Near the easternmost cut of the Burning Wall reside a variant of the Eft tribe. Parts of their history have been lost or altered in the wake of the last Calamity, but they are a faction presumed to have occupied the often inhospitable, yet culturally rich land dating back at least six generations. Historically, they were unremitting in their hostility towards outsiders, known to kill first, ask questions later, although it has been proposed by some this aggression is but an exaggeration.
Likewise suspected to be part of this proud tribe's aggrandizement is their claim their Nunhs — both their breeding males and their overseers — without exception have been long-lived and universally successful. Pre-Calamity era, they averaged two standing Nunhs per generation, never more than three, but their loss in numbers have forced a rare cultural shift towards a preference of a single leader.
The Eft of Burning Wall are a robust and proud people, haughty in manner and spirit, cited in many instances of being willfully contrary both to outsiders and each other. At a glance they are inferred to be an individualistic society, rumors aplenty as to the fate of their elderly and ailing. All told, the Eft's emphasis on strength of body and character is not overstated, but it is in fact compounded with the principle that a group is only as capable as its least capable member.
Thus, their elderly are revered and cared for. While it's by no means uncommon for the sickly to encounter flagrant disdain for their lesser status, overall, this is done in the name of "Eft fire," a multifaceted phrase used throughout the tribe that in such instances translates to "tough love." The goal and expectation is not that their weakest will falter, but on the contrary they will rise, stronger in the face of their trials and tribulations, and ultimately be grateful for the privilege.
Verbal infighting is not uncommon among both men and women of the tribe. To those not of their blood, there is an unwritten, unspoken expectation to not speak disparagingly of one's people, and it would not be uncommon for an Eft to insult a fellow tribesmen in front of a passing merchant, then turn on said merchant if they dared agree with him or her. In short, for as often as they border on internecine warfare, even the worst of their ilk is held in higher esteem than anyone else.
Following the Calamity, they have become slightly more open to the concept of trade and outside influences, although the degree of this has fluctuated depending on the standing Nunh. Public stereotype speaks of the huntresses being hostile as ever, while the Tia are affable, but this is like as not a confirmation bias, as it is understandably the more easygoing of the Tia who are sent out to forge alliances and talk trade.
The Eft are typically no taller or shorter than an average Miqo'te would be. They are sturdily-built and kept in good bodily condition by their demanding lifestyles, many choosing to remain physically active well into their twilight years, the most stubborn of them working until the day they die.
Almost without exception, they have tanned and darker skin tones. Their hair runs the gamut from light brown to the blackest black, with the rare sightings of red being looked upon favorably and others such as blonde or white considered either exotic or unbecoming, depending on the individual you ask. For the most part, they are light-eyed, with heterochromia seen as desirable. Many have a preference for the sloe-eyed, both for their rarity within the tribe and the slowly-spread acceptance that the light-eyed are more prone to vision loss in their later years. Some of the youngest females of coupling age have spoken of a preference for dark-eyed Nunhs for this reason.
Tattoos and piercings are rare and have no religious or culture significance, used mostly as a means of individual expression, to relieve boredom, to signify an important event, and the like. There is a slight stigma against ear piercings, born from concerns they may somehow interfere with hunting and an old wives' tale they will droop your ears and turn them ugly.
Recently, a research team tasked with capturing a Mirrorknight for further study found a battered, scarcely legible journal. It detailed the journeys of a Gridanian midlander by the name of Cyndal Heard, who despite his name, has not been heard from in quite some time. Among his many tales, the very last of them, is the recollections of his time in Eft, following an injury and subsequent discovery by Eft huntresses:
I feared they may cut my throat and leave me for the beasts, Cyndal wrote. One joked of tossing me and my pair of hounds in 'the drake pits.' Some were fearful of the dogs, but the one who appeared to be in charge, E'tashara, she refused to let them be slaughtered. For this, I am grateful.
Later, Cyndal writes: The Nunh is a man by the name of E'malha. He has allowed me to stay for the fortnight it should take for my leg to recover. Rumor has spoken true: I am of the impression the woman here are not to be spoken with, or even looked at too long. Avoiding them is its own effort, as there are a great many more of them than the males.
Half their structures are dilapidated and abandoned. It would seem to me there is near an equal number of young and old as there are Eft in their prime, and this lack of the fully-grown and able-bodied is taking its toll on each of their age brackets in different ways. The elderly are more independent than perhaps they should be, and children are often left with the them or roam freely and unsupervised while their mothers hunt. At my best guess...
I hear some grumble in passing of the Calamity, but I fear what the reaction would be if I were to ask for their numbers prior to this tragedy. I may be so bold as to inquire when I visit the Nunh this evening. He has asked to learn more of my hounds.
Of the Twelve, all of whom the Eft acknowledge as existing, Azeyma Keeper of the Sun and Goddess of Inquiry is most revered. She is depicted not as a noble lady with a golden fan, but as an Eft woman with dark skin, red hair, and dark eyes that hold a bright flame within them. The imagery and name of Azeyma is most often utilized for things involving law or trial, as the Eft share the widespread belief that Azeyma consoles all who confess their wrongdoings. Through her they learn not only unrelenting truth, but the means to be merciful.
More commonly and publicly worshiped is their guardian totem of Mother Eft, a creature that permeates the vast majority of their mythology, slang, and religious imagery.
The story of the Mother Eft has several adaptions, and through the years parts of the tale fall out of favor or are replaced by new enemies and trials. But the most common version is this: an eft carries her many children on her back, facing numerous obstacles along the way, including a gigantoad who nearly swallows them whole; a jackal who manages to lure several of her children away and devours them; a dodo who mistakenly tells her the wrong way to go, with perilous results; and lastly, most importantly, a drake who encircles the eft in fire, from which she can only safely leap to freedom if she abandons her children.
Instead, the eft walks through the fire, sacrificing herself to spare each of her remaining children. Outraged, the smaller eft join together to battle, and defeat, the drake.
There is a misconception among outsiders — and sometimes within the tribe itself — that "Eft fire" refers to a fire from the Mother Eft herself, a symbol for her fury and ferocity. But as the priest and priestesses will tell you, Eft fire is, as with the gigantoad, the willingness to persevere against the odds; as with the jackal, it is the reasonable suspicion of those not your own; as with the dodo, it is the soundness of mind to know when to make our decisions; above all, as with the drake, it is moving forward, no matter what, and keeping the needs of the many in mind.
While they keep their beliefs close at heart, the Eft as a whole do not tend to come off as zealots. The majority are believers, and to not be would be considered strange, to say the least, but they are lax in their worship tendencies. However, those who could be viewed as votaries of Azeyma and especially of the Mother Eft are typically given more leeway and innate trust than an average tribesmate should they find themselves facing publicly scrutiny.
Historically, the Eft operated on a barter/trade system and kept strictly to themselves. Generations ago, a nunh by the name of E'zakra felt their lack of currency was unsustainable long-term, and through him and the next, E'yarel, the Eft integrated common gil into the foundation of their economy. Although they still partake in trade, the buy-sell method is now their default, with haggling all but expected, especially among the older members.
E'zakra urged the tribe to consider business dealings with non-Eft, but it wasn't until after the latest Calamity, in the time of E'malha Nunh, the group as a whole warmed to the idea of commerce outside their borders. Because of the tribe's temperament and inconvenient location, travelers are a rarity, but if a merchant does happen their way, they are permitted entry, albeit with some wariness, more so if they are male. Far more common is that Eft's most personable Tia are sent out to forge business alliances and purchase provisions and goods not obtainable within the tribelands.
(An open secret is that Tia with wandering eyes where the women are concerned will often be "coincidentally" selected for this task, with E'malha, steadfast traditionalist but as much realist, reported to have grumbled at several of them to "Get it out of their system" while they were on foreign soil.)
Aside from gil, the Eft have to offer their awe-inspiring scrimshaw work, which has become a common conversation piece among Ul'dah's well-to-do.
The Eft are searching for trade for the following items and provisions on a frequent basis:
- Spices, a bit of relief from their bland diet
- Interesting textile work, a status symbol for huntresses and occasionally the men of the tribe
- Individual animals to be brought back for slaughter and fresh meat, such as chickens
- Salt even though you'd think they'd have enough to go around
- Sweets and candy, a luxury item frequently requested by the children of the tribe
- Weapons and weapon-forging material
In its known history, the Eft tribe has had the space, manpower, environment, and inclination to keep little in the way of livestock. They maintain two separate but small herds of aldgoats, housed on opposite ends of their territory and by different groups of people to avoid any unexpected sickness wiping out the entirety of their flock. These animals are used for their pelts, meat, and milk, but there are not so many these luxuries can be treated carelessly, and the herders tasked with choosing which animals to cull, and when, have a well-respected but high-stress profession, to put it lightly.
Pets are by and large a strange concept to the tribe, but since the time of E'malha Nunh, the majority has accepted the idea of hunting dogs. Outsiders are clueless as to where they obtained these animals, but these lanky, long-legged, short-coated hounds are now a status symbol among the tribe. Due to their prevalence of use in drake hunts, they are referred to as "drake dogs."
Notably, it is said a Nunh once had a pet tuco-tuco with her own personal caretakers, wounding several of them.
The Eft use a drip irrigation system to tend to their harvest. In the warmer moons, they grow things like eggplant, tomato, sweet potatoes, and especially beans. Colder moons see the addition of things like carrots, broccoli, onions, and especially potatoes. The Eft's wealth disparity pales in comparison to a society such as, say, Ul'dah, but lacking the abundance of arable land and manpower they had pre-Calamity, second helpings are a luxury to some, and there are certainly days mothers go hungry so their children might fill their bellies.
Aside from what's sourced from their aldgoat flocks, their selection of meat tends to be gamey and sometimes unconventional, such as tuco-tuco and drake. Many are surprised to learn eft meat is considered a delicacy, and in fact there is a yearly festival with consuming it as the focal point. Meat is rarely eaten fresh, more likely to be salted, stored, and consumed strictly as needed.
Eft's potable water is sourced primarily from around the Burning Wall. They have primitive plumbing and utilize a type of slow sand filter system. Rapid sand filter systems have been proposed in the past and are the subject of frequent debate, but as they require much more land, gil, and manpower to operate and maintain, they have yet to be implemented. There have been cases of cholera deaths and other contamination woes both throughout history and present day.
The oldest parts of Eft lack the uniformity of their most modern structures. In first establishing their territory, they used whatever materials were available, and on an individual basis, leading to the structural integrity, style, and materials of their architecture to vary wildly. After the Calamity, the building and maintaining of homes and businesses became a profession onto its own. E'malha Nunh established a system of square, stone buildings that spared much in the way of beauty but wanted for little in practicality, and elected the first team of builders to see to their creation and care. This system remains in use to date.
The Eft speak the common tongue of Eorzea. They have no ancestral language on record, but do have various tribe-specific slang and gestures that have evolved throughout the years.
"Eft Fire"
"Eft fire" is without a doubt the most common slang used throughout the tribe. Outsiders frequently mistake its meaning, interpreting it to be a boastful reference to the tribe's notoriously froward temperament; in recent years, the tribe's youth have started to use it in a similar way, accusing weaker or more cowardly children of having no "Eft fire."
The actual use of the phrase, coined as a result of the mythology of the Mother Eft, is two-fold: It references tough love, and it speaks of perseverance through every obstacle, no matter how daunting or hopeless it may seem, while keeping your tribesmen close to heart.
"May the shade find you."
A saying that, to the untrained ear, sounds as if it must have good intentions. It is hot out in Thanalan, after all, who wouldn't appreciate the shade? In truth this is the tribal equivalent of "Bless your/their/his/her heart(s)." It's sometimes spoken genuinely, but far more often is sarcasm disguised as something more affable.
Touching the thumbs to together:
Basically, flipping someone the bird. The palms typically face the person being, err, gestured at.
Spitting near the feet:
The worst insult an Eft can give another Eft, or anyone else, short of burning their house down. Someone spits near someone's feet and there's liable to be a brawl.
"Gigantoad"
Derived from the tale of Mother Eft and simply the nature of these ravenous beasts, to call someone a gigantoad is to either mock them for their weight ("E'tempe's getting as big as a gigantoad.") or to reference a particularly insatiable appetite ("E'tempe ate like a gigantoad last night!"). It is used both as an insult and playfully.
"Dodo"
Derived from the tale of Mother Eft, to dub someone a dodo is to either say they are outright stupid ("E'tempe's dumb as a dodo."), that they have no sense of direction ("E'tempe's leading? We may as well follow a dodo!"), or that they happened to get lost ("E'tempe was a real dodo last time we went hunting!"). It has varying degrees of insult to it, but is typically not used in any playful way except among friends inclined to insult each other for sport.
"Jackal"
Derived from the tale of Mother Eft, saying someone is a jackal means that they are a liar, a trickster, and potentially dangerous. On average it is the less extreme and often more petty means of calling someone a drake. ("Did you hear what E'kalani said about me? She's such a jackal!") Very rarely is it used as anything but a blatant insult and is considered by most to be something of a curse word.
"Drake"
Derived from the tale of the Mother Eft, the drake being the greatest and final of her trials, to call someone a drake is the equivalent of saying they are pure evil, or at the very least the worst person you've ever met. Within the tribe it is essentially a curse word, with mothers often chiding their rowdy children for using the term for their siblings.
Family units within the tribe are comprised primarily of a mother and her children, with the average sibling groups numbered at two to three. Only those "of seed and womb" are considered siblings; in other words, an Eft must share both a mother and a father. Having an only child is not uncommon and having more than four children is rare. Occasionally, grandmothers, aunts, and uncles may live within a mother's household if they are feeble or ailing.
The elderly, childless women, and grown Tia typically live in tenement housing. Those of high enough status and esteem may choose to live alone. Former and current Nunh are, by tradition and law, given their own properties, some of the largest within Eft territory, as are current and former Head Huntresses, should they desire.
Orphaned children are kept with their next of kin when possible, but may instead be taken in as house servants by those unrelated to them. It is expected these children will be fed and clothed as needed, but for an "adopted" child to formally be considered one of the family unit beyond that is near unheard of.
The layout of most Eft housing is modest and spartan, consisting of a hybrid bedroom/kitchen and a separate bathroom. Those with multiple offspring are not given larger housing unless their status within the tribe affords it, so many Eft grow up crowded by their siblings.
Those of higher status have larger houses, with multiple rooms and often multiples floors, as well as other luxuries such as yards or storage space.
Every Eft has held a weapon by time they are ten. The learning process usually starts around age eight or nine, and Eft may be taught by relatives or, more commonly, through classes arranged by tribe elders and mentors. Around eleven or twelve, children splinter off according to their gender. Boys are taught bladed weapons, all things slash and parry, and future huntresses are taught how to craft and use bows and arrows. There is some overlap, with girls choosing to remain with blades and boys learning bow hunting, but it is rare and unorthodox.
Weapons of choice are short blades like daggers, shortswords, and pickaxes. There is no tribe-wide preference between longbows and shortbows, and the pros and cons of both are acknowledged and debated. Things like spears, standard swords, and axes are uncommon, with rapiers and staffs being incredibly rare.
The tribe has rudimentary knowledge of aether, but their reserves are naturally low, and the skill to harness and wield it is an art passed down through a small number of family lines. Scarce few among the Eft have held the title of "Mender," healers who practice a form of magic more or less the same as the conjurers of Gridania.
Formal education outside weapons and hunting training plays an insignificant role, if any, in the life of most Eft. The tribe has a roughly 10-15% literacy rate. Most who can read and write were taught by their family, and those family lines tend to overlap with the historians and menders (healers) of the tribe.
With outsider trading becoming more and more the norm, there has been a push for Tia who plan to travel to learn so that they are not taken advantage of where contracts are concerned, but as of yet there are no established classes.
Nunh who are unable to read will generally select a Tia from the historians or menders as a personal assistant.
Eft have no formally written laws, but they do have laws. Verbal contracts are expected to be upheld to the best of one's ability. Physical infighting, theft, and other minor offenses are punished on a case-by-case basis that usually consists of "penance." The type and length of this penance is to be decided by the Nunh, based on the offense, or decided by an individual of the Nunh's choice. For example, if a child steals from their neighbor, the Nunh may permit said neighbor to decide the child's punishment.
Major offenses such as disfigurement, murder, and sexual assault are punishable by banishment or death. If the offender is without a doubt guilty, such as in the case of numerous witnesses, they are often put to death or exiled without further process. In other instances, the Nunh, the Head Huntress, and a Tia of their mutual choosing play the role of judge and jury. The Nunh has final say in all tiebreakers.
Nunh: The leaders and breeding males of the tribe. They are tasked with doling out penance, serving as judge to greater offenses, promoting and demoting individuals, and the general overseeing of the Eft. They are not all-powerful and may be overthrown if public outcry is loud enough, but are usually dethroned through the traditional means of one-on-one combat both armed and unarmed. These are not intended to be death matches, but deaths have occurred.
Felled Nunhs, provided they ruled well, are still afforded great respect, larger properties, and other luxuries. In contrast, for a Tia to challenge a Nunh and fail brings great shame. These unfortunate males are scorned to the point most leave the tribe.
"I'm not certain what era this man supposedly ruled. I can't say if he ever truly existed at all. But it is so told he kept a pet tuco-tuco, and the beast was assigned several caretakers, most of whom were injured at one point or another. Some are said to have died. Legend speaks of an angry huntress killing him in his sleep after her sister was felled by the beast and had her face devoured."
E'zakra Nunh
"Ah, E'zakra! This is our oldest Nunh on record — unless you buy into that E'donyoka nonsense. Here, a portrait. As you can see he wasn't the most striking to look upon, but his ambition was second to none, if you ask me. It was E'zakra who introduced currency to the tribe. He had aspirations to see the generation after him were well-read, but it never came to pass. Bit ahead of his time even now, in some respects."
E'yarel Nunh
"E'yarel Nunh stood along E'zakra for the latter half of his rule. Yes, quite the looker, isn't he? Those dark eyes, that red hair. Poor E'zakra. Imagine competing with that. I'm sure comes as little surprise E'yarel sired the most children of any Nunh. Including yours truly."
E'neja Nunh
"E'neja ascended the ranks to rule beside E'yarel, and continued to hold his title after E'yarel was challenged and defeated by E'malha Nunh. The young may not realize, but of the two of them — he and E'malha that is — E'neja was preferred by huntresses and Tia alike. You see, the tribe was at its most prosperous before the Calamity, and E'neja, he was a lively sort, let's say. Loved the festivals. Always had a full belly and a full bed, so to speak. He perished in the Calamity, and with him, that era of abundance. Symbolic, isn't it?"
E'malha Nunh
"Our dear E'malha. There was a time he was seen as E'neja's lesser in every manner there was to compare them. How quickly we forget. After the Calamity, E'malha kept the remnants of the tribe from spiraling into chaos — well, mostly. With his own two hands he helped rebuild the irrigation systems, tend to the aldgoats until their numbers were replenished, and dare say I, I don't recall him missing a single funeral. He helped solidify E'zakra's ambitions concerning business dealings outside the tribe and made great strides toward his dream of tribal literacy. Still, the man has never been what you'd call personable. Not that I'd know firsthand, but according to the huntresses he's not any warmer when it comes to coupling. He's never been much good with children either. But sure as the sun will rise, he loves those hounds of his."
E'tyi Nunh
"One of E'malha's offspring. His mother is to this day E'malha's favorite of the huntresses, and E'tyi made sure everyone knew it. To speak truly, I was of the opinion he'd be one of our fatalities when the time came to challenge E'malha, but I confess, he proved all naysayers such as myself well and truly wrong. One of the youngest Nunh in our history, I would presume."
E'zayi Nunh
"I never thought I'd live to witness so much scandal with mine own eyes! E'zayi Nunh, oh, here's one we'll not soon forget. His mother was born an outsider, believe it or not, and I've heard tale recently his father is of no tribe at all. Anyroad, the mother, no one quite knows how she convinced E'malha to let her through the gates. But she did, and she brought the boy with her, sickly little thing that he was. The subject of much ire among the other Tia in their formative years.
E'zayi left young, I had thought for good, but no sooner is E'tyi in power than he returns! He fought every Tia who wanted for E'tyi's title, then he fought E'tyi himself. No one was quite sure how to react at first bell, I don't think, as we'd never had a Nunh challenged after so short a time, let alone bested.
E'zayi was well-liked by the huntresses. And he seems to be quite fond of women himself, as he took one of them to be his bookkeeper, a rank by tradition given to a Tia of appropriate intellect. Ah, but it isn't only the Seeker women he's so smitten with, I'm afraid. He left to pursue a daughter of Menphina, one of the Keepers of the Moon, so it's said."
E'tyi Nunh
"Yes, that E'tyi. After E'zayi left, he lapsed right back into the rank, fiery as ever. Has Eft ever had a Nunh earn the title twice? Who's to say, but I would suppose the answer is no. There were a few challengers, two or three as I recall, but they were no match for him. The first thing he did was seek to terminate any children of E'zayi's, all of whom were still in the womb. There weren't many, granted, but this earned him a great deal of scorn none the less. He vanished, one day. I can't say to a certainty as to why. No one can. We all have our theories..."
E'vahn Nunh
"These wonders of life never cease. One can only guess if history will look fondly upon E'vahn Nunh, but it will remember him. Years ago he fought E'malha for the title and lost. Badly. He left in utter disgrace, his reputation as ruined as his face. If you'd asked me to guess, I'd have said he'd gotten himself killed somewhere out there, but instead he's trained enough to have bested several challengers in the wake of E'tyi's disappearance. Curious indeed he should return... He had paid a visit while E'zayi was in power. What one wouldn't give to have been a fly on the wall during that encounter.
So far the huntresses seem to like him. His face is another story. Makes poor E'zakra look appealing, eh?"
Tia: The default title and surrogate surname for all males. When they come of age, Tias within Eft may choose to leave the tribe, or far more commonly, adopt a role within it. Many have ambitions to fight for the title of Nunh, and of those, a handful come to make the attempt. So that the Nunh is not under constant attack, Tia are expected to battle one another first and foremost, with the victor earning the right to challenge the Nunh himself. There is no official system or predetermined days for these battles, although such a system has been proposed, especially in light of recent events.
Head Huntress: The highest-ranked female within Eft. Skill in the hunt is an obvious prerequisite, but they must also be sound of mind and adept at coordinating large numbers of people. In some ways, the Head Huntress' typical day is far more exhausting than even that of the Nunh. Unlike Nunh, Head Huntresses cannot be challenged for their standing. They must die, retire, or have a Nunh demote them with a replacement in mind.
Huntress: The default title and responsibility for all females in the tribe who do not pursue other options and who are not too gravid to see to their work. Huntresses make up the bulk of the tribe and can easily sway its fate. They are divided into groups of five to six women, their lot chosen by the Head Huntress, and from these five or six they elect their own leader. In the event the Head Huntress can't or can't be bothered to assist with something, this leader decides for her group what must be done.
Elder: Anyone aged over 50 to 60 cycles and unable to work without endangering themselves or others are so called the elders. Many see it as a well-earned show of respect. Others take offense and refuse their retirement, and there are a great many examples of huntresses, builders, and the like working well past their prime with perilous results.
Doula: Doula are experts in prenatal development and post-birth care for both mother and infant, tasked with caring for a tribe's pregnant women, new mothers, and newborn babies. Typically doula will move from home to home and retire to their own quarters at the end of the day, but it is not too uncommon for one to take on something of a live-in nanny role if a baby is sickly or if a mother already has several other offspring.
Lorekeeper/Historian: Interchangeable titles that speak of Eft, most times a Tia, who record and preserve Eft's history and culture via the written word and paintings. They are usually the only literate members of the tribe, aside from the bookkeepers, and their offspring tend to follow suit, with many going on to inherit their father's title.
Bookkeeper: All things ledger and funds fall upon the bookkeeper, who works closely with the tribe's Nunh. They are literate by requirement and usually Tia by tradition.
Mentor: A fairly recent rank in its formal recognition, mentors are the tribes teachers. For the moment, this entails only combat, hunting, and other physical skills, but it has been suggested the tribe adopt the idea of mentors whose goals are more academic.
Mender: Essentially the conjurers of Eft, menders practice similar magic with, through similar means, with similar limitations. It is, to date, the only job within the tribe that utilizes aether. As Eft by nature have low aether reserves and little understanding of it, menders are extremely rare and treated with due respect. Menders have varied equally between woman and man.
Herder: Herders themselves often claim to be the most underappreciated rank within the tribe. It is true they have a significant amount of work in caring for the flocks of aldgoats, and that this work is of great importance. Herders are most often Tia.
Builder: Builders, as the name suggests, build. They also maintain. The homes of Eft, the irrigation systems, the gates that encircle and protect these tribes can all be credited to the hard work of these men (and the rare woman).
Priest/Priestess: Eft has two forms of priesthood: that of Azeyma and that of the Mother Eft. Men and women both have traditionally held these roles, but priestesses are more common for the simple fact there is a far greater number of women in the tribe.
The Great Eft Hunt
Near the middle of their calendar year, ten Miqo'te, five men and five women, leave the tribe in order to hunt efts. The Head Huntress chooses four huntresses to accompany her, and the Nunh selects from the men a Tia to be leader of the male group, who then chooses four men. Although the event is not a competition, the opposing "teams" generally make it one, with those left behind placing bets on which side will bring back the most meat. (So far, the huntresses have won by a landslide each year.)
Upon their return, there is to be day-long feast and celebration. Members of the tribe may fast in the hours or days beforehand in order to consume as much eft meat in one sitting as possible, as it is believed the flesh of an eft empowers them. For this reason, the elderly, the young, and above all the sick are encouraged to gorge themselves. Vomiting eft meat is seen as a bad omen, that the individual will die within the year.
Sundances
Once a moon, every member of the tribe, provided their tasks are not of dire importance, are permitted a day of rest and celebration beginning from sun up to sun down. These spectacles are known as sundances, as there is much dancing. And drake hunting. And drinking. And yelling. And sometimes fist-fighting. There goes E'va crying again. Can someone get that puking Tia over there a bucket? Has anyone seen the children in the last four hours?
UPDATED AS OF: January 7th, 2019
PC Characters - Active:
E'vahn Nunh (Nunh, son of E'neja and E'zelha): Having lost for the title of nunh once before, Vahn left the tribe in shame, only to return in one of its darker hours. Much controversy surrounds this man, but his love for his people is hard to doubt by all but his biggest critics, and doubt they do.
E'liese Malha (Priestess of Mother Eft, daughter of E'malha and E'nandi): Formerly a huntress, E'liese was one of four captured by Amalj'aa. Her tribemates allowed her to escape at their own expense, leading E'liese to dedicate her life to being a priestess. Often seen staring off at nothing.
E'lona Neja (Mender, daughter of E'neja and E'tanah): As a mender within the tribe, Lona by rank commands some measure of respect. Initially Lona sought to be a huntress but proved a poor fit.
E'tiza Neja (Huntress, daughter of E'neja and E'rika): Once an aspiring mender, Tiza found that, like many Eft, she has little capability for aether manipulation. Now middle-aged, she has set her sights on bettering agriculture of the tribe between seeing to her huntress duties.
E’yehni Neja (Huntress, daughter of E'neja and E'yehna): A young huntress with a competitive streak, Yenhi takes great pride in being selected for almost every Great Eft Hunt since the time she was sixteen summers.
E'davu Tia (Builder, son of E'malha and E'nandi): A rowdy young man who is one of two favorites to next win the role of nunh within the tribe. Despite his mother being an outsider, E'davu is held in high esteem and is believed to be blessed with good luck due to his heterochromia, red hair, and priestess sister.
E'jaro Tia (Builder, son of E'neja and E'tael): A tia of questionable common sense seeking to one day acquire the title of nunh. He has little support in this endeavor but from those who really like an underdog.
E'lohai Tia (Builder, son of E'malha and E'tani): One of two potential favorites to be the next nunh, Lohai is a jovial young man who seems content to toe the line of tradition. He is skilled with bows, something atypical of men in the tribe, and is known to help the huntresses in their duties. (Don't joke about his mom!)
E'jinhu Tia (Elder, son of E'zakra and E'rone): Cantankerous and loud, this uncooperative old man spends most of his time reminding everyone he could have been nunh if he'd felt like it.
E'zayi Tia (Estranged, son of Rosk Schlepper and E'nandi): Brought to the tribe as a baby by his outsider mother, at the time S'nandi, Zayi was a sickly boy who was the subject of much mockery. He fought for, and won, the title of nunh, but forfeited his standing to return to Ul'dah where he now lives with E'kalani Malha and his daughter, E'kya Zayi.
E'kalani Malha (Estranged, daughter of E'malha and E'kara): One of the tribes greatest beauties, Kalani became estranged from Eft after a dispute with the at the time standing nunh, E'tyi. She has been afforded sanctuary by the current nunh, E'vahn, but so far has not seen fit to return. During E'zayi's reign, she served as the first female bookkeeper.
PC Characters - Deceased or Missing:
E'marho Tia (Herder, son of E'malha and E'tani): Lost in an aldgoat stampede after an attack from a stray mirrorknight, Marho was a handsome young lad who was rumored to have 'visited' a huntress or two on occasion, though this was never proven, and continues to be denied by his mother.
NPC Characters - Active:
E'roka Zakra (Priestess of Azyema, daughter of E'zakra and E'mimisa): Priestess Roka is not only a key religious figure within the tribe, but the closest thing it has ever had to a therapist. She is often sought out for advice and is known to keep secrets well. She never had children, although she has had couplings with two different nunh, E'malha and E'vahn.
E'tashara Zakra (Head Huntress, daughter of E'zakra and E'mi): No-nonsense to the extreme, E'tashara is one of the longest-standing Head Huntresses, most of whom are dethroned by death rather than retirement. She has notably never had a coupling with any standing nunh, and claims she will never will, having no interest in children of her own and likely too old for them now.
E'maka Neja (Huntress, daughter of E'neja and E'lilira): As E'maka's mother is one of only three menders within the tribe, it could be said this slacker of a huntress gets away with shirking her duties far too often. Known to guilt E'lohai Tia into doing her work for her. She is a frequent visitor to the nunh and has made no secret that, once with child, she will do even less work.
E'rayri Malha - (Huntress, daughter of E'malha and E'nandi): A quiet but stern firstborn of the only born-outsider within the tribe, E'nandi (once S'nandi), E'rayri had a lot to prove from day one, and by all accounts seems to have lived up to expectations. Other huntresses sometimes complain of E'tashara's favoritism for her as she has been chosen for every Great Eft Hunt since she became a huntress.
E'kana Neja (Huntress, daughter of E'neja and E'tanah): One of the most openly competitive huntresses, E'kana is often kept off the same rotation as fellow huntress E'yehni under the demand of E'tashara that the two would not work well together.
E'jara Neja (Huntress, daughter of E'neja and E'yehna): Having lost her ability to speak after her throat was damaged in a run-in with Amal'jaa, E'jara's opinion on a great many things has been unknown for quite some time, as the woman is likewise illiterate. She is a capable huntress, however, though is typically not allowed to work alone for her own safety.
E'hura Malha (Huntress, daughter of E'malha and E'tael): After her first child, E'tajo, fell well short of expectations, E'tael tried again with a different nunh and had a daughter, E'hura. This demure but competent huntress has been sidelined due to pregnancy, sired by E'vahn Nunh, much to the chagrin of the Head Huntress. (Due date: April 21st and IC equivalent)
E'kalifa Malha - (Huntress, daughter of E'malha and E'tael) A year younger than her sister, E'hura, E'kalifa has a sharper tongue and sharper mind. There is talk of making her a lorekeeper, a role traditionally held by men, especially as she is unable to complete her huntress duties due to her gravid state. (Due date: April 28th and IC equivalent)
E'maresha Neja (Huntress, daughter of E'neja and E'yehna): Known to flirt with tia excessively, it is no surprise to anyone E'maresha is now with child. Purportedly from the current nunh, E'vahn, but considering her closeness with bookkeeper E'jerrin Tia, much gossip is spread. (Due date: April 28th and IC equivalent)
E'tani Yarel (Doula, daughter of E'yarel and E'mimsa): Once seen as the greatest beauty in the tribe, rivaled by only E'kara, E'tani has aged like fine wine and still catches many wandering eyes. It is said her kindness and sense of generosity knows no equal among the Eft.
E'kiyi Malha (Doula, daughter of E'malha and E'rone): A pretty young woman apprenticed to E'tani, E'kiyi is known for her love of children and babies. It surprised no one she became a doula, and nearly as few that she quickly came to be with child from the new nunh, E'vahn. (Due date: April 6th and IC equivalent)
E'randl Tia (Lorekeeper/Historian, son of E'yarel and E'mimisa): Though an old man, E'randl remains sharp as a whip. His body, however, begins to break down, and he searches for an apprentice with little luck thus far. None can live up to his high standards!
E'jerrin Tia (Bookkeeper, son of E'neja and E'tanra): Although an adult when he lost his mother and sister to an Amalj'aa capture, E'jerrin never quite got over the loss, left embittered and self-serving. He is rarely trusted due to his poor treatment of Priestess E'liese and his possible tryst with E'maresha (with calls for him to be exiled should he ever be caught). His skills as a math savant are unrivaled since the departure of E'kalani, and for this he is perhaps afforded more leeway than others may get.
E'telhin Tia (Mentor, son of E'yarel and E'mimisa): A middle-aged man skilled with all traditionally male weapons within Eft. He is the first of two formally appointed mentors, given the title by the former nunh, E'malha. He is the identical twin brother of E'bartu, but is easily identified by the perpetual scowl.
E'bartu Tia (Mentor, son of E'yarel and E'mimisa): Like his twin brother, E'telhin, E'bartu is skilled enough with all traditionally male weapons to advise the youth in their handling and care. He is notably swifter with a spear than E'telhin, though, and certainly of a more cheery disposition.
E'lilira Yarel (Mender, daughter of E'yarel and E'ki): A dutiful mender whose reputation suffers only for the laziness of her huntress daughter, E'maka, whom she seems to have given up on. E'lilira is often said to have been one of E'malha Nunh's favorite visitors, placed only after E'kara. On this issue, her lips are sealed.
E'zhure Zakra (Mender, daughter of E'zakra and E'heyal): Mother of one, E'kana, E'zhure volunteered to house E'lona after her mother's passing, and mentored the girl to be a mender herself. She is typically viewed as the more reliable out of her and E'lilira, or at least has been since E'lilira's daughter started neglecting her duties.
E'jaali Tia (Herder, son of E'neja and E'tael): E'jaali's scrimshaw work is the envy of the tribe, but his work as a herder keeps him busy as well. He is missing most of his tail after having it trounced in the aldgoat stampede that took the life of his dear friend E'marho Tia. Since then, E'jaali mostly keeps to himself.
E'tempe Tia (Herder, son of E'malha and E'tani): The oldest son of E'tani, a popular doula within the tribe, and the immediate brother to E'lohai, a young man seeking to be nunh, E'tempe is known more for what his family does than what he himself does, which is keep to himself and the livestock within the tribe. He is one of few Eft with a pet hound, a male aptly-named Howler, given to him by his father.
E'aleena Neja (Herder, daughter of E'neja and E'tael): The first and to date only female shepherd, E'aleena is known for her tireless work ethic. She is one of the loudest supporters for introducing and integrating chocobo into the tribe. Currently carrying the child of the standing nunh, E'vahn. (Due date: May 10th and IC equivalent)
E'kazi Tia (Builder, son of E'malha and E'mimisa): On the far-end of middle-aged, E'kazi is the oldest of the builders. As a Tia he traveled away from the tribe to apprentice under a carpenter and returned with a wealth of knowledge he has freely shared with every builder since, all of whom could be considered his students to varying degrees. He is the only Tia with a known, claimed child within the tribe, made a eunuch as penance and in exchange for his son being permitted to live within tribal grounds.
E'nedan Tia (Builder, son of E'kazi and ?): The product of an out-of-tribe affair between E'kazi and a woman unknown, E'nedan was brought back to the tribe by his father, who did not wish for his son to be a 'city Miqo'te,' when he was sixteen summers. E'kazi pleaded with E'malha Nunh for mercy and forgiveness of his trespass, and E'nedan was allowed to stay on the grounds he never fight for the title of nunh and that his father become a eunuch.
E'malha Tia (Elder, son of E'zakra and E'riji): A former nunh, and one of the longest-standing, history will look kindly upon Malha, although the start of his rule did not; prior to the Calamity, E'neja Nunh was the favored of the two, but it is now almost unanimous among the tribe that Malha was the guiding light when all was lost.
E'rone Zakra (Elder, daughter E'zakra and E'rone): Named after her mother, E'rone II certainly shares her penchant for gossip, and rarely has anything nice to say about anyone. She is, however, one of the few Eft who truly know how to bake, in the rare event they come into possession of the necessary supplies.
E'nandi Umaka (Elder, daughter of S'umaka and S'zuri): An outsider who came to Eft with a sickly baby in her arms. To this day, it is unknown to all but the woman herself and E'malha how she convinced the then-nunh to allow her permanent residence. Since then, E'nandi's life and reputation have been a whirlwind, blessed and victimized by deeds of her four children. She is best friends with E'tani and clashes often with E'tashara.
E'tael Yarel (Elder, daughter of E'yarel and E'riji): Once possessing the keenest eyesight of all Eft, E'tael was a great huntress forced into retire by the loss of her left leg to a drake. Since then, she mostly sticks her nose in the business of her grown children.
E'kara Yarel (Elder, daughter E'yarel and E'lera): Still to this day E'malha's favorite of the women, she was the most frequent visitor to the then-nunh's chambers. One of the most beautiful women within Eft, she did not age as well as the much-despised E'tani, something that seems to have soured her a great deal. Despite having birthed three of them, E'kara has always openly disliked children.
E'rika Zakra (Elder, daughter of E'zakra and E'hasana): Sickly throughout her life, but now the oldest living member of the tribe, E'rika is hunch-backed, frail woman barely able to care for herself. She is seen as an example for many in the tribe: to some about beating the odds, to others that longevity isn't all it's cracked up to be.
E'yehna Zakra (Elder, daughter of E'zakra and E'lera): A robust woman for her age, E'yehna has only recently officially retired from her work as a huntress. She has several children, and would have more, but lost a set of twins -- rare within Eft to begin with -- to a peculiar sickness that to this day has not been identified.
E'kya Zayi (Estranged, daughter of E'zayi and E'kalani): The only surviving child of E'zayi Nunh's reign, baby E'kya lives in Ul'dah with her parents, but like them, has a standing invitation to return, should aforementioned parents so choose.
NPC Characters - Deceased or Missing:
E'neja Yarel (Nunh, son of E'yarel and E'tishabi): One of two nunh prior to the Calamity. He did not survive the ordeal, but in life was the favorite between he and Malha, known to drink to excess, breed to excess, celebrate to excess... basically, everything to excess.
E'nehjah Malha (Huntress, daughter of E'malha and E'kara): A loud woman who sought to be Head Huntress and the biggest supporter of E'tyi Nunh. As the two shared both a mother and a father, they are viewed as full-siblings, and their closeness often called into question. It is presumed by some she ran off with E'tyi; by others that her bones rot in the belly of a drake somewhere.
E'tyi Nunh (Nunh, son of E'malha and E'kara): The youngest nunh to ever earn the title in known history, E'tyi was an impressive swordsman and overall fighter, but fell well short of his sire's calculating and patient mind. None the less, E'tyi had a great many supporters until the second time he came into power and ordered the culling of any pregnancies sired by the nunh before him, E'zayi. For this reason many believe E'tyi's disappearance is the result of an internal assassination. Others are certain he ran off with E'nehjah. No one can say for sure.
E'tanra Yarel (Huntress, daughter of E'yarel and E'jora), E'jorara Neja (Huntress, daughter of E'neja and E'tanra), E'teleri Neja (Huntress, daughter of E'neja and E'jiji): Three of the four hunting party, the fourth being the now-Priestess E'liese, to have been captured by Amalj'aa while scouting for prey. According to E'liese, her fellow huntresses were killed trying to escape, with E'tanra leading the charge, though since no bodies have been found, there are naysayers, the loudest being bookkeeper E'jerrin, who lost his mother (E'tanra) and sister (E'jorara) to the ordeal.
E'tanah Yarel (Huntress, daughter of E'yarel and ?): E'tanah's life was lost after taking her daughter, E'lona, on a family hunting trip. Things went awry, and Tanah's body was found half-devoured by a drake. Some within the tribe have said this death was punishment from the Mother Eft for betrayal, as there are some rumors E'lona's true sire is an outsider.
E'zelha Zakra (Huntress, daughter of E'yarel and ?): E'zelha was a respected mender within the tribe, whose death is said to be a result of pregnancy and exhausting herself. As Eft menders utilize their either from within, unlike the Conjurers' of Gridania, this prompted talk about possible change in how menders are taught their abilities, though so far nothing has come to fruition.
E'bana Tia (Builder, son of E'malha and E'jiji): E'bana challenged E'tyi Nunh during his second rule and paid with his life. It is said E'tyi deliberately hit to kill, even after some swear they saw E'bana try to yield.
UPDATED AS OF: January 7th, 2019
- The Eft tribe is bickering frequently and sometimes viciously amongst themselves on the matter of their current nunh, E'vahn. One side claims having lost his nunh fight against Malha in the past should disqualify him, and that he seeks to change too much, too quickly. The other half view Vahn as a visionary, though whether he can surpass Malha's approval rating is a subject of debate within itself. To the delight of some and chagrin of others, Malha has gone on public record with his tentative support of Vahn and his goals.
- Vahn has, with the help of Kalani, introduced a linkshell system to the tribe. As with everything, it has been met with mixed reviews. Some are so hostile to the concept they have already thrown out their linkpearls, claiming them to be a crutch that will only weaken the next generation. By the younger members, they have been near universally well-received.
- E'lohai Tia and E'davu Tia continue to compete and bicker daily, both vying to become the next nunh. There is also E'jaro, who has the least support of the three.
- The tribe struggles to see to their daily duties as more women become with child and more of the population ages into retirement. There is still, overall, an outcry about the idea of allowing outsiders into their ranks, though as more work piles up without enough hands to tend to it, some begin to rethink this hostility.
RECRUITMENT OVERVIEW
The Eft of the Burning Wall are always seeking new outside alliance ties with individuals and groups whose player(s) enjoy a similar style of RP, namely in doing our best to adhere to the lore within reason, acting maturely OOC, and taking a firm stand against OOC bleed.
The group welcomes new members by invitation-only in order to preserve the preferences for our roleplay and above all to retain a close-knit OOC community.
Story-wise, the Eft tribe is a dual-faced project. IC, they work closely with the members of the Free Company Sunland Shipment and Defense, and OOC, Eft characters are members of this FC. While membership is not required to play IC members of Eft, it is strongly suggested due to the two groups' RP being intertwined to such an extent and for OOC planning reasons. At the time of writing, all active Burning Wall Eft characters are members of the FC either OOC or both IC and OOC. We also feature an active (if not rowdy) discord.
We are proudly home to much OOC diversity, and we have no tolerance for slurs and outright hatemongering. That said, we make no promises to be a 'Safe Space.' Coarse language, sexual innuendo, the occasional crude joke, puns, and a little self-deprecating humor are not only welcome but should be expected. In times of crisis we are here to lean on, but as our membership are by requirement adults, they are held accountable for their own day-to-day needs and comfort, and this environment does not cater well to those who are especially sensitive and require frequent content warnings and eggshell-walking. However, please note because many of our members look at our discord while at work, extreme NSFW content (porn and gore, basically) are to be avoided outside designated NSFW channels.
The "recruitment" process is informal and usually begins with an RP (any character) to get a feel for your style and some casual chat with one of our officers as to the character or character concept you have in mind, followed by an invitation to our discord. Typically, members can expect to be chatting for a week or two before formal acceptance.
Variety is the spice of life! In order to avoid oversaturated concepts within the tribe, we may stagger acceptance based on character theme. For example, if we have a multitude of Tia whose primary goal is to become Nunh, we may deny Tia characters who share this goal, but accept Tia who have more academic pursuits in mind.
There are a few things we are not looking to recruit at this or any other point, and they are:
- People and characters who are only interested in becoming Nunh or RPing with the Nunh and no other aspects or members of the tribe. For example, don't roll a huntress and ignore the other women characters. Though our members have individual limits (and those limits tend to be lax), we are a story-driven group, not an ERP FC.
- Extreme lore-breaking concepts.
- In general we will be extremely picky about concepts whose primary purpose is to try and undermine the traditions and culture of the tribe right off the bat. Things like female Nunhs are an automatic no from us.
