Well, I have a mother, a father and an elder sister, also an adventurer. We aren't from Ul'dah, nor are we from Thanalan at all. We're not even from Eorzea. We're from a far off land to the East. In some ways it is similar to Eorzea, but in others it is completely different.
Our village is home to many races, but mainly fellow Sun Seekers and so most of our celebrations are in honour of Azeyma, the Warden. Like any good miqo'te family, my mother earns the coin and my father tends to the home. We have a family business in the retainer trade. It's slightly different from the system I've seen so far here, but very similar still.
My sister, Kalika, was the first to decide upon living the life of an adventurer. Our family were furious! Why should she want to risk her life in battle when she can sell the goods of others at market and still make a profit, they argued. I was hopeful for her though, the stuffy markets were not where I wished to be either. Eventually she was allowed to live her dream of adventuring, she was much too stubborn to be dissuaded anyway. But while she was given freedom, it seemed even more certain that I would be trapped spending my life trading goods at a stall.
Seeing Kalika boast about her adventures on her visits home to us, it inspired me that I should be an adventurer too! It did not matter that every time I seen her there was a new scar or two marring her skin, or that she had many near death experiences. It was just clear for all to see that she was happy with her life, strengthening herself in first the hand-to-hand arts and then in magics, both dark and light.
I knew my parents, especially mother, would never allow me to go and follow my sisters footsteps, who would continue her business then with both her daughters gone? But I think, or rather hope, that they all knew I would never settle in such a life. So I left our village in the dead of night and I headed to this newly discovered Eorzea, to the hot Ul'dah, most similar to my homeland but still so different.
The decision to leave was not an easy one.. I had to leave behind my Tren, my Highlander lover. My mother never approved of our relationship. She'd point out that hyur men are not used to looking after the home, and instead expect their women to fill what we miqo'te see as traditionally a man's role. It did not matter to us though, we see each other as equals.
He couldn't leave his family so suddenly as I had to though, if I hadn't left then I don't know when I would have got another chance.. So now I wait for him to find me in Ul'dah as he said he would, always hopeful that Momodi will tell me a tall and handsome man has been asking for me.
That is how I ended up here in Ul'dah. Until Tren joins me here I strengthen myself and work hard, saving up the coins so that we may one day own a house here in this city that is now a home to me.
~Rakshi Zahrann