Abalathia

[WyrahFhurrst]

Was Abalathia ever said somewhere to be a deity? Could it not be named after a person (or something) that did something great (a discovery, a battle, a death) at that location?

It very well could! But it'd be convenient for us if the mountains were named after the mother of the First Brood, since she's also MIA in the story.

[Alberel]

It very well could! But it'd be convenient for us if the mountains were named after the mother of the First Brood, since she's also MIA in the story.

That's if there actually is a mother. Gods and immortal creatures like Midgardsormr are often capable of asexual procreation. He was able to create himself a new body using nothing but aether; what's to stop him making children the same way?

I do think having a mother of the First Brood would be more interesting for the story, but there doesn't necessarily have to be one.

[WyrahFhurrst]

That's if there actually is a mother. Gods and immortal creatures like Midgardsormr are often capable of asexual procreation. He was able to create himself a new body using nothing but aether; what's to stop him making children the same way?

I do think having a mother of the First Brood would be more interesting for the story, but there doesn't necessarily have to be one.

Well, that's part of the reason I say she's MIA, because as far as we the character know, she's just not around. Until it's explained further, I'm not sure if assuming one way or the other is better.

[Anonymoose]

Until it's explained further, I'm not sure if assuming one way or the other is better.

This is correct. We have nothing but a name, and everything else is us just being us, lol.

[Balipu]

Was Abalathia ever said somewhere to be a deity? Could it not be named after a person (or something) that did something great (a discovery, a battle, a death) at that location?

As far as we know, Abalathia could be anything. But since Abalathia has a spine and only vertebrates and books have spines, we assume that Abalathia is not just a made up fantasy geographic name like Aldenard and Vylbrand, but actually a historical or mythological figure.

[WyrahFhurrst]

As far as we know, Abalathia could be anything. But since Abalathia has a spine and only vertebrates and books have spines, we assume that Abalathia is not just a made up fantasy geographic name like Aldenard and Vylbrand, but actually a historical or mythological figure.

You heard it here on the Lore Forums first, folks: Abalathia is a giant book that forms a mountain range. (Still just as good as any theory we have so far)

[WhiteArchmage]

Watch one of the book bosses in the Sharlayan Library be called Abalathia, just for that.

[Elladie]

As soon as I heard the name Abalathia's Spine, it made me think of that curious landscape feature in Meriphataud Mountains in FFXI. Which happens to be called Drogaroga's Spine, although in this latter case, it is - apparently anyway - literally a spine. According to the very long quest line where your character has to run around Vanadiel searching for various monuments, Drogaroga was a giant dragon ... Coincidence? I wonder ...

[DoctaruRavenbe]

As soon as I heard the name Abalathia's Spine, it made me think of that curious landscape feature in Meriphataud Mountains in FFXI. Which happens to be called Drogaroga's Spine, although in this latter case, it is - apparently anyway - literally a spine. According to the very long quest line where your character has to run around Vanadiel searching for various monuments, Drogaroga was a giant dragon ... Coincidence? I wonder ...

actually that spine was an conduct for the Mothercrystals. part of its spine goes into Oztroja and is broken open, revealing black goo (residual energy) that forms magicite.

[Zohar_Lahar]

As far as we know, Abalathia could be anything. But since Abalathia has a spine and only vertebrates and books have spines, we assume that Abalathia is not just a made up fantasy geographic name like Aldenard and Vylbrand, but actually a historical or mythological figure.

All things considered now that Heavensward is out, I hope they do elaborate on the name in later patches.