Rito



The Rito are the race of peaceful, anthropomorphic birds that inhabit Dragon Roost Island, the volcanic island located in the Great Sea in The Wind Waker. The Rito worship the Sky Spirit, Valoo. The Rito are not aboreal by nature, and in fact gain their wings by obtaining a scale from Valoo, which also seems to serve as a sort of Coming of age-ritual.

Not only have these creatures adapted to their lifestyle of flight, but they also serve as the mailmen for their mobility and fast-paced travel. This is the most important part of their lifestyle and the majority of their home island is dedicated to this task.

The Rito-Zora Evolution Theory
Every new Zelda game causes new discussions about the storyline to arise. The most prominent debate The Wind Waker caused is the one about the Zora-Rito relation. In the game, Link meets the spirit of the former Sage of Earth, Laruto, who is a Zora. She asks Link to find to find "the one who carries on her bloodline", as that person is destined to become the new Sage. This person surprisingly did not turn out to be another Zora, but rather a Rito girl, Medli. Combined with the absence of the Zora in The Wind Waker, the absence of the Rito in other games, the fact that the Rito are confirmed to not always have been creatures of the sky and the appearance of the Zora symbol on Medli's and Prince Komali's outfits, this has led to the theory that the Rito evolved/transoformed from the Zora.

Others don't believe this is the case though. Their main arguments are that the Sages presented in A Link to the Past and Four Swords Adventures are (supposedly, see Ganon Conflicts: The Imprisoning War) the descendants of the Sages in Ocarina of Time. In their case, it is not very likely that the Gorons, Sea Zoras and Kokiri evolved/transformed into Hylians. More likely is that interbreeding between the species is possible, or something of that nature. Furthermore, many races have been absent in games that did display their in other games confirmed habitats. This is merely an "inconsistency" done by the developers to make the story and development not overly complicated. The Wind Waker for that matter has been confirmed to be missing at least two dungeons and stuff/people related to them. Finally, people have put question marks on this theory, because it would be quite odd that an aquatic race, of which two out of three confirmed populations lived in the sea, would change into a birdlike race when the whole world is flooded. Even if this was a change enforced by the Gods to ensure Hyrule would be left a secret, it would be odd that the Fishmen are allowed to stay the way they are. Finally, the Zora symbol on the two Rito children's clothes can be explained by Medli's heritage. If at anytime a Rito and Zora (or via another race, see Koboli) decided to live together and get children, it is likely that the Zora would bring some of their belongings with them, explaining how the dress and necklace could have found their way in Rito possession.

Notable Rito

 * Rito Chieftain- The leader of the Ritos.
 * Prince Komali- The Chieftain's son.
 * Medli- The Sage of Earth.
 * Quill- Mail deliverer and friend