So Exactly WHY Did Minfilia Move the Waking Sands?

[faris]

I'd imagine Ul'dah getting shanked via Bahamut had something to do with it.

While that's speculation, it can be made credible by the fact in 1.0, the path of the twelve shared the same entrance as the retainer ward and iirc the immortal flames. The flames have been moved to ground level now, and retainer ward is no more. Potentially that part of Ul'dah was totalled, hence the flames and Minfilia and co. moving.

[Anonymoose]

Potentially that part of Ul'dah was totalled, hence the flames and Minfilia and co. moving.

I've been meaning to say something along these lines ever since this thread started and just kept putting it off, lol.

This is my assumption, as well. A lot of the town took damage and, by then, I imagine their cover was blown in some circles. Their new base isn't directly in any of the city-states but has quick access to all three (they're next to the ferry to LL, which has an airship to Grid), and has the added benefit of being in a discreet location.

[Enkidoh]

That is an interesting idea Moose that I hadn't considered (mostly because I just assumed that Ul'dah mostly escaped major damage during the Calamity - that only Gridania was severely damaged) - it would definitely explain the extra entrance that wasn't there five years earlier (the Gate of the Sultana), and how the original building that contained the Waking Sands along with the Market Ward is literally completely gone.

The building that now occupies the site (currently the location of the Hall of Flames) is a completely different structure so it does ring true that maybe the original building was destroyed in the Calamity. You've given me new ideas to think about, thanks!

EDIT: in hindsight, I think now more and more Ul'dah might have taken far more damage during the Calamity than I first thought - I remembered that the Milvaneth Sacrarium (the 'light' counterpart to the THM Guild the Azzarnth Ossuary) is actually closed off in ARR and speaking to one of the NPCs out the front (not the BLM but the THM in the robe) mentions that the Sacrarium is closed for 'repairs' and that 'the rebuilding is taking longer than they thought'.

I can't remember if it was specifically mentioned that the Sacrarium was actually damaged during the Calamity, but it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case. In any event, it definitely gives more evidence that Ul'dah took massive damage during the Calamity, and hence provide the answer to my original question about the Waking Sands.

[Linadae]

Also if I was the leader of a secret faction dedicated to the destruction of the Empire/Ascians I wouldn't want to be located in the middle of a huge city. If the location was found out there would be far more collateral damage than if the location was in a small fishing/port villiage.

Minfillia was likely thinking of the safety of those not affiliated with the Scions when she moved to Vesper Bay.

[Toranja]

The best way to hide is in plain sight. Ask Lahabrea.

[Duuude007]

I was under the impression that when Bahamut went on his rampage, it decimated the northwest edge of Ul'Dah, destroying the wards, the waking sands, and a large chunk of cliffs to the northwest of town, allowing immediate access from town to Western Thanalan.

[DukeBurden]

Mmm.. Minfilia.. *drool* <333