#mael dotharl

[maeljade]

A quick lineup of all the current shards!

[valkyriecrane]

Before Dawntrail, a couple old friends catch up and make plans for their upcoming vacation where nothing bad is going to happen. With @maeljade's lovely Warrior of Light, thanks for letting me steal your bones

[maeljade]

Hey tumblr, have a small teaser picture of Mael with a suspiciously Miqo'te looking tail coming from underneath her!

The full image can be seen by either asking me in DM's here or on Discord or over on bluesky!

[maeljade]

Alright, you all asked for it to be put to text so I shall give you all the Mael lore and backstory! With occasional annotations to explain decisions!

Firstly, a short introduction for those not familiar with her! She is an Au Ra Xaela and if you'd ask her she'd say that she is of the Dotharl.

Her actual story and history is a tiny bit more complicated then that. Born to a small, peaceful tribe (*1) she grew up relatively well, learning hunting, reading and writing during visits to Reunion and learning to herd the animals of her tribe. As she became a teenager she was deemed old enough to travel to Reunion alone to trade for some items her tribe required-

On her way back from Reunion she saw several animals of her tribes herds running away from their encampment, with smoke billowing out of it. Rushing towards it she found naught but death and destruction, with her family either slain or nowhere to be found(*2). Searching the entire encampment the only thing she could find was a dagger with her name engraved upon it, which her parents had planned to give to her as a birthday gift and marking her as a full member of the tribe once she returned from Reunion.

Falling to despair she mourned her tribes fate until she heard the sounds of people approaching. Hiding in the ruins she watched as a group of blue clad Xaela approached the village and explored it. Blinded by her grief she thought them responsible for the destruction she decided to claim vengeance and ambushed several of them as they explored the ruins, knocking them unconscious. She succeeded at these attacks until she tried to jump their leader, a young woman only a few summers older then herself. Unfortunately for her this young Xaela was Sadu Dotharl and she saw herself outmatched and quickly defeated and disarmed.

One of the men that she had knocked out had since recovered and demanded they kill her for embarrassing and defeating him in an ambush. As he moved for the kill Mael defiantly spat in his face, awaiting a blow that would never come. Impressed by her bravery in the face of death and the strength she had shown in her ambush Sadu had stopped his blade before it could touch her and instead offered an arm towards her, congratulating her on a fearlessness of death befitting a Dotharl and offering Mael a place with them. From that day forth Mael was known as one of the Dotharl, a brave young fighter who looked up to and aspired to be like Sadu in all things.

The next few years went by without many things of importance happening until Mael was sent to Bardams Mettle to become a full warrior of the steppes and to join the Dotharl in the next Naadam. Clearing the first challenge with ease, she arrived at the Tests of Bardam. Seeing the falling star something inside her broke free and she collapsed unconscious, beset by visions, sights and memories. Places she had never visited, people she didnt know, events she never witnessed. In these visions she saw faces she was certain she had never before seen yet their names of these people were at the tip of her tongue, places that did not exist in the steppes she had never left but she knew what would happen next anyways. Plagued by these dreams she was found several days later by a group of Dotharl who had come in search of her, returning her to Dotharl Khaa and caring for her.

After a short while she made a full recovery, recounting what had happened to Sadu and saying that ever since the trial she had heard a faint voice calling for her to travel westward and explore the world. Looking into her eyes and soul Sadu declared that Mael had a Travelers Soul, yearning to see the wider world and decreed that she should follow her souls desire, the visions she had experienced her previous lives memories and guide.

After some preparations Sadu and the Dotharl wished her farewell and Sadu commanded her to grow strong on her travels and to show her strength by challenging her once Mael returned from her travels.

And thats Maels backstory, what happened before the games begin and how she came to Eorzea! Thank you all for reading and if you have any questions I will happily answer them!

[maeljade]

Whats a more romantic start to a relationship then a fight to the death? Nothing, as far as Mael is concerned! So they got to making out as soon as they arrived at Yaana's place and send Neyuni out of the room.

[maeljade]

Now, what kind of wonderful mount my Mael have on her leash here? Find out by inquiring via DMs or over on my Bluesky here: https://bsky.app/profile/maeljade.bsky.social/post/3m2h2nagpbc2s

[maeljade]

Mael and Retsarra are having some fun times! And you may see the full pose either over on my bluesky or via DMs!

[maeljade]

Theres some WoL at the start/WoL now going around so ... have this picture from my literally first day of playing.

My second picture is 13 days later from the Vault ... huh.

Versus now! Or well before I last phantasia'd. Different hairstyle, different highlight color from Shadowbringers, slightly different hair color, more scales in her face and I played around a bit with limbal rings in Dawntrail!

And bonus: the entirely different OC I am currently phanta'd into.

Tagged by @elizabethrobertajones and I am gonne tag @scionshtola, @fantasmagoriam and @valkyriecrane