Marmot Tribe

From RPC Library
Revision as of 22:52, 22 July 2015 by M'isha (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Exclamation mark.pngThis article or section contains speculation, opinions, or observations that may or may not be supported by official Square-Enix lore. It does not represent official lore or any sort of community consensus.

The Marmot Tribe represents one of the twenty-six original Seeker of the Sun tribes that crossed the frozen Rhotano Sea to Eorzea in search of food and warmer climates during the ice age of the Fifth Umbral Era. Their tribal prefix is ‘M’(/meh/mɛ). Much like their totem guardian, the marmot, they commonly settle along the outskirts of urban areas and benefit from the cities’ abundant resources. Most work as traders and gatherers. Their members number among the hundreds and most live in insular settlements along the outskirts of Ul’dah and Limsa Lominsa. They are known as the most peace-loving miqo’te tribe, the worst hunters, and, as such, tend to worship Azeyma for protection and prosperity rather than for victory in battle or the hunt.

Marmot

Totem

Seeker of the Sun tribal names are originally based on traditional beastkin, scalekin or cloud kin totems, which are said to protect the tribe. The resourceful marmot represents luck, peace and fertility. Unlike many of the original tribes, the Marmot Tribe highly values tranquility and the majority of their members pursue not game hunting but instead gathering, fishing, scavenging, grain trading and the creation of woven artisanal goods such as garments or baskets. Some voidsent cultists insist the blood of a member of the Marmot Tribe holds similarly potent aetherial qualities as that of the marmot itself.

Geography

The tribal bloodline of the Marmot Tribe originates among early miqo'te migrants to the lower regions of Central and Western Thanalan—specifically, the areas immediately surrounding Ul’dah. Intense, sustained trade with the other races of Thanalan and Ul'dah has spread the tribe north to Crescent Cove and Vesper Bay and across the Strait of Merlthor to the Isle of Vylbrand.

In fact, the geographic distribution of the Marmot Tribe closely reflects Ul’dahn trading routes that lead north to Horizon, past Crescent Cove, through Vesper Bay, then finally, to Vylbrand and Limsa Lominsa. In fact, the largest concentration of Marmot Tribe groups can be found today along the shores and meadows neighboring Limsa Lominsa. However, due to the nomadic nature of many trading caravans, small pockets of the Marmot Tribe can be found in even the farthest reaches of the Sagolii Desert or deepest jungles of Raincatcher Gully.

Genetics

While their signature genetic traits have become less common due to an increase in interbreeding, the Marmot Tribe has long been known for their thick, fluffy tails. Members of the tribe are typically much shorter than other miqo'te and their hair color tends to range from light to medium brown. While short and slim, they have surprisingly strong leg muscles.

Culture

Marmot Tribe culture centers not around the hunt but instead around peaceful trade relations between their own members and the citizens of the city-states of Ul’dah and Limsa Lominsa. Most members are gatherers, followed by artisans, followed by merchants. Many have adopted the culture of the hyuran, sea wolves and lalafell.

Unlike many of the original tribes, the Marmot Tribe values tranquility and the majority of their members pursue not hunting, but instead gathering, trading and the production of traditional artisanal goods. Marmot merchants, gatherers, fishers and craftspeople often can be seen peddling their services and wares on the outskirts of hyuran and lalafellin towns and generally enjoy good relations with civilized society. Due to an abundance of breeding females, many daughters of the Marmot Tribe choose to pursue work within the city-states when young, then return to their tribe when of breeding age to continue populating the tribe. By doing so, rather than hunting, the female members of the Marmot Tribe bring back useful trades and further develop the tribe's internal economy.

Sexuality

Like the frisky marmot, tribe members do not struggle with a low population and therefore the chance to become a nunh is high within the tribe. Breeding females are unusually populous and are known for their high fertility and nurturing personalities. In fact, Marmot Tribe females are highly prized among other miqo’te tribes as potential mates when their own tribal population is dwindling. It is not unheard of for Marmot Tribe females to mate with another tribe’s nunh and adopt his tribe as her own. Her own nunh would usually not be against this due to the plentiful female population he enjoys as a Marmot Tribe nunh.

For a male member of the Marmot Tribe, as in all tribes, there are only two positions available—breeding males (nunh) and all others (tia). All males are born as tia, but unlike more martial tribes, a tia simply needs to be wealthy enough to support at least ten females. The nunh of the Marmot Tribe are not the finest hunters but rather the finest businessmen and traders. A nunh typically supports ten to as many as fifty females and their children. Due to the abundance of females within the tribe, a Marmot nunh is known to be unusually demanding and will seek out females he deems to have learned useful skills.

Known Members