Gyr Abania
The Fringes
EN Ouzelum
EN Ouzelum
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5000Lore
Ouzelum is a gagana of frightening size, his beak sickle-sharp and often strung with the gore of his latest victim. His stunted wings could never lift his bulk, but do not think yourself safe on higher ground-the bird's powerful legs propel him over the largest boulders with ease.
For the Ananta and the M tribe of the Fringes, this flesh-craving terror has proven a constant threat to safety and sanity.
In fact, several years ago there was a string of incidents involving the disappearance of the M tribe's young. When the Miqo'te followed the trail of the suspected kidnapper, it led to one of Ouzelum's known haunts and a heart-wrenching pile of small, gnawed bones...
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EN Shadow-dweller Yamini
EN Shadow-dweller Yamini
Lore
Amongst the Qalyana there was a maiden known as Yamini. Born under a star of resplendent arcane bounty, her potent magicks brought her to the unfortunate attention of imperial recruiters.
Alliance spies determined that they took the Ananta lass to a well-secured corner of Ala Mhigo, where they imprisoned her inside a testing facility.
What foul experiments they performed upon her, I cannot say, but when she was at last released, Yamini had lost all semblance of her former self. She dwelled in a place of shadow, existing only to bring harm unto others.
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The Peaks
EN Buccaboo
EN Buccaboo
Lore
The fisherfolk what drop their lines in the rivers here in the Peaks have a custom o' leavin' behind a part o' their catch on the banks-a way to express their gratitude to nature, or summat.
Well, a muud suud runt by the name o' Buccaboo was certainly grateful, since eatin' them fish is how he survived exile from his clan.
One day, though, he decided it'd be quicker to snatch his meals straight from the fisherfolk themselves. He grew larger an' larger, an' eventually the fish weren't enough to satisfy him. That's when he moved on to man-flesh...
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EN Gwas-y-neidr
EN Gwas-y-neidr
Lore
Amongst the kongamato, it's the lady bugs what are the biggest an' the strongest.
Violent an' voracious, they'll mate with a male an' then eat the poor bastard for supper.
Now, Gwas-y-neidr, she's the worst o' the lot. Bleedin' huge, she is, on account of all the suitors she's devoured. That's the sort o' woman ye'd best court with a naked blade!
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The Lochs
EN Kiwa
EN Kiwa
Lore
Loch Seld is home to a yabby of immense proportions known as “Kiwa.”
The naturalist who requested the creature be registered as a mark was also responsible for its appellation-a name taken from “the south sea isles god of crustaceans,” or so she claimed.
Search though I might, however, I could find no reference to such a deity. Mayhap it is some academic jest I do not understand.
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EN Manes
EN Manes
Lore
Wherever men gather, one hears rumors. Like the tale of the vast subterranean prison hidden beneath the city of Ala Mhigo.
My own sources tell me its cells held many Ala Mhigan nobles, incarcerated by the mad king Theodoric on the mere suspicion of rebellion. Before their vassals could free them, however, the Empire's invasion began.
The imperials knew naught of the dungeon beneath their feet, and thus did its prisoners waste away in darkness. It is said that the souls of these unburied and unmourned nobles wander yet, tethered to this realm by their suffering...
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Othard
The Ruby Sea
EN Gauki Strongblade
EN Gauki Strongblade
Lore
I trust you are aware of the Red Kojin, and their avaricious rampages across the Ruby Sea?
The worst of these raiders is a vicious brute known as Gauki Strongblade.
He is suspected of murdering as many as eight Hingan fisherfolk, his weapon stayed nary a moment by their pleas for mercy. But do not dismiss him as a simple savage-Gauki's skill with the sword is undeniable.
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EN Guhuo Niao
EN Guhuo Niao
Lore
In the carnival tents of Kugane, I have seen hornbills trained to mimic the speech of men.
Such a trick seems harmless enough, until you hear of the birds' wild cousin.
There is a cunning cloudkin known as Guhuo Niao which has taught itself a sinister way of hunting. Whimpering and wailing in the voice of a swaddling babe, it lures in its unsuspecting prey. The victims are found torn and pale, their bodies all but drained of blood...
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Yanxia
EN Deidar
EN Deidar
Lore
The legends of the Far East tell of a giant by the name of Deidar. Our tale, however, begins with a man.
Now, had this man simply dreamed of building a statue of the legendary colossus, all might have been well. But he was an onmyoji of dubious skill, and he succeeded in imbuing his clay sculpture with the spirit of a shikigami.
In Eorzea his creation might have been called a golem. I would call it a failure. Thanks to the onmyoji's clumsy rituals, only the head came to life... It rolled free of its giant shoulders, and now waddles around the land in search of a more suitable body.
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EN Gyorai Quickstrike
EN Gyorai Quickstrike
Lore
The Namazu are a beast tribe who have long inhabited the riverlands of the Far East. By and large they are a friendly sort, and welcome the trade of men.
There are those among them, however, who have resisted the encroachments of civilization. These wild Namazu are considered dangerous, as they often turn their scaled hands to banditry.
The worst of these bandits was once a peaceful merchant who succumbed to feral instincts, and fell into a life of villainous savagery. With a sad shake of the head and an uncontrollable shudder do folk speak the name of Gyorai Quickstrike.
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The Azim Steppe
EN Aswang
EN Aswang
Lore
A merchant visiting from beyond the steppes claimed he was attacked by a monster from the sky.
At first we thought he spoke of a yol or a muu shuwuu, but the trader insisted that it was neither of these. “A giant winged lizard,” he said, in the face of much laughter.
And yet his was not the last sighting of this fantastic beast. Forced to accept the truth of its existence, we call it by the word the merchant taught us in his native tongue: Aswang.
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EN Kurma
EN Kurma
Lore
On the Azim Steppe, the matamatas are venerated for their longevity. To hunt one of these stately creatures is a great honor.
The matamatas, however, are not so easily hunted. And even amongst their enduring number, there is one whose long trail of life is strewn with the bodies of those who sought to claim his shell.
The steppe hunters call him “Kurma,” the name spoken with hushed reverence. If you would hunt this mark, then do so with the respect this venerable legend deserves.
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