@menphinaschevalier asked me what I could dig up on chocobo lore and their role and importance to Ishgard. Now, there’s a good portion of lore and I’m going to try to organize it for easy of reading, but this is going to be a long post. Hold on to your horsebirds!
Lodestone: “Despite the emergence of airships, chocobos have retained their place as a traveler’s best friend. Be it as bearers of a merchant’s wares, steeds for battle-bound soldiers, or an adventurer’s means of locomotion, the long-legged avian creatures are still very much a common sight.”
Chocobos, The Ishgardian Monopoly
Company Chocobo: “Born and bred in the city-state of Ishgard, the majority of company chocobos are geldings of the rouncey variety; however, massive destriers and miniature Belah'dian jennets are also raised to accommodate the builds of Roegadyn and Lalafell riders respectively.”
Luquelot: “Indeed, I could tell you of those and more, if you wish. We of Ishgard have a knack for chocobo husbandry─we have forgotten more than Gridania will ever know, I fear. Chocobos are cleanly creatures and easily distressed by slovenly housekeeping.”
The Harbor Herald - My Little Chocobo:
“There was once an ordinary little boy who came from a working-class family. His father was a fool of a man, a dockhand who squandered all the meager coin he earned on drink. Yet one blustery day, in an inexplicable fit of affection, the drunkard saw fit to gift his son with the object of his desire: a chocobo egg. Over the moons with joy, the boy went about tending to the life blossoming within with such singleness of mind as only children are capable of.
After a fortnight went by, however, what emerged from the confines of the shell was not a noble steed in the making, but a dodo chick nigh as round as the encasement that had held it. Struck dumb and racked with disappointment, the boy fell into the depths of depression, becoming still more disillusioned with the father in whom he had precious little faith from the first. In time, however, he came to appreciate that a chocobo was not an object within the means of a simple laborer, and learned to look back in fondness at his old man’s gesture.
Owing to its ideal natural environment, the Holy See of Ishgard has long been Eorzea’s foremost producer of fine chocobos. Decades ago, however, the city-state began imposing harsh restrictions on exports, quoting a dwindling chocobo population. This led to a steep decline in the number of the birds across the continent, which was said to have plunged to as low as one to every fifty-score folk, giving rise to the fear that chocobos would vanish from the face of Eorzea entirely.
Avian lovers now have reason to rejoice, however, for some days ago it was announced that Ishgard will once more supply the other city-states with mounts. The move has raised many a smile upon the faces of rental stable operators, but much more is at stake than the prosperity of local businesses. The resumption of imports was made possible only through the joint effort of the Grand Companies of Eorzea, who impressed upon the Ishgardians the vital nature of fleet-footed reconnaissance units in dealing with the Garlean threat. So it was that the isolated mountain nation relented and agreed to provide all three Grand Companies with birds—but not without conditions. Reluctant to relinquish their monopoly on chocobo breeding, the Holy See will permit naught but male birds to leave its domain. In response, the other nations have raised their voices in objection, and are seeking to overturn what they deem a profit-driven decision in the midst of wartime.
Not waiting to see how the protest will unfold, the three Grand Companies have proceeded to make provision ahead of the gathering storm. At home, no sooner had word arrived of the return of chocobos than the Maelstrom commissioned Naldiq & Vymelli’s with the mass production of reinforced barding in a bid to strengthen its military capacity on land. Jests can now be heard among sailors that the thalassocracy will finally have a cavalry to call its own.
To end on a personal note, the thought of majestic steeds in tight formation, arrayed in gleaming suits of armor, is enough to set this reporter’s heart aflutter. Indeed, it was the very imagining thereof that put me in mind of my childhood—of my little chocobo that was not quite a chocobo, but whom I adored nonetheless.
The Harbor Herald - My Little Chocobo Makeover:
“Allow me, if you will, to venture some hundred years into the past, as I recount for you today a tale of bravery, loyalty, and heroism the likes of which our Eorzea has not seen since. The date is 1468 of the Sixth Astral Era. The forces of Ala Mhigo have crossed the Velodyna River, whose waters form the border with neighboring Gridania, and now claim dominion over the East Shroud. With its invasion into these lands sacred to the forestborn, Ala Mhigo, a garrison state known for its jingoism and expansionist ambitions, sparks what will come to be known as the Autumn War.
But Gridania would not be made to stand alone for long. The following year, the three nations of Limsa Lominsa, Ul’dah, and Ishgard—keepers of the watch over Mhigo’s hegemonic belligerence—would dispatch reinforcements to the embattled area. By joining their might to that of Gridania, an alliance is formed, and the Ala Mhigan offensive is stifled.
Serving in the last altercation of the Autumn War, the Second Battle of the Shroud, is a young Elezen knight of Ishgard by the name of Beltrant Durendaire and his spirited warbird, Ouranos. Riding alone on a routine scouting, Beltrant discovers a flying column of Ala Mhigan infantry and archers on a clandestine march devised to maneuver wide of the allied front and flank it. But he, too, is discovered by the enemy, and before he can spur Ouranos to bolt, an Ala Mhigan volley of death rains down upon them.
For every ten archers who miss their mark is one who strikes true, and in the blink of an eye both rider and mount are riddled with arrows. Somehow, in spite of his wounds, Ouranos finds the strength to break into a full gallop, and only narrowly escapes the enemy’s grasp. And then the true miracle—from some inner fount of unending will and love, Ouranos, guided by instinct alone, bears Beltrant back to the allied camp, miraculously keeping his unconscious and near-death master in the saddle the entire way. The life of Ser Beltrant saved, he makes known the movements of the enemy flying column, and by his report the allied forces avoid encirclement at the hands of the Ala Mhigans, and in turn execute a counteroffensive that would turn the tide of battle and eventually deliver one of the most monumental victories in Eorzean history. Sadly, Ouranos would not know the victory for which he was solely responsible. The wounds suffered and the toll exacted by the return journey would prove too much for the bird—indeed for any bird—and mere moments after seeing his master back to the safety of camp, Ouranos collapsed, never to rise again.
Despite grievous wounds, it is thought that it was a single arrow to the side of the breast which in the end claimed the life of Ouranos. A single, crudely made arrow. One among a hundred. Such an insignificant thing to claim so grand and noble a life. Determined never to see such a tragedy repeated, the armorers of Naldiq & Vymelli’s have created a new set of barding from the fires of their forges. It weighs heavy on the heart to think that such armor may have perhaps saved the life of Ouranos, whose self-sacrifice born of loyalty saved the lives of so many others.
I have it on good word that designs for the new barding, which was commissioned by the Maelstrom of Limsa Lominsa, are now complete, and mounts are already being outfitted with the first batch crafted for testing in the field. Should the results prove favorable, Naldiq & Vymelli’s will begin mass production.
From what I have heard, the barding is ingeniously devised so as to protect the vital areas of the body and head, yet without hindering the speed or movements of the chocobo. Moreover, there are slated to be a variety of forms to appeal to as wide an aesthetic range as possible. It would seem we are finally drawing near the day when the heavily armored chocobo will at last be a reality—albeit one hundred years too late.”
Luquelot: “Oh, did I not mention I was from Ishgard? Aye, well, Gridania is, in actual fact, my second home. My native land was once famous for its chocobo stables. No man in Eorzea could speak of the creatures without his thoughts turning naturally to Ishgard. Sadly, however, that time has passed.
I left my homeland to accept employment here at the ranch, instructing others in the methods of chocobo husbandry. Yet I have found that it is often I who am the recipient of others’ instruction - and on a great many matters!”
Cevilia: “Welcome to the Holy Stables. I guarantee you’ll find no finer stock of battle chocobos. Or if your gaze is fixed skyward, we also specialize in black chocobos trained for flight.”
Arnoulain: “What’s so holy about these stables, you ask? Well, it was established by the See to train mounts for the Temple Knights, for one. But if you ask me, it’s because our birds are so brave and strong, why, they’d be fit for the Fury Herself to ride!”
Cevilia: “Welcome to the Holy Stables. What can I do for you? We specialize in the breeding and training of cavalry chocobos, so they must have nothing but the very best. They’re put through an admittedly harsh training regimen, and only a chocobo of the finest stock can endure it.
Ishgard is famous for raising chocobos, you know. They’ve always been the steed of choice on the battlefield. The proving grounds, where you found my starry-eyed assistant, ensure they get plenty of practice. Well, I say it’s practice, but it also makes a good show for the folks spectating, as well. You should see for yourself sometime. Nothing like feathers flying from two chocobos fluttering, almost dancing, back and forth in the arena. You’ll quickly come to understand why they call it the Lightfeather Proving Grounds.
And as long as this stable stands, you can be sure our chocobos will be there. I’ll confess the weather has been more than unkind to our chocobo chicks, but we have traditions and a reputation to uphold!”
Alinaure: “As you might expect from the name, the Lightfeather Proving Grounds were originally established to host matches for battle-trained chocobos. That being said, House Dzemael has since allowed the grounds to be used for other purposes on occasion. Some other houses have staged spectacles, for both private and public amusement. The Temple Knights have also held exhibitions in the past as well - those are always a delight, believe you me.”
Do You Even String Bow?: “What started out as a simple sponsorship for an archery competition by the Congregation has turned into a grand affair as the High Houses admit their finest bowmen for the challenge. The contest will involve moving targets and displays of accuracy on chocoback, a spectacle worthy of a grand prize.”
Chocobo Breeds and Colors
Original Fat Chocobo: “Maybe not larger, but definitely more in charge, this most gluttonous of gluttons inspired the others to great weights. Although most modern chocobos have yellow plumage, historic tomes portray birds covered in feathers whiter than the whitest snowfall? All the better to see the stains of its many meals.”
Draught Chocobo: “This heretofore unseen breed of chocobo was said to have been discovered by chocobo hunters searching for the legendary Chocobo Forest. Its enormous size would make it a fine pack chocobo, but its foul temper prevents it from completing even the simplest of tasks without the injury of some poor rider.”
Amber Draught Chocobo: “To Ishgardians, red represents true love and loyalty. To this wild chocobo from the Dravanian forelands, it meant capture at the hands of hunters who easily found a red chocobo sticking out like a sore thumb in the midst of all his yellow brethren.”
Ceremony Chocobo: “Raised by Ishgard’s master breeders for beauty and purity of stock, its snow white feathers are natural and, though fully developed, as soft as down. Temperament-wise, the bird is remarkably docile and one of few breeds who will allow dual riders upon its back.”
Black Chocobo: “A purebred Ishgardian black chocobo, trained from birth by House Fortemps knight, Ser Haurchefaunt, and presented to you in a gesture of true friendship. The bird is slightly more muscular than you expected and exhibits the strange habit of squatting when left to itself.”
Black Chocobo Chick: “This poor chocobo chick was as yellow as an ear of millioncorn before one day being doused in black ink by a random passerby bedecked in silver accessories. Try as the chokobokeeps might, none were able to remove the taint, and thus the realm’s first black chocobo was born.”
Chocobo Chick Courier: “Spiteful claims that this adorable black chocobo hatchling is, in fact, simply another plain yellow chocobo colored with pine tar in a feeble attempt to prey on prospective buyers have only fueled the natural-born flyer’s passion to take to the skies.”
Heavy Hatchling: “It would be foolish to believe that a chocobo could achieve this size dining on greens alone, regardless of how many hundreds of bushels were devoured…in a single sitting. Chicken bones found beneath the chick’s bedding suggest he may have a taste for his succulent cousins.”
Princely Hatchling: “The chocobo who would be king. A thoroughbred descended from the legendary Veillantif, this noble bird of Ishgard seeks a rider who will not sully his family’s name.”
Sea Bo: “It is said that the naturalist who first discovered the wavekin wished to name it a ‘sea horse,’ after a creature he once claimed to have seen on his travels in Ilsabard. However, when his colleagues all chided him, the crestfallen naturalist begrudgingly settled on the more common ‘chocobo.’”
Chocobo Training and Attributes
Wayward Hatchling: “Even if this orphaned avian were to stumble across his birth parent, chances are he would not even blink an eye, for it is well documented that immediately after hatching, chocobos recognize the first thing they see as their mother, that being you.”
Aethelthryth: “Chocobos are as smart as they are sensitive. If you train them with love and care, they’ll reward you with their undying loyalty.”
Bodwine: “Chocobos’re skittish by nature, see, and trainin’ ‘em takes a deal o’ patience. It don’t make the task any easier that soldiers and adventurers tend to ride ‘em towards danger rather than away from it…”
Luquelot: “Doubtless you already know this, but chocobos are highly fond of gysahl greens. They love the leafy vegetable so much, in fact, that they will completely forget their fears in the face of danger. Thus, by feeding your bird the greens, you can prevail upon it to fight beside you. And then, once called, it will be up to you to direct its actions as you see fit. You will find that your chocobo innately responds to a number of general commands. Give your bird an order, and it will act accordingly, and to the best of its ability. This simple yet effective methodology was developed by the Fortemps family, one of the foremost houses in Ishgard.”
Feathers Unsullied: “Cavalier chocobos grow to be fierce warriors in the like of their masters, yet man nor bird learns the art of fearlessness overnight. In the wild, chocobos develop the natural instinct to run from predators as chicks. Hence chocobos that are bred and groomed for service to the sword must enjoy a chickhood free of any fear from the trivial beasts in the fields so that larger, more frightening beasts can be gradually introduced in their adolescent training to evoke a fight—not flight—reaction. In a perfect world, the breeding grounds would be located in a peaceful meadow. Alas, the Chocobo Forest be naught the place for delicate things, and must be constantly patrolled to eliminate any nuisances that may interfere with the hatchlings’ path to unsurmountable courage.”
Arnoulain: “I know the Grand Companies of Eorzea to have many fine birds in their ranks, but if all you say is true, I daresay your bird is a particularly stalwart specimen! What’s this? Your bird has even been trained in the Fortemps methodology!? I knew I detected a cultured aroma in that scent. Why, I’ve not sniffed such a remarkable bird in ten─no, twenty years!
Such singular strength and intellect─why, it would not surprise me if your bird could learn to fly! Oh, I can assure you this is no jest. While it is true that only chocobos black of feather are natural-born flyers, there are records of other breeds that have been trained to take to the skies. I can understand your skepticism, but to a student of chocobo breeding such as myself, this is little surprise. After all, the flyers and the flightless possess common ancestry. The grounded birds do not lack the physical capacity, but that they have merely forgotten how for lack of necessity.”
Priorfaix: “In the Chocobo Forest, your bird experienced the thrill of battle, and heard with its own ears the buzzing of those infernal bees. Many scholars posit that this sound plays an important role in awakening the dormant abilities of a flightless bird. Most chocobos that we export are captured not long after they leave the nest─likely your bird is hearing these sounds for the first time in its life.”
The Hunters of the Chocobo Forest
#013 Heavensward Vista Record - Tailfeather: “Founded by hunters who came to the frontiers in hopes of snaring the wild chocobos of the forest, this settlement and those who call it home are shielded from the eyes of the dragons by the canopy of the majestic caelumtrees that rise high above it.”
Colina: “This forest is just teemin’ with wild chocobos, and if you catch yourself a big one, merchants from Ishgard will pay buckets of gil for it! It’s that thrill that keeps us goin’ in the face of bandersnatches and dragons.”
Quit Loafing Around: “Our clergymen often travel to the Dravanian forelands to bless the breeding grounds of chocobos that may eventually be taken into the service of the Temple Knights. Unfortunately, they are often harassed by the prankish imps that roam the area, leading to fewer volunteers from the church to make the trek. The pesky voidsent often don glamours to throw off pursuers, hence our need for one who can dispel them. I implore you, rid us of these imps before our next expedition commences.”
Q’yantaa: “This hunt’ll be simple─all we have to do is lure a chocobo out with these gysahl greens. There’s only one problem: wild chocobos have a keen sense of smell, and won’t come near a trap if they catch even a whiff of a hunter’s scent.”
O’bhen Tia: “These outlaws hunt how they like, and spit on our rules. Rules that’re there for a reason. What do you reckon’ll happen if we let ‘em keep huntin’ without consequence? Do ye think chocobos just appear outta thin air? We lot are chocobo hunters, and we can’t very well hunt somethin’ that’s not there, can we?
Now, huntin’s not just about takin’ what ye want an’ sellin’ it for gil. The forest’s got a natural balance, one that us hunters’ve gotta maintain, even if it means doin’ the jobs that’ll get that pretty coat dirty. If ye can’t get that through yer head then yer no better than the outlaws!”
Guenaret: “Just as I thought, this one’s ‘bout to be a mother. There’s no helping it, then. As fine a bird as she is, she’s gotta go back to her nest. It’s a rule of ours, you see: you can’t catch a chocobo what’s brooding. Don’t matter that it’s the finest specimen you’ve ever seen, or that you’ve been having a bad spell. Nay, whatever the circumstance, we’ve got to see beyond the present, elsewise we hunters won’t have much of a future.”
The New Breed of Gridanian Chocobos
#011 Vista Record - Bentbranch Meadows: “Once Moogle’s Gift Mounts was established and its rookery stocked with Ishgard’s finest birds, it was not long before an entire settlement had grown up around the stables. The trademark balloon tethered to the main building is actually an Ixali war vessel claimed by chocobokeeps after it became tangled in a nearby tree and was abandoned by its riders.”
Keitha: “The meadows’re dedicated to the breedin’ and raisin’ of those majestic birds we call chocobos. ‘Twas built with the blessin’ of the elementals followin’ the Calamity. In addition to the stables, we’ve got fields for growin’ gysahl greens, and all manner of amenities to ensure that our birds grow clever and strong.
Yes, what with the fine flock we’ve been raisin’, people have finally come to accept and appreciate Gridania-bred birds. It’s not easy work, but with every cheerful ‘kweh’ I hear, I know there’s no place I’d rather be. This is my callin’, and I’ll see it through till we’re breedin’ the happiest, heartiest birds the realm has ever seen.”
Simond: “Welcome to Treespeak Stables. This is where most of Gridania’s chocobos are broken in for riding prior to beginning their working lives as rental birds or Twin Adder mounts.”
Bodwine: “Have yer travels taken ye to Bentbranch Meadows out in the central Shroud? They’re part o’ the Moogle’s Gift family o’ stables, just as we are.”
Um, I thought about adding a chocobo food section, but all the chocobo’s favorite foods can be found by going to the Market Boards > Items > Miscellany and scrolling down until you see Yafaem Wildgrass. As you can see, chocobos will eat just about any fruit, vegetable, green, or grass they can get their beak into, especially those with extreme flavors typically avoided by the Spoken races. There are food sources from all over the world that are imported for Eorzean chocobos, but most seem to originate in the Near East, including the infamous Gysahl greens.
Fufucha: “Research has proven that much of the gysahl greens presently grown in Ishgard are in fact Near Eastern.”
Basyle: “Over a century ago, Near Eastern gysahl greens were brought over to Eorzea. Thanks to its hardiness, it thrived in our realm, becoming so ubiquitous that it displaced many indigenous species. Species such as the Coerthan gysahl, which fairly disappeared. And indeed it would’ve, had the Botanists’ Guild not continued cultivating it as a strain suited to cooler lands.”
