The Vahkara clan was based on a combination of caste and guild system. While there is some who are born into their family’s most popular occupation, the freedom to choose their own role was offered. There was several guilds within Vahkara clan, each headed by the patron who is a noble or even a royalty from the Awandah line itself in cases of multiple childrens.
Royalties:
This consists of the Awandahs including the line that descended from the First Matriarch. Each generation first born female was usually chosen to lead the clan when they become of age (around 16 to 18). In cases of more than one children in the matriarch line, they are given different colored gemstones to prevent the dispute of the throne in the future and instead becomes patrons of the guild that they are destined to lead. Although, there has been cases of twins leading together if gemstones showed the same colors. In events that Matriarchs are killed, they are usually taken over by a sister or a former matriarch if still alive.
Nobles:
Descendents of the first moonkeepers created by Aidzuki, Lady of the Moon. Each children born into these noble families are given a gemstone that will dictate which guild they would lead or contribute to. It is not uncommon to have a family in charge of a guild.
Guilds:
Made up of many villagers and commoners, dedicated to develop their skills and contribute to the work. A member is free to choose what guild they would like to serve in though there has been cases of families being prominent in certain guilds. Guilds can range from anywhere from royal guards to alchemists to beast tamers. New guilds can be developed out of a need for the clan. Guild members typically wear colored beads, jewelries or feathers in their hair to represent the guild that they are associated with.
Untouchables:
Previous members of the clan that has been exiled or outcasted for their unforgivable actions. It is a form of punishment that can be placed onto members of the clan if they betray the family. If children are born from a outcast, they are given a chance to earn their place in the clan if they undertake the trials and succeed. Typically as a rule, it is considered a taboo for the clan to talk to outcasts though more flexibility is given with children born from outcasts.
Largely based within the East, the Goldvine Clan has taken to draw its religion from one of their ancestors, Vahkara Clan. They mainly revere a group of deities named “Tōitsu Seishin” along with kami (sacred spirits) and ancestors worship. One might find Tōitsu Seishin somewhat similar to Eorzean’s Twelve. They are essentially the same deities but found in different cultures (Think Greek/Roman gods). Take a look below to find out more about Tōitsu Seishin!
(OOC note: This is not intended to be canon of FFXIV’s lore or accepted by majority of the eastern population. It is only headcanon of Goldvine Clan though you are free to use this as a reference if you feel like your character may worship these eastern deities, even if they’re not from Goldvine Clan!)
1st Moon - Sensoikari
Lady of War
Eorzean Counterpart: Halone
Element: Ice
Represents passionate protection
Icon: Three spears projecting outwards, full protection
“Meet me on the Battlefield and I will be your sword and shield.” - Sensoikari
Sensoikari was born in the wake of emotions created by her father, Nanimo who was named Hakaisuru at the time. He held too much rage from the loss of his wife, who died to mortal injuries created by his followers who had betrayed him. Unable to fight properly from succumbing to grief, Sensoikari appeared, taking her father’s rage and obliterated the murderers who had killed her mother. She is often depicted as a slender samurai woman with long flowing red hair, said to be dyed with the blood of her father’s enemies and three katana blades.
2nd Moon - Aidzuki
Lady of Moon
Eorzean Counterpart: Menphina
Element: Ice
Represents nighttime and moon
Icon: Moon cradling a third eye along with the matriarch’s mark found on Vahkara Clan’s daughters who are destined to be Matriarchs of the clan.
“Without the dark, we’d never see the stars to wish upon.” - Aidzuki
Aidzuki was one of the first that Jikan created along with her sister, Taiyohi. Jikan found himself in a world that was dark and lonely, he quickly sought for companions. After finding none, he created a set of twins. Close yet opposite: Aidzuki and Taiyohi. Jikan decided that they would be given the chance to create their own people to place upon the empty world. Aidzuki created creatures of the night, Keeper of the Moon. Taiyohi created creatures of the day, Seeker of the Sun. Together they balanced the world, following after one another in a cycle. Aidzuki is often depicted as a maiden with dark skin with silver speckles, dark hair and white luminous eyes.
3rd Moon - Chishiki
Lord of Knowledge
Eorzean Counterpart: Thaliak
Element: Water
Represents scholars and knowledge
Icon: Scrolls, representing knowledge and a lock, said only to open to those who were worthy of knowledge.
“Our pasts teaches us our mistakes in order to pave a better future.” - Chishiki
It is said that the origins of Chishiki is locked in a scroll hidden far below the depths of the ocean, hidden by his daughter, Seikatsudo. Only she can guide those who are worthy and gain access to all knowledge imaginable to man. His role is to record of all events that has happened, even the smallest moments. He often depicted as a man sitting with a scroll and brushes.
4th Moon - Unmeikami
Lady of Fate
Eorzean Counterpart: Nymeia
Element: Ice
Represents fate and kami
Icon: A flower resting within a star, also represent the compass.
“All it takes is faith to believe that your fate can be changed.” - Unmeikami
Unmeikami oversees the Kami who are a large part of the Eastern region worshipping. It is from Unmeikami where the Kami draws their source of power to change current events and people’s fates as needed. People would give offerings to Unmeikami in hopes of miracles within their life. She is usually depicted as a woman with multiple red strings tied around each of her fingers, constantly weaving.
5th Moon - Seikatsudo
Lady of Guidance
Eorzean Counterpart: Llymlean
Element: Wind
Represents guidance and pathways
Icon: A series of pathways
“No one can walk your path for you.” - Seikatsudo
Seikatsudo works closely with Unmeikami in order to better guide others on their rightful paths. She oversees the hardships and achievements are deserving for the person, helping them shape them into souls that are deserving to be of the Kami in their afterlife. She is depicted as a traveler with a magical map that changes each time she looks at a person.
6th Moon - Yamafuri
Lord of Mountains
Eorzean Counterpart: Oschon
Element: Wind
Represents freedom and determination
Icon: Mountain with a strong core.
“Love is not losing freedom, it is sharing with another.” - Yamafuri
Yamafuri was created by Taiyohi to be her lover, always greeting her whenever she rose the sun up into the sky. However, after he saw Aidzuki, he fell immensely in love and would often sing songs to her to keep her company during the desolate nights. Once Taiyohi found out about his feelings, she became angered and turned him into a mountain. It is said that he grows taller and stronger in hopes that one day he may finally reunite with his true lover in the night sky. He is often depicted as a man with wide shoulders, carrying a bouquet of flowers for his lover, Aidzuki.
7th Moon - Sosakute
Lord of Creation
Eorzean Counterpart: Byregot
Element: Lightning
Represents creation and beginnings
Icon: Ball of clay on a wheel
“From the clay, a man is made.” - Sosakute
It is said that Sosakute was the first thing that came into existence of anything. Everything is made from his hands, even the land that man stands on. Every little detail of each person was created by him. Some people pray to Sosakute for fertility and being granted with beautiful children strong enough to carry on the family name and their bloodlines. He is often depicted as a short man with hands covered with both dried and wet clay.
8th Moon - Nanimo
Lord of Nothing
Eorzean Counterpart: Rhalger
Element: Lightning
Represents nothing
Icon: No icon after his followers betrayed him and erased his icon from history, it is said that Chisaki only knows what this icon looks like.
Before he was Nanimo, he was Hakaisuru, a loving husband to his mortal lover. Before he met his wife however, he was a ferocious man, gathering all men and women of lost origins on quests to get their revenge. Though upon meeting his lover, he began to realize that revenge wasn’t everything and eventually disappeared. He was found again by his followers who then betrayed him and killed his wife in hopes that he would go back to himself. They met their end at the hands of his daughter who took all his emotions to give him peace. Because of this, he became to be known as ‘The Nothing’, never to be seen or heard from again.
9th Moon - Taiyohi
Lady of Sun
Eorzean Counterpart: Azeyma
Element: Fire
Represents daytime and passion
Icon: Sun with long rays, reaching out to her people to shine their light
“Seek the light and warmth of my embrace.” - Taiyohi
Taiyohi was one of the first that Jikan created along with her sister, Aidzuki. Jikan found himself in a world that was dark and lonely, he quickly sought for companions. After finding none, he created a set of twins. Close yet opposite: Taiyohi and Aidzuki. Jikan decided that they would be given the chance to create their own people to place upon the empty world. Taiyohi created creatures of the day, Seeker of the Sun. Aidzuki created creatures of the night, Keeper of the Moon. Together they balanced the world, following after one another in a cycle. She is often depicted as tan woman with bright shining eyes and a halo of ray around her head.
10th Moon - Shi & Kosei
Ladies of Death
Eorzean Counterpart: Nald’thal
Element: Fire
Represents death and afterlife
Icon: Gate where souls are ferried through
“May your soul pass the judgement.” - Shi & Kosei
Shi and Kosei are twin sisters created to watch over the souls who are traveling to their afterlife. They exist in all in between of things. It is said that after death, the souls are ferried down a river through the gate. The sisters makes up the pillars, holding the threshold up, there they review the souls and pass on judgement if they are worthy enough to pass on into the afterlife as a sacred Kami, return back to the world as an animal or sent into the underworld where they are punished against the weight of their sins until they received forgiveness to be reincarnated again to live a life finally worth of the true afterlife. They are often depicted as identical twin sisters, each one with one red third eye in their foreheads.
11th Moon - Hahashizen
Lady of Nature
Eorzean Counterpart: Nophica
Element: Earth
Represents nature and life
Icon: Plant growing from seed of life
“From the seed, a woman is made.” - Hahashizen
Hahashizen is said to be a lover of Sosakute after they created their first life, Jikan. Sosakute crafted the body and Hahashizen poured life into him. Even to this day, she still works closely with Sosakute, creating children to keep the world that Sosakute made thriving. Hahashizen oversees the nature and preserves it. She is depicted as a tall slender woman with kimono and hair made up of leaves and flowers.
12th Moon - Jikan
Lord of Time
Eorzean Counterpart: Althyk
Element: Earth
Represents time
Icon: Hourglass with sand flowing both ways
“The world is always half day and half night, and so are we.” - Jikan
Jikan was created from the love of Hahashizen and Sosakute, though the parents decided it was best to let him grow and make choices for himself without their influences. So he found himself alone with a world, using the gift of his father, he created his daughters, Aidzuki and Taiyohi and created the concept of time. It is said that he did eventually find his parents and ascended into the higher plane where they remain. He watches over his daughters and other deities. He is depicted as a thin man holding a hourglass with sand flowing in both directions, able to travel to any part of the history or future as he pleases.
