Overview
The Qitari are a scholarly beast tribe native to the Rak'tika Greatwood on the First, the reflection of the Source's world of Hydaelyn. Resembling small, bipedal rodents with large, expressive ears and inquisitive faces, they are dedicated archaeologists and historians whose entire culture revolves around the study and preservation of the ancient Ronkan Empire. Unlike many beast tribes who are defined by conflict or primal summoning, the Qitari are peaceful researchers, making them the gathering-focused beast tribe of the Shadowbringers expansion. Their quests involve assisting their archaeological expeditions, uncovering lost artifacts, and piecing together the fragmented history of a civilization long gone.
History & Lore
Origins and Culture
The Qitari are not descendants of the Ronkans, but rather the self-appointed custodians of their legacy. Their society is built around a deep, reverential passion for history and archaeology. They established their settlement, a humble camp of tents and scholarly tools, within the Rak'tika Greatwood to be close to the dense concentration of Ronkan ruins. Qitari culture values patience, meticulous record-keeping, and collaborative scholarship. They are inherently curious and earnest, often displaying a childlike wonder when uncovering new discoveries, balanced by a sober respect for the gravity of their work.
Their physical form—small, agile, and with keen senses—is perfectly suited to their vocation, allowing them to navigate cramped ruins and delicate excavation sites with care. Communication among the Qitari is often rapid and excited, especially when discussing a new find, but they are always respectful of the sites they study.
The Ronkan Empire and the Viis
The central focus of Qitari life is the Ronkan Empire, a mighty civilization that once dominated the First before its mysterious collapse. The Qitari believe that understanding the Ronkans—their triumphs, their failures, and their ultimate fate—holds invaluable lessons for the present. Their work involves excavating ruins, translating ancient inscriptions, cataloging artifacts, and theorizing about Ronkan society.
This mission often brings them into contact with the Viis, the ancient, long-lived guardians of the Greatwood who were contemporaries of the Ronkan Empire. The Viis possess living memory of that bygone age and a deep-seated duty to protect the ruins from despoilers. Initially, the relationship between the scholarly Qitari and the protective Viis is tense, as the Viis view any disturbance of the ruins as sacrilege. A significant part of the Qitari's journey, aided by the Warrior of Light, involves bridging this cultural gap, demonstrating that their intentions are purely preservational and earning the Viis's grudging respect as fellow keepers of history.
The Beast Tribe Questline
The Qitari beast tribe quests begin with the Warrior of Light meeting Qitarl Tali, an enthusiastic but struggling archaeologist. His expeditions are plagued by mundane difficulties—supply shortages, dangerous wildlife, and the cryptic challenges left behind by the Ronkans themselves. The Warrior assists in establishing safer excavation protocols, recovering key artifacts, and solving ancient puzzles within the ruins.
As trust builds, the quests delve deeper into Ronkan history, revealing aspects of their culture, technology, and their relationship with the elemental forces of the First. The narrative explores philosophical questions: What responsibility do the living have to the dead? How is a civilization's legacy defined when its people are gone? Is it enough to simply preserve artifacts, or must one strive to understand the context and meaning behind them? The Qitari's journey is one of moving from simple excavation to true historical synthesis.
The tone of these quests is notably warm and scholarly, providing a respite from the apocalyptic stakes of Shadowbringers' main narrative while complementing its core themes of memory, legacy, and learning from the past to build a better future. Through helping the Qitari, the Warrior of Light ensures that the knowledge of the Ronkan Empire is not lost to time, honoring the expansion's refrain to "remember us."
Gameplay
The Qitari are the gathering-oriented beast tribe introduced in Shadowbringers. Reputation is earned through daily quests that emphasize gathering skills (Mining, Botany, and Fishing) within an archaeological framework.
- Unlock Requirements: Players must have completed the main scenario quest "Shadowbringers" and reached level 70 in at least one Disciple of the Land class. The quest chain begins with "The Stewards of Note" in the Rak'tika Greatwood.
- Quest Mechanics: Daily quests typically involve gathering specific materials from nodes within the Rak'tika Greatwood, sometimes requiring perception to find "buried" items or the use of special tools provided by the Qitari. The quests are designed to be integrated seamlessly with a gatherer's routine.
- Reputation Ranks: Reputation progresses through the ranks of Contractor, Subcontractor, and Researcher. Each rank unlocks new daily quests and access to unique rewards.
- Rewards: Earning reputation with the Qitari grants access to exclusive minions, mounts (such as the adorable Qitari Raptor), emotes, hairstyles, and crafting materials. Their vendor also sells unique furnishings and gear with an archaeological theme.
Trivia
- The Qitari's design and their role as dedicated scholars make them one of the most peaceful and academically inclined beast tribes in FFXIV.
- Their name is likely a play on "Q.E.D." (quod erat demonstrandum, "that which was to be demonstrated"), a phrase used in academic proofs, fitting their scholarly nature.
- The questline's focus on archaeology and cooperating with the Viis mirrors real-world tensions between archaeological teams and indigenous populations tasked with guarding historical sites, presenting a nuanced take on cultural preservation.
- Helping the Qitari often feels like participating in a wholesome academic field project, a stark and intentional contrast to the dire circumstances of the First's overarching Lightwarden crisis.