Race:Hylian

Hylian is a playable race on Hyrule Castle. As one of the fourteen common races, any player can choose to make a Hylian character.

Canonically, Hylians appear in every game in the Zelda series.

Character Creation Brief

Hylians are by far the most populous race of mainland Hyrule. As such, almost any other being in Hyrule will recognize their race from a glance, and often stereotype them accordingly. Despite other races' view of them as pompous, ignorant, intelligent, or rich, Hylians as a whole have the most varied personalities and backgrounds of nearly any race. Compared to other races, they are often the middle-ground in terms of size, strength, and intelligence. They are particularly social and organized as a race, and have both the most and the largest settlements. Since Ganon's invasion, most Southern Hylians have had a difficult time coping with his monstrous rampage, but Northern Hyrule and its Hylians have remained mostly untouched.

A Hylian begins with a PWC of 2/1/1, 1/2/1, or 1/1/2. In effect, a Hylian begins at 1/1/1 with an additional +1 to any aspect of PWC.

A Hylian character can have up to three racial perks of choice. In addition to the general perks available to every race, a Hylian can also choose from:

• Compass: a magical tool useful for locating treasures or tracking down enemies
• Gift of Prophecy: a trait which occasionally inflicts the Hylian with confusing visions of future events
• Hero's Legacy: a trait which makes it easier to acquire WeaponBase treasures
• Magic Proficiency: a trait which enables the Hylian to start with more Wisdom-based treasures
• Message: a spell which enables the Hylian to silently communicate to others, or even leave such messages imbued in animate objects
• Sense: a defensive trait that warns a Hylian of nearby enemies, as if by some supernatural sense
• Spin Attack: an offensive weapon-based technique used by a legendary hero

Recommended Origins

If you've never made a character before and intend to make a Hylian, it is highly encouraged that you base your character on one of the following five origins. If you've made a character before, these example origins may provide inspiration for your character.

Northern Hylian

Residing in Hyrule Castle Town, in Lon Lon Ranch, in Nabooru, or in Mido, you have grown accustomed to a very pleasant sort of lifestyle. While you may not be as physically strong as those in Southern Hyrule, this does not mean you are any less formidable in battle. Because of your lifestyle, you have focused more on mental prowess and intelligence, making you much more prone to magical skill. This proficiency for magic allows for even warriors to learn basic spells, compounding physical prowess with spellcasting. On the other hand, Northern Hylian casters are usually more powerful than Southern ones, due to being able to access arcane knowledge that Southern Hylians cannot.

A Northern Hylian begins with a PWC of 1/2/1. Its racial perks include Magic Proficiency, Message, and Rupee Riches.

Hyrule Castle Guard

Being a member of Hyrule's official military, you are skilled in the ways of physical combat. Sworn to protecting the peace of Northern Hyrule, you have undergone vigorous training in ways of the sword, and have spent much time building your strength. When a need for your services arises, you are quick to give your aid; whether it be to fend of encroaching Moblins, or to bring justice to thieves, you are always a force to be reckoned with.

A Castle Guard begins with a PWC of 2/1/1. Its racial perks include Hero's Legacy, Sense, and Spin Attack.

Thief of the Lost Woods

As a thief, your life has been spent preying on the poor passerby that crosses your path. You've lived in Darunia all your life. Once you became a thief, you also began to spend time in the Lost Woods, staying for periods of time in the Fortress of Thieves. You know your away around the woods very well, giving yourself an advantage over others less knowledgeable. Although you may live as a thief, this does not mean you are a particularly bad person. You may just do this for the thrill, or to provide for your family. Or, perhaps, you really are just malicious and greedy...

A Thief of the Lost Woods begins with a PWC of 1/1/2. Its racial perks include Sense, Compass, and Message.

Refugee of the Western Caves

Fifteen years ago, Southern Hyrule changed forever. Ganon and his armies ruthlessly destroyed the lives of many Hylians, forcing them to seek shelter in the caves of Southern Hyrule. After Ganon had overtaken Kakariko Village, destroyed Saria, and occupied Kasuto, the surviving Hylians of these cities made their way to the Western Caves. These caverns are well-hidden, rarely ever seeing the visit of Ganon's forces. As a refugee in the Western Caves, you have been forced to learn the ways of stealth to avoid the gaze of Ganon. is, along with your need for survival, has made you very adept in the ways of living off of the land; you have become agile and dexterous, skilled with a bow and arrow. Life for you is hard, but you have come to terms with that. If you're a young adult, chances are good you've been raised in these caves.

A Refugee of the Western caves begins with a PWC of 1/1/2. Its racial perks include Sense, Message, and Hero's Legacy.

Refugee of the Eastern Caves

During Ganon's invasion, you, along with the other refugees of Tantari Desert, fled to the Eastern Caves. These caves are also known as the Gerudo Fortress, a well-fortified position inhabited by a female race of warrior-thieves. Ever since the invasion, the Hylians and Gerudo of the Eastern Caves have had to fight of the attacking monsters. This has caused the Hylians here to become physically strong, and particularly skilled in the ways of battle. If you're a young adult, chances are good you've been raised in these caves. More recently, groups of Hylians fled the caves, most of whom fled to the former city of Ruto. The Hylians of Ruto have since started to rebuild their city, hoping for a brighter future.

A Refugee of the Eastern Caves begins with a PWC of 2/1/1. Its racial perks include Hero's Legacy, Sense, and Spin Attack.

Physiology

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

In Hyrule, the term "human" generally refers to all races which are sentient, of humanoid shape, and are capable of compassion. As such, even rock-eating Gorons and plant-creature Koroks are considered to be human. Despite that, it is largely assumed that no race is more human than Hylians. In appearance, Hylians are very similar to human beings, the only difference being that of their ears. Much like an "elf," Hylians are proud owners of long, pointed ears. According to their own myths, these pointed ears enable them to better hear the gods.

Most Hylians have tan flesh, ranging from a fair shade to a dark one, but never completely white or black. A Hylian's shade tends to be lighter in colder climates. While a Hylian generally bears their characteristically pointed ears, particularly in warmer climates, there exist "round-eared" Hylians as well. The darker a Hylian's flesh, the more likely it is he or she has round ears. According to rumor, this "mutation" of round ears has to due with the fact Hylians in Southern Hyrule have given way to physical labors of war, and forgotten their noble birth. Since Southern Hyrule is a warmer clime, many Hylians there also have darker skin, and therefore tend to have round ears.

Hylians' irises can be many different colors, though they tend most towards brown, blue, and green. It is said that a Hylian with red eyes is either a Sheikah or somehow related to that mysterious race, but in modern times, such accusations don't carry the weight they once did.

Culture & History

The Hylians are widely believed to be the chosen race of the gods, bound to do the will of the Golden Goddesses of the Triforce. Due largely to their prosperity and flexibility, the Hylians have taken the charge of governing Hyrule and its people. The Royal Family who lives in Hyrule Castle is composed entirely of Hylians.

The origin of Hylians has never been proven, but most Hylians believe they are descents of the race's patron goddess, Hylia, who according to common belief reincarnated in Hylian form as the first Queen of Hyrule. In the ages since, Hylians have occupied Hyrule. It is known that their ancestors waged ferocious battle with Moblins, Lynels, and other monsters in order to establish their Kingdom of Hyrule, claim the land for their own, and construct Hyrule Castle. Over time, a town sprang up around the castle, known as Hyrule Castle Town, and eventually a separate farmland known as Lon Lon Ranch was built up to help support the populace. Explorers eventually mapped the greater region of Hyrule to the east and to the southern, along the way founding the cities of Nabooru, Darunia, and Mido in Northern Hyrule. Because of the mountain rages and sea separating the northern and southern halves of Hyrule, Southern Hyrule is often considered to be a separate entity which is more loosely governed by the Royal Family. In this southern region, Hylian ancestors built Kasuto, Saria, Ruto, Rauru, and what was once considered the center of Southern Hyrule, Kakariko Village. Ages ago, ancient Hylian explorers set out into the Eastern Sea, and in doing so founded a city on Windfall Island and a strange village on Koholint Island. This occurred so long ago, that mainland Hyrule had all but forgotten about these outposts until quite recently.

Since the invasion of Ganon, both Kakariko and Saria were burned to the ground, and Ganon's forces overtook the other three Hylian settlements. In doing so, most Hylians of the south fled to their northern neighbors, or were forces to find refuge in either the Western Caves, or join the Gerudo race in the Eastern Caves. In the years since Ganon's invasion, his forces have become stagnant, enabling the Hylians to reclaim Ruto in the south, and construct a new village known as Impa in the north.

In modern times, Hylians are among the most widespread races in the land of Hyrule, making their home in many places. The majority of Hylians hail from the northern part of Hyrule, which has, thus far, escaped the majority of Ganon's fury. This is largely due to the large body of water separating the two lands, as well as the efforts of the Hyrule Castle Guard. As opposed to their counterparts, living within the Eastern and Western Caves, the Northern Hylians live far more comfortable lives. Because of this, they are not as strongly built, focusing more upon mental prowess and intelligence. Although they are physically weaker than Southern Hylians, Northern Hylians have a higher proficiency for magic. This proficiency for magic allows for even warriors to learn basic spells, compounding physical prowess with spellcasting. On the other hand, Northern Hylian casters are usually more powerful than Southern ones, due to being able to access arcane knowledge that Southern Hylians cannot.

Hylains residing in the southern lands of Hyrule needed to adapt to their environment with Ganon’s forces constantly attacking them. Most Southern Hylians are built hardier than other Hylians, larger in size, and more resilient to physical pain. While Hylians from Southeast Hyrule rely on strength and endurance, Hylians from the Southwest rely more on agility and stamina. Trained for battle from a very young age, both groups of Southern Hylians make far greater warriors than their Northern counterparts. Forced to deal with Ganon's assaults on a regular basis for years, the Eastern Caves Hylians have taken back the city of Ruto, pushing forth from their refuge. Spending very little time doing anything else but training, hunting, farming, and finally surviving, the Southern Hylians are generally not as proficient at magic, compared to Northern Hylians. They have become spartan, rugged, and hardened for battle, but have since lost their "finer" senses as a result.