Garlean

Do you know the most reliable way to deal with those who stubbornly refuse to see reason? You conquer them─crush them under heel. Such was the trusted method of Allag, and one still favored by Garlemald. But conquest is the easy part. The true challenge begins once the dust has settled─quenching the glowing embers of animosity and maintaining a semblance of peace. This requires the conqueror to treat the conquered with dignity, and the conquered to let bygones be bygones. A difficult feat to achieve.

— Solus van Galvus, Emperor of the Garlean Empire

The Garleans are a people who suffered greatly before finding the means to fight back. In finding their strengths, they in turn became conquerers in their own right. Garleans value advancement and personal ability, while looking down on those who are happy to wallow in stagnation. It is this dogged dedication which has allowed them to build the strongest empire in all of Hydaelyn.

Physical Description¶

The Garleans are a hardy people whose life under imperial rule has provided them with strong bodies and agile minds. Their most striking feature is the pearl-like third eye which sits in the center of their forehead. This special third eye is said to provide Garleans with improved spatial recognition. Unfortunately, Garleans also have a damning disadvantage: an extreme difficulty when manipulating aether.

That said, there are a very rare few in Garlemald who can bend aether. Only those of the strongest minds and the hardest wills master the aetherial control necessary to accomplish this feat.

Displaced Conquerers¶

Once living in the southern, warm reaches of Ilsabard, the Garleans were forced north over time when they could not stand in the face of magic-wielding oppressors. Eventually they had to cross the treacherous, frigid peaks of Magna Glacies, leading them to settle in lands with long, bitter winters and short growing periods. However, their misfortune would eventually lead to a great boon in the discovery of ceruleum, an aetherized fuel which they used to start a golden age of Imperial technology.

The Garleans and the Garlean Empire have incurred the disdain of many races across the land. Those within the Empire may have a great love for their empire and fellow citizens, but conquered citizens in Garlemald's annexed regions, or indeed the rest of Eorzea, don't feel so charitable. As such, most races who are not Garleans usually automatically start with a Hostile attitude toward the Empire and its citizens.

Advent of Magitek¶

Experimentation and innovation in the field of ceruleum-based engineering led to the glorious birth of magitek. Over the years, the Garlean Empire has invented countless machines and devices which could mimic magical effects and thus finally swung the pendulum in the Garleans' favor. Within 50 years of the rise of magitek, they've managed to fight back and expand from the small, frigid snowfield of Garlemald to a vast empire which now spans three-quarters of the Three Great Continents.

Freedom Through Technology¶

Garleans may adventure for a variety of reasons, but a Garlean PC must have fled the reaches of their empire. They may seek freedom from the chains of their society, or perhaps they were forced out for treachery against the Emperor Solus zos Galvus. Perhaps they've always admired Eorzea, or want to learn to use magic. Or maybe they're a half-breed, born of a Garlean soldier and an Eorzean civilian, finding acceptance in neither society. Garlemald's rigid hierarchy where social standing can only be achieved with military prowess can be difficult for some, so in the name of freedom and peace a Garlean here or there may break away from their homeland and chase their dreams.

Garlean Names¶

Garleans names often declare one's title within the Empire as their middle name. Otherwise their traditional names find their roots in Latin, having both a first and last name.

Male Garlean Names. Aulus, Cid, Faust, Gaius, Ignatius, Kaius, Maxima, Nael, Nero, Noah, Quentin, Regula, Solus, Vitus, Zenos

Female Garlean Names. Adora, Alma, Belva, Cella, Elysia, Gloria, Julia, Livia, Lucia, Minerva, Octavia, Rheya, Silvia, Vesta

Garlean Middle Titles. A proper list of all known positions and associated name in the Garlean Empire can be found in Appendix F at the end of this resource.

Garlean Surnames. Arvina, Asina, Baelsar, Brutus, Darnus, Gabranth, Galvus, Garlond, Hydrus, Junius, Lexentale, Messalla, Priscus, Scaeva

Optional Racial Trait¶

Magically Inert. You have a great deal of difficulty casting magic on your own power and require the aid of technology to do so.

On Hydaelyn, the Garleans by and large cannot manipulate aether under their own power. That said, it is not impossible for a Garlean to gain the ability to do so with hard work and dedication. Half-Garleans have no trouble at all thanks to their mixed blood.

When playing a casting class as a Garlean, consider flavoring their casting focus to account for this. For example, a Garlean Wizard might have a contraption which recharges aether over time which the wizard uses to cast his spells.

That said, just because a Garlean cannot manipulate aether doesn't mean they aren't made of it, just like everything else on this star. Any class that requires you to draw on your inner aether still works for Garleans — they just may need a little help from their machines to do it.

Garlean Traits¶

Your Garlean heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other Garleans.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age. Garleans live as long as the other races of Eorzea, reaching maturity around 18 years old and living on average to the age of 80.

Alignment. Garleans tend toward a lawful alignment as their roots trace back to a highly ordered Empire where title and rank are held in high regard.

Size. Garlean males on average tend to stand anywhere from 6 to 7 feet tall while their female counterparts tend to reach anywhere from 5 and a half to 6 feet tall. Your size is medium.

Imperial Education. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice and one set of artisan's tools of your choice.

Marksmanship. You gain proficiency in Firearms.

Legacy of Engineering. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of imperial engineering, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

Conscription. You have advantage on Constitution saving throws against exhaustion from a forced march.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common, Garlean, and one extra language of your choice.