(Here comes a shitload of lore and stuff I MADE UP. Very non-canon. But since when do I give a shit for canon?)
In the darkness of the ruins of Thyphlo, there slumbered a fifth divine beast. It was no easy task to unearth, and some time after this monsters crept into the darkness and drove the Hyruleans out. The abilities of this divine beast remain largely unknown, though it was restored to functionality before the monsters forced the researchers to abandon it. Bearing the shape of a feline, it was called Vah Pazim.
When King Rhoam lamented Hyrule's plight and sought champions to pilot the five divine beasts, he could not find anyone suitable for Vah Pazim. Although Impa of the Shiekah appeared somewhat suitable as a champion, she was ever busy with her work as an aide to Princess Zelda.
After King Rhoam had succeeded in finding pilots for Vah Ruta, Vah Rudania, Vah Medoh, and Vah Naboris, a fifth champion stepped forth to pilot Vah Pazim.
A clan of Shiekah outlaws and rogues known as the Blackscales saw the nearby Deplian badlands as their ancestral home. They knew of Vah Pazim, and plotted their way back into society. Though they had not taken a side with the monsters, these outlaws were nonetheless wanted for various crimes across Hyrule, individually and as an organization. Their leader, Raithyon Blackscale, brandished an idea that would tilt the war in his family's favor.
King Rhoam received a report of a small but unknown force making their way to Vah Pazim– a force consisting not of monsters, but people. He commanded the four champions already assembled, along with Princess Zelda and the swordsman Link, to investigate and stop this force if necessary.
Fighting the monsters surrounding the divine beast was difficult as they were many in number, but the princess's force stopped upon reaching the Thyphlo ruins. Utter and complete darkness barred their progress– the soldier who could fight without seeing was rare indeed. But it was not the threat of fighting blindly alone that halted their progress, but the sounds of movement from Divine Beast Vah Pazim.
Vah Pazim moved quickly to destroy the monster encampments in the dark ruins, controlled by some expert hand. Even monsters such as Gleeoks were as though child's play to the Divine Beast, swatted out of the sky with nimble movement and destroyed by shadowy energy. After all the monsters were felled, the Divine Beast approached Zelda's group, but stopped even as her force grimly made ready to battle it. One individual stepped into view atop what one might have called Vah Pazim's head.
Raithyon Blackscale wore a long sable robe over an otherwise bare chest, a violet mask over his mouth, and traditional Shiekah stealth garb in violet for leggings. His white hair remained bound in a low ponytail, and his red eyes stared down at Zelda's group not with malice, but confidence that the upper hand was his.
After this appearance, others came out of hiding as well, at what might be termed Vah Pazim's feet. These were the rest of the Blackscale clan, garbed largely in stealth wear of their own personal styles– those whom Raithyon called family, if not all by blood. Though each one carried their own weapons of choice, not one brandished any to fight.
Raithyon's skills in vertical movement became clear as he slid down Vah Pazim to join his clan and lead their forward motion to Zelda's group. Though the two blades on either hip swung with each of his steps, he did not lay a hand on either sword's hilt. At this, Zelda commanded her forces to stand down for the moment, knowing a gesture to negotiate when she saw one.
"Ah, the princess herself," Raithyon spoke, his confidence palpable in his voice. "Just whom I was looking for. Perhaps we can parley. On equal footing, of course." He rested an arm atop a sword hilt and tilted his head up, though his eyes remained fixed on her.
The entire ploy became clear to Zelda at once. This outlaw had seized control of Vah Pazim and demonstrated skill in piloting it for one purpose– to gain a foothold, and a good one at that, in negotiation for pardons for he and his clan. The princess could not deny that this man had something Hyrule required for its own salvation; Vah Pazim had no suitable pilot until this man's ploy came into play.
The man approached farther still, offering the hand not resting on a sword hilt to Zelda. "Raithyon Blackscale, and I'm sure you see my family behind me... my sister Sekkala, and my daughters Lambda and Reownha." Behind him in the group, a woman of similar age to him pressed a hand to her forehead while two teenager girls waved; one with white Shiekah hair and the other of honeyed blonde Hylian hair. "Brilliant work, wasn't it? Not to brag too hard, but I don't think you'll find someone else who can do what I just did to those monsters with Vah Pazim too easily."
It was no situation Zelda enjoyed, to be sure; to know that the most suitable pilot for this or any divine beast was an outlaw was unsettling. This maverick of a swashbuckler would be difficult to control, even knowing what it was that he wished in exchange for his services. There was not much she could do. Knowing this, Zelda still took Raithyon's proffered hand and shook it, knowing better than to neglect manners for her discomfort. "You know that I am Zelda, daughter of King Rhoam of Hyrule. If you wish to negotiate, then it must be with my father. I can escort you to Hyrule Castle to parley and vouch that you will not be harmed or arrested in doing this." Best to place the ball in her father's court, Zelda suspected, as she herself did not have the power to pardon a single outlaw, much less an entire group of them.
It was nonetheless a risky move to make, for the both of them; Raithyon had every reason to distrust the princess's word for their safety, but it played into his confidence that he had the upper hand in this. Raithyon's smile widened. "Agreed, princess. I'll come to Hyrule Castle with you–"
"And we'll come with!" Interjected the blonde Lambda, pulling her sister with her as she jumped forth. "Pops, you can't just go without me and Reownha, you need backup!"
Raithyon did well in concealing his chagrin at this decision; he had wanted to go alone, that the rest of his family might be safe from whatever treachery could be in store, but he could not backpedal now. His smile did not fade, his posture did not change; he even nodded in agreement. "I can hardly say no to my little girls. I hope your castle can accommodate a pair of extra guests, Princess Zelda."
So it was. Zelda's force escorted these three Blackscales, the rest remaining behind in relative safety should the negotiations go ill. Reownha largely kept to herself, observing without comment; Raithyon attempted conversation with the champions Urbosa and Daruk; Lambda succeeded in speaking with Mipha and connecting over the ability to heal wounds. No monsters attacked further on the way from the Thyphlo ruins to Hyrule Castle, to the relief of all, making for a quiet march, almost uncomfortably so.
In the sanctum of Hyrule Castle, King Rhoam stood before his throne to better observe the three Blackscales presented to him– Raithyon, all but lounging in his stance and regarding the king confidently; Reownha, standing straight but staring steadily at him; and Lambda, looking about with the wonder of seeing such grandeur. Though the guards of the room remained wary at the presence of these outlaws, they did not come close to them.
It was not difficult for Rhoam to figure what had occurred in the Thyphlo ruins and why Raithyon was brought before him. Zelda's report told him much, leaving one thing to learn: the true measure of the Blackscales before him.
Rhoam measured the amount of disrespect in his tone with the smallest of instruments; though he felt no admiration for the man, he did not wish to alienate he or his clan, nor any of the Shiekah that Rhoam had so carefully rebuilt bridges with after they were razed ten thousand years ago. "Raithyon Blackscale. Your actions are beyond the pale. Your trespasses of Hyrulean law cannot be ignored so easily."
Though the gravity of the situation was not lost on Raithyon, boldness remained in his tone. "Can they, if we have something substantial to offer to the effort against the Calamity?" He pointed at the king, daring to toe the lines of respect and diplomacy. "You need a pilot for Vah Pazim. I'm not the obedient puppet that you might have wished for, but I'm beyond qualified." He lowered his arm then, and gestured to his daughters, standing at his sides. "Even those of us who live outside the law will fall if the Calamity isn't quelled– and I knew I had no chance of parley with you unless I did something. Just think: If I work with you, my family will as well– an entire clan of experienced rogues at your disposal. Even my daughters are very skilled for their youth."
Rhoam's gaze moved from Raithyon, to the observant (if mistrustful) Reownha, then to Lambda, whose gaze wandered with wonder. Deciding it best to address she who was not on guard, he spoke again. "Lambda, daughter of the Blackscales. Do you hold your father's word as true and trustworthy?"
From the very moment her name was spoken by such an unfamiliar (but highly authoritative) voice, Lambda jumped and turned her entire body to regard the king, her eyebrows raised and eyes wide with surprise. She spoke quickly and bluntly, no thought or filter. "Pops doesn't lie and neither do I! We're all very sneaky-like, but we don't break our promises." Lambda even smiled at the king, a smile speaking of deep affection for her father that mildly surprised Rhoam, behind his royal facade.
He did not like being surprised, nor did he did not like the options before him– to arrest Raithyon and his daughters (risking the carefully restored balance between Hyrule and the Shiekah) or to allow this outlaw– whom Rhoam was not sure how to control– to pilot the divine beast, Vah Pazim. Glancing back at Raithyon, Rhoam could see a mote of pride hidden in his gaze, now directed at Lambda. Pride in his daughter.
Rhoam could not help but think of Zelda and the pressures upon her shoulders.
He made his decision then. "Very well, Raithyon of the Blackscale." Raithyon's eyes flicked back to the king, showing him his full attention. "You shall be the pilot of divine beast Vah Pazim. But know that should you and your family turn against Hyrule, each who raises a blade against the kingdom shall be condemned."
"But if we don't..." A smirk tugged at the corner of Raithyon's mouth, unbidden.
"Then, should you and your clan prove that you can live and lawful citizens of the kingdom, I will consider your pardons." Rhoam did not enjoy this part of the agreement; it would spread the concept that any lawless rogue could win their freedom with enough audacity. However, he had to offer it– Hyrule could ill afford to pick and choose who fought in the name of its salvation.
@mightiestbanana GUESS WHO.... Age of Calamity verse
A Shiekah man approached the Yiga Clan tents pitched in the Hyrulean camp, a man wearing an open robe over his chest, pants, and a sash– and nothing but the robe between his pectorals and the air. His gait resembled something of a dance, swaying from side to side and dodging barrels, tents, and other such things. He even spun around in a nearly full circle to round a corner. Even with an eightfold blade on either hip, not a clink or clank sounded as he walked. Though a cloth mask covered his mouth, his eyes turned up a bit with something of a smirk.
Eyes followed him even before he crossed into the section of the camp that bore banners of the inverted eye. This brazen saunter caught just about every Yiga Clansman's attention, and whispered abounded as they asked what the fuck was this. Some individuals– not many– darted off, not running away, but doing their duty as scouts.
It was no coincidence that these scouts ended up in the same place as this audacious man. His unmistakable destination: Master Kohga's tent.
He opened the tent flap with a flourish, letting the fresh air and sunlight announce his arrival.
I heroforged the entire Blackscale clan (sans the kids, including Lambda and Reownha) as royal guardsmen, for my Princess Lambda roleswap AU. I think they turned out great. Notable changes include swapping weapons– mostly dexterity-based weapons for strength-based weapons, and I added a shield to Quespa's kit. Sekkala and Nethox keep daggers in their off-hands for the main gauche effect with their sword in the main hand.
Please do notice that Madre is in this overconfident 'come at me bro' pose with her huge chest and hips. Listen. She is still the group thot, and regrets nothing.
All of the Blackscales have a piece of Sirredes as proof of their membership, and all have a black dragon tattoo somewhere on their bodies as proof of their identities. Here's who has what and where:
Raithyon: Shard of horn. Two dragon tattoos, curled up either arm.
Reownha: Scale. Her dragon tattoo coils up her entire left arm.
Lambda: Fang. Her dragon tattoo coils up her entire right arm.
Sekkala: Shard of spike. Her dragon tattoo is on her back, wings splayed on her shoulder blades.
Madre: Claw. Her dragon tattoo is small but wide, placed just below her collarbone.
Riakshin: Fang. His tattoo is on his right shoulder– his sword shoulder.
Moko: Scale. His dragon tattoo coils around his left wrist, with the head resting on the back of the hand.
Horzai: Scale. Her dragon tattoo is on the left side of her neck, its head rearing up onto her cheek.
Nethox: Scale. His dragon tattoo coils on his ankle.
Quespa: Shard of spike. Her dragon tattoo is on her forehead.
Nethir: Scale. His dragon tattoo rests above his collarbone, stretching up the front of his neck.
Furrele: Scale. Her dragon tattoo coils about her right ear.
Cedric: Claw. His dragon tattoo is on his left shoulder.
Akra: Fang. Her dragon tattoo stretches up her right leg.
Heskran: Scale. He's got his dragon tattoo wrapped around his right ankle, the nose of the dragon pointing down his foot.
And this whole time Raithyon and Pyxrin were head over heels in love with each other from the get-go, Raithyon's sister Sekkala was just sighing and wondering if they'd ever get a good paycheck out of it. Well, kids would do; the Blackscales always needed new members if they wanted to survive into the future.
