Hello everyone! I've got a question that needs answering so I can figure out the start of my character's adventure in Eorzea. So what do I need to know?
Are there any port towns or settlements with docks on the eastern coast of Aldenard, such as in the Black Shroud or Thanalan?
My character is an Au Ra and I would like to know exactly where he first set foot on this foreign soil (supposing he came by boat from Doman ports), and possibly even start my RP right then and there if there's anybody nearby.
Thanks! :)
Good question! Unfortunately, we don't know with any certainty yet!
Per the MSQ, the first Domans to arrive actually sailed south around Cape Deadwind (very treacherous sailing according to fishing lore) and looped back north to reach the Vesper coastline. Which can mean two things really: either there were no closer port cities on the Eastern coast of Eorzea, or that the MSQ plot was convenient if they docked on the Scion's front doorstep.
20 years ago, Ala Mhigo (or one of its hamlets) would've had a bustling port on the Eastern borders of Aldenard, however, since its fall to the Garleans, the Gyr Abania region has been mostly abandoned by Eorzeans. We may find in a future patch/expansion that there are still some Gyr Abanian villages which are fighting the Garleans as part of the Ala Mhigan Resistance. But we don't know.
Gridania is inland, too far from the Rothlyt Sound, but according to Fishing Lore, there are people who live in the Rothlyt Sound, so there may be a small port village in The Pearl or Mazlaya. But again, ultimately unconfirmed. Paglth'an, the region east of Thanalan is controlled by the Amalj'aa. And Ul'dah's only known in-game ports are Vesper Bay and Silver Bazaar/Crescent Cove, which are both run-down fishing villages. Silver Bazaar actually being an Ala Mhigan refugee village that got bought out by Ul'dahn development tycoons seeking to use the area for Ul'dah's elite mansions.
So, in short, no. All known Eorzean ports are on Aldenard's western coastline.
(07-03-2015, 09:50 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: [ -> ]-snip-
Ah, thank you! Originally I was going to have him just walk along the coast, maybe spot some of what's left of Ala Mhigo, but I figured that would be... a challenge, given the reason most are leaving Othard.
Although there aren't any ports in the Shroud, it is still rather interesting that there may be people in the Rothlyt Sound. Doesn't seem too unreasonable that a passenger might have gotten a ride to the mainland from one of the islands. Or something. We'll see, haha.
Anyway, thank you very much. :)Â You above and beyond answered my question.
(07-03-2015, 09:50 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: [ -> ]Gridania is inland, too far from the Rothlyt Sound,Â
So, in short, no. All known Eorzean ports are on Aldenard's western coastline.
While it's not explicitly stated, we know that there is a network of creeks and rivers within the Black Shroud, and there are ferries that bring people across those rivers, so it isn't a leap to think they may have an inland port for trade purposes.
Thanalan has lighthouses and docks all over the place, so it isn't a stretch to think they get a fair amount of nautical traffic going in and out of Ul'dah, so I wouldn't go as far as to say we don't know of any ports in the East.Â
Ala Mhigo may have had ports as well, seeing as how Gyr Abania is described as harsh terrain. Historically, in places of harsh terrain, large cities depend on water routes for their goods because they can't exactly get what they need from the land. This applies to Ul'dah as well. There's no way Ul'dah's entire trade network is based around caravan traffic, especially with Brass Blades frequently harassing merchants who go through Thanalan by foot/chocobo/carriage. Thanalan's arid biome, occasional docks and lighthouses, and financial success lend themselves to the idea of a nautical economy, even if the game's lore never comes out and says "Thank the gods for all these boats and all this money". Maybe they don't have maritime prowess at the level of Limsa, but it certainly would be possible for someone to emigrate to Aldenard through Ul'dah.
(07-04-2015, 12:29 AM)Audie Wrote: [ -> ]-snip-
Ah, yes. I was looking at the big rivers on the map of Eorzea and wondering how much traffic there is on them. Very interesting~