(02-24-2017, 12:40 PM)Menord Wrote: From what I've understood, Midlanders live pretty much everywhere, which... isn't very helpful if you are indecisive like me. I originally planned to make Cain an adventurer who recently arrived to Uldah (as the opening scene suggests) as a way to explain why he/his player might not know much about the history of the area or the local events. However, from what I've understood, his name doesn't fit Othard/Doma naming scheme, Sharlayan wasn't too keen on combat magic and an Ishgardian Hyur wouldn't probably have much reason to venture outside his kingdom.
Hyur can definitely be found everywhere! Though I can also understand where the sky's-the-limit approach can be rather daunting, unfortunately for Hyur it's very much the truth. What it may boil down to for you might be cultural aesthetic, what fits best with the backstory you want, and what sort of story you're wanting to tell with this character.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:The Hyur of Eorzea comprises two clans: the Midlanders, who settled in the realm's low-lying regions, and the Highlanders, who claimed the high mountains as their home. This does not, however, represent the entirety of the Hyuran people. Outside of Eorzea, Hyur can be found in Ilsabard in the north, Othard to the east, and even as far as the New World, their manifold clans and houses as innumerous as the stars in the night sky.
As for where to be from? Well, for Othard you have the choice of Doma, Rabanastre, Hingashi (Kugane or Bukyo), or Bozja. Hingashi and Doma both share the Japanese naming conventions, but that's not to say your Hyur couldn't have taken on a more Eorzean-esque name when moving here.
More lore on Doma can be found here.
Sharlayan isn't keen on their knowledge being exploited for war. Despite that though, they are some of the world's most gifted magi and count powerful thaumaturges among their number. A key difference that I've brought up a couple times in regards to Sharlayan and Ishgardian thaumaturgy and conjury is that these variants of the magic wouldn't have the same religious implications attached to them.
More lore on Sharlayan's Studium and it's anti-war policies can be found here.
As for Ishgard, eh, you're probably right in the not having much reason to travel outside Ishgard, but your backstory also wouldn't need you too. As a poor Brume-born Hyur, your character could've been accepted into Saint Endalim's Scholasticate and learned thaumaturgy (as well as a slew of other topics) there too. Like I said above, in this instance, your thaumaturgy would reflect the religious doctrine of Halone instead of the Ul'dahn thaumaturgy exploring the divine duality of Nald'thal.
More lore on Ishgardian thaumaturgy here.
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(02-24-2017, 12:40 PM)Menord Wrote: The quests show that Ul'dah has both quite a few refugees and poor folk, which naturally gave me the idea of making Cain either. If he was a refugee, though, I'm not sure where he could be from: Ala Mhigo was mainly a Highlander kingdom, if I've understood correctly
Many of the refugees in and around Ul'dah are from Ala Mhigo's fall twenty years ago. Others are more recent refugees from the Calamity. But you can definitely be a Midlander from Ala Mhigo. While it is predominantly Highlander, according to the lore book about 40% of the city's population was made up of other races, most prominently Midlander Hyur, Seeker Miqo'te, and Hellsguard Roegadyn.
So just being a refugee trying to hack it in Ul'dah is another workable approach and a common theme among NPCs. Fame and Fortune are why most people flock to the Jewel in the first place. Power is another.
I'll also throw up a few relevant links:
-Ala Mhigan Races
-Weight of Gil in Ul'dah and Resentment of Refugees
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(02-24-2017, 12:40 PM)Menord Wrote: That leaves the idea of making him a native citizen of Ul'dah. If, however, I couple that with his lack of parents, how likely he would have managed to become a Thaumaturge? Literacy isn't apparently too widespread in Eorzea, so a child of poor family / orphan isn't probably the most likely candidate for wielding powerful magicks, unless he was very dedicated and stubborn – and willing to somehow teach himself how to read.
Your character's parents could've been adamant worshipers of Nald or Thal in life and donated to the Order. Maybe your character was raised to believe in Nald'thal right up until his parents died and he was orphaned.
Literacy definitely isn't widespread across Eorzea according to Fernehalwes, but Ul'dah does have schools (likely expensive?) and once inducted into the Order of Nald'thal, I imagine that they could teach your character how to read the many tomes and incantations which make up thaumaturgy.
The last thing I'll mention is that in Ul'dah, the Order of Nald'thal is the religious center of the city-state and is responsible for far more than just training adventurers and laypeople off the street how to cast fireballs. Like L'ohba mentioned, I have a lore post that dives into the Order and the origins of thaumaturgical practice in Ul'dah below. I'll also throw in a post detailing how the actual mechanics casting thaumaturgy work.
-Order of Nald'thal Lore
-Mechanics of Magic Lore
-More on Astral and Umbral Stances and Polarities
Hope this helps! ^^
