---
In the Footsteps of Bardam the Brave
-Before we can participate in the Nadaam, we have to walk on a pilgrimage to Bardam’s Mettle, pray, and tame a yol (a big fluffy bird thing). All this follows the steps of the legendary Xaela warrior Bardam.
-Some tribes attack us on the way. Trying to kidnap new warriors to fight for them, but we take em out.
-The trial itself is a 4-player dungeon, Bardam’s Mettle. Steppe spirits/gods of the moon and sun test us, make sure we’re worthy of being officially warriors of the Steppe.
-Garula from FFV appears as a boss! Animals roam his boss arena and become hazards himself when he stomps and makes them freak out in different ways.
-My favorite boss is when the spirit of Bardam himself tests our survival. We can’t do damage or use abilities. It’s just about surviving and dodging the stuff he throws our way.
-Lyse meets me out front, having completed her trial too. We blow a whistle (baby, whistle baby) to capture our yol and boom! Lyse and I are officially warriors of the Steppe.
Wall painting of Bardam atop his Yol.
-I get to keep my yol as a permanent mount. What a beauty.
---
The Children of Azim
-Lyse, Gosetsu and Hien emerge from Bardam’s Mettle successful in their trials.
-Members of the Oronir tribe approach us threateningly, demanding we come see their khan.
-They lead us to a giant building in the Stepps to meet the khan. “The Most Radiant Brother Magnai.”
MAGNAI: “We shall not speak as equals. Born of the Sun are Oronir, and born of the earth are [Domans].”
-He sent his warriors out to flay us if we failed our trials, and to pay tribute if we succeeded. Tribute will earn us the favor of the sun.
Look. When in Rome and all that, but I don’t think we should pay. Our goal is to separate ourselves from other tribes, not make ourselves subordinate.
-Lyse basically says “lol no.” He provides option B: vow to serve the sun unto death!
I’m guessing “the sun” is him. So… yeah, another no.
-Before we answer, some other tribe – the brothers of the Buduga – want us. “The men only.” So some tribes are far more male- or -female-centric.
-Hien is diplomatic. We’re just newbies! We don’t know the best ways to serve “the most gracious and illustrious Sun.” His voice drips with sarcasm.
---
The Labors of Magnai
-Magnai gives us some menial tasks. I go pick some herbs for instance.
Lord Hien rounding up some stubborn sheep.
A random dancing Oronir.
-I’m less skeptical of the whole “tribute” thing. Magnai still seems like a dick, but I now think that the “Sun” he wants us to pay tribute to is the god Azim, not himself as leader of the Oronir.
-Magnai won’t yet let us leave, but Hien is so cool! He’ll use this time to learn more about the Xaela.
-Time for some Xaela cosmology. Azim birthed the sun and Nhaama birthed the moon. The Father of Dawn and Mother of the Dusk. The two created the Au’Ra.
-The Raen were Azim’s children and the Xaela were Nhaama’s. They warred for a long time before making peace.
-Azim and Nhaama then gave this world to their now peaceful children and ascended to the heavens.
Wait. So how are the Oroni – self-described children of Azim – also Xaela, born of Nhaama?
---
For Love of the Moon
-Hien and I find an old storyteller, Udutai, to teach us.
-Nhaama and Azim didn’t just magically create the Au Ra. They were lovers. Seeing their Raen and Xaela make peace lit a flame in their hearts.
-It didn’t last. He was of the sun and she of the moon. If they stayed together, the whole day-night cycle would be fucked.
-It broke Azim’s heart, but he found a way to come to terms with it. “If the Father cannot be with the Mother, then he shall go amongst her children. Now and ever after.”
-Azim took created an avatar to walk amongst the Xaela. This avatar was the first Oronir.
-Hien asks: if it’s the Oronir duty to defend the Xaela, why war with them in the Nadaam?
UDUTAI: “If a father disciplines his son, does that mean there is no love in his heart?”
It’s for their own good, basically. This explains the Oronir’s arrogance. According to their mythology, they’re representatives of Azim the Sun Father, watching his children.
-Nhaama looked down from the heavens and saw the avatar of Azim. She wept with love and longing. The tears hit the earth and rose anew, as counterpart to the Oronir.
[Non-rhetorical question: This confuses me. Are those tears supposed to explain the female Oronir?]
-That’s kind of beautiful! The origin myth gives Hien hope that the Oronir might be loyal allies to Doma in time, though I’m not sure exactly how. Maybe he thinks we can frame war with the Empire as befitting of a caretaker.
But that doesn’t make sense. They’re caretakers of the Xaela specifically, and the Empire isn’t threatening the Xaela right now. They find the Steppe too useless.
---
Sworn Enemies of the Sun
-If we won’t join the Oronir, Magnai gives us one more task before we go: reconnoiter a Dotharl encampment and get useful intel. They’re a rival tribe I think.
-Gosetsu and I go. Magnai keeps Hien and Lyse behind as hostages, to be permanent “slaves of the Sun” if we fail in our mission. Seems extreme, dude.
-As we approach the Dotharl camp we see monsters attacking their hunts. One dead, one wounded.
-Of course, we go help. That will probably not get us in good with the Oronir.
-The hunter is grateful, but his superior, Sadu Khatun arrives. The camera pans over her in such a way that tells me she’s a big deal. Another Stormblood character I immediately love.
-She laughs upon learning that we’re allied with the Mol. The Dotharl are warlike and the Mol command no respect.
Sadu Khatun.
SADU: “For your deeds, I grant you leave to walk among us. Come. Look on our glory and despair.”
-If we were with the Oronir, she’d burn our bones. Let’s… not tell her we’re doing reconnaissance on their behalf lol.
---
The Undying Ones
-She seems to disrespect the dead Dotharl hunter. “See to the corpse!” It pisses Gosetsu off.
-We arrive at the camp where Gosetsu is ready to give Sadu a piece of his mind.
SADU: “How he died matters not. Geser was a great warrior. He will return to us in time.” Aha! No need to mourn a corpse if you think he’ll be reincarnated.
-This explains why the Dotharl are called the Undying Ones.
“In death, [a warrior’s] soul shines white – exalted. The flesh rots, but the soul endures. And ere the seasons have turned, so he shall return. When he is glimpsed in the eyes of a newborn, he is blessed with the same name, that he may grow into a great warrior once more.”
What a cool belief!
-Gosetsu really steps in it now. He expressed shock and mocks this belief, earning death stares from the surrounding tribe. Dick move, Gosetsu. He immediately regrets it.
It’s an awful thing to say on his part, but it’s not out of character. He’s not the most delicate speaker.
Dotharl warriors in training.
-In the camp, I meet a man with the usually-female name of Koko.
KOKO: “I died a woman and was reborn a man. It is of no moment – the soul is the soul, and the flesh the flesh.”
-Many Dotharl have swapped genders multiple times throughout their lives.
I love this! They don’t restrict the renamed newborns to the same gender as the warrior who died. Gender-fluid warrior spirits.
---
A Final Peace
-This info was new to us, but common knowledge among the Xaela. It won’t satisfy Magnai.
-Sadu has no “secrets” to share about the Dotharl plan for the Nadaam. They aren’t planning tricks or subterfuge, just battle. I believe her.
-Gosetsu asks a great question, which takes Sadu Khatun aback: if the Dotharl are so proud and strong, why are they so few?
SADU: “…Though a glorious death is to be celebrated, it is yet death.” They war often, and their death rate outpaces their birth rate. And only the bravest are reborn.
Hopefully this info will be enough.
-Before we leave, she offers to have us join her tribe instead of fighting for the Mol. We can’t accept, as it wouldn’t fit into Hien’s plan, but I appreciate the offer. I like the Dotharl a lot.
-Our time here has given Gosetsu real appreciation for the Dotharl and respect for their beliefs.
---
Next time: reporting back to the Oronir on the Dotharl.
