earthsong9405:

A complete redesign I did for Va’loo, the patron deity to the Rito! <: I enjoy his original design just fine but I wanted him to look a bit more serious and more like a warrior than he originally did to better fit my headcanon! Speaking of, here’s said headcanon for our dragon friend:

——–

-Va’loo is a very old and powerful dragon god; I’m honestly contemplating on making him the “father of the dragons” but I haven’t fully decided on that yet.

-Regardless of that, he’s the patron deity to the Rito, sworn to protect and guide them for as long as he exists. Despite his direct interactions with the Rito having dwindled in order to allow them to grow into themselves without his direct interference, he remains their protector to this day

-Legends tell the tale of how Va’loo was the reason behind the Rito’s eventual transformation into fully anthromorphic birds: according to said legend, Va’loo not only gave the Rito the power to fly, but eventually lent them his feathers so that they could grow some of their own, before eventually it became a part of them. With their newfound feathers, the power of flight came naturally to them without needing a scale from their deity, and so their lifestyle and society grew exponentially as a result of Va’loo’s gift. The last thing Va’loo gifted the Rito before he backed off was the ability of archery: Va’loo himself is said to be the inventor of archery, but whether or not he pioneered it doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s unrivaled in it. This gift was his way of giving the Rito a better way to defend themselves, so that they may engage in combat on land and in flight, a trait in which make the Rito the best archers across Hyrule.

This is largely the reason why archery as an combative artform is so widely revered and practiced in Rito culture.

-Va’loo’s departure from the Rito was one of his own doing: he thought it beneficial to the race if he stopped directly interfering with them and allow them to flourish and grow into themselves without his direct influence. Like a parent wanting his children to strike out on their own. But despite it, he still remains protective of them and intervenes when absolutely necessary.

——–

And there we go! A bit short but just some headcanon on the dragon fellow. <: