1. By all indications, Ishgard is a melting pot. If it has a dominant population (like how there are slightly more Seekers and Wildwoods in Gridania) it hasn't even been addressed, and we've never had a city to see in that regard.
2. Certainly the attitudes of the Ishgardians seem to imply that it's an active war. Speculation: I imagine it's a similar situation to the orcs and San d'Oria; there's been a war between the two sides for so long that no one entertains thoughts of winning, but both will take as many shots at the other as humanly possible.
3. From what could be gleaned from NPCs outside the city, Ishgard is a strict theocracy. Whether or not allegiance to the Twelve as a whole is the source of worship or services are rendered specifically to Halone is unclear. Speculation: It may well be a structure akin to Greek churches, revering one deity above the others while still paying homage to the remainder.
4. None of the city-states exactly like one another, but Ishgard's isolation is largely due to its lack of manpower that can be allocated to goals other than fighting dragons. Outside of chocobo-based trade, the city-state keeps mostly to itself.
5. We don't know for a fact that Ishgardians have a mounted knight culture, but it stands to reason.
6. Military service does not appear to be mandatory, but conscription is not uncommon.
2. Certainly the attitudes of the Ishgardians seem to imply that it's an active war. Speculation: I imagine it's a similar situation to the orcs and San d'Oria; there's been a war between the two sides for so long that no one entertains thoughts of winning, but both will take as many shots at the other as humanly possible.
3. From what could be gleaned from NPCs outside the city, Ishgard is a strict theocracy. Whether or not allegiance to the Twelve as a whole is the source of worship or services are rendered specifically to Halone is unclear. Speculation: It may well be a structure akin to Greek churches, revering one deity above the others while still paying homage to the remainder.
4. None of the city-states exactly like one another, but Ishgard's isolation is largely due to its lack of manpower that can be allocated to goals other than fighting dragons. Outside of chocobo-based trade, the city-state keeps mostly to itself.
5. We don't know for a fact that Ishgardians have a mounted knight culture, but it stands to reason.
6. Military service does not appear to be mandatory, but conscription is not uncommon.
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In-character: Rhio's dossier | Out-of-character: Player profile
In-character: Rhio's dossier | Out-of-character: Player profile
