Homebrew Zora Species Details

The Zora are quiet and reflective like the waters they make their home in. They spend their days mulling over philosophical quandries and refining their swimming technique. They are a romantic race, who value a long life of leisure with the partner of their dreams.

Slender and Graceful

Zora are graceful creatures, halfway between man and fish, taking all the best qualities of both. They stand slightly taller than Hylians, but those of royal blood strangely never seem to stop growing. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

Zora skin has the quality of dolphin skin, and they are most commonly blue, but they can also come in a wide range of bright flashy colours. They have webbed feet and hands, fins on their arms and the backs of their calves, (sometimes dorsal fins) and a long dolphin-esque tail from the backs of their heads. Zora can resemble a variety of aquatic animals, such as sharks, dolphins, goldfish/carp, rays, eels, whales etc.

A Timeless Perspective

Zora can live well over 700 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Zora can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance. Do not get on the wrong side of a Zora, they can hold grudges for centuries.

Zora are known for their wisdom and calm nature. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They have been known to retreat from intrusions into their seabed homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, Zora reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with tridents, spears and strategy.

Under The Sea

Zora are natural patrons to Nayru, goddess of wisdom. 

Zora make their homes in a variety of water bodies: lakes, rivers and oceans. They are expert fishers who know the dangers of the water, and how to circumvent them. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and beautiful architecture; crystal halls carved in intricate detail. It is tradition for female Zora to handcraft a gift to present to their beloved as a marriage proposal, so all are well learned in the arts of clothing and fashion. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited due to their need to be close to water as often as possible. 

Zora rarely leave their own lands, but they may be encouraged to do so if their home is threatened, or if they fall in love with those not of their race. They dislike being out of their comfort zone, far from home or in a harsh environment, so adventuring journeys are often personally motivated. They have long lives, but are also rather delicate and sensitive to change. They find the fast pace of other races difficult to keep up with, and although love between Hylians and Zora isn't unheard of, it often ends in tragedy.

Zora Traits

Your Zora character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years spent in tune with the water.

Amphibious

You can breathe air and water.

Call to the Wave

You know the Shape Water cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Create or Destroy Water spell as a 2nd-level spell. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Vulnerability

You are vulnerable to lightning damage.

Lakebound Warrior

You are particularly familiar with the Swamp natural environment and are adept at traveling and surviving in such regions. When you make an Intelligence or Wisdom check related to your favored terrain, your proficiency bonus is doubled if you are using a skill that you’re proficient in.

While traveling for an hour or more in your favored terrain, you gain the following benefits:

• Difficult terrain doesn’t slow your group’s travel.
• Your group can’t become lost except by magical means.
• Even when you are engaged in another activity while traveling (such as foraging, navigating, or tracking), you remain alert to danger.
• If you are traveling alone, you can move stealthily at a normal pace.
• When you forage, you find twice as much food as you normally would.
• While tracking other creatures, you also learn their exact number, their sizes, and how long ago they passed through the area.

Resistance

You have a resistance to poison damage.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 1 and Wisdom score increases by 2.

Age

Zora reach physical maturity much slower than Hylians. A Zora typically reaches adulthood around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old, although those of royal blood can live longer.

Alignment

Zora are known for their intelligence and wisdom, being well ordered and formal at times, so they often lean lawful. They are calm and generally good aligned, and although they think highly of themselves, they are polite and courteous to other races.

Size

Zora range from 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Your base swimming speed is 40 feet.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Zoran (Aquan).