(Spoilers abound) Which City and/or Grand Company makes the most sense for a Xaela?

[Terin]

I know that technically *any* starting city or grand company can work for any race. However, we've generally seen that certain locations are more likely to harbor certain races than others.

My knowledge of the Au Ra characters in the Lore is admittedly somewhat limited; I've not really played since right around the time Heavensward was released. I've read up on all the Xaela tribe names, and I know you get to interact with the Xaela in some capacity during Stormblood, but not much in the way of details.

I recently got my dad to try the game, and so far he's been loving it, so I *REALLY* want to come to a conclusion on this.

I would say that, right now, I'm sort of caught between "a Xaela Gladiator starting in Ul'dah who joins the Immortal Flames", or "a Xaela Marauder who starts in Limsa Lominsa who joined the Maelstrom". However, I'm totally open to other suggestions; those just seem the more "fitting" options for the race so far.

Would you guys mind offering your input, and if you don't mind, also your reasoning for said choice?

[Theodric]

Limsa.

It has direct ties to Othard and Hingashi through shipping lanes which makes it more plausible as a starting point for a Xaela. Furthermore, the more bestial races are actively seen dotted around the city whereas in Gridania and Ul'dah they are not. Not to suggest that Xaela are a Beast Tribe, of course, since they aren't - though there's Qiqirn and Mamool Ja to be seen within Limsa itself shopping at the markets.

[Vidu]

I would agree with Limsa as a starting city, considering that Limsa is the "gate to Eorzea from the east", so to speak. Any Xaela who arrives in Eorzea most likely arrives in Limsa, since the travel between the far east and Eorzea is mostly done by boat, not by airship.

In regards to the starting class I would say that any class makes sense for a Xaela and that there is no need to limit them (or any race) to one class. During the SB-questline we see Xaela wielding axes, magic, training as monk-like jobs, Cirina is using a bow, we had this one quest with this Dothraki guy whos very good at fight, but each incarnation is a master of a different style, including fists and swords at least (and may spears? I dont recall anymore... but we're definitly seeing a Xaela use spears).

Since Scholar and Summoner originated in certain parts of Eorzea and we never see any of the Xaela using books or mathematics in any form, those jobs probably make the least sense. Any other... go for it!

Considering Limsa as a starting point, your options are limited to marauder and arcanist, marauder would probably fit better - but I could see a story like "Xaela who trained as a certain job in their homeland comes to Eorzea to learn more about their job. They arrive in Limsa, join the first guild that sounds intresting to them and then go on exploring until they find the guild that fits their actual job in a different city".
I wouldnt say that marauder is necessarily the best fit for a Xaela, since we see them excel in a lot of different fighting styles. But I'd definitly say that Limsa is the most logical starting city for one (unless your RP-idea is that the parents of your character came to Eorzea and that you were brought up here - at which point, every starting city seems reasonable; Gridania with their xenophobia probably a little less than the rest).

[Kalise]

Honestly it depends on what Tribe you were coming from.

Also, partially, how you ended up in Eorzea.

Like, one of the more aggressive tribes such as the Dotharl, Oronir or Buduga might have found themselves convinced to accompany someone back to Ul'dah after hearing about the Coliseum where they might have honed their skills as a Gladiator or Thaumaturge to participate in (Also, the Oronir might also want to visit a place with the climate of Thanalan, given that they believe themselves to be descendants of the God of the Sun)

Meanwhile, a more nomadic tribe such as the Mol, whom would be well versed in the way of taking exactly what is necessary from the land, my find themselves enthralled by Gridania and the way that people in the Shroud live in a similar fashion, despite not moving around. (Though, the caveat is that people in the Shroud are incredibly rude to people from outside the Shroud and do not like them much at all... It gets better over time, but initial reactions are one of mistrust...)

Outside of this, you can find Limsa as a decent location for any Xaela. Given that trade and travel between Eorzea and the Far East happens through Limsa due to it being a port city.

Though, anywhere's a possible start. Given that a majority of actual Xaela found themselves in Dravania Hinterlands (Such as the remnants of the Hotgo tribe and also one special member of a prominent tribe that is featured in a series of quests I won't spoil).

Dravania Hinterlands would lead to Coerthas and thus Mor Dhona/North Shroud and thus lead to both Gridania and Ul'dah. So, yeah. Any place can work just fine.

[Lihtleita]

warrior quests heavily feature xaela from 60-70, and limsa is a port town w links to othard so i think thats your best bet

[Terin]

Does Limsa actually have any connections to Othard? Or is that just sort of implied (ie. "it's a naval city, it would make SENSE for it to trade with other cities")?

If that's a legitimate connection, that might honestly make the decision for me! I honestly don't really know where all the nations are in relation to each other, outside of the main three plus Ishgard. I always kind of assumed, if Lady Yugiri wound up near Ul'dah first, then Limsa was probably hell-and-gone from any happenings to do with them (in fact, maybe it's just me, but through ARR as a whole, Limsa felt like it had zero to do with much of anything).

Also, I know Ul'dah was kind of a primary focus throughout almost all of ARR's storyline. Does that trend continue on afterward? Or does it eventually get put on the backburner? Do Limsa or Gridania get any special focus later on, particularly in relation to stuff going on in Stormblood? (also; is Othard the nation the Xaela come from, too, or just the Raen?)

[MikkoAkure]

Does Limsa actually have any connections to Othard? Or is that just sort of implied (ie. "it's a naval city, it would make SENSE for it to trade with other cities")?

If that's a legitimate connection, that might honestly make the decision for me! I honestly don't really know where all the nations are in relation to each other, outside of the main three plus Ishgard. I always kind of assumed, if Lady Yugiri wound up near Ul'dah first, then Limsa was probably hell-and-gone from any happenings to do with them (in fact, maybe it's just me, but through ARR as a whole, Limsa felt like it had zero to do with much of anything).

Also, I know Ul'dah was kind of a primary focus throughout almost all of ARR's storyline. Does that trend continue on afterward? Or does it eventually get put on the backburner? Do Limsa or Gridania get any special focus later on, particularly in relation to stuff going on in Stormblood? (also; is Othard the nation the Xaela come from, too, or just the Raen?)

1. There is an actual boat from Limsa to Kugane that you can take.
2. There's an entire cadre of ninjas in La Noscea outside of Limsa Lominsa and the Rogue's Guild is there too.
3. Ul'dah is featured heavily in Heavensward, and comes up for a couple of bits in Stormblood and seems to be the most involved with what's going on there in regards to the Eorzean parts of the expansion. Limsa Lominsa has some involvement with the Othardian and Hingan parts.
4. Othard is a continent, not a country. The Azim Steppe and the surrounding mountains and desert are where all of the xaela come from originally, though we do meet 1 in Ishgard and it is said that many have left (sets it up for adventurers). Doma and Hingashi are both countries in Othard with sizable raen populations, and there's another population of raen in the Ruby Sea separate from both.
5. You can be whatever you want, where ever you want. Limsa may make the most sense and have the most synergy with a character from the East, but stories you could make up for why your xaela is elsewhere could be interesting too!

[Yllania]

Well with loloritos business I could see some being in uldah, especially if you want to go for working in said business as a background. Id say pick a class from whatever starter town you pick.

[Iscah]

For working out your Xaela character's origins, have a read through the naming conventions page, which has a list of all the Xaela tribes.

If you're following proper naming conventions, they will have a traditional Mongolian first name and use their tribe as their surname.

[Ramesses]

I know that technically *any* starting city or grand company can work for any race. However, we've generally seen that certain locations are more likely to harbor certain races than others.

My knowledge of the Au Ra characters in the Lore is admittedly somewhat limited; I've not really played since right around the time Heavensward was released. I've read up on all the Xaela tribe names, and I know you get to interact with the Xaela in some capacity during Stormblood, but not much in the way of details.

I recently got my dad to try the game, and so far he's been loving it, so I *REALLY* want to come to a conclusion on this.

I would say that, right now, I'm sort of caught between "a Xaela Gladiator starting in Ul'dah who joins the Immortal Flames", or "a Xaela Marauder who starts in Limsa Lominsa who joined the Maelstrom". However, I'm totally open to other suggestions; those just seem the more "fitting" options for the race so far.

Would you guys mind offering your input, and if you don't mind, also your reasoning for said choice?

Limsa Lominsa... join the Maelstrom... and then be proud to have a leader like the Admiral.