Life on the Steppe

Born into the Xaela tribe of Hotgo, blue-haired like much of her family, but with one curiously colourless eye, she was given the name Enkhutuya at birth. Growing up, she trained, as did her peers, as a warrior for her tribe - when she passed the trials of Bardam's Mettle and became a fully fledged warrior, she was gifted a black-and-gold bladed greataxe, which she wields to this day.

In her youth, she idolised a group of her older cousins, most of whom teased and cared for her in equal measure. Dayan and his younger brother in particular liked to tease the annoyingly enthusiastic girl, playfully calling her 'Tuya' instead of the longer name that felt awkward even to some other Xaela. 

A day finally came when Dayan and his group announced they were planning to travel to the distant land of Eorzea, promising to return with treasures and tales of adventure. Enkhutuya, still two summers shy of her coming of age, begged to be allowed to join them, but was refused - though encouraged to catch up to them when she was old enough. She did her best to wait out the time patiently, studying a map of the route to Eorzea that Dayan had left her, learning the Eorzean language and continuing to train. Every time the tribe visited Reunion, she eagerly asked for any news of her wayward tribemates, but none ever arrived.

On the night of her coming of age celebrations, Dayan's younger brother stepped forward and announced his intentions to be mated and joined with her. It hadn't come as a surprise - they had spent a lot of time together as they waited for news, and she had grown fond of him, so she accepted his proposal. Though they were mated soon after, Enkhutuya still wished to follow her tribemates to Eorzea and find out what happened to them, perhaps even bring them home - and then they could celebrate their joining as a full family. Her new mate reluctantly agreed to let her go, staying behind to protect their tribe while she ventured forth.