Category: Lore & Theories

  • Warrior of Light

    The Title of an Eorzean Hero.

    In game, there are the warriors of light from prior to the Calamity. These people were usually the players themselves. And then post-Calamity, there is only one Warrior of Light bestowed with gifts from the Mothercrystal.

    For the purposes of the stories written here, the definition of Warrior of Light is going to be rewritten. In the world of Hydalean, mostly everyone is born with various “normal” skills. Some people become more skilled in something than someone else. The “aetheric” races such as Hyur, Miqo’te, Lalafell, and more have skills with the ability to manipulate magic. Garleans are more inclined towards magitek and conventional sciences. Roegaden and Hrothgar are stronger than the other races, but not lacking in average intelligence compared to the other races. Lalafells are usually more inclined to business and such but they don’t lack the ability to participate in magic or magitek or even the martial arts. Overall, there is a average or normalcy to the abilities to all people.

    Once in a while, an individual is born with or given extraordinary abilities. Enhanced strength, intelligence, dexterity, reaction and speed, aetheric manipulation, so forth. Zenos yae Galvus was one such individual. Louisoix Leveilleur was another. Most individuals will go on to become adventurers or follow some other “unique” paths, such as villianry or become ruler of a region. (Important: Not all adventurers must or will exhibit extraordinary skills. Many are still very strong and capable, but not extraordinary.)

    In Eorzea, any individual that is born with extraordinary skills and later goes on to serve and protect the realm or due to another set of altruistic events is usually called by society a Warrior of Light. This is not an official title but something usually given by the citizens or leaders of Eorzea in recognition of the individual’s deeds. The qualifications are usually extraordinary skills and service. Although there have been a few exceptions to the rule, purely for honorary purposes.

    Of course, this has lead to some abuse of the title, but the citizens of Eorzea are the ones who will acknowledge the use. Anyone who has not served the interests the realm or mankind will not be recognized as such by the people. Since the title is completely unofficial, the individual can make claim to it, but it will mean nothing without the deeds behind. And they will usually be mocked or disregarded.

    While Zenos was endowed with great power and ability, he would not qualify as a Warrior of Light.
  • Miqo’te Lore

    Seekers of the Sun Family Structure

    It’s common knowledge that the traditional structure of the Seeker society is divided up into different tribes. There are 26 major tribes with a few smaller tribes with variations on the “prefixes”. Within each tribe are several nunh. Only the smaller tribes have a single nunh, while larger tribes all have several.

    The modern use of the title nunh is more or less self designated. A male miqo’te can call himself nunh, but it doesn’t mean much unless you have the means and reputation to back it up. [In comparison to a western Earthly life, a person can start a corporation and give themselves the title of “CEO”. But it doesn’t mean anything until you’ve put the work in, so to speak.] The title of nunh is more of a indicator that he is willing to take on the responsibilities associated with taking on female miqo’te as mates and caring for the family group. A nunh becomes completely devoted to the welfare of his group.

    What is also lesser know is that it’s the women of the tribe who choose the nunh, despite the outcome between two males. The older tradition of two males battling for the title of nunh over a group of women can be performed, but if the women are not impressed by things like cheating, or the males history, or something else, they can refuse to accept the “winning” male as their nunh. In some rare cases, the women may end up splitting the group if not everyone agrees. But this is usually avoided at all costs because this is a family unit. In a traditional marriage, this would be the equivalent of a divorce and dividing up the assets and custody of the children.

    The traditional method of becoming nunh was usually by mutual combat with a current nunh. While this does continue to happen on occasion, this is archaic and other means of competition have become popular. Land or property rights is common or even wealth or power. Most of the time, competitors are usually found within tribe from other tias. Tias are also known to be devoted to the family group, even if they’re not the breeding male.

    There have been some interesting stories involving these kind of competitions for dominance. But as mentioned before, it’s the women who decide who their next nunh will be, not the men. Sometimes there have been no loss of nunh but simply a reorganization, possibly with a newly created nunh. As long it serves the family groups and tribe.

    Miqo’te In Tural Family Structure

    In Eorzea, the female Miqo’te outnumber the male Miqo’te approximately 15 to 1. Many travelers and adventurers have noticed that in some parts of the world such as Tural, the numbers appear to be even split ratio. This is not true.

    In Eorzea, the Seekers with both male and female, are more often devoted to the family unit and the tribe, so the observer will see the 15:1 ratio. In Keeper tribes, females tend to be more devoted to maintaining the family with the males occasionally becoming involved.

    In Tural, the female Miqo’te will usually leave their “tribes” or family groups while the males stay. Females will usually rotate with other females in the family, not with any sort of structure or organization. But as some females “come home”, others may feel compelled to see the world or provide a financial support for the group by working with the outside. So you rarely see the true ratio of female to male together with the family groups. Some male Miqo’te will also strike out too, but less often than the females.

    Miqo’te Biology

    Miqo’te, similar to the padjal of the Black Shroud, do not appear to age. However, health-wise, physically, and mentally, the Miq’ote do experience old age the same as the other races. Their appearance simply remains adult-like youthful for their entire lives. It’s usually only through their dress attire or demeanor that one can know their true age.

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    [Tailored for stories locally]

  • Aetherytes

    [Based on “canon” but not strictly. Used for local stories.]

    Most citizens of Eorzea have some potential aptitude in the use of aether and magic. Just like all skills, it varies from person to person. There are very few races which lack any ability to manipulate either, such as the Garleans.

    However, while aetherytes are widely available across Eorzea and the rest of Hydalean, not everyone is capable of using them. Only those individuals with a high aptitude in aetheric manipulation are capable of attuning to them and then teleporting across long distances like this. This is why most people in the stories will travel by using traditional means despite the availability of an aetheryte.

    This is also related to inability to teleport large items to an attuned aetheryte. There are theories, such as an aether bubble which only fits around the user. This may explain why the user floats before teleporting.