Race:Lynel

Lynel is a playable race on Hyrule Castle. As one of the seven elite races, a player must acquire a Race License specifically for this race to create a Lynel character. As one of the "monster" races, beings of this race are traditionally abhorred by Hylians, may be attacked on sight, and are generally not allowed anywhere near the settlements in Northern Hyrule, nor in Ruto.

Canonically, Lynels made their debut and most plentiful appearance in the first Legend of Zelda game. In lesser roles, they have recurred in A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, Oracle of Seasons, and Oracle of Ages.

Character Creation Brief

Lynels, known by some as Centaurs, once dominated the primitive land of Hyrule centuries ago. Wielding a longsword in each arm, these 8-foot-tall lion-headed, man-chested, horse-legged beasts shot forth lethal beams from each blade. As the land was tamed by Hylians, however, Lynel have become increasingly scarce. Despite their intelligence and power, they are feared as monsters, and are hunted down upon sight. Largely because of this, many have made their way into the ranks of Ganon's army, where their power, endurance, and speed can be properly appreciated. The few that don't enlist with Ganon tend towards the fields of the Lower Wilds, defending the last stretches of open land that haven't yet been stolen by either Ganon nor Hyrule. Unsurprisingly, they rarely trust any but their own kind.

A Lynel begins with a PWC of 3/1/1, having a 3 in Power. This starting PWC can be defied by using the Exception racial perk during character creation, but even with it, a Lynel can never be created with a Power below 2.

A Lynel has an innate racial perk called Centaur Speed, the primary effect of which is granting them incredible running speed. In addition to this, a Lynel character can have up to three additional racial perks of choice. In addition to the general perks available to every race, a Lynel can also choose from:

• Blitz: a technique enabling the Lynel to launch his body forward with a high-speed, high-impact tackle
• Fire Breath: a powerful technique enabling the Lynel to spit flames
• Intrinsic Enchantment: a powerful ability enabling the Lynel to enchant his or her weapons with a designated element, such as Fire or Ice
• Language of Fauna: a useful spell enabling the Lynel to communicate with animals
• Power Beam: a powerful spell enabling the Lynel to shoot damaging beams from the weapons he or she wields
• Power Lift: a technique which, when used, triples the weight the Lynel can lift, carry over their head, push, or pull
• Scent: a trait granting the Lynel an extraordinary sense of smell, able to even detect the presence of magic
• Traveler: a trait which makes it easier for the Lynel to gain treasures of the Travel field

Physiology

While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's appearance and biology.

Like most races, Lynels have two genders and reproduce sexually. However, females are extremely rare, being less than 10% of those born, which has contributed to the race's relatively low population throughout history. Like Hylians, a Lynel mother usually only has one child at a time, and bears an average of only three children in her lifetime. Like Moblins, Lynels age at approximately twice the rate of Hylians. A Lynel will grow into an adult after about 10 years, and rarely lives beyond the age of 50.

An adult Lynel usually stands between 7 and 10 feet tall (or 215 to 300 centimeters), weighing 1200 to 2000 pounds (or 550 to 950 kilograms), with females tending towards being smaller and lighter. Infamously, Lynels appear to be a chimera of different creatures. The lower body appears similar to a draft horse's body (below the neck), with particularly thick and muscular limbs. Emerging from the front top of this horse-body is a torso and arms nearly identical to a Hylian's, though usually far more muscular than a Hylian can ever hope to be. Finally, from the neck of this torso emerges a head resembling a lion's, albeit with a mouth capable of speaking Hyrulean, and a Hylian-like mane of tasseled hair. Most Lynels have entirely red bodies, with brown-or-red fur covering the entire body, and bright red hair for the mane. More unusual varieties have blue fur, gray fur, black fur, white fur, orange fur, or even green fur.

A Lynel's body is renowned for its strength, which is plainly visible upon looking at it. Though its upper body strength can generally be outdone by a Darknut, it is on par with Gorons and Yeti, and usually exceeds all other races. Its lower-body strength is unmatched, as in addition to carrying its heavy body, it can effortlessly carry hundreds of pounds on its back. When unhindered, a Lynel of decent strength can run at a pace of 30 km/h (or 50mph) for upwards of ten minutes, and generally can maneuver across the ground at twice the speed of a comparably fit Hylian for twice as long.

Culture & History

While not vital information, the following includes further detail on the race's origins, development, and society.

It is widely known that Lynels have inhabited the continent now known as Hyrule for ages, far longer than Hylians and perhaps most other races. As Lynels did not have a written language of their own prior to the arrival of Hylians, and as such it is unknown how far back their history stretches, much less where their origins truly lie.

According to the legends of both Lynels and Hylians, the bestial race once roamed all of Hyrule, living a way of life far simpler than the convoluted economies and societies so characteristic of Hylians. Natural nomads, tribes of Lynels scoured the entire region, living naturally and without needless fabrications. The height of their technology was the sword, and for countless generations, they needed little else to remain at the top of the food chain.

Or at least, that's what Lynels then believed. As the legends go, the strange monkeys known as Hylians used complex machines, magic, and sheer numbers to overwhelm the powerful, but isolated and small tribes of Lynels. For their appearance and primal power, Lynels were feared and abhored. In time, they were pushed back, now almost completely gone from Northern Hyrule and most of Southern Hyrule. The last refuge their way of life once had in the Hyrulean continent was in the Lower Wilds, but if the Hylians and their kin continued to expand, it only seemed inevitably that Lynels would be driven out entirely. The savage race was powerful, but too proud and traditional for its own good, never fully adapting to the ways of sorcery, and finding fighting as larger units--like the Hylian soldiers did--to be entirely too bizarre and unnatural.

But, in recent years, a formidable force known only as Ganon and his army began to pound back the Hylians out of the south. He even recognized the natural ferocity and pride of the Lynels, and recruited many of them into his army, allowing them to fight as individual units as they traditionally had. Although Ganon has yet to wipe the Hylian scourge from the face of the world, he's paved the way for Lynels to freely roam Southern Hyrule once more. Even most who didn't join his army still revere him as their savior, or at least have a great respect for the so-called King of Evil. Despite the war, the largest concentration of Lynels is still found in the Lower Wilds. More peaceful Lynels are known to live in Monster Village, though they're a relatively rare occurrence in that city.

Lynel culture has always highly valued independence, following one's instincts, courage, prowess in battle, and personal strength of body. Even the females of the race highly embody these values, which by Hylian standards seem mostly masculine. Tribes of Lynel are very loose, as they rarely associate to the extent Hylians or most other races do, unless they intend to compete. Indeed, both in survival and in battle, a Lynel favors going it alone. While a Lynel's kin are valued, he refuses to depend on them. It is this reason Lynels are so characteristically confident and strong, but virtually incapable of working in groups without undue stress or effort; it's effectively against the instincts of the entire race.

Normally, only female Lynels wear any sort of clothing, and usually only do so to cover their upper chest. Lynels who resort to clothing, shelter, furniture, or other "luxuries" characteristic of other races tend to be looked down upon by others of their kind. Only the strongest and bravest of Lynel can even so much as don jewelry or armor before his kin without expecting a sneer. Despite this, many choose to enjoy these luxuries behind closed doors, or out of sight of other Lynels.