Warrior Lore (Is it a thing?)

[Anonymoose]

The WAR who gives you the quests tells you what lore remains. In some cases, "job of eld" means "there aren't many of these in existence, anymore", which naturally means that there's not much information about them left, either.

The Basics

The Roegadyn that settled the far north of Aldenard, the Farreach, came to believe that their highly volcanic region contained the gates to the hells, thus their clan name - the Hellsguard. It's likely that these red-skinned Roegadyn are a recent branch from their Sea Wolf ancestors, as their lore doesn't seem to go back as far and they, too, use the axes common to those of the sea. One might imagine that Sea Wolves came from the north and some opted to stay in the volcanic Farreach, later adapting to become Hellsguard the same way the Lalafell adapted from the plains of the south seas to the dunes of Thanalan.

Their clan spawned a long line of warriors that perfected batting with a different style of axemanship - one that channels an unwieldy and animalistic inner strength that many fail to ever fully control. Over time, they also developed a unique design of armor (which Rowena has since copied), as well as an axe that reflected their discipline - the Bravura, made of metal from the heavens forged in the fires of the earth - whose design has mostly been lost to time. However, the lands of the Farreach aren't very good farmland, so they traveled as mercenaries to return with goods. In recent days, though, many have shunned the old teachings and moved to the cities (especially Ul'dah) to work as common sellswords. These Hellsguard tend to "translate" their names into the Eorzean tongue.

In modern Eorzea, most combat disciplines are basic and highly specialized for regional use; they're formidable, but not powerful enough to combat the threats to the continent. As such, the powerful Jobs of Eld are being resurrected, which has made Curious Gorge eager to restore and spread the teachings of his clan of warriors... if those that would teach it can tame his own inner beasts.

[Vergill]

And that is where our character (conveniently, the only warrior who had managed to subdue his own inner beast to date) comes in, i suppose? Didn't finish the warrior questline, mind you; am doing the 50+ quests right now, so i'm still seeing the story marching on. It is possible that the Echo or the blessing of Hydaelyn/ blessing of Midgardsomr to turn easier for one to control his inner beast?

[Anonymoose]

And that is where our character comes in, i suppose?

Yep. Every would-be teacher needs a student, and every would-be beats-Eorzea's-enemies-with-a-big-axe-er needs a teacher.

It is possible that the Echo or the blessing of Hydaelyn / blessing of Midgardsomr to turn easier for one to control his inner beast?

The Echo and the Blessing of Light seem to be directly connected, while all Midgardsormr did was block our access to the Blessing (a block which we overcame). Patch 2.5 made it obvious that the Echo and Blessing were different (seeing as Midgardsormr blocked one but not the other), but then when Krile showed up, Alphinaud talked about them like they were the same thing - the Blessing protected her from the Ultima-like magic that destroyed Val, and thus she has the Echo.

Right now, my theory is that there's just a gradation of Hydaelyn's gift: The entire group of Hydaelyn's potentially-chosen starts with the Echo, but not everyone learns what it is or how it works, and fewer still resolve to do anything with it. Those who embrace the Echo and walk the path Hydaelyn intends are gifted with a Crystal of Light, and through that crystal Hydaelyn can channel Her power and protection. The highest tier, the rarest - not even seen every cycle of the eras, it seems - is a Warrior of Light, who is able to obtain Crystals of Light from every element and channel extraordinary empowerment and protection, though it costs Hydaelyn dearly.

Whether it be the Echo, the Blessing, or the Warrior of Light status, something in the gifts is akin to some pretty l33t h4x. If you can Game Genie your way to becoming the second concurrently living Azure Dragoon, it's not so strange that it could aid in overcoming the "inner beast". However, who's to say it's not your power alone? Something made you worthy of being chosen as a Warrior of Light. Something makes you strong enough to draw all six Crystals of Light to you. Something leads you to kick Nabriales' ass and overcome Midgardormr's barriers unaided. Maybe you are just plain old good 'nuff all on your own.

[Enkidoh]

One might imagine that Sea Wolves came from the north and some opted to stay in the volcanic Farreach, later adapting to become Hellsguard the same way the Lalafell adapted from the plains of the south seas to the dunes of Thanalan.

I just want to add one thing to your excellent description Moose, but it was officially confirmed a long time ago that the Sea Wolves did in fact originate in the north of Hydaelyn. The main FFXIV site has stated this clearly since before ARR's launch:

Roegadyn

The Roegadyn are easily identified by their massive, muscular frames. They are descended from a maritime people that roamed the northern seas, though many of their ancestors turned their longships south to brave the crossing into Eorzean waters.

This also explains why the flag of Limsa Lominsa features a Viking-style longboat instead of a more 'modern' looking vessel - it's the style of boat the Sea Wolf ancestors of those who founded Limsa first used to arrive in Eorzea. But I digress...

[Anonymoose]

I just want to add one thing to your excellent description Moose, but it was officially confirmed a long time ago that the Sea Wolves did in fact originate in the north of Hydaelyn.

Aha! I forgot the wordings on the main site were different! I was going by the Character Creation lobby for Sea Wolves:

The Sea Wolves originally hail from the islands of the far north seas, where they still subsist as fishermen and women.

I suppose a better wording would be, "One might imagine that when Sea Wolves came from the north, and some opted to stay in the volcanic Farreach", lol. Thanks for the polish.

This also explains why the flag of Limsa Lominsa features a Viking-style longboat instead of a more 'modern' looking vessel - it's the style of boat the Sea Wolf ancestors of those who founded Limsa first used to arrive in Eorzea.

I will see your digression, and raise you a way longer one that's barely tangentially related to this thread.

I've no doubt you're onto something with the symbolism, but I always try to leave a little bit of wiggle room when it comes to the founding of Limsa Lominsa.

Even for all the Sea Wolf history and symbolism you find in in the Veil today, the city's mythology hints that it was founded by southerners. For starters, the Galadion's helmsmen, Jean De Nevelle and Guy La Thagran, had decidedly un-Roegadyn-like names.

But then there's the legend of the Galadion itself, which hasn't been told in its complete form since, like, 2010. There was a kingdom so far south "it would take a man half his life to sail to her shores", and this kingdom had an invincible armada of four thousand battleships. They conquered every city for a thousand leagues and dominated the seas. However, so accustomed to being on the offensive, this kingdom was at a loss for strategy when invaded by an armada not unlike their own. They were utterly defeated - their cities burned - and only their fleetest ships were able to escape. This defeated armada, sailing blind and fearful into the night, was swept up by a storm (that some swear was sent by Llymlaen herself) and shattered upon the rocks of southwestern La Noscea.

I never did find the information that links that up with all the Sea Wolves. Were they the other Armada? Or did they simply come to Limsa afterwards and assist in its thriving as a fishing village? Or did they only show up later to help transform it from fishing village to pirate capital? Or is the tale we've been told as dubious as the claim that the Mizzenmast, the enormous central spire of Limsa Lominsa, was made from the actual ship's actual Mizzenmast?

Do you remember anything? ... I suppose the lore book might clear it up...

EDIT
<dons darksteelfoil hat> If racial tension hit its peak in Eorzea due to the Hyur coming in huge migratory waves between 400 and 1000 Sixth Astral, and if the Galadion crashed around 872, and if the Sea Wolves ended up primarily in Vylbrand, perhaps the tale is told about the southern kingdom from the perspective of the Roegadyn who consolidated there! Assuming the French-like names of the Galadion helmsmen implied that they were Elezen, and assuming racial tension as as big of a pull as a push, they'd have made their way to the Highlands by then...