Homebrew Zora Species Details

Amphibious, fish-like humanoids, zora have sleek and glistening bodies. Zora rarely breed, but when they do, they have offspring in batches of eggs ranging from 1 to 8, which grow into tadpoles, and eventually amphibious humanoids. Zora reach adulthood around the age of 20, but after this point age slowly compared to hylians. One reaches middle age at about 100 years, and a particularly fortunate zora can live to be more than 200.

The exact shape and demeanor of any zora is heavily dependent on its subrace. Sea zora and river zora are quite distinct from each other. "Sea zora" have evolved to live in deeper saltwater, and "river zora" have evolved to live in shallower freshwater. The subraces' names have become somewhat inaccurate, as either subrace is equally tolerant of both freshwater and saltwater.

 

Society

Due to their amphibious nature, zora villages are most often built along coastlines, rivers, lakes, and other areas that blend shallow water with nearby land. This enables them to effectively evade threats that are exclusive to land or sea, and hunt more effectively from both sources. Zora usually wear a small amount of jewelry or armor, but less clothing than races such as hylians or rito, as excess clothing hampers their ability to swim.

A given zora tribe is usually ruled by a royal family of zora, to which the tribe is loyal for generations. The current monarch of a tribe is typically referred to with a title such as "King Zora" or "Queen Zora" rather than his or her actual name.

River zora are hostile to outside races, including sea zora. They have an instinctive desire to aggressively defend what waters they call their own and will attack any foreign entities with blasts of fire without hesitation. The rare outsider who can gain the trust of a river zora tribe will find they are not murderers nor thieves but are in fact quite friendly to their allies.

Sea zora are comparatively more accepting of outsiders, and their royal families are usually allies with the royal families of hylians. They frequently intermingle with other races who live on coastlines and are renowned for their unique style of music.

Zora Traits

Although sea zora and river zora are quite distinct, together they claim the title of the only truly amphibious race in Hyrule — and are the second most populous, exceeded only by hylians.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2.

Age

Zora reach adulthood by the age of 20 at the earliest and can live to an age of 200 or more.

Size

Zora can vary greatly in size, but on average one is about 6 feet tall. Rarely, a zora can grow to a height of 8 feet or more. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet, and you have a swim speed of 40 feet.

Amphibious

You can breathe both air and water.

Scaly Armor

When you aren't wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use this natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor. While you use your natural armor, you are vulnerable to lightning damage, and you are considered to be wearing metal armor for any effect that would deal lightning damage.

Natural Fisher

You have advantage on any ability check made to locate or capture aquatic animals.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Zoran.