Which City-State (or simply Class) do you think will make the most sense for Au Ra?

[Kaiser-Ace]

Noting that Othard is the most Eastern continent leaves me to believe if the world is round and that Eorzea is the most western of the 3 great continents, it would be likely to arrive at Limsa's dock first. Considering Islabard (Garlean territory) is northeast of Aldenard (Eorzea) I would assume it would be easiest to travel Eastward from Othard to Vylbrand (Limsa). Otherwise navigating westward south of Islabard would land you at Gridania's port first. Navigating north above Islabard which is already northeast of Eorzea would lead you again to Limsa first after navigating around Sharlayan territory.

Also the Doman's arrived in Vesper Bay, West Thanalan after fleeing Doma. So since Vesper Bay is the channel between Vylbrand and West Thanalan then Limsa would make sense with Ul'dah now being semi-hostile territory.

[Risvertasashi]

Spoil away! Really, anything to help me decide. Even when you use Fantasia potions, it keeps track of your starting Class and City-State, so the more I know about the Gladiator/Paladin stories, as well as Marauder/Warrior stories, the easier a decision should be

Oh, sorry, lost track of this thread till the recent posts... without further ado then, my quick summary of the PLD storyline:

SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING

(My memory is a bit fuzzy so forgive me if there are some details that are a little off)

tl;dr version: Lots of stuff about regaining honor and keeping oaths.

The first quest, fitting, it called Paladin's Pledge and the next one Honor Lost. The final quest is called Keeping the Oath. These set the general themes for the quest line.

The first quest opens (and later quests often repeat this as a component) with a trial of sorts. Before Jenlyns, the captain, can teach you, you must proceed to a location, attract certain monsters, and defeat them in battle.

However, Jenlyns talks of how the people used to look up to paladins. Well regarded, valor, honor, etc... in the style of the knights of old in our own world, or at least an idealized version of them. But during the quest, you're approached by a "free paladin" (Solkzagyl)--upon returning to Jenlyns, he reveals that Solkzagyl was the captain before Jenlyns and is a traitor that stole Oathkeeper, an iconic weapon of the elite Sultanasworn and so losing it was a big blow to their reputation.

Of note is that Jenlyns calls him an oathbreaker, among other such terms.

Over the next few quests, Jenlyns is teaching you/waiting for you to get stronger and prepare to eventually win Oathkeeper back, capture the traitor... and so begin the road of restoring the Paladins' honor.

In time, Jenlyns claims to have discovered a link between Solkzagyl and the Monetarists. He sets up a meet so you can face him, but at the parley Jenlyns actually turns on you and accuses you of being in league with the Monetarists and Solkzagyl.

He is only deterred when one of Jenlyns' own tries to kill him, but to be saved at the last moment by none other than Solkzagyl. Jenlyn does collapse, however, and Solkzagyl takes him back to Ul'Dah.

By and by, Jenlyns realizes you're one of the good guys after all and starts planning to get back at the Monetarists who he realizes were playing him. There's a battle to this effect, said to be a blow against the Monetarists but the end is not conclusive. You're given the last of your AF, and off you go to defend the people of Eorzea.

Of course, from Dark Knight's description it will be very similar. A defender of the common people, perhaps moreso than even a Free Paladin, and implying they're (unlike PLDs generally) very willing to get their hands dirty (ends justify the means). So, you can think of both PLD (free paladins, not sultanasworn as much) and DRK as defenders of the people, but differing a bit in methodology and values.

Gladiator storyline isn't really noteworthy here, basically it's an anime-esque rivals story and not nearly as steeped in principles.

WAR/MRD I don't know that much about, other than the premise was defending their seafaring brothers. Maybe someone else can elaborate.

[PotatoSalad]

The Au Ra are foreigners in every sense of the word. I doubt they'd arrive at any city-state with a preset idea of what they're really getting into. I'd honestly imagine that they'd pick a locale based on their own personal preference.

For a real world example, it's like saying there is no reason for a native Mongolian to immigrate to Illinois, which is not true as we've got plenty Mongolians doing quite well for themselves over there and else where.

Try to avoid debilitiating Eorzean species/racial stereotypes and use your creativity. Your character is an extension of yourself!

[MiniPrinny]

WAR/MRD I don't know that much about, other than the premise was defending their seafaring brothers. Maybe someone else can elaborate.

The Warrior storyline is primarily about conquering a great power resting inside you, it isn't about protection but rather about mastery of your body and mind. The Marauder storyline however is heavily steeped in the lore of the Guild and how Marauders came to be the premier soldier of Limsa Lominsa, with the storyline culminating with you slaying an Auroch which has been terrorizing Vylbrand for a while.

[Terin]

Well, I'm going to try to finish the 2.55 storyline today, and hope that will give me a better idea between the two. I've heard there are some big things that happen in the story, so I'm looking forward to seeing what transpires for myself.

Barring any major spoilers, though, I'd be interesting in hearing more of what you guys think?

Also, I'm absolutely 100% set on making a Xaela Au Ra, and he will eventually become a Dark Knight. Thing is, though, I'm still struggling with the identity between "Gladiator vs. Warrior", and both of those seem to fit the Xaela's lore quite nicely. Paladins and Marauders, though... I'm not sure.

The only thing I really wonder about at this points, is what the Xaela would think about Ul'dah, versus Limsa Lominsa. The Xaela seem to be a warring people, and I could see them being drawn to Ul'dah's Colosseum, as well as the Immortal Flames, as people who seemingly value might. Yet at the same time, Ul'dah is also notorious for being a city of wealthy nobles, where even the most valiant warriors rarely crawl out from the slums. The Au Ra certainly have ties there (by way of the Doman Refugees), but those ties are very much in bad blood. My only thinking here is that, perhaps my Xaela's intentions would be to rise through the ranks, and take Ul'dah for himself, out of spite for how his people were turned away?

Then you've got Limsa Lominsa. It's a city that welcomes beastmen, and being a seafaring city, it obviously makes a lot of sense that the Au Ra was arrive here. Now, I've *HEARD* that the leader of Limsa Lominsa (I always forget her name) made mention of taking care of any Domans who arrive later, but to be honest, I don't recollect that. I know the Rogues' Guild is in Limsa Lominsa, which I assume has connections to Lady Yugiri, but I never really played much of the Rogue, so I don't know what those ties actually are, or whether Lady Yugiri lives in Limsa Lominsa now?

With Heavensward drawing ever nearer, I'm more anxious than ever you get you guys' feedback! I've tried reading the Xaela's Lore over and over, trying to get some indication for where they might hail from, but I honestly can't decipher anything.

[myahele]

As far as I remember, Merlwyb (Limsa's GC leader) agreed to send extra provisions/ aid to the Doman refugees in Rev. Toll

Yugiri then temporarily joined the Rogues guild to learn their fighting methods and learn more of their culture and promised Merlwyb once she's got the hang of it she'll also teach qualified members Ninja techniques. So yes, Limsa and Doman refugees have a more cordial/mutually beneficial relationship with each other compared to other city states.

WAR description:

“On the northernmost edge of Abalathia's Spine exists a mountain tribe renowned for producing fearsome mercenaries...
In former times which saw war waged ceaselessly in Eorzea, the warriors featured prominently on the frontlines of battle. With the arrival of peacetime, however, their art has descended into the shadows of obscurity, where it remains to this day"

Xaela

the Xaela, who bloody the land with their endless tribal conflict....the Xaela are free spirits who roam the vast western steppe in close-knit tribes hunting, gathering, and warring as their ancestors have for countless generations.

I personally think that due to Xaela's wanderlust, love of battle and general hot-bloodedness that they starting out as MRD > WAR just fits the race well. It's been a while, but I think that the are of MRD was originally derived from WARs, it's essentially a watered down version of WAR techs since not everyone can control the Inner Beast.

Although from a gameplay point you still need to level a GLD to get some useful cross-class skills: convalescent, flash and especially provoke. So that might be something to consider down the line

[Seiko769]

I always assumed the Au Ra would have a unique beginning that wound them up in a city state OR would have them merge into the main storyline several levels in. I mean Au Ra are new to Eorzea cant imagine they just roll into a city state on a wagon or boat like everyone else

[Lainmyst]

For one I believe Doma is just one nation in the Far Eastern continent. Some Au Ra may have lived there until it's destruction, but they may have lived in other areas in the East. I am planning on creating an Au Ra as a separate character who is already apart of my main character's back story. Since Yurgiri is a Ninja I feel most comfortable starting my Au Ra out in Limsa as Rouge/Nin. I do think since the starting nation for them will depend of course on the chosen class. Since Ninja seems like a good starting point, even though the Au Ra obviously aren't all going to be Ninjas like Yurgiri, starting out as a Ninja or even an Archanist would make sense. Of course where anyone ends up who is concerned about the Au Ra's lore, will depend on what class/job they want to start out as, and then will want to create their own backstory to fit in with their choice. Of course it will be very helpful to have some 'cannon' based lore to utilize, I hope that will come before 3.0 is launched.

[Cilia]

Well the Raen are stated to be pretty isolationist, so they'd truly have to be the adventurous type - Gridania would probably fit them better, as it's the most peaceful city-state, even if it leans more towards Lawful Neutral than Lawful Good.

Xaela would probably be right at home in Ul'dah or Limsa; both are rife with conflict, even if Ul'dah is more social and economic conflict than anything. They're also home to the Marauders' and Gladiators' Guilds, both professions Xaela are well-suited to, though the Marauders are more "hardcore police / pest control."

[Lainmyst]

I always assumed the Au Ra would have a unique beginning that wound them up in a city state OR would have them merge into the main storyline several levels in. I mean Au Ra are new to Eorzea cant imagine they just roll into a city state on a wagon or boat like everyone else

I do wonder about that, I was hoping a new starting area would be how they would role, I wonder how SE will handle that. I would hate to see them going through the same cutscene as our original characters, sitting in a wagon going to what ever city/state we will end up in. A lot depends on how their arriving here en mass is communicated via lore.