In need of Garlean Lore

[Foofy]

I enjoy Garlean lore but I have not been able to get a hold of the Lorebook for myself just yet. I have been reading the forums and it seems most of the Garlean lore gets pulled offtopic to something else so I wanted to discuss it here in a separate thread to try and keep it all together for myself and anyone else who may have a question.

Able to confirm the headcannon out there that has all Pure Blooded Garleans have Blonde hair and Blue eyes? So far people state nothing is in the book but all the pictures of Garleans are showing Blonde hair and Blue eyes.

Another thread has down that Garleans (Very few) are actually able to use their aether(?) - Speculation as to perhaps the Emperor and his bloodline being able to do this or do you feel it is being able to push aether through their magitek as a back up to Cereulum? Or even so much that only well versed Garleans high up in the military can use it but do so in secret?

[myahele]

Having blonde to silver hair might be common and blue eyes might be a common physical trait.

Varis seems to have light yellowish eyes, atleast

[Louvain]

Having blonde to silver hair might be common and blue eyes might be a common physical trait.

Varis seems to have light yellowish eyes, atleast

Lucia's eyes are green, not blue. There is also the strong possibility that Livia also had green eyes as it is mentioned that Livia and Lucia look extremely similar.

-snip-[/url]

I've wondered about this too. It could mean by those born without the third eye (ie people like Jesse who are "Garlean" but not specifically of that "race" if that makes any sense. It's entirely dependent if they mean "Garlean" as in a citizen, or the race specifically)...but who knows?
The magitek development was because they were forced into unfavorable conditions and the ceruleum was the most abundant resource. By way of a lucky discovery, it went from keeping them warm to helping them take over continents.

[Theodric]

In a bit of a rush so I won't quote people directly to save time. Apologies in advance if this post ends up being difficult to follow!So far pretty much every Pureblood that we've seen has boasted either white, blond or silver hair. Eye colour is more varied - with variants of blue being more common with the occasional example of green and yellow.

It's possible that we'll see even more examples of variations moving forward so I'd be very cautious about settling on any head canon just yet. With that said, though, the lore book did end up confirming a lot of my own head canon in regards to their culture and background.

As far as the criticism and claims regarding their supposed need to 'compensate' I strongly disagree. They were pushed around and forced to migrate into a hostile, barely hospitable environment and over time they made it their own. Despite being few in number they - with the help of magitek - struck back and proved that they were a force to be reckoned with.

When one considers all the strife that has arose from Eikons/Primals their stance on religion makes quite a bit of sense. In addition, it also makes sense when you consider that Ishgard exploited religion to justify their war against Nidhogg and his kind.

Garleans being revealed to have some capacity for magic - albeit as a rare affair - doesn't strike me as something that would be an oversight. To me it seems like it's something intentional that will play into the story moving forward. This might explain why Lucia casts 'Cure' on the Steps of Faith and also why Regula was able to teleport out of harm's way on two occasions.

Personally I'm hoping that at some point it'll serve as the means to introduce Pureblood Garleans as a potential playable race at some point in the future. If they ever go through with the plan to expand the character creation system and add more distinct 'Clans' for each race then 'Garleans' would be well suited to an additional type of Hyur.

Granted I may be repeating stuff that has already been put forward but the above is my rambling for today.

[Foofy]

It's possible that we'll see even more examples of variations moving forward so I'd be very cautious about settling on any head canon just yet. With that said, though, the lore book did end up confirming a lot of my own head canon in regards to their culture and background.

May I have your head cannons please? Especially if they have been confirmed. A lot of the Garlean Roleplayers I run in to or know about keep to themselves. :<

[Theodric]

-snip-

Sure! I actually put forward the theory a few times that the Garleans may have begun their campaign to conquer out of necessity/desperation rather than because they're 'evil'. I also suspected that they hold efficiency in high regard - which is also confirmed within the lore book. Then there's minor things such as as Garlean flag having a special meaning. I didn't have much clue as to what that meaning was but the lore book states that it is meant to honour those who have fallen for the sake of the Garlemald's cause.

I also suspected that there would be a lot of political intrigue going on behind the scenes. Which, other than adding another layer of complexity to things, opens up the possibility for different factions within Garlemald desiring different things and maybe working with the Warrior of Light directly without being defectors. There's a stray bit of dialogue in Sophia's quest chain regarding someone in Garlemald scheming against Regula due to his success and genuine merit being rewarded by the Emperor himself.

[Foofy]

Yeah, I could see the Plat Blonde to Dirty Blonde coloring out of all the characters I have seen as Garleans in game. But the Emperor one always looked yellow to me so I couldn't fully believe it to be a Garlean Traitor to only have blue yes.

[Enkidoh]

As far as the 'very few pure-born Garleans are able to use magic' could either possibly be an error (given that there are acknowledged minor typos and errors in the Lorebook), or it could be merely a narrative embellishment, 'very few' being shorthand for 'none at all'. After all, it has been repeatedly stated even on this forum by Ferne that Garleans are simply incapable of manipulating aether (read: using magic) in their bodies and that it would in fact prove fatal for them to do so if they tried.

Of course it's also just as possible that it's exactly as it states and that one in a million native born Garleans might find they've been blessed (or cursed, as more likely the case for a Garlean), with the ability to manipulate aether and thus use magic, just as there is the possibility of Garleans becoming awoken to the Echo, but the statistical likelihood of that would probably be extremely low.

Either way, their lack of magical aptitude is the Freudian excuse for instead developing magitek technology and half the reason for their zealous crusade against the Primals and the beastmen - it's simply Garlean insecurities and a need to "compensate for lacking something else."

[Foofy]

Either way, their lack of magical aptitude is the Freudian excuse for instead developing magitek technology and half the reason for their zealous crusade against the Primals and the beastmen - it's simply Garlean insecurities and a need to "compensate for lacking something else."

I always took the Garlean's need to conquer as a means to purge the world and rebuild it in their image. A means to ensure that the future of the world is safe; even if there is no one to live upon it but as long as it always had a chance to spark new life.

[Morningstar1337]

Surprised Theodric isn't here yet. He seems to be the one most suited to this topic. (plus I want to hear what he has to say in response to Enkidoh's comments )