THIS IS OUTDATED AS OF DAWNTRAIL! UPDATES WILL WHENEVER I FEEL LIKE IT
Vieran Biology & Culture
Fanon, Overarching FF Lore & Official FFXIV Lore, Amalgamated by Ludda
[ If you wish to see a clear distinction as to what is canon or fanon, click here! ]
Index
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History
Author Ludda | Editors Adenine, Kildaroy
[ They are unaffiliated with this project. ]
Disclaimer: Certain aspects of this section are fanon and ffxii/rw lore integrated with canon.
If you wish to clearly see the difference, click here. There are also footnotes in the text.
Thousands of years ago, there existed a peculiar breed of bestial spoken known as ‘the Viera’ or ‘The People of the Wood’ as the name defines in their native tongue.¹ While history has faded memories of a once open, consolidated empire existing amongst their people, these became myths to many historians; tales all but lost to the annals of time, a fate shared by many other fallen empires. These rabbit-like men and women were later rediscovered on the southern tip of Othard within the Golmore jungle amongst highly secluded villages – secretive not only from outsiders, but even that of other neighboring Viera. These locations were hidden by a special powder known as Vision Dust, created by each clan’s designated Salve-Maker. To create this unique dust, these shamans are tasked with catching the Vorpal Bunny, a creature who only appears once every seven turns – considered also a rite of passage into the practice itself. From its tail came the reagents to create the concealing Vision Dust.The Green Word – known primarily as the long-time overarching law presiding over Golmore that binds them to their land and prohibits them from leaving its boughs³ – is in direct ties to the Viera’s connection to the Wood. The Wood is an unseen force that holds authority over these people and their livelihoods. It is not entirely discernable what the nature of the Wood and its Green Word are, as the nature of Viera being so secretive lends to little known knowledge over their most highly revered divine entity. Outside scholars have suggested it is potentially comparable to Elementals from the Black Shroud or even a force as powerful as a primal. Exiled Viera spoke of once hearing the Wood’s voice speak to them, but once leaving the confines of Her shrouding canopies, became all but deaf to Her voice forever. What the Wood does for them outside of speaking wisdom primarily to their Elders and protecting them with their laws is unknown, though some believe it to be a divine feminine force keen on non-interference.
As time progressed, some of these Golmoran beastfolk grew dissatisfied with their isolationist society within the Wood. Choosing to go against the almost monastic lifestyle they were accustomed to, some northern tribes migrated into the mountainous taiga regions of Skatay, outside of the Green Words safety. Unlike their predecessors, these migrants were more open to the other races of Hydaelyn. Chief among them were their western neighbors, where the kingdom of Ivalice once resided. This acceptance and intermingling of peoples resulted in mixed Viera children, dubbed Feol. This name came as an homage to the Ivalician myth of Feolthanos, an elder god who conceived with a full-blooded Viera to make the first mixed-race of their kind.⁴ Despite the dilution of their bestial heritage, Feol would always be born with Vieran features, while potentially taking some secondary features from their non-Vieran parent – such as hair colour, skin colour, and eye colour.
As the years came and went, the Viera who left the jungles became drastically different from their sisters who remained in Golmore, be it either due to natural selection or environment¹ᵃ, thus causing the distinctive divide in racial clan: the Veena of Skatay and the Rava of Golmore. As the Veena expanded northward in efforts to claim resources, they sought to reunite with their ancestral home. Seeking to create amicable relations with the Rava, they reached out to trade with their native kin. Devoutly strict to their solitary traditions in concert with the Green Word, the Rava villages received their offers apprehensively, but did not wish to outright abandon their sisters in the north. In a desire to come to agreeable terms, it was decided upon by both clans that further mixed-breeding be forbidden if they wished to stay in connection. Fran of the Eryut stated that the Feol became "the Exiled" as they are seen as abominations by their full-blooded kin.⁴ It was also stated their particular kind didn't obey the rules of the Green Word, perhaps as a result of being born outside the Wood’s domain. As time passed, the Veena bloodlines thickened once more with Vieran blood, but the distinctive traits of varying eye colours, hair colours and fair skin was a lingering mark of their ancestors straying from the blessed silver tresses and umber skin of their Rava roots. Many Veena to this day freely come and go from their villages²ᵃ, either as a result of their Feol heritage or war having touched the southwestern caps of the Skatay foothills displacing them. While it is uncommon, Veena and Rava are known to mate with each other. That being said, the differing cultures, tainted hereditary line and strict divide on beliefs typically causes this to be undesirable – primarily from the Rava side. Veena ancestry within Rava clans can be noted by some kits having somewhat fairer skin than the average pureblooded Rava. This is usually the extent of recessive traits passed down through any extensively distant bloodlines.
Author Ludda | Editors Adenine, Kildaroy
Biology, Reproduction
& Sexual Culture
Disclaimer: Certain aspects of this section are fanon integrated with canon.
If you wish to clearly see the difference, click here. There are also footnotes in the text.
It is estimated that around 70-80% of Viera develop into females, with males and females being identical at birth until they leave adolescence around the ages of 13-15. Males thereon become distinguishable from females as they begin to display sexual dimorphism¹ᵇ and are identified as either a ‘jack’³ᵃ or ‘doe’ respective to their gender. The average pureblooded Viera are notably born with digitigrade feet – often with three or four toes – that incline them toward heeled shoes; as well do they have long, strong claws that have helped them in the wilderness for thousands of years. While observed to be sporadic through linegages, many are also noted to have short, tufted tails. Through the period of evolving bloodlines as a result of mixed breeding, many Vieran tribes have gone through convergent evolution, which saw the introduction of flat feet, the loss of their tails, more toes and as noted – a change of hair and skin tone.
≽ Life & Death
........Author Ludda
Disclaimer: Certain aspects of this section are fanon integrated with canon.
If you wish to clearly see the difference, click here. There are also footnotes in the text.
Viera are known to live vast lifetimes, many averaging between 240-300 years, three times that of a Hyur¹ᵇ and potentially even Elezen²ᵃ, with some especially healthy ones whispering to have lived well over two centuries. Retaining their youthful appearance for usually around two-hundred years after maturing, their age is nigh impossible to distinguish at face value. The Wandering Dramaturge is recorded mentioning Viera can “endure up to twelve score or more” turns of life, which coincides with the minimum they can often be expected to live to. While the man is renowned in his effort to study the many races and cultures across Hydaelyn, much of his knowledge pertaining to Viera is anecdotal at best, given Viera are known to be very secretive about their culture. This lower baseline likely stems from a personal encounter with a Viera at that particular age who was willing to disclose such, as it is commonplace that a great many are apprehensive to share information about their kin.¹ᵉ The Dramaturge is not a Viera himself and as such, does not have a personal understanding of the lengths in which Viera can feasibly live to. So while his data is technically correct, it is not whole.From birth onward, Viera mature at about the same rate as Hyur throughout childhood up until a certain threshold. After gaining their secondary sex characteristics and coming into their physical maturity at around 18-19 years old, the average Vieran aging process will slow to a near halt up to two centuries.³ᶜ During this time, there are periods of mental maturity that are considered throughout their lives — most young Vieran men and women are not considered adults by older Viera on a societal scale until about 50 years old, despite being physically mature. At around 150 is when most would be deemed middle aged and eventually by 300 years is when the average Viera reaches what is known as the “Death Years”, or “Áralangur Dauði (Owh-rah-lan-gr Dau-thi | Aranlangur Dauthi)” in Ravanese. It’s during this time that – for unknown reasons – the aging process slowly but surely begins again (albeit at a moderate pace) leading to the physical decline of the Viera’s body and eventual death.It is worthy of note that Viera are not incapable of appearing older despite their prolonged existence of not aging; signs of physical aging prior to Áralangur Dauði are almost entirely reliant on the level of stress the individual endures throughout their life. Viera frequently exposed to war, poor living conditions and conflict are likely to look notably older than their peers even if younger in actual years.
≽ Male Viera
........Author Ludda | Contributor Adenine
Disclaimer: Certain aspects of this section are fanon integrated with canon.
If you wish to clearly see the difference, click here. There are also footnotes in the text.
While the females also hold the mantle of defending the Wood – largely more the villages themselves and their perimeters – as well as nurture and upkeep the Wood’s growth, much of the region's protection comes from male Viera and their constant watch over Golmore’s vast floors.³ᵇ It is presumed jacks are treated much the same in Skatay, although their departure from Rava tradition could have some clans going against this in theory – there are no known clans documented that do so, but this is not to say they do not exist.A post-pubescent jack differs from a doe in a number of ways, without including his primary sexual characteristics. The reason for these disparities has been debated: some think it a result of poorer diets from their female counterparts, while others believe it to simply be the reasonable evolutionary direction, given their lifestyle.¹ᵈ Regardless, a jack is known to have a more shallow slope from his foot to his ankle coupled with an overall stouter figure leads to the average male being two to three ilms shorter than the average female. This lowered foot posture is thought to offer a slight increase in the man’s ability to grip and scale trees, at the cost of a slower sprinting speed compared to women – a trait which would prove advantageous to a jack’s lifestyle of stealth.¹ᵈ
Wood-warders
Despite being excluded from female villages, male Viera still play an important role in Viera society by taking on the mantle of Wood-warders, serving as protectors of the forest. The duty of a Wood-warder is to ensure that the domain of their tribe is untouched by outsiders, whether those outsiders are of another race or are Viera from another tribe.Male Viera return to their village every three to five years not only to mate but to claim any young males that have entered adulthood yet still live within the village, as their wards, to teach them how to survive in the wilderness on their own and without the crutch of companionship.Only after many seasons of training and strict adherence to the Word of the Wood [Green Word] will the students earn the title of master and be allowed to seek solitude.The training required to become a Wood-warder often leaves more than a few to perish during the brutal rite of passage, further thinning the number of males in the tribe.It is standard that Wood-warders attack from the shadows, often shooting first and not even bothering with asking questions.-Wandering Dramaturge, Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood
Upon being distinguished as a male soon after coming of age, a young jack is taken in as a ward by a sole Wood-warder, who is then considered his master to train him the ways of the Wood-Warders.²(Elaborated further in Social Culture) Vieran males are notorious for their often excessively defensive antics — to the point of being known for hostility — even amongst their own kin.³ᶜ⁺³ᶜ² Within Vieran society, they are kept entirely separated from the females and only meet for an arrangement of breeding every three to five years, after brutal ritualistic training to overcome the trials of the perilous jungle.Whether the aggression male Viera display is learned or in their nature is not understood; the practice of segregating the men from the women has existed for so long amongst their people that even they do not remember why they began doing it at all. Regardless of the potential ramifications it may have on the mental health of the males, so long has the practice been done that is likely to never change. There are records that have shown however that despite this traditional upbringing, some men do not prefer it at all.²ᵈ
≽ Motherhood
........Author Ludda
THIS SECTION IS GOING TO BE REVISED, PLEASE LOOK FORWARD TO IT
Disclaimer: This section is purely fanon!
Feel free to disregard from your roleplay if it does suit your interests.
Female Viera who choose to dedicate their lives full time to becoming Mothers typically do so in increments of ten years in order to have a full “litter” as they are described. A Mother is expected to have four kits within a ten turn timespan; preferably five years, so that they may be raised alongside one another. Depending on the length of time in which a Mother partakes in this arrangement, the doe might find herself becoming both physically and mentally exhausted. Many young Vieran women are often left to care for their inevitably unwell mother – this leading to later litters being more sporadic in age-gap as conception can often become more difficult, due to undesired engagement from the female. If arranged with a female mating partner, a Vieran male will return for only one moon each year until their end of the agreed upon courtship and then leave again in full once the set amount of litters has been met. While it is uncommon to have the same male partner for more than one litter, some females choose to conceive with the same male if they feel particularly attracted to their partner of choice.Within Vieran culture it is known to never speak of the tribulations that come about from their reproductive process. Doing so is perceived as minimizing an enduring act of service for reproduction to a level of victimhood that the participants do not generally vocally accept. The culture around reproduction is received with mixed feelings amongst all clans – north or south – despite this, there is no prevailing animosity from the females directly toward males or vice versa. Their feelings – if any – directed more so toward their traditions as a whole, than those affected by it.The choice to partake in this particularly aged Rava tradition is entirely up to the woman and not forced upon any of them. That being said, some young women are not wholly aware of what they are getting themselves into and volunteer primarily based on chauvinism. While some find fulfillment in the choice – there are just as many who quietly find it detrimental and degrading – the acceptance of such varies greatly from Viera to Viera. Not as commonly documented, males have been said to experience some of the same distress, although these cases are unsubstantiated through records. Much as this practice is common amongst traditional Rava, some Veena tribes stray from archaic Vieran traditions as a result of outsider influence – the notion of Mothers being one of many; its acceptance varies per tribe. It is also worth mentioning that Viera as well have the choice to be mother’s without taking it on as an almost occupational role, it is simply that their culture has molded it into such.
≽ Relationships & Homosexuality
........Author Ludda
Disclaimer: This section is mostly fanon! What portions aren't are cited in footnotes.
Feel free to disregard from your roleplay if it does suit your interests.
Males are infrequently acknowledged within female society, however upon the Wandering Dramaturge asking a Vieran woman if she did not find her tribe's ways awkward, inquiring over whether or not it was within the natural order for males and females of a species to coexist, her response was:
"The value of coexistence will not be found 'neath a loincloth. Long has our kind endured understanding that the distance 'twixt two bodies does not dictate the distance 'twixt two souls."- Anonymous Female Viera
The act of coupling between male and female Viera within their designated societies is generally considered more an obligation than done out of love or pleasure. The males – often disinclined toward sensuality due to extreme social isolation³ᵉ – conduct in intercourse akin to one of their duties: with the importance and focus it deserves. The females, who are more regularly socialized and available for intimate relationships amongst themselves, have voiced anecdotes that the encounters are at worst awkward and at best, boring. While not overly understood amongst the Viera due to their somewhat archaic ways of living, sterility rates amongst the males is high. This unfortunate lack of knowledge often has the females scrutinized for failure to conceive in their societies, due to ignorance over the technicalities behind the failure. It is important to keep in mind the nature of Vieran intimacy within their tribes is not reflective of individuals and their desires. Just as there are female viera who feel no desire to couple, there are males who want for sensuality and affection. And there are just as many who still find love between one another, even with their distance. These factors are just one of many that have contributed to the numerous reasons behind Viera leaving behind their insular villages.
Homosexuality within the daily lives of the female Viera is accepted and common – male behaviours show that homosexuality is present within their cultures as well, but to a far lesser degree due to their often self-inflicted abstaining and solitude. Sexuality in general is not a taboo subject and is quite freely discussed. Due to their expansive lifespans, Viera often freely partake in many different varieties of recreational activities — those of the more intimate variety not being discounted. While the acquisition of a long-lasting monogamous relationship is not a large focal point of Vieran societal expectation, intimacy does prevail nonetheless. Rather than partake in more western concepts of courting and marriage, Viera are more likely to participate in pair bonding. Be it romantic, sexual or simply platonic, pair bonding is a frequent occurrence in Vieran culture that causes a strong affinity between two spoken on a sociobiological scale (usually encouraged through scent). These pairs are known to be in one another's lives up until they expire. It is seen that this persists outside of Vieran culture (e.g. a female Viera being drawn to a Hyur, Dalmascan male), but the societal norms of outside cultures, as well the short life spans of those spoken, is often not conducive with this natural inclination toward a “partner”.
≽ Scent
........Author Collaboration Adenine & Ludda
Disclaimer: This section is mostly fanon! What portions aren't are cited in footnotes.
Feel free to disregard from your roleplay if it does suit your interests.
One key boon that all Viera share (among others) is a keen, near-animalistic sense of smell. It could even be argued that their olfactory sense holds a greater importance even than sight; where one is limited by obstructing trees, the other can sense information for up to several malms, if focused. This, combined with being naturally aetherially capable, allows a Viera to even smell and parse the aether around them.Along with this talent comes the ability to recognise other individuals based on their unique scent, as well as to glean details from their ambient pheromones; their sex, their vague emotional state, their receptivity to mating, and other such physical factors. Where one’s pheromones are more akin to an olfactory fact sheet (providing basic physical information), their individual scent is their fingerprint and facial features – a unique identifier and a source of attraction all in one. Unlike other races, Viera do not put much stock in physical looks, as their kind is known for features most other societies would deem ‘beautiful’. Instead, they care far more about how agreeable one’s scent is, to the point that is the dominant trait when determining attraction between two Viera.‘Scent’ within Vieran biology and the receptivity of such is not a commentary on body odor in the way a Hyur might perceive it. It varies from person to person, with some having a more agreeable one – akin to being conventionally attractive – and others not so much. Yet, as with any sort of attraction, preference can vary wildly. Where the analogy strays, however, is with the addition of the aforementioned pheromonal profile that each individual has. While they are a semi-bestial race, Viera operate on only a small amount of this additional layer to their social dynamics. A scent that is considered average might be swayed for the better or worse due to this profile, but the Viera remain sapient and rational, and are quite capable of ignoring any desire that may arise as a result much in the same way other races do on physical attraction alone.
Author Ludda | Editors Adenine, Kildaroy
Government
Disclaimer: This section is purely fanon!
Feel free to disregard from your roleplay if it does suit your interests.
The governing systems and politics surrounding Vieran culture are perhaps one of its lesser known subjects to outsiders. While archives of Vieran society existing under a monarchy eons ago are recorded, the subject of this past is kept highly secretive. A somewhat unknown turning point came from within Vieran culture that caused a shift inward from a once expansive open empire into outright isolationism. In the wake of this ethical shift, governing systems changed from a once unified empire into fractured independent villages, until eventually the two known factions surfaced – upon the forming of the Veena and their acceptance by the Rava. There on, the authority of a singular, all-powerful queen had become a thing of the past as villages began to feel their voices were largely ignored amongst the chaos.It was during this period of change that a notoriously outspoken elder, Alys the Ensorceled, petitioned for the introduction of a new form of legislation. Finding compromise amongst all major clans that agreed to participate, the adoption of the Golmoran Alþingi (all-thin-gy | Althingi) was born, in Common translating directly to “General Thing” – a perhaps somewhat pertinent nomenclature. The Alþingi of Golmore was structured as a governing assembly, made up of the free people of the community to be presided over by law speakers and an elected Ráðskona (rauth-scowne-ah | Rauthskona) – an overarching chieftain. These law speakers were voted into power by each respective village’s population that participated in the Alþingi; they were dubbed the village’s Elder. Ráðskonas are equally voted into power, however only previously and currently elected Elders are eligible, and votes were tallied by a village electoral vote rather than a popular vote. Once elected into the position of Ráðskona, the leader maintains the position for life – until either battle, illness or age takes them – and is expected to primarily organize the assembly of all village Elders to discuss political climate and domestic welfare. Once becoming a Ráðskona, their previous clan association is overwritten in favour of faction association in an effort to combat village nepotism. The position of Elder is a one-hundred year term – these rules having been agreed upon in the initial compromise between all participating villages.The village of Eryut, having held the position of Ráðskona for many years, has a representing Elder that focuses on the village’s agenda, rather than the agenda of the entire region. The Golmoran assembly location was decided to be Eryut as it is the largest, oldest standing village of Vieran culture and a primary location for the archiving of history, as well the previous location of the former governing system. These factors made it simply the most conducive option.
Ráðskona Jote of Golmore
"Dalmasca is for the hyur. The Wood alone is for us."
Eldest of three sisters, Jote was of Eryut and elected into the position of Ráðskona after the murder of her predecessor, slain during a Dalmascan conquest skirmish. Once an Elder of Eryut, she has led Golmore with highly traditionalist values for over two hundred years. Focused primarily on preserving Ravan culture and ensuring all villages a part of the Alþingi are safe and provided necessary aid and trade, she’s considered a well loved leader by many Rava.She has expressed her personal views of Skatay as cordial at best, wishing to keep the influence of outsiders and anything they touch far away from her people. Having lost her second sister – Fran – to the outside world, Jote is devoutly against the leaving of Golmore and is an almost zealous follower of the Green Word.
This shift in government came during the infancy of the Veena faction and for it, they found simplicity in adopting the legislation as well – it also made trade and communication with Golmore far simpler and more amicable. However, over time the Veena wished to separate into their own individual governing body. It was from this that the Skatayan Løgþing (leu-g-thing | Leugthing) came to fruition – its name translating to “Law Thing”. From there – following in the steps their Ravan sister’s had paved – they elected their own Ráðskona from existing Elders within the Skatayan region. Unlike Golmore, Skatay and its villages were far newer and the deciding assembly location was that of Muscadet. Named after the first Rava tribe to migrate north from Golmore and relocate their village, it became the general area of political meeting and historical archiving. Not nearly as large as Eryut, those elected Ráðskona are often moved to the village upon receiving the title, as well as many other Veena politicians – making it less a domestic town, but far more government focused. Unlike Eryut, Muscadet does not have an Elder, as it was decided to primarily be a village dedicated to the løgþing, rather than being a village chosen to host it. It should be stated that Muscadet of Golmore still exists today, focusing heavily on trade with Skatay.
Ráðskona Elin of Skatay
"We seek to gentle the clime; to calm the Mist."
Recognized within the faction as Elin of Muscadet, Elin is the eldest of nine sisters and mother of three. Born to the Tehp clan, she was elected Ráðskona after the passing of the previous due to illness. Elin runs the region with a surprisingly open mind and a desire for progression.While most know her as a notably surly woman, the cold of Skatay has built the Veena into a fierce warrior who has fought on behalf of her people during her time as the Elder of Tehp. While some often question Elin’s willingness to engage with outsiders, she follows the laws against interracial reproducing and is known to maintain traditional values – although not to the same degree as Jote. It is noted that her lineage does date back to the original Muscadet clan of Golmore and her family has had a history in politics since.
The Ráðskona and Elders meet at their respective þing once every two moons – this time frame was to allow clans farther away from the þing ample time to make it to the assembly. Emergency meetings can be summoned under dire circumstances (war, famine, etc), but such occasions are uncommon. This is the case between both Golmore and Skatay. Every six moons, the Ráðskonas of Golmore and Skatay meet to discuss matters between the factions and any pressing conflicts. Most regional issues are handled on a clan by clan basis by their Elders, even when conducting meetings with Skatayan leadership. Not all clans are a part of their respective faction's þing, as inclusion is typically determined by population size. Those a part of their faction’s respective þing will have special inter-regional routes built in order to connect allied villages. For Golmore, these are sturdy bridges that create a line through the jungle to connect villages; for Skatay, they are tunnels. Those not included within the þing’s are considered either neutral or hostile. Approaches to these villages outside of designated routes will be met with aggression by Wood-warders. Veena are more open to negotiations with neutral villages, although maintain a high level of apprehension when dealing with unregistered clans.
Disclaimer: This section is purely fanon!
Feel free to disregard from your roleplay if it does suit your interests.
The culture of the Viera varies vastly across clans and the different genders; even from village to village, customs can be completely different from north to south. As such, it is no easy task to pin-point several standing traditions that are universal between all Viera. Despite this, there comes to mind only one such unifying value: that being the importance of Vieran ears. While not revered by the Viera as symbolizing anything more than ears meant for hearing, their ability to hear and communicate with the Wood is extremely important to them. It is for this reason that a customary punishment for the most egregious of crimes committed within their societies, male and female alike, is that of the cutting of one's ears and exile. While typically only the pinna is severed – just above the ear canal, thus not inflicting total deafness due to their leporine nature – it does stunt their hearing enough to make hearing the Wood’s voice impossible, along with the casting them out of their society. As a result of this tradition, it can be a point of contention for some Viera to have their ears touched by someone not yet trusted, malicious or not. While the feelings over this display can vary on an individual level, a great many will often express disdain at the concept of their ears being disturbed.Aside from such, there are a handful of social culture behaviours and traditions notable between females and males that many villages and warrens may at the very least recognize, if not practice.