Quote:
Originally Posted by
Enkidoh
In 1.0 it wasn't healthy, it was a rocky, barren, desolate wasteland. In fact, there was a 1.0 quest which involved helping out a group of ecological activists who were trying to re-forest Thanalan, but found that monsters (specifically, dodos, whom they ask the player to kill for them), were constantly undoing their efforts at planting seedlings. They also confirm what Felis said about Thanalan originally being a forest.
So yeah, just because post-Calamity might show part of it looking healthier (Southern Thanalan especially remains barren), doesn't mean it was like that five years before.
I found the text to this 1.0 sidequest
Quote:
U'bokhn: Parched, much? How's about a cold beverage to slake that adventurer's thirrrst?
U'bokhn: What is it then? You think I enjoy doing this? Doling out drinks to passersby? It ain't the most glamorous work, I grant you that. But it's got to be done--for the sake of the Desert Shade.
U'bokhn: Never heard of the Desert Shade, have you? See, there? You've only proved my point. Well, I'll enlighten you. It is a group of concerned souls fighting for the ecology of Ul'dah. We do what we can to stop these arid lands becoming even drier.
U'bokhn: I hail from Gridania, myself. Couldn't believe me own peepers first time I laid eyes on Ul'dah. Never knew there to be landscapes without the merest trace o' green.
U'bokhn: Willing to wager you didn't know this whole area used to be forests, either, did you? Aye, well it was. It pains me heart to think of all them trees and shrubs and whatnot, slowly drying up and dying. And look at this hellish-hot, barren wasteland left in the wake of it all.
U'bokhn: That's why I gathered together all those who felt as I did and founded the Desert Shade. Even got sanctioned by the Botanists' Guild so as we could register guildleves and get you willing and able-bodied adventurers to help our cause.
U'bokhn: Trouble is, on them rare occasions when we are able to get seeds to sprout in these fallow barrens, those damned stuffed dodos come along and gobble 'em up! It's enough to make you think Mother Nature don't know what's in her own best interests!
U'bokhn: The most recent success we've had is over by the Nanawa Mines. I'm asking every adventurer to kill me eight stuffed dodos. You look capable enough. What do you say?
((Refuse))
U'bokhn: Hmph. Your heart's as dead as the bloody desert. Bugger off, then.
((Accept the quest))
U'bokhn: I see there's a bit o' green in your heart! I'll mark the lands we fertilized on your map.
U'bokhn: Hurry along now, and kill the vile buggers before they polish off all our sprouts!