Galqar Haragin: A Profile
The exploits of the Warrior of Light and the Savior of Ishgard are well-known. But how did the child of a distant continent become the Champion of Eorzea?
Born on the steppes of Othard to the coastal Haragin tribe of the wandering Xaela clan of the Au Ra, Galqar received his name in the traditional manner, from the tribal seers. They read the stars and declared the child to have "gal qara", a dark fire of curiosity burning in him that would lead to both tragedy and glory.
The first part of the seer's prediction was fulfilled when Galqar was only twelve. Sightings of a Garlean ship along the coast had the tribe scrambline to break camp and flee, but Galqar was curious. He went off on his own and hid, hoping to catch a glimpse of the strange men and their steam-driven vessels of tribal legend. A patrol in the employ of a Garlean scholar found him and took him to their ship, caging him like an animal for the trip back to Garlemald.
Fortunately, the Lominsan scout ship Red Swallow intercepted the Garlean vessel and rescused the young Au Ra. Since they were too far from Othard to return him to his home, two of the ship's officers, Sthalfalk and Copper Blade, adopted him as their own. Galqar Elilsyn ("Foreign Son" in the Sea Wolf Roegadyn tongue) spent seven peaceful years in Limsa Lominsa. He learned the skills of the Marauder, but it was at magic that he excelled, studying the art of the Arcanist.
Then the Calamity struck.
Sthalfalk was one of the many brave Maelstrom officers who fell at the Battle of Carteneau. With one father dead, and the other consumed by grief, a devastated Galqar set out on his own. He travelled first to Ul'dah, where he studied with the Gladiator's Guild. Next he went to Gridania to learn the arts of Conjury and to train as a Lancer. His work with the lance so impressed Guildmaster Ywain that when he received a letter from Ser Alberic requesting aid, he did not hesitate to recommend Galqar.
Despite the unfortunate prejudice against the Au Ra that forced him to wear a helm or hood at all times while in Ishgard, Galqar trained hard with Ser Alberic, and for the first time in recorded history, the Eye awoke for a second Azure Dragoon. After battling to banish Nidhogg's influence from his fellow Azure Dragoon, Estinien Wyrmblood (as he would again two years later), Galqar returned to Limsa Lominsa. There he would complete his studies as an Arcanist and master the ancient arts of the Summoner and Scholar, as well as discovering the gift of the Echo that would set his steps on the path to true greatness.
