Why do all the residents of Tailfeather have clawed hands?

[secretsofthelily]

If you look closely at the residents of Tailfeather, they all have sharp clawlike fingernails, even on the ones that wear normally-unclawed gloves. Even the skywatcher has claws.

Is there a reason for this? Is it ever explained? Is it a dragon thing? A chocobo thing? Are they werewolves? Or is it just meant to indicate that hunters have poor nail care?

Me and my friends have been wondering about this for months.

[KageTokage]

Maybe the false nails are just handy for hunters somehow.

[AmemeAmeklin]

Okay, I am looking at them right now and I can tell you the following...

Skywatcher is wearing something called Ehcatl Wristgloves (custom colored), which are from the Ixali and come with long nails to help crafting (somehow?). Cursory inspection of the rest shows that they are wearing the same thing, though it's covered up by sleeves.

My guess is that they chose these because they are feathered and this is Tailfeather. Bird nerds!

[Vidu]

Skywatcher is wearing something called Ehcatl Wristgloves (custom colored), which are from the Ixali and come with long nails to help crafting (somehow?).

In regards to that my theory would be that the gloves design isnt primarly supposed to help crafting but rather to mimic the claws/hands of the ixal themself. Seeing how the tribe we get to know better consist of a lot of skilled crafters, it would make sense for them to assume that their own "hands" are well designed for crafting and that everyone who wants to craft as good as them needs similar hands. So in order to help us they designed those gloves that mimic their hands, allowing us to craft just as good as they do (...even if we might actually be better off without those claws - but psssst! dont tell them, that would be rude!)