Hydaelyn at large (is there a compilation of info yet?)

[Kyan]

As we know, there is more to Hydaelyn than the realm of Eorzea. For my own interests, and to share with you all, I have gone through various official FFXIV sources to compile various information about the wider world of Hydaelyn.

Using Eorzea as our origin, I have used the cardinal directions as subheadings to list continents and landmasses in their implied location from our fair realm.

Thank you for your interest, and feel free to include, correct, comment and share any knowledge about the wider world of Hydaelyn!

-Yhan

Edit: Any new information I have added in the latest edit, I'll colour PURPLE.

Eorzea:

General information:

• "Eorzea Comprised of Aldenard, the westernmost of the Three Great Continents, and its surrounding islands, the realm of Eorzea has been the cradle of several unique civilizations throughout history. Towering mountains dominate the north, their peaks forever lashed with icy winds; to the south, a bleak expanse of unforgiving desert holds sway."(http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/world/#!/story/content)
• Elezen have been in the region of Eorzea the longest. (Official Website)

Aldenard

Mor Dhona

• Apparently there is a mythical location called the "Bathtub of the Twelve," - Naturalists in Mor Dhona currently theorise that this could be Silvertear, as fish bones found in excavations may be similar to modern-day fish (Leve: Awash in Evidence).

Coerthas

• root vegetables seem to be native to this region (Coerthas Carrot, Alpine Parsnip)
• Holy See of Ishgard is the city of this region. (Official Website)
• Ishgard (along with Gridania) was founded with the Wildwood Elezen, and many still reside there.
• Located in Central Abalathia's Spine. (Official Website)
• Racoons are native to this region, and like to eat crimson trout (Leve: Hands Off Our Fish).
• Annually, the Confraternity of Fisherfolk release fry (infant fish) into the rivers of Coerthas (Leve: Fry Me a River).
• Ishgardian arrows are fletched with goose feathers - geese may be native/located in this area (Leve: Straight and Arrow).
• Unicorns are native to this region (Unicorn mount quest).
• Chocobos were native to this region? They were at least raised here, in Ishgard, prior to Gridania.

Yafaem Saltmoor

• Lalafell farming may take place here (Brass Loach)
• Is located at the mouth of the White Maiden river (per Eorzean map - thank you Myranda)

Western Abalathia's Spine

• Native region of the cyclops. (Official Website)

Paglth’an

• Amalj’aa territory, has warm waters suited to discus (Paglth’an Discus).
• Grasslands, where nomadic Amalj'aa hunt native wildlife. (Official Website)

Thanalan

• Southern Aldenard.
• Thanalan is seen as a sacred land to the Amalj'aa, which they believe was 'purified by a sacred flame'. They seek to reclaim this land. (Official Website)
• Outside the Gate of the Sultana, repairs are being made on the Eighty Sins of Sasamo, as Amakina & Sons Mineral Concern prepare to build a new, grand villa. It is to be designed in the shape of Eorzea, with golden footpaths of metal pavers cast from yellow copper ore.

The Black Shroud

• Eastern Aldenard
• Homeland of the Sylph
• Ixali were once native to this region? (unsure)
• Protected by the Elementals
• Homeland of the Moogles
• There is an event called the "Sylvan Tournament" - whilst the contest itself is unknown, the prize is a horn necklace (Leve: Necklet of Champions). (I'm curious as to this being a tournament hosted by the Sylphs, or if they are the ones participating!)
• There is a type of termite-like vilekin, the 'powederpost worm', which is drawing closer to Quarrymill (Leve: Powderpost Derby).
• Post-Calamity, the destruction of the Twelveswood has seen mass habitat loss for local creatures, and seen a change in their behaviour - treants included. Many maple and oak trees thought to be dormant have risen from the ground in a mass awakening (Leve: Waking Wood).
• There are giant trees in the Twelveswood which were already gargantuan when the Elezen arrived in Eorzea thousands of years ago - it is said that the snead of Nophica's scythe is carved from one of these trees (Leve: If a Tree Falls).
• Wildfires during the Calamity caused the destruction of the majority of chestnut trees (Leve: A Chest of Nuts).
• Giant briars were somehow introduced after the Calamity to the East Shroud, just north of Hawthorne Hut (Leve: Briar in the Hole).[/COLOR]

Xelphatol

• Ixali lands. Wind-blasted canyons.

Gyr Abania

• Ala Mhigo is the city of this region (under Garlean Rule)(http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/wor...ations/content).
• A mountainous region, and homeland of the Highlander Hyur.
• Theodoric, otherwise known as the King of Ruin, was the last in the line of Ala Mhigan royalty before the fall of the city-state to the Garlean Empire (Leve: Dead Men Lie).

Dravania

• On the Eorzean map, the (abandoned) city-state of Sharlayan is located here - not to be confused with the northern Island of Sharlayan, of which the Eorzean city is named after.
• Currenty occupied by dragons - the Dravanian Horde.

Vylbrand

• O'Ghomoro, a volcano in northern Vylbrand. Beneath, the kobold clans have a subterranean city.
• Sahagin use the Vylbrand coastline as spawning grounds, though they live in a city built on the bottom of the Indigo Deep.
• "Silvering the soil" occurs every few seasons, where harbor herring are scattered across the farmlands of La Noscea at night, and plowed into the earth by noon, to increase the nutrient content of the soil. It is said that at sunrise, the land is too bright to look at because of the reflection on fish scales (Leve: The Fertile Incandescent).
• Giant aurochs were brought to the island from an unknown 'far-off' land, specifically for their meat and milk (Leve: Beasts of Bourbon).
  
• A goblin city may be present here in the future, built inside of a mountain excavated by the goblins with the ore sold to Limsa (Leve: Man the Ore).

The Cieldalaes

• The Cieldalaes are a group of islands (Leve: The Palm in Your Hand).
• Over two weeks travel by ocean to Meracydia (Mahi-Mahi)
• Spinach is native to this region (Cieldalaes Spinach)
• Gegeruju, the Lalafellin tycoon in Costa del Sol, has a summer home in the Cieldalaes. (Leve: The Palm in Your Hand).
• Sago palms are native to the Cieldalaes, and one of Gegeruju's new chefs also hails from these islands, and she is quite adept in making sago (Leve: The Palm in your Hand).
• Coconut palms, planted in Costa del Sol and used to make coconut water, grew only in the Cieldalaes before the Calamity (Island Coconut, Leve: Always Right).
• Can be seen on the Eorzean map, south of Vylbrand (thanks Myranda)

To the East:

General information:

• There are adventurers in the eastern lands - some of which have migrated to Eorzea and brought at least some cooking skills (Leve: A Kelping Hand).

The Near East - the Island of Thavnair

• Giant tortoise are originally native to the Island of Thavnair (Adamantoise Shell).
• Has acacia trees/forests (Thavnairian Mistletoe).
• Radz-at-Han is the City State(Thavnairian Mistletoe).
• Thavnairian custom of meeting under mistletoe means you must exchange a shoe with the person (Thavnairian Mistletoe).
• Mint Lassi suggests that Thavnair is the Near East ("Popular in the Near Eastern city-state of Radz-at-Han).
• Thavnair may be similar to our Middle East - quite hot - as Mint Lassi is used to offset the "blistering heat of the Thavnairian midday sun".
• Dodos may be native to this region, and possibly adamantoise (Tiny Tortoise).
• Sun lemons are native to this region (Sun Lemon).
• Onions are native to this region (Wild Onion).
• Wizard Eggplant is native to this region: This region has mountains (Wizard Eggplant).
  
• There are alchemists in Radz-at-Han, who make a cure-all from mandragora leaves/buds (Leve: The Cure).
• The Near Eastern Alchemist Jalzahn has come to Eorzea to create mighty Zodiac Weapons!
• Apricots come from the Near East.
  

The Far East - Othard

• Unsure if it is the same place as Othard (I am assuming it is beyond Othard) - confirmed to be the same place in patch 2.2: This will be updated soon!
• Copperfish were brought from there (Copperfish)
• Goldfish are native to the Far East (Goldfish)
• They have many fishing vessels, and have overfished Ash Tuna (Ash Tuna).
• Like seafood (sea pickle, sea cucumber)
• Takitaro, a legendary fish, come from the Far East.
• Medicine uses nutmeg, yellow ginseng, ginger (Nutmeg, Yellow Ginseng, Pearl Ginger)
• Rice may be native to the Far East (Sticky Rice)
• Zoni is a clear soup consumed in special occasions (Zoni)
• People of Eorzea call people from the Far East "Easterlings." (Quest: A Horse for Heavensturn)
• The Far East choose a "totem" before each Heavensturn. (Quest: A Horse for Heavensturn)
• Have knowledge of, and quite possibly could worship the Twelve. (Quest: A Horse for Heavensturn, Heavenly Power)

  When the new totem proved the horse, it seemed the Twelve smiled upon us; for even in Eorzea, minds arch high and wide during Heavensturn...

  <pant><pant>...Come to relieve me? Oh, thank the Twelve.
• Has jungles and tigers (Tiger Cod)
• Eastern continent (Dark Sleeper, Honey Lemon)
• Lalafellin royalty may exist there (Dark Sleeper)
• Goblins pilgrimaged here for years before returning to Eorzea and discovered Goblin Perch (Goblin Perch)
• Honey Lemon is a native fruit (Honey Lemon)
• Othard is under Garlean rule: "One nation after the next fell before their relentless onslaught, first those of the northlands, followed by the sovereign states of the eastern continent, Othard." (http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/wor...hreats/content)
• Primals were in existence in Othard (http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/wor...hreats/content)

Doma

• A character called Yugiri hails from the nation of Doma. Doma is currently oppressed by the Garlean rule of Othard. Little information is known at this point.
• Othard has been razed to the ground by the Garleans.

To the South:

Meracydia

• Warm seas (Angelfish)
• Southern continent (Dark Bass, Aloe)
• Traders may have introduced tropical fish to Eorzea, like the Discus, though no evidence is present (Discus)
• Is over two weeks journey by ocean from the Cieldalaes (Mahi-Mahi).
• Aloe is native to this region, and is used by Miqo'te for healing burns - mayhaps Miqo'te are native to the south? (Aloe)
• Lalafell are said to originate from "fertile islands of the south seas" - perhaps they are native to Meracydia or its surrounding islands? (Although, I do not imagine a place where Aloe is native to be extremely fertile).
• May have wyverns native to the region (Meracydian wyverns exist in Binding Coil, contributed by Brannigan)

To the West:

The New World

• Seems to be recently discovered, as 'explorers' are often mentioned when referencing the New World (Nopales)
• Located far to the West (Acorn Snails)
• Nopales, an edible cactus, is native (Nopales)
• Millioncorn is native to the New World, and recently discovered (Millioncorn)
• Popoto may be native to the New World ("...brought to Eorzea by explorers from the distant western continent." Not definitive, most items say "the New World")(Popoto)

To the North:

Ilsabard

• Has horses native in its land (Sea Bo)
• Goblins pilgrimaged here for years before returning to Eorzea and discovered Goblin Perch (Goblin Perch)
• Ilsabardian bass may be the sole fish in lakes, as they tend to overtake and decimate other species until they are the only creature left (Ilsabardian Bass)
• Garlemald was a remote nation populating a small fraction of Ilsabard until the technological golden age http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/wor...hreats/content).
• Garlean Empire may control all of the north continent. (Official Website)
• Natives of Garlemald are not proficient in the use of magic, and true natives have a "third eye" (Story Missions, Official Website).

Sharlayan (mother land)

• Far-northern island nation (is it beyond Ilsabard?) (http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/wor...hreats/content)
• Is also a former city-state of Eorzea (see: http://gamerescape.com/2013/09/26/th...sland-or-what/ Anonymoose)
  

Currently unknown:
Not necessarily "landmasses," these places could be on a continent, though from what evidence I have seen I am unsure of location:
Island of Bianaq

• I would assume is to the south, has a variety of reef fish. (Vongola Clam)(Coral Butterfly)

[Kyan]

Anecdotes that I enjoyed:
(some is my own musings from reading the Fish Guide)
Eorzean Culture

• Red means happiness in Eorzea - chub, a red fish, is oft given as wedding gifts to newlyweds.
• Fish are oft used as gifts in Eorzea and indeed Hydaelyn - Sasabaru (a sultan of Ul'dah) received a Loyal Pleco as one at his coronation, chub are used as wedding gifts (as above), and the Takitaro is thought to be a gift from the Far East to a Sultan in Eorzea.
• Monke Onke - means “friendship” in the Lalafellin language. Mahi-mahi means “stalwart”.
• Fish in bronze, silver or gold, are prized in Ul’dah (matches the colour of Gil coins).
• Score is a unit of measurement, meaning 20 units. It is used in a variety of different ways, such as to measure years (Heliobatis, Silverfish), population (Hammerhead Shark), and even numbers of teeth (Garpike) (Thanks for your help, Gamemako).
• A type of shock therapy is used in Eorzea, by laying people in a warm pool of water filled with black ghosts, a fish that emits electricity.
• Electric fish were also used in a party-fad in Limsa Lominsa called 'fish fries'; they held electric eels in their hands and clapped... (Leve: A Shocking Soiree).
• Ul'dahns like to mix sweet fruits and herbs into their beverages, like mint (Shaken, Not Stirred).
• Keeper of the Moon tradition of using war paint not only honours their clan's tradition, but also serves as a notice to the gods that they are ready to serve them in the afterlife as warriors, should they fall in battle (Leve: Moon in Rouge).
• A rift sailor crossing your path (looks like a flying octopus) is said to be good fortune.
• Bismarck is a legendary whale in Sea Wolf mythology, and is said to feed on Giant Squid.

Beast tribes

• Amalj'aa

• Amalj’aa have an interest in aquaculture it seems - they prize the shells of Ignus Snails as a type of money (used in bartering), treasure Paglth’an discus (they may be seeding them in Eorzea’s steams) and the Sundisc.
• Ignus Snails are also a delicacy to the Amalj'aa (Leve: Snail Fail).
• Sundisc are a holy icon to Amalj’aa, and it is forbidden to even look at one (perhaps we should just parade them around on pikes to drive them back?)(Sundisc)

[Toranja]

Scholars of Eorzea, gather around for your time as come to compile every mountain top and valley deep Hydaelin has to offer. Aaaaand I've got nothing. My "like" will have to suffice for now. ;0

[Enkidoh]

Sharlayan
Far-northern island nation (is it beyond Ilsabard?) (http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/wor...hreats/content)

Sharlayan is actually not a northern nation but actually is (or was) one of Eorzea's six city states - on this Eorzea map released back before the launch of the original version, it was clearly marked as in the Dravanian region north-west of Coerthas and Ishgard, but definitely still on Aldenard (on that map it's the walled city in the north-western corner of Aldenard, directly under the image of a flying dragon and next to the word 'Dravania' written in Eorzean script).

As you noted though there was dialogue in the original game that contradicted this map though by stating it was on an island, leading some to suggest that maybe it was both - part of Aldenard, but maybe situated in a body of water that surrounded it, much like a castle.

There was also at least one NPC in 1.0 who also referred to Sharalyan in the past tense, seeming to suggest the Empire had already conquered and destroyed it, but no other evidence has come to light to clarify this point. In any event, from all information available, Sharalyan is definitely a part of Eorzea.

[Anonymoose]

Sharlayan is actually not a northern nation but actually is (or was) one of Eorzea's six city states

It has been confirmed to be both. The Lore Train: Is Sharlayan an Island, or What?

[Brannigan]

Meracydian wyverns exist in Binding Coil so I guess Meracydia has wyverns.

Does anyone know if anything in-game mentions whether or not the lands outside of Eorzea were affected by the Calamity? It would kind of suck to have a massive change in your environment over night (like Eorzea did) just because some jerk half way across the world brought a dragon-moon down.

[Kyan]

A lot of warm-water ocean fish have been noticed around Southern Eorzea and off the La Noscean Coast post-Calamity, as stated in many of their item descriptions. Perhaps there has been some sort of climate change in the south?

[Gamemako]

Score seems to be a measurement of quantity - I believe it means “tens of”. Two score means 20 - two score hundred (20,000, twenty-thousand, as mentioned on Garpike’s description).

In English, one score is 20. Two score hundred would be 4,000. I find it rather odd that they would re-use "score" as a measurement of quantity and change the definition. Could you clarify where you find something suggesting that they used a different value?

[DarkStrife]

I love this thread.

[Kyan]

In English, one score is 20. Two score hundred would be 4,000. I find it rather odd that they would re-use "score" as a measurement of quantity and change the definition. Could you clarify where you find something suggesting that they used a different value?

Oh, thank you for that clarification! I was trying to imply my uncertainty in the sentence, as I had never heard the term before, and in the entries it is used, the numbers seemed to make sense. I didn't even think to Google it. ������

That being said, I can tell you the average life expectancy of a Naturalist in Eorzea with my recent catch of a Heliobatis - naturalists on average live 4 score summers, so 80 years. "Some naturalists claim this particular species of wave kin can see up to a thousand summers... though, as the average life expectancy of a naturalist is but four score summers, these claims hold little weight."