Raen Origins

Are we all from the ocean now? I don't understand. I thought the Raen were from all over the east. http://i64.tinypic.com/2zhpe9y.png

They're kinda reminding me of the Dragonians from Okami.

I think it is taking from how the first walking land creature on Earth was a lizard that came from the ocean.

I was hoping they'd offer a little more insight into their past relations with the Xaela, but it wasn't mentioned at all throughout the entire Azim Steppe portion of the story.

It was only implied that some tribes really don't like them, as the Oronir's version of their origin story denies any relation to them entirely, instead stating that the Dawn Father's blood is the strongest in Xaela males and the Dusk Mother's in females.

I suppose it's possible the subject might come up in future MSQ quests, since I'd be surprised if we didn't have to go back the steppes sooner or later (The Palace of the Collared Coin really looks like it'll be a dungeon entrance in the future).

There apparently exists another clan of Au Ra that are older than both Xaela and Raen

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Finally, I mention that in addition to the Xaela and Raen clans...there are rumors of a different, much older clan. (and...this is where Yoshi-P cuts me off).

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http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...=1#post3550637

Maybe we'll learn more about them in the future?

Is it impossible to be a modern day Raen lorewise and not be from under the Sea?

Is their any regular Raen cities because I don't want my character to be from the under the sea town.

There are plenty of Raen in Kugane so I doubt they are all from Sui-no-Sato. I think one of the Raen in the Confederacy side-quests mentioned being from Doma? If the Raen population is a diaspora they have probably been established in several areas in Orthard for however long it has been since they lost their homeland. Sui-no-Sato may be the largest or most prominent Raen-only population center, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other Raen communities.

Granted, I'm still in the Ruby Sea so I'm not sure what the rest of Stormblood has to say about the Raen.

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Originally Posted by KageTokage

I was hoping they'd offer a little more insight into their past relations with the Xaela, but it wasn't mentioned at all throughout the entire Azim Steppe portion of the story.

It was only implied that some tribes really don't like them, as the Oronir's version of their origin story denies any relation to them entirely, instead stating that the Dawn Father's blood is the strongest in Xaela males and the Dusk Mother's in females.

I suppose it's possible the subject might come up in future MSQ quests, since I'd be surprised if we didn't have to go back the steppes sooner or later (The Palace of the Collared Coin really looks like it'll be a dungeon entrance in the future).

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It could come up later, I suppose, but what I think this all implies is that any animosity between the two is a nearly-total cultural non-factor. I think you're looking for a cultural feud that may not actually exist - whatever happened between them happened too long ago for any bad blood to remain.

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Originally Posted by Zumi

Is it impossible to be a modern day Raen lorewise and not be from under the Sea?

Is their any regular Raen cities because I don't want my character to be from the under the sea town.

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The Lore Book heavily implies - if not outright states - that the Raen are a diaspora, living in seclusion among mountains and valleys (and now, I suppose, under the sea). While the people of Sui-no-Sato certainly seem to believe that they're a representative sample of their people, this is obviously not the case; their village is both sparsely populated and the only one of its nature for malms around, and the (significantly higher) Raen population in Kugane makes no mention of having ever lived under the sea. I think it's safe to say that they didn't come from there exclusively.

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Originally Posted by Hinoto-no-Ryuji

It could come up later, I suppose, but what I think this all implies is that any animosity between the two is a nearly-total cultural non-factor. I think you're looking for a cultural feud that may not actually exist - whatever happened between them happened too long ago for any bad blood to remain.

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One of the tribes is considered unusual for the fact that they're willing to accept Raen into their ranks, so I think they at least have some kind of prejudice against them.

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Originally Posted by KageTokage

One of the tribes is considered unusual for the fact that they're willing to accept Raen into their ranks, so I think they at least have some kind of prejudice against them.

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And how many, would you wager, regularly accept Hyuran into their midst? Rather than evidence of a deep-seeded prejudice, I would wager they're just one of many tribal units in a land of tribal units, wary of outsiders.

It's worth reiterating: none of the lore, whether it be on the character creation screen or in the Encyclopedia, even hints at contemporary animosity between the Raen and Xaela. Maybe something happened long ago, but it's no longer part of their cultural identity, and I'd be very surprised if it played even a minor role in the MSQ moving forwards.

I don't know if anyone noticed but the official Lore Au Ra post is not longer there along with the Au Ra naming conventions. I'm guessing they're going to updating the Au Ra lore soon? I'm too very interested about the Au Ra Lore especially after seeing the underwater Au Ra.

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Originally Posted by Burlman

I don't know if anyone noticed but the official Lore Au Ra post is not longer there along with the Au Ra naming conventions. I'm guessing they're going to updating the Au Ra lore soon? I'm too very interested about the Au Ra Lore especially after seeing the underwater Au Ra.

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Let us hope that's the case.

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Originally Posted by myahele

There apparently exists another clan of Au Ra that are older than both Xaela and Raen

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...=1#post3550637

Maybe we'll learn more about them in the future?

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Is it possible that the Dawn Father and Dusk Mother were members of that clan?

I think Sasanami's speaking of just her own group within the larger group of the Raen. Though the more aggressive Xaela now (exclusively?) control the Azim Steppes, I don't think it's been explicitly stated that all Raen have left Othard's mainland.

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Originally Posted by KageTokage

I was hoping they'd offer a little more insight into their past relations with the Xaela, but it wasn't mentioned at all throughout the entire Azim Steppe portion of the story.

It was only implied that some tribes really don't like them, as the Oronir's version of their origin story denies any relation to them entirely, instead stating that the Dawn Father's blood is the strongest in Xaela males and the Dusk Mother's in females.

I suppose it's possible the subject might come up in future MSQ quests, since I'd be surprised if we didn't have to go back the steppes sooner or later (The Palace of the Collared Coin really looks like it'll be a dungeon entrance in the future).

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The Oronir origin story, as told by their elder during the MSQ, says that the Xaela and Raen were created, warred, made peace, and after that an avatar of the Dawn Father descended to create the Oronir. They aren't denying relation to the Raen, though they're certainly elevating themselves above the rest of the Auri.

I'm definitely curious about their history considering there are ruins of bridges and roads leading from the Dawn Throne to the Dusk Throne, House of Crooked Coin, and either Reunion or the Ruby Sea. They had some kind of accomplished civilization that collapsed into the tribal nomads of the present, but I haven't seen anything in Azim that really talks about it.

I guess I kind of misremembered/misinterpreted that bit.

In any case, I hope the MSQ brings us back to the steppe for one reason or another. I get a strong impression the House of the Collared Coin is hiding some secrets, considering how the Dotharl mention that some kind of crystal is concealed within its depths.

I'm also kind of surprised the Ascians haven't targeted the Xaela for their Primal schemes (At least not to our knowledge/so far), because a group like them that's constantly warring and vying for supremacy on top of believing in gods seem like perfect candidates.

I wonder if some sort of schism occured between the Raen/Xaela ancestors?

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Originally Posted by AkaeiNox

I wonder if some sort of schism occured between the Raen/Xaela ancestors?

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As much as I don't think any past animosity that may have existed has any bearing on current Au Ra relations, the answer to this is probably. We know that they originally fought one another in the Before Time, but eventually made peace; we also know that the Raen were largely assimilated into Doman culture as warriors, and currently live in isolated pockets in Othard's mountains, valleys, and seas. There must have been some reason for the mass migration out of the Steppe by the Raen, and the inhabitants of Sui-no-Sato claim to have been "driven" from their homeland, so it's very possible - likely, even - that the conflict ended on less good terms than the folklore implies.

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Originally Posted by Hinoto-no-Ryuji

As much as I don't think any past animosity that may have existed has any bearing on current Au Ra relations, the answer to this is probably. We know that they originally fought one another in the Before Time, but eventually made peace; we also know that the Raen were largely assimilated into Doman culture as warriors, and currently live in isolated pockets in Othard's mountains, valleys, and seas. There must have been some reason for the mass migration out of the Steppe by the Raen, and the inhabitants of Sui-no-Sato claim to have been "driven" from their homeland, so it's very possible - likely, even - that the conflict ended on less good terms than the folklore implies.

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But why would the Oronir, who train from childhood to be warriors, sanitize their own history? If anything you'd think they would take pride in proving themselves the stronger heirs to Azim's legacy.

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Originally Posted by Daralii

But why would the Oronir, who train from childhood to be warriors, sanitize their own history? If anything you'd think they would take pride in proving themselves the stronger heirs to Azim's legacy.

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Well, the conflict in question is part of their set of creation myths, meaning that if it did occur, it could have done so centuries before the modern era. As such, it may be less a conscious sanitation and more the nature of stories that are passed down through multiple generations.

All we know is that there was fighting, that fighting stopped, and now Raen and Xaela live vastly different lives in vastly different locales. I personally think that an entire physically-distinct part of a population becoming a diaspora speaks to something happening; how dramatic that something was is open to debate, especially since it doesn't seem to have woven itself into the cultural memory of either group, but given the words of the undersea Raen I wouldn't dismiss the idea of them being forced to leave entirely.

Considering the Raen are a reclusive and peaceful lot, it only makes sense that some of them would literally travel to the bottom of the ocean to be left alone. I can't see it indicative of all Raen to live underwater - moreover that they just go where they can be left unbothered and untouched.