The Legend of Zelda-Darknut

During the Third Age, there was no force as respected and awe-inspiring as the mighty Royal Knights of Hyrule. They were a group known for their fierce devotion to their Kingdom and the Golden Goddesses they worshiped, and historians have no doubt that their presence on the battlefield greatly aided the King of Hyrule in unifying the land beneath Hylian rule.

However, despite having a reputation for great nobility, not every member of this pious brotherhood was as honorable as the others. In fact, one of the worst betrayals recorded in the histories of Hyrule was brought about by none other than members of this elite warrior order.

It was a troublesome time in Hyrule’s history; led by the Dark King Ganondorf, a coalition of ruthless Gerudo warriors, crude and lawless Moblins, and sorcerous abominations had marshaled in great numbers on the borders of the Gerudo territory and seemed prepared to launch an assault at any time.

The people of the kingdom were troubled, and they looked to their last and greatest line of defense to protect them: the Royal Knights. The valiant Knights were assembled on the front line, in a phalanx that required every man to protect his brother; it was this mighty wall of steel and men that would be Hyrule’s shield.

Sadly, tragedy struck as Ganondorf’s coalition began a rumbling charge toward the assembled knights: As the ground shook beneath the footfalls of the stampeding army, 4 of the knights broke ranks and began to mercilessly slaughter their own unprepared comrades.

Amidst cries of treason and great confusion, Ganondorf’s army washed over the betrayed warriors and decimated them. In the end, the only Knights that still stood on the battlefield were the ambitious four that had forged an alliance with Ganondorf on one of his many diplomatic ventures to Hyrule Castle.

Although Ganondorf had offered them places of great renown within his kingdom in return for their services, the true nature of their pledge became clear to them as the knights knelt before their new master.

Ganondorf could not overlook his hatred of the knights that had so often decimated his people in their raids upon the castle, and so he had cast an enchantment upon the knights that suited his cruel sense of irony: the men would indeed have the places of renown within his kingdom that he promised, but not as conquering Hylian warriors. The oaths that they had taken when they vowed service to Ganondorf were more than just promises, they were part of a dark ritual that bound their body and souls to the desert king, to do with as he would.

When they had accomplished their betrayal of the brothers-in-arms, Ganondorf mockingly transformed them into bestial and fierce warriors whose forms he thought resembled their own twisted and jackal-like hearts. Thus, on that day, the dreadful servants of Ganondorf known as the Four Darknuts were born.

Although created and strengthened through magical means, the warriors known as Darknuts possess a physiology that is very similar to a human athlete in prime condition, and many of the same limitations apply.

However there are some remarkable difference that must be noticed: the Darknut’s skull and facial features have been magically transfigured to resemble those of a desert jackal, the muscular ligaments of the limbs and body core have been realigned to increase combat capability, and the formerly human legs have taken on a gruesome reverse jointed appearance with elongate toes. This altered physiology grants the warriors the strength of three grown men, as well as great balance and dexterity.

In addition, all four of the Darknuts have been given glass phylacteries filled with their own blood that serve as a mystical means of enhancing their life-span by binding their twisted souls to the artifact itself. This has been done to allow the Darknuts to serve their master in spite of the needs of mortal flesh, and they will indeed seek to carry out Ganondorf’s wishes until their dying breath without thought of pain or suffering.

Darknuts are ferocious and indomitable opponents, and given their status during their previous life they are also outfitted with some of the best weapons and armor that Hyrule has to offer, and thus they have gained the reputation of being untouchable by mortal men. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth as the Four Darknuts are still mortal and possess as many weaknesses and strengths as any other warrior. For example, stripped of their armor the flesh of a Darknut is as susceptible to the bite of steel as any other man’s.

Level-42
HP-44,325
MP-713
STR-36
MAG-19
DEF-24
MAG DEF-21
VIT-65
SPD-18
ATK-63
EVADE-0
EXP-3420
LP-1
Rupees-1948
Drop-Tainted Sword, Corrupted Flesh
Steal-Tainted Shield, Tainted Helm, Tainted Plate Armor