(09-18-2015, 03:29 PM)ceramic_shrooms Wrote: I've been trying to find more lore about them however, I haven't had any luck finding info about some things.
Lore on the Keepers of the Moon is about as scarce as their population in Eorzea, unfortunately, although, as you can see so far from this thread there are several of us who've chronicled a few things we've found.
I have started a compilation post of Racial Lore and Background that you may find helpful! It also details a brief overview of the history of race wars prominent in the Sixth Astral Era. But I figure'd I'd quote the section of Keeper Miqo'te below for easy access.
(07-02-2015, 04:57 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: The Miqo'te are a race which migrated to Eorzea during the Age of Endless Frost, or 5th Umbral Era Calamity, which occurred roughly 3,000 years ago. We now have confirmed that the Miqo'te originally inhabited the southern continent of Meracydia and left that war and famine-ravaged land north in hopes of food. 26 Tribes of Seekers and 50 Keeper Families made the journey into Eorzea across the frozen Rhotano Sea.
We know very little about Meracydia, only that it's northern region is a desert, with mountainous highlands to the south. It was also home to Lamia and Dragons, and 5,000 years ago, was at war with the Allagan Empire. Fishing lore suggests that some amount of trade between Meracydia and Limsa Lominsa still exists to this day, but to what extent is unknown. However, Lominsan sailors and fishermen have been known to travel south that way.
Quote:Mahi-Mahi
Its name meaning "stalwart" in the Lalafellin tongue, this deep-sea predator is not only massive, but deceptively fast. Some sailors swear that a mahi-mahi can make the journey from Meracydia to the Cieldalaes in less than a fortnight, though knowing most sailors, that claim may be slightly exaggerated.DAT Files Wrote:It is believed the Miqo'te first came to Eorzea during the Fifth Umbral Era, fleeing their ravaged homeland on the southern continent of Meracydia.Sesame Seeds Wrote:A tiny seed rich in aromatic oil, sesame is native to Meracydia, and thought to have first been brought to Eorzea by migrating Miqo'te.Aloe Wrote:A thick, spiny-leaved cactus indigenous to the southern continent of Meracydia. The Miqo'te are known to treat severe burns with the cool gel-like substance found inside the leaves.
Miqo'te Naming Conventions
Lodestone Wrote:Though their presence in Eorzea is lesser than that of the other races, the Miqo'te are easily distinguished by their large, projecting ears and restless, feline tails. The ancestors of this line first made their way to the realm during the Age of Endless Frost in the Fifth Umbral Era, traversing frozen seas in pursuit of the wildlife upon which they subsisted. Instinctual territoriality causes many among them to lead solitary lifestyles. Males in particular are said to shy from contact with others.
1.0 Lodestone Wrote:The ancestors of the Miqo'te made their way to Eorzea during the Age of Endless Frost, traversing the frozen seas in pursuit of the wildlife upon which they subsisted. Adaptation to a hunting lifestyle has fashioned them with a keen sense of smell, powerful legs, and a tail which provides them with exceptional balance. Miqo'te are known to be very territorial, and many individuals tend to lead solitary lifestyles, particularly males. The few Miqo'te who have made the transition to life in Eorzean society are predominantly female.
Archer Lodestone Description Wrote:The enduring popularity of the bow is a testament to its elegant design, but this simple weapon would be of little worth without the surpassing skill of those who master it - the archers. Projectile techniques such as high-angle fire enable archers to assail their foes with deadly precision even at great distances.
Constant assessment of the battlefield enables them to carefully determine the most advantageous ground from which to loose, as well as the nature of the arrows best suited to their enemy. Together with the longbow sentries of the Elezen military, the shortbow hunters among the Miqo'te are widely regarded as most skilled with the bow. The guild's teachings cover a variety of projectile weapons, down to the simplest throwing rock.
Miqo'te and Alchemy Wrote:The nature of the alchemical trade demands that its practitioners have intimate knowledge of all facets of existence, be they mineral, metaphysical, magical, or divine. Able to transmute the very essence of matter, alchemists are able to create anything from miracle medications to lethal toxins.
The craft's establishment as a tradition in Eorzea dates only to recent history. It was born primarily of ancient techniques and knowledge brought from the Near East, but has come to contain elements of Lalafellin herbalism and Miqo'te occultism as well. The primary tool of the alchemist is the alembic.
Keepers of the Moon
Lodestone Wrote:The nocturnal among the Miqo'te have dubbed themselves the Keepers of the Moon. Shying from the garish light of day, they revel in the shroud of night, with most offering their piety to Menphina the Lover, goddess of the moon. Their tradition of hunting in the thick woodlands of the Black Shroud have for years thrown them into conflict with the forestfolk of Gridania, who condemn them as poachers. Of late, however, many Keepers of the Moon have found some small peace with the Gridanians, and taken to living within the city.
1.0 Lodestone Wrote:The nocturnal among the Miqo'te have dubbed themselves the Keepers of the Moon. Shying from the garish light of day, they revel in the shroud of night, with most offering their piety to Menphina the Lover, goddess of the moon. They are distinguishable from their diurnal cousins by their darker fur, larger ears, rounder eyes, more pronounced canines, and longer, skinnier tails. The ritual application of war paint to the face is still regularly practiced, as it is believed the vivid colors grant lunar powers. The Keepers are known for their reticent and brooding personalities, but are also respected and sometimes feared for their tenacity.
Prosperlain Wrote:The Keepers of the Moon are the more numerous of the two Miqo'te clans you will see here in Gridania. Even so, their kind are few enough, as many and more care not for life in the city.
They have the characteristic feline eyes and long swaying tails and I daresay that in comparison to the Seekers of the Sun, they tend to be a bit more reticent and reserved. Time was, our own Gods' Quiver used to clash with the Keepers that were out hunting in the Twelveswood. But these days we deal with them friendly enough, trading what crops and hides are to be had.
Muah Lihzeh Wrote:The men of the Keepers of the Moon live a wanderer's life, for they are at their best in small doses. Women and children keep the hearth, ply various trades, and accept game and visits from the menfolk. But King Poach denies women this gods-given rule over matters of family. He forces women to live with him, forbids them to see their sisters, mothers, aunts. Most unnaturally, they lie with him and him alone! So terrible are their crimes that all Keepers of the Moon feel the suspicion and fear cast their way.
Thunderbolt Sculpin Wrote:A rare freshwater fish decorated with a thunderbolt-like pattern down its back. The Keepers of the Moon who inhabit the Black Shroud will eat one of these before a big hunt, claiming that it grants them speed and strength.
Fernehalwes Wrote:There are many Keeper of the Moon family names that have been passed down through the generations.
The ones you see in-game represent some of the more prominent families that once crossed the frozen seas into Eorzea in search for prey. That does not mean that these are all the names available. There are some families who have chosen to live more secluded lives, and simply have not made an appearance in-game yet. There are also the families who remained in their homeland, or emigrated to lands other than Eorzea.
So, when creating a character, you are free to take the surname of an existing family, and inherit their history, or choose a yet-to-be-released surname, and build a new history.
A full list of canon Keeper surnames can be found here!
A few people have already delved into your individual questions but I'll see if I can take a crack at them as well.
(09-18-2015, 03:29 PM)ceramic_shrooms Wrote: Are there any specific outfits they wear, colors etc.? Could I pull off the current outfit in an RP setting?
Not specifically, and outfits may very well vary greatly between families. We do have this statement though:
Quote:The ritual application of war paint to the face is still regularly practiced, as it is believed the vivid colors grant lunar powers.So, vivid colors may also be worn on a day to day or as ceremonial garb? Many Keepers of the Moon are woodsmen and foragers, so outfits that play to that may also be acceptable. Keepers also culturally worship Menphina, the moon, who's goddess is aspected as ice, so pale colors, blues, and whites may also be acceptable.
(09-18-2015, 03:29 PM)ceramic_shrooms Wrote: Keepers are known to live in the Shroud and are at conflict with Gridanians, but some also live in peace with them by adapting. Does anyone care to explain this a little more in depth?
Many Keepers within the Twelveswood live by their hunter/gatherer roots. However, in most places of the Twelveswood, unsanctioned poaching is illegal which causes some conflict. Gridanian law demands that nothing be taken in excess from the Wood and that which you take must be returned in some manner.
Another problem that has arisen is the Couerlclaw Poachers, which is a violent gang of Keepers who've abandoned traditional Keeper culture to follow a rather tyrannical "king." The gang's initiation rite is to kill a Wood Wailer, which obviously puts them with some contention with Gridania. These actions reflect poorly on many peaceful Keeper of the Moon families who wish to live in peace with the Wood and its other denizens.
(09-18-2015, 03:29 PM)ceramic_shrooms Wrote: If they live out in the wild, do Keeper clans join together or do they remain separate, keeping their numbers small?
From the Miqo'te Naming Conventions Thread:
Miqo'te Naming Conventions Wrote:The Keepers of the Moon lead more solitary lives, rarely forming communities of more than two or three families.
(09-18-2015, 03:29 PM)ceramic_shrooms Wrote: Where in the Shroud they would make a home? Is there any specific area they tend to go toward?
Many Keepers of the Moon we see in game gravitate to South Shroud near Quarrymill as this land is designated hunting grounds and fewer incidents of poaching crimes come to bear against their traditional lifestyle.
Charline Wrote:Quarrymill was named for the waterwheels that served to process raw stone into building material. Over the years, it has come to be a gathering place for hunters and trappers, owing to its location amidst elemental-sanctioned hunting grounds. Quarrymill is also a place of judgement. All outsiders who wish to dwell in the Twelveswood must present themselves here to have their worthiness weighed by the elementals. Those whose petition is denied cannot remain in the wood, nor can they receive of its bounty. Harsh though it may seem, this has been the way of it since time immemorial.
045 Vista Record Wrote:South Shroud Landing
Constructed by Highwind Skyways to serve as a landing for cargo airships, this location was quickly abandoned when the imperial presence in the area became too large to ignore. Now the site is used as a makeshift market where bandits and poachers peddle their ill-gotten wares far from the eyes of the law.
This does not mean that there aren't Keepers elsewhere! Many Keepers have integrated into Gridanian city life, while others live elsewhere in the Black Shroud, possibly in deeper regions. Keepers of the Moon can also canonically be found in Ul'dah, Limsa Lominsa, Coerthas, and Dravania. Though we don't have access to the area, it's highly likely that there are many Keeper families living in the Orn Wild, a dense forest similar to the Black Shroud in the northern Farreach region.
034 Vista Record Wrote:The Orn Wild
A primeval forest that stretches across the northern reaches of the Dravanian hinterlands, its rich verdure sustained by the pristine waters of the Thaliak. Nigh untouched by the hand of man, its wilds stand between those who would make their way to Sharlayan without braving a trek across the forelands.
(09-18-2015, 03:29 PM)ceramic_shrooms Wrote: What exactly are their views on outsiders/other races? Are they very racist/avoiding contact with them or are they rather open toward other races? Are they open to making acquaintances/friends with others or heavily limit it to their family?
This likely varies by the individual, but generally, Keepers lead more insular lifestyles, preferring to stick to family units or small groups. This does not mean they cannot make friends with outsiders, as we see several instances of Keeper of the Moon adventurers, merchants, and others in positions of various militaries across Eorzea, including Gridania's Wood Wailers and Limsa Lominsa's Knights of the Barracuda.
As far as racism is concerned, per lore, most of the races tend to not like other races. The Sixth Astral Era was famous for vicious race wars and even heated clan divisions. It's only in more recent years that most of the races and city-states have been forced to put aside their differences and live in an awkward harmony in order to resist threats to their lifestyle.
The Waning of the Sixth Sun Wrote:Rise of the City States - (Year 400~1000)
Four hundred summers removed from the great deluge, Eorzea's population finally begins to experience a resurgence. Immigrants from islands beyond the Bloodbrine Sea, as well as the eastern continents of Othard and Ilsabard arrive in Aldenard in droves. Three great migratory waves of Hyur also inflict irreversible change on Eorzea's population distribution.
Racial tension hits its peak at this time, with individual races seen gravitating to certain city-states to escape persecution - the Elezen to Ishgard in the highlands of Coerthas; the Lalafell to Belah'dia in the deserts of Thanalan; and the Roegadyn to Limsa Lominsa on the island of Vylbrand. However, even this was not without its problems. It is only a matter of years before clan-based infighting between the Plainsfolk and Dunesfolk Lalafell result in the fall of Belah'dia and its bifurcation into two new city-states, Ul'dah and Sil'dih.
That is not to say, however, that the period was devoid of racial harmony. Their banishment from the Twelveswood by the spirits of the forest works to strengthen the bonds between the Hyur and Elezen living in the Black Shroud, ultimately leading to their joint establishment of the underground city of Gelmorra.
Hope this helps! ^^
