Why we pay for aetherythes

[Cilia]

Maintenance costs for those in... areas not repaired by that particular work order almost makes sense...except most of those groups don't need seem to need gil. Dragons and Moogles certainly wouldn't, nor would I think the Vanu, and all of those appear to be older or naturally occurring aetherytes. Idyllshire is really the only one where the associated gil cost for maintenance still makes sense, in my opinion.

And yet they still take payment in the form of gil for repairs and merchandise, as well as hand it out as a reward for completing (re)quests. Apparently they must have some need of it, or they would not do so. (Do you really wanna keep kupo nuts on hand to use the Churning Mists aetherytes?)

The only one that makes no logical sense is the one on Azys Lla, since while the nodes do accept and give out gil as currency said currency did not exist back then (they had their coins that my retainer likes to bring back instead of rare dyes). Perhaps they're just skipping the middleman and giving us the gil equivalent, but it still doesn't make sense for much of anything on Azys Lla to carry or accept gil as payment...

[Kaiser-Ace]

but it still doesn\\'t make sense for much of anything on Azys Lla to carry or accept gil as payment...

I say Azys Lla Nods accept gil as payment due to their simmilarity to Allagan Currency and that, while there are aware 5000 years have passed, the Nodes are not aware Allag has fallen and may be accepting gil as a new "Allag Curency" via self learning programs.

As for Dravania, Tailfeather is mannaged by The Chocobo Hunters, Anix Trine is likly a natural Aetherite (as is likly the Vanu Vanu's), and any Aetherites in Sharlyon are undoubtedly Goblin maintained. The Moogles are likly maintainong the two Aetherites in the mists but it eas likly The Earthlord Civilizay that built them.

[myahele]

I'm guessing that that Churning Mists and Dravanian Forelands have existed prior to the Dragonsong war back when Dragon-elezen relationship was peaceful? It make sense that we're charged in Chruning Mists since it's the moogles that're maintaining the area and probably need the gil to make repairs, etc.

Anyx Trine remains a mystery since it's controlled by Hraesvalgr's brood, unless dragon's secretly like trading then I don't know what's the lore reason for them to charge us gil.

[Kaiser-Ace]

I'm guessing that that Churning Mists and Dravanian Forelands have existed prior to the Dragonsong war back when Dragon-elezen relationship was peaceful? It make sense that we're charged in Chruning Mists since it's the moogles that're maintaining the area and probably need the gil to make repairs, etc.

Anyx Trine remains a mystery since it's controlled by Hraesvalgr's brood, unless dragon's secretly like trading then I don't know what's the lore reason for them to charge us gil.

Likely the same thing, many of the buildings in the Dravanian Forelands predate the Dragonsong War. to the South of Anix Trine there is a ruined village that was once the home of Man and Dragons.

[Berethos]

And yet they still take payment in the form of gil for repairs and merchandise, as well as hand it out as a reward for completing (re)quests. Apparently they must have some need of it, or they would not do so. (Do you really wanna keep kupo nuts on hand to use the Churning Mists aetherytes?)

That gets me thinking...repairs (for the aetherytes specifically - I know you're meaning the repairs they do for us that costs gil) from who, I wonder. I got the distinct impression that the particular group in the Churning Mists hadn't been interacting with the anyone but dragons for a long, long time...certainly not to the point of calling a certified Aetheryte repair technician when they need it to be serviced. Which, as a side thought, makes me wonder if there's an example or mention in-game of the Aetherytes having maintenance performed on them or the gil cost of teleportation going to anything in particular. As far as I can remember we all just assumed it was for maintenance and/or paying for the guards who watch over them, and this lore lowdown is the first official word on what the payment goes toward that I've personally heard or seen. If there's evidence to the contrary I'd absolutely love to see it.

I don't think the Moogles actually have a need for it, honestly, at least originally, and within the lore they might very well prefer kupo nuts to gil (and would if the game play decision wasn't made to use gil as a blanket currency, regardless of lore considerations, which is a possibility for minor contradictions like this). Perhaps they simply accept it as a matter of politeness and because it's what us adventurers have, and the only reason they need it now is because of their interactions with us and and the growing interactions with those from Ishgard that you can see in the side quests that pop-up later that lead to talk of the Moogles learning how to repair the stonework in the area.

[Berethos]

I'm guessing that that Churning Mists and Dravanian Forelands have existed prior to the Dragonsong war back when Dragon-elezen relationship was peaceful? It make sense that we're charged in Chruning Mists since it's the moogles that're maintaining the area and probably need the gil to make repairs, etc.

Anyx Trine remains a mystery since it's controlled by Hraesvalgr's brood, unless dragon's secretly like trading then I don't know what's the lore reason for them to charge us gil.

Maybe we were insistent on paying, since that's what we're used to, as a matter of politeness for using the aetherytes in the area, and out of politeness they accept what we're used to using?

[MilesSaintboroguh]

So how do you explain Azys Lla then?

[Kaiser-Ace]

So how do you explain Azys Lla then?

See my theory about the Nodes.

[The_NPC]

thou never really thought about it (aside from a dev/gameplay view of "money" sink) it could just be the "spell" we were taught back at the begining when atuning to our 1st atherite has a auto-removal sub-spell tucked in that automaticly decides the cost & teleports it outa our pockets mid-travel to some pre-set chest (which I would bet is owned by some damn Lala in Ul'dah) & since we have probably no clue how to build/understand how a spell fully works aside from the whole think it & spend the MP to use, I bet we'd be none the wiser... thou if so then with the big "debt" for said Atherite re-buildin, maintence, outpost upkeep &/or guard pay then it might have been made then by some long dead Thaugermage (again F'n geady cut throat Ul'dahian NPC's)

If not that then Aynx is easy explained with an old... really old idea on Dragon's, they sleep on beds of gold coins/treasure (if so can we get a fight like that so we can rob them >.<)

[IrisBlanchimont]

Gil costs for aetherytes also would go to maintenance of the crystal. For sites like Azys Lla and Moghome I presume this fee also helps support the community.