The Miqo'te is a race whose ancestors made their way to Eorzea during the Age of Endless Frost, traversing the frozen seas in pursuit of the wildlife upon which they subsisted. Comparatively few in number, they maintain an insular group mentality, tending to avoid contact with the other races. Many individuals lead isolated lifestyles, even when residing in the more populous city-states. In The First, they are known as Mystel.
Background[ | ]
The ancestors of the Miqo'te made their way to Eorzea during the Age of Endless Frost, traversing the frozen seas in pursuit of the wildlife upon which they subsisted. Adaptation to a hunting lifestyle has fashioned them with a keen sense of smell, powerful legs, and a tail which provides them with exceptional balance.
Miqo'te are known to be very territorial, and many individuals tend to lead solitary lifestyles, particularly males.
Identity[ | ]
The strong pride that the Miqo'te have in their hunting tradition is a characteristic that unites them. They value the freedom of the hunt above all else and do not fear death when old age and illness rob them of the physical abilities required to pursue their prey to their delight. They view themselves as an integral part of the natural world. The way of life of other species, with their propensity to band together with their own kind, destroy nature to build cities, and seek safety and security in alliances, are rather strange concepts to the free-willed Miqo'te.
Appearance[ | ]
Since then, the Miqo'te have diverged into two physically distinguishable groups - the diurnal Seekers of the Sun and the nocturnal Keepers of the Moon. Both groups share a superb olfactory sense and powerful leg musculature, results of a long evolution geared toward hunting and predation.
Language and Culture[ | ]
The Miqo'te, who are by nature solitary, adopted the common speech early on as they needed to trade with other races in order to get resources for hunting gear and weapons. The peculiar Miqo'te "huntspeak"—a system of tongue-clicks and whistles used to communicate with friends while pursuing quarry—displays remnants of the old tongue.
The agile Miqo'te place a premium on mobility, avoiding bulky armor that would limit their range of motion. In order to retain their unfailing sense of balance, Miqo'te always have a hole in their legwear through which their tail hangs loose.[1]
Clans[ | ]
Seekers of the Sun[ | ]
The self-proclaimed Seekers of the Sun are the diurnal clan of the Miqo'te race. Their preference for the warm light of day pervades all aspects of their cultures, as is apparent in their devout reverence for Azeyma, the Warden, keeper of the sun and goddess of inquiry. They are perhaps known best for their striking eyes - the result of their vertically aligned pupils and faintly colored irises. It is also not uncommon for their eyes to be disparately colored from birth, a trait considered auspicious amongst their kind. Seeker tribes can be found throughout Eorzea, with large concentrations appearing near Limsa Lominsa and the Sagolii Desert.
Keepers of the Moon[ | ]
The nocturnal among the Miqo'te have dubbed themselves the Keepers of the Moon. Shying from the garish light of day, they revel in the shroud of night, with most offering their piety to Menphina, the Lover, goddess of the moon. They are distinguishable from their diurnal cousins by their darker fur, larger ears, rounder eyes, more pronounced canines, and longer, skinnier tails. The ritual application of war paint to the face is still regularly practiced, as it is believed the vivid colors grant lunar powers. After a great many summers of conflict with the people of Gridania, the Keepers have finally made amends with the people of the sylvan city-state, with some even choosing to make their homes there.
Initial stats[ | ]
| Attributes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Seekers of the Sun | Keepers of the Moon |
| Strength | 22 | 19 |
| Vitality | 20 | 18 |
| Dexterity | 23 | 22 |
| Intelligence | 19 | 21 |
| Mind | 19 | 23 |
| Piety | 20 | 22 |
| Resistances | ||
| Name | Seekers of the Sun | Keepers of the Moon |
| Lightning | 12 | 16 |
| Fire | 18 | 13 |
| Earth | 15 | 14 |
| Ice | 15 | 18 |
| Water | 17 | 14 |
| Wind | 13 | 15 |
Face type[ | ]
|
Interviews & articles[ | ]
From Connect! On, Dec. 2009: Q: How was my beloved Miqo’te?! –Rhye
A: Their expressions were dangerously cute. I think the Lalafell and Miqo’te expressions were exaggerated a bit more than those of the Hyurans.
From Zyuu's e-mail Questionnaire with SE: Q9.Are there any plans to add female Roegadyn and male Miqo'te?
A. Well, the character model designs are finished...but further details regarding their implementation have yet to be decided.
References[ | ]
- Final Fantasy XIV Official Site Final Fantasy XIV Online. Square Enix Co., Ltd., 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2009.
- Connect! On Dec. 2009. Print.
- Zyuu. Personal Interview. 5 Oct. 2009.
- ↑ Encyclopædia Eorzea, p.86