The Harbor Herald
Lominsan Fleet Makes Sail
The morning mist shrouded the Lominsan docks, lending shape to the air of tension that reigned supreme. Arrayed in splendid black livery and wearing a look of mythril resolve, Chief Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn strode up the gangway to take her place aboard the Triumph, the mighty galleass serving as the Maelstrom’s flagship.
Lovingly wrought by the master shipwrights of Naldiq & Vymelli’s, the newly christened vessel smelled of fresh paint and promise. Upon her yet spotless deck, beneath the rippling dragon galley ensign, stood score upon score of our nation’s stalwart defenders, who saluted their commander-in-chief as she performed the customary inspection. Nodding to them in acknowledgement, the Chief Admiral then bellowed the order to weigh anchor, her powerful voice piercing the solemn silence. So it was that the Triumph made sail to join her 28-strong fleet comprised of warships from the Maelstrom, the Lominsan Armada, and myriad pirating crews.
Bound for Destiny
Even as I put quill to parchment, this combined Lominsan fleet is en route to Vesper Bay, the maritime gateway to Thanalan, bearing a burden of soldiers. Upon making landfall, the Lominsans will merge with the forces of the Immortal Flames and the Order of the Twin Adder. Maelstrom officials have been tight-lipped about their plans thereafter, but all evidence suggests that the allied army will then march for the Carteneau Flats in Mor Dhona, where the VIIth Imperial Legion is presently entrenched. It would seem the final confrontation between the Eorzean Alliance and the Garlean Empire is just beyond the horizon.
As the main Lominsan host traverses the Strait of Merlthor on its way to the fields of reckoning, a second is in the midst of being assembled. At the heart of this auxiliary force is the Foreign Levy, the Maelstrom unit formed of adventurers and specializing in land warfare. Thus far in the conflict, adventurers have been instrumental in dealing with Garlean presence across the realm. With their strength joined to the main host, the Maelstrom will reach the zenith of its might—the least we will need if we are to smite the imperial invaders once and for all.
I urge all Lominsans to join together in prayer for the good fortune and safe return of our fighting men and women. May the Navigator guide them to the shores of victory!
Yumah Molkot
The Raven
Shadows of the Autumn War
The Autumn War is the name given to the conflict that erupted when the nation of Ala Mhigo invaded Gridania one hundred years ago. During this time of strife, our Gridanian ancestors were joined by troops from Ishgard, Ul'dah, and Limsa Lominsa, and, thus reinforced, succeeded in forcing the invaders back across the border.
And now, as the imperial army looms on our very doorstep, the disparate nations of Eorzea once more band together in common cause. Though Ishgard has shown no willingness to go to war, both Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa have committed their soldiers to the Eorzean Alliance. Joint operations are already underway, and by all reports have proven most effective.
But the alliance leaders have only just begun—they are assembling an army so massive it will dwarf any force brought together in our realm’s history. With this great host they mean to march forth and smash the invading Garlean force. I wonder—as must you, gentle reader—if victory is truly within our reach.
An Eye on Archon Louisoix
The key to vanquishing the imperial war machine may be found in the hands of Archon Louisoix, a scholar who hails from Sharlayan, the great seat of knowledge. I put forth this presumption in light of news from well-placed sources, who claim that the Archon has joined the Eorzean Alliance to serve as its chief tactician.
Louisoix is known for his work alongside the Order of the Twin Adder, and the contributions he has made towards the downfall of the primals. He is also lauded as the foremost authority on the prophecies that surround the Seventh Umbral Era.
My sources also inform me that the alliance’s shift to the offensive is based on an initiative put forth by Louisoix himself, and that a legion of heroic adventurers—responsible for defeating the primals at his behest—is set to join the coming fray. Mere spectators that we are, we can but guess at what brilliant strategies the archon has contrived. Nevertheless, I pray to both the Matron and the elementals that this all-or-nothing gambit succeeds. For it is not only the lives of our soldiers, but the future of Eorzea that rides on the outcome of this fateful battle.
Oliver Goodfellow
The Mythril Eye
Pretext for War?
In recent days, the Immortal Flames’ manpower appears to be stretched quite thin. The bulk of the Grand Company’s strength has left Ul’dah, and the defense of the sultanate has been entrusted wholly to the Brass Blades.
Moreover, Lominsan warships have been sighted at Vesper Bay, unloading Maelstrom troops. Even now, soldiers emblazoned in the colors of the Order of the Twin Adder continue to stream forth from the Black Shroud. Based on these developments, I can only conclude that the three Grand Companies are amassing their forces in Western Thanalan.
In response to inquiries from The Mythril Eye, Grand Flame Marshal Eline Roaille* provided this written statement:
“The Grand Companies of Eorzea are staging joint military exercises to commemorate the revival of the three-nation alliance.”
However, even a cursory estimation of expenditures by the Immortal Flames casts doubt on this official explanation. The Grand Company’s recent acquisitions go far beyond what is necessary for field exercises, yet are approximately the quantities one would expect prior to a full-scale campaign.
Furthermore, the Free Brigade of foreign adventurers has been summoned to participate in these exercises alongside the main host. Indeed, I think it past doubt that the Immortal Flames are poised for total war.
Our sources within the military caravans report that light infantry units have already been dispatched to the Carteneau Flats, along the outskirts of Mor Dhona. Yet this region, while rumored to be occupied by the VIIth Imperial Legion, is a vast plain with minimal strategic value, which begs the question: why contest such territory?
While much about the situation remains unclear, it is certain that the battle to come will have a lasting impact upon the future of Eorzea. May Nald’thal smile favorably upon our valiant defenders and guide them to victory.
Osaku Ysaku
[Eline Roaille]
Second-in-command to Raubahn Aldynn and caretaker of the Hall of Flames. A renowned commander of Ishgardian descent and one of the Flame General’s most trusted advisors.
Grand Companies of Eorzea Page Updated! (10/04/2012)
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10-04-2012, 07:56 PMChinookGrand Companies of Eorzea Page Updated! (10/04/2012)
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10-04-2012, 08:01 PMrina_inverse
THE END IS NEAR!1!1!1!
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10-04-2012, 08:02 PMMjollnir
HEY!! I SHOULD BE ON THAT SHIP!
*logs in* -
10-04-2012, 08:41 PMMug
I wonder if there is some in-game evidence of this stuff. Like the warships in Vesper Bay.
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10-04-2012, 08:52 PMDrako
They should remove all the ships from the docks in limsa, so we are like woah they really went to war!.
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10-04-2012, 08:59 PMJinrya-Geki
Ok, I am lost again.
So let me get this straight...
Ul'dah is low on fighters. Gridania is being all Gridanian nothing really going on there (big surprise), yet Limsa, (by article) is the most ready to fight nation?
Well everyone, it was a good game. Let's hit the showers.
But seriously, Garleans have Airships, they don't even need to have land/sea units.
And what a way to make Ala'Mihgo seem like jerks, now I feel even less bad for them. -
10-04-2012, 10:13 PMFated
Eorzea is full of dumb asses.
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10-04-2012, 10:35 PMwhoopeeragonAnd people wonder why Garleans are calling Dalamud down on Eorzea.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fated
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10-04-2012, 10:50 PMHulan
I actually found these articles fairly inspiring. I don't know why you would assume the average plebeian would have any idea why the Eorzean Alliance was amassing in Mor Dhona. Sure, Dalamud is huge in the sky, but to the uninitiated, there's no connection between Dalamud and Mor Dhona. I think they actually are quite the opposite of stupid - particularly the Mythril Eye - putting together the requisition orders to figure out that the movements are far too large to be a joint exercise.
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10-04-2012, 11:21 PMKyra
Am I the only one that never reads these boring newspaper lore articles, there so tedious and uninteresting and usualy just fluff dribble written in a form of english that makes no sense to the normal person.
This kind of stuff should be in a seperate section of the website for the roleplayers, not on lodestone news topics.
Infact a lot of the quest text in the game is boring dribble and Ive always found it difficult to be interested in, as a character ingame can never truely have a personality without it being properly voice acted like the characters in skyrim. ive gone off topic but if they added voice acting it would add infinitly more substance to the game.
I would rather them add 50 quests fully voice acted in 2.0 than 500 with just reams and reams of text.
There was one quest for artifact armor, I think it was monk...and jesus christ the amount of paragraphs of nonsense I had to uninterestingly scroll through was ridiculous. Its amazing how interesting things become when you listen to somone saying it rather than just reading it. -
10-04-2012, 11:26 PMZantetsukenOur dear Osaku Ysaku of the Mythril Eye may need a refresher on the proper use of "Begs the question" :(Quote:
Our sources within the military caravans report that light infantry units have already been dispatched to the Carteneau Flats, along the outskirts of Mor Dhona. Yet this region, while rumored to be occupied by the VIIth Imperial Legion, is a vast plain with minimal strategic value, which begs the question: why contest such territory?
It seems that these articles are prologue for the great final battle we see in the ARR trailer.
They may be a bit wordy for some, but I like the flavor they add to the game. It's nice to learn what's happening behind the scenes in the storyline.
Thanks, SE~ -
10-04-2012, 11:28 PMElexiaSo why did you post in a topic about articles you don't read or care for?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyra
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10-05-2012, 12:00 AMMjollnirI don't follow you. Seems to be written in totally normal English to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyra
I guess these things aren't for everyone, but surely you can see that a large number of people play games in the Final Fantasy series for the story? And that most people have no trouble reading? You don't need to be a role-player to want to be interested in the background behind the unfolding events of the world that you're experiencing.
Fair enough, it's gotta be much more of an effort for those with a degree of dyslexia, but that should hardly merit your annoyance. I take it you prefer TV series and film to reading books and comics? I, for one, prefer the latter and appreciate the quest, levequest, lodestone and dialogue text spread throughout the game.
Was disappointed that I didn't get to sail on the Maelstrom fleet though. -
10-05-2012, 02:42 AMGreyJorildyn
This should be available in-game or through a mail subsciption in the game once 2.0 hits. Website stuff feels so disconnected from everything.
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10-05-2012, 02:43 AMElexiaFunny thing about this is a lot of MMOs uses a node to deliver stuff like this off of the website in-game, so you're essentially doing the same thing lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by GreyJorildyn
This was also the purpose of the POL viewer that people hated because it took more than 1 click to get into a video game. -
10-05-2012, 03:21 AMDrevvin
I hope they plan some sort of in game event to correspond to the articles would be amazing imho
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10-05-2012, 08:59 AMSagagemini
FFXIV background is so damn boring.
I've played every FF since VI and damn, those are amazing. I love to read the dialogues, but XIV's is so "meh".
I really don't give a **** to what's happening to Eorzea and it's people. To me they could all die due to a meteor or something. -
10-05-2012, 09:58 AMNorackI agree. I love reading these little articles it makes me feel a little more involved in the game. How ever having to go to a website to do it kind of kills it a little bit for me. For me I would do it if it was in game or not in game. But I believe allot more people would read these and it would be a little more immersible if in 2.0 when we get mailboxes or w/e it is where getting if they stopped posting these on the website and instead like ever month or w/e we get a copy in our mail like an actual newspaper.Quote:
Originally Posted by GreyJorildyn
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10-05-2012, 10:49 AMGodsleftsockWaahhhh I can't readQuote:
Originally Posted by Kyra
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10-05-2012, 01:14 PMCoombah
it would have been a nice touch if things had changed like the idea about the boats . Lets do this I'm ready to fight.
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10-05-2012, 01:20 PMRickyYou are never the only oneQuote:
Originally Posted by Kyra
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10-05-2012, 02:00 PMWarlockThat's because you are in the special small group of adventurers with Lousiox w/e is spelled already at Mor Dhona :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Mjollnir
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10-05-2012, 03:13 PMPunainenHowever you should read the 'modern usage' of that article you linked to. That usage is outdated and nearly no one will understand the term to mean that. So its sort of like you're insisting they not use the word 'happy' to imply joy, but only to imply good fortune... Except these days no one says 'happy' and means 'good fortune' despite that being its PROPER usage; and no one would bother to tell anyone to stop using 'happy' to mean 'joy'.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zantetsuken
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10-05-2012, 04:31 PMalexhatesmilWhat? You're saying the meanings of words and phrases can change over time? Preposterous!Quote:
Originally Posted by Punainen
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10-05-2012, 08:06 PMFelisIt is. It's called the "The Grand Companies of Eorzea" icon. On the Lodestone news topic is only the notice, that the Grand Companies of Eorzea page got an update.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyra
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10-05-2012, 08:29 PMHoly_DragoonWhile I might have used a bit more tact, when I read this I felt the same way. Having played 10 iterations of Final Fantasy that don't have voice acting, I have no problem following along by this concept of "reading." In some cases I actually prefer it, the story then moves at a pace I deem awesome.Quote:
Originally Posted by Godsleftsock