Yiga Clan
Structure
The Yiga Clan is headed by a Master, who rises to power by asserting it. There is no formal chain of succession, and those power-hungry enough need only successfully kill the former Master to take on the title. Blademasters are next in the structural order, usually in charge of a number of footsoldiers.
History
Initially, the Yiga Clan was a group of dissidents from the Sheikah way of life, displeased with the worship of Hylia and serving the Royal Family. They journeyed to the farthest northern reaches of the Gerudo Canyons and were content to live in peace for many years.
However, at an unknown point, some catalyst resulted in the Yiga Clan becoming more violent, actively attacking Hyrule instead of remaining neutral and removed. It is still debated among Sheikah whether the Yiga Clan gradually became this way on its own, or if that original group was overpowered by others, suffered some sort of mutiny, or was even just entirely massacred and had their name appropriated by worshippers of Ganon.
By the era of the Calamity, the Yiga Clan had made it their mission to destroy the Royal Family and resurrect Ganon. They made several attempts on Zelda I's life in the years leading up to the Calamity, and did their best to sow discord and hinder the kingdom's attempts to save itself. During the hundred-year period when Zelda I was restraining Calamity Ganon in Hyrule Castle, the Yiga Clan wandered Hyrule freely, terrorizing and typically killing travelers who dared to venture into the wilds.
After the Hero of the Wilds killed their leader at the time, Master Kohga, and took back Hyrule Castle, the Yiga Clan continued their efforts to disrupt the reformation of the kingdom for many years. However, as the nation began to thrive, they simply didn't have the numbers or power sufficient to do the kind of damage they wanted. By the end of Zelda I's lifetime, the Yiga Clan had sunk back into relative obscurity.
Of course, the Yiga Clan does still exist in the modern day. Over the past five hundred years, they have made several notable attacks and assassinations, rising out of the shadows every few decades to remind the world they still have some sort of power. Many attempts have been successfully averted by the Sheikah themselves, and to date, the Yiga have not been able to assassinate a sitting monarch or a Princess Zelda. There have been a handful of noble-people and secondary heirs to the throne who have not been so lucky.
However, at an unknown point, some catalyst resulted in the Yiga Clan becoming more violent, actively attacking Hyrule instead of remaining neutral and removed. It is still debated among Sheikah whether the Yiga Clan gradually became this way on its own, or if that original group was overpowered by others, suffered some sort of mutiny, or was even just entirely massacred and had their name appropriated by worshippers of Ganon.
By the era of the Calamity, the Yiga Clan had made it their mission to destroy the Royal Family and resurrect Ganon. They made several attempts on Zelda I's life in the years leading up to the Calamity, and did their best to sow discord and hinder the kingdom's attempts to save itself. During the hundred-year period when Zelda I was restraining Calamity Ganon in Hyrule Castle, the Yiga Clan wandered Hyrule freely, terrorizing and typically killing travelers who dared to venture into the wilds.
After the Hero of the Wilds killed their leader at the time, Master Kohga, and took back Hyrule Castle, the Yiga Clan continued their efforts to disrupt the reformation of the kingdom for many years. However, as the nation began to thrive, they simply didn't have the numbers or power sufficient to do the kind of damage they wanted. By the end of Zelda I's lifetime, the Yiga Clan had sunk back into relative obscurity.
Of course, the Yiga Clan does still exist in the modern day. Over the past five hundred years, they have made several notable attacks and assassinations, rising out of the shadows every few decades to remind the world they still have some sort of power. Many attempts have been successfully averted by the Sheikah themselves, and to date, the Yiga have not been able to assassinate a sitting monarch or a Princess Zelda. There have been a handful of noble-people and secondary heirs to the throne who have not been so lucky.
Demography and Population
In the modern era, the Clan mostly recruits Hylians due to ease of access. However, many members have at least partial Sheikah ancestry.
Territories
The Yiga Clan inhabits a small canyon in the far north of the Gerudo Canyons, technically within the official boundaries of the Gerudo Nation but outside any actually populated area. Their whereabouts are not known by the rest of the world due to the extreme geography, but it has been made clear by the Gerudo that their presence is not tolerated. Unfortunately, it's a little difficult to move a large enough number of troops out to survey the area, let alone challenge and oust the Clan. As of right now, their disruptions remain small and infrequent enough that it's not a high priority.
Religion
The Yiga Clan worships the Demise. As with most cults, they do not see themselves as such but are generally labeled so by the rest of the world due to the Demise being seen as a demon-god and for having routinely tried to destroy Hyrule. Despite having initially split from the Sheikah due to distaste for their deeply pious way of life, certainly not an evil choice, the Yiga have become just as, if not more, fanatic over their deity.
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In response to the prompt Describe a cult in your world. How did they form and what do they believe in?
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