6.0 Predictions: Will it be Garlemald, Sharlayan, or Meracydia?

[Mimilu]

My new crack-theory:
Fandaniel is going to reveal that the original world wasn't as good for those outside of Amaurot, maybe even extremely similar to the Source, with Amaurot being their version of Sharlayan.
From what we hear from about Amaurot, they had a similar policy as Sharlayan: observing events without getting involved, even if they could prevent them or help afterwards.
In one story we hear about Azem, they went against the Convocation's decision to just observe and record a volcano that would destroy an island and that observing and recording events, indifferently, was the norm.
I also think the Fandaniel we know is actually a spy/infiltrator from an outside faction who passed on information like Amaurot's creation magic, which they used to create (either accidentally or purposely) the end of the world.

[Lauront]

I'm not so sure - it seems like he has little memory of the ancient world. Also, Amaurot did not necessarily take a non-interventionist stance. That was a point of debate in the reconstruction of the city, but the Convocation acted in the end to devise a solution to the problem. It wasn't the default stance of the city. They still acted to rescue the villagers in the short story, just not the island, which is the respect in which Azem acted against their decision. The very fact that they had Azem travelling around the world to help focus their attention on matters suggests the very opposite. However, it doesn't sound like they were heavy-handed in so doing given that the ancients seemed to value autonomy.

I also don't think the other cities would need a spy to study creation magics, given that this, by all accounts, was an ubiquitous trait of the ancients. Hence their surprise when the MC is unable to manifest it in ways they'd consider even suited to a child, and why they treat this as an aberration (albeit one they're not unfamiliar with) rather than something specific to non-Amaurotines. I believe this is further added to, when explaining the sundering in the Crystarium, Emet stresses that all men were once immortal, and Elidibus in 5.2 stresses that the Echo is a fraction of the power that all men in their completeness possessed.

The sound preceding the loss of control over creation magics was a keening noise with a subterranean origin, which to me points to something originating in the Underworld (=Aetherial Sea.) I think if Fandaniel had some role in the ancient world, it may have been to sow discord between Venat's faction and the Convocation. If there is some creature feature behind the sound, perhaps he or ancient Zenos had something to do with it or collaborated with it.

I do think Sharlayan is inspired from Amaurot, as its ruins possibly lie more or less where it was built, but its current political stance is a deviation from what it used to be, and I'm sure as with Amaurot, is the product of debates inside Sharlayan, and is therefore fluid.

[Kesey]

I do think Sharlayan is inspired from Amaurot, as its ruins possibly lie more or less where it was built, but its current political stance is a deviation from what it used to be, and I'm sure as with Amaurot, is the product of debates inside Sharlayan, and is therefore fluid.

Although I feel Sharlayan and Amaurot cultures are linked as there is plenty of evidence due to stress on Greek naming conventions, overlapping conch symbols, and cultural tendencies, I'm fairly confident they aren't the same location.

Amaurot's ruins seem to lie south of Kholusia which is the equivalent of Limsa on the source. Sharlayan exists on an island north of Dravania and Idyllshire. These are roughly opposite directions of each other.

Now there is one mention of other "cities" in a side quest in Amaurot and Sharalayan can very well be one of those cities.

It could also be an Amaurot sister city as they potentially are on the same line latitudinally, but not longitudinally.

[Erendis]

If we go to Garlemald, how do you think we will travel there? Aetherytes? Allagan teleporters? Would there be aether currents?

[FrightfulNight]

If we go to Garlemald, how do you think we will travel there? Aetherytes? Allagan teleporters? Would there be aether currents?

If I recall we once thought the same thing about the Far East as well, since before hand it was thought that Aetherytes were unique only to Eorzea but then in SB when we eventually went to Orthard they had Aetherytes as well. As for a more lore specific reason it is possible since magitech was meant to substitute the Garleans inability to wield Aether, that there is some magitech equivalent, or even something else that we the player can use as a substitute like some transmission tower or something. maybe if the main hub city is Sharlyan the help establish them in Islabard. The point is we have been here before in SB and it did not stop them from being introduced then.

[WhiteArchmage]

Let's also remember that while pure-blooded Garleans are unable to manipulate aether, they were not the only race on Ilsabard. It's possible that Aetherytes still exist in Ilsabard proper but are only usable by other races. Or, like in the House of the Fierce, the Aetherytes were disabled and will be re-enabled after we visit.

Given Garlemald's Fleet, I'm sure we'll count on Aether Currents, too. We'll probably count on a fair number of ceruleum-powered mech, too.

[YianKutku]

If I recall we once thought the same thing about the Far East as well, since before hand it was thought that Aetherytes were unique only to Eorzea but then in SB when we eventually went to Orthard they had Aetherytes as well. As for a more lore specific reason it is possible since magitech was meant to substitute the Garleans inability to wield Aether, that there is some magitech equivalent, or even something else that we the player can use as a substitute like some transmission tower or something. maybe if the main hub city is Sharlyan the help establish them in Islabard. The point is we have been here before in SB and it did not stop them from being introduced then.

There are magitech teleporters in Dzemael Darkhold, if I recall. Presumably placed there during the brief period that the Garlean Empire occupied it.

We don't get any explanations for how they work, since they're just there for flavour, and their sole purpose is to zone the players from one area to another.

[EirolOcarrol]

I would say that things seem to be most pointing towards Sharlayan for at least a large part of 6.0, right now.

[Kesey]

If we go to Garlemald, how do you think we will travel there? Aetherytes? Allagan teleporters? Would there be aether currents?

I think Garlemald will have aetherytes. I believe that they serve the function of keeping monsters away from cities and bases first and those who have the echo can also happen to use them to teleport around.

So there is no reason for Garlemald not to have aetherytes, as they wouldn't want monsters in their cities.

[ReynTime]

Seeing where these pillars are located I was legit thinking whether we get a whole new region or not, we might see the current regions expanded. So if we get Sharlayan for example, I think they'd complement that with new large areas closer to each known tower.