.:🍤Fish Dinner!🍤:.

Okay, so the most important thing about the Zora Military is that it used to be so much more, in every sense of the word, than what we see in BotW. Present day Guard is the remnants of the old City Guard, which was the only branch that managed to survive with enough people and structure to remain operational.

But let's go through all these armor designs now.

1,2: Army - the biggest branch of the old Zora military, starting place of every recruit. They train for defensive and offensive combat, dispatch any serious threats before they can reach the Domain proper, and are in general the main projection of Zora military power.

Army consists of soldiers of all ranks who use all weapons (mainly spears and bows). Most of them are stationed outside of the Domain (the city) in forts. Army recruits can be transferred to other branches of the military.

Army officers are considered the most skilled Zora fighters and this is the place to be if one wants to make a political career, but needs some social power boost (Seggin's family got their titles by rising in Army ranks).

An Army Captain armor is the heaviest one, but surprisingly practical (e.g. short scarf, tall helmet fins that sty close to the sides of the head). They usually carry a sword.

The Army got wiped out more or less in its entirety in the first few days of the Calamity, being the main force fighting off the monster and Guardian waves.

Seggin joined the main army during the Calamity and was one of the few who managed to survive (somehow. man must be immortal or something because he definitely was not -trying- to stay in one piece)

3,4 - Border Patrol - much smaller branch, handling general oversight of the Zora borders and stuff like recon. Consists mostly of soldiers with scouting, communication and survival skills. They aren't really meant to engage in active combat, though are of course sufficiently prepared if need be.

Zora's Domain used to have many nasty border disputes with Central Hyrule in the past, so the Border Patrol's most important function is to stand where the border is and make a "don't try anything funny" face. They check travellers' and merchants' papers and in general look out for any threat that might come from outside the Domain.

(There's a special section of slightly-better-at-handling-salt Zora, who handle the sea-related stuff, like foreign guests).

They wear a standard armor, but with the addition of a knife and a pouch (meds, preserved food, writing supplies etc), since they often have to go deep into forests/swamps, which cuts them off from main supply lines.

The Border Parol doesn't use any ranks except footsoldier, corporal and captain (since they don't form large groups in the first place). A captain will wear the same gear as a footsoldier, with the addition of short green scarf and a more lowkey version of the finned helmet.

Border Patrol was the first one to fall when the Calamity struck, getting taken by surprise. They had the bad luck of being the first in line on the way to the Domain.

5,6: City Guard: branch exclusive to the actual city of the Domain, they are tasked with defending its walls (if anything reaches this far) but more importantly, keeping order inside the city. They also handle some menial disputes before they got elevated to higher instances. Second largest branch after the Army (though still much, much smaller). They use all ranks in their organisation and have the nastiest internal politics.

The Guardsmen wear just your regular armor and are required to use Zora Spears (no bows!). The armor of the Captain of the Guard is one of the fancier ones, since its main purpose is more to intimidate and command respect rather than be actually useful for fighting (the absolutely impractical wide-finned helmet!).

The City Guard is the only branch that managed to remain operational after the Calamity. Or actually, they were just lucky enough to be inside the Domain walls when the main event happened, and remained there for the majority of the war to protect the civilians (that's how Trello managed to survive without too much trauma).

Present day Zora Guard is a slightly restructured version of the City Guard, still mostly focused on protecting the city. Out of necessity they also handle some more essential tasks of Border Patrol or Army.

7: Royal Knights: very small, purely ceremonial branch. Their task was mostly to look good around the palace, stand guard at important events and accompany&protect the members of the royal family. Royal Knights would be scouted from Army recruits on the basis of their skill but also looks. They don't have ranks.

The Royal Knight armor is very much more looks than function, with the overly long sash and oversized plates. They are required to wield a trident.

During the Calamity, the Royal Knights either joined the army (like Seggin) or stayed with their charges and then got incorporated into the Guard. The position is no longer in use.

8: Temple Guard: kind of their own thing, serving exclusively in Lower Domain city temples. They use no ranks and are technically not part of the Zora Military proper (hence the blank armors). They all wear no helmets and are adorned with thin, white sashes.

With the Temple being underground, they were basically unaffected by the Calamity - they still do their thing exactly as they always did.

9,10: Zora Diplomatic Corps: Not really a proper branch (technically it’s just a politician+some army footsoldiers), but important enough to be mentioned.

Zora kept some alliances before the Calamity (mainly with the Hylians and the Rito), and a small diplomatic mission would be sent to maintain the link, negotiate, communicate any developments with the Domain etc. The group would consist of a dozen or so footsoldiers (though usually of slightly higher social standing and wearing more fancy armors) and 3-6 diplomats who handled actual talking. The diplomats were almost always also military, though they would remain unarmed as a show of peace.

The diplomats would wear a piece of fabricwear (usually some kind of cape) specific to the region. Both to show their good faith and respect and also because it was often necessary to shield the Zora from non-ideal foreign weather conditions. They are also the only Zora who wear the Royal Family crest with their outfits (being representatives of the Zora Crown in a foreign land).

After the tragic accident of the Hebra mission, shortly before the Calamity hit, all the other diplomats were pulled back to the Domain. All their members were absorbed into the army. After the war, the diplomatic program was never reactivated.

11: Support & Logistics: pretty straightforward, technically also not a military branch but absolutely crucial to its functioning. They handle supply lines, medical aid, repairs, budgeting, entertainment, transfers, anything that’s not swinging the spear.

Second in size to the Army itself (and it is pretty close!), consist mostly of civilians and retired/transferred soldiers (very common career path). They wear the symbol of the branch of their assignment and (since they tend to travel back and forth between the border and the city) have the right to bear arms with their civilian attire.

They were somewhat affected by the Calamity, since the supply lines had to be maintained during the active fighting and the Guardian beams didn’t care if a Zora wore armor or not. As a whole, they survived, but in massively reduced form and currently just service the Guard.

12: Major: a retired officer and member of the Elder Council, technically no longer part of the military but still having a major (haha) influence over its management. Majors’ input and approval is crucial for anything army-related, like budgeting, major strategic moves or promoting/demoting soldiers.

Okay, these were the outfits, now let’s talk ranks! From highest to lowest (and some notable character examples):

General - current Zora King, has absolute power, usually doesn’t fight (Dorephan, later Sidon)

Commander - current Prince/Princes; if unavailable/unable to fight, the rank is given to King’s chosen highly ranked officer; an extension of the General's power. Participates in battle. (Mipha, Sidon)

Major - an Elder who retired above the rank of a Lieutenant. Doesn’t fight but their approval is necessary for lots of stuff. (Seggin, Trello)

Captain - experienced officer, usually classically educated. Commands their regiment, answers to Commander/General. Can nominate for promotions. (Bazz)

Lieutenant - experienced officer with decent leadership skills, commands a platoon. Can be assigned acting captain if necessary. (Rivan)

Sergeant - their task is usually to protect the higher rank officers, but they can command a team (Gaddison, Capelo)

Corporal - an above-average soldier showing leadership promise. Commands a section of a squad. (Numien, Torfeau)

Guardsman - lowest rank

Guardsman trainee - a recruit too young to officially join. They participate in training but are not allowed on the battlefield. (Dunma)

OKAY that’s it for the basics of the (lol) Zora military. Unfortunately all my favourite guys are in the army so it had to be done. Now for the additional art~

Pic 1: When I said that the City Guard Captain’s armor is mostly for intimidation that’s what I meant. The intended effect is this flurry of fins, sashes and metal bits when the Captain is entering the scene, making them impossible to ignore.

After getting the armor, Bazz had to practice the correct stride and fin position, because the sash, as it turns out, tangles really easily.

The armor was worn in the field for a good while after the calamity (you’re the Captain of the Guard, you must wear the proper armor) but is not anymore. Bazz made sure of that. There might be a story here.

Pic 2: How Gaddison Became a Sergeant. She actually doesn’t wear the badge in public very often and only uses it when absolutely necessary. She doesn’t really command anything, but having it allows her to operate a bit more independently. 

Also! If Bazz opened with “I’m making you a Sergeant because I need you to do a thing for me” she would have refused and told him to go fuck himself. Thus the lying game, which made her drop her guard out of amusement (ha, he was trying something but I got him to be honest with me! what is this? more dubiously moral shenanigans?).

Prompt 1: Infected with Ganon Blight.

Though in this case it’s not Ganon Blight but ‘Gyorm Sludge’. (Totally mhm)

Tasha did not have a good time when going to the Lake Hylia Hydroelectric Plant to see why the power had gone out. She got ambushed by a medieval army of resurrected soldiers, hurt badly, infected by them and forced to lock herself in the cafeteria to hide out.

A week then passed before Zelda and Link showed up, by then the sludge had taken hold and the pair had to fight her to free her from it. She made a full recovery post dungeon once they got her back to Zora’s Domain.

Prompt 2: Any character turned into a Zora

Post fight with Inner Agent Tasha, there was ofc a bit of a discussion, leading to Tasha offering to be transformed into a weapon for Zelda to use during the dungeon.

So, Zelda used her magic to transform Tasha into a pair of dulies. When equipped, Zelda’s body shifts into the form of a Dunkleosteus Zora, gaining some extra mobility. The Zora Dulies fire Zora ink, which can melt through certain types of shells easily, while also packing a good punch. Kit comes with splat bombs and a bubbler special. Also placoderm fish mode for swimming through the Ink.

Prompt 3: Boss fight/own prompt.

TBLR: Empress Sulisa, a Gyorm soldier, Clayshaper Link for Scale, Inner Agent Tasha

The boss of the Lake Hylia Hydroelectric Plant, Empress Sulisa. Depicted in the mosaic in Zora’s Domain fighting against Queen Dunena II, the Empress of the Gyorm’s fell in battle alongside the rest of her people once Seraphae showed up.