Keepers of the Moon in MSQ

[Keever]

A man with eyes as big as his stomach, [Papalymo] enjoys the traditional cuisine of his desert people, particularly dark pretzels.

Ardashir is from Radz-at-Han, i.e. Thavnair. That's the Near East, not the Far East. The reference to Ardashir as a "Far Eastern Hyur" is either an oversight, or otherwise "Far Eastern Hyur" is a diaspora clan which is referred to by a confusing region-specific name. I suspect the former.

We have enough examples of Hannish names to know they don't have similar language or naming schemes to Othardians. Jalzahn, Ardashir, Waoud (50-60 ALC quest antagonist) and Mulnith (Thavnairian Consulate gatekeeper) are the named Thavnairians I can think of at short notice, but there are probably a small number of others mentioned.

[Eloah]

snip

You quoted what it says about Papalymo, but you didn't say where it is. The quote you gave is circumstantial at best. While I get it saying "Desert People" would make you think, Dunesfolk, it does not, it just means people of the desert. There are plenty of Hyurs, Roegadyn, and Miqo'te who are also considered "Desert People ". And for a lalafellian example, Teledji Adeledji is a Desert Person and is confirmed a Plainsfolk. Granted he has one of each for his parents, but he is a Plainsfolk. The same could be said of Papalymo.

As for Ardashir, the lore book says his father is a Far Eastern Trader, so it could be either he's mixed between Far Eastern and Near Eastern Hyurs. Or a conformation and assimilation and he's still Far Eastern but has a Near Eastern name since its where he resides/where he was born.

[Keever]

While I get it saying "Desert People" would make you think, Dunesfolk, it does not, it just means people of the desert.

A traditional Dunesfolk bread twisted into the shape of a knot and sprinkled generously with coarse-ground salt before being baked to a deep brown.

Enough for you?

[Eloah]

Enough for you?

I'd like to say yes, but sadly its still circumstantial. Granted it points more in your favor though. The only thing it helps point out is that its made by the Dunesfolks(desert) as opposed to Plainsfolk(feilds). Its more like an ethnicity as a real world equivalent; like I could say traditional food of my Danish people, that doesn't mean I'm not mostly German. If anything it points more to him being mixed.

Also I just want to add I'm not trying to be difficult. I'm just saying we don't have an official source thats calls him one or the other. We thought that Minfilia and Yda were Midlanders until the lorebook stated otherwise. Any sources we see either don't specify or call him a Plains because thats what he looks like. With Pipin, they specifically call him a Dunesfolk, so we know he's not a Plains with a Dunesfolk appearance.

You'll notice that the lore book does a good job of either outright stating what clan someone is or avoiding it all together. Papalymo and Urianger's bios don't specify a clan. Adding to that you'll notice no Ishgardian Elezen is labelled either. This is probably because, the devs hinted that Ishgardians are a third clan yet to ne named.

[Keever]

Ishgardian Elezen

The devs have not hinted at them being an "unnamed clan".

The ancestors of the Wildwood Elezen were displaced from their ancestral home on the plains when the Hyurans came, migrating in part to Coerthas,
where they established the nation of Ishgard, and in part to the Shroud, where they formed the nation of Gelmorra (the ancient subterranean state that predates Gridania).
Though nowadays "Wildwood" is typically used to refer to the forest-dwelling Elezen, the Elezen of Ishgard, too, share the same common ancestry. As such, Gridania and Ishgard have traditionally enjoyed close relations, with each nation readily coming to the other's aid in times of need.

In other words, in the case of the Elezen, "Wildwood" is more of a cultural moniker than a biological distinction.

[Eloah]

The devs have not hinted at them being an "unnamed clan".
In other words, in the case of the Elezen, "Wildwood" is more of a cultural moniker than a biological distinction.

Ah you found it, cool. Yes I believe this it what I was referencing. But you can see how the inference would be perceived. It's like Portuguese and Brazilian people both sharing ancestry from Portugal, but only one being called Portuguese. But the extra clan bit has some merit too, not saying thats what it is though. Using Gosetsu as an example, the Devs have said he's neither a Sea Wolf or a Hellsgard, but he close to the later. The Hyurs of the Far East also aren't classified as either "know" Hyur clan. The Elezen of Ishgard just might not have a "new clan" name yet since the split between them and Gridania is recent, compared to the other clans splits thousands of years ago. I think maybe I'll dub them Frostborne, how's that sound, lol.

I am not sure if anything new will be added, but I thank you for this duscussion. I hope I didn't come across as too, annoying, T.T

[Rosenoire]

There's also been hints that there's another group of Au Ra besides the Raen and Xaela...