Their flames come in many colors, but the most common are red and blue. Link is temporarily unable to use his sword after touching them. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Buzzblobs are mobile creatures made of goo. They are passive, but generate large amounts of static electricity when hit. Buzzblobs cannot be defeated outright by swords, with the exception of the Golden Sword, requiring the use of various ranged weapons, which can either defeat them instantly or stun them, leaving them vulnerable to sword strikes. They are skinny down near the ground and widen at the top.
• ChuChus (チュチュ, Chuchu^?) are jelly-like creatures with squat, translucent bodies, stalk-eyes, and a permanently smiling mouth that have a variety of colors. In The Wind Waker their appearance was change to upright, opaque bodies and vibrantly colored faces. They come in Green, Red (the two most common colors), Yellow, Blue and dark Purple. They aggressively attack anything that invades their territory by tackling it, but will hide in puddles on the ground if no one is close. They mostly move by bouncing around, though the Green, Yellow and Blue ChuChus will occasionally melt and turn into small invincible puddles, and proceed to move around in their puddle forms until they can get close to Link, or until Link uses an item such as his Boomerang to stun and coax them out of their puddles. In Twilight Princess, after one is killed, Link can use their puddles as potions or lantern fuel, depending on the type of ChuChu. They first appeared in Majora's Mask.
• Cuccos (コッコ, Kokko^?) are essentially chickens. They mostly come in white, although Twilight Princess had black, brown, and grey variants as well. In Ocarina of Time there was a single blue cucco that was used in a trading sequence. Cuccos are not aggressive on their own, but if repeatedly attacked, they will crow, causing a swarm of cuccos to fly in and attack the violator until he or she dies or leaves the area. Cuccos first appeared in A Link to the Past. However, in Twilight Princess after a certain number of hits you get to control the cucco for several seconds. In Twilight Princess, there is a golden cucco that you must use to fly across gaps in order to enter to the Sacred Grove.
• Darknuts (タートナック, Tātonakku^?) are large armored knights armed with swords and shields. In The Wind Waker when their helmets are removed they are revealed to have jackal-like heads. Some Darknuts also have capes, which must be destroyed before they can be hurt. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda. They reappear in groups at Hyrule Castle. They appear also in Twilight Princess for the first time in The Temple of Time, and in several other dungeons thereafter.
• Deku Babas (デクババ, Deku Baba^?) are carnivorous plants, with a venus fly trap-like mouth, and sprout from the ground whenever their roots detect any potential prey. They first appeared in Ocarina of Time.
• Dodongos (ドドンゴ, Dodongo^?) are carnivorous dinosaurs that resemble gigantic iguanas, move slowly, and can breathe powerful blasts of flame.^[31] Other types of Dodongos include Baby Dodongos, which are infant, worm-like creatures^[32] which explode when attacked, and Big Dodongos, which are larger versions of normal Dodongos. A King Dodongo appears as a boss in Ocarina of Time.^[33] They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Floormasters (フロアマスター, Furoamasutā^?) and Wallmasters are ghostly or zombified manifestations of giant hands that drag adventurers back to the entrance of a dungeon. Floormasters roam around the room and are visible at all times, while Wallmasters hide on the ceiling out of sight. Also, Floormasters split up into smaller versions when the original is attacked, whereas Wallmasters do not. Floormasters first appeared in Ocarina of Time; Wallmasters first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Gibdos (ギブド, Gibudo^?) are undead creatures wrapped like mummies. They resemble ReDeads in regard to their slow and zombie-like movement; in some games, setting a Gibdo's bandages alight will reveal a Stalfos or a ReDead underneath. In Majora's Mask Link can use a Gibdo Mask to communicate with them. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Iron Knuckles are heavily armored knights with axes. While they are even slower than the Darknuts they are the most powerful enemies in their games as they can take four hearts from Link with just one hit and because of that they are often used to guard treasures. They first appeared in The Adventure of Link.
• Keese (キース, Kīsu^?) are bat-like monsters that often lurk in caves and dungeons, where they will fly around erratically, and occasionally stop to rest. There are fire and ice variants, which can respectively use fire and ice to attack enemies. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Leevers (リーバー, Rībā^?) are cactus-like monsters that primarily live in sandy areas, such as deserts and beaches, and they live beneath the sand, burrowing to the top to attack in ambush. Leevers generally have a conical shape that tapers towards the top, and sharp leaves on top. They attack by spinning rapidly and slamming into whatever they are attacking. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Like Likes (ライクライク, Raikuraiku^?) are yellowish cylindrical monsters that can suck in creatures as large as humans and consume items they carry. They are known for swallowing the shields and tunics that Link uses. Like Likes dissolve into a puddle when killed, leaving the stolen items. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Moblins (モリブリン, Moriburin^?) are humanoid monsters that usually reside in forests. In the original Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link, Moblins resembled bulldogs, but are pig-like in more recent games. They are sometimes accompanied by Pig Warriors, monsters with the same basic form but more porcine characteristics. Both types commonly wield spears, swords, bows, or occasionally massive clubs. They are one of the most common enemies within the games they appear, and are considered "mighty", but also "dumb".^[34][35] They are described as greedy, self-possessed creatures, and the major antagonist will commonly use them as mercenaries or summoned monsters.^[36] Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons feature a larger, senior Moblin known as the Great Moblin, who terrorizes Holodrum and Labrynna. Wind Waker introduces two variations: Miniblins, rodent-like beasts that carry pitchforks, and Bokoblins, impish creatures. In Spirit Tracks Miniblins were pirates usually led by a "Big Blin," a larger, muscled variation that wields a spiked club.
• Lizalfos (リザルフォス, Rizarufosu^?) are humanoid lizards that stand upright and wield a shield and either a spear or hammer. Lizalfos in later games are rapid-moving monsters that often attack in pairs or small groups. They first appeared in The Adventure of Link.
• Octoroks (オクタロック, Okutarokku^?) are land-dwelling, octopus-like enemies that attack by shooting rocks from their mouth. There are also aquatic and sea variations that shoot bombs. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Peahats (ピーハット, Pīhatto^?) are helicopter-like enemies that take the appearances of plants. In Twilight Princes they are not enemies and can be used as a transportation method via the Clawshot. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Poes (ポウ, Pou^?) are lantern-carrying ghosts formed from concentrated hatred toward the world that freely roams graveyards and other haunted locales. They always carry their signature lanterns. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Pols Voice (ポルスボイス, Porusuboisu^?) are creatures with large rabbit-like ears that hop around rooms in erratic patterns. They hate loud noises. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• ReDeads (リーデッド, Rīdeddo^?) are undead creatures resembling zombies with a dark brown skin and flat mask-like faces that can paralyze enemies with a scream, and cling to them to drain health away.^[37] They first appeared in Ocarina of Time.
• Skulltulas (スタルウォール, sutaruwōru^?) are giant spiders, named for the white, bony plate in the shape of a human skull that forms its carapace. Skulltulas and giant Skulltulas hang upside down in an upright position, suspended by a strand of silk thread from a ceiling surface. In Ocarina of Time, there is also a smaller variant called the Skullwalltula which are also encountered first before the Skulltulas.
• Stalchild are smaller forms of the Stalfos. They only appear in dark places and at night. Unlike Stalfos, they do not carry any weapons, usually swiping at their target with their arms. In Ocarina of Time, after a certain number is defeated, a larger one appears, supposedly their leader. They make their debut in Ocarina of Time.
• Stalfos (スタルフォス, Sutarufosu^?) are animated skeletons mostly from the remains of dead warriors who still have a strong will to fight, and serve evil powers such as Ganon or Vaati. In Ocarina of Time, by using the Mask of Truth, the player learns from a Gossip Stone that any adult that enters Lost Woods without the protection of a Guardian Fairy will become a monster (although it's only revealed that such monster is a Stalfos during the Biggoron Sword quest, when link trades in the Odd Potion for the Poacher's Saw). They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.^[38]
• Tektites (テクタイト, Tekutito^?) are human-sized four-legged insectoid creatures who use their powerful legs to leap upon and attack prey. The Blue ones are able to walk on water. And both Blue and Red can jump up cliffs. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Vire (バイア, Baia^?) are bat-like creatures that when hit with a weapon weaker than the Master Sword or equivalent, split into two Keese. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Wizzrobes (ウィズローブ, Wezurōbu^?) are magic-using enemies that wear wizard's robes (hence their name) and often use fire and ice magic before disappearing and reappearing somewhere else. In The Wind Waker they can also summon other enemies and resemble robed, anthropomorphic toucans. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Wolfos (ウルフォス, Urufosu^?) are wolf like creatures that appear in most Zelda games. They are usually found in grassy or snowy terrains, where their fur changes according to each. White Wolfos, usually found in snowy terrains, hit harder than the normal Wolfos, but its back is as fragile as a normal one's. They first appeared in Ocarina of Time.
• Zols (ゾル, Zoru^?) are simple blob-like enemies with two eyes. They often hide between the tiles of dungeon floors, waiting to pop out and jump. Zols are much larger than Gels, and in many games, weaker attacks will cause a Zol to split into two Gels. Both Zols and Gels first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.

Reception

In their January 2010 issue, Nintendo Power listed Hyrule as one of the greatest Nintendo locations, citing the vast number of areas to explore, as well as referencing players' first experiences with the Lost Woods and Death Mountain as highlights of the players' adventures.^[39]

See also

• Recurring characters in The Legend of Zelda series

References

1. ^ Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. (Nintendo of America). Nintendo 64. Level/area: Deku Tree. (1998-11-23)
2. ^ A Link to the Past, Japanese Manual: In books left behind for their Hyrulian descendants by the race once closest to the gods, the Hylians (the root word for Hyrule), it is written that the three gods, the "god of power", the "god of wisdom," and the "god of courage," created the state of heaven and earth. (かつて神に最も近い民 族とされたハイリア人(ハイラルの語源でもあります)が、ハイラルの子孫に残した書物の中に三人の神々「力の神」「知恵の神」「勇気の神」による天地創造の様子が書かれています。^?)
3. ^ IGN.com Article on Hylian. Obtained May 28, 2007.
4. ^ http://www.omniglot.com/writing/hylian3.htm
5. ^ The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past manual (Japanese version): For that reason, the people of Hyrule were told by the gods to make something that would repulse any evil that may kidnap the Triforce: the blade of evil's bane.
6. ^ The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, King of Red Lions: The fact that the Master Sword lost the power to repel evil suggests to me that something has happened to the sages who infused the blade with the gods’ power. The sages should be in Hyrule... in the Wind Temple to the north and the Earth Temple to the south, praying to the gods.
7. ^ E3 2010: Nintendo Developer Roundtable Live Blog. IGN, June 15, 2010.
8. ^ Nintendo Power 250th issue!. South San Francisco, California: Future US. 2010. p. 44. 
9. ^ ^{a b} Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008). In-game trophy description "Bulbin" trophy.
10. ^ "King Bulbin... When he loses in his final battle, he pays subtle respect to Link when he says, 'I follow the strongest side!'". Super Smash Bros. Brawl. (2008). Trophy description of the "King Bulbin" trophy.
11. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nabooru: "A kid like you may not know this, but the Gerudo race consists only of women. Only one man is born every hundred years… Even though our laws say that lone male Gerudo must become King of the Gerudo, I'll never bow to such an evil man!"
12. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Gossip Stone: "They say that Gerudos sometimes come to Hyrule Castle Town to look for boyfriends."
13. ^ In-game trophy description of a "Goron" from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. (2008).
14. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Goron: “This wild rolling is the only way to relieve my stress!” […] “Let me express my joy with more wild rolling!”
15. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, Goron: "We Gorons love games!"
16. ^ The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Goron figurine: "These rock- and iron-eaters once lived on Mount Crenel in Western Hyrule."
17. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Goron: "You shouldn't be so picky about what you eat! Do you eat all of your green rocks? If you don't, you won't grow up big and strong!"
18. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Darmani's memorial: "If Gorons who possess magic power roll swiftly enough, spikes will emerge from their bodies so that they may mow down enemies."
19. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Darmani III's memorial: "Water is disastrous for Goron heroes, for they sink like stones and are rendered motionless in the deep. Beware."
20. ^ Zelda Universe
21. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: "Oh, I know that character! It's Keaton! He's very hot in Hyrule Castle Town right now!"
22. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Death Mountain Guard: "Oh? Is that a "Kee...something..." character mask? I heard he's very popular recently? He's my boy's favorite."
23. ^ : Ocarina of Time, Kokiri boy: "The Great Deku Tree said that if a Kokiri leaves the woods, he or she will die!"
24. ^ The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Great Deku Tree: "Once upon a time, long ago, the Koroks took on human forms, but when they came to live on the sea, they took these shapes."
25. ^ "One of the Oocca, Ooccoo travels around with her son in search of a means to return to her home, the City in the Sky." Super Smash Bros. Brawl. (2008). Ooccoo & Son in-game trophy description.
26. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, old man: "Have you heard the legend of the "Shadow Folk"? They are the Sheikah...the shadows of the Hylians. They say they swore allegiance to the King of Hyrule and guarded the Royal Family."
27. ^ Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) In-game trophy description of the "Yeta" trophy.
28. ^ Super Smash Brothers Brawl (2008). In game trophy description of the "Zora" trophy.
29. ^ “Led by their King, the Zoras are peaceful creatures who enjoy music and sports.”
30. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, King Zora: “Our guardian god, Lord Jabu-Jabu, would never eat my dear Princess Ruto!”
31. ^ The Great Hyrule Encyclopedia: Dodongos
32. ^ The Great Hyrule Encyclopedia: Baby Dodongo
33. ^ They The Great Hyrule Encyclopedia: Big Dodongo
34. ^ The Wind Waker, Moblin Figurine: "These mighty enemies swing their long spears with the greatest of ease."
35. ^ The Minish Cap, Swiftblade: "Those pig-faced Moblins...You see them around the Minish Woods, right? They're big and dumb? Well, they're also rich!"
36. ^ Nintendo (January 1, 2006). "The Great Hyrule Encyclopedia - Moblin". Zelda Universe. http://www.zelda.com/universe/pedia/m.jsp#Moblin. Retrieved 2007-06-11. 
37. ^ Reparaz, Mikel (2008-06-13). "The scariest villains EVER". GamesRadar. http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-scariest-villains-ever/a-2008061315431334063. Retrieved 2008-08-01. 
38. ^ "Stalfos Knight at the Great Hyrule Encyclopedia". Zelda.com. http://www.zelda.com/universe/pedia/s.jsp#StalfosKnights. Retrieved 2007-06-08. 
39. ^ (Magazine). 250. South San Francisco, California: Future US. January 2010. p. 42. http://www.nintendopower.com/images/NP250_250Feature.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-17. 

External links

• Hyrule at ZeldaWiki.org
• Hyrule on Zeldapedia, an external wiki