Hylian (species)
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Hylians (“HY-lee-ən”) are the most widespread of people in Hyrule, renowned for their many cities and a broad cultural influence. In many ways hylians parallel real-world humans, but distinct, as real-world humans do not exist in most legends of Hyrule.
Hylians tend to be very sympathetic towards creatures outside their own people, sometimes even when the sentiment is not mutual. Perhaps this is why even folks as disparate gorons and zora often have close ties with hylians.
Though hylians are closely tied with Hyrule, a kingdom ruled over by a Royal Family of hylians, they are not unique to this land. Hylians can be found across the sea in seemingly any land hospitable enough to sustain their way of life.
Varied Appearances
Hylians come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, statures, and colors. Their appearances more diverse than almost any other lineage. Skin tones all have a tinge of tan, but range from so dark as to to be nearly jet-black to so pale as to be snow-white, with the majority landing somewhere in the middle as a sandy hue.
Hair color is typically black, brown, or blonde but can include red, white, red, blue, and on occasion even more esoteric colors. Eyes are most often brown, sometimes blue, and can often by rarer colors.
Those of strong sheikah ancestry typically have red eyes and white hair their entire lives, while other hylians' hair only becomes white with advanced age. Those of Lorulean heritage are more likely to have hair and eyes of a navy blue or dark purple color.
Most modern hylians have pointed ears, though some have rounded ears.
Hylia's Chosen
Hylians get their name from the goddess Hylia, who has been considered the patron deity of these people since time immemorial. According to legend she played a hand in vanquishing Demise, a demon so tainted with evil that his name itself has become foreboding. She paved the way for hylians to settle the land. According to other tales Hylia incarnated as the first princess of Hyrule, Princess Zelda, and every firstborn princess since then has carried this bloodline and this name.
The magical powers and supernatural perception wielded by some hylians is said to be a direct result of ancestry to this goddess, or at least the worship of her. Many hylians still uphold this deity, and some claim to even hear her words, but reverence of her is not universal. In lands where Hylia isn't revered as widely, such as Termina and Holodrum, the term "hylian" is less frequently used in favor of more regional names such as Terminan and Holodrumite.
Princess Zelda and the Hyrule Royal Family are the longest-lasting and most influential kingdom in the known world. They honor the legacy of Hylia in their regalia.
Capital Cities
Compared to most people, hylians as a whole are rather structured and hard-working. Their economies are very robust, their military forces are often well-trained, and their libraries of knowledge tend to be relatively deep and broad&mdashlat least compared to most other people in this world.
Castle Town, home to the royal family and many hylians, has sat in the heart of Hyrule since ancient times. It is the largest city in its continent, home to a bustling center of trade and study. The castle and surrounding town have survived countless raids by armies and monsters thanks to its organized military forces and stone walls. Even so, it has been rebuilt many times.
Castle Town is mirrored by many other cities across lands and worlds: Clock Town in Termina, Lynna City in Labrynna, or even Thieves' Town in Lorule. It seems wherever hylians settle they tend to create a particularly robust city or two.
Agriculture & Prosperity
Hylians' wide population doesn't come from nothing. Their prosperous ranches like Lon Lon, and farming villages like Hateno, provide a seemingly endless surplus of food and resources across robust trade networks that sprawl across the lands they call home. It's little surprise that travelers, merchants, and adventurers are most often hylians.
The culinary traditions of hylian are, likewise, legendary. Well-prepared hylian food is even said to heal wounds instantly, or have other magical benefits. This culture has come to influence even gorons. Gorons don't even eat the same foods as hylians, but nonetheless often reshape the rocks they eat to resemble hylian meats or other dishes.
For all this and more hylians seem to have a wellspring of goods to flood the markets of the world. Some say hylians are even the progenitor of the world's most widespread currency, the rupee.
Lineage details
Size. Adult hylians are usually between 5 and 6 feet. Your size is Medium.
Alignment. Hylians vary wildly in alignment, even more than most, but as a whole have a slight leaning towards neutral good.
Age. Hylians reach adulthood in their late teens and have a life expectancy of just under a century. A rare few, especially those of the Sheikah heritage, have lived to see 120 years or more.
Diet. As a Medium humanoid, each day you prefer to consume at least 1 pound of food and 1 gallon of water to avoid exhaustion. Hylians enjoy a varied diet of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meats.
Names. Hylian names encompass many styles and originate from diverse cultures, but a name is most likely comprised of two syllables. Surnames are rarely used except for nobles. Male examples include Beedle, Dampé, Daphnes, Error, Gaepora, Groose, Gulley, Gustaf, Ingo, Jovani, Kafei, Link, Mutoh, Sakon, and Talon. Female examples include Agitha, Amei, Anju, Aryll, Cremia, Karane, Linkle, Irene, Marcy, Mallara, Malon, Peatrice, Romani, Telma, Tetra, and Zelda.
| Base Height | Height Modifier | Base Weight | Weight Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4′ 8" | +2d10 | 100 lb. | × (2d4) |
Character traits
As a hylian, you have the following traits:
Ability Score Increase. Increase any one ability score of your choice by 1.
Keen Senses. The sharp eyes and long ears of hylians are so astute, some say can even hear the gods. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Hylia's Chosen. The goddess Hylia has guided hylians since time immemorial, and her divine protection still lingers in all modern hylians. When you make a saving throw with which you lack proficiency, add a +1 bonus to the roll if no other bonus applies.
Language. You can read, write, and speak Hylian.
Heritage. Hylians hail from all across the world, adapting to many biomes and cultures. You have one heritage of your choice from divine, outlander, sheikah, terminan, and urbanite.
Divine
Those of divine ancestry have a particularly strong connection to the goddess Hylia herself, and the Hyrule Royal Family, whether they realize it or not. Divine hylians often wield minor magical ability, and resist foul magic better than most. These hylians tend to have particularly pointed ears, though there's otherwise little to visually distinguish them from other hylians. Princess Zelda is a divine hylian, as is Sonia and most of the royal family.
Ability Score Increase. Increase your Dexterity and Wisdom scores by 1 each.
Hylia's Sword. You know one cantrip of your choice from bolt of time, light, luminous lure, and message. Wisdom is your casting ability for it.
Hylia's Shield. You have advantage on any Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma throw imposed on you by a spell.
Ancestral Memories. You have proficiency in the Religion skill.
Outlander
These folk live far from what most other hylians consider civilization, including farms in the outfields, or even dimly lit caves. These hard-workers are adapted to independent and often difficult life outside the protection of city walls. Outlander hylians are more likely than most to have hair shades of red or brown. Malon, Talon, and several incarnations of Link are outlander hylians.
Ability Score Increase. Increase your Strength and Constitution scores by 1 each.
Improvised Skills. When you make an ability check that would use a skill in which you lack proficiency, add a +1 bonus to the roll if no other bonus applies.
Survivor. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.
Stamina. Add your PB to all Constitution checks you make.
Outland Language. You can read, write, and speak one extra language of your choice.
Sheikah
Sheikah are a mysterious sect of hylians, who usually have white hair and often have red eyes. Until recently sheikah have lived in secret villages not known to other folks, even other hylians, and as such much of what is commonly known about them is shrouded in rumors and tall tales. Many say sheikah move at impossible speed, or can see truths others cannot. Historically they were even known as "shadow folk," whose existence was often thought to be mythical.
In truth sheikah are tightly-knit folks who dutifully pass down ancient secrets of magic and cunning from one generation to the next. Some of the oldest secrets in Hyrule are held only in the whispers of sheikah—including even legendary machines, or the words of gods. In part to keep these secrets, and in part for safety, until recently sheikah deliberately kept their existence hidden from outsiders.
Impa, Paya, Pura, and Robbie are sheikah. Zelda once disguised herself as Sheik, a sheikah warrior.
Ability Score Increase. Increase your Dexterity and Intelligence scores by 1 each.
Fleet of Foot. Increase your walk speed by 5 feet.
Sheikah Magic. You know one cantrip of your choice from cryonis, magnesis, message, and minor illusion. Intelligence is your casting ability for it.
Seeker of Truth. Thanks to a sharp mind and the secrets of your ancestors, you have proficiency in any one skill of your choice.
Secret Arts. You are proficient in either the Ancient language, or any one musical instrument of your choice.
Terminan
Hailing from the far-off land of Termina, these folk are renowned for wielding relatively advanced technology. Their Clock Town is famously centered around a gigantic, transforming clock which itself is a feat of exceptional engineering.
Terminans infrequently call themselves hylian, as most don't uphold Hylia or any deities in particular reverence. Their stories, faiths, and cultures are unique unto themselves. Kafei, Anju, and the Happy Mask Salesman are Terminans.
Ability Score Increase. Increase your Dexterity and Charisma scores by 1 each.
Reliable. If you would roll a 9 or lower for any ability check, you can treat the result as 10. You can't do so again until you finish a long rest. (Ability checks don't include attack rolls or saves.)
Studied Skills. Terminans have a rich culture of music and story-telling, and many enroll in formal education. You have proficiency in either the Performance skill, or any Intelligence-based skill of your choice.
Internal Clock. Attuned to the steady rhythm of your hometown’s clock, you are always aware what time it is within 5 minutes of accuracy.
Urbanite
The most emblematic of hylians, urbanites typically hail from larger capitals like Hyrule Castle Town or Lynna City. They are renowned for their close connection to the gods, especially Hylia, as well as their strong economy and relatively industrious technology. Urban hylians tend to value community and their connections to others. There are more hylians of this heritage than any other.
Ability Score Increase. Choose two different ability scores, and increase them both by 1 each.
Skilled. You are proficient in any two skills of your choice. If you prefer, you can replace either of these with proficiency in any tool or any language.
Hard Work. You have advantage on any ability check you make for a downtime activity.
Urban Tact. While in an urban environment, you can reroll an ability check you fail if the check uses Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.
The material on this page is based on content found throughout the Legend of Zelda series, which is copyright Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- Keen Senses trait
- Hylia's Chosen trait
- Cantrip trait
- Hylia's Shield trait
- Skill Proficiency trait
- Improvised Skills trait
- Stamina trait
- Extra Language trait
- Fast trait
- Sheikah Magic trait
- Secret Arts trait
- Reliable trait
- Studied Skills trait
- Internal Clock trait
- Skilled trait
- Hard Work trait
- Urban Tact trait
- Races
- Humanoids
- Hylian
- Common
- Content found throughout the Zelda series
