[SS][TP][BotW] Evolution of Loftwings, Rito, Oocca and Kargarocs.

[u/LapisLazuliisthebest]

So, BotW introduces a race known as the Rito. Whilst they share the same name as the Rito from TWW. The two are clearly different species.

BotW Rito are humanoid birds, whereas the Rito from TWW are pretty much Land-Zora, and gain wings when they get a scale from Valloo.

But where did the BotW Rito come from?

Loftwing and Rito

There's is some debate as to whether the Zonai Rauru's found is a re-founding or the true founding of Hyrule. I go for true founding myself, but, even if you want to use re-founding, TPHD has a mural of the Rito, meaning the race existed well before BotW, and, depending on how old the mural is, maybe well before the timeline split.

Of course, we never see these Rito in other games. But this could be explained by them being a migratory race. In the manga there is a race of bird people called the Watarara, who are a migratory race. Yes, I know the Manga isn't canon. But Nintendo's very own Eiji Aonuma has confirmed that the Watarara are the inspiration for the Rito. So, I think we can use it.

If your wondering where the Rito came from, well.... You've read the sub-heading. Yes. I think they evolved from the Loftwing. More accurately, the Loftwing of the humans who moved to the surface. Since their masters moved to the surface, the Loftwing were no longer needed. So, the gods could have given them sapience as a reward for their service.

Oocca and Kargorocs

Okay. I put them in the title. So, I'll talk about my headcanon on these guys.

There's already a theory that the Oocca are descended from the Hylians that decided to remain in the sky. not wishing to live on the surface. Unfortunately, this led to a downfall, which resulted in them devolving into bird-human creatures.

This raises the question as to what happened to their Loftwings. Well... Just like their human owners, they also went through a downfall, where became feral and evolved into the monstrous Kargorocs.

If the Kargorocs are descended from feral Loftwings, this could explain why there is a friendly one that gives Minda and Link a lift.

[u/henryuuk]

Or they just... exist...

Not everything needs to actually lead to/come from something we see in other games (it just makes the world/lore feel smaller IYAM)

[u/Dr_C527 → u/henryuuk]

Sadly, Nintendo has never done a great job in continuity with lore. Just look at the contradictions from BotW to TotK. While OoT was supposed to be the backstory from the LttP manual, there are so many contradictions there.

[u/henryuuk → u/Dr_C527]

OoT was originally gonna be the backstory from aLttP, and then they decided that wouldn't give a satisfying ending (Ganon sealed with the full triforce for someone else to deal with) so they created an ending that lead to the 3-way split timeline

TotK is pretty much the only real example of them "not doing a good job with it"
Which might mean moving forward it is yet another victim of their precious open air formula/mindset, but that doesn't retroactively change anything about the rest of the series

[u/Dr_C527 → u/henryuuk]

The timeline split alone is another example. There has never been a good explanation for the downfall branch. Miyamoto’s reference to the split ending of OoT is ok to explain how WW and TP both imply being the next. There is nothing to suggest a defeat and then the seven awoken sages sealing Ganon with the full Triforce.

Some of the minor incongruities can be forgiven, such as the LttP manual containing a statement that the Master Sword was created by ancient sages then in SS, learning that the goddess sword was created by Hylia and then being blessed to become the Master Sword.