Sheikah

The Sheikah are a unique people that have existed in the lands of Hyrule for as long as the land had its name. Most of what is known about the Sheikah exists only in tales and whispers due to their secretive nature. Although intrinsically involved with the history of the world, they prefer to operate from the shadows and the impact of their action is an enigma that historians can only speculate about.

Culture

The makeup of their people is mostly human, although Hylians are common among the Kakariko clan. Those with long ancestries in the clan are notable for their silver hair and piercing red eyes. Such traits are not universal, since it is hardly uncommon for Sheikah to find partners among normal Hyruleans. A tenant of Sheikah society is to never draw attention to themselves and is common among all three clans. Stealth and secrecy come as second nature and is taught to them from the moment they learn to walk. It is thus rare to find Sheikah leaders that seek out power or overt control. Most Sheikah prefer to find other masters and they place loyalty at the forefront of all their beliefs.

Kakariko Clan

The average Hyrulean might not know the Sheikah exists and if they do, it is this clan that they are familiar with. The Kakariko Clan has been closely tied to the fate of Hyrule since its very beginning. Legends tell that an ancient Sheikah was an attendant and close friend to the goddess Hylia and that this friendship continued unto her descendants in the royal family. This has been their role for centuries, where they operate from behind the throne to carry out the will of the reigning king and queen, all in the interest of maintaining peace within the kingdom.
Peace does not come without consequence, however. While the Sheikah might commonly serve as bodyguards or spies on behalf of the royal family, they have taken on more gruesome tasks as well. Much of their dark history can be found in the Shadow Temple, where the clan has committed such grievous acts that their records never leave that unholy place.
In the past, the Kakariko Clan has come close to annihilation more than once. In Hyrule’s earliest history, many were slain in battle with the Interlopers. They suffered many losses in the Imprisoning War as well. Their number has fractured as well, due to the royal family now existing in both Harkinia and Calatia rather than their native Hyrule. Although their clan remains steadfast in Kakariko, their trained agents serve both the Calatian royal family and Harkinian royal family even in times of conflict between the two nations. But not all Sheikah are so keen to observe this loyalty…

Yiga Clan

The Yiga Clan are the Kakariko Clan, but with their ambitions inverted. They fashion themselves with an inverted Sheikah eye and have taken the art of disguise and deception to another level. The Yiga represent an element of dissatisfaction with the current status quo. They view service to the Royal Families to have led to nothing but cyclical struggle and disaster. In that sense, a kind of Yiga element has existed alongside the Sheikah for all their history. Those few who could not tolerate this subservience would simply leave and find new lives in the lands abroad. This changed in the face of the Desolation of the Demon King and the war that would follow it.
The Hyrulean royal family fled to the north, leaving Hyrule to be despoiled by the Demon King’s followers while the Kakariko Clan went into hiding. Although the Sheikah aided the Hero in his efforts to slay the Demon King, the royal family did not return. Even as Calatia and Harkinia fought for control of it, neither seemed interested in returning the seat of power to Hyrule itself. This would lead to a rift in the Sheikah, and many feel betrayed to now have two royal families living thousands of miles away from their sacred land. This rift would lead to hundreds leaving their land and finding a new home somewhere deep in the Gerudo Highlands.
The young clan has yet to truly decide on what their aims are, other than detesting the idea of serving foreign kings and queens. Many wish to see the Demon King return so that the Desolation can be completed in full. They believe that only when the land has been truly purged, can a new and greater kingdom rise in the ashes. More radical elements feel that it had been a mistake to slay the Demon King and believe he might be a more worthy king to serve. To that end, there are Yiga agents in the world looking for the lost Hero in the hopes that finding his blood might still yet be the key to the Demon King’s return.

Garo Clan

The Garo has no common history with the Sheikah of Kakariko Village. They are not even Hyrulean at all since their history is intrinsically tied to that of Termina. In the ancient past, before the Realm Reborn, the Garo were the enemies of the Kingdom of Ikana. They were the servants of a long lost and forgotten realm that would later become Clock Town. For centuries, they would battle against Ikana and prevent its armies from conquering their homes. This created a fanatical warrior culture that would fight to the death and douse their own bodies in flames upon to defeat, to prevent any of their secrets from ever being discovered by their enemies.
The connection between the Garo and Sheikah is not easily spotted, since the Garo prefer to wear long hooded robes that conceal all their features. However much of their weaponry and fighting style is a close match for the Sheikah, much in the same way the other city-states of Termina have their own mirrors among the cities of Hyrule. But beneath their hoods, the Garo share many of the same physical features as their Kakariko counterparts. Communication has been established between Kakariko and the Garo, but the relationship is tense and with little trust between the disparate clans.
The Garo have remained on the outskirts of Termina and are believed to have found a new home among the Trilby Highlands. They remain locked in a struggle against Ikana, which has only increased in intensity now that a new King Ikana has begun his conquest across Termina. They are rarely spotted, but there have been whispers of the Garo as far south as Seline City in the heart of Calatia.

Known Settlements

The Sheikah are a secretive people by their very nature, which means the locations of the smaller Sheikah villages are incredibly difficult to find. The most notable Sheikah clan can be found in Kakariko Village, where they have remained in one form or another despite the many calamities over the ages. Moreover, loyalist Sheikah can be found in the courts of both the Harkinian and Calatian royals. A splinter Sheikah faction known as the Yiga are known to have a base somewhere in the Gerudo Highlands. The Garo are believed to have found a new home in the Trilby Highlands.

Thematic Archetypes

Battle Smith - Artificer
Sheikah Researchers have crafted a Steel Defender, an early prototype for much larger Constructs should their need ever be great.
Echo Knight - Fighter
Sheikah are masters of illusions, but it takes a rare talent to craft illusions solid enough to land a blow.
Shadowhand - Rogue
Shadowhands overwhelm their foes with multiple illusory duplicates and emerge from the chaos with a deadly strike.
Hexbreaker - Ranger
Hexbreakers have long concealed many terrible secrets from the present and into the ancient past with their complex ciphers.

Sheikah Features

Age. Sheikah mature at the same rate as humans, but they can live up to 160 years.
Size. Sheikah have the same range of height and weight as humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Low Light Vision. You can see in dim light within 30 feet of you as if it were normal light, and 10 feet in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Shadow Step. As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Stealthy. You find quiet movement to be second nature, granting you proficiency in Stealth.
Clan. You belong to the Kakariko Clan, Yiga Clan, or the Garo Clan. This choice grants you an additional feature as seen below.
Kakariko Clan. These Sheikah reside in Kakariko, located in Old Hyrule. They excel in subterfuge and stealth. They have been known to serve as bodyguards and assassins for the two royal families, but most Sheikah dwell in Kakariko village living peaceful lives that are no more different than any other Hylian.

• Illusionist. You know the Message and Minor Illusion cantrip.
• When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Mirror Image spell as a Bonus Action. When you cast this spell using this trait, the spell lasts for ten minutes or until all of your duplicates are defeated. While you have duplicates, you can roll an extra d4 of damage for each of your duplicates when you damage a creature. You can only use this additional damage once on your turn. You can cast this spell once and regain the ability to cast it again after a short or long rest.

Yiga Clan. The Yiga are a faction of Sheikah that specialize in subterfuge and deception. During the Desolation of the Demon King, the Sheikah fractured and the Yiga clan was formed. They see the Demon King as the natural ruler of the world and have been involved in seeking his resurrection.

• Masters of Disguise. You are proficient in Deception and Performance.
• When you reach 5th level, you learn the Disguise Self spell. When you cast the spell with this trait, it has an extended duration of 4 hours. Additionally, if you attack a creature while this spell t is active, the attack is made with advantage and the damage of your first attack against that creature is increased by a number of d6 equal to your Proficiency Bonus. In addition, this attack immediately causes the spell to end. You can cast this spell once and regain the ability to cast it again after a short or long rest.

Garo Clan To the far west just outside the lands of Termina, another tribe known as the Garo live in seclusion as they continue their ancient war against the Kingdom of Ikana. They share no common history with the other two clans, but the Sheikah and Garo are aware of each other's existence.

• Bloodlust. You know the Sword Burst and Bonfire cantrip.
• When you reach 5th level, you can cast Compelled Duel as a Bonus Action. When you cast the spell with this trait, the spell doesn't require concentration and the affected creature takes 2d6 Fire damage if they attack a creature other than you or attempt to move more than 30 feet away from you. You can cast this spell once and regain the ability to cast it again after a short or long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting modifier for each of these spells.

Lifespan
About 100 years
Average Height
Between 4'10 and 6'4 tall
Colouring and Markings
Sheikah are either human or Hylian, depending on the shape of their ears. A common trait among Sheikah is silver hair and red eyes. Most clans tattoo some variation of the Sheikah eye on their skin.
Geographic Distribution
The Kakariko clan is primarily centered around the Lost Woods, with small hamlets in deeper pockets of the forest. The Yiga are believed to have a home in the Gerudo Highlands and the Garo likewise are said to be in the Trilby Highlands. In all cases, the Sheikah do not live in villages where normal roads will lead.