Au Ra
The curved horns and beautifully patterned scales that characterize the Au Ra often give rise to speculation that this Hyur-like race native to the Far Eastern continent of Othard are, in fact, the progeny of dragons. This has long been disputed, with scholars citing several distinct differences as evidence of decidedly dissimilar roots—the foremost being the enhanced hearing and spatial recognition granted by an Au Ra's cranial projections (traits not attributed to draconian horns), and the second being the blatant disproportion of body mass between Auri males and females (again, a trait widely unseen in dragons).
Some Au Ra possess luminous limbal rings (the outer edge of the eye's iris, which is normally darker than the rest of the iris).
There are two different types of Au Ra: the light-scaled Raen and the dark-scaled Xaela.
Auri creation myth tells of a Dawn Father and a Dusk Mother from whom all Au Ra are descended. The Raen believe their veins to run thick with the blood of the former—their brilliant white scales and iron wills serving as proof of this divine lineage.
Unlike their sister clan, the Xaela, who bloody the land with their endless tribal conflict, the Raen have embraced a life of tranquility and solitude, long abandoning the nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors to settle the deep valleys of Othard's mountainous eastern reaches. Only on rare occasions will one emerge from the valley mists to seek adventure in realms afar.
Raen can also be found in Nagxia, in Othard's south. Yet more Raen live to the west, on the continent of Ilsabard, such as in the nations of Corvos and Radz-at-Han. Some Corvosi Raen traveled even further west, near the border with Eorzea, and helped establish the nation of Werlyt.
Auri creation myth tells of a Dawn Father (Azim) and a Dusk Mother (Nhaama) from whom all Au Ra are descended. The Xaela believe their veins to run thick with the blood of the latter—their lustrous black scales and fiery wills serving as proof of this divine lineage.
Unlike their sister clan, the Raen, who lead solitary lives hidden behind the savage peaks of Othard's eastern reaches, the Xaela are free spirits who roam the vast western steppe (Azim Steppe) in close-knit tribes hunting, gathering, and warring as their ancestors have for countless generations.
The Xaela have dozens of tribes (numbering around 51) centered in the Azim Steppe, the most notable and powerful being the Oronir. There are also several neutral clans, such as the mute mercantile Qestir and the wandering spiritual Mol.
Every year, most (though not all) of these tribes meet upon the fields of the Steppe and engage in a battle for supremacy, with the tribe that claims the Ovoo (a magical marker that indicates the center of the field) being declared the victor. Whichever tribe member personally claims the Ovoo is declared Khagan of the Steppe tribes, which affords them and their clan many benefits. The Khagan is essentially the leader of all the clans, and they and their tribe may enforce their will upon the defeated clans, such as demanding tithes or restricting trade. If the Khagan orders the clans to march to war, they are expected to follow.
Some Au Ra possess luminous limbal rings (the outer edge of the eye's iris, which is normally darker than the rest of the iris).
Clans
There are two different types of Au Ra: the light-scaled Raen and the dark-scaled Xaela.
Raen
Auri creation myth tells of a Dawn Father and a Dusk Mother from whom all Au Ra are descended. The Raen believe their veins to run thick with the blood of the former—their brilliant white scales and iron wills serving as proof of this divine lineage.
Unlike their sister clan, the Xaela, who bloody the land with their endless tribal conflict, the Raen have embraced a life of tranquility and solitude, long abandoning the nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors to settle the deep valleys of Othard's mountainous eastern reaches. Only on rare occasions will one emerge from the valley mists to seek adventure in realms afar.
Raen can also be found in Nagxia, in Othard's south. Yet more Raen live to the west, on the continent of Ilsabard, such as in the nations of Corvos and Radz-at-Han. Some Corvosi Raen traveled even further west, near the border with Eorzea, and helped establish the nation of Werlyt.
Xaela
Auri creation myth tells of a Dawn Father (Azim) and a Dusk Mother (Nhaama) from whom all Au Ra are descended. The Xaela believe their veins to run thick with the blood of the latter—their lustrous black scales and fiery wills serving as proof of this divine lineage.
Unlike their sister clan, the Raen, who lead solitary lives hidden behind the savage peaks of Othard's eastern reaches, the Xaela are free spirits who roam the vast western steppe (Azim Steppe) in close-knit tribes hunting, gathering, and warring as their ancestors have for countless generations.
The Xaela have dozens of tribes (numbering around 51) centered in the Azim Steppe, the most notable and powerful being the Oronir. There are also several neutral clans, such as the mute mercantile Qestir and the wandering spiritual Mol.
Every year, most (though not all) of these tribes meet upon the fields of the Steppe and engage in a battle for supremacy, with the tribe that claims the Ovoo (a magical marker that indicates the center of the field) being declared the victor. Whichever tribe member personally claims the Ovoo is declared Khagan of the Steppe tribes, which affords them and their clan many benefits. The Khagan is essentially the leader of all the clans, and they and their tribe may enforce their will upon the defeated clans, such as demanding tithes or restricting trade. If the Khagan orders the clans to march to war, they are expected to follow.
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