Darunia (Total War)

Darunia is the third Sage of Fire of Hyrule and a King of the Gorons.

Etymology
Darunia's name is likely derived from the Goron words darudar (unbreakable, indestructible) and uniag (blessed one).

Physical Appearance
Darunia is a large and powerfully built Goron. His skin is of light tan and his eyes glow red and pink. He is characterized by a snow white beard and hair on his head. He often wears red tinted armor, even when it is not necessary.

Powers and Abilities
Darunia was given the ability to control and manipulate heat, most commonly through the use of fire and explosives. Despite his Sage abilities, Darunia places great emphasis on and prizes his physical strength over them. He would often prefer to punch his enemies in a fight rather than burn them.

Personality
Darunia is a hot headed, impatient, and easily angered individual. His friends simply consider him fun but loud and boisterous, while his enemies consider him an unreasonable and violent beast. Darunia is notable for his loyalty and treating debts seriously, both those made to him and those he made to others. He is very generous to his own kind and his allies. Dancing is one of his favorite hobbies.

History


Rise of Ganon
Darunia serves as the chief taskmaster of Dakkon, the incumbent Sage of Fire, emperor of the Volvagians and Death Mountain shortly before the Rise of Ganon. In 0 AG the Moblin King Ganon approaches Dakkon and attempts to convince him to betray the Hylians in exchange for rulership over much of Hyrule. While he initially declines, Ganon's bravado and bluffs impress him so much that he becomes willing to take the risk of rebellion. Dakkon sides with Ganon, and orders his forces to allow tham passage into the Fire Temple. When Darunia and the Gorons under his command reject the order Dakkon attacks and bites Darunia, poisoning him.

Soon after Princess Nylin Zelda I arrives on Death Mountain with her armies and orchestrates an alliance with Darunia and the Gorons. Dakkon attempts to defend the Fire Temple but is injured by Darunia in battle. With many of his fellow Volvagians slain and injured, Dakkon flees Death Mountain across Hyrule and into the Gerudo Desert. Soon after Darunia becomes Sage of Fire and Dakkon's powers begins to slowly dwindle. As promised by Princess Zelda, Darunia and the Gorons are freed and left to take control of Death Mountain.

The Gerudo Wars
In 100 AG, when the Zora Dominion threaten to invade Death Mountain, Darunia plans to lure them to the Dodongo's Cavern in order to show the Dodongos of this new threat and force them into an alliance. The Zora fall into the trap, and assaults Dodongo's Cavern, but the Gorons close in and help the Dodongos defeat the Zora, before Darunia proposes an alliance to King Dodongo. King Dodongo accepts, and the two races set up a defensive network along the mountain canyons.

King Farkos of the Zora eventually gives the order to march into Goron territory, and his forces clash with Darunia's and King Dodongo's. During the battle King Dodongo is slain, but Darunia is still able to confront and challenge King Farkos to a duel. Despite having to fight on foot against King Farkos and his battlecrab mount, Darunia ultimately dismounts the Zora king and crushes his skull with a warhammer, bringing an end to the Zora invasion of Death Mountain.

Darunia then decides to launch an invasion of the Zora Dominion in order to end their threat once and for all. However, he only finds the smoking ruins of Domain Prime and countless Zora and Twili corpses where the Zora capital has been. Darunia tells King Farkos' daughter Princess Ruto of her father's defeat and death before turning back to Death Mountain.

With Death Mountain's safety assured, Darunia decides it's the time for the Gorons to pay their debt with the Hylians when they were freed from slavery by Princess Zelda I a century earlier. Darunia leads his forces to follow the Hylians, who are marching west to free the young Princess Oraiya Zelda IV from Vaati, finally catching up with them at Ontheon, capital of the Darknut Legion where Vaati hides. The Hylian general Kazakk wishes he had come to their aid two years past when Hyrule Castle was attacked by Ganondorf, but Darunia reminds Kazakk to be thankful that the Gorons decided to show up at all.

With the aid of Darunia's forces the Hylians are able to defeat the Darknut Legion and help the newly-freed Sage of Spirits Yaraxonal to kill Vaati, drawing the Gerudo Wars to a close.

Second Golden Age
Darunia and his people enjoy a very brief time of peace until Death Mountain violently erupts in 130 AG, killing many Gorons, destroying the Fire Temple and several Goron cities. The heat of the mountain soon withdraws, and the winters grow longer and colder. Many Gorons leave the Death Mountain range, but Darunia stubbornly remains behind until he is alone. Sometime around 150 AG Darunia uses his sage powers to create the golem Jarfasi. They live in solitude for several decades until they witness the Gohma invasion of Hyrule Castle.

The Return of Sulkaris
Darunia pledges his services to Princess Zelda V and aids in attacking the Gohma Grand Hive in 161 AG. After their victory against Sulkaris, Darunia travels with Zelda to Lanayru Province. Soon after his arrival the Oocca descend from the heavens and begin an assault on Hyrule, seeking Link and the False Goddess Hylia. Darunia defends the city of Airu, and then sets out to find Saria with the other Sages after she refused to answer their call. Soon the Sages come after Saria but find her lost to rage. Saria begins spawning hate filled abominations with her powers and the Sages are forced to battle their way through the hordes. Eventually they manage to suppress her.

With the threat of another Oocca attack and all the Sages gathered, Darunia ascends with five other Sages to the Sky Cities to find Demoko and rescue Link. There he works with rebellious Oocca forces to confront Demoko, free Link, and put an end to the invading Oocca.

Darunia then sets out to find where his people had left to after the eruption of Death Mountain. With the mountain range steadily getting warmer, it is his hope that he could convince his people to return and rebuild the Goron empire.

A Tale of Two Swords
Darunia is called by the other Sages after Majora began its attack on Hyrule. Darunia marches with the Goron army to Hyrule Field, where they meet up with Hylian, Zora and Kokiri forces to strike at Majora. Darunia and the Gorons participate in the assault of Hyrule Castle and are successful in defeating Majora. Their work complete, Darunia becomes king of the Gorons again and re-establishes their empire on Death Mountain. He feels that he could no longer uphold his Sage duties, and grants the newly awakened Sage Laruto the right to pass on his title if she finds one worthy to replace him.

Bodyguard
Ruby Guards

Hero Power
Wrath of Maphaeus: Flames spew forth from Darunia, causing enemy units to suffer a morale penalty while your units gain a morale bonus.