Sounsyy's Lore Compilation
Au Ra
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Au Ra Tribe Lore and Naming Conventions
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Encyclopedia Eorzea
Auri creation myth tells of a world formed by the Dawn Father Azim and the Dusk Mother Nhaama. These two deities came to quarrel over which should rule the new world, and created mortals to serve as soldiers in their war by proxy. These were the first Au Ra - the Raen, children of the Dawn Father, and the Xaela, the chosen of Dusk Mother. Though they waged a bitter struggle in the name of their creators, they eventually put aside their differences and learned to love one another, giving birth to a new generation. On seeing this, Azim and Nhaama returned to the heavens, leaving the world below in the custody of their children.
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3.0 Lodestone
The curved horns and beautifully patterned scales that characterize the Au Ra oft give rise to speculation that this Hyur-like race native to the Far Eastern continent of Othard are, in fact, the progeny of dragons. This, however, has long been disputed, with scholars citing several distinct differences in the two races as evidence of decidedly dissimilar roots - the first and foremost being the enhanced hearing and spatial recognition granted by an Au Ra's cranial projections (traits not attributed to draconian horns), and the second being the gross disproportion in body mass between Auri males and females (again, a trait widely unseen in dragons).
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Encyclopedia Eorzea
Possessed of a strong self-preservation instinct, the Au Ra believe in protecting tribe and family, though the means by which the two clans choose to do so diverges greatly. The Raen coexist peacefully with other races to ensure the safety of their own land, while the fiercely tribal Xaela shun relations with other races, even viewing strangers of their own kind as potential enemies. As such, the former are viewed favorably by the outside world, while the latter are typically regarded with suspicion and hostility.
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Encyclopedia Eorzea
Most unique and striking among the traditional dress of the Au Ra are their belts, which feature prominent scale-shaped patterns. Inspired by the hardened skin of the Au Ra themselves, they symbolize health and vitality. While the sleeve appear as if they have been indiscriminately ripped apart, this too is an age-old tradition meant to evoke an air of rugged strength.
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Wind-Up Odin
Many have pondered why a Dark Divinity with roots in northern mythology would wield a blade with a decidedly Far Eastern name. A popular theory is that Odin acquired the blade upon slaying an Auri warrior who was the first ever to notch his theretofore unsullied plate.
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Fernehalwes
I just wanted to pop in and give a tiny update on the Au Ra. I'm still not allowed to reveal a lot (under punishment of defenestration...and we're on the 18th floor), but here are three things I can tell you:
1. What is the official pronunciation of Au Ra again?
Those of you who've already seen the Fan Fes videos will probably already know, but it's always good to have something in writing somewhere, just in case. Despite the similarity in spelling Au Ra does not sound like "aura." The official pronunciation is Au=Ow (as in "ou"ch) Ra=Raw (as in WWE sushi).
2. Hyur is Hyuran. Lalafell is Lalafellin. What on Earth Hydaelyn is the adjectival form of Au Ra?
This one's a little special. Instead of just tacking an 'n' to the end of Ra, the term takes on a slight metamorphosis. Au Ra -> Auri (pronounced Ow-ree, rhymes with Maori). Example: "An Auri warrior can eat a whole turkey in a single sitting."
3. When are we going to get a naming guide!? I need to start thinking of what I'm going to call the new character I roll in June!
The naming rules for both clans have been finalized and work is being done fleshing out the lore behind it all. Things will be somewhat similar to what was done with the Hyur (drawing from historic names) but the with the regional and linguistic roots being completely different. Surnames will also feature a special set of rules that can be followed to the T, or slightly modified if a player wants to be adventurous.
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2016 Fanfest Lore Panel
Fernehalwes: First, it's hard for a tail or horn to be removed. They don't periodically fall off like the horns of a deer do. They grow continuously until they reach a certain size and then they stop growing. They don't get super long. They stop growing at a certain point. Now if they're damaged, whether it be a fall or in battle (if an axe takes half of it off) then the horns will slowly regrow until they reach that maximum point again. The horns themselves are hollow and the vibration of sound within the horns aides the Au Ra in hearing. Now does that make their hearing better, than say a Lalafell who're supposed to have the best hearing of all the five Eorzean races? No, their hearing is about as good as a normal Hyur, it's just that they hear sound in a different way, and they process it differently. They're processing that vibration of the air that's within their horns.
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Fernehalwes
Now, as for how the Au Ra are regarded by others living in Eorzea, while there was racial tension in past ages, recently with the onset of the Age of Adventure and an influx in the amount of people of all races flocking to Eorzea, there truly isn’t any form of heavy discrimination towards the Au Ra (it also helps that because very few Au Ra ever visited Eorzea before, there is little deep-seated hate stemming from historical conflict). However, because they are new to Eorzea and there is much mystery surrounding them, a lot of native Eorzeans are still a bit wary (even if they don’t really know why).
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Encyclopedia Eorzea
On the steppes which they call home, the Xaela speak the old Auri tongue to this day. The Raen, however, having assimilated to Far Eastern culture, have adopted the common tongue of the Hyur. Their spoken language differs from that spoken in Eorzea, which leads many to perceive it as a slightly odd dialect.*
*This passage has caused some contention/misunderstandings and is addressed below in the
Languages of Hydaelyn post.
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Encyclopedia Eorzea
Most widely known among the Auri clans are the Raen and the Xaela. The Raen now make their homes in central Othard and the surrounding islands, where they have forged strong relations with the Hyur and other races, adapting readily to new cultures. The Xaela, on the other hand, live still today on the vast Azim Steppe, clinging tenaciously to their traditional, nomadic way of life.
Raen
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Lodestone
Auri creation myth tells of a Dawn Father and a Dusk Mother from whom all Au Ra are descended. The Raen believe their veins to run thick with the blood of the former─their brilliant white scales and iron wills serving as proof of this divine lineage.
Unlike their sister clan, the Xaela, who bloody the land with endless tribal conflict, the Raen have embraced a life of tranquility and solitude, long abandoning the nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors to settle the deep valleys of Othard's mountainous eastern reaches. Only on rare occasions will one emerge from the valley mists to seek adventure in realms afar.
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Fernehalwes
Now, whereas the Xaela are made up of dozens of small tribes lead by khans, the Raen are mostly stationary and live near Doma or in the Far Eastern islands across the sea from Doma. However, due to the invasion of Othard by the Garlean Empire, a lot of Raen have been displaced and now flock to areas where they can find safety—like Eorzea (as was the case with Yugiri).
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Encyclopedia Eorzea
Believing themselves the children of the Dawn Father, the forebears of the Raen left behind their homeland to settle across Othard. They were received with hatred and hostility by other races in the early years, until a prominent warlord of Yanxia, impressed with their valor, forged an alliance with the strange race and took them on as retainers. Before long, the Raen had assumed a prominent role as warriors in the service of countless great warlords. Some ventured across the sea to the Far East*, where they earned a reputation as legendary swordmasters.
*This last sentence doesn’t make a lot of sense, and has been noted in the
Lore Book Errata Thread for clarification.
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Encyclopedia Eorzea
The Au Ra are unique among Eorzea’s races in the extreme height disparity observed between genders. While male Au Ra can reach towering heights of over eighty ilms, females are short and slight, averaging no more than sixty. Their hardened skin and scaled tails, too, distinguish them clearly from other races. They take great pride in the majestic horns that protrude from the sides of their head, which also serve to enhance their hearing and sense of spatial perception.
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Encyclopedia Eorzea
The Raen have fully assimilated to the cultures of Doma and Hingashi, and live faithfully according to the regions' traditions. Perhaps owing to their heritage and the status they gained in the service of their warlords, they place particular importance on hierarchy and the master-servant relationship.