(06-01-2016, 07:34 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: Sidurgu is obviously an exception, being one of two known Xaela to come to Eorzea in the last 100 years and survive for more than a year.

(06-02-2016, 12:43 PM)allgivenover Wrote: Not directly related, but have you or anyone come across any explanation for why Xaela just... were totally absent from Eorzea? We're talking about a race of nomads that's existed for a very, very long time that somehow hasn't managed to make its way to Eorzea, a diverse land made up of immigrant populations.

Gamerescape Fanfest 2014 Interview Wrote:MCKF: Most of the races don’t really like each other and it”s gone on through multiple Eras. There are times when Eorzea has been more populated by one race over another and there will be conflict there. With the Hyur and Elezen, that’s very recent. In the sixth astral era, Elezen migrated in and in that era they were like “we’re the first ones here!” even though they weren’t, but they were the first at the beginning of the sixth astral era and they settled and of course the pesky Hyur who are everywhere come in and the Elezen are like “oh my god we left you that whole continent up there why are you here!” and the Lalafell come in and you have these cycles of clashing and moving part and that gets ingrained in their society and their racial cultures.

A: This kinda indirectly answers another question that came up about if the Hyur are such recent arrivals, how come they’re all the Allag we’ve seen. So that explains that if it’s a constant flux we may have just forgotten they were here.

MCKF: And you haven’t’ seen all the Allagans yet.

A: And if we’re going to look at the game mechanics as cannon they had outfits that fit all the races.

MCKF: You look at the Garleans and again, the Garleans are a different race, the pure-blood ones with the third eye. But when you look at the army they have people of all races because they go and subjugate a nation and tell people they can gain citizenship if you join our army and prove your worth. So that’s why you have so many soldiers that are Elezen, because all the real Garleans are back home ruling while their conscripts conquer the land, sometimes using the magic that they can’t.

Fernehalwes Wrote: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).

Wind-up Odin Wrote: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.

(06-02-2016, 01:40 PM)Valence Wrote: For all we know maybe Ilsabard is not connected either to Eorzea and Othard and Xaelas are just bad Sailors... Though it would make sense (it would even have to be) that sea contacts with eorzean ships would obviously have made them known at least to a few.. 

Gamerescape Lorecast #7 Wrote:East of Ala Mhigo, there’s a land-bridge leading into what has been identified only as Garlean territory. The other continents are oft spoken of, but in vague terms. Some interpreted the land-bridge as leading into Ilsabard, which both continues north but connects to Othard <pronouncing Othard as Oh-thard> in the east, while others have interpreted it as Othard itself, continuing east with Ilsabard connecting to it directly north. Can we clear that up?

KF: First, I want to clear up your pronunciation of Oth-ard.

A: Oh, no! <laughs>

KF: I don’t think we’ve ever really said it anywhere.

F: Funny that pronunciation comes up, back when we did that pronunciation thing you told us Dzemael was closer to Zay-mail but in Heavesnsward it’s ze-My-l.

KF: That‘s wrong! That is wrong! <laughing> I need to … go and burn … It’s Zay-mail!

A: Now that you mention it, though, when Gaius first lands in Vylbrand, the voiced guy does say Othard. It stuck in my head because in another language he says he’s from Rabanastre.

KF: Guess where Rabanastre iiis! <laughs> There’s also a line in the Japanese version where they name-drop Dalmasss—<throat clearing> It’s not in English, but that’s where it is and maybe someday we’ll be seeing some of <heavy throat clearing>. But yes, that land bridge connects directly to Ilsabard. You cannot get to Othard from there without going through Ilsabard. So there’s the land bridge and it goes into Islabard <emphatic hand gestures>.

A: That’s what I thought at first, but someone asked in the forums and I was like, “Actually, no, I can’t say for sure…” But I went back and watched this old panel and you were doing the same <laughing> hand gestures and I was like, “Oh, man, it could be.”

KF: They got mad at me! They were like, “Don’t do that thing with your hands, people are looking into that!” Nooo, they’re nooot. “Yes, they are!”

F: And that‘s the guy <points at Anwyll> Right here.

A: Speaking of! We finally did find the other thing there with the uh, the Demon Tome. The hidden vertical “Cthulhu Fhtagn”. Took a while, but we got it!

KF: Thank you! But, yeah, in the end, think of [Aldenard into Ilsabard] as like, a LEGO brick with another one stuck onto it.

(06-02-2016, 01:40 PM)Valence Wrote: I think it might well be like for the New World: it is explicitely stated that ships have interactions with it but the lore has yet to be expanded around it... It is there and we know that maybe some eorzeans have heard about what is there, but us the players dont know (yet?).

Gamerescape Lorecast #7 Wrote:Why do Mamool Ja warriors and mages look so different? This has been on my mind since XI!

KF: It’s because Mamool Ja is not a race, it’s a nation made up of multiple races. It’s like “American”. It was the same in XI. So there’s the New World in the west and there’s a nation made up of multiple races and there’s only two that we’ve seen that come to Eorzea to work as mercenaries.

A: These two are just closely related?

KF: Right.

A: Alright, that makes sense, ’cause <to Fusionx> Remember, XI, the uh, Mamool Ja Sahagin? Just regular old… it’s all comin’ back!

F: It’s all comin’ together! <laughs>

Mamook Pear Wrote:A bitter fruit found growing in the arid soils of Mamook. While typically avoided by the five races, and even the Mamool Ja themselves, it is a favorite amongst chocobos, and is known to deepen the green hues of their feathers.

Over the Horizon Wrote:Though there is some debate as to whether or not Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn and her League of Lost Bastards were the first Eorzeans to discover the western continent, there is no denying that their navigational charts were instrumental in establishing the major trade routes of today.

Moreover, the accounts from their expedition are widely regarded as both informative and entertaining. of particular note is their first encounter with the Mamool Ja, as well as other indigenous peoples and creatures which seemed curiously intent on their demise.

These travel journals have since inspired a legion of explorers and treasure hunters to retrace the League's journey. Yet in spite of their numbers, the existence of a "bleedin' city o' gold" remains unconfirmed...

Helmsman's Hand Wrote:"From the Deep rose Helmsman's Hand
For to aid Lady Bloefhiswyn.
In his wake, she set her course
And lo, was led to foreign shores."

From O'er Westward Seas
-Gilbert Goldenlocks, 1556 Sixth Astral Era

Aqua del Sol Wrote:Literally meaning "water of the sun," Aqua del Sol was originally brought back by expeditions to the New World far across the Indigo Deep. Not long after, Eorzeans began making their own variation of the drink from the sabotenders and cactuars of Thanalan.

Dodozan Wrote:I was most pleased to discover the attitude of acceptance towards beastmen traders here in Limsa Lominsa. My fellow Ul'dahn merchants openly despise such savage peddlers, you see, but I believe there are opportunities being missed. The Mamool Ja, for example, are a hardy race that hail from the lands to the west, and their skill at arms is their primary export. A quality source of mercenaries, if you ask me. The bulging packs of goblins? They often contain naught of value, but it is worth sifting through the junk for that one rare treasure. And the Qiqirn? Look no further should you wish to trade for ore or gemstones.

Toritate Wrote:Thought 'e might o' taken the loot with 'im, but the only thing missin's what was in this 'ere chest. Accordin' to yon shopkeep, it weren't naught but a pile o' Mamool Ja coinage, and that ain't worth it's weight in shite to anyone this side o' the Deep. Exceptin' the Mamool Ja, that is... No Eorzean merchant'd touch that stuff with a forty-yalm bargepole, but chances are it's still o' some value to the beasts. 'Ere, ye don't reckon the rat bastard's gone off to 'ire 'imself a lizardman army, do ye?

Manxome Molaa Ja Ja Wrote:Manxome Molaa Ja Ja is both leader and second-in-command of the Silverscales mercenary band. Two-headed Mamool Ja are born, albeit rarely, to the tribes of the west, and are known for their superior intellect and brawn. Such specimens invariably rise to positions of prominence and power.

Abazi Charazi Wrote:Now, the tonberries aren't friends of mine, but even I think the way the Mamool Ja have 'em imprisoned is wrong. Capturin' them, turnin' them into thralls... Go and give those sellswords hell!

Bugaal Ja Wrote:Smoothskin shows kindness to Bugaal Ja. Bugaal Ja repays kindness, shares proud Mamool Ja tradition with all! But dance cannot be danced with body soiled. This is Mamool Ja custom, and custom must not be broken. But enough talk─soiled body needs cleansing. But Mamool Ja must not wash own body. This, too, is Mamool Ja way. Traditional Mamool Ja bathing dance is dance of pleasure, dance of life-giving! Every lift of leg, every sway of hips is sacred. When you dance Mamool Ja bathing dance, you must summon vitality from the very depths of your soul.

Popoto Wrote:A starchy tuberous vegetable originally introduced to Eorzea by explorers from the distant western continent.

Reagan Pepper Wrote:A variety of pepper native to the New World. Its bitterness has made it a favorite of chocobos.

Mimett Gourd Wrote:A large fleshy squash brought back from the New World by Lominsan explorers. While too sweet for most people's tastes, chocobos are known to enjoy the flavor, and thus the gourds are often used as fodder for the animals.

Pahsana Fruit Wrote:A bright red tomato-like fruit brought back from the New World by Lominsan explorers. While too tangy for most people's tastes, chocobos are known to enjoy the flavor, and thus the fruits are often used as fodder for the animals.

Tiny Tapir Wrote:Natives of the New World claim that tapirs grow by devouring the dreams of their unsuspecting owners. And now you know what to expect.

Acorn Snail Wrote:Believed to have hitched a ride on the hull of a trade ship, the acorn snail is an invasive species originally from the New World, far to the west. As it has few natural predators in Eorzea, its numbers have exploded in recent years.

Anaoc Wrote:I heard that the New Worlders use fish livers as fertilizer, and so I thought I would give toad livers a try. A farmer can't be afraid to try new things. Nay, he must grow his knowledge as he grows his crops.

(06-02-2016, 09:10 PM)allgivenover Wrote: Ah... I didn't intend for my question to deter you from pursuing DRK RP. It really isn't that big a deal and if you want to do it, do it.

(06-02-2016, 08:53 PM)Zhu Wrote: After a lot of thinking, I have decided not to through with this idea and to play a simple swordsman instead.

While we did established that it is indeed possible for an Au'ra dark knight to be made, the necessary IC loopholes, the lore bending and the suspension of belief required to all that would interact with me are in my opinion not worth it. When I first came up with the idea, I had figured it would be much more simple but I underestimated the importance that Ishgard have to this job, a city and a society that does not appeal to me in the slightest. And thus I can't RP something so bound to that place (or well, I don't want to).

I could have gone through with "the mentor is an exile" route, but I don't think I should. I do not usually take issues with bending the lore a little bit (thus proposing this idea in the first place) but there are limits to how much something can bend before you break it. And I believe this is where I draw the line for myself and my own standards.

It is true that some valid arguments were made in favor of the concept, but it would make me feel too much like Sidurgu. A lore figure that is special even by his main character standards. And that is not something I am comfortable to roleplay AS (not with, mind. I will never say what others can and cannot do, my point is about what I am doing for myself and my own enjoyment).

In the past few days, I have read many awesome posts of people offering their kindness and advice and some sent me very supportive PMs that gave me hope and inspired me to try write more about it. And that is why posting this is a bit difficult for me, I do hope they wont feel betrayed.

But ultimately I shall put the lore above my own desires, least I end up RPing in another universe altogether before I realize it. Even within the boundaries imposed by myself and the lore I am sure I can still make a character worth RPing with and as, which I am eager to present!

But please do not think all of this talk was for naught. If it wasn't for the feedback I read in here, I would have gone through with it and again, I would have still come to this conclusion. The harsh way.

So thank you everyone for your wisdom and support! I'll be seeing you in Eorzea and beyond.