I think the weakest aspect of this tribe's idea is in their mating practices.
One of the first things I noticed was continuity, which Hut already sort of touched on. By that I mean that some of these special weathers are only seen in very select areas and some only very recently in history. And those caused by primals even more rare. The first primal in this era was summoned in Othard only shortly after the Garlean invasion forty-nine years ago. The next would not occur until 1562, halfway around the world in Eorzea.
Tension/Hopelessness appears only with Odin, the Dark Divinity, who was only released from his crystalline gaol in the Shroud as recently as the last few years. "Gloom" occurs in areas hardest hit by the Calamity, but most frequently in Mor Dhona as a result of the Battle of Silvertear Skies in 1562, fifteen years ago, though at this time the weather was simply called "miasma." Umbral Wind and Umbral Static occur (so far) only in the Sea of Clouds and Churning Mists, respectively, but both of these areas have been inaccessible for a thousand years to anyone without an airship, an invention of only the last forty-five to fifty years. This feat made even harder still without Ishgardian aid and the dragons in the area which frequently attacked airships regularly.
Is it possible these weathers could occur in other places? Theoretically. Gloom might have resulted from the annihilation of Bozja fifteen years ago. A place with an overabundance of elemental aspect could theoretically create these Umbrally charged winds, snows, static, etc. Auroras could be seen if they traveled far enough. But this begs two questions: 1) How old is this tribe? And 2) How has the tribe not died out given how rare their mating weathers are and how ridiculously far they would have to travel just to see them?
Nearly all Xaela are nomadic, but few seem to have traveled beyond the Far East. Given that this Kujqai tribe is supposedly even more flighty than their Xaela brethren, do they travel in large caravans of their people and- those other Xaela who've adopted their ways? (I'm also not really sure how this strengthens the tribe to have children with the closest willing Xaela who may or may not even believe in these superstitions? Then they bugger off the next morning.) Or smaller groups/solo? Depends on the wind? While it's an interesting concept of how this entire people are dictated by the wind, it seems unreasonable to me that one of their members (if not in a large caravan of like-minded tribe-members) would journey so far from an area with potential mating partners to foreign areas with so few available mating partners to enjoy the moment with- supposing they're willing that is. Though willingness/mood doesn't seem to play too much into it based on your description?
Which leads into my next bit: weather dictating action, in place of weather guiding action. Traditional members of this tribe observe the weathers quite strictly (though I'm assuming there would be others who may not adhere so stringently to their behavioral code? (emoji movie?)). I was attempting to find various common weather patterns in the Azim Steppe lore, but I was being quick and only turned up a couple things.
So while the vast, vast region of the Azim Steppe experiences more diverse changes in weather based on which way the wind blows from seemingly, I can't help but think of what happens if a Kujqai travels to a place like Vylbrand which has a long rainy season, or if they flew their bird to the Sea of Clouds during the monsoon season there? Several moons of depression and prayer?
My point has to do with mating though, so let me circle back around. Might I suggest, after all this critique, that perhaps you take a leaf out of the collective books of the Vanu Vanu and Ixali beast tribes who similarly exalt the wind?
Perhaps by eliminating the mating "restriction" to, at least, the rare special weathers, the Kujqai can simply be named and brag about being conceived (or born? Your post kinda flipflopped between birth and conception weather) under whatever weather. This person was conceived in the midst of a raging heatwave the likes of which the Xaela of the Tail Mountains had never felt, but this one was born from a powerful western gale which some claim budged even the very Dawn Throne! Pride and bragging rights still intact, but without having to really really bend lore to get a child born prior to 50 years ago... and without travel to Eorzea being necessary...
It also adds more variety to the weathers? No two thunderstorms may be exactly alike, but if every Kujqai had to knock someone up during the singular primal summoning in Othard or when the sky got gloomy that one time in 1562, then that really strips the grandeur of their birth I would think. "I was born of the great western gloom!" "Me too."
Idk. Hut had other good suggestions. It's amazing how much clothing, jewelry, and makeup can make drastic impressions. Especially in regards to belief-systems. Tattoos or facepaints of varying colors to represent their birth weather/element, flowing clothes or heavy furs they wear like badges of honor to show their kin where they've traveled upon the winds, jewelry from far off realms made by strange peoples they've missioned their ideology to.
Food for thought. Hope it helps!
One of the first things I noticed was continuity, which Hut already sort of touched on. By that I mean that some of these special weathers are only seen in very select areas and some only very recently in history. And those caused by primals even more rare. The first primal in this era was summoned in Othard only shortly after the Garlean invasion forty-nine years ago. The next would not occur until 1562, halfway around the world in Eorzea.
Tension/Hopelessness appears only with Odin, the Dark Divinity, who was only released from his crystalline gaol in the Shroud as recently as the last few years. "Gloom" occurs in areas hardest hit by the Calamity, but most frequently in Mor Dhona as a result of the Battle of Silvertear Skies in 1562, fifteen years ago, though at this time the weather was simply called "miasma." Umbral Wind and Umbral Static occur (so far) only in the Sea of Clouds and Churning Mists, respectively, but both of these areas have been inaccessible for a thousand years to anyone without an airship, an invention of only the last forty-five to fifty years. This feat made even harder still without Ishgardian aid and the dragons in the area which frequently attacked airships regularly.
Is it possible these weathers could occur in other places? Theoretically. Gloom might have resulted from the annihilation of Bozja fifteen years ago. A place with an overabundance of elemental aspect could theoretically create these Umbrally charged winds, snows, static, etc. Auroras could be seen if they traveled far enough. But this begs two questions: 1) How old is this tribe? And 2) How has the tribe not died out given how rare their mating weathers are and how ridiculously far they would have to travel just to see them?
Nearly all Xaela are nomadic, but few seem to have traveled beyond the Far East. Given that this Kujqai tribe is supposedly even more flighty than their Xaela brethren, do they travel in large caravans of their people and- those other Xaela who've adopted their ways? (I'm also not really sure how this strengthens the tribe to have children with the closest willing Xaela who may or may not even believe in these superstitions? Then they bugger off the next morning.) Or smaller groups/solo? Depends on the wind? While it's an interesting concept of how this entire people are dictated by the wind, it seems unreasonable to me that one of their members (if not in a large caravan of like-minded tribe-members) would journey so far from an area with potential mating partners to foreign areas with so few available mating partners to enjoy the moment with- supposing they're willing that is. Though willingness/mood doesn't seem to play too much into it based on your description?
Which leads into my next bit: weather dictating action, in place of weather guiding action. Traditional members of this tribe observe the weathers quite strictly (though I'm assuming there would be others who may not adhere so stringently to their behavioral code? (emoji movie?)). I was attempting to find various common weather patterns in the Azim Steppe lore, but I was being quick and only turned up a couple things.
Ogodei Wrote:Fantastic! With this, I shall make the child a blanket to shelter him from the bite of the wind and frigid nights. Several times throughout the year, freezing climes will sweep over the Steppe and claim the lives of our young. <sigh> The loss of a newborn sheep is always terribly tragic.
Burn After Evening Wrote:Hot winds blowing from the south have carried several fire sprites from the Nhaama Desert and into the Azim Steppe. If not dealt with immediately, the entire grassland might be in flames before next nightfall.
So while the vast, vast region of the Azim Steppe experiences more diverse changes in weather based on which way the wind blows from seemingly, I can't help but think of what happens if a Kujqai travels to a place like Vylbrand which has a long rainy season, or if they flew their bird to the Sea of Clouds during the monsoon season there? Several moons of depression and prayer?
My point has to do with mating though, so let me circle back around. Might I suggest, after all this critique, that perhaps you take a leaf out of the collective books of the Vanu Vanu and Ixali beast tribes who similarly exalt the wind?
Perhaps by eliminating the mating "restriction" to, at least, the rare special weathers, the Kujqai can simply be named and brag about being conceived (or born? Your post kinda flipflopped between birth and conception weather) under whatever weather. This person was conceived in the midst of a raging heatwave the likes of which the Xaela of the Tail Mountains had never felt, but this one was born from a powerful western gale which some claim budged even the very Dawn Throne! Pride and bragging rights still intact, but without having to really really bend lore to get a child born prior to 50 years ago... and without travel to Eorzea being necessary...
It also adds more variety to the weathers? No two thunderstorms may be exactly alike, but if every Kujqai had to knock someone up during the singular primal summoning in Othard or when the sky got gloomy that one time in 1562, then that really strips the grandeur of their birth I would think. "I was born of the great western gloom!" "Me too."
Idk. Hut had other good suggestions. It's amazing how much clothing, jewelry, and makeup can make drastic impressions. Especially in regards to belief-systems. Tattoos or facepaints of varying colors to represent their birth weather/element, flowing clothes or heavy furs they wear like badges of honor to show their kin where they've traveled upon the winds, jewelry from far off realms made by strange peoples they've missioned their ideology to.
Food for thought. Hope it helps!