Spoiler Theory On Master Kohga Backstory

[Triforce wielder]

Ok so I was just wondering if Master Kohga, the leader of the Yiga Clan in Breath of the Wild, could possibly be the child of Impa. My evidence to prove this is that Paya, Impa's granddaughter, doesn't appear to have any parents, and is instead taken care of by Impa. Also Kohga was once a member of the Sheikah tribe, and is a major character, much like Impa. He also is very well liked and respected by his followers, much like Impa is by her's. And even if it hasn't been proved o be true or untrue, it is still a cool thing to think about. Maybe I'll use it in a fanfic or something?

Tell me what you think.

 

[Azure Sage]

It's more likely that Paya's parents are simply dead. I think if Impa's son was the leader of the Yiga Clan she or Paya would bring that up in some way. Honestly there's no real evidence here, just circumstantial speculation, and the idea of Kohga being Paya's father really does not sit right with me. Especially when you consider he's probably been in the Yiga all his life and would have brought Paya into them as well if she were his daughter.

 

[Triforce wielder]

It's more likely that Paya's parents are simply dead. I think if Impa's son was the leader of the Yiga Clan she or Paya would bring that up in some way. Honestly there's no real evidence here, just circumstantial speculation, and the idea of Kohga being Paya's father really does not sit right with me. Especially when you consider he's probably been in the Yiga all his life and would have brought Paya into them as well if she were his daughter.

It wouldn't make sense if he were in the Yiga all his life, as he was the one who founded it. It is even stated by the Yiga clansmen themselves. Also, maybe they don't mention it because the wish to forget about it? Or they think it will give them a bad reputation among the Sheikah and the rest of Hyrule's citizens?

 

[Azure Sage]

It wouldn't make sense if he were in the Yiga all his life, as he was the one who founded it. It is even stated by the Yiga clansmen themselves. Also, maybe they don't mention it because the wish to forget about it? Or they think it will give them a bad reputation among the Sheikah and the rest of Hyrule's citizens?

If he founded it, he would have to be around the same age as Impa, which would make being her son impossible.

 

[Triforce wielder]

If he founded it, he would have to be around the same age as Impa, which would make being her son impossible.

Not necessarily, as it never stated how long the Yiga clan has been around

 

[Azure Sage]

Not necessarily, as it never stated how long the Yiga clan has been around

Yes, it has. Impa's guards tell you it was formed when the Sheikah were shunned during the Great Calamity.

 

[Triforce wielder]

Which was 100 years before BOTW. And Impa appears to be more than 100 years old.

 

[Azure Sage]

Which was 100 years before BOTW. And Impa appears to be more than 100 years old.

Yes, which would put Kohga around the same age as her if he were the founder. Impa is implied to have been in her 20's or 30's when it happened because she was working at the castle with her sister Purah, who talks about it to Link if you ask her about Impa. If Kohga was her son, he would have to have been born either at the time of the Calamity or after it when she settled down in Kakariko, which is the more likely answer. A child could not found an entire clan.

 

[Fraxinus]

One thing that does bother me about the Yiga clan is that they're all adult men. I think it could have been really interesting, though a bit tragic, if we got to see children who were raised under the Yiga clan's influence. All the clan members seem to be original members who were there when Kohga established it (though, that's just an assumption), and that feels a little eh to me. Kakariko has young sheikah; why not have young yiga members? While, I'm skeptical about Paya having a direct connection to Kohga, it is pretty likely that he was some dominant figure of the Sheikah tribe prior to the calamity. Maybe not on Impa's level, but in order for a group of resentful sheikah to have gone under his command, he probably had their respect beforehand.

 

[Triforce wielder]

Yes, which would put Kohga around the same age as her if he were the founder. Impa is implied to have been in her 20's or 30's when it happened because she was working at the castle with her sister Purah, who talks about it to Link if you ask her about Impa. If Kohga was her son, he would have to have been born either at the time of the Calamity or after it when she settled down in Kakariko, which is the more likely answer. A child could not found an entire clan.

True. But he may have had another relation with Impa. I like to believe! Lol

One thing that does bother me about the Yiga clan is that they're all adult men. I think it could have been really interesting, though a bit tragic, if we got to see children who were raised under the Yiga clan's influence. All the clan members seem to be original members who were there when Kohga established it (though, that's just an assumption), and that feels a little eh to me. Kakariko has young sheikah; why not have young yiga members? While, I'm skeptical about Paya having a direct connection to Kohga, it is pretty likely that he was some dominant figure of the Sheikah tribe prior to the calamity. Maybe not on Impa's level, but in order for a group of resentful sheikah to have gone under his command, he probably had their respect beforehand.

That may be true. Good points .

 

[PalaeoJoe]

One thing that does bother me about the Yiga clan is that they're all adult men. I think it could have been really interesting, though a bit tragic, if we got to see children who were raised under the Yiga clan's influence. All the clan members seem to be original members who were there when Kohga established it (though, that's just an assumption), and that feels a little eh to me. Kakariko has young sheikah; why not have young yiga members? While, I'm skeptical about Paya having a direct connection to Kohga, it is pretty likely that he was some dominant figure of the Sheikah tribe prior to the calamity. Maybe not on Impa's level, but in order for a group of resentful sheikah to have gone under his command, he probably had their respect beforehand.

No, they are not all adult men.
First they are not all men, we see both male and female travelers who turn out to be Yiga. And the most common (and very first) one we see is a young women probably in her 20's or 30's. So, not all of them are even original members, some are quite young.
Secondly, all the Yiga we see are adults yes but those are just the ones we encounter. There could still be Yiga children even if very few. If so they are likely in an unseen location, either in a part of the main hideout that we cannot visit and is exceptionally well hidden or at a "nursery" site that is further from the main hideout. It is even possible that some Yiga are living among other surviving villages and raising their children separately.

 

[DragonEleven]

I've been suspicious about the Yiga for a while, and more so since I encountered Kohga.
Unlike the other members of the Yiga clan, he's flamboyant and clumsy... which doesn't really make sense if he is a Sheikah master, as they specialise in stealth.
Plus, his boulder-based attacks appear to be more akin to magic, rather than the science/illusions associated with the Sheikah in BotW.
If you look closely, it also appears that unlike the other members of the Yiga clan (who keep covered up while not in disguise), his skin is actually visible, and is quite dark, unlike the typically light skin of the Sheikah.
It's also implied that although formed by Sheikah defectors, not all of them are Sheikah, as they seem interested in recruiting anyone who will join... so what if Kohga himself isn't actually Sheikah? Do they actually say he's Sheikah, or is that just assumed?

Dark skin, magic user, flamboyant, lives in the desert, is after a Gerudo heirloom (which would otherwise seem of little use to the Yiga), and has sworn allegiance to Ganon... it just screams male Gerudo to me.
They're supposed to be born once every 100 years, so it seems strange than Ganondorf is the only once we've ever seen... especially since BotW gives us a 100 year time span since the calamity.
I've also noticed before now how the colours worn by the Yiga are actually fairly similar to those worn by Ganondorf in past games, which could also be a subtle hint.

 

[Dio]

I've been suspicious about the Yiga for a while, and more so since I encountered Kohga.
Unlike the other members of the Yiga clan, he's flamboyant and clumsy... which doesn't really make sense if he is a Sheikah master, as they specialise in stealth.
Plus, his boulder-based attacks appear to be more akin to magic, rather than the science/illusions associated with the Sheikah in BotW.
If you look closely, it also appears that unlike the other members of the Yiga clan (who keep covered up while not in disguise), his skin is actually visible, and is quite dark, unlike the typically light skin of the Sheikah.
It's also implied that although formed by Sheikah defectors, not all of them are Sheikah, as they seem interested in recruiting anyone who will join... so what if Kohga himself isn't actually Sheikah? Do they actually say he's Sheikah, or is that just assumed?

Dark skin, magic user, flamboyant, lives in the desert, is after a Gerudo heirloom (which would otherwise seem of little use to the Yiga), and has sworn allegiance to Ganon... it just screams male Gerudo to me.
They're supposed to be born once every 100 years, so it seems strange than Ganondorf is the only once we've ever seen... especially since BotW gives us a 100 year time span since the calamity.
I've also noticed before now how the colours worn by the Yiga are actually fairly similar to those worn by Ganondorf in past games, which could also be a subtle hint.

Kohga formed the clan 100 years ago. He will be around the same age as impa. So he is probably a bit senile which explains his constant napping and unusual behaviour.

There are also other eccentric Sheikah such as Purah and Dr Robbie.

 

[Azure Sage]

First they are not all men, we see both male and female travelers who turn out to be Yiga. And the most common (and very first) one we see is a young women probably in her 20's or 30's. So, not all of them are even original members, some are quite young.

Disguised Yiga are not their true faces, they disguise themselves using the appearance of legitimate travelers you meet throughout the world.

 

[DragonEleven]

Kohga formed the clan 100 years ago. He will be around the same age as impa. So he is probably a bit senile which explains his constant napping and unusual behaviour.

There are also other eccentric Sheikah such as Purah and Dr Robbie.

I don't know where the 100 years thing came from, but it never actually says when the Yiga Clan was formed... it implies that Sheikah started to defect following the Great Calamity 10,000 years before BotW, but the clan itself obviously wasn't formed until more recently.
Kohga has neither the physique nor the personality of an elderly Sheikah... the napping, like his belly, seems to just be lazyness... he seems more middle-aged at the most.
The only indication we get of how long the Yiga Clan has been about is Dorian... seeing as he has started a family since leaving the clan, we can assume it was formed more than 10 years before BotW.
If I had to guess, I'd say the clan was only formed around 20-30 years before BotW.