Nadaam

The Naadam is a ceremonial battle for control of the Azim Steppe held on the final day of the Tsagaan Sar between any Xaela tribe which wishes to compete and has completed the trials of Bardam's Mettle. The victor of the Nadaam is crowned khagan of the Azim Steppe.
To compete in the Naadam, warriors must obtain a Yol from Bardam's Mettle: a great winged bird that will serve as their mount. Riding their Yol, they will race to the center of the Steppe, the Oovo, fighting off enemy warriors along the way. The first warrior to seize the Ovoo wins the Naadam and becomes khagan until the next Tsagaan Sar.
During the events of Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, a Naadam is held, with the Buduga, Dotharl, and Mol tribes challenging the incumbent Oronir tribe, and their khagan, Magnai the Older. Unusual to this Nadaam is the presence of foreign troops: the Doman Liberation Front and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.
==Prelude==
Hien Rijin, the crown prince of Doma, arrives on the Azim Steppe while heavily wounded, and is found by the Mol tribe. While they nurse him back to health, Hien learns of the Nadaam, and that its victor may command all the Xaela tribes of the Steppe. The Mol, who act in accordance with the commands of their gods, are to participate in the upcoming Nadaam; owing to their small numbers, none of the tribes, the Mol included, believe the odds to be in their favour.
Yugiri Mistwalker approaches Lord Hien some time after he recovers, asking for him to rejoin the Doman Liberation Front. Hien insists that he will only return if the people of Doma desire to fight for freedom; if they would sooner continue to live under the rule of the Garlean Empire, he will instead surrender himself to be executed. Although the people of Doma are initially passive when Yugiri inquires, they are roused when Yugiri, aided by the Warrior of Light, attempts to assassinate the crown prince Zenos yae Galvus.
Accompanied by Gosetsu Daito, the Warrior of Light, and Lyse Hext of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Yugiri brings word of these events to Lord Hien, who in turn announces his intention to participate in the Nadaam and bring the Xaela tribes of the Steppe to bear against the Garlean Empire. Yugiri is sent to aid the Doman Liberation front, while Gosetsu, the Warrior, and Lyse accompany Hien to the Nadaam.
==Preparations for the Nadaam==
Hien announces his intention to aid the Mol in the Nadaam, bringing them to victory and thus earning the right to command the Xaela tribes. In accordance with Steppe law, he and his allies venture into Bardam's Mettle to tame yol birds to serve as their steeds Upon emerging victorious from Bardam's Mettle, they are kidnapped by the Oronir, who bring them to their leader Magnai.
Magnai sets tasks upon each member of the group, having them aid the Oronir and Buduga in their preparations for the Nadaam. Lord Hien takes advantage of this to learn more of the Oronir's culture. The final task is to investigate the Dotharl and learn of their tactics for the Nadaam; the Warrior of Light and Gosetsu are sent on this task, while Hien and Lyse remain behind as hostages to ensure they do not attempt to flee.
The Dotharl have no tactics planned beyond simply slaying all whom they come across; upon reporting this to the Oronir, Magnai allows Hien and his allies to return to the Mol.
==Tsagaan Sar==
On the day of Tagaan Sar, the Garlean Empire learns that Lord Hien and the Warrior of Light are on the Azim Steppe. A strike force, led by Grynewaht pyr Avina, is sent to assassinate them.
Though facing fierce resistance from Oronir, Buduga, and Dotharl alike, the Mol and their allies manage to emerge triumphant in the Nadaam, with the Warrior of Light named khagan. The Mol ask no favours of their rivals, save that they aid the Domans in the liberation of their homeland. It is only after the Xaela tribes have agreed to aid the Domans that the Garlean forces arrive, and the combined might of the Steppe is enough to quickly rout the strike force.
==Aftermath==
True to their word, the Mol, Oronir, Buduga, and Dotharl arrive to aid the Doman Liberation Front in the assault on Doma Castle. They engage the Garlean's airborne magitek forces, allowing the bulk of the Doman forces to deal with the Garleans' ground forces unimpeded. With their aid, Doma is successfully liberated from Garlean control; the Xaela promptly return to the Azim Steppe, their orders fulfilled.
==Etymology==
Category:Events in Final Fantasy XIV