Name of the Lodestone

[Fantasia]

I'm going to post this in the Lore forum as I guess it kind of makes sense here...

Some friends and I were chatting and the name of the Lodestone came up, so I was wondering if anyone knew why the site has been named the way it has?

All I know is that Lodestones are magnetic stones which were used in travelling a few centuries back (kind of like a compass) and were also called "Leading stones". The only thing I can think of is that maybe it was just named so because people who seek assistance in the game can post here for guidance?

If anyone can help clarify the meaning then it'd be wonderful ^^ Thank you!

[Anonymoose]

If anyone can help clarify the meaning then it'd be wonderful

You've got it pretty much figured out. Suspending magnetite in a liquid was one of the earliest forms of navigation tools, right up there with just following the stars; call it what you will - guide stone, leading stone, way stone.

In Final Fantasy, you play an adventurer - a trailblazer out on the frontier.
Your Lodestone is how you find your way.

[Fleurette]

I think it might also refer to something in-game, as well, that maybe we haven't discovered much of yet and won't until ARR--something like a guiding light/guardian for adventurers, or any travelers for that matter, aside from their patron deities. In Merlwyb's speech for the Maelstrom during the first GC quests where you take time to pick your Company, she says something like this to finish hers off:

The Maelstrom has launched, its final destination a new Eorzea where Limsa Lominsa's founding principles shall shine like the lodestone and reverberate like thunder, till sea swallows all!

Instead of calling it just 'a' lodestone, she calls it 'the' lodestone--which means either:

a) There's only one real lodestone and it means something more important in Eorzea than we think of it.
b) i'm overthinking it--she's just making it sound fancy and there's actually lots of lodestones in Eorzea. (this one is very possible.)

also on the subject, I think someone, somewhere, in some quest mentioned something like "the lodestar" in 1.0. I know that's not specific at all but I distinctly remember the NPC saying it. It's possible the lodestone/lodestar are different names for the same guiding light that keeps adventurers on their way, or they're two completely different entities that were barely touched on...ugh, but now I wish I could remember which quest/NPC it was that said that! if i find it i'll get back to you on that.

[Anonymoose]

the lodestone

Magnetite is pretty shiny in certain forms. I think this might be one of those "hungry like the wolf" kind of things.

"the lodestar"

Heeere ye go.

Darkness descends from all sides... Yet there at the center...there, brilliant, unwavering, and whole...my beacon, my lodestar...Ala Mhigo.

The Mail Must Get Through

[Catapult]

Ever heard of the phrase "I've struck the Motherlode"?

It carries a more modern context associated with value and significance.

In a final fantasy world obsessed with crystals, that would make it THE crystal.

[Duuude007]

FFIV Lodestone Cavern

Its also possible they consider Lodestone a more modern terminology for levistone, which was used in FF1 to allow the airship to fly.

[Fantasia]

Thank you all so much! That's made me feel better about myself, haha.

Does make me wonder whether a Lodestone/star will actually have meaning in ARR, or some kind of significance. E.g. if we get to visit Ala Mhigo will there be more references to a Lodestar which is a physical thing with some significance, or are they just parts of a story?

[Fantasia]

Ever heard of the phrase "I've struck the Motherlode"?

It carries a more modern context associated with value and significance.

In a final fantasy world obsessed with crystals, that would make it THE crystal.

Motherlode = Mother crystal = Hydaelyn?

FFIV Lodestone Cavern

Its also possible they consider Lodestone a more modern terminology for levistone, which was used in FF1 to allow the airship to fly.

Maybe some significance to the Empire, if that's the case?

[Catapult]

Motherlode = Mother crystal = Hydaelyn?

That is my hypothesis.

[Fantasia]

That is my hypothesis.

I don't think she'd appreciate us writing all over her. Interesting idea though, I hadn't thought of it; if that's the case then we might hear it mentioned much more in ARR, since it's the key concept of one of the stories.