(01-16-2015, 05:01 PM)Gegenji Wrote: This sounds like a job for the Sounsyy signal, but I'll try to answer what I can.
1. As far as I understand, Eorzea consists of the continents of Vylbrand (where the La Noscea areas lie as well as the ruins of Nym) and Aldenard (which consists of Gridania, Thanalan, Coerthas, and Mor Dhona). Doma is on the continent of Othard and is under Garlean occupation, while I believe Garlemald and Sharlayan are also considered as outside Eorzea. Ala Mhigo I believe is still technically in Thanalan and thus also part of Eorzea, but I am uncertain.
Sorry Chacha but had to correct this a bit. ;P
Geography lesson!
There are three (3) Great Continents: Aldenard, Ilsabard, and Othard. Aldenard to the West, Ilsabard to the North, Othard to the East.
"Eorzea" is a region consisting of the continent of Aldenard and its surrounding islands: Vylbrand, Cieldalaes, Bianaq, Mazlaya, and The Pearl.
Within Eorzea there are(were until recently) six city-states controlling regions of Eorzea.
1) Ul'dah controls the southern, desert region of Thanalan. The Sagolii Desert on the Southern borders of Thanalan is controlled by the Amalj'aa as well as Paglth'an to the East.
2) To the Northeast lies Gridania within the Black Shroud. Surrounding the Black Shroud or "Twelveswood" is a magical barrier called the Hedge.
3) Further East lies the region of Gyr Abania, formerly controlled by the Kingdom of Ala Mhigo. This region lies in the foothills of the Xelphatol Mountains to the far north of Aldenard, reaching up into Ilsabard via the landbridge.
4) Moving West from Gyr Abania into the Xelphatol Mountains lies the Holy See of Ishgard. This nation sits upon the peaks of Xelphatol and on the southern rim of the Sea of Clouds, a vast expanse of clouds separating the Farreach from the rest of Eorzea.
5) Further West from Ishgard, on the edge of the Dravanian borders lies the abandoned city-state of Sharlayan. This city was established by immigrant Sharlayans from the island of Sharlayan in the North Seas of the Bloodbrine with the purpose of studying Eorzean culture. They fled back north to their island home after peace negotiations failed 20 years ago.
6) South across the Indigo Deep from Sharlayan lies the Thalassocracy of Limsa Lominsa. Until recently, Limsa Lominsa did not claim dominion over any of the La Noscea region, but instead controlled all Eorzean waters and protected trade routes in the Five Seas. The region of La Noscea, which consists of the portion of Vylbrand south of Mount O'Ghomoro, was (until about 10 years ago) controlled by the Kobolds.
Going beyond Eorzea and the other Great Continents, there are some additional continents and islands of note:
1) Across the Sea of Jade to the East of Gyr Abania lies the island nation of Thavnair, commonly referred to as the "Near East." This island lies somewhere between Aldenard and Othard in the Jade Sea.
2) To the far South across the Rhotano Sea lies the continent of Meracydia. All we know about this continent is that 5000 years ago it was once at war with the Allagan Empire and was the only place the Allagans had not conquered in their pursuit of world dominion.
3) To the far west across the Indigo Deep lies the "New World," a mysterious continent discovered by Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn in the Year 1556 of the Sixth Astral Era, before she became Admiral. We don't know much about the place other than it's where popotoes come from and it may be the Miqo'te home continent.
4) There's also mention of a floating continent called "Ayatlan" in the Ixali tongue, but (and there are several theories on this!) may become readily known as "Aeolia" when Heavensward drops later this year. This continent is believed to be the sacred birthplace of the Ixali and is only accessible by flight.
(01-16-2015, 05:20 PM)Rosalind Wrote: They're [Lalafell] native to Thanalan, as a race, I think I remember reading--so I'm guessing your lala ancestors must have emigrated to Doma themselves at some point way back.
Wanted to make a quick point of this. There are no (known) native races to Eorzea. Lalafell immigrated to Eorzea many thousands of years ago from the islands of the South Seas and beyond. This has led to the belief that Plainsfolk originate from the Cieldalaes and Dunesfolk are from Meracydia's northern coast or from another South Seas Isle that is a desert.
Elezen are from the northlands, so Ilsabard. Roegadyn are a sea-faring folk from the North Seas of Bloodbrine who settled in the Farreach of Agalathia's Spine in the Xelphatol Mountains. Miqo'te journeyed to Eorzea via a landbridge during the Age of Endless Frost 3000 years ago. And Hyur are the most recent immigrants, coming to Eorzea roughly 1000 years ago from the East.
(01-16-2015, 05:56 PM)Rosalind Wrote: Oh, Sounsyy, also! You are absolutely right about Urianger! I didn't even think about the Duskwight naming conventions. I am a French-speaker and have noticed the major difference between Wildwood and Duskwight names is that Wildwood names skew toward Medieval French, and Duskwight names, including the Ishgardian noble house of Dzemael, sound like gallicized (frenchified) North African or possibly Basque words.
"Standard" French, especially old French, doesn't make common use of 'z's--but as you can see in these Basque names below, it does quite extensively. The Basque are also known as mountain-dwellers of France's southern mountainous regions. Maybe they were S-E's inspiration? Or maybe the Visigoths?
I did not know this! But this is super cool! =O It's quite possible that was their inspiration, as this fits very well with lore.
