#honestly it isnt too bad if i can insert ganondorf into another fantasy setting...

[dragmiire]

THE DESERT KING. - GENSHIN IMPACT.

within the depths of the sumeru desert, the great red sand, exists a people rumored to be bonded so deeply to lightning that it is not sandstorms that haunt their domain, but thunderstorms. it is said that one can anticipate the movement of their groups in ancient times by how the skies would darken with clouds that would never give any relieving rain, only the distant rumblings of threatening thunder, and the crackle of lightning bolting down into the dunes.

in the modern era, there is a little less mystery around who, precisely, these people are.

the gerudo are well-known and well-integrated in sumeru society, taking up ranks among their scholars and serving as pillars in the community at large and, indeed, have a connection with lightning. while not all members of gerudo society are blessed with it, many are known to be able to control the influence of lightning even without a vision--something they thank the goddess of the sand for, who oversees their people, and ensures their survival in the harsh desert.

the gerudo live in an oasis close to the heart of the great red sand enclosed by hardened walls of sand turned to rock with a single point of entry and exit. legends say that the first king summoned forth these walls with a prayer to the goddess of the sand when an ancient war was ravaging sumeru. hearing his plea, the goddess granted the gerudo the miles-high stone walls, crafted from churning sands, and reinvigorated them with the strength and endurance to outlast their enemies.

to this day, the gerudo remain in this ancestral home. many sumeru scholars travel to the gerudo oasis to study the unique and beautiful architecture their homes are crafted from, many more requesting permission to document the royal palace at the oasis's center. crafted from shimmering gold that shines like sand in the sun, the massive palace once hosted their goddess, and now it is the home to their long line of kings and queens. the twin queen-mothers, koume and kotake, live in a separate wing of the palace dedicated to still-living royals that have stepped down from the position of head of the gerudo.

ganondorf is the current king of the gerudo, and from the time of his birth to the present era, he has been spoken as one who will reignite the era of god-kings. many have likened him to king deshret, whose tragic end has left many doubting the supposed praise this comparison is.

he wields no vision, and yet, he seemingly has the blessing of the gods who watch over them, for he wields incredible power beyond a mere mortal man. lightning summons at his beckon, magic flows easily at his command, and he has a strange connection with the beasts of the desert--namely, the consecrated beasts.

the desert king is often found with at least one consecrated beast nearby, remaining in his presence of its own free will and drawn by something even ganondorf cannot materialize into words. his people are wholly unbothered by it, for since he was an infant, the beasts have gathered, harmless as pups and eager to seemingly serve their king from the moment he could speak to command them.

the gerudo often can be found as swords-for-hire and working as scholars at the akademiya. they are easily recognized for their vivid red hair and golden eyes, which are both dominant traits in the gerudo lineage no matter how diluted the bloodline is.

ganondorf makes semi-frequent trips to sumeru city, usually accompanied with a royal envoy. his presence is obvious and never hidden--as it is rather hard to hide the existence of a towering man well over seven feet tall built like a wall. the purpose of his visits are usually to arrange trade between his people and the merchants of sumeru, and also to peer in on the akademiya, especially with the recent upheaval and removal of the last grand sage.