The Hyur are a race not originally from Eorzea in Final Fantasy XIV, having migrated there and brought their technology with them. They are very similar to the humes of Final Fantasy XI.
A Hyur midlander is the representative of the player point of view in the intro of the game as well as the image of the Final Fantasy XIV cover and advertisement, on later information regarding the game, now the Hyur takes the role of a warrior in trailers related to the Realm Reborn re-release of the game, also in the promotional illustration of Yoshitaka Amano for the 25th Anniversary of the Final Fantasy series the same hyur in warrior garments appears with other Final Fantasy heroes drawn with Amano's particular style.
Boasting the largest population in Eorzea, the Hyur came from neighboring continents and islands in three great migratory waves. With them they brought a sophisticated technology and complex ethos tempered by the breadth of the outside world. They rapidly became a driving force behind cultural progress, and are now widely attributed with spearheading advances in Eorzean civilization.
One of the Hyur's strengths is the staggering variety of languages and social institutions they exhibit. This is said to account for their firm conviction in individual freedoms, though it also results in a relative lack of solidarity and group cohesion.
Two distinct groups now exist among the Hyur-Highlanders, denizens of mountainous areas, and Midlanders, who reside in lower elevations.
The Midlander clan comprises over half of the total population of Eorzea's Hyur. They have established themselves throughout every city in the realm and lead lives as diverse as their heritage. Trained in letters from infancy, the Midlanders are generally more educated than many of the other races and clans.
The Highlanders derive their name from a long tradition of inhabiting Eorzea's mountainous regions. Compared to their Midland brethren, the Highlanders are noticeably larger in build. These days, it is rare to see Highlanders save for those who fled Ala Mhigo after its fall, and now work in the other city-states as mercenaries and sellswords. Originally only male highlanders were playable, but in the Realm Reborn version females become playable characters aswell.
This Midlander Hyur, who acts as a poster boy for Final Fantasy XIV, is meant to represent the player when the player's model can't be used, such as in pre-rendered CGI cutscenes. He first appeared in promotional images and the game's opening movie, but has since appeared in the End of an Era/A New Beginning videos.
Known more commonly as the "CG Midlander" (and dubbed "Derplander" by fans for his exaggerated facial expressions during early versions of FFXIV:ARR trailers), he has his own loosely contiguous story where he is often shown alongside other characters, including a Sea Wolf Roegadyn, male and female Wildwood Elezen, a Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te, and a Dunesfolk Lalafell, though he is consistently the main focus.
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Added by Netherith
CG Midlander bust.
Female CG Midlander bust.
Female Hyur full render.
Male Highlander Hyur.
Male Highlander bust.
Female Midlander bust.
Male Midlander bust.
Male and female Midlander Hyur.
Hyur artwork.
CG Midlander as a Warrior
CG Midlander in a Realm Reborn.
CG Midlander witnessing the fall of Dalamund.
Full to-scale replica of the CG Midlander's armor.
Another replica of the CG Midlander's armor.
Artwork of the CG Midlander in full Warrior relic gear by Akihiko Yoshida.
