Quote Originally Posted by Vyrerus View Post
Unfortunately that item description only states, "A popular >>>theory<<< is that Odin acquired the blade upon slaying an Auri warrior who was the first ever to notch his theretofore unsullied plate."
In fact, we know this theory to not be true - at least, not exactly. Odin would not have acquired the blade - he would have been acquired BY the blade. Zantetsuken is the true primal, as we discovered in the Odin trial quests. We also later learned that Zantetsuken was one of the weapons created in Baldesion Arsenal. It's been a while since I ran through the Baldesion Arsenal quests, but I believe that it was stated that the Arsenal was created by the Allagans. So, in order of appearance: Allagans -> Arsenal -> Zantetsuken. This means that the Auri warrior in the legend probably does not predate the Allagan Empire.

Quote Originally Posted by TheMightyMollusk View Post
I wouldn't take mythical dragons as an indication of real dragons having existed until you can prove that we've had real dragons on Earth at some point.
Ah, but we HAVE had real dragons! Dinosaurs!

I'm being flippant, but it's likely the case that the widespread dragon legends likely have do with the fact that dinosaur bones can be found pretty much all over the world.

In regards to kujoestars's remark that all irl creatures that reproduce asexually also reproduce sexually, consider that FFXIV dragons are VERY unlike irl creatures. Irl creatures need sexual reproduciton in order to mutate and evolve over generations - but FFXIV dragons mutate and evolve within their own (considerably long) individual lifespans. This could well negate the evolutionary advantage that sexual reproduction brings to the table.

It's worth noting, though, that in spite of this, dragons for some reason choose to be gendered, and choose to pair off into mated pairs (such as Tiamat and Bahamut). Whether these mated pairs actually do reproduce sexually, or only do it for companionship is unknown.