Vanu Vanu

See also: Vanu Vanu Daily Quests and Beastmen

These avian beastmen dwell upon the floating islands of the Sea of Clouds, the tribe's existence unknown to the world below until the airships of Ishgard first rose to explore the sky's domain. Initial encounters with the races of man were peaceful, but in recent years the Vanu Vanu have grown hostile towards those who would encroach upon their homeland.

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These avian beastmen dwell upon the floating islands of the Sea of Clouds, the tribe's existence unknown to the world below until the airships of Ishgard first rose to explore the sky's domain. Initial encounters with the races of man were peaceful, but in recent years the Vanu Vanu have grown hostile towards those who would encroach upon their homeland.

— Encyclopædia Eorzea vol 1, page 260

Physical Characteristics

Commonly described as "plump birds", the Vanu Vanu have wide beak-like snouts and thickset bodies. The ponderous appearance of these beastmen is deceiving-their stout, feathered figures belying surprising agility and swiftness of movement. Predominantly avian in nature, the Vanu Vanu are nevertheless incapable of flight, with the tribes crossing from island to island on the backs of the serpentine Sanuwa.

Symbol

Each tribe of the Vanu Vanu bears its own symbol. The crest shown above belongs to the Vundu, and represents a billowing cloud paired with a raging, gale.

Diet

In addition to the Wamouracampa and other vilekin larvae, Vanu Vanu rely on cloudfish to provide the bulk of their diet. Such staples are kneaded together with wildgrasses to make "catsfoot Chew", one of the race's signature dishes. The avian beastmen are especially fond of the springy texture of a chew made with freshly foraged grubs.

Leadership

The Vanu Vanu tribes are defined by bloodlines, with those who share common ancestry gathering together under the rule of a single chieftain. ordinarily, these communities govern themselves independently of their kin, but shifts in power can lead to one tribe subjugating the members of another.

Society and Culture

The Vanu Vanu have known scant contact with other civilizations, their lofty home sheltered from outside influence for years untold. The effects of such isolation can be seen in the beastmen's unchanging culture, and the comparatively primitive level of society. With the ore of the floating islands largely unsuitable for smelting, the Vanu Vanu have also remained ignorant of the art of metalworking. Consequently, their weapons are constructed from easily scavenged materials-mainly animal teeth and bone.

Despite their lack of "civilized" progress, however, the avian race is far from being dull-witted. On the contrary, only a few years had passed since the arrival of the Ishgardians before members of the tribes began speaking the common tongue with impressive proficiency. Efforts to avoid unnecessary bloodshed with the "Sundrop Dance"-a ritual exhibition performed before battle to frighten weaker opponents into submission-further demonstrates the reasoning nature of their society. There are many other aspects of their culture, however, such as the arranged fights between the monkey-like Paissa, which outsiders struggle to understand or accept.

Nomenclature

Vanu Vanu names have gender specific suffixes: the masculine "Vanu" and the feminine "Vali". These words translate from the beastmen's tongue to mean "male tribe member" and "female tribe member", and are never used with animals or other species. Encounters between tribes might also occasion the mention of one's bloodline, e.g. "Honu Vanu, chief of Mighty Vundu!"

Traditionally, each tribe is associated with a specific adjective (such as the aforementioned "mighty Vundu"), but this is rarely heard in practice. The beastmen are, however, quick to append unflattering descriptions to their rivals' ancestral group.

Tribes of the Vanu Vanu

• The Vundu: The most powerful of the Vanu Vanu tribes. Since summoning the Lord of the Expanse and gaining the might of Bismarck's blessings, the Vundu have turned to subjugating their weaker kin.
• The Zundu: A lesser tribe known to welcome parley with other races. They maintain their independence by making regular offerings to the Vundu.
• The Gundu: A tribe that has fallen under Vundu rule. On friendly terms with the Zundu prior to its subjugation.
• The Bendu: A lost tribe. The Bendu refused to submit to Vundu aggression, and were subsequently slaughtered to the last beastman.

Primary Industry

Skyfishing

Vanu Vanu are skilled at trailing lines over the edges of their islands, and hooking the various species of cloudfish. As the tribe's primary means of procuring food, those beastmen who display a particular flair for skyfishing are the subject of much admiration and respect amongst their kin.

Sanuwa Breeding

Lacking the capability for flight themselves, the avian beastmen breed a type of winged scalekin called Sanuwa to carry them to islands too distant for bridges. As well as serving as mounts, every part of a Sanuwa-its scales, its meat and even its bones-is valued for a variety of uses.

The Gundu

The Gundu are a tribe of Vanu Vanu who sought to repel Vundu conquerors with the traditional sundrop dance. Undaunted by the display, the Bismarck-blessed Vundu brought arms against them, and Chief Uunu Vanu of the Gundu was killed in the ensuing battle. The Gundu tribe was defeated, and forced to submit to the rule of the Vundu. When the late chief's son, Linu Vanu, took a stand for Gundu independence, however, his people were inspired to revolt. Although Linu Vanu himself was imprisoned in a skycage for inciting rebellion, his sister, Linu Vali, succeeded in escaping the clutches of the Vundu. With the aid of sympathetic adventurers, Linu Vali found refuge with the Zunda, and she now strives to rebuild the shattered remnants of her tribe.

Linu Vali

"Like seedling which takes root in rich soil and grows strong, so too will new Gundu settlement flourish,"

The daughter of Chief Uumu Vana of the Gundu. After fleeing the oppression of the Vundu, Linu Vali started life anew on an island gifted to her by the Zundu tribe, and it is there, in the settle- ment of "Ok" Gundu Nakki," that she and her people work to rebuild what was taken from them. Considered slender and delicate by Vanu Vanu standards, she was at first plagued by youthful uncertainty. With the cooperation of a steadily expanding group of allies, however, she was able to free her brother, Linu Vanu, from his skycage prison. And as the trials of restoring her tribe molded and matured her, the naturally graceful Linu Vanu would become the imposing sundrop dancer the Gundu people needed her to be. When recently asked her age, the outspoken Linu merely replied, "Like san rising in eastern sky, my life has but only begun."

The Vanu Vanu and Sanuwas

In their endeavors to make the Sea of Clouds a more hospitable environment for their tribe, the Vanu Vanu succeeded in domesticating the sanuwa. This enabled the flightless beastmen to travel between airborne islands, expanding their sphere of activity immensely. The tribe also breeds wamourae for their silk, which has prompted Ishgardian scholars to publish a thesis asserting that insects should be classed distinctly from other domesticated creatures, as “vilestock.”