A lot of the races in Eorzea can fall into a big old melting pot, but if we're talking Gyr Abanian stock, I've noticed that most of the Ala Mhigan Highlanders in game speak in short sentences, and are always to the point. This isn't a MUST of course, but it helps add a little flavor. For example:
Someone may say: "You don't have to do it this way of course, but it adds a little flavor."
Yon Ala Mhigan Highlander may say: "You don't have to do it like this. It adds flavor."
A great example is the NPC from the Monk storyline, who literally grunts everything to your character. That's just one option! There are fluent and well spoken Ala Mhigans, ones with street accents ("Ain't nothin' here for ye but a knife in the gut."), but the one thing I see them all share in common is how to the point they are. They don't beat around the bush much.
Highlanders...at least the Gyr Abanian stock have a very ah...interesting history with the rest of the world. One hundred years prior to the game's time bubble they attempted to invade Gridania, one of the main city-states in game. They were pressing the Gridanians so hard that the other three city states had to unite and push them back. It was called the Autumn war, and is the source of a LOT of historical tension between the Highlanders of Ala Mhigo and the populations of the other city-states. Most don't even care anymore, but there are always people who hold onto grudges of old history.
With the fall of Ala Mhigo, they were laid pretty low, and when they once invaded, they sought refuge in both Gridania/The Black Shroud and Ul'Dah. Gridania has refused a great many of them because of the will of the Elementals, who have deemed the some of the former invaders as enemies of the forest. The people who mediate between them have stated that it's more for the safety of the Ala Mhigans than anything else (since the elementals would harm them without hesitation).Â
In the case of Ul'Dah...having a bunch of dirty refugees pulling a significant portion of the city-state's resources doesn't at all fare well for the coin-loving denizens of the capital of commerce. If a refugee isn't willing to work to earn his keep, he's generally looked down on. There's a lot of displaced Ala Mhigans throughout the zone -- even a place called Little Ala Mhigo where some of the resistance have set up camp! Their living conditions are horrible, however.
As a result, there are resentful highlanders, determined highlanders, highlanders who have lost hope, highlanders who have turned to crime, highlanders who are fighting tooth and nail to make it, and highlanders who will do anything if it means that their people can take back their city someday. Of course there's also who have perfectly integrated into whatever culture they landed in. It's a lot to choose from! For each sort of highlander there are people who treat them differently. You have a lot of wiggle room to work with, even with semi-barbarian mountainmanhood (FOR THE WIN).
Someone may say: "You don't have to do it this way of course, but it adds a little flavor."
Yon Ala Mhigan Highlander may say: "You don't have to do it like this. It adds flavor."
A great example is the NPC from the Monk storyline, who literally grunts everything to your character. That's just one option! There are fluent and well spoken Ala Mhigans, ones with street accents ("Ain't nothin' here for ye but a knife in the gut."), but the one thing I see them all share in common is how to the point they are. They don't beat around the bush much.
Highlanders...at least the Gyr Abanian stock have a very ah...interesting history with the rest of the world. One hundred years prior to the game's time bubble they attempted to invade Gridania, one of the main city-states in game. They were pressing the Gridanians so hard that the other three city states had to unite and push them back. It was called the Autumn war, and is the source of a LOT of historical tension between the Highlanders of Ala Mhigo and the populations of the other city-states. Most don't even care anymore, but there are always people who hold onto grudges of old history.
With the fall of Ala Mhigo, they were laid pretty low, and when they once invaded, they sought refuge in both Gridania/The Black Shroud and Ul'Dah. Gridania has refused a great many of them because of the will of the Elementals, who have deemed the some of the former invaders as enemies of the forest. The people who mediate between them have stated that it's more for the safety of the Ala Mhigans than anything else (since the elementals would harm them without hesitation).Â
In the case of Ul'Dah...having a bunch of dirty refugees pulling a significant portion of the city-state's resources doesn't at all fare well for the coin-loving denizens of the capital of commerce. If a refugee isn't willing to work to earn his keep, he's generally looked down on. There's a lot of displaced Ala Mhigans throughout the zone -- even a place called Little Ala Mhigo where some of the resistance have set up camp! Their living conditions are horrible, however.
As a result, there are resentful highlanders, determined highlanders, highlanders who have lost hope, highlanders who have turned to crime, highlanders who are fighting tooth and nail to make it, and highlanders who will do anything if it means that their people can take back their city someday. Of course there's also who have perfectly integrated into whatever culture they landed in. It's a lot to choose from! For each sort of highlander there are people who treat them differently. You have a lot of wiggle room to work with, even with semi-barbarian mountainmanhood (FOR THE WIN).
![[Image: tumblr_ojgu7zoaag1robwlio1_540.png]](https://68.media.tumblr.com/80be4033cdf57fb6268473ef9ce37db6/tumblr_ojgu7zoaag1robwlio1_540.png)
