Staff

Not much is known about why Luna chose this particular patch of woodland for her tavern.

Some say she had been wandering Eorzea for years before finally deciding to settle down. Others claim there was already a connection between Luna and the old building long before The Carrot & Claw ever opened its doors.

Luna herself rarely gives a straight answer.

What is known is that she wanted a place where travellers could rest, stories could be shared, and nobody would be judged for the road they'd walked.

As for what brought her here...

Well, that's a story best heard from Luna herself.

Nanaki is the imposing Hrothgar usually found behind the bar at The Carrot & Claw.

Quiet, tough, and protective, he isn't exactly the easiest person to get talking. Yet those who spend enough time around him may notice a much softer side particularly when the conversation turns toward nature.

How he ended up behind the bar is a story he doesn't often tell.

According to Nanaki, Luna dragged him here.

Whether that's the truth, or simply the answer he gives when he doesn't want to explain, is another matter.

Pour yourself a drink, pull up a seat, and perhaps ask him about it sometime.

You might learn more than you expected.

Bit of a curious one, intimidating looks and size with stare that could turn anyone to ice but in truth one of the biggest cuddle buns there once you get to know them. Very fond of those around her and will make sure to listen to anyone with a tale be it long or short. However they will go full protective throwing objects and or nuisance out the door if they become to much to handle for others.

A recluse turned curious that got sick of the daily rat race and stumbled upon the Carrot and Claw by word of mouth from a certain Viera that they met along the way and decided to come out of their shell for a bit.

They have a nack for mixing things together that just works being a hardened survivalist turned house flipper. By adding those skills to a bartending profession they found out that mixing drinks have some adverse affects in tastes depending on the exploratory nature or if those longing for home ever wishes to try a secret blend after asking where and how home was.

In general a very silent bun but open to anyone wanting to just sit down and forget about their day with a drink in their hand and a smile on their face before they leave after unloading their troubles. They're big enough to handle the load and dump it later on something that deserves it. And warm enough to approach letting you feel safe and secure knowing you'll leave everything at the door.

Hazel first wandered into the Carrot & Claw on what should have been an ordinary evening. She had no plans of staying, let alone becoming part of the staff.

That changed when Melle suddenly found herself dealing with an emergency behind the bar. Hazel stepped in without hesitation, helping as the tavern descended into its usual chaos.

Luna barely gave her time to think before placing an apron in her hands.

“Hired!”

And apparently, that was that.

Hazel stayed for the warmth of the tavern, the lively evenings, and the strange little family that had formed around the bar. She quickly found she had a knack for making people feel welcome—and an even greater talent for getting caught up in the tavern’s mischief.

Now she can usually be found behind the bar, serving drinks, chatting with patrons, and occasionally getting distracted by the very people she's meant to be serving.

As for why she really stayed?

She'll simply smile and say she “just liked the place.”

Whether that's the whole story is another matter entirely.

Neon is a cheerful little Viera with a habit of finding herself in situations she probably shouldn't be in.

Sweet, innocent, endlessly curious... and just a little bit clumsy.

Nobody is quite sure how Neon came to work at The Carrot & Claw. She doesn't seem to remember all the details herself, and whenever someone asks, the answer somehow changes depending on the day.

What is certain is that she seems to adore the tavern, its staff, and anyone willing to listen to her endless questions.

She may accidentally drop your drink.

She may trip over absolutely nothing.

But she'll always greet you with the brightest smile afterwards.

As for where Neon came from... well, perhaps you'll have to ask her yourself.

Every order is followed by a sigh, at least if you get Kaede as your waitress. Truth is, she messed up a job big time and caused a mild amount of damage to goods. The citystate did not take kindly to that and decided to have her pay for mistakes, incurring some debt in the process.

Looking for extra work, she came across the Carrot & Claw tavern who were willing to accept her as a part time worker to cover her debt.

She will take your orders, she may not like it but she will try to provide you with the best service she can. Oh and a fake smile. Yet she won't turn down a good tale to keep her away from the hardest part of the work and that's when her real smile comes out.

Mira first wandered into The Carrot and Claw on a cold, rainy evening, drawn by the scent of warm food and the gentle glow of its enchanted lanterns. She claimed she meant only to wait out the rain, yet somehow she was still there the next morning.. and the morning after that. Luna, the tavern’s owner, soon discovered that getting Mira to leave was far more difficult than simply giving her a reason to stay.

After a few stolen dinners, several naps by the fireplace, and one rather unfortunate encounter with a patron who thought it wise to test Mira’s patience, Luna finally put her to work at the front door. As it turned out, the arrangement suited them both. Mira greeted every traveler who crossed the threshold with a watchful eye and, when she was in a good mood, a surprisingly warm welcome.

Of course, Mira had a temper. A very short one. The regulars quickly learned not to push their luck, particularly because there was something genuinely frightening about Mira when her patience finally ran out. Luna, however, never seemed bothered. She would simply remind Mira that terrifying the customers was not, technically, part of her duties.

And so, these days, Mira stands proudly at the tavern’s entrance, greeting travelers, watching for trouble, and insisting quite firmly that she was “invited” to stay.

Luna tells a different story.

Returning from yet another hunt, a weary Jaliqai found herself at the doors of The Carrot & Claw.

She stepped inside for little more than a mug of ale and a brief rest, but a pleasant conversation with Luna kept her there far longer than expected.

Before long, Jaliqai began quietly humming to herself.

Her voice slowly grew louder, while the conversations nearby grew quieter. Only when the song ended did she notice a few patrons had stopped to listen.

One of them asked if she knew another.

From then on, Jaliqai kept returning to The Carrot & Claw, until one evening she arrived with an instrument in hand.

What made the huntress return to that little stage again and again?

That is something best asked of Jaliqai herself.

Mitsu is a quiet Viera who has, at some point, wandered into The Carrot & Claw and simply... stayed.

She isn't unfriendly. Quite the opposite, in fact. Mitsu is polite, observant, and always happy to share a smile. She simply prefers listening to speaking, often letting her actions say what words cannot.

Somewhere along the way, she began bringing a canvas with her.

Now, Mitsu can often be found quietly painting whatever catches her eye - lively gatherings, couples sharing a quiet moment, or even the tavern's staff during particularly peaceful evenings.

When a painting is finished, she simply hands it to whoever inspired it.

Payment is never accepted. But seeing the recipient's eyes light up with joy?

That, Mitsu considers payment enough.

Sylvie came to the Carrot and Claw in rather unfortunate fashion. Luna found her outside the tavern, trying to put out a fire that had already spread to her own clothes. Luna helped her, offered her a place to stay, and in time gave her a small corner of the tavern to paint in.

Before long, Sylvie had become the Carrot and Claw's resident artist, filling her days with paintings of whatever caught her eye-patrons at their tables, quiet moments between conversations, and little scenes most people never noticed. Fire remains her favorite subject, despite its habit of getting her into trouble. She also delights in teasing Mira, the tavern's bunny-eared greeter, often pretending she's about to set those ears alight just to see her reaction. Mira finds it far less amusing than Sylvie does, but by now everyone is used to it.

Sylvie could have found somewhere else to paint, yet she never saw a reason to leave. The Carrot and Claw had become her home, and little by little, her paintings became part of its walls, its stories, and its history.

Fero was a wandering bandit who lived from one stolen meal to the next. One night, she entered The Carrot & Claw, drank and ate her fill, then tried to sneak out without paying. She almost made it, but Mira, the tavern’s security guard, caught her and dragged her back inside. After a brief struggle, Mira gave Fero a choice: pay her debt or work it off. With no money left, Fero reluctantly agreed.

The next morning, Fero was handed a bell and made the tavern’s new shouter. She hated the job at first, but soon found she was good at it. Her loud voice could silence the whole room, and her bandit stories became popular with the patrons. She still dreams of returning to the road, but for now, Fero has found an unlikely home at The Carrot & Claw with Mira keeping a very close eye on her.