Sven

1. #1The Wood

   Keys: The wood, wood, home, territory, domain

   The snowy forest at the foot of the Skatay Range, this is {{char}}'s home. Only his tribe is welcome within it and it is {{char}}'s duty to ensure it.

   It is very unlikely for {{char}} to run into another viera as each male has their own territory within the wood.

   Once a viera leaves the wood, they lose the ability to hear the whispers of the wood and are no longer welcome within it. They are outcast.

2. #2Viera

   Keys: Viera

   A leoprine race. The females live together within the village at the center of the wood whilst the males live solitary lives in the wood, defending it from intruders.

   Males only return to the village of their birth to mate every few years.

3. #3Eorzeaselective

   Keys: Eorzea

   Eorzea comprises the continent of Aldenard and its surrounding islands.

   Within Eorzea are 5 City-States. They are: Gridania, home to vast, dense woodlands and coursing rivers. Ul'dah, a bustling commercial hub that sits amid the desolate desert landscape in southern Aldenard. Limsa Lominsa, which lies on the southern coast of the island of Vylbrand, under the shadow of ancient cliffs worn by the relentless onslaught of the Rhotano Sea. Ishgard, a bastion that sits atop the northern mountains of Eorzea which is located roughly near the center of Aldenard. Sharlayan, which is located in the northwestern region of Dravania.

   The continent of Aldenard is bordered to the northeast by the Garlean Empire as well as five seas. In the northwest lies the Indigo Deep, to the north is the Bloodbrine Sea, on the eastern side is the Sea of Jade, below that is the Sea of Ash, and finally to the southwest lies the Rhotano Sea.

   Throughout Eorzea you will find every type of climate there is, from lush deep forests to inhospitable deserts as far as the eye can see to beautiful warm islands facing the vast open seas.

   Sometimes mistakenly referred to as a "continent", Eorzea is more properly a realm, comprised of Aldenard, the westernmost of the Three Great Continents, and its surrounding islands, including most notably, Vylbrand.

4. #4Region: La Nosceaselective

   Keys: La Noscea

   La Noscea is the marine region located in the southwestern part of Eorzea, and Limsa Lominsa, one of the starting cities, is located in La Noscea. The maritime metropolis is located in the south of the island Vylbrand that Aldenard precedes in the west, the Gulf of Rhotano. Their patron deity is Llymlaen, the aerodrome controller, the goddess of seafarers.

   The region connects to Thanalan by ferry.

5. #5Region: Thanalanselective

   Keys: Thanalan

   Thanalan is the desert region located in the southern part of Eorzea. Ul'dah, one of the starting cities, is located in Thanalan. The region connects to Mor Dhona in the north, the region of The Black Shroud (Gridanian terriory) to the northeast, and has ferry connections to Limsa Lominsa in the region of La Noscea in the west across the Roetano sea.

6. #6Region: The Black Shroudselective

   Keys: The Black Shroud

   The Black Shroud is a forested region located in the northern part of Eorzea. Gridania, one of the starting cities, is located in The Black Shroud.

   The Black Shroud is a region in Aldenard. It is also sometimes known as the Twelveswood.

   The region connects to Thanalan in the southwest, Coerthas to the northwest, and Gyr Abania to the northeast.

7. #7Region: Coerthasselective

   Keys: Coerthas

   Coerthas is a region near the center of the continent of Aldenard. Ishgard is the main city-state on which it is based. Prior to the Calamity, Coerthas had a lush, verdant woodlands climate. Now it is a freezing cold place.

8. #8Region: Mor Dhonaselective

   Keys: Mor Dhona

   Alongside the shores of Silvertear Lake, Mor Dhona lies very close to the center of Aldenard. As a key land route blessed with breathtaking scenery, the area once featured a lively collection of inns. During the Battle of Silvertear Skies, however, an extreme aetherial surge swept through the landscape transforming much of it into pure crystal. Though the cause remains a topic of discussion amongst scholars, the phenomenon was indisputably destructive, and now the place is a wasteland shrouded in mephitic mists.

9. #9Region: Abalathia's Spineselective

   Keys: Abalathia's Spine, Abalathia

   Abalathia's Spine is a region in Aldenard. Abalathia's Spine (sometimes shortened to just Abalathia) is a great mountain range. Spanning the northern end of the continent of Aldenard from east to west, much of it remained inaccessible until the development of airship travel.

10. #10Region: Dravaniaselective

    Keys: Dravania

    Dravania is a region on the northwestern side of the continent of Aldenard. As its name implies, these lands are styled after the dragon kin who call her forelands home, long feared by the people of Ishgard.

    The hinterlands to the south bask in the beauty of the Thaliak River and fields of evergreen. They once played host to the great seat of knowledge, Sharlayan. But alas, she was abandoned in the exodus fifteen years prior. Left to wildlife roaming her once proud estates, she is resigned to slowly fade from memory.

11. #11Region: Gyr Abaniaselective

    Keys: Gyr Abania

    The highlands of Gyr Abania are the farthest northeast region of the continent of Aldenard, bordering Ilsabard. Gyr Abania was once home to the city-state of Ala Mhigo until it fell to the Garlean Empire in year 1557 of the Sixth Astral Era.

    A region formerly controlled by the city-state of Ala Mhigo. Located in the eastern reaches of Abalathia's Spine, surrounded by perilous mountains, the area was known for its strict devotion to the deity Rhalgr. This changed, however, after the occupation as the area's temples were laid to waste.

12. #12Landmass: Othardselective

    Keys: Othard

    Othard, or the Far East, as it is commonly referred to by those living in the west, is the smallest of the Three Great Continents, yet much like Aldenard in that it is comprised of a main landmass and countless islands off its coasts. While Othard is longitudinally situated farther south than Ilsabard, the towering spires which line the region’s northern border are covered in snow year-round, and the land beyond them is permanently frozen. From these mountains trickles down the water which gives Othard life, eventually forming the One River—the longest and widest watercourse in all the Three Continents. This river passes through the great swath of grasslands in which the Auri Xaela clans live before winding through Yanxia—a fertile land that, until the recent invasion by the Garlean Empire, was controlled by the nation of Doma.

    Though connected geographically, for thousands of years little interaction has taken place between Ilsabard and Othard, the main reason being combination of near-impassible mountain ranges and deadly wastelands which severely restrict all land routes. While coastal cities have experienced limited contact with the outside via trade, the overall isolation of Othard has allowed local cultures to evolve with little to no influence from the west. Only in the past two decades have things begun to change—the advent of airship technology thrusting open the once-closed doors of the Far East. However, this new exposure also served to alert the power-hungry Garleans of new territory ripe for the plucking and it was not long before the Empire had set their sights on Doma and Dalmasca—two nations which have since been brought under the imperial standard.

13. #13Region: Hingashiselective

    Keys: Hingashi

    Hingashi is a Far Eastern archipelago off the coast of Othard. It is home to the only international port of the Far East, Kugane, after the invasion of the Garlean Empire in nearby Othard. The seat of the bakufu government resides in the city of Bukyo, where they maintain an isolationist policy. Recently, however, the bugyo of Kugane established a new residential district just south of the city in Shirogane to house the ever-growing influx of foreigners to the region.

    To the east of Othard, across the Ruby Sea, lies the island nation of Hingashi. Though it is now known to be the birthplace of the ninjutsu and samurai traditions, little else can be said with confidence about this isolated land and its reclusive peoples.

14. #14Region: The Northern Emptyselective

    Keys: The Northern Empty

    Across Abalathia's Spine, the battered seacoast of the Farreach, and beyond the Bloodbrine Sea lies the Northern Empty—a vast body of water almost entirely void of islands, save for two major chains.

    The first and northernmost is a remote archipelago known as Aerslaent ("first land")—homeland of the Sea Wolf tribe of the Roegadyn. It is from these islands that some of the first inhabitants of Limsa Lominsa are said to have hailed—arriving on Vylbrand following failed raiding attempts in the southern Rhotano Sea.

    On the second group of islands further to the west is Sharlayan, the very nation from which settlers came in the early Sixth Astral Era to form a satellite city-state in the Dravanian hinterlands. In addition to the main island containing the city of Old Sharlayan and the subterranean Labyrinthos artificial biome, the nation also controls the Isle of Haam to the north, the former Isle of Val to the east, and the Isle of Yorn to the south.

15. #15Region: Ilsabardselective

    Keys: Ilsabard

    Positioned between Aldenard and Othard, the continent of Ilsabard is characterized by extreme temperatures and unpredictable weather. The northern territories located beyond Ilsabard’s dividing central mountain range are oft regarded as some of the harshest environments on Hydaelyn, with several coastal communities made to endure unforgiving storms in the summer and frozen seas in the winter. This has ultimately impeded the advancement of civilization, forcing people to instead exhaust their resources to simply survive.

    However, fifty years ago, civilization on Ilsabard took a significant leap when, through science and ingenuity, the small northern nation of Garlemald started an uprising which would eventually change the entire face of the Three Great Continents—the Magitek Revolution. After quickly toppling several nearby nations, the Garleans, now an empire, set their sights on warmer climes and led their armies across the mountains and into southern Ilsabard—an area known to Eorzeans as the Near East—and proceeded to conquer all in their path until nearly the entirety of the continent was annexed and absorbed.

16. #16City: Limsa Lominsaselective

    Keys: Limsa Lominsa

    "Till Sea Swallows All." On the southern coast of the island of Vylbrand, under the shadow of ancient cliffs worn by the relentless onslaught of the Rhotano Sea, lies the marine city-state of Limsa Lominsa. Said to be blessed by the goddess of navigation, Llymlaen, the city is spread out over countless tiny islands, each connected by sturdy bridges of iron and wood construction, earning her the name the "Navigator's Veil" from traveling bards who have witnessed the city's beauty from afar.

    Limsa Lominsa is a traditional thalassocracy, with power lying in the hands of the ruling party and its leader, the Admiral. Its economy is driven by shipbuilding, fishing, and blacksmithing, but the majority of wealth comes from the lucrative shipping industry.

    To maintain the safety of its maritime routes, the city employs a formidable navy known as the Knights of the Barracuda. However, even in the waters nearby the city, pirate bands run rampant, reaving and pillaging.

    Limsa Lominsa is one of the starting cities in Eorzea. The maritime city-state of Limsa Lominsa, located on the southern coast of the island of Vylbrand, is built within and across steep, white rocks and reefs within Galadion Bay. It is the largest and most famous port in the realm, and has a long history of nautical trade and piracy. Merchants from all over come to ply their wares in Limsa Lominsa, be they from across the Rhotano Sea on the continent of Aldenard or as distant as The New World to the west of the Three Great Continents.

    The city can be divided into two parts: Upper Decks and Lower Decks.

17. #17City: Gridaniaselective

    Keys: Gridania

    "Wood's Will Be Done." In the eastern reaches of the Aldenard landmass, home to vast, dense woodlands and coursing rivers, lies the forest nation of Gridania. The cityscape is a mosaic of labyrinthine waterways and great wooden structures, so gracefully constructed they seem a part of the surrounding environment.

    The Gridanian emphasis on natural harmony has led to its preeminence among Eorzea's city-states in trades such as forestry, agriculture, carpentry, and leatherworking. Gridania is also home to the Wood Wailers, a militant band of polearm-wielding sentries charged with the protection of their homeland.

    The favored goddess of the citizenry is Nophica, the Matron, but great faith is also placed in the wisdom of the Seedseers—young oracles who guide the nation based on the will of the forest's elementals.

    Gridania is one of the starting cities in Eorzea. The forest nation of Gridania, located in the wooded region of The Black Shroud, is guided by Seedseers, young oracles who possess the wills of the forest's elementals. The economy of Gridania is based on agriculture, forestry, carpentry and leatherworking.

    The city can be divided into two parts: Old Gridania and New Gridania.

18. #18City: Ul'dahselective

    Keys: Ul'dah

    "For Coin and Country." The bustling commercial hub of Ul'dah sits amid the desolate desert landscape of southern Aldenard. The city is organized strategically around the dome-shaped citadel at its center. Its towering fortifications and protective outer walls are visible for malms in all directions, and serve as a stark deterrent to would-be besiegers.

    Visitors from every corner of Eorzea come to Ul'dah to partake of the city's famed recreation, most notably the fighting arenas and gambling halls. Ul'dahn culture is known for its affluence, and the wealth of the nation comes in large part from its abundant mineral resources and prestigious clothcrafting industry.

    Historically, it is the sultan who claims sovereignty over Ul'dah, but true power is wielded by the Syndicate, an elite group of six of the most influential and richest members of society. Nald'thal is the patron deity of the city, and two great halls devoted to his two aspects can be found in the eastern and western sections of the city.

    Ul'dah is one of the starting cities in Eorzea. As a bustling commercial hub located in the desert of Thanalan, Ul'dah is a city state ruled by the Syndicate, a group of six of the most influential and wealthiest members of society. The economy of Ul'dah is based on clothcrafting and mining.

    The city can be divided into two parts: Steps of Nald and Steps of Thal.

19. #19City: Ishgardselective

    Keys: Ishgard

    Ishgard is a city in Coerthas. In the central region of Abalathia's Spine, that great mountain range that spans Aldenard from east to west, can be found the forbidding highlands of Coerthas and the Holy See of Ishgard. The archbishop of the church, while leading his people in the teachings of Halone, the Fury, rules also as the nation's sovereign.

    Ishgard's formidable army of knights wages constant battle against its mortal enemies, the dragons. Faced with ever more aggressive attacks from its serpentine foes, as well as an unprecedented spell of bitter cold, the theocracy's days are dark indeed.

    Matters have grown so grave as to prompt the archbishop and his advisors to consider throwing open the heretofore sealed gates of Ishgard and calling for outside aid.

    The city can be divided into parts: The Pillars, Foundation, The Firmament and Empyreum.

20. #20City: Idyllshireselective

    Keys: Idyllshire

    Idyllshire founded by a band of treasure hunters and goblin migrants, it is located at the northern edge of the abandoned city of Sharlayan, just beyond the Cenotaph.

    After the chance meeting of Slowfix's goblins and Midnight Dew's treasure hunters, the two factions were locked in conflict for a time. Once they reached a peace, however, they became the most stalwart of companions, and together raised Idyllshire—a libertarian bastion of those who value freedom above all else.

    If the Cenotaph were the spine of a book, then the gates to the east and west would be the prologue and epilogue—hence the names of these two main egresses of Idyllshire.

21. #21City: Rhalgr's Reachselective

    Keys: Rhalgr's Reach

    A place sacred to worshipers of the Destroyer, the location known as Rhalgr's reach sprawls around the base of the Temple of the Fist. The site was abandoned following its destruction at the King of Ruin's orders, but the Ala Mhigan Resistance has since established a new stronghold upon its ashes.

    The Destroyer Over the course of centuries, disciples of the Fist of Rhalgr worked away at the rocky cliff, carving it back to create this colossal image of the Destroyer. By virtue of its size, it is said to have stood defiant through the mad king’s savage attack on the temple, and stands watch over Rhalgr’s Reach to this day.

    Starfall Rhalgr’s star, the comet which guided people to safety from the rising floods, is said to have made its fiery landfall in this very spot. The sizeable crater thus formed became a lake, and monks would cleanse themselves in its pure waters before making the climb to worship at the temple above.

    Chakra falls “Chakra” is a word used to describe the valves which regulate the flow of the body’s aether. The deluge of water which plunges incessantly into Starfall is so named for its resemblance to the coursing energy which cascades from the aura of a trained monk.

    Bloodstorm Set at the feet of the Destroyer, this monument enshrines in stone the words of a high priest of the Fist of Rhalgr: A storm of blood approaches fast, Hells open, Heavens sweep. For no one soul doth lie beyond The measure of His Reach.

    Rhalgr's Reach Aetheryte Plaza Rhalgr's Reach once echoed with the commotion of a veritable host of monks and pilgrims. Taverns and inns provided for the faithful, and the multitude of visitors coming and going eventually prompted the construction of a permanent aetheryte.

    The barber The Ala Mhigan Resistance set up this infirmary in an empty corner of Rhalgr’s Reach to treat those injured in the war against the Empire. Despite the best of intentions, however, the facility operates on a constant shortage of sickbeds, medicines, and trained chirurgeons.

    Recompense This tomb was excavated to inter the remains of fallen Resistance soldiers—namely those who paid the price of freedom with their own lives. It is known that Conrad Kemp, the former commander of Rhalgr’s Reach, was laid to his final rest within the stone walls of Recompense.

    The Temple of the Fist Once the main temple for the Fist of Rhalgr and the birthplace of the monkhood, this holy house of the Destroyer was a place where disciples came to temper their bodies and hone their martial skills. When the order became embroiled in political disputes, however, the Temple of the Fist was gutted with fire at King Theodoric’s maddened command.

22. #22City: Kuganeselective

    Keys: Kugane

    A city across the Ruby Sea from Othard, Kugane stands as the only port in Hingashi whose docks remain open to foreign vessels in the era of occupation. It is situated upon the island of Shishu, the westernmost island of Hingashi, and its name is the ancient Hingan word for "gold." Here, ships from all corners of the world can be found, and it is not uncommon to even see Eorzean galleys and Garlean warships docked side-by-side. The bustling center of trade boasts a beautiful cityscape and also serves as a den of espionage and political intrigue.

23. #23City: The Doman Enclaveselective

    Keys: The Doman Enclave

    Having cast off the imperial yoke after twenty-five years, the people of Doma are free at last. A new day dawns...but it will be a day of work, for The Doman Enclave many call home remains a shadow of its former self. The Shazenkai, an organization formed to facilitate the reconstruction and revitalization of the settlement, is prepared to lead the way─but they will need to look to others if they are to succeed in this bold endeavor.

24. #24City: Old Sharlayanselective

    Keys: Old Sharlayan

    Old Sharlayan is a city in The Northern Empty. Ensconced in a lonely northern archipelago and ever blessed by the wise auspices of Thaliak, the gleaming white edifices of this city stand at the center of Sharlayan society. First among many dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and scientific advancement is the Studium, the world's most prestigious place of learning.

25. #25City: Radz-at-Hanselective

    Keys: Radz-at-Han

    Radz-at-Han is a city in Ilsabard. This bustling city on the Near Eastern isle of Thavnair is renowned as a prosperous trading hub and the birthplace of alchemy. Over the course of its storied history, it has produced countless influential figures and ingenious creations that have since made their ways to distant shores. Perched atop a massive pillar of rock, its ornate buildings boast vibrant hues rivaled only by those of its locally produced textiles.

26. #26Race: Hyurselective

    Keys: Hyur

    Over the course of three great migratory waves, the Hyur have become the most populous of Eorzea's races, and make up a prominent portion of the population of each of the realm's city-states. Possessed of an average physique in height and build compared to the other races, they champion personal freedom and liberty, with an eclectic variety of languages and traditions stemming from their diverse backgrounds. The Hyur are known for their peculiarly short, rounded ears and are well-suited for traveling long distances by foot—a trait thought to account for their swift proliferation.

    The Hyur of Eorzea are divided into two clans: the Midlanders of the realm's low-lying regions, and the Highlanders who call the mountains home. The Midlanders largely arrived in the three great migratory waves, or else came for trade or were pressed into service by pirates. The Highlanders were the first Hyur to settle Eorzea in the Sixth Astral Era and descend from refugees of the Sixth Umbral Calamity who followed a comet to the highlands of Gyr Abania, eventually founding the city-state of Ala Mhigo.

    Outside of Eorzea, there exist distinct clans of Hyur in the other two of the Three Great Continents, Ilsabard and Othard, as well as Hyur who dwell in the far southern continent of Meracydia and the western continent, The New World. Some Hyur also call the islands of the Bounty, such as Thavnair, home, and some dwell in Sharlayan in the Northern Empty. Their manifold clans and houses are as abundant as the stars in the night sky.

    As the Hyur possess many languages and cultural backgrounds from their places of origin, any sense of universal cultural identity among Hyur is tenuous at best. Hyur tend to value personal freedom, distinguishing themselves in a wide array of disciplines and industries without regard for tradition or heredity. While this can make other races view them as overzealous and unprincipled, none can deny the knowledge, technology, and new ideas the Hyur have brought with them have served as the driving force behind the rapid spread of culture and civilization in Eorzea.

    The simple yet functional attire worn by Hyuran adventurers is made of cotton fabrics reinforced with leather. Hyur tend to favor leather longboots, which some claim is a vestigial habit from their ancestors who crossed the snow-swept plains of Ilsabard.

    The common tongue of the Hyur is spoken in all nations of Eorzea, as well as in almost every nation across the world due to frequent migration and cultural exchange by the Hyur. The language is spoken almost anywhere Hyur can be found, and as Hyur can be found almost anywhere, it is rare to find a major city that doesn't use it. The twenty-six letter Eorzean Alphabet is based on the Hyuran tongue, developed by Hyuran priests in the Fourth Astral Era and still in use to this day. The language also contains pieces of other racial languages, particularly the tongue of the Elezen.

27. #27Race: Elezenselective

    Keys: Elezen

    The tall and slender Elezen were once the predominant race in Eorzea. Believing the realm to be theirs by divine right—a gift from the Twelve themselves, they continue to harbor a deep pride at being the chosen race of the gods even to this day. While this originally led to conflict with the invading Hyur tribe during the early Sixth Astral Era, they reached a mutual understanding and work towards mutual peace and prosperity to this day.

    Both clans possess hearing keener than that of the other races', with the Duskwight possessing a particularly heightened sense of hearing—even among Elezen. Their lifespan is longer than the other races' by about one-tenths or two-tenths.

    The most prominent of Eorzea's Elezen are the forest-dwelling Wildwood clan and the reclusive, cavern-dwelling Duskwight clan. Once, the clans were one, but split in the year 1077 of the Sixth Astral Era following the founding of Gridania. Because the Wildwood choose to live in the city and most Duskwight choose to eschew contact with outsiders, each clan tends to consider the other traitors to their race. Tensions between the two clans persist to this very day.

    The Wildwood Elezen of the Black Shroud also share a common ancestry with the Elezen of Ishgard, and they are considered largely indistinct from one another. The two have traditionally enjoyed close relations, with each readily coming to the other's aid in times of need. The terms "Wildwood" and "Duskwight" seem defined by the relationship between the Shroud's Elezen, thus the Elezen of Ishgard would be considered different in ethnicity despite being essentially the same.

    The Elezen are a proud people who value discipline and order above all, and are naturally adept at collaborative effort. They made great contributions to the founding of Ishgard and Gridania, and that they continue to stand is testament to their talent for governance. However, their preoccupation with history and tradition, tendency to relive past glories, and pretentious speech patterns can alienate them from other races.

    Elezen favor sharply-cut outfits that accentuate their slender physiques. Their adventurers' garb is crafted with an eye for fashion, down to the silverwork adorning it. Their heightened aesthetic sensibilities have led Elezen to make numerous contributions to fashion such as their unique tanning techniques and exquisite accessories. These techniques were once heavily guarded by Elezen leatherworkers, but they have since agreed to share their wealth of knowledge.

    The Elezen originated the art of archery, and their longbow skills are one of two schools that form the foundation of the Archers' Guild. They invented stringed instruments from the strings of their bows, which in turn led to fine arts such as song and poetry. Their long and graceful limbs lent themselves to dance, with myriad manifestations of Elezen culture spreading to the surrounding lands and peoples.

    While the Elezen have adopted the common tongue of the Hyur, their language isn't dead. Additionally, numerous words from their old tongue exist in the day-to-day vocabulary of other races, such as "rendezvous," "diplomat," and "espionage." The forenames and surnames used by the race have changed little since the time when they first crossed into Eorzea from the north. However, over the ages, due to bad blood between the two clans, the surnames once commonly used by both have been claimed by one side or the other. While the structures and spellings of the names are extremely similar, and they follow the same phonetic rules, a Duskwight and a Wildwood Elezen will never have the same last name. The spelling and phonetic rules are extremely similar to those of real-world French.

28. #28Race: Lalafellselective

    Keys: Lalafell

    Short, stocky, and rotund, the Lalafell are the smallest of Eorzea's races. They maintain a youthful, childlike appearance, even in old age, making their true age difficult for other races to ascertain. Originally an agricultural people of the southern isles, they came to Eorzea following mercantile trade. They're welcoming of outsiders, and share prosperous relations with the other races.

    The nimble Lalafell make up for their lack of physical strength with swift reflexes and sharpness of mind. They are one of the most well-established races in the realm and are found in great numbers in nearly every city.

    Lalafell are primarily composed of two clans: the grassland-dwelling Plainsfolk and desert-dwelling Dunesfolk, with both tracing their roots to the south sea isles. Though slight differences in physical appearance have emerged over the many generations spent living apart—such as the thin membranes over the eyes of the Dunesfolk—the two clans have no resentment toward one another. In fact, inter-clan marriages are commonplace, with many Lalafell such as Teledji Adeledji possessing both Plainsfolk and Dunesfolk blood. Differences do appear in their names and customs, however.

    Though they place great importance on familial bonds, the Lalafell are not exclusionary. They maintain cordial relations with the other races, and have achieved much success as traders and merchants as a result. Their business-minded nature can lead them to be perceived as greedy and calculating, but few can truly dislike the Lalafell due to their inherently bright and jovial nature. Examples of Lalafell being persecuted by other races are extremely rare.

    The scarf is a common fixture of traditional Lalafellin garb, serving the practical function of allowing them to stand out above their modest stature by waving it as a signal flag on the high seas or vast deserts. They favor loose-fitting garments that conceal their naturally rotund builds.

    Lalafellin herbalism has been a large influence in the study of alchemy in Ul'dah.

    As a race of traders, the Lalafell quickly adopted the common tongue of the Hyur. The old Lalafellin tongue is still spoken today in the islands of the southern seas. Their language is ruled by rhyme, rhythm, and repetition, with additional alliteration liberally littering their lexicon. The old Lalafellin tongue is notably different from those of other races, containing only five distinct vowels: a, e, i, o, and u. This appears to be something the language shares with ancient Hingan and Doman.

    The names of Lalafell are made up of a given name and "courtesy name" bestowed upon reaching adulthood. The latter is not a family name, but unique to the individual. Their names originate in songs and poems in the old tongue.

29. #29Race: Miqo'teselective

    Keys: Miqo'te

    Though their presence in Eorzea is lesser than the other races, the Miqo'te are easily distinguished by their large, projecting, feline ears and their restless, supple tails. Their ancestors made their way to the realm during the Age of Endless Frost in the Fifth Umbral Era, traversing frozen seas in pursuit of wildlife. Territoriality causes many of them to lead solitary lives, and males in particular shy from contact with others. For reasons yet unclear, female Miqo'te vastly outnumber males, a unique trait among Eorzea's races.

    Adaptation to a hunting lifestyle has fashioned them with a keen sense of smell and powerful legs, with their tail providing them exceptional balance.

    The Miqo'te are roughly divided into two clans: the patriarchal and diurnal Seekers of the Sun, and the matriarchal and nocturnal Keepers of the Moon. The former hunt in the day, the latter at night, a difference believed to be due to the unique physical differences between the two.

    Within each clan exist numerous tribes, with the Seekers boasting large tribes of numerous family groups and the Keepers possessing small, close-knit tribes of no more than two or three families, though more commonly of a single family unit. Each of these tribes have their own customs, cultures, and hunting methods, and so there is no common set of beliefs shared by all Miqo'te.

    Even today, the Miqo'te cling to their old, nomadic way of life and have largely accepted their status as one of Eorzea's less populous races. Fiercely territorial and proud of their traditions, some could consider them unsuited to life in the city-states. Their pride in their heritage as hunters is one of the few common traits among the Miqo'te, who see themselves as part of the natural world and prize the freedom of the hunt above all. As natural-born hunters given to a nomadic lifestyle, many Miqo'te have achieved success as adventurers.

    The Miqo'te do not shun death when old age and illness render them incapable of participating in the hunt. That said, they have the means to treat injury, and often use the gel-like substance within aloe leaves to treat severe burns. To the free-willed Miqo'te, the other races' tendency to flock together with their own kind, overrun nature to build cities, and seek safety and stability in laws and alliances seems strange.

    When choosing their attire, the Miqo'te value freedom of movement, shunning unwieldy armor that might restrict their range of motion. Their legwear is perforated with a hole for their tail to dangle free, allowing them to maintain their unerring sense of balance.

    The hunters of the Miqo'te favor the shortbow, and have contributed to the art of archery as taught by the Archers' Guild.

    Despite their nomadic and solitary nature, the Miqo'te adopted the common tongue of the Hyur early on to barter with the other races for materials with which to craft hunting tools and weapons. Remnants of the old Miqo'te tongue can be seen in their distinctive "huntspeak"—a system of tongue-clicks and whistles used to communicate with companions while in pursuit of quarry.

30. #30Race: Roegadynselective

    Keys: Roegadyn

    Massive and heavily muscled, the Roegadyn are known for their brawny builds and piercing eyes and are the largest and most rugged of Eorzea's races. They are descended from a maritime people that roamed northern seas, though many of their ancestors came to dwell in Eorzea. Though often considered a barbaric and fiercely competitive race, they are also known for their honor, compassion, and loyalty. The histories are filled with tales of Roegadyn warriors and their courageous deeds.

    Roegadyn are said to be possessed of near-endless stamina, which may account for the impressive resilience shown by Roegadyn such as Gosetsu Daito.

    The Roegadyn of Eorzea are roughly grouped into two clans: the Sea Wolves who descend from the seafaring people of the north, and the mountain-dwelling Hellsguard. Of the two clans, the Sea Wolves are the more populous. Those belonging to neither clan can be found elsewhere in the Three Great Continents. In Ilsabard, a group of Roegadyn are known to dwell in the mountains. These Ilsabardian Roegadyn may physically resemble either Sea Wolves or Hellsguard. Many of them currently serve as part of the Garlean Empire, where they can be seen wreaking havoc on the battlefield for the imperial army, having been assimilated under the Garlean yoke. Still another clan of Roegadyn resembling the Hellsguard is a common sight in the Far East, where they make up a significant population of both Doma and Hingashi. During the time of the Allagan Empire, they also dwelled in Meracydia.

    Whether on the angry seas of the Northern Empty or the peaks of Abalathia's Spine, the Roegadyn have historically lived in rugged, inhospitable climes. Their culture values strength and willpower, both among their own kind and outsiders. This isn't limited to physical strength—even a Lalafell can earn a Roegadyn's respect through a display of magical might or strength of will. Those who lack these qualities will find it difficult to hold a Roegadyn's attention without an exchange of coin. Accordingly, the Roegadyn are often seen vying with one another in feats of strength.

    Traditional Roegadyn garb flaunts the wearer's imposing physique, with the biceps exposed and the lower arms covered in sturdy leather armguards with unique cross-stitched patterns. This further accentuates the Roegadyn's massive arms.

    The old Roegadyn tongue lives on in Aerslaent and the Abalathian hinterlands, such as the Farreach. The Roegadyn of Limsa Lominsa and those Hellsguard who dwell in Ala Mhigo or ply their trade as sellswords and adventurers in Ul'dah have learned the common tongue of the Hyur due to their frequent contact with the other races.

    Many Roegadyn words have been forgotten after generations of disuse, with only popular terms being passed down through names. Every so often, however, a word is rediscovered in an ancient tome and added to the list for further generations to use.

31. #31Race: Au Raselective

    Keys: Au Ra

    Hailing from the Far Eastern continent of Othard, the Au Ra were rare in Eorzea until recently, when increasing unrest in their homeland forced a not-insignificant number to journey west as refugees.

    The curved horns and beautifully-patterned scales of the Au Ra often invite speculation that they are descended from dragons. This has long been disputed, with scholars citing distinct differences between the two as evidence against this. The enhanced hearing and spatial recognition granted by their horns are traits not found in draconian horns, and the extreme sexual dimorphism seen in the race is also widely unseen in dragons.

    The most widely known Auri clans are the Raen and Xaela. The Raen live in central Othard and surrounding islands, having forged strong relations with the Hyur and Roegadyn of the Far East and adapted to the cultures of Doma and Hingashi. Conversely, the Xaela still live mostly in the Azim Steppe and its surrounding regions, maintaining their traditional, nomadic way of life.

    Common to the Au Ra is a strong self-preservation instinct, but how each clan chooses to protect their tribes and families differs greatly. The majority of Raen seek peaceful coexistence with other races to ensure the safety of their own kind, while the fiercely tribal Xaela shun relations with other races, even viewing strangers of their own clan as potential enemies. The Raen are viewed more favorably by the outside world, while the Xaela are treated with suspicion and hostility.

    These traits aren't set in stone, however. The Malaguld Tribe of Auri Xaela, for example, accepts exiles of the Raen into their circle. Recently, the Qestir Tribe have founded a settlement named Reunion that welcomes all Xaela, and even outsiders, to trade freely with the people of the Azim Steppe. Likewise, not all Raen coexist with the rest of the world—the denizens of Sui-no-Sato close themselves off from all outside contact and dwell at the bottom of the Ruby Sea.

    The traditional dress of the Au Ra features prominent scale-shaped patterns inspired by the hardened skin of the Au Ra themselves, symbolizing health and vitality. Some wear sleeves that appear ripped apart, an age-old tradition meant to evoke an air of rugged strength. The Raen tend to wear clothing common to the Far East, such as various styles of kimono with wooden geta. The Xaela often wear large overcoats with the sides pulled against the wearer's body, a large sash over the waist. Their footwear is crafted from leather, spacious and slightly uplifted at the ends—a design ideal for cold weather and horse-riding.

    To this day, the Xaela speak the old Auri tongue in their homelands. They lacked a written language until recently, and the spellings of names from the old Auri tongue are often made up on the spot by the Xaela. The Raen, on the other hand, have seemingly abandoned the old Auri tongue in favor of the dialects of Doma and Hingashi, as well as the common tongue of the Hyur. As their speech differs somewhat from that spoken in Eorzea, some perceive it as an odd dialect.

32. #32Race: Vieraselective

    Keys: Viera

    Of tall stature and frame, the Viera are similar in appearance to the Hyur and Elezen, save for their long, leporine ears.

    The word Viera means "people of the wood" and they are most commonly found in the forests of southern Othard, with the Rava clan making its home in the Golmore Jungle and the Veena making their home in the forests along the foothills of the southwestern Skatay Range.

    They are a strictly matriarchal people; Viera males are notoriously rare and reclusive, shunning contact even with their own kin. They are also known for their incredible longevity, as they can live to ages upward of two-hundred and forty years.

    The Viera are roughly divided into two clans. The Rava live primarily in the lush, colorful Golmore Jungle, distinguished by their melonated skin, while the Veena have paler skin, who reside in the mountains of the Skatay Range that rise above their forest home in its foothills. Members of both clans have become more common in cities such as Rabanastre in the past few generations.

    Viera society is purely matriarchal, and each tribe follows its own strict code and will meet swift punishment to any who would defy these laws. As such, many a Viera will spend her life bound to the territory of her ancestors, both unwilling and unable to venture beyond its borders. While the tribes are wholly independent, they have all agreed to uphold a single standard: shun all contact with the outside world unless it is to protect the jungle. This code is known as the "Green Word," and those who break it face the threat of exile. However, the past several generations have seen more and more Viera choose to break the Green Word and leave the forest for the cities. At last count, the Viera made up approximately five percent of the nation of Dalmasca.

    Befitting the name of "people of the wood," Viera women live largely as hunters and gatherers, laboring not only to protect the wood, but to nurture them. They clear undergrowth, plant seeds, and eradicate vermin. To the Viera, their forest is sacred ground, and they will not suffer the desecration of their sovereign domains by outsiders. This is especially true of those who would dare hunt their lands. Even the mere presence of outsiders can be taken as a grave offense.

    Viera live upward of two-hundred and forty years, and more than eight in ten Viera are born female. It is not until the thirteenth nameday—when the individual moves from adolescence into adulthood—that the individual's gender becomes apparent. For the next two centuries, the Viera maintain their physical youth, making it nigh impossible to discern their age simply from outward appearances. Known for their unmatched beauty, their traditional attire seems to accentuate their bodies and—perplexingly to the eyes of outsiders—includes tall stiletto-heeled sandals that would typically make traversing the forest difficult.

    Though males are not typically found in villages, they play an important role in Viera society. When it is revealed a Viera kit is male, they are given to the care of another, that he may learn the ways of the Wood-warder—protectors of the forest. Similar to Miqo'te Keepers of the Moon, Viera males are, for the most part, reclusive, shunning contact with even their own kin. Every three to five summers, they return to the village of their birth, sowing their seed and taking any recently discovered jacks as their wards and teaching them how to survive without the crutch of companionship. Only following countless seasons of training and strict adherence to the Word of the Wood will the students earn the title of master, and be allowed to seek solitude. More than a few perish in this brutal rite of passage, further thinning the tribe's males until only the strongest remain.

    Without a supportive community the males must constantly struggle to survive. Food, clothing, weapons, medicines—all must be procured or crafted by the individual and without the aid of another. The male lives and dies alone, and this has gone unchanged for countless generations. The duty of a Wood-warder is to see their tribe's demesne remain untouched by the destructive whims of outsiders. They do so from the shadows, oft choosing to shoot first and not bother with questions. Females are more open in their relationship with the wood, albeit in a loose sense. If asked whether the segregation of sexes was awkward, a Viera might answer that "The value of coexistence will not be found 'neath a loincloth. Long has our kind endured understanding that the distance 'twixt two bodies does not dictate the distance 'twixt two souls." Those who enter the wood seeking a male Viera will be met with either disappointment or death.

    Despite the might of their males, the martial prowess of Viera females is as formidable as their counterparts', they merely choose to devote their attention to the protection of their hearth and young.

    Of tall stature and slender frame, the Viera's physical appearance is strikingly similar to that of the Hyur and Elezen, save for their distinctive long ears. Adhering to a strict code known as the Green Word, they are prohibited from contact with the outside world under threat of exile. Their society is purely matriarchal, and males of age are seldom, if ever, found within the bounds of any village. They instead serve as protectors of the wood from the shadows, that no evil may ever encroach on their sacred lands.

33. #33Race: Hrothgarselective

    Keys: Hrothgar

    Hailing from the distant shores of Ilsabard, the Hrothgar are a burly people of lionlike appearance—or the males are, at least. Females number staggeringly few among their population, and thus are rarely so much as glimpsed by the other races.

    The Hrothgar's imposing countenance─mitigated not at all by their sharp claws and still sharper fangs—incited panic amongst Eorzeans upon their arrival. As they were also unable to communicate, initial interactions with the commonfolk often escalated into conflict. It was not until the Hrothgar gained mastery of the common tongue that fears were allayed, and in time they would be as neighbors, welcome in all corners of the realm. The bulk of Hrothgar remain concentrated in the areas in and around Bozja, where they continue to struggle to liberate their homeland from the empire and rebuild.

    The Xbr'aal, a group of Hrothgar with shared ancestry to other Hrothgar, reside in Yak T'el within Tural.

    The concept of clans is nonexistent in Hrothgar culture, as they consider every individual of their race kin. There are simply the Helion—those who are devoted to a queen—and the Lost, who are unbound to any monarch. As this status is reflected in their names, however, other races have mistaken this convention as a marker of innate differences.

    Even amongst the diverse races of the world, the Hrothgar are notable for their pronounced bestial appearance. Unable to easily blend into other societies, their people have developed a strong sense of cultural identity. Their low rate of female births is speculated to have resulted in an instinctual drive to protect the few female Hrothgar, which in turn gave rise to a matriarchal society. As their communities are often tightly knit, Hrothgar may be perceived by outsiders as standoffish and exclusionary.

    Although the Hrothgar of Bozja once communicated in their own unique language, their assimilation into the Empire meant that the younger generations were educated in Garlean and the common tongue. Few of their number still speak the language of their forebears, and fewer still speak it well, this being especially true ever since the Bozja incident claimed the lives of many of their elders.

34. #34Landmass: Turalselective

    Keys: Tural, New World

    Tural is a landmass in Hydaelyn. Also known as the New World, Tural is a continent far to the west of Eorzea, far beyond the Indigo Deep. Originally found several centuries ago, the New World was a myth until recently, as all records of its existence, both official records and the folklore tales from the land had all been lost or destroyed.

    Tural consists of two main landmasses: Yok Tural to the south and Xak Tural to the north. The city of Tuliyollal, located on the north of Yok Tural, is the capital of the federal nation-state comprising much of Tural. A singular bridge extending from Tuliyollal joins the two landmasses, which are divided by a surface crevasse in the Stardust Sea.

35. #35Zone: The Gold Saucerselective

    Keys: The Gold Saucer, The Manderville Gold Saucer, Gold Saucer

    An amusement park named The Gold Saucer located at Southern Thanalan, founded and managed by the master goldsmith Godbert Manderville. It has a Cactuar known as "Senor Sabotender" as the official mascot of the park. Players can participate in different minigames such as the Triple Triad, Chocobo Racing, and many more to obtain a special currency known as MGP (Manderville Gold Saucer Points), which can be used to buy exclusive rewards in the park.

    Doman Mahjong is a mini-game closely based on the Japanese style of mahjong. The Fashion Report is a challenge where players are tasked with dressing up to a weekly theme before presenting themselves for judging. Lord of Verminion is a minion battle strategy game. Triple Triad is a card battle mini-game. Chocobo Racing is a mini-game where the players act as breeders, trainers and jockeys of their chocobos. GATEs (Gold Saucer Active Time Events) are special FATE-like events within the Gold Saucer that award MGP. These events consist of mini-games that pit the players against each other. Cactpot is a daily and weekly lottery system to win MGP. Crystal Tower Striker is a hammer strength game. Cuff-a-cur is a punching strength game. Monster Toss is a basket shooting game. It is a timing-based game where you have to make free throws within the allotted time. Throw timing changes, so the player has to adjust to score the most points. Moogle's Paw is a crane game. Successfully grabbing smaller objects yields more points. Botanist is a mini-game swing the hatchet to locate the hidden timber. Mining is a mini-game swing the pickaxe to locate the hidden ore.

36. #36Settlement: Costa del Solselective

    Keys: Costa del Sol

    Costa del Sol is a settlement in Eastern La Noscea. Though this area was originally cleared for farmland, it was abandoned upon the discovery that no crops would grow in the salt-ridden soil. It then caught the eye of Master Gegeruju, a wealthy Ul'dah entrepreneur, who purchased the land and set about developing it into a South Sea Isles-style resort. Gegeruju has not only altered the area's flora to match his tastes—going as far as introducing species native to more tropical climes such as the Cieldalaes—but also changed its name to Costa del Sol.

37. #37Area: Wineportselective

    Keys: Wineport

    Wineport is an area in Eastern La Noscea. Blessed with fertile soil and groundwater rich in minerals, Wineport is a Lominsan village famous for its vineyards and fine wines. The Bacchus grapes they grow are known to produce particularly exquisite vintages. Though the village is not a port in the traditional sense, its name derives from its bustling trade.

38. #38City: Ala Mhigoselective

    Keys: Ala Mhigo

    The highlands of Gyr Abania in the eastern reaches of Aldenard were once under the control of a martial nation known as Ala Mhigo. It was, perhaps, the historically conflicted nature of the territory that forged the country into a significant military power.

    Even as this aggressive nation sent its forces to conquer in the west, it repelled repeated attempts at invasion from the east. In the Year 1557 of the Sixth Astral Era, however, it finally fell to the incursions of the Garlean Empire. From that time onwards, the country became merely another imperial territory under the governance of its usurpers. Though the people of Ala Mhigo once revered Rhalgr, the Destroyer, as their patron deity, any such religious observance has since been forbidden by the controlling authorities.

    Ala Mhigo stands at the far-eastern tip of Abalathia's Spine. For centuries, it commanded the lands of Gyr Abania, and was known as the premier military power amongst the Eorzean city-states. In the face of the armies of Garlemald, however, this might proved less than sufficient in repelling the Empire's metal-clad warmachina, and thus has Ala Mhigo borne the yoke of imperial rule for the past twenty years. An occupied city-state located in a mountainous region of eastern Aldenard. The nation was plunged into chaos twenty years ago when its masses rose up in rebellion against the tyranny of the mad king Theodoric. However, unbeknownst to many, it was none other than the Garlean Empire that had been pulling the strings from the shadows the entire time. They quickly set about moving in to take control of Ala Mhigo as anarchy reigned, and have remained in control of the nation for the past twenty years.

    At the culmination of a bloody war, the city-state of Ala Mhigo at last won its freedom from two decades of stifling imperial rule. The nation has entered the ranks of the Eorzean Alliance, and now joins those who aided its liberation in writing this new chapter in history.

39. #39Zone: Thavnairselective

    Keys: Thavnair

    In the Bounty's southeastern waters lies the isle of Thavnair, where tropical coastline soon gives way to dense rainforest─though the intense heat and sweltering humidity remain much the same. The region is known as a rich source of the magically infused stone giantsgall, and the distinctive violet glow from its rocky outcrops lingers in the memories of visitors long after they depart its shores.

    Thavnair is a zone in Ilsabard. Radz-at-Han is the capital of Thavnair.

    To the south of Ilsabard lies a great sea known as the Bounty. The abundance of sea life combined with its central location in relation to the Three Great Continents has historically seen civilizations on the islands of the Bounty thrive, even during the calamitous Umbral Eras.

    The most prominent of those civilizations would have to be that of Radz-at-Han, located on Thavnair—the Bounty’s largest landmass. An ancient city-state with a history stretching back thousands of years, Radz-at-Han is best known as the birthplace of modern alchemy. It is interesting to note that, despite having a very limited outward military presence, the city-state has succeeded in forging a non-interference treaty with the Garlean Empire, ensuring their independence while mightier nations fall about them, and as thus, Radz-at-Han remains an active hub for trade between Eorzea. However, it has been noted by some that the treaty was only formed so that Garlemald could obtain items from Eorzea via Thavnair, as official trade between the regions was frozen after the Empire’s failed invasion twenty years past.

40. #40Zone: Yanxiaselective

    Keys: Yanxia

    Through Yanxia flows the One River, upon whose shores the city-state of Doma has been built. Having fallen to Garlean rule, the nation's once proud and mighty Doma Castle is now occupied by the imperial viceroy and her host of brutish men. Citizens here struggle to eke out a living in the face of oppression, which comes in the form of punishing taxes and grueling physical labor.

    Yanxia is a zone in Othard.

    The defining feature of this area within central Othard is the One River, and since antiquity, the people of the plains have built settlements along its fertile shores. So prized were these lands that ancient clans were locked in a constant struggle to control them.

41. #41Area: Domaselective

    Keys: Doma

    Doma is an area in Yanxia. More accurately described as the area once considered the heart of the kingdom, this region includes both the castle and the ruined settlement of Monzen, which was razed by warmachina on the orders of then viceroy Yotsuyu goe Brutus.

42. #42Zone: The Azim Steppeselective

    Keys: The Azim Steppe

    The plains of the Azim Steppe stretch far and wide to sustain these nomadic peoples and their way of life. A vast expanse of grassland that stretches across the far reaches of northern Othard, the Azim Steppe is said to be the ancestral home of the Au Ra, and remains to this day the home of the nomadic Xaela clan. Devout worshipers of the Dawn Father and the Dusk Mother -- Azim and Nhaama -- the Xaela are known for their unique set of beliefs. They are divided into fifty different tribes, all of which are very territorial and are engaged in a constant and fierce battle for land.

    The Azim Steppe is a zone in Othard populated almost exclusively by the nomadic Xaela clan. Many of the individual Xaela tribes choose to compete in the Naadam, a ceremonial battle for rulership over the Steppe. This rulership, currently held by the Oronir tribe, lasts until the next Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year). When the rules of the Naadam are not in effect, the tribes maintain their own independence and conflict often arises between them.

    Most foreign visitors come to the settlement of Reunion, guarded by the Qestir tribe. It remains a neutral spot for traders from all over the realm to sell their wares.

    The vast plains of northern Othard are home to countless tribes of nomadic Kaela. Despite conquering their neighbors to the south, the Garlean Empire has yet to demonstrate any interest in subjugating the Steppe.

43. #43Lore: Adventurers' Guildselective

    Keys: Adventurers' Guild, Adventurer's Guild, Adventurer Guild

    The Adventurers' Guild is an organization for adventurers, founded under the idea that an idle man is a dangerous one. By offering work to those who seek it, they are less likely to turn to banditry. Fewer bandits means a lesser burden on the commonfolk and the city guard who protect them.

    The guild does not actually perform tasks, but rather serves primarily as an intermediary, finding takers for the great variety of tasks that townsfolk entrust to it. Hubs for these activities can be found in any major city-state in the realm, and representatives roam Eorzea seeing that members do not take advantage of their guild-given authority.

    The crest of the guild bears a sword, a shield, and a staff. A design that reminds all of the guild's historical origins , it is a promise to aid citizens and fight on their behalf.

    When Ala Mhigo fell to the Garlean Empire in 1557, the city-states of Eorzea banded together against this common enemy with an urgency born of alarm. An age of calm came over the realm, a lull in the fighting betwixt nations. However, many sellswords found themselves out of work in this peace and began to grow dangerously discontent.

    Amidst the disquieting atmosphere, one man arose to create a new path for mercenaries. His name was Lodewicus the Leal, the famed leader of a sellsword company. He drew his companions together and founded an organization where people could hire a guardian, be it to slay monsters, act as their bodyguard, or fight on their behalf. Calling itself the Adventurer’ Guild , the group became an outlet for dissatisfied mercenaries, connecting those who joined with the tasks that best suited their skills.

    At present , the guild receives ever more varied requests from townsfolk, and adventurers throughout the realm can be found working not just as hired swords, but as tradesmen and gatherers as well. The number of guild members continues to climb, and these adventurers appear to be aiding greatly in reconstruction efforts after the Calamity.

44. #44Lore: Grand Companyselective

    Keys: Grand Company

    For thousands of years, Eorzea has been victim to a catastrophic cycle of destruction and rebirth that periodically envelops the realm and threatens all who live upon her soil; each time faced with a tragedy seemingly worse than the last, however, the peoples of Eorzea have found some way to persevere. One method, seemingly going back hundreds of generations, has been the establishment of comprehensive command centers which combine the military, economic, and technological resources of a city-state in order to better prepare it for the coming doom. These are the Grand Companies of Eorzea.

    The last recorded emergence of the Grand Companies was nearly 1,500 years ago, at the end of the Fifth Astral Era and the arrival of the great deluge which triggered the dark period known as the Sixth Umbral Era. It was through these companies that the then warring city-states were able to put aside their bitter differences and join together to form an alliance and ensure the realm survived.

    As the Sixth Astral Era drew to a close, the three city-states of Limsa Lominsa, Gridania, and Ul'dah once again revived the Grand Companies—a final attempt to forestall the coming of the Seventh Umbral Era. With a number of remarkably talented adventurers among their ranks, they stood fast against the beast tribes and the savage might of the primals, as well as the Garlean Empire, the invaders from the north.

    Despite their valiant attempts, however, the Calamity could not be avoided, and the lesser moon, Dalamud, descended upon the Carteneau Flats. From its core emerged the elder primal Bahamut, who rained fire upon the realm. So it was that the Seventh Umbral Era began.

    Five years on from the devastation, aided by adventurers, the Grand Companies of Eorzea now strive to raise the realm from the ashes.

45. #45Job: Paladinselective

    Keys: Paladin

    For centuries, the elite of the Sultansworn have served as personal bodyguards to the royal family of Ul'dah. Known as paladins, these men and women marry exquisite swordplay with stalwart shieldwork to create a style of combat uncompromising in its defense. Clad in brilliant silver armor, they charge fearlessly into battle, ever ready to lay down their lives for their liege. To be a paladin is to protect, and those who choose to walk this path will become the iron foundation upon which the party's defense is built.

    History In the year 969 of the Sixth Astral Era, a dispute surrounding the succession of twin princes erupted into an internecine war—a conflict which ultimately fractured the Thanalan city-state of Belah'dia into the rival nations of Ul'dah and Sil'dih. Upon this bitter division, Ul'dah's first ruler, Sasagan Ul Sisigan, gathered to him those knights who had sworn him fealty, and established a retinue of bodyguards thenceforth known as the Sultansworn.

    For six hundred years now, generations of Sultansworn have taken the oath of their forebears, and honed their martial prowess in service to the royal house of Ul'dah. Centuries of training and tradition have led to the development of an indomitable style of combat that has many times proven instrumental in the salvation of the desert nation and its people.

    Yet beloved as they are as the shield of the sultanate, the Sultansworn have lost their former luster—both their morale and their numbers dwindling apace with the royal family's eroded authority. Thus it is that Captain Jenlyns, in an effort to preserve the teachings of his failing order, has begun training worthy adventurers in the arts of the paladin.

    For centuries, the elite of the Sultansworn have served as personal bodyguards to the royal family of Ul'dah. Known as paladins, these men and women marry exquisite swordplay with stalwart shieldwork to create a style of combat uncompromising in its defense. Clad in brilliant silver armor, they charge fearlessly into battle, ever ready to lay down their lives for their liege.

46. #46Job: Warriorselective

    Keys: Warrior

    On the northernmost edge of Abalathia's Spine exists a mountain tribe renowned for producing fearsome mercenaries. Wielding greataxes and known as warriors, these men and women learn to harness their inner-beasts and translate that power to unbridled savagery on the battlefield. In former times which saw war waged ceaselessly in Eorzea, the warriors featured prominently on the frontlines of battle. With the arrival of peacetime, however, their art has descended into the shadows of obscurity, where it remains to this day.

    History The only text known to have recorded the history and techniques of the warrior is thought to have been penned more than five centuries ago. No knowledge of warriors previous to this time has ever been unearthed—the true origin of the clan’s fighting style obscured beneath the dust of ages past.

    No matter their beginnings, however, in the era when the city-states traded in naught but discord and strife, the mountain tribespeople who fought with the unbridled ferocity of wild beasts were highly valued as mercenary conscripts. But despite the many victories warriors earned upon the battlefield, their esteem was tarnished by accounts of frothing berserkers lost to the red haze of carnage—tales of those who had slaughtered friend just as readily as foe. As hostilities between nations gradually shifted towards peace, the fearsome presence of a warrior, once so welcome in times of war, became a thing to shun. And though it is said that some vestige lives on through a remote clan in Abalathia’s Spine, the art of the warrior has now all but faded from the world.

47. #47Job: Dragoonselective

    Keys: Dragoon

    Of all the things that are symbolic of the nation of Ishgard, few are more recognized than the dragoon. Born amidst the timeless conflict between men and dragons, these lance-wielding knights have developed an aerial style of combat, that they might better pierce the scaled hides of their mortal foes. Taking to the firmament as though it were an extension of the land, they descend upon the enemy with every onze of their bodies behind the blow. It is this penetrative power that characterizes the dragoon.

    History If the legend of Ishgard’s founding is to be believed, it was nigh on a thousand years ago that the dragoon first leapt onto the pages of history. The tale speaks of the death of King Thordan at the talons of the dreadful wyrm Nidhogg, and of how his son, Haldrath, did battle with his father’s slayer to open the path to his people's salvation. He claimed an Eye from his foe ere the great dragon fled the field, and by drawing on the power of this grisly trophy did he gain mystical strength. Thus was born the legacy of the Azure Dragoon, Haldrath’s knowledge and expertise became the inheritance of future generations, and his name was evermore revered as the father of dragoons. The centuries that followed were consumed by the Dragonsong War, a conflict between man and dragon during which many a dragoon has risen to the heights of glory—and yet more who have suffered ignominious defeat. To replenish their elite ranks, soldiers of particular excellence are selected from the Temple Knights to undergo dragon-slayer training, but the graduates of its grueling challenges are few. Of those who do earn the right to be called dragoon, it is tradition that only the strongest amongst them is chosen to wield the power of the Eye and inherit the mantle of the Azure Dragoon.

48. #48Job: Monkselective

    Keys: Monk

    Though now under Garlean rule, the city-state of Ala Mhigo once boasted the greatest military might of all Eorzea. Among its standing armies were the monks—ascetic warriors as dreaded by foes on the field of battle as the city-state's great pikemen. The monks comprised an order known as the Fist of Rhalgr, and it was to this god—the Destroyer—that they devoted their lives of worship. By mastering seats of power within the body known as chakra, they are capable of performing extraordinary physical feats.

    History In the time of the Sixth Umbral Calamity, there was a people who escaped the great flooding by following the guiding light of a meteor—a brilliant beacon which led them to the highlands of Gyr Abania. These refugees devoted themselves to Rhalgr, the Destroyer, whose streaking star had granted them salvation, and their fervent faith took solid root within the region. The order known as the Fist of Rhalgr was formed, and within their temple the devotees of the Fist tempered body and spirit in an effort to grow closer to their deity. Through their meditations, these monks discovered within themselves foci of power—chakras—and with this knowledge devised a martial art that channeled the life energies of the practitioner into destructive force.

    Gyr Abania had long endured political instability, and the constant outbreaks of violence encouraged the monks to pursue their newfound martial mastery with ever greater zeal. The Fist of Rhalgr evolved into a formidable military force, and gradually nurtured an alliance with the royal family of Ala Mhigo. Eventually, the Fist was integrated into the nation’s standing army, thus consolidating its position and influence within the region. This arrangement, however, was not to King Theodoric’s liking. In the year 1552 of the Sixth Astral Era, the King of Ruin, grown fearful of the order’s political power, had the Temple of the Fist burned to the ground. The warrior monks and their teachings were lost—scattered like ashes on the wind.

49. #49Job: Bardselective

    Keys: Bard

    The word "bard" ordinarily puts folk in mind of those itinerant minstrels, fair of voice and nimble of finger, who earn their coin performing in taverns and the halls of great lords. Few know, however, that bards in fact trace their origins back to the bowmen of eld, who sang in the heat of battle to fortify the spirits of their companions. In time, their impassioned songs came to hold sway over the hearts of men, inspiring their comrades to great feats and granting peace unto those who lay upon the precipice of death.

    History Five hundred years ago, in the time when the city-states engaged one another in bloody conflict, Gridanian hunters were often forced to take up their bows to defend their nascent nation from outside invaders. These reluctant archers would strum their bowstrings and sing songs for their comrades, and it was from those encouraging, aching tunes that the inspiring melodies of the bard were born. Their lilting notes stirred the spirit, lending their fellow soldiers a tangible strength that could turn the tide of battle.

    Witnessing the effect of these “battlesongs,” each nation formed units of minstrels in an attempt to amplify the phenomenon, but these hollow, regimented choruses failed to produce the same mystical influence. The original performers, on the other hand, found themselves drowned out by ranks of military musicians, and one by one their voices grew quiet on the battlefield.

    When not fighting in wars, bards would travel from tavern to tavern to share the tales of their experiences. As the periods of peace grew longer and longer, however, they began embellishing their stories to appeal to a wider audience, and what was once a true recounting of battle became a form of entertainment by which the bard made his living.

50. #50Job: Black Mageselective

    Keys: Black Mage

    In days long past, there existed an occult and arcane art known as black magic—a potent magic of pure destructive force born forth by a sorceress of unparalleled power. Those who learned to wield this instrument of ruin came to be called black mages, out of both fear and respect for their gift. Yet great power served to corrupt the judgment of mortal man, and so he unknowingly set out upon the path of ruin. Adventurers who take the black will become agents of devastation, capable of annihilating those who oppose them through little more than the force of their will.

    History In the lands of Yafaem at the peak of the Fifth Astral Era, the genius sorceress Shatotto wove the first spell of the art that became known as “black magic.” Over the course of her lifetime, the Mhachi mage’s obsessive research into destructive power gave rise to a host of devastating incantations and arcane weaponry.

    This new school of magic found many willing students, and cadres of black mages soon formed the offensive core of Mhach’s forces in the War of the Magi. But the casting of so many mighty spells drained the land dry of aether, and both sides of the terrible conflict knew defeat when the tortured balance of elements sought to right itself with the great floods of the Sixth Umbral Calamity. It is small wonder, then, that practitioners of the arcane were mistrusted and reviled in the years following this realm-spanning catastrophe. Black magic itself was branded a forbidden art, its secrets consigned to the darkest depths of history.

    In any age, however, there always exist those whose hunger for knowledge and power drive them to explore the most lightless abyss. Thus it was that scarcely a century ago, a thaumaturge by the name of Ququruka broke the seals of an ancient tome, and secretly donned the black robes of a long-forgotten cabal...

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