Auspice

“

By the kami, a talking turtle!

— Soroban

Auspices are ordinary animals that achieve minor divinity and extremely long life. They are primarily encountered during Stormblood's the Four Lords sidequests out in the Ruby Sea in Othard.

Notable Auspices

• Tamamo Gozen
• the Faux Commander (Real name: Sotan)

The Four Lords

Genbu

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Genbu, the tortoise, is the eldest of the Four Lords. His characterization in most legends befits this: he is depicted as wise as composed, steadfastly harboring his comrades behind his unbreakable shell. Some, but not all, tales also portray him as clairvoyant.

— Encyclopedia Eorzea vol 2, page 301, "Genbu"

Byakko

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Byakko, the tiger, is said to guard the western frontier. According to the tales, he was the first to become Tenzen's companion, and is distinguished by his glossy white coat and unparalleled martial prowess. Incidents in which white-coated Yanxian tigers are mistaken for Byakko, causing a short-lived but intense uproar, are reported occasionally.

— Encyclopedia Eorzea vol 2, page 301, "Byakko"

Suzaku

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The guardian of the south, Suzaku, is depicted as a majestic bird with fiery red plumage. Some stories associate her with rebirth, but scholars theorize that this is a result of her being incorrectly conflated with the firebird or Phoenix, legendary beasts with similar characteristics.

— Encyclopedia Eorzea vol 2, page 301, "Suzaku"

Seiryu

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The guardian of the east is an imposing dragon with cerulean scales. Artists often show him grasping a jewel of immense power in his right claw. In the tales, said jewel is often put to use creating miracles, and as a result several locales worship Seiryu as a god of geomancy.

— Encyclopedia Eorzea vol 2, page 301, "Seiryu"

Lore

The Tale of Tenzen, the Far East’s most prolific legend, tells of four venerable beasts who lent their strength to the hero. Likely because of this influence, the Far Eastern canon is replete with stories of longevous creatures and their supernatural powers.

The Makings of An Auspice

According to Far Eastern superstition, a beast who lives for one hundred years—exceeding its natural lifespan—will obtain a whisper of spiritual power and a flicker of self-awareness. Those who live for one thousand years, however, gain a measure of divinity and power beyond man’s understanding, Such beasts, having undergone a transformation legend calls “the change,” are generally referred to as “auspices.”

Tamamo Gozen

Also known simply as the “nine-tailed fox,” Tamamo is a powerful auspice, unrivaled by even fellow foxes who have undergone the change. She appears in several legends, but the most popular is the tale of Tamamo Gozen and Lord Shoen of Doma.

Long, long ago, while making her way to the One River for refreshment, Tamamo stumbled upon a gravely wounded samurai. Taking pity on the youth, she transformed herself into a maiden and, snatching him from the jaws of death, carried him to her shrine deep in the mountains. As fate would have it, the young samurai was none other than Shoen—younger brother to Doma’s ruler, Seien, and leader of the people’s rebellion. Shoen was immensely grateful for Tamamo’s ministrations, but his thoughts were always with his comrades and his people, and he yearned to return to the battlefield to aid them. For her part, Tamamo was deeply moved by his idealism and compassion, and soon fell in love. When it came time for the fully healed Shoen to leave her, she begged that she be allowed to accompany him; however, still believing her to be a young lady, he refused to entertain the thought. Undeterred, Tamamo at last revealed her true form.

“My lord,” she said, “I am no fragile maiden. Indeed, I think you shall find my strength a boon in the days to come.” Thus did Tamamo Gozen join Lord Shoen’s cause, granting him the power to depose his brother at last, and free his people from tyrannical rule. Upon taking the throne, Shoen spared no expense in rebuilding Tamamo’s mountain shrine, and instilled in his children and grandchildren a reverence for her that would last long after he passed on. Tamamo herself swore to protect Yanxia evermore.

As a matter of interest: those present during the Garlean invasion twenty-five years ago claim to have seen a nine-tailed fox fending off the encroaching army and knocking airships from the sky. In the end, it was surrounded by warmachina and simply vanished from the battlefield, leaving only rumors of the legendary Tamamo Gozen in its wake.

The Four Lords

The quartet of beasts that appears in the Tale of Tenzen: Genbu, be, auspices, given that the tale has them remaining in the Far East to Byakko, Suzaku, and Seiryu, is also known as the Four Lords. In the tale, they assist the hero in driving off myriad vile oni that had been terrorizing the populace. If this is true, they may have been, or may still be, auspices, given that the tale has them remaining in the Far East to protect mortal lands even after Tenzen ascends to heaven. In any case, they certainly are treated as auspicious, and many an elegant screen and imposing statue bears their image.