Azury Ariella's Lore Compilation / Guide -- PLEASE CONTRIBUTE <3

[Ramesses]

Azury, you're a gem... I've been looking for this thread for a large variety of reasons (your solo-leveling guide from last year was also extremely helpful).

Thanks as well to everyone who helped compile this!

[whoopeeragon]

I'll like to point out that the Ixali do indeed exist where the NPCs say. However, it's worthwhile to note that they originate from Xelphatol, which is between Coerthas and Black Shroud. Source from Hyrstmill Hamlet, where the Captain if, following a loss, says "...the tribes of Xelphatol."

[Erana]

Uldah's pre-company military is split between two mercenary companies and one elite force.

Brass Blades: charged with the security of Ul'dah and it's surrounding region.
Stone Torches: charged with protecting mining operations.
The Sultansworn: Elite force of Paladins charged with protecting the Sultanate and the royal family.

[Anonymoose]

Just came across this in my Googling and wanted to bring something up:

I do believe that Captain Hyllfyr (aka One-eyed Hyllfyr) is captain of The Astalicia herself, and that The Bloody Executioners are the name of the group of pirates that he runs aboard it. (Remember, in the JPN version, Marauders are called Executioners).

[axemtitanium]

Dunno if this has been mentioned before, but the Crystal Tower was teased in 1.0.

If you talk to Erik (MNK quest NPC) and ask about Silvertear Falls (2nd page), he'll say, among other things:

Do you not see? <sigh> Of course you don't... It could only be the lost tomb of Xandes─the first emperor of Allag of whom I spoke mere moments ago. But wait, there it more to tell! You see, it is impossible that a normal building, however large, could release so much ethereal energy. An immense crystal on the other hand─that
 most certainly could. Putting these observations together, I had no choice but to conclude that the ancients' seemingly fanciful references to the tomb being wrought of crystal were not so fanciful after all!

And that
 is the history of Silvertear Falls─or as much as I am willing to expose that meager mind of yours to in one telling. <sigh> If only there were some way to access this crystal tower
 beneath the surface... It would prove my theory and
 be the discovery of the century!

[Enkidoh]

Great lore guide by the way. I'd just like to make an addition to the miqo'te lore if I may.

According to the official FFXIV website (http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/about/world/races/miqo-te), members of the Seekers of the Sun miqo'te clan are actually quite rare in Eorzea - the largest group is based in Limsa Lominsa, while a smaller group is based in the 'Sagoli Desert' (in Thanalan?).

This explains why most miqo'te NPCs in the game are usually just Keepers of the Moon (I guess that makes my Enki somewhat 'exotic' then ).

[Warlock]

As a "Did you know?"
"Just popping in to cover three issues:

1. End of and Era trailer & the Luminous Engine

What you see in the trailer is pre-rendered CG created by our ridiculously talented Visual Works studio (who handle most of the pre-rendered goodness you see in all Square Enix games). The Luminous Engine, on the other hand, is a medium that will generate pre-rendered quality graphics, but in real time. So, instead of just watching Agni climb on the back of an elder dragon and fly over an endless shanty town, you can control Agni yourself and crash her into a bridge...that will explode into a bajillion pieces without any slowdown, while maintaining the realism we've come to expect from exploding shanty town bridges.

As Yoshida-san has said in the past, the Luminous Engine is geared towards high-end machines, and offline campaigns, which is why it isn't suited for an MMO. And that is why we had our dev team build a new engine that would be a better fit with ARR.

2. Echo wooshing (or is that 'whooshing'?)

Anonymoose has explained it as well as anyone could have. Thanks!

3. Who is the mysterious primal that scared the Garleans away?

It pains me to say, I'm not allowed to speak on this issue. That twinge you feel in your elbow? That's not Bursitis. That's my pain traveling across the aether and directly into your joints.

What I can say, is that there is an answer, it's been planned since the beginning, and it will make sense...well, as much sense as Square Enix stories usually make.

(And we're not just stalling, trying to buy time to think up something cool...honest!)" - Fernehalwes

[Warlock]

Another "Did you know?"(this is answer to who is the one in the collector's edition cover art)
"The title of the original Amano painting is 嵐神と冒険者 (lit. translation: Storm God & Adventurer / loc. translation: The Lady of the Vortex and the Adventurer), so those who guessed Garuda, check your mailboxes for that gold star. A winner is you!

(Gold stars not available in the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and the rest of the world)" - Fernehalwes

And a linky to the famous super Lore bombs Ferny dropped at Localization some time ago..
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...dlander/page23

[DarkkenMoneybags]

Great lore guide. Keep the lore coming.

[Yrusama]

Not sure if it's been brought up here yet. Gaius van Baelsar runs Ala Mhigo as Imperial Viceroy.