Zora is a race and nation who border the Hylea ocean on the eastern edge of Hyrule. They are fish like, carrying characteristics of many aquatic animals as well as human characteristics. Unlike other races the Zora comprise a number of branch races. These branch races are established into a strict caste system. The nation is largely unknown, as Zora claim over nine-tenths of it is under the water. If this is so, then the Zora Empire holds an area of land equivalent to the whole of Hyrule across the bottom of the ocean floor.

The Zora were born from Farore during a conflict with her sister, Din, in which the firstborn Fae mocked the Goron's plain features leading Din to create dragons to eat them. Farore created the Zora to protect her Fae with water. The Zora left the fire and ground of the earth for the water around it. Some are said to be even capable of divine power over water and ice.

Zora have had a strong bond with all Fae as children of Farore. Though the animosity between Fae and Goron cooled, this would never truly be said the same between Goron and Zora. All through Hyrule's history Zora and Goron would be either in open conflict or suspicion of treachery.

This is no doubt due to a conflicting nature. While the Goron are simplistic and blunt, the Zora are complex and layered. The Zora higher caste are proud, and assured of their birth right; while the Goron function as a large family with humbleness. The Zora are noticeably intelligent, to the extent that they believe any slight against them is purposeful and are prone to overthinking. They are also capable of a larger degree of emotion than other races.

The society of the Zora is split into four separated castes. No member of any caste may marry outside of their caste. No ability or option is available to descend or ascend within the caste. In short, the caste is defined by your sub-race.

Within the many races of Zora, they all fall into one of four castes. To which the human tongue must describe as Lesser, Worker, Warrior, and Siren.

The Lesser caste consist of sub-races not fit for a higher caste. They are noticeably unintelligent, weak, or bred to have a disability that limits their abilities. The Lesser caste, to an outside observer, are little more than slaves. However this is not so. The other castes see the Lesser as their own children, taking care of them, adopting entire families into their own home, and offer them social benefits unlike any other in Hyrule.

To understand the next two castes, one must know they are equal. The Warrior caste and Worker caste are of the same social rank in the Zora.

The Warrior caste consists of Zora equipped for combat, warfare, and hunting. They are strong, born with weapons, tall, and of comparable intelligence to humans. It can be argued it is a ridicules thing to say other races cannot be in the Warrior caste, and it is true some races shift between Warrior and Worker caste from one era to the next. However what makes it important is how weapons of man do not work under water. Metals rust and wood rots. Therefore the Zora's only weapons can be of hardened coral or silver or their naturally gifted weapons.

The Worker caste consists of all Zora races that are not born with a weapon or the Gift of Voice. (More on this later.) Yet are still of enough strength to be a productive member of society. These races are noticeably more intelligent than their warrior counterparts, except for the highly educated few. These races vary the most in size but are typically average to below average in comparison to humans. This caste fills every need of society outside of combat.

The Siren caste is the only caste consisting of a single race: the Siren. They are born with the Gift of Voice. With it they occupy the higher branches of government, religion, and warfare leadership (ex. Generals), as well as societal positions like teachers and judges and public speakers. They are remarkably intelligent, and are comparable to humans in physical strength while being notably athletic. They are also, on rare occasion, born with the gift to control water. The Royal Family of Zora have been strictly Siren for countless generations and will, at times, engage in avunculate marriage to preserve the line, though this is not publicly known nor common.

The Gift of Voice is an ability granted to the Siren race by the Goddess, Farore as a means of establishing leadership among them. The Gift, in short, gives the user the ability to ensnare and control victims with his or her voice. Upon hearing the voice of the Siren, the individual is compelled strongly to obey. This compelling can last for several minutes, but rarely longer. Few can resist of the other castes, and only Siren are immune to the Voice of other Siren.

The Gift of Voice is marked by two problems. The first problem being control. No Siren can truly prevent the Voice from compelling others when they speak, short of staying quiet. So self-control becomes an issue. Zora younglings lack in self-control as much as any other races. The second problem being fear. While it is a powerful gift for good, making the most enrapturing teachers and public speakers, and offering absolute authority, it is natural to fear such a powerful gift. This fear is no more better seen than in their allies, as even in ancient dealings with other races the Siren were seen with suspicion for their ability to control others. It was rumoured a Siren was involved in the fall of Hyrule, and whether true or not this is a legend preserved strongly by the fear of the Gift. This fear has only grown with time and incident, and as such there have developed safeguards.

Every Siren born has a clamp placed around their jaw to prevent speech. This clamp will stay with them throughout their life until adulthood. The only times this clamp will be removed on rare occasion is in the case of it requiring temporary adjustment, adulthood, injury while healing occurs, and the Siren being found mute by birth or punishment. And on a regular basis the clamp may be loosened, not removed, under the condition of eating in private or in the presence of a Siren elder, classes requiring input towards a Siren elder, and private cases where a presiding Siren elder deems fit under the condition that no undue speech is conducted to others. There is allowance for the Siren youngling to speak to others, but it is kept to a limit of one word sentences, as ordering others to do harm to themselves or those around them is deemed implausible with one word sentences; and these cases of speech require a Siren elder be present.

In addition every Siren is monitored closely by the presiding government. It is an easy thing for a rogue Siren to stir up rebellion, start a mob lynching, and incite civil war.

This fear is not unfounded by history either. The Zora tell of a Siren named Kracken who tamed a great aquatic monster to bring fear upon them in ancient times. In more recent generations the Zora are plagued by a series of events that has made the situation progressively worse.

First a rogue Siren stirred up a colony to rebel for independence and have committed great and terrible acts to instil fear in the Zora.

Second a series of Siran children throwing a fit ordered their tutors and school mates to hurt themselves. The most terrible event was of one young Siren telling an entire school to kill themselves.

Third, the fear culminated by recent events have led to the children of Siren being treated with fear and suspicion and treated as slaves. The facial clasp was a compromise to prevent a genocidal purge, but this has only seemed to have bought them time.

The Zora face revolution. The Siren have accepted a movement to reshape the governmental structure of this race, but even this has failed them. The Siren are being hunted and are being faced with a choice. Cut off their tongue or die.

It is in this troubling time that the king made a desperate bid. With his sons killed in the revolution, he cut off his own tongue and sent his last child as far as he could. So he bargained with the head of the Mitagi clan, of the nation of Qin, that princess Ruto be accepted in secret as a political hostage.