On The Evolution of the modern day Elezen

This is to share some conjecture of my own based on information read both within these forums and in-game from varying NPCs for the purpose of clarification and discussion, specifically upon the topic of the Elezen timeline and history. This thread has the potential to spoil some aspects of 3.0. but it’s been like five months already so...

Firstly, with the coming of the expansion we were blessed with a veritable undiscovered trove of knowledge on Eorzea's history, science behind some of her many mysteries, and further elucidation on the ancestry of some of her native races with the Elezen being the focal point of the latter statement. The Elezen are a traditionally nomadic people who in former times claimed sole dominion over Eorzea, and as such developed their characteristic pride and prejudice. Now, before and after the time of the Hyurian migration I have some conjecture as to the timeline of events with the main scenario quests and all they might offer in consideration.

To begin, If we're to span back to the early conflicts twixt man and dragon (at least where the Elezen are concerned), then I would assume that the tribe of ancestral Elezen in question settled about Abalathia’s Spine in such areas as the Dravanian Forelands (and whatever regions hitherto undiscovered and/or patched in :p) and waged war with the horde from that front until the time of peace wherein the ancestral Elezen migrated to the mount of Sohm Al and the area of the Churning Mists. Two centuries of coexistence with the dragons (and moogles) until the war sprung anew—the Elezen living within the Churning Mists either being exodized, slaughtered or both to some extent with the survivors retreating back to mainland or perhaps another region such as Coerthas.

Trudge along a couple more centuries and we have the Hyurian migration which was akin more so to an invasion to the Elezen hubris of the era. Now, perhaps it’s simply that not all tribes of early Elezen were particularly exclusive toward Halone thus having no compulsion to migrate to the ‘promised land’ as it were and here is where I would posit the introduction of a different sect of ancestral Elezen that would be the founders of Gelmorra and Gridania therein. This sect of Elezen would instead migrate to the lavish forests of the Black Shroud, then only to realize how hostile the elementals are toward foreign and possibly threatening beings in their midst and have no choice but to retreat into the caverns for safety and seclusion, resorting to more primal and instinctive methods of survival. As time would pass, the Hyur, too, would happen upon the Black Shroud and be welcomed in much the same manner as their Elezen compatriots. For the sake of simplicity and later discussion, we shall say there was little if any warring between the Hyur and Elezen (aside from perhaps a stubborn few) of the Black Shroud, forming a unity with surviving the harsh forest and the elementals that protect it in mind.

Exactly how much time passes between then and the treaty with the elementals is unclear to me, but once formal permission for man to tread upon the overworld was given, those ties between Elezen and Hyur remained, thusly laying the foundation for what would be known as the city-state of Gridania. The stubborn few who chose to remain behind within their established cave systems thusly forming the foundation for what would come to be known as the subterranean city of Gelmorra and her inhabitants, through the process of evolution, resulting in the contemporary Duskwight.

I am eager to read responses to this thread for the sake of seeing how much of my conjecture holds true and wherein I might do more research.

Yea its something I was thinking long ago. What happening to all the pleople who was living n those ruins in the forelands and churing mists? were all killed my dragons or elezens?
on the echo vision we saw, even if was vague, looks like thos ruins may be already abandoned before the war began? but doesnt make sence. why would people abandon structures of 200 old or less, and fly all to Ishgard?
Also was Ishgard the one ones decendant from the tribes were Shiva was? There were no orther groups?

Is it possible that those early Elezens migrating to Gridania know the truth of the war with dragons?
Elezens in Gridania lead a harmony life with nature. So I guess their ancestors should be kind and love peace as well. They did not want to betray dragons and they did not want war. But their voice was too weak to change the situation, so the leader decide to leave Churning Mists and even Coerthas, travelled far to the forest to protect his kin from the war. :3

Moose would probably be able to clarify this in greater detail, but we actually do have some idea about when certain events in Ishgard's history took place and where they fit in the past. For starters..

The Dragonsong War was mentioned as having been waging for 'a thousand years' by the present day (5 7UE/0 7AE), so that's a start. Then it was mentioned that prior to that, the united elezen/dragon civilization flourished for 200 years. So putting that civilization's founding at 1200 years ago.

Where this fits into wider Eorzean history with the history of the elezen is that earlier in the game, Gridania was stated as having been founded 'some 500 years previously' (the game is a little vague on the exact amount of time in the past it was) when the moogles interceded on the inhabitants of Gelmorra's behalf to settle in the Black Shroud, uniting with the newly arrived Midlander hyur. Exactly when Gelmorra was founded though is anyone's guess - it's possible it might have been sometime after the 6th Umbral Calamity, or possibly even earlier, not (forgetting that the 6th Astral Era ran for 1572 years to the most recent Calamity), but it could have dated to even before Amdapor's time, given the elementals punished the Amdapori for their insolence too.

We know the elezen existed in Eorzea at least as far back as the height of the Allagan Empire which flourished in the 4th Astral Era, so that shows that the elezen's arrival in Eorzea preceded Shiva's bonding with Hraesvelgr by several millennia at least.

Damnit, this is giving me a headache! :p

The Dragons trashed most of the 'Land Lord' Structures at the early stages of the Dragonsong War when they went on a rage fuelled rampage. Only Zenith was spared because no one at that point wanted to piss of the resident Celestial Dragon. This is why you have these parts on some of these structures that look like they have been melted. Because they were, with dragon fire.

Elezen are said to be the first race to dwell on Eorzea. Since Hyur were part of the Allag empire we know that they had moved in by the third era. Before then is any ones guess though. We have very little info on the First and Second Eras.

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

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but that doesnt respond the doubts I have of the eary days of the dragonsong war >_<

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Originally Posted by Belhi

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Thats Obious, what im interesting to know is what happened to the people who live on those structures? when they abandoned them, before or at the start of the war? thos tribes that were on thos times, did they all come to live on Ishgard? Was Ishgard the only city of elezen? Was not orther groups living on those time, independing of Ishagrd? If the history of Ishgard is a lie, what are the true origins of the city?

Basically, we don't know. All we know of how the Dragonsong War unfolded is the events of the aftermath of Thordan's betrayal, and Nidhogg's revenge. Either way, nothing is known exactly how the Dragonsong War unfolded other than the very opening of the conflict, and of course, the most recent events. It's possible the dragons under Nidhogg slaughtered any elezen that couldn't escape to Ishgard.

As for Ishgard's true origins, we have know actual idea when it was really founded, other than the orthodox teachings of Thordan founding the city being a lie - Thordan was already king of Ishgard when he and his knights killed Rattatoskr, so the citystate had to have been around for at least a significant amount of time prior to that. But basically, nothing is known for sure at this stage.

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Where this fits into wider Eorzean history with the history of the elezen is that earlier in the game, Gridania was stated as having been founded 'some 500 years previously' (the game is a little vague on the exact amount of time in the past it was) when the moogles interceded on the inhabitants of Gelmorra's behalf to settle in the Black Shroud, uniting with the newly arrived Midlander hyur.

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This is new to me! I had known and assumed that some amount of moogles had retreated from Sohm Al along with the Elezen which was so eloquently evidenced by the fairy tale of Good King Moggle Mog XII; being that once the 'gods' those moogles has served began warring, King Mog XII held a long rope so that his subjects might descend to land below, but I was unaware that it was these same moogles themselves that brought about the treaty between man and elemental.

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Exactly when Gelmorra was founded though is anyone's guess - it's possible it might have been sometime after the 6th Umbral Calamity, or possibly even earlier, not (forgetting that the 6th Astral Era ran for 1572 years to the most recent Calamity)

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I'm inclined to believe that Gelmorra was founded after the migration of the Hyur into Eorzea as some of the Gelmorran ruins, such as the Tam-Tara Deepcroft, have symbols of the Twin Adder etched into their architecture at certain points. The standard representing the unity between Elezen and Hyur, respectively.