Distances and Travel Times

[Mysterysword]

There is no dialect I know of that reads 天 as "yan" or similar. If there is, it would be so obscure that "xia" would not be pronounced that way either.

Personally, given the Swallow's Compass landmark (and its Japanese name of Gan'en's Tomb), I'm guessing Yanxia might either be 燕下 ("Under the swallow") or, slightly less likely, 燕峡 ("Swallow ravine").

Upon reflection, the answers to many of our questions about lore over the years have been the simplest possible ones, so the simplest answer is probably that. But do any of the NPCs or sidequests make reference to the name of the area?

Also, the first time I ever saw Yanxia, I was immediately reminded of the Southern Sky Pillar mountains. Could just be real-life design inspiration, could just be me grasping at straws. We won't know until we get Encyclopaedia Othard, I guess.

[YianKutku]

Also, the first time I ever saw Yanxia, I was immediately reminded of the Southern Sky Pillar mountains. Could just be real-life design inspiration, could just be me grasping at straws. We won't know until we get Encyclopaedia Othard, I guess.

Same here. I'd love it if it was a direct reference, but I suspect it's the same reason why all the architecture in Yanxia is Tang dynasty era: it's the Standard Ancient China set dressing as seen in pop culture, such as wuxia. (I may be behind the times; I don't keep track of wuxia trends, because I don't really like wuxia.)