Zora

"The Zoras come from Zora's Domain in northeast Hyrule. An aquatic race, they are longtime allies of Hyrule's Royal Family. I heard that only the Royal Family of Hyrule can enter Zora's Domain..."

— Kaepora Gaebora

The Zoras are a recurring race of aquatic creatures in the Zelda series. The majority of the creatures are tall, humanoid, and blue skinned. However, they can differ from game to game – even in the same game there are Zoras that look totally different from the others. King Zora XVI has a big and round body type, Queen Rutela has a mermaid look while Prince Ralis is very short and looks like a hybrid between a Zora and a Human.

There are two subspecies of Zora: River-Zoras and Sea-Zoras. The River-Zoras are the hostile monsters that Link fights. They pop out of the water and fire energy balls at Link. On the other hand, the Sea-Zoras are the kind and peaceful creatures that Link interacts with in games. The appearance of the two species differ as well: the River-Zoras are monsters while the Sea-Zoras are more humanoid and aren't evil. The name of the subspecies is not necessarily derived from their habitats; Sea-Zoras can appear in Rivers and River-Zoras in the sea.

Biology

Rutela has a special look that differs from other Zoras

Zoras resemble other marine creatures. They have fins on both arms, and in Majora's Mask, Link used them as some sort of Boomerang. Their head has a tail that stretches out on the back. Most of them are humanoid looking, but there are exceptions such as Toto, King Zora, Ralis etc. The males and females are hard to specify, since they look very similair and if the Zora isn't wearing clothes it's almost impossible to judge. Rutela in Twilight Princess looked more like a mermaid, and in that game the Zoras had armor instead of being "naked".

As with Dekus and Gorons, the Zora usually have a larger purpose in the plot. The leaders have been shown to be a little different from the general Zora and male too. Toto in Majora's Mask is a respected manager of the Indigo-Go's and he is very round. King Zora XVI from Ocarina of Time is also very large and in a place of leadership.

The River-Zoras are more monstrous-looking and haven't been shown as much. They like to fire energy bursts at Link. They have fangs and look more like monster fishes than Zoras. In A Link to the Past, the King of the Zoras was a River-Zora. He, along with the Zora found in the Animal Village of Link's Awakening, is the only known friendly River-Zora.

File:River Zora Artwork (The Legend of Zelda).png

A River-Zora, a monster that Link fights in some games.

Certain other features of the Zora biology are revealed when the player can inhabit the body of the Zora Mikau in Majora's Mask. When Link assumes his Zora body, he can swim with great ease and agility, using his forearm fins to perform barrel rolls or to jump out of the water. Moreover, these fins are specialized for Link's fighting needs. They can grow larger to serve as sharp-edged weapons similar to swords, and even be projected as twin boomerangs; they retract again when not in use. Link's right fin also grows to become his shield when defending.

Additionally, Zoras who possess magical power have the ability to create electric fields around their bodies as a defense mechanism when swimming, much like electric eels. This ability has only been seen and used in Majora's Mask. All Zoras are powerful swimmers – in fact, they are powerful enough to swim up waterfalls, as seen in Twilight Princess.

Hatched Zora Eggs, Posing As Notes.

It is also revealed in Majora's Mask that Zoras lay eggs to reproduce. Zora eggs need to be kept in cold, clean water in order to develop healthily, and every egg from the same clutch must be kept together in order for them to hatch. Newborn Zoras are tadpole-like with a circular body and a long, skinny tail ending in a fluke, much like a note.

Appearances

Zoras have appeared in most games in the Zelda series. In the first few, they were enemies, whereas in later games, they are a friendly race.

The Legend of Zelda

River-Zoras are the only variety seen in the first game of the series. They hide underwater until Link comes near, when they will shoot fireballs at him. These fireballs can only be blocked with the Magic Shield.

A Link to the Past

File:Lttp kingzora.gif Once again, River-Zoras appear in A Link to the Past. They behave similarly to their counterparts in The Legend of Zelda by diving underwater and only coming up to shoot fireballs at Link. However, the King Zora is not hostile. He will sell Link the Flippers.

Link's Awakening

The River-Zoras appear again in Link's Awakening as enemies inhabiting the water areas such as Martha's Bay. There is only one friendly Zora in the game that can be found in Animal Village. He can only be seen with the Magnifying Lens in the house in the northeast of the village. When Link talks to him, the Photographer appears and takes a picture of the pair.

Ocarina of Time

King Zora has round and much bigger form than other Zoras.

Ocarina of Time is the first game that Sea-Zoras make an appearance. Their main habitat is Zora's Domain, near Zora's River. They are ruled by King Zora XVI. When Link arrives at their domain in search of the next Spiritual Stone, the Zora's Sapphire, he finds that King Zora's daughter, Princess Ruto, has gone missing. Link finds a letter from her in a bottle that says she is inside of Lord Jabu-Jabu's stomach. Link rescues her, and she gives him the Spiritual Stone as a reward.

Seven years into the future, after Link withdraws the Master Sword, he visits Zora's Domain and discovers that it is completely frozen over. After traversing the Ice Cavern, he obtains the Iron Boots and can enter the Water Temple. In there, he finds Ruto, and once he defeats Morpha, she becomes the Sage of Water.

Majora's Mask

Zoras in Majora's Mask are found in the Great Bay region of Termina. There are several normal Zoras living in the area; however, there is also a popular Zora rock band called the Indigo-Go's. Like the Deku and Goron races, there is a mask lallowing Link to turn into a Zora.

Indigo-Go's

Main article: Indigo-Go's

The Indigo-Go's are a Zora rock band exclusive to Majora's Mask. It consists of Mikau (guitar), Evan (piano), Japas (bass), Lulu (vocals), and Tijo (drums). The manager is Toto.

Zora Mask

Main article: Zora Mask

One of Link's four transformation masks is the Zora Mask. After playing the Song of Healing to Mikau on the shores of Great Bay, his spirit gets turned into a mask. When Link wears said mask, he turns into the Zora guitarist himself. The mask not only allows Link to become a Zora but also to have the abilities of one as well. He can swim fast in water and attacks with the fins on his arms. His musical instrument to replace the Ocarina of Time is known as the Guitar of Waves.

The Wind Waker

Medli, A Rito that has a Zora symbol on her clothing.

Eiji Aonuma has said that the Rito are the evolved form of the Zora. They are half-bird and half-human. The Rito make many references to the Zora, such as the Zora symbol appearing in certain places. However, the most convincing fact is that Medli shares the bloodline of the Zora Sage, Laruto. Laruto is the only actual Zora who appears in-game.

Twilight Princess

In Twilight Princess, the Zoras once more are a peaceful race residing the Zora's Domain, near Lake Hylia. When Link first arrives, their home is covered in ice, but he can easily unfreeze it with a large volcanic rock from Death Mountain. The Zoras were ruled by Queen Rutela until her death, when her son, Prince Ralis, was supposed to take over. Link finds Prince Ralis in Castle Town, where Ilia is trying to save him from sickness. Queen Rutela asks Link to save her son, so he guides Ralis, Telma, and Ilia across Hyrule Field to Kakariko Village. Once Ralis is safe, Rutela gives Link the Zora Armor in the Kakariko Village Graveyard.

Gallery

• Prince-Ralis.png

  A Zora from Twilight Princess