CG Midlander

[valetarkus]

sounds good to me.

[HiirNoivl]

This has been bugging me for a while, since I haven't been able to find a real-world comparison for Gridania's quasi-system of government... until I thought of one last night. What do you guys think of this comparison?

In the pre-kings history of Jewish society, God was the monarch and considered the supreme ruler. Offending God was considered life-threatening. God's law was administed by the priests of the clan of Levi. On occasion, when things got out of hand, God would send a judge to resolve a particular problem and restore order.

Now:
Replace "God" with "the elementals";
Replace "priests" with "conjurers";
Replace "the clan of Levi" with "padjali heritage"; and
Replace "a judge" with "one beckoned by the Wood".

Anyone care to nit-pick?

I'll pick just a little. All priests came from the tribe of Levi. I think Padjal would be more comparable to the family line of Aaron, which is the line of the High Priests.

...Where do moogles fit in?

[Catapult]

I'll pick just a little. All priests came from the tribe of Levi. I think Padjal would be more comparable to the family line of Aaron, which is the line of the High Priests.

...Where do moogles fit in?

Good call.

I'm not sure where the moogles would fit in, I admit. It is, of course, an imperfect comparison.

[Anonymoose]

The Theocracy bit makes a lot of sense, though we're leaving out an important factor. Gridanians respect the seedseers for understanding the will of the forest, which is the will of the elementals. The ability to commune with he elementals ("the forest") was taught to them by the moogles, which is their part in the story. But why? According to Gridanian legend, the Twevleswood (Black Shroud) itself was created specifically for the elementals by Nophica.

The Gods' Quiver protects the forest, and the Wood Wailers protect Gridania - they, with the seedseers and conjurers, represent the pillars of Gridanian faith. Those would all need places in the structure.

At the end of the day, it's still all about The Twelve.

[Sanadaiyeve]

A Baloon fish. treantvine . Velodyna cosmos
Sea. Land. Sky.
Limsa. Gridania. Uldah

Those that are bloodborn (sea) . Bloodless ( land) or transcendant (sky).

Mind you I don't recall what nation each was from. But maybe their naming is significant. Treants are guardians of the wood. The cosmos and the games like of astral umbral. Not sure about baloon fish.

[faris]

Um, just in case it hasn't been mentioned already, Darnus doesn't have a shadow.

[valetarkus]

Um, just in case it hasn't been mentioned already, Darnus doesn't have a shadow.

]:C You just shattered my entire universe

[Alaltus]

yes he does.

here i found a video with him with a shadow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45gD1cmeBbQ

skip to the 10 min mark and you should see it.

edit: Managed to get a snapshot of it too just incase you guys miss it =P

http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...XF3Gdl6ejE.jpg

[valetarkus]

If Van Darnus wakes up near the end of winter and sees his shadow....then there will be another month of falling meteors.

[Catapult]

A Baloon fish. treantvine . Velodyna cosmos
Sea. Land. Sky.
Limsa. Gridania. Uldah

Those that are bloodborn (sea) . Bloodless ( land) or transcendant (sky).

Mind you I don't recall what nation each was from. But maybe their naming is significant. Treants are guardians of the wood. The cosmos and the games like of astral umbral. Not sure about baloon fish.

That... might actually be a red herring.

Limsa is a seafaring nation. Their patron deity is Llymlaen, the Navigator. Consequently, exotic foods are of particular interest. The balloon fish comes from much deeper depths of the ocean and has to be drawn up by something, such as a sea serpent. It's inherent rarity gives it value, as does your ability to obtain it - you have demonstrated an art of personal freedom in its acquisition.

Meanwhile, in Ul'dah, society is rules by the three pillars of wealth. Money, Power and Love. By possessing one, the other two can be acquired, and so that which assists in their acquisition has value. This is how the Velodyna Cosmos has value - she offers a rare brand of beauty that is expensive to attain and can become a mark of influence and wealth.

In Gridania, natural resources are highly valued as the inhabitants of Gridania are concious of their impact on the circle of life. A treant vine is difficult to obtain and may only be taken rarely. This gives it value.

Nophica's Altar also plays host to the skyserpent egg. Conjury also contains aspects of earth, wind and water - the elements of nature. So dividing up the city states on this basis is impractical.

Gridania is Nature. Ul'dah is Capitalism. Limsa is Freedom.

=============================================

The Theocracy bit makes a lot of sense, though we're leaving out an important factor. Gridanians respect the seedseers for understanding the will of the forest, which is the will of the elementals. The ability to commune with he elementals ("the forest") was taught to them by the moogles, which is their part in the story. But why? According to Gridanian legend, the Twevleswood (Black Shroud) itself was created specifically for the elementals by Nophica.

The Gods' Quiver protects the forest, and the Wood Wailers protect Gridania - they, with the seedseers and conjurers, represent the pillars of Gridanian faith. Those would all need places in the structure.

At the end of the day, it's still all about The Twelve.

Very fair comments. I'm not going to argue them (after all, they are quite valid) and am happy for it to be an imperfect comparison.

Although, I will point out that the Gridanians speak far more of the elementals than the Twelve. Mind you, by honouring the elementals, one inherently honours Nophica.
To connect the moogles, we may need to re-examine their own lore surrounding Good King Moggle Mog XII. According to their legend, they came from the astral realms, which could arguably be the same realm of the Twelve, and this turn could coincide with the first Umbral Era when the age of the gods ended.
So if moogles came from the same place as the Twelve, they would be familiar with their ways in a way the five races are not. As immigrants seeking peace, who not cooperate irrespective of what Nophica created their new home for?