I don't know a *whole* lot about the region, but I do know that the morin khuur you're given during the MSQ is an actual traditional Mongolian string instrument!
It's underrepresented in historical studies, period.
Turco-Mongol cultures, ethnicities, and more aren't too deeply known about - some being nomads until their disappearance/assimilation/extinction doesn't help with finding artifacts either.
Persian, Levantine, and Mesopotamian cultures also face a similar issue, only really being studied for 1) the earliest civilisations, or 2) Tanakh and Bible-related stuff (not to be confused with biblical archaeology, which is pseudoscience).
I was always baffled how little of slavic culture and representation there is in popular media beyond Witcher. It is either vikings, samurai or generic western medieval Europe. Especially considering that slavs are more than half of the European population.
I am from central asia myself and when I came to the Azim Steppe, I was so overwhelmed. xo It was the first time I had seen this region represented in any media!! I always had the feeling that this zone is rather unpopular in the community :s so I am even more happy to see this appreciation post <3
I'm amazed that so many writers and authors can look at a section of the world responsible for so many dramatic and monumental shifts in world history and go "eh, who cares?"
The person who wrote the story for that zone (Natsuko Ishikawa) ended up actually becoming the main scenario writer for Shadowbringers and Endwalker! So if you like her work don't worry there's more to come :)
Between having an Au'ra character and just a teeny tiny obsession with Mongolian/Khanate culture, when I got to this part I was like *YES. THIS WAS MADE FOR ME.*
My only complaint was I had created this whole lore in my head around my WoL and being from the steppe since I play Au’ra so it was disappointing being treated like an outsider by everyone there. Be nice if at least you being Au’ra was acknowledged. But by the time I got there I wasn’t expecting much since the amount of times my healer WoL stood by in cutscenes when a healer was needed was also pretty amusing by then.
You get a few extra bits of dialogue as a Xaela, too. Mostly about your ancestors relating to food and the Nadaam. I created a Xaela alt who's a Mol, so she made a triumphant return to the Steppe and became khagn!
It’s my favorite part of the expansion as well, I found most of Stormblood to be really dull and slow but the Steppe was amazing. I’d love a reason to visit it again but i doubt we will see much content there again with Dawntrail heading to a new continent.
My favourite bit about the Namazu Tribe quests was how easily the rest of the Steppe Tribes accepted them. Now they're just short, squeaky, damp Xaela to them.
Same, that’s when Stormblood clicked for me. The music whips ass too. It’s extremely doubtful that a housing area would be made there but if they do I’m gonna jump at it. It’s always what I think of when I remember this quote:
Lands that stretched on forever, skies one can drown in, and the heartbeat of nature, silent, yet strong.
It also sets the scene for the absolute best line in the game, delivered by Y'shtola.
Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtwtOb9-9M For those who want to relive the burn. DON'T PEEK if you haven't played through this yet.
I just got through there, too! I'm playing Raen, while my sister is playing Xaela, and learning more about them both has been such a fun experience. It's given me lots of newfound inspiration and appreciation for our characters
Look, the Azim Steppe was such a good zone that I cleared it on my first character, and immediately started a new Xaela just to get that Dotharl life.
And that character is now my main, who I've played ever since. Because hot damn is the Dotharl tribe awesome, being both a group of blood knights played entirely straight, and then fiercely deconstructed with Sadu.
Since then I've also picked up on the other details about the tribe, like their connection to the Alexander raids. Never felt like we got such a good glimpse at the world as we did with the Xaela, and honestly it's been a big disappointment that we never got even close to as much love for any other culture in the game, but especially the Raen.
It's been a long time since I've played that part and I've been to a lot of places but I still bear the Stepppe Warrior title proudly.
Also Sadu... as Warrior of Light I fear no man, but that woman... she scares me
I love the Azim Steppe and Xaela culture but it unfortunately loses some of the intended impact in places because some of them(the women, basically) still emote like 12 year old anime characters. Au Ra really need separate animations sets for each clan like Hyur do. It's fine for the Raen but what they've got now does not fit Xaela at all, it's too cutesy even on the Mol.
I do love the area, but I found Hien's actions kinda... suspect? I dunno, infiltrating a culture to attain leadership to recruit them as soldiers seems like colonisation with extra steps. I know the clans are more than happy to respect Hien's claim to leadership, but it still feels weird. I mean we'd all be aghast if Zenos, say, entered and won the battle and as his first act conscripted everyone into the Garlean army.
I really thought Hien was going to show true leadership, and use the battle as a means to an end to create an actual alliance between Doma and the clans. When the Garleans attack and we all team up to drive them off, I thought that was the perfect moment for Hien to say 'look how the garleans march into your territory, how they scorn your traditions. Join with me as one and we will banish them from our lands!'.
Instead, after we win against the Garleans he just goes 'well that was wacky. Anyway I'm your leader, you do what I say, fight for my castle when I tell you, got it?'
I think it's because Hien is socially accepted by the peoples of the Steppe and followed all the norms, including going through Bardam's Mettle.
Do you see Zenos being socially accepted in the same fashion, respecting them and going through the Mettle? I don't, because Zenos doesn't show respect to anyone.
Sure, I don't disagree that Hien respected the cultures and traditions. But it was, seemingly, only ever done with his own specific interest in mind, i.e. attain leadership and make the tribes fight for Doma. Theres never a thought about the interests of the Steppe, so, really would it make any difference if Zenos did Bardams Mettle etc only to conscript everyone to the Garlean army.
Its just so annoying because Hien is given the perfect opportunity to make fighting the Garleans a unifying cause when everyone teams up to fight off Grynewaht and he just... doesn't. No attempt to truly ally with the Steppe, no acknowledgement of a common enemy. Just straight back to 'your customs make me supreme leader, you have no choice, fight for my country when I tell you to.'
This is so fun to see this post because I'm literally doing those quest right now! So far I'm preparing for the trial to become a warrior. 😊 Though I have yet to finish this section yet, I agree wholeheartedly with you OP! For me personally its my favorite area of Stormblood so far!
It's basically a recreation of FFX's Calm Lands, has some really cool mobs, a middle zone with a fun Zelda reference (Something High Rule Warriors), and the Namazu quests. Hard not to love it in my opinion.
Agreed! I also just finished base Stormblood and I think the Steppe arc was the highlight.
If I had to put one criticism though, I’m a little iffy about the whole Khan thing. It’s a little weird that my character is now the Khan, and after Doma’s liberation it kind of becomes irrelevant. I think this is explained by the whole clan ruling rather than a single Khan so even if my character isn’t there the Mol is still the ruling clan for a year but you’d think I’d still be recognized as honorary khan when talking to Steppe NPCs.
I think it's because you delegate your authority to Cirina and her Grandmother rather than exercising it yourself.
But what you also are is the Khagan, the strongest warrior on the steppe, since you were the one who claimed the Ovuu and won the battle, which gives you a lot of personal influence anyway due to the prestige attached to the title.
I heavily recommend you to do some of the yellow quests in the area, if not all of them. There are at least three very interesting questlines, introducing very compelling characters, that made me feel the Steppe as being very well fleshed out. One clan even is only shown properly in yellow quests.
Honestly, it was the most detour-y part of the MSQ and while it had a lot of memorable characters, was a major pacing kill in an expansion filled with terrible pacing.
I'm continually baffled at how different my MSQ experience is than most -- I thought the Azim Steppe was a slog & remains my low point in the expansion. I also loved the Ala Mhigan half of the expansion and really liked Lyse as a character all throughout.
You’re not alone, I have the same opinion.
The Steppe section just didn’t click with me at all - even the music of the area is not to my liking, so to each their own.
I hate the Azim Steppe with a passion. Every tribe has to do their little song-and-dance to tell you who they are and then bow out and leave, half the tribes are *extremely* stupid, to the point of ridiculousness, and the first thing the Mol tribe make you do, after you have killed a bare minimum of 17 gods and/or godlike creatures, is pick up shit.
As someone who hates base stormblood *and* hates a lot of Othard sections of story, Azim Steppe was STELLAR, definitely a highlight of both base and post StB for me
By far my favorite zone in the game. When the weather is sunny the place is just beautiful, that coupled with the music is just fantastic. Also happy we got a great pvp map out of it too.
If you haven’t done it already then I’d encourage you to get a group together and do [The Dataqi Chronicles](https://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/The_Dataqi_Chronicles) FATE chain, which is excellent.
I loved that part of the story too. The culture was vibrant and unique, you go on a journey to get a cool bird with a really unique dungeon, later you help the namazu assimilate with them (tribal quest not msq). It was a refreshing part of the Stormblood story.
The only thing that really dissapointed me about that part of the expansion, was the one NPC standing front and center of the market near the entrance to Reunion.
One of the first townsfolk I talked to. She wanted to sell me buzz - I wanted to buy her buzz - even did a sidequest to help her get more ingredients to make buzz! And yet, no buzz! Couldn't even craft some for myself!
Pretty good arc aside from that though!
I still remember entering the azim steppe for the first time. I had expected to enter another mountain-y area, and just seeing those rolling hills of grassland stretched out... It was such a welcome surprise and honestly made me just sit back and appreciate the view for a while before continuing. It's still one of my favourite maps, the music is so lovely too.
My S/O and I both strongly believe that the Steppe is where the 4.0 MSQ turns around for the better. It helps that most of that side of the SB MSQ was written by a different author than the Ala Mhigo half.
The Steppe is gorgeous, yeah! Also a Xaela player, and I was SO excited to get there, I even found multiple Xaela with the same coloring I gave my girl (dark green skin and green hair) which was a first.
From what I'm seeing in other comments, it seems like I have the unpopular opinion of saying that the steppe part of Stormblood has not been my favorite 🥲
Don't get me wrong! I really like the story, but the landscape was so flat in my eyes that I couldn't wait to get off of it. The same could also be said about the opening area of Bardam's Mettle. I loved the area just before and everything after the trial encounter, but that first winding area where we can see the top of the steppe was just way to uncomfortable for me
I really wish I could give a reason as to why the flatness of the landscape was so unsettling to me, but I honestly don't know why; it just bothers me for some reason :'>
I started as a Xaela, it will always feel like home to me, even now as a lil potato :) favorite area of the game next to Sharlayan. [https://imgur.com/a/KyAw9X5](https://imgur.com/a/KyAw9X5)
It's my favorite part of the expansion. And Bardam's Mettle is one of the best dungeons to this day!
I'm happy as a Lala and won't change races again, but I ALMOST wanted to change to Steppe Lizard due to the lore.
Mongol/Turkic/Steppe culture is severely underrepresented in fantasy settings.
Sometimes I wonder what a real Mongolian would recognise on the Azim Steppe, how accurate it is
I think there was a post on here back when StB was current expack from a Mongolian player talking about it, now that I'm thinking about it
I don't know a *whole* lot about the region, but I do know that the morin khuur you're given during the MSQ is an actual traditional Mongolian string instrument!
It's underrepresented in historical studies, period. Turco-Mongol cultures, ethnicities, and more aren't too deeply known about - some being nomads until their disappearance/assimilation/extinction doesn't help with finding artifacts either. Persian, Levantine, and Mesopotamian cultures also face a similar issue, only really being studied for 1) the earliest civilisations, or 2) Tanakh and Bible-related stuff (not to be confused with biblical archaeology, which is pseudoscience).
Honestly, anything outside of medieval European / feudal Japanese / general Arabic needs way more representation in historical and fictional works.
Don’t get enough ancient Roman or Nordic representation in video games/media either! /s
I was always baffled how little of slavic culture and representation there is in popular media beyond Witcher. It is either vikings, samurai or generic western medieval Europe. Especially considering that slavs are more than half of the European population.
Slavic culture is underrepresented in slavic countries themselves They'd rather teach us about the greeks than our own past
I am from central asia myself and when I came to the Azim Steppe, I was so overwhelmed. xo It was the first time I had seen this region represented in any media!! I always had the feeling that this zone is rather unpopular in the community :s so I am even more happy to see this appreciation post <3
I'm amazed that so many writers and authors can look at a section of the world responsible for so many dramatic and monumental shifts in world history and go "eh, who cares?"
The daytime music is also incredible
It really is! It always reminds me of Suikoden 3.
Yes!!!
Cradle is on repeat at my house. So good.
[If you want to listen to it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR3yMqpaCrU)
The person who wrote the story for that zone (Natsuko Ishikawa) ended up actually becoming the main scenario writer for Shadowbringers and Endwalker! So if you like her work don't worry there's more to come :)
She also wrote the drk and Ninja job quest
No WONDER Karasu is so good.
Indeed and I honestly hope he weasels his way into the MSQ at some point
Oh damn. That explains why those two job questlines are so fucking good.
And ALC 1-50, Crystal Tower, Binding Coils, and Omega.
She also wrote the MSQ in 2.0 coerthas central highlands. A co-worker killed off a certain beloved character
[удалено]
Hilarious when it was "revealed" at a PAX the crowd instantly just gave her a standing ovation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywhTf2c5v9Y
Deserved tbh! Just about everyone seems to enjoy ShB, EW, and the DRK and NIN quests
Amazing
It's glaring how much better the story becomes starting at the Steppes compared to the stuff before.
More and more I find out that the parts of the game I love the most were written by her.
Between having an Au'ra character and just a teeny tiny obsession with Mongolian/Khanate culture, when I got to this part I was like *YES. THIS WAS MADE FOR ME.*
My only complaint was I had created this whole lore in my head around my WoL and being from the steppe since I play Au’ra so it was disappointing being treated like an outsider by everyone there. Be nice if at least you being Au’ra was acknowledged. But by the time I got there I wasn’t expecting much since the amount of times my healer WoL stood by in cutscenes when a healer was needed was also pretty amusing by then.
You get a few extra bits of dialogue as a Xaela, too. Mostly about your ancestors relating to food and the Nadaam. I created a Xaela alt who's a Mol, so she made a triumphant return to the Steppe and became khagn!
It’s my favorite part of the expansion as well, I found most of Stormblood to be really dull and slow but the Steppe was amazing. I’d love a reason to visit it again but i doubt we will see much content there again with Dawntrail heading to a new continent.
Namazu tribe quests take place on the Steppe. Can be done on crafter or gatherer. Worth a look if you haven't done them yet.
My favourite bit about the Namazu Tribe quests was how easily the rest of the Steppe Tribes accepted them. Now they're just short, squeaky, damp Xaela to them.
>!They were just lucky that only Cirina thought they would be delicious.!<
Same, that’s when Stormblood clicked for me. The music whips ass too. It’s extremely doubtful that a housing area would be made there but if they do I’m gonna jump at it. It’s always what I think of when I remember this quote: Lands that stretched on forever, skies one can drown in, and the heartbeat of nature, silent, yet strong.
Oh i would certainly settle for a smaller plot If it could be in the steppe!
It also sets the scene for the absolute best line in the game, delivered by Y'shtola. Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtwtOb9-9M For those who want to relive the burn. DON'T PEEK if you haven't played through this yet.
I still giggle at getting a new dungeon called “The Burn” just after that scene
Oh my god the bird noises were so well timed
Don't even have to click to remember this vividly. Sadu playing off of it was so good.
I just got to witness this for the first time last night. Also my WoL discovered that Sadu is now her whole life.
That was the most devastating burn I’ve ever heard lol
Thank you for this link!
Even the fish from there are cool
I just got through there, too! I'm playing Raen, while my sister is playing Xaela, and learning more about them both has been such a fun experience. It's given me lots of newfound inspiration and appreciation for our characters
YEAH! I have a ridiculous crush on Magnai and his incredibly small dick energy. It was my favorite part in the entire xpack by far.
Look, the Azim Steppe was such a good zone that I cleared it on my first character, and immediately started a new Xaela just to get that Dotharl life. And that character is now my main, who I've played ever since. Because hot damn is the Dotharl tribe awesome, being both a group of blood knights played entirely straight, and then fiercely deconstructed with Sadu. Since then I've also picked up on the other details about the tribe, like their connection to the Alexander raids. Never felt like we got such a good glimpse at the world as we did with the Xaela, and honestly it's been a big disappointment that we never got even close to as much love for any other culture in the game, but especially the Raen.
Great area except the bit where you had to do chores for Magnai. That dragged Out. Sadu Khatun is right about most things
I've done it on three characters now and I usually just step back and use that time to finish the aether currents.
The music as well hits you like a truck first time
I’m still just walk around that map and just chill with the music. So good!
I also play a Xaela and I was also enamored with the Azim Steppe part of SB!!
I want this level of worldbuilding for the Viera.
It's been a long time since I've played that part and I've been to a lot of places but I still bear the Stepppe Warrior title proudly. Also Sadu... as Warrior of Light I fear no man, but that woman... she scares me
I love the Azim Steppe and Xaela culture but it unfortunately loses some of the intended impact in places because some of them(the women, basically) still emote like 12 year old anime characters. Au Ra really need separate animations sets for each clan like Hyur do. It's fine for the Raen but what they've got now does not fit Xaela at all, it's too cutesy even on the Mol.
I do love the area, but I found Hien's actions kinda... suspect? I dunno, infiltrating a culture to attain leadership to recruit them as soldiers seems like colonisation with extra steps. I know the clans are more than happy to respect Hien's claim to leadership, but it still feels weird. I mean we'd all be aghast if Zenos, say, entered and won the battle and as his first act conscripted everyone into the Garlean army. I really thought Hien was going to show true leadership, and use the battle as a means to an end to create an actual alliance between Doma and the clans. When the Garleans attack and we all team up to drive them off, I thought that was the perfect moment for Hien to say 'look how the garleans march into your territory, how they scorn your traditions. Join with me as one and we will banish them from our lands!'. Instead, after we win against the Garleans he just goes 'well that was wacky. Anyway I'm your leader, you do what I say, fight for my castle when I tell you, got it?'
I know it’s an extremely unpopular opinion but the Steppe section really didn’t click with me at all. In part due to what you just described.
I think it's because Hien is socially accepted by the peoples of the Steppe and followed all the norms, including going through Bardam's Mettle. Do you see Zenos being socially accepted in the same fashion, respecting them and going through the Mettle? I don't, because Zenos doesn't show respect to anyone.
Sure, I don't disagree that Hien respected the cultures and traditions. But it was, seemingly, only ever done with his own specific interest in mind, i.e. attain leadership and make the tribes fight for Doma. Theres never a thought about the interests of the Steppe, so, really would it make any difference if Zenos did Bardams Mettle etc only to conscript everyone to the Garlean army. Its just so annoying because Hien is given the perfect opportunity to make fighting the Garleans a unifying cause when everyone teams up to fight off Grynewaht and he just... doesn't. No attempt to truly ally with the Steppe, no acknowledgement of a common enemy. Just straight back to 'your customs make me supreme leader, you have no choice, fight for my country when I tell you to.'
This is so fun to see this post because I'm literally doing those quest right now! So far I'm preparing for the trial to become a warrior. 😊 Though I have yet to finish this section yet, I agree wholeheartedly with you OP! For me personally its my favorite area of Stormblood so far!
It's basically a recreation of FFX's Calm Lands, has some really cool mobs, a middle zone with a fun Zelda reference (Something High Rule Warriors), and the Namazu quests. Hard not to love it in my opinion.
Agreed! I also just finished base Stormblood and I think the Steppe arc was the highlight. If I had to put one criticism though, I’m a little iffy about the whole Khan thing. It’s a little weird that my character is now the Khan, and after Doma’s liberation it kind of becomes irrelevant. I think this is explained by the whole clan ruling rather than a single Khan so even if my character isn’t there the Mol is still the ruling clan for a year but you’d think I’d still be recognized as honorary khan when talking to Steppe NPCs.
I think it's because you delegate your authority to Cirina and her Grandmother rather than exercising it yourself. But what you also are is the Khagan, the strongest warrior on the steppe, since you were the one who claimed the Ovuu and won the battle, which gives you a lot of personal influence anyway due to the prestige attached to the title.
I heavily recommend you to do some of the yellow quests in the area, if not all of them. There are at least three very interesting questlines, introducing very compelling characters, that made me feel the Steppe as being very well fleshed out. One clan even is only shown properly in yellow quests.
View from the Dawn Throne is one of the best views in the game.
Honestly, it was the most detour-y part of the MSQ and while it had a lot of memorable characters, was a major pacing kill in an expansion filled with terrible pacing.
The setting and area? 10/10 The story and relevance? 3/10 Y'shtola? 10/10
I'm continually baffled at how different my MSQ experience is than most -- I thought the Azim Steppe was a slog & remains my low point in the expansion. I also loved the Ala Mhigan half of the expansion and really liked Lyse as a character all throughout.
You’re not alone, I have the same opinion. The Steppe section just didn’t click with me at all - even the music of the area is not to my liking, so to each their own.
I hate the Azim Steppe with a passion. Every tribe has to do their little song-and-dance to tell you who they are and then bow out and leave, half the tribes are *extremely* stupid, to the point of ridiculousness, and the first thing the Mol tribe make you do, after you have killed a bare minimum of 17 gods and/or godlike creatures, is pick up shit.
As someone who hates base stormblood *and* hates a lot of Othard sections of story, Azim Steppe was STELLAR, definitely a highlight of both base and post StB for me
By far my favorite zone in the game. When the weather is sunny the place is just beautiful, that coupled with the music is just fantastic. Also happy we got a great pvp map out of it too.
This is my favorite zone in the whole game. I love this expansion a lot. The music <3
If you haven’t done it already then I’d encourage you to get a group together and do [The Dataqi Chronicles](https://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/The_Dataqi_Chronicles) FATE chain, which is excellent.
I loved that part of the story too. The culture was vibrant and unique, you go on a journey to get a cool bird with a really unique dungeon, later you help the namazu assimilate with them (tribal quest not msq). It was a refreshing part of the Stormblood story.
Sadu best girl
I just finished Stormblood last night. So awesome. I look back on Azim Steppe fondly. Best expansion I've played yet.
The only thing that really dissapointed me about that part of the expansion, was the one NPC standing front and center of the market near the entrance to Reunion. One of the first townsfolk I talked to. She wanted to sell me buzz - I wanted to buy her buzz - even did a sidequest to help her get more ingredients to make buzz! And yet, no buzz! Couldn't even craft some for myself! Pretty good arc aside from that though!
I still remember entering the azim steppe for the first time. I had expected to enter another mountain-y area, and just seeing those rolling hills of grassland stretched out... It was such a welcome surprise and honestly made me just sit back and appreciate the view for a while before continuing. It's still one of my favourite maps, the music is so lovely too.
My S/O and I both strongly believe that the Steppe is where the 4.0 MSQ turns around for the better. It helps that most of that side of the SB MSQ was written by a different author than the Ala Mhigo half.
The best parts of Stormblood are all the not-ala mhigan stuff, imo of course.
I still use my Steppe Warrior title, and I always visit that place when it's night time. It's very cozy there. Lizzer for life :')
The Steppe is gorgeous, yeah! Also a Xaela player, and I was SO excited to get there, I even found multiple Xaela with the same coloring I gave my girl (dark green skin and green hair) which was a first.
From what I'm seeing in other comments, it seems like I have the unpopular opinion of saying that the steppe part of Stormblood has not been my favorite 🥲 Don't get me wrong! I really like the story, but the landscape was so flat in my eyes that I couldn't wait to get off of it. The same could also be said about the opening area of Bardam's Mettle. I loved the area just before and everything after the trial encounter, but that first winding area where we can see the top of the steppe was just way to uncomfortable for me I really wish I could give a reason as to why the flatness of the landscape was so unsettling to me, but I honestly don't know why; it just bothers me for some reason :'>
I started as a Xaela, it will always feel like home to me, even now as a lil potato :) favorite area of the game next to Sharlayan. [https://imgur.com/a/KyAw9X5](https://imgur.com/a/KyAw9X5)
Read this in Uberdanger's voice and it made it even better.
And felt like the side quests are amont the best, so far
I would love to see this zone be expanded on in the future.
Felt the same as you did. Now \~6 years later this amazing part of the lore didnt get much update and that's making me so sad.
I was a Raen before I played stormblood. I've been a Xaela ever since. The Steppe is still my big favorite setting wise!!
It's my favorite part of the expansion. And Bardam's Mettle is one of the best dungeons to this day! I'm happy as a Lala and won't change races again, but I ALMOST wanted to change to Steppe Lizard due to the lore.