Who else is excited for Radz-at-Han?

[Raikai]

I am, and really liked the visuals... Though that sparked me even more curious, since RaH was said to be the "small" hub (as in Eulmore).

What could be the "big" hub, then? Garlemald is quite unlikely, the place is in ruins...

[Iscah]

What could be the "big" hub, then? Garlemald is quite unlikely, the place is in ruins...

A lot of people are betting on Sharlayan.

[MrThinker]

A lot of people are betting on Sharlayan.

Look, I just want to punch Forchenault in the face for not unilaterally agreeing with his fathers ideals and also not keeping in contact with his kids. Is that so wrong?

[Hycinthus]

A lot of people are betting on Sharlayan.

How is Sharlayan related to the moon?

[MrThinker]

How is Sharlayan related to the moon?

How is Radz-at-Han?

The fact of the matter is that the Final Days should be affecting everywhere and this isolated city-state full of scholars might finally be forced to open its gates to share its knowledge with everyone.

[Imakun]

I too am hoping the big city will be Sharlayan. This is the first time we have the twins in the trailer and opening up Sharlayan will also open up further character development for them, not to mention Alphi's job change.

[BreyVoreas93]

This was something I was actually predicting for the areas. I’m really looking forward to it, it’ll finally take its place in the game.

[AnotherPerson]

Expecting some chill, relaxing, slow and peaceful vibes with Island Sanctuary update. It's about time the WoL started a farm and worked peacefully after saving the world from some calamitous ending aka The Final Days by 6.0 probably. Pretty sure the other city is Sharlayan too, since I don't doubt they have already noticed a problem with the aether in the coming Final Days as hinted before a bunch of scions fell into a coma.

[Packetdancer]

How is Sharlayan related to the moon?

A reclusive nation of people who have hoarded as much knowledge as they could find from around the world, and who literally frown on teaching any of the advanced magical techniques they've developed to any outside culture, thus leaving few other places to go to conveniently obtain said collection of knowledge... I can see how that might be involved in getting us to the moon.

But I can also see it being useful to get to Garlemald.

The Garleans have a huge aerial presence with their airships; the only reason they were defeated in the Battle of Silvertear Skies was because a pissed-off elder dragon erupted out of the lake and strangled their flagship, the Agrius, and dragged it down into the lake (dying as he did so). As we presently lack any pissed-off self-sacrificial elder dragons, any attempt to take an aerial route into Ilsabard to reach Garlemald will probably not end well.

Trying to go in by land from Eorzea would mean crossing the Ghimlyt Dark into occupied Werlyt and fighting through Imperial-occupied territory. Going by sea, all of Eorzea's ports that I'm aware of are either to the west (including over on Vylbrand) or south. And leaving from there, you either have to sail clear around Eorzea to the north (which is not going to be an efficient trip, and is likely to land you in trouble with the Sea Wolf pirates still holding sway in the northern waters), or sail east. If you land in Terncliff to get to Werlyt, you gain nothing over traveling across the Ghimlyt Dark to get there. You could sail east to Thavnair and then cross the strait into southern Ilsabard or land in Gangos and push through occupied Bozja into the rest of Ilsabard.

But in all of those cases, you have to fight your way up north to Garlemald through unknown territory, much of it embroiled in civil war as various high-ranking military individuals probably attempt to carve out their own little fiefdoms from what's left of the Empire. (Or, again, risk getting potentially robbed, enslaved, and/or sunk by the Sea Wolves in the northern waters.)

Sharlayan, however, shouldn't be that hard to reach, plus we have a number of Sharlayans in the Scions (Y'shtola, the twins, Urianger) or our allies (Matoya). And Sharlayan would be well-suited as a base of operations to sail east across the Northern Empty and land directly in northern Ilsabard, far far closer to Garlemald proper. Especially as there's been hints the northern pirates don't particularly want to mess around with Sharlayan shipping. (Which considering the amount of magical power Sharlayan has and could bring to bear is, perhaps, not an unwise position to hold.)

So I can see at least two different reasons it'd be a feasible choice for a large hub.

[Ultaniku]

My fantasy of lingering in town on a crafter to fulfill the rich merchantile fantasy is about to come true!!!