Songbirds

The Songbirds is a troupe of troubadours from Final Fantasy XIV, which first appeared in the 2016 edition of Little Ladies' Day seasonal event. It is a trio girl band of Ulala Ula, Narumi Kakeya, and Masha Mhakaracca.
==Members==
* : A sixteen-year-oldEncyclopædia Eorzea: The World of Final Fantasy XIV Volume III, p. 057 Dunesfolk Lalafell who lived with her parents and a little brother. Ulala used to help her family with the household chores until she heard that the royal seneschal was looking for people for a sort of band. She says she looked for the seneschal every day until she finally found him and secured her place in the group.
* : A twenty-one-year-old Raen Au Ra, she is the daughter of a Far Eastern merchant who accompanied him on his travels as an apprentice. During the travels to Ul'dah she met the royal seneschal who offered her a place in the group. Although she initially refused, Narumi reconsidered and managed to convince her father to accept her decision.
* : A nineteen-year-old Miqo'te, Masha is the third daughter of five in a family of Keeper of the Moon, as such she and her sisters were raised only with her mother. After one of her older sisters moved to Ul'dah, Masha decided to follow her example and leave the Black Shroud. She participated in a dance group and usually performed in front of the Gate of the Sultana, until one day the royal seneschal approached her and offered her a place in the Songbirds.
==History==
===Little Ladies' Day 2016===
The Songbirds were the main attraction of the Little Ladies' Day celebration in 2016. Although their expectations were that they would replace F'lhaminn Qesh, the newly formed band had no notoriety. The royal seneschal enlisted the help of Warrior of Light to help promote the trio.
The royal seneschal has been busy thinking of ways in which he could ensure the continued success of the girls and has concluded that a leader must be appointed from among them. He says that the new face of the Songbirds would be determined by popular vote and that everyone who has played an active role in supporting the girls, including Warrior of Light, could vote.
===Starlight Celebration 2016===
The three of them also appeared in the 2016 Starlight Celebration event, with each of the girls acting as Little Helpers, making public speeches about the season in each of the three city-states. Masha is at Mih Khetto’s Amphitheatre, Ulala is at the Ruby Road Exchange, and Narumi is at The Aftcastle.
===Little Ladies' Day 2017===
The royal seneschal gave the Songbirds permission to choose the weaves and dyes they wanted to use in their own costumes during the celebration. However soon after this they disappeared and consequently a fervent group of Songbirds fans, the Birdwatchers, began to cause a ruckus. A Mythril Eye reporter hired the Warrior of Light on behalf of the royal seneschal to help resolve the situation. Asking Warrior of Light to keep it quiet, the royal seneschal explains the situation and asks to look for them while he and his team continue to fight with the impatient fans.
After searching a bit, the Warrior of Light manages to find the three girls, each of whom is so involved in the preparations for the performance that they have completely lost track of time. The royal seneschal is relieved to see the Songbirds, but as he returns to help the rest of his team deal with the tumultuous crowd, he asks the Warrior of Light to accompany the Songbirds to the Weavers' Guild and ask Redolent Rose to make the costumes. Redolent Rose says that he is a constant fan of the Songbirds and would be more than happy to grant the request. With the preparations ready, the royal seneschal asks the Warrior of Light for his opinion on who of the Songbirds would dance center stage.
===Little Ladies' Day 2018===
For this year's festivities, the royal seneschal planned the main event to be a special performance by the Songbirds that could only be attended by those in the correct costume and with a set of glow sticks. The royal seneschal directed the Warrior of Light to visit the Weavers' and Alchemists' guilds to obtain the required items. With costume and lights in hand, the Warrior of Light participates in the performance and the royal seneschal expresses his gratitude. Each of the Songbirds offers a heartfelt thanks before making a quick exit to prepare for the next show.
===Valentione's & Little Ladies' Day 2021===
When postmoogle Kupka Kupp travels to Ul'dah to deliver fan letters to the Songbirds, he was accompanied by Elyne, Warrior of Light, and Astrid de Valentione. The party pays a visit to the royal seneschal at the Ruby Road Exchange. Astrid takes the opportunity that that year the celebrations of Valentione's Day and Little Ladies' Day were held on the same date and delivers a missive from Lisette de Valentione proposing to hold some sort of joint event.
Elyne suggested that the Songbirds wear Valentione costumes, a proposal that was enthusiastically received by all involved. Astrid immediately returns to Gridania to make the necessary arrangements. Once back in Ul'dah, Astrid helps the Songbirds put on their new costumes. After the preparations are completed, the Warrior of Light accompanied Elyne to watch the performance, and after the performance, the Songbirds impart some words of wisdom to Elyne.
==Characteristics==
===Appearance===
===Personality===
Ulala is confident and proud of her beauty and voice, and loves to sing and dance. She also says she enjoys spending her free time reading. Ulala dreams of becoming the greatest singer in Eorzea.
Narumi joined the group as an opportunity to overcome her shyness through the two things she loves most, singing and dancing. As an only child, she says she is jealous of Ulala and Masha's family, saying that many times her father had to travel for work, leaving her and her mother alone at home. Narumi says she has a big appetite and loves to try new foods, surprising Ulala with how much she can eat. She says she would also love to join a theater troupe one day.
Masha is a great dancer and although she is not confident about her singing, she is determined to overcome this. Masha dreams of winning people's hearts through dance. Although she has sworn allegiance to the Songbirds, she says that one day she would like to see how far she could go on her own, saying that one day she might even publish her own books on the art of dance.
==Behind the scenes==
In version 1.0, Ulala was the name of a merchant Lalafell found at the Coffer & Coffin in Western Thanalan (9, 27). Also, "Masha Mhakaracca" was the name of a Gridanian retainer from version 1.0.
During the interview portion of the event, Masha makes mention of a sister who is traveling with a man of questionable reputation. She also shares a last name with Nashu Mhakaracca. It can therefore be inferred that Nashu and Masha are sisters.
==Gallery==
XIV Little Ladies Day 2019.jpg|Little Ladies' Day 2019 artwork.
Songbirds from Final Fantasy XIV 2016 1.png|Songbirds during their debut at Little Ladies' Day 2016.
Songbirds from Final Fantasy XIV 2016.png|Songbirds after their debut at Little Ladies' Day 2016.
Songbirds from Final Fantasy XIV 2017.png|Songbirds donning their new costumes and performing.
Ulala from FFXIV Starlight Celebration.png|Ulala during the Starlight Celebration.
Narumi from FFXIV Starlight Celebration.png|Narumi during the Starlight Celebration.
Masha from FFXIV Starlight Celebration.png|Masha during the Starlight Celebration.
Songbirds from FFXIV Valentione 2020.png|Songbirds during the Valentione's Day.
Songbirds from FFXIV 2021.png|Songbirds during the Valentione's & Little Ladies' Day in 2021.
==Citations==
Category:Organizations in Final Fantasy XIV
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy XIV