Quote Originally Posted by Vyrerus View Post
Ala Mhigans wind up in Thanalan. There's literally a ferry not super duper farther than that, that takes people to Limsa Lominsa all of the time. Keep in mind, Ala Mhigans clearly have to come across the Shroud to escape into Eorzea proper from Ala Mhigo. The Shroud would be their first choice, if it was accepting. It's the shortest distance from their homeland. Ul'dah is up next, because it's the next closest. At that point though, Limsa isn't really that much farther away. It's just refugees might not have the coin to take the ferry. Then they wind up in pirate city.

I'm sure there's Ala Mhigans there, they're just rare. I mean, heck, there's noble born Ishgardians there. Why not Ala Mhigans? /shrug
Proximity is just one part of where refugees end up.

Ala Mhigo has a complicated history with Gridania and for more than one reason aren’t completely welcome there. There is a small number of refugees in Gridania, but per the carpenter quests, they’re not well liked by the Gridanians, who generally don’t like outsiders to begin with. Any immigrant also needs to be accepted by the elementals and then for the rest of their life in the forest, follow the rules or risk the greenwrath.

Limsa Lominsa and Ul’dah both have plenty of work available, but Ul’dah is closer to everyone and has more of a reputation as being a place where “anyone can get rich”. Ul’dah also already has a population of Ala Mhigan refugees and immigrants are more likely to gather where others from their same culture are. An Ala Mhigan would have a much better network of support in Ul’dah than in Limsa Lominsa.

The appeal of Limsa Lominsa is that by its nature it’s a place you go to if you want to hide, which is why some NPCs end up there.