i loved playing through heavensward as an au ra so, so much because it made characters like haurchefant feel even more special. i know that the ishgardian people aren’t necessarily openly hostile to au ra anymore at the time of heavensward, but when you talk to NPC’s you do get more rude/standoffish dialogue as an au ra than other races, or at least less welcoming. and i do think some people would have qualms with this random stranger coming to their city and shaking things up who also happens to look kind of like a dragon. so the idea of haurchefant not giving a fat fuck about the warrior of light having features reminiscent of a wyrm and being so hospitable and kind and just wonderful really makes him that more compelling to me.
he is the first friendly face you see in ishgard—and at least for me, he was the first random (at first) npc that really stood out to me and made me want to know more about him in post ARR. he is the one we turn to when everything goes to shit, and he’s delighted to be able to help us. he sympathizes with our plight, treats us as an honest friend, makes you feel like he really cares about you, is truly grateful for the things you’ve done, and doesn’t want anything in return for his hospitality and kindness. he really, really cares—and he is really, really fond of the warrior of light.
like imagine the WoL walking through ishgard getting strange looks for their somewhat draconic features, vendors trying to cheat them out of more gil than other customers, that sort of thing. to most people here they are, at best, offputting to look at. at worst, they are an enemy infiltrating the politics of ishgard under the guise of a hero. but haurchefant has no lens of prejudice. to him, the WoL is fascinating and beautiful and he would listen to them talk about the intricacy of scale care or the xaela tribes or the history of the raen for hours if he could. he wants to know everything they can tell him about their people.
i feel like he’d walk with them through the streets as a public declaration and to make sure that prices don’t suddenly inflate when they go to the market, and such.
