Largos
“May your steps be relentless.
The largos are an enigmatic aquatic race from the depths of the Unending Ocean and the arctic oceans to the far north. They are silent, lonely, determined, and calculating killers. Few have ever seen them and lived to report it. The largos purposefully do not interact with land-dwellers.[1]
Physiology[edit]
All largos encountered so far have been tall, humanoid creatures with pale blue skin, and white hair. They have wing-like appendages attached at the base of their neck, which are used for swimming. These "wings" are often brightly colored and resemble butterfly wings or the pectoral fins of manta rays in design.
Largos are never seen without their masks, and their voices seem to be partially obscured by some sort of breathing apparatus. They are capable of becoming invisible as they hunt their prey or scout their area.
Culture[edit]
Largos culture is heavily oriented around honor, and have a concept known as eternas, without which a largos is nothing.[2] Largos value skill and vigilance above all else, and status in largos society is determined largely by proficiency in combat.
Nearly all largos encountered so far have been on some sort of hunt. Many are seen hunting krait, which is unsurprising as the two are likely to have some history, and others are found hunting Risen, which are said to make for a challenging hunt, particularly Risen krait.[3][4] A largos, or perhaps a group of largos, has also been hunting sylvari Wyld Hunt valiants in the Brisban Wildlands. Another largos has been seen targeting a kodan in Snowden Drifts. Warden Hywel has mentioned a largos being voluntarily captive with him since she wanted to hunt the Krait Slavemaster, considering him as a "worthy prey".[5]
It is unknown how the largos pick their targets, though they do seek challenging hunts and prefer stronger prey. As their status within society is determined by their proficiency in combat, failure to kill a designated target is a great insult to their personal and communal honor. Likewise, it brings dishonor to fight a weak or unprepared opponent, which is seen as a violation of the Tethyos Compact.[3][6]
Young largos have been seen traveling with a master. Each master seems to have only one student.[7] Largos have a strong sense of obligation; when there is a debt of any sort, the largos is tied to the other party until neither owes the other, regardless of who incurred the original debt.[1]
Religion[edit]
Nothing is known of largos religion. When a largos dies, it is said that their "steps have faltered".[8] Largos have also been heard swearing "by the Tethyos Compact and the shadowed Scions".[9] According to a largos saying, the scions, who seem to be respected figures in their society, are always listening.[6]
Government[edit]
The largos are governed by the Tethyos Houses, and live according to the dictates of the Tethyos Compact. Trophies of completed hunts are presented to the great Houses in the name of the hunters that obtained them.[10] The largos swear to both the Tethyos Compact and what they call the "shadowed scions" although it is unknown what role the scions play in largos society given how little information the largos have chosen to reveal to other races about their government.[9]
History[edit]
Virtually nothing is known of largos history, as they are only recently emergent, and not exactly forthcoming with the tales of their people. What is known is that in their homelands of the deep oceans of the far north, they coexisted peacefully with the quaggans through non-interaction. Furthermore, largos from the Unending Ocean have unknown "horrors" in their homelands.[7]
Types[edit]
- See also: Category:Largos
Gallery[edit]
Sketches by Kekai Kotaki.
Trivia[edit]
- In Greek mythology, Tethys was a Titan sea goddess, who embodied all the world's waters.
- Early concept art for Lyssa's statue shows her wearing a mask similar to those of the largos.[11] This may simply be a coincidence or attributed to the artist also doing early largos concepts; further, the design for a Risen Largos ended up being used as the Risen Priestess of Dwayna.
- Some drawings of largos show them without their wings, indicating that they may be artificial. However, these are never seen in game.
- A burnt largos corpse can be found on a small promontory north and slightly east of the Frothing Pedestal point of interest in Draconis Mons.
- Largos with Arabic-inspired names (e.g. Sayeh al' Rajihd) speak with an Eastern European accent, while largos with Egyptian-inspired names (Kenut and Nikare) speak with an American accent, which may potentially suggest regional or house-based dialects among the largos.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Temple of the Forgotten God
- <Character name>: It's an honor, Sayeh. I've heard that your people don't meet with land-dwellers.
- Sayeh al' Rajihd: You speak truth. I have long owed Trahearne. Now, at last, he has called upon me to honor my oath. [...]
- <Character name>: How do you know Sayeh al' Rajihd?
- Trahearne: We met on the seas outside Orr. We both had...difficulties to overcome, and we were able to join forces to do so. When it was over, she declared herself in my debt.
- <Character name>: That's vague. Can you give me more details?
- Trahearne: I'd rather not. At least, not now. Sayeh considers it a private matter, and I agreed to keep her trust.
- ^ Fahd al'Eshadhi
- ^ a b Aaminah
- ^ Azzan
- ^ Striking Off the Chains
- Crusader Apatia: Warden Hywel, we've come to get you out of here. Are there any other prisoners we should find?
- Warden Hywel: I don't think so. There was a largos, but she escaped on her own. Strange and terrifying creature, that one.
- Warden Hywel: Apparently, she got herself captured to get close to the slavemaster because he was "worthy prey." Then she let herself out and went after him.
- ^ a b Zafir'azim
- ^ a b Master Sdias
- ^ Intercepting the Orb
- Sayeh al' Rajihd: You do not have a choice. The krait overwhelmed her and carried her off. She is no longer here. Among my people, we would say her steps have faltered and be done.
- ^ a b The Source of Orr
- Sayeh al' Rajihd: I have long owed Trahearne. By the Tethyos Houses and the shadowed Scions, I will pay that debt in full today.
- ^ Wet Work
- Sayeh al' Rajihd: Impressive. I will present this trophy to the great Houses in your names. You have earned the right of introduction: I am Sayeh al'Rajihd.
- ^ Kekai Kotaki, Tumblr.com
