Rito Evolution

I'm going to simply state right off the bat that I don't believe the Rito evolved naturally. In fact, I'm going to go further and say that I think it was the power of Valoo along with the scheming of Jabun that changed the Zoras into the Rito of WW.

Not only does Valoo give the Ritos wings, but he is an ancient Hylian spirit, much like Jabun or the Great Deku Tree. I'd say that there's a pretty clear connection between these ancient deities, simply because they are guardian-types for Hyrule, they all speak the ancient language of the Hylians, and they all had to accomadate for the great change wrought upon Hyrule thanks to the flood.

Jabun was originally the guardian deity of the Zoras in OoT, but it's pretty clear that they have since left the waters for the sky. I'm guessing some kind of pact was made between Jabun and Valoo to send the water-dwelling Zoras to become sky-dwelling Ritos.

It's true that we only see the Ritos getting their wings from Valoo, so we don't see him change Zoras into Rito ever. However, hundreds of years can't accomplish something on an evolutionary level what thousands or millions of years should. Rito look very different from Zoras, which means a heck of a lot of evolution needed to take place for such a transformation. Or. The Zoras were changed magically, either by Jabun, Valoo, or both working together. I throw Jabun in there for his connection to the Zoras of old, and I say Valoo for the obvious reason that he now takes care of the Rito, giving them wings.

You guys might think this is farfetched and some of you might go so far as to call it fanfiction. However, did not the Deku Tree transform the Kokiri of OoT into the Koroks of WW? I can't remember the exact quote, but I know he did it for a reason. If no evolution took place there and instead it was merely a magical transformation, then perhaps the same happened to the Zoras in becoming Ritos.

Anyway, I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on this. I figured we needed a fresh topic from all the old crap we usually see. Hopefully it doesn't stagnate too quickly.

The kokiris are forest spirits· in oot they took in children forms· after the flood they took the korok forms· deku tree haven´t nothing to do with that· I doubt that valoo had something to do with zora evolution·

i dont understand why the zoras would have to evolve cuz of the flood. wouldnt a flooded hyrule be a perfect habitat for them? doesnt make sense.

When the flood happens, I've no real doubt the deity's you mentioned changed and evolved the species to protect them. I don't have the quote on me, but yes, the deku tree admitted he did change the Kokiri's.

Jabun, in OoT he was name Jabu Jabu. A simple name change or an entirely new guardian spirit, I don't know. In the adult side, Jabu Jabu looked kinda dead to me. Not saying he was, but it sure looked like it. Also, most likely, I figure that most of those deity's came during or shortly after OoT. We really don't know if the king died or not in OoT, so I can't comment on that. I think Jabun came directly after Jabu Jabu, who most likely died in the 7 years Link was imprisoned. And the deku tree was the sprout we saw in OoT. Just an opinion. I don't really know about Valoo.

Overall though, I believe your correct, good theory.

Originally Posted by Watties

When the flood happens, I've no real doubt the deity's you mentioned changed and evolved the species to protect them. I don't have the quote on me, but yes, the deku tree admitted he did change the Kokiri's.

I'm too disheartened by my internet to go searching for the quote myself. I just trust my memory that it exists.

Jabun, in OoT he was name Jabu Jabu. A simple name change or an entirely new guardian spirit, I don't know. In the adult side, Jabu Jabu looked kinda dead to me. Not saying he was, but it sure looked like it.

This is a good point. They also look kind of different between the games OoT and WW, but that could just be due to differing artistic styles. As for the different names...I can't really explain it, but I've always suspected Jabun and Jabu Jabu are one and the same. If they are the same entity, then Jabu Jabu on the AT side of OoT probably just left Zora's Domain because it got too cold to hang out there. There's no evidence of his death, so I can't say whether or not he actually died. I believe he lived on to make his way to the WW game as Jabun.

Also, most likely, I figure that most of those deity's came during or shortly after OoT.

Valoo maybe did, and we can assume the Great Deku tree in WW is the same as the Sprout in OoT. Jabu Jabu/Jabun..that's still debatable, seeing as we're not sure they're one and the same.

We really don't know if the king died or not in OoT, so I can't comment on that.

I think it's alluded to that he did die...I was always left with the impression that he did.

I think Jabun came directly after Jabu Jabu, who most likely died in the 7 years Link was imprisoned. And the deku tree was the sprout we saw in OoT. Just an opinion. I don't really know about Valoo.

Overall though, I believe your correct, good theory.

I believe I MIGHT be correct. I've just always liked this theory and thought I'd share it with you guys cause I've never seen it discussed all that much here.

^ I got the same impression the king went night night.

Jabu Jabu / Jabun are the most debatable thing here. But, either way, the theory remains the same. And it would involve some external power to transform these creatures after the flood. One good point is why did the zora's evolve when the water is perfect for them? I don't know, but for now it happend. And why wouldn't the gorons? They aren't exactly the swimming type. Either way...

I'd like to get the jap names on both the Jab's, see if they alter or if NoA screws up again.

The Zora were used to sweet water. Creatures that live in sweet water generally can't survive in salt water (and vice-versa), so the ocean is far from "the perfect habitat" to the Zoras from Hyrule (OoX and MM Zoras, on the other hand, are capable of living in salt water, so my point may be moot)... Other possibility is that the Great Sea's too dangerous for the Zora (it does have a lot of monsters on the surface, it probrably just gets worse if you go underwater)... And Valoo has a deep relation to the Rito being bird-like, as they depend on him to get their wings, so I don't see how they can not be a unnatural evolution...

Originally Posted by ahaha

Valoo has a deep relation to the Rito being bird-like, as they depend on him to get their wings, so I don't see how they can not be a unnatural evolution...

That was essentially my line of thinking on this subject. I also thought of how evolution usually takes many thousands of years, which is why it would be strange for Zoras to suddenly be Rito if their evolution was natural. I vote for unnatural selection!

^ That's called artifical selection...

Anyway I just played the part in Wind Waker where Link meets the deku tree, and all he says was something along the lines of "The koroks were omce humans, but they transformed when the flood came". He dosen't hint either way.

Of course it was magic. How anyone could ever think otherwise is beyond me.

My theory goes like this: the last zora were magically given wings by Valoo. The initial transformation probably wasn't very big, apart from the growing wings part. Part of the magic in the adults was transferred to the children during gestation so that over the years the species became less and less like zora until they became the Rito we see in WW. Kind of like a bio-accumulation of magic over the generations.

DEKU TREE:
These are the Koroks--the spirits of
the forest.

Once upon a time, long ago, the Koroks
took on human forms, but when they came
to live on the sea, they took these shapes.

koroks/kokiris can change theire shape without the help of the deku tree.

Valoo figurine description:

Valoo
-----
Birthplace: Dragon Roost Island
Sky Spirit

Valoo has lived on Dragon Roost Island and
protected the Ritos since long, long ago.
He has a habit of speaking only Hylian,
which only his attendant, Medli, grasps

somebody see somenthing about the zoras? NO,He just live with the ritos in dragon roost island since LONG LONG AGO.

About the wings:

RITO CHIEFTAIN:
When a Rito reaches adulthood, he
or she journeys to the top of Dragon Roost
to receive a scale from the great dragon.

It is this scale that enables the Rito to
grow his or her wings.

The scales of valoo enable the rito to grow their wings.

Originally Posted by Sparty

...Jabu Jabu on the AT side of OoT probably just left Zora's Domain because it got too cold to hang out there. There's no evidence of his death, so I can't say whether or not he actually died. I believe he lived on to make his way to the WW game as Jabun.

Originally Posted by [Cartoon]--Link

i dont understand why the zoras would have to evolve cuz of the flood. wouldnt a flooded hyrule be a perfect habitat for them? doesnt make sense.

no, because Hyrule zora's dwell in fresh water such as rivers and lakes. Now, if Termina flooded that'd be another story...

Originally Posted by Navi the Fairy

I think those 'wings' are just part of his headpiece, cause you don't see any wings on Jabun. I could be wrong though... If they are wings then I guess it's safe to say that Jabu Jabu is the wind fish, ahah.

What if there are Saltwater Zoras and Freshwater Zoras? The Freshwater Zoras would have transformed into the Rito. I also believe that the Saltwater Zoras would be the ones who used to live on Greatfish Isle because that's where Jabun used to live before Ganondorf attacked it.

Beem wouldn't there be some sign of life? From what I remember Greatfish Isle was pretty deserted.

Originally Posted by Navi the Fairy

Beem wouldn't there be some sign of life? From what I remember Greatfish Isle was pretty deserted.

Don't underestimate Ganondorf. Even though a kid manages to defeat him...

Never really thought about it before, and I probably don't have anything to add. The Zora had to have gone somewhere, though, and the Rito came from somewhere, so I guess I'll believe that.

^It is just common knowledge Zora = Rito this is about unnatural evolution or not.

Originally Posted by Navi the Fairy

Beem wouldn't there be some sign of life? From what I remember Greatfish Isle was pretty deserted.

When you first go there, that Rito postman says that it was inhabited and Jabun used to live there, but he escaped before Ganondorf attacked it. Also, if you look around, there are remains of houses and boats and there are pieces of wood everywhere.

Ok, sorry. I'm gonna go with unnatural evolution, just because of the changes between the Zora and the Rito. And when you add in the thing with Valoo's scales, you would think that those scales would have some kind of magic that gives them their wings, which also aided in the change.