Auri and Ishgard, can we truly be allies?

[Niwashi]

It doesn't really matter if the Au'Ra actually are part Dravanian though. Ishgardian society is anti-dragon to the point that they hunt down and kill anything that even resembles a dragon. It's very much a cultural witch-hunt in their society. The Au'Ra having horns and scales will instantly cause the Ishgardians to see them as being in league with Dravania. Remember Aymeric and Lucia asking you to keep quiet about speaking to Midgardsormr as they knew it would cause the Holy See to regard you with suspicion? For me personally this is why Yugiri's reveal was handled poorly as it would make no sense for Ishgard not to grow suspicious of her once she had revealed her true nature.

I'm with Alberel on this part. Even if Au Ra have nothing to do with Dravania and aren't even dragon related, but demonic or derived from some other reptilian race, Ishgardians are still going to regard anything with horns and scales as highly suspect at the very least, and more likely with open hostility. These are people who take any hint of even possible dravainian contact as cause to throw people off cliffs.

[Dalvy]

It would pretty hard to waive away Au Ra looking suspiciously like the thing you were taught to hate from day 1. There has to be something plausible and lore-friendly worked out behind the scenes for this to happen. The most likely thing I can see occuring is that Alphi and the survivion Scions envoke protection rights over them, for being Domans.

[Viridiana]

For the record though we have had multiple clues already that the Au'Ra are indeed half Dravanian; the most obvious being the story of Shiva sleeping with a dragon at the same time we're introduced to a half-draconic race. Whilst it has still not been outright confirmed, saying 'nothing so far has indicated that' is completely false.

Starting with this part. The story of Shiva sleeping with a dragon has numerous problems. First, this is the side of the story written by her most vehement enemies and is thus already suspect as slander and/or propoganda. Second, this detail of the story is the only thing her opponents agree on, which casts further doubt onto it. At this point, it's starting to look like she might not even have been an actual historic person. Third, this act, if it occured, would have been after the start of the Dragonsong War about 1,000 years ago. I don't think that's long enough to migrate to a new continent and populate to the point we're expecting to see, nevermind the effect that migration itself and a war or two would have on a fledgling race. Fourth, you're assuming that the union was fertile, and that the offspring were fertile, and that the offspring found mates who weren't each other (and that these unions were still fertile). Fifth, you're assuming that even if the union were fertile, that the Holy See didn't have her executed on the spot. These are the same people that you've pointed out will kill anything that even resembles a dragon, and you think they let her escape?

It doesn't really matter if the Au'Ra actually are part Dravanian though. Ishgardian society is anti-dragon to the point that they hunt down and kill anything that even resembles a dragon. It's very much a cultural witch-hunt in their society. The Au'Ra having horns and scales will instantly cause the Ishgardians to see them as being in league with Dravania. Remember Aymeric and Lucia asking you to keep quiet about speaking to Midgardsormr as they knew it would cause the Holy See to regard you with suspicion? For me personally this is why Yugiri's reveal was handled poorly as it would make no sense for Ishgard not to grow suspicious of her once she had revealed her true nature.

For Yugiri specifically, it could be argued that she stayed hidden, or it could be argued that Haurchefant and/or Aymeric are willing to stake their lives on Yugiri being trustworthy. While I'm more inclined to believe the former, I do think a case could be made for the latter. Remember, Aymeric has a pure blooded Garlean second in command, and few of us doubt he's aware of it.

As for the rest of the Au Ra, it remains to be seen how SE will handle it, you're right.

[myahele]

Perhaps Nidgogg's eye allows for dragons to mate with humans. His figurative (maybe even litteral) balls, it you will?

That's why all parties need it

[Nestama]

No, Shiva introduced us to the origin of the Au ra, half dragons, half men, but she might not be the first, meaning someone is Othard laid with a Dragon thousands of years before and that led to Yugiri.

That is all fan speculation. For all we know, the Au Ra could be the unholy lovechild of a man and a demon (since the male horns are similar to the Taurs and the females are already confirmed to have an option to look like a succubus. The succubus themselves even have those boney scale things going for them).

[Frederick22]

Remember Aymeric and Lucia asking you to keep quiet about speaking to Midgardsormr as they knew it would cause the Holy See to regard you with suspicion?.

Adding that coment you said is wrong too. Was not those 2 characters that told us to keep quiet. It was Minfilia who said we have to be keep quiet about our talk to Midgar to Lucia and Aymeric. The didnt told us to shus, Minfilia told us to shus the situation from them.

[Alberel]

Starting with this part. The story of Shiva sleeping with a dragon has numerous problems. First, this is the side of the story written by her most vehement enemies and is thus already suspect as slander and/or propoganda. Second, this detail of the story is the only thing her opponents agree on, which casts further doubt onto it. At this point, it's starting to look like she might not even have been an actual historic person. Third, this act, if it occured, would have been after the start of the Dragonsong War about 1,000 years ago. I don't think that's long enough to migrate to a new continent and populate to the point we're expecting to see, nevermind the effect that migration itself and a war or two would have on a fledgling race. Fourth, you're assuming that the union was fertile, and that the offspring were fertile, and that the offspring found mates who weren't each other (and that these unions were still fertile). Fifth, you're assuming that even if the union were fertile, that the Holy See didn't have her executed on the spot. These are the same people that you've pointed out will kill anything that even resembles a dragon, and you think they let her escape?



For Yugiri specifically, it could be argued that she stayed hidden, or it could be argued that Haurchefant and/or Aymeric are willing to stake their lives on Yugiri being trustworthy. While I'm more inclined to believe the former, I do think a case could be made for the latter. Remember, Aymeric has a pure blooded Garlean second in command, and few of us doubt he's aware of it.

As for the rest of the Au Ra, it remains to be seen how SE will handle it, you're right.

To respond to your points on Shiva in order:
* Her laying with a dragon may be false, but it may also be true. At this point we have no way of knowing either way so there's no grounds here to dismiss speculation about her siring the Au'Ra race.
* If anything I would say the detail they agree on is the most likely to be the actual truth, whilst everything else is individual embellishment. Remember that Dravanians can take human form. What Shiva is accused of is not impossible.
* The Domans are not the Au'Ra. I keep seeing this argument used regarding them not being able to populate to those numbers in a thousand years but as we've already seen the majority of the Domans are Hyur. The Au'Ra may actually be comparatively small in number; we don't know either way on this one yet so again it's not grounds to dismiss any speculation.
* Yes, I'm assuming fertility and further breeding to propagate the species. This is a fantasy world full of magic. There's nothing stopping this being possible unless the writers have drawn up special Eorzean rules of biology that I don't know about. Add to that the fact that the Au'Ra live in a multi-racial society where they would appear to be accepted entirely without prejudice. What's to stop the Au'Ra having relationships with the Hyur citizens of Doma?
* Who's to say what the circumstances were of Shiva's capture and execution? We know very little of this so, once again, we know nothing so far that makes it impossible for her to have had children as a result of her union with a Dravanian. She may not have been caught until after she'd already given birth.

I will reiterate that this is merely speculation. We have no real way of knowing one way or the other on this until it's confirmed in-game or by Koji. From a story-writing perspective though introducing a hybrid race alongside a story element involving a forbidden inter-racial union strikes me as more than just coincidence.

I do agree though that Aymeric and Haurchefant are the more liberal members of Ishgardian society, and thus would be the most likely to regard Yugiri with an open mind. I'm hoping that the early parts of the 3.0 story will address the way the rest of Ishgard should perceive her.

Adding that coment you said is wrong too. Was not those 2 characters that told us to keep quiet. It was Minfilia who said we have to be keep quiet about our talk to Midgar to Lucia and Aymeric. The didnt told us to shus, Minfilia told us to shus the situation from them.

You may be right on this, I don't recall exactly who it was. Either way it doesn't change my point; it is widely known how the Ishgardians treat anyone who has had even the slightest association with a dragon. Heaven forbid you actually look like one!

[Iromi]

Yoshida never really told us what they are. All we know as of right now is we can make them look super cute or "succubus and demon like" according to what he said at PAX! But unless if I missed it somewhere, I don't think they ever mentioned them being dragons or draconian o.o

[Belhi]

I think the Au Ra are linked to dragons but I don't see this being common knowledge in the short term.

We know however that one way or another the Ishgardians accept the Au Ra enough to let some inside their city. The reality may be they don't really have a choice in the matter. Ishgard is rather desperate for reinforcements. While their wards weren't completely destroyed, they were greatly weakened and dragons have now gotten into the city on at least one occasion. With the state of the other city states, Ishgard may have no choice but to accept what aid they can, be it Free Companies or Doman refugees.

Consider this. Imagine a bunch of ships carrying Doman Au Ra turn up. Yugiri did say more Domans were out there. Now Revenant's Toll has gotten pretty full. The Ishgardians need warm battle capable bodies to help defend their lands. Out of necessity they allow the Domans to settle, at least temporarily, within Ishgardian territory, in return for military support. After all, regardless what they look like they aren't Dravanian.

[Frederick22]

To respond to your points on Shiva in order:
* Remember that Dravanians can take human form.

Dravanias can take human form??!! I saw heretics using an spell to become dragons, but that is just temporal. But I never hear of the oposite. Where have you found this info ?