Gohma (Total War)

The Gohma are a playable faction in Hyrule: Total War. They play an important role in the "Return of Sulkaris" chapter of Hyrule Historia.

Age of Myth
The Gohma came to Hyrule long before recorded history, in the Mythic Era of the First Sages and Druthulidi. Among the Demons of Old unleashed into Hyrule by the First Sages' treachery was Iemanis, a being driven by its indomitable will to survive, control, and consume. When the Druthulidi, released into Hyrule as weapons by the First Sages against one another, proved uncontrollable, the Sages struck a bargain with an even darker power, which slew or drove the Demons into hiding. Iemanis, among the largest and most terrible of its kind, was seemingly stuck dead amid its nest in Misery Mire.

However, from its corpse, its Seven Eyes crawled forth with a Will of their own, becoming the progenitors of the terrible arachnid monstrosities that haunt Hyrule. Among these creatures was the Matriarch, first of the Gohma. Unlike its animalistic cousins, within the Queen of the Gohma was the capacity for intelligence, cunning, a will of its own. This was discovered by the exiled First Sage of Forests, Sulkaris, as she wandered Hyrule. Seeking vengeance on her traitorous siblings, she began to mold the Gohma to her needs, unwittingly falling under the influence of their Will in turn. In truth, the Will of Iemanis had lived on, and in Sulkaris, found its avatar to again spread through the world.

Ancient Age
Falling ever more under the Gohma's predatory influence, Sulkaris led the Gohma on a rampage into Hyrule in 3003 BG, tearing into the Kingdoms of the Akkalans, the Huskus, the Wind Tribe, and the Minish. Yet seemingly by a miracle, Sulkaris was seemingly slain in 3000 BG, by an Akkalan Noble, Rhoaban of House Gustaf, with a Light Arrow during the defense of Akkala Citadel.

Yet, in the Will of the Gohma, Sulkaris lived, on, and in her death realized that not only had she achieved immortality but that her siblings were capable of being destroyed. So her will withdrew the Gohma back to Misery Mire, waiting for her chance to enact revenge and reveal the ancient treachery of her kin.

The Gerudo Wars
While the Gerudo waged war on the Kingdom of Hyrule, the Gohma had found their way into the Kokiri Forest. Sulkaris and her army make contact with the Kokiri Chieftan Mido, and he decides to help them when she makes it clear she will kill the Great Deku Tree and make him King of the Kokiri. While driven away, the Gohma still manage to do significant damage to the Deku Tree's Grove, even killing off Saria, and forcing the Great Deku Tree to revive her by naming her a Sage.

The Gohma under Sulkaris retreat, and Mido comes with them despite not belonging with them. She threatens him that she'll have her Gohma devour him, but he tells her that she still needs him as the Great Deku Tree had named a new Sage. He told her he'd expose the Sage to her so she could regain her immortal body, but only if she didn't kill him.

When Sulkaris and her Gohma attempted to absorbe the Sage of Forests, they ended up being locked in combat with the Kokiri, the Deku Scrubs, and even the Huskus, who had decided to help despite initially not believing in the Gohma threat. Sulkaris manages to consume someone she thought was the Sage. However, Mido had lied, and made her consume Mirora instead.

This would prove to be a fatal mistake, as Saria, under the instructions of Kasuto, managed to imprison the sage inside a veridian crystal. Said crystal was then given to the Huskus for protection, and the remaining Gohma scattered.

A Gohma Queen is later seen by Akazoo Vapith, nested inside the empty home of a Hylian child named Agitha who lost her parents during the Gerudo Wars. This would lead her to get infested by the Gohma and become part of their hivemind at a later point.

The Return of Sulkaris
Unsatisfied with the way they were rewarded after the Gerudo Wars, Akazoo and the Sheikah Azrily, sided with the Gohma using Agitha. This way, they'd buy themselves some time to prepare for their eventual spread and find a way to survive them.

Known Gohma and Infested

 * Iemanis (originator)
 * Matriarch
 * Sulkaris
 * Mido
 * Agitha

List of Appearances

 * The Fallen Sage (First appearance - Opponent)
 * Resurgence (Opponent)
 * Forest Fire (Opponent)
 * Of Princess and Portents (Playable/Ally)
 * The Blight Awakens (Playable)
 * Shattered Sanctuary (Playable)
 * Consuming Airu (Playable)
 * The Knight in Green (Opponent)
 * Day of the Arachnids (Opponent)
 * To Kill a Sage (Opponent)
 * The Cleansing (Opponent)
 * Escape from Death Mountain (Opponent)
 * Unholy Alliance (Ally)
 * Skyfall (Opponent)
 * Sulkaris Showdown (Opponent)
 * The Covenant (Last appearance - Opponent)