Zolas
Nice to eat you! note
The sea-dwelling cousins of the Lanayru and Dominion Zora, the wild Zora (or "Zola") spent much of their existence in the bottom of the sea. Recently, they have resurfaces on the shores of Lanayru and Akkala, launching raids on their land-dwelling kin.
General
- Adaptation Name Change: Typically, the hostile, dark-green Zora (or "Zola") from 2D Zelda titles are known to the fandom as River Zora, which is changed to Wild Zora in Hyrule Conquest. The mod author claims this as a case of Shown Their Work, though, as the hostile Zora rarely ever live in rivers, and appear more often in lakes and the sea, which is also the case for Conquest. Despite this, King Zaro has the title River Lord, though this might just be a personal title of his.
- Amazing Technicolor Population: Dark green for the majority, red and white for the Ferals and Geozard Chiefs.
- Composite Character: The Geozards from Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are not said to be Zora, but they're made part of the faction here.
- Fish People: Well, they are Zora. It comes with the territory.
- Gender-Equal Ensemble: Not counting Aquamentus, the Zola heroes consist of three male members and three female members.
- Meaningful Name: Emphasis is placed on the Zol part of their name, as is their connection to slime and filth.
- Super Not-Drowning Skills: Like all Zora factions, their units can swim in the water without a problem.
- To Serve Man: Yes, the Zola in Conquest have a taste for human flesh, as well as the flesh of other Zora.
Zola Bases
Clam Farm, Octo Abode, Zola Carrier, Octo Broodmother, Zol Octo, Bari Octo, Octo Salvor, Indagator
First row: Clam Farm, Octo Abode. Second row: Zola Carrier, Octo Broodmother, Zol Octo, Bari Octo. Third row: Octo Salvor, Indagator.
- Base on Wheels: In this case, base on tentacles, as all Zola structures are built into the shells of Bigoctos. Though they are slow, the fact that they don't have to unpack means the Zola have the most mobile bases in the game.
- Body Horror: Not even the bases are safe.
- The shells of all of the Bigoctos are clearly not natural occurences; the Zola broke them open to insert anything from clams, to barnacles, to pieces of sunken ships. Think of how painful and dangerous it is for real animals to break their shells or beaks. Even if those Bigoctos escaped, they would not be able to live a fulfilling life in the wild.
- The Zol Octo is covered in Zol slime. The description suggests the slime will eventually consume it completely.
- The Bari Octo is similarly infested or at least mounted by giant Bari growths. Given what we know about the Bari...
- Parasitic Horror: See above.
Zola Carrier Units
Drudge, Geozard, Aerocuda, Aqua Auger, Geozard Chief
Clockwise from top right: Geozard, Aqua Auger, Geozard Chief, Aerocuda, Drudge.
- Note: For the Cyclops Ku, see its section in King Zaro's entry below. For the Feral, see her section in Oren's.
- Adaptational Ugliness: Somewhat unsightly in the games, but outright gross-looking here. The female Drudges get hit especially hard with this.
- Black Eyes of Evil: The Zola all possess these, even if they didn't in the source material. It actually slips into Black Bead Eyes in the case of Geozards.
- Canon Foreigner: Technically, Oren is the only female Zola we've seen in the games. The Zola faction has at least two female Zola units, showing that they do exist properly.
- Earfins: Kind of. They're where ears would be on a humanoid, but they don't really resemble ears in any sense of the word.
- Horse of a Different Color: The Augers ride a juvenile version of the Aquamentus.
- New Work, Recycled Graphics: The Geozard models are altered Anglars from Undying Nephalim's Star Fox project.
- Our Mermaids Are Different: And how. In some ways, they are actually close to the Greek myth of sirens, namely their lust for human flesh. However they are in no way the beautiful mermaids and sirens of those myths.
- Shark Man: The Geozards slip into this a fair bit due to their beady eyes and sharp teeth.
Octo Broodmother Units
Octorok, Octoballoon, Bigocto, Mucktorok, Octogon, Puffer
Clockwise from top right: Octoballoon, Mucktorok, Puffer, Octogon, Bigocto, Octorok.
- Adaptational Abomination: The Mucktorok is openly one. While it's just some random Malice monsters in its original appearance, its description in Conquest reveals it's actually an Octorok twisted into vaguely human form. Oh, and it is in pain. Just listen to the sounds they make...
- Anti-Structure: The Octogon is a bizarre organic cannon that shoots rocks out of the top of its shell, and is consequently great at dealing with enemy bases.
- Asteroids Monster: Dead Octo units split into Puffers.
- Adaptational Species Change: Maybe. The Octogon sprite in the original game is a bit hard to discern, so the Octogon could be like a hermit crab or octopus.
- Beast of Battle: They're all vaguely intelligent animals.
- Combat Tentacles: Naturally, as they're all Octoroks.
Zol Octo Units
Zol, Gel, Dera Zol, Zol Like
Clockwise from top left: Zol, Gel, Zol Like, Dera Zol.
- Note: For the Sludge Shark, see its section in Krel's entry below.
- Adaptational Name Change: The Zol Like is called Sludge Like in Tears of the Kingdom. Interestingly, the Sludge Shark is not similarly renamed.
- Anti-Structure: Dera Zol deals good damage against enemy structures, making it sort of like a battle elephant.
- Asteroids Monster: The Zol splits into Gels, while the Dera Zol and Zol Like split into Zols.
- Battering Ram: Dera Zols serve as a living version of these.
- Beast of Battle: For a given definition of "beast", as it's unclear whether they are like animals.
- Evil Counterpart: To the Kyamerons and Morphites of the Zora Dominion, being made of polluted sludge rather than clear water.
- Related in the Adaptation: In more ways than one.
- The Zols had nothing to do with Zola in canon. The connection likely stems from their name, perhaps making Zola an insult of sorts like slimeball.
- The Sludge Like also had nothing to do with the Zols, though it's not so much of a stretch.
- Use Your Head: The Dera Zol has no limbs, so it just sort of bashes its head against enemies and buildings.
Bari Octo Units
Bari, Biri, Tailpasaran, Parella
Clockwise from top left: Bari, Biri, Parella, Tailpasaran.
- Note: For the Bari Host, see its section in Jellyf's entry below.
- Adaptational Badass: The Parella were bound to water and were completely harmless in Skyward Sword. In Conquest, they can slowly waddle on land and also spit ink at their enemies.
- Cthulhumanoid: The Parella.
- Electric Jellyfish: The Bari and Biri, naturally.
- Parasitic Horror: The Bari require hosts to sustain themselves. The Zola seem to either feed Octoroks or their own to them for this reason.
- Related in the Adaptation: In a few ways.
- The Bari and Parella had nothing to do with each other in the canon series, not even appearing in the same games. Then again, they are jellyfish...
- The Baris also had nothing to do with the Zola (who again, did not exist in Ocarina of Time), and happen to be included more because they are the force which infects Lord Jabu Jabu.
- The Parella did not have a connection to any of the Zora, besides the vague suggestion that Zora descend from them in some ways.
Zola Heroes
Barudakan
Barudakan, Zola Bodyguard
- First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1992 manga)
- Adaptational Modesty: His counterpart in the manga was naked. Here, he has some shoulder pads and pants.
- Adaptational Villainy: Was a pretty nice guy in the manga, and was actually a good friend of Ephemerelda. In this version, he's a Blood Knight trying to capture Fairies.
- A Villain Named Khan: Barudakan.
- Blood Knight: Quite so. He loves the battle.
- Composite Character: In the older version of the mod, Hyrule: Total War, the Zola faction had a Ku character named Baruuda Kan.
- Covered with Scars: He's got a few. Frankly, he's got a lot of them.
- Meaningful Name: Barracuda Khan.
- Named by the Adaptation: The Zora in the Link to the Past manga was left nameless, but got a name in Conquest.
- Nigh-Invulnerability: He is tough, and has survived way more battles than he really should.
- Shark Man: Even more than the other Geozards thanks to his face.
Maiamai
Maiamai, Octo Mother
Is it pronounced "my a-my" or "may a-may"?
- First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
- Adaptation Species Change: The Maiamai were decidedly not Octoroks in their original appearance, but they are here.
- Adaptational Ugliness: Compared to her original appearance, at least. Her happy eyes are contorted into a pained expression, her shell is bigger with promiment Spikes of Villainy, her once soft skin is mottled, and her previously soft mouth has visible ridges for chewing.
- Adaptational Villainy: Was nothing short of an all-loving mother in A Link Between Worlds, but a demon-worshipping monster in Conquest.
- Combat Tentacles: Naturally, she can use her tentacles for defense.
- Decomposite Character: In Hyrule Total War, it was Jellyf who had a connection to Bellum, whereas it's Maiamai here.
- Last of Their Kind: Described as one of the last surviving Octorok mothers.
- Mama Bear: Described as violently overprotective towards her brood.
- Mother of a Thousand Young: She's something of a breeding machine when it comes to Octoroks.
- Spikes of Villainy: Her shell has them.
Krel
Krel, Zola Mage
Someone ought to ask for his calisthenics routine.
- First Appearance: Heroes of Hyrule (cancelled strategy game)
- Canon Foreigner: Krel never appeared in any Zelda game. Instead, his design originates from concept art for an unfinished Sheik project leaked online about fifteen to twenty years after its cancellation.
- Court Mage: For Oren.
- Lean and Mean: Unlike the majority of Zola males, who have Stout Strength.
Unique Unit: Sludge Shark
- First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Asteroids Monster: Spawns a Mucktorok when slain.
- Land Shark: Being made of mud, they can traverse on land.
Jellyf
Jellyf, Parella Matriarch
- First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Adaptational Badass: Canon Jellyf was confined to the water and defitely a Non-Action Guy. Conquest's Jellyf can, through means unknown, traverse over land and sting enemies like a jellyfish would.
- Adaptational Villainy: In Skyward Sword, Jellyf was a helpful character serving Queen Faron. Conquest Jellyf instead serves the Zola and infests them with Bari.
- Age Lift: Maybe. There was no indication of her age in Skyward Sword, though she's one of Conquest's oldest characters.
- Cthulhumanoid: Played somewhat straight, though not to the extent of his predecessor.
- Decomposite Character: In Hyrule: Total War, it was Jellyf who had a connection to Bellum, whereas it's Mother Maiamai in Conquest.
- Evil Matriarch: Her title is Parella Matriarch.
- Meaningful Name: ''Jelyff'ish.
- Replacement Artifact: Essentially serves as one for Neighleth, the Octozora character from the author's old RPGs.
Unique Unit: Bari Host
- First Appearance: Hyrule Conquest
- Asteroids Monster: Splits into several Bari when killed.
- Canon Foreigner: Did not appear in any of the games.
- Composite Character: A Parella infested with a bunch of Bari.
King Zaro
King Zaro, River Lord
- First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Adaptational Modesty: Perhaps modesty is too strong a word, since his chest and groin is on full display. Still, he was naked in his original appearance, so it counts.
- Adaptational Villainy: One of the only reasonable Zora in A Link to the Past, but not so much here.
- Adaptational Ugliness: Did not look so gross in his original appearance.
- Adaptation Name Change: In Hyrule: Total War, he went by Zarosef.
- Adipose Rex: It's a theme with Zora kings, and Zaro is no exception.
- Evil Counterpart: Downplayed with Farkos and Dorephan, who are merely A Lighter Shade of Black compared to Zaro.
- Fat Bastard: Again, it's a theme with the three Zora Kings.
- Lazy Bum: He's a King in name only, Oren is the one who calls the shots.
- Meaningful Name: Zaro is obviously just an anagram of Zora.
- Named by the Adaptation: Simply went by King Zora in his original appearance.
- Non-Humans Lack Attributes: aversion invoked. He has no genitals, but the fat on his body gives the unfortunate apperance of a bulge.
- Related in the Adaptation: He and Oren presumably did not even live at the same time in the original games, but are husband and wife here.
Unique Unit: Cyclops Ku
I spy, with my little eye...
- First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Adaptational Species Change: In A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds, Ku were the Mirror Universe version of Zora, though in Conquest they seem to just be an offshoot or mutation of them.
- Cyclops: Well, yeah.
Queen Oren
Queen Oren, Royal River Zora
Say cheese!
- First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
- Adaptational Villainy: A completely helpful character and Sage in A Link Between Worlds, but a ruler of cannibalistic hordes in Conquest.
- Adaptational Ugliness: A consequence of her sharp teeth, black eyes and rough skin.
- Exceptionally Tolerant: She is described as being this compared to just about every other Zola, and consequently handles all international contact.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: Described as having one.
- Meaningful Name: Her name is meant to be a pun on orange, but is also the backwards form of Nero.
- The Man Behind the Man: The woman behind the man in this case. She is the true ruler of the Zola.
Unique Unit: Feral
- First Appearance: Hyrule Conquest
- Asteroids Monster: The Ferals spawn a Tailpasaran upon death.
- Canon Foreigner: Have not appeared in any of the canon games.
- Disc-One Nuke: The Ferals are extremely powerful units for early game, with high damage and high attack speed. They're even more powerful than Hyrule's Light Arrow Archers.
- Parasitic Horror: The reason behind their madness seems to be the Tailpasarans inside them.
- Hammerspace: Just how exactly the huge Tailpasaran fits into the Feral's small body is a mystery.
- Mythology Gag: Oren having Ferals as her unique unit makes sense when one remembers her own "episode" in A Link Between Worlds.
Aquamentus
Aquamentus
No, he doesn't breathe water.
- First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda
- Wings Do Nothing: His wings are pathetically small, making him unable to actually take flight.
