How much do we know about Thaivnair?

[mongi291]

^ title. From what I observed from Thavnairian gear and items, it seems to be a Middle East-styled nation, but aside from that, I really don't know anything about it. Is there some more lore about it?

[plumsamurai]

Thavnair was well known for alchemy. If I remember correctly, I believe they brought alchemy to Ul'dah.

[Shoshopu]

As I recall, Thavnair is a region of the city state Radz-at-Han. There's quite a bit of lore on it but most of it is in flavor text and such.

 

My personal interpretation is that it has/will borrow a lot from FFXI's Aht Urghan. Ul'dah has already, but I think Radz-at-Han will keep going in that direction. The Thavnairian Bolero set looks so much like BLU armor...

[Hyakki]

Also this weird custom via the Thavnarian mistletoe flavor text:

 

The inhabitants of Thavnair's capital city of Radz-at-Han have a strange custom that states if two people meet underneath a sprig of mistletoe, they must each give the other one of their shoes.

 

And given how ridiculously expensive the Thavnarian stuff still is, this seems like something to avoid unless you're the wearing the same shoe in the same size.

[Caspar]

Also this weird custom via the Thavnarian mistletoe flavor text:

 

The inhabitants of Thavnair's capital city of Radz-at-Han have a strange custom that states if two people meet underneath a sprig of mistletoe, they must each give the other one of their shoes.

 

And given how ridiculously expensive the Thavnarian stuff still is, this seems like something to avoid unless you're the wearing the same shoe in the same size.

It's like a weird bait and switch where you expect a kiss and at the bottom of the flavor text you end up with mismatched shoes.

[Sounsyy]

[[This post has been updated and can now be found here!]]

[mongi291]

Thavnair, or as its more commonly referred to in game, the "Near East," is an island nation in the Jade Sea between Aldenard and Othard, the Far East. Radz-at-Han is Thavnair's capital city and is home to Thavnair's ruling houses and nobles. Thavnair is likely located closer to Hydaelyn's equator, as it possesses unbearably hot climates, and a desert and jungle biome. The Thavnairians seem to prize education, science, and history like the Sharlayans. Ul'dahn alchemy is primarily born of Thavnairian origin, for example. The Eorzean city-states of Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa both seem to trade with Thavnair pretty regularly.

 

Thavnair has its own zodiac, based on the IRL western zodiac.

At the start of the Zodiac Weapon questline we are tasked with collecting twelve Atma, crystalline objects from Thavnairian legend. These are taken directly from the western Zodiac.

 

Atma of the Ram (Aries)

Atma of the Bull (Taurus)

Atma of the Twins (Gemini)

Atma of the Crab (Cancer)

Atma of the Lion (Leo)

Atma of the Maiden (Virgo)

Atma of the Scales (Libra)

Atma of the Scorpion (Scorpio)

Atma of the Archer (Sagittarius)

Atma of the Goat (Capricorn)

Atma of the Water-bearer (Aquarius)

Atma of the Fish (Pisces)

 

 

The "Song of the Zodiac Braves" is also a Thavnairian legend.

"In an era long since ended,

When chaos reigned o'er all the land,

Did valiant souls take up the fight

To bring forth Light and cast out Dark

They numbered twelve, no more nor less."

 

In ages past, terrible demons known by the name "Zodiac" would appear in our world. But when they did, a hero wieldin' a shinin' weapon would arise to strike the fiends down. Do ye know that particular tale?

 

When cataclysm loomed over the Near East, the hero Mirza arose to defend the people from fell fiends. Once he had torn the monsters apart, he raised a mighty empire- and fashioned a pair of weapons such as these from his foes' claws!

 

After long years spent spurring worldly desires, a Near Eastern hierarch rose to a higher state of being. And as he did, life itself quickened within his trusty staff, the very twin of which you now hold!

 

 

We're in the process of resupplying in preparation for the long journey east across the Sea of Jade to the small island nation of Thavnair, and its capital city Radz-at-Han. My intention is to fill our hold with high-quality flour, a rarity on Thavnair, and sell it to the upper-class merchants there for ten times its value here on Vylbrand. However, the Orion's owner, my employer, doubts the wisdom of my plan. He says flour is flour, and that the merchants of Thavnair would not be able to discern La Noscean flour from the less expensive Ul'dahn variety that they already import, giving them no reason to pay more for our product.

 

Truth be told, I expected he might have his misgivings, so I had a solution ready─I would have the ship's cook bake some bread using La Noscean flour and offer it as a gift to the ruling houses of Radz-at-Han, telling each house that the others had found its flavor to far surpass that of bread made from Ul'dahn sunset wheat. The nobles would have no choice but to agree, of course, and, not wishing to be outshone by their peers, demand that their kitchens also stock La Noscean flour.

 

The nobles of Radz-at-Han are obsessive about their odor. I suppose it comes from living in a land that is subject to the incessant beating of the sun's harsh rays. The sweltering days and muggy nights leave nearly everyone on the island drenched in a perpetual patina of malodorous wetness. To cope, they spend absurd amounts of coin on all manner of fragrances and perfumes - and as luck would have it, one of the most prized is scented with none other than Althyk lavender!

 

You see, my friend, the plant is very rare, with most wild varieties nigh on impossible to find in even the most fertile corners of Eorzea, let alone an isolated rock in the middle of the sea!

 

Thick, brown hair of a Near Eastern monstrosity known as the camel. Dubious reports from sailors claim the beast stands thrice as high as a chocobo, can speak the tongues of man, and has massive humps upon its back which may contain water, wine, or even gold.

 

Alchemy'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.

 

This silk has been spun from thread created by a worm found only on the Near Eastern island of Thavnair.

 

A concentrated elixir blended in the Near Eastern island nation of Radz-at-Han.

 

A cool and refreshing drink made from cultured milk. Popular in the Near Eastern city-state of Radz-at-Han for its ability to offset the blistering heat of the Thavnairian midday sun.

 

A sweet and tangy drink made from cultured milk. Popular in the Near Eastern city-state of Radz-at-Han for its ability to soothe the burn of heavily spiced dishes.

 

A foul, bitter fruit found growing on the Near Eastern island of Thavnair. While typically avoided by the residents of Radz-at-Han, it is a favorite amongst chocobos, and is known to restore feathers to their original hue.

 

A pungent, tear-inducing vegetable that thrives in the alkali sands of Near Eastern Thavnair. While typically avoided by the five races, it is a favorite amongst chocobos.

 

A variety of swift-growing grass native to the Near East. The stalks can be dried and processed into thin threads which, when spun together, can be woven into a cloth not unlike hemp.

 

The shell of a giant tortoise originally native to the island of Thavnair, but now found living throughout Eorzea.

 

Not native to Eorzea, the first adamantoise to arrive in the realm is believed to have been mixed in with a shipment of dodo eggs from the Near East. Why anyone would import dodo eggs when there are more than enough of the birds living in Eorzea already is a mystery for the ages... but the whole affair more than likely involves a hungry Qiqirn.

 

Native to the Near Eastern island of Thavnair, adamantoises were long thought to be impossible to domesticate. However, through the efforts of Ul'dahn zoologists, a handful of the colossal scalekin have been successfully trained to accept riders.

 

Native to the jungles of the Near East, coeurls were only recently introduced to Eorzea, brought over from faraway lands such as Thavnair by Ul'dahn nobles who thought to breed them as pets. Now, but a handful of skilled tamers living in recluse on the Pearl are said to be able to train them.

 

Early in the Sixth Astral Era, lions were brought over from the Near East and trained to serve as battle mounts for the Sultansworn of Ul'dah. Deemed unbreakable, those not sold to the Coliseum for venationes were released into the deserts of Thanalan where they eventually reverted back to a feral state.

 

Of the zu much is known, for their migration between Eorzea and the Near East provides many opportunities for observation. The vilest among these birds of prey is the Cornu, who has made himself maddeningly scarce to learned eyes that would pry from it the secrets of its savage heart.

 

The Nidifice

A nest of great migratory birds that travel with the seasons from the Near East to Eorzea and back again in search of warmer climates. It is here that they lay their eggs, raise their young, and teach them to take to the skies before making the journey anew.

 

A variety of parasitic plant that is commonly found growing on the stout acacia trees of Thavnair. The inhabitants of Thavnair's capital city of Radz-at-Han have a strange custom that states if two people meet underneath a sprig of mistletoe, they must each give the other one of their shoes.

 

A sword crafted from Giantsgall, a type of stone found on Thavnair. It is so covered in moss as to be rendered unusable.

 

A pungent bulb vegetable native to the Near East.

 

A firm purple-skinned vegetable indigenous to the mountains of the Near East. A common wives' tale claims if you eat too many of this vegetable, you will turn into one.

 

A sour citrus fruit indigenous to the Near East.

 

A variety of stone fruit borne over from the Near East. Its orange flesh is at once sweet and tart.

 

A leafy vegetable indigenous to the Near East. While too bitter for most people's tastes, chocobos are known to enjoy the flavor, and thus the greens are often used as fodder for the animals.

 

Research has proven that much of the gysahl greens presently grown in Ishgard are in fact Near Eastern.

 

Over a century ago, Near Eastern gysahl greens were brought over to Eorzea. Thanks to its hardiness, it thrived in our realm, becoming so ubiquitous that it displaced many indigenous species. Species such as the Coerthan gysahl, which fairly disappeared. And indeed it would've, had the Botanists' Guild not continued cultivating it as a strain suited to cooler lands.

 

That was cool. There are so many things that come from Thavnair... It's a shame we are unlikely to see more of it in the near future.

[Seriphyn]

Seems FFXIV's Arabia and/or India (what, with lassi especially) to Ul'dah's Ottoman.