Environments in FFXIV

[Shougun]

That's precisely what I'm sincerely hoping these floating islands area I marked off (in the map below) will be like...

Have you ever played Soul Reaver (dimension shift ability)? It's not really a unique concept to that game but sort of what set off the idea for me, it would be pretty neat to come to this area (imo) all distorted as it is on the map (looks like something pretty crazy happened there - pretty ruined lol). Due to the way the area was culled by an exceptionally devastating and inappropriate Garlean weapon (and perhaps some inhabitants there with some sort of primal magic) you are able to open rifts to a dimension of dreamspace where it all wasn't lost (it's a figment created by all the souls trapped there, perhaps pull some FFX nostalgia just for fun lol).

Give the restored dimension a Zeal feeling (Chrono Trigger). Traveling from one area to obtain items and info that'll help you in the other, again giving some Chrono Trigger vibes (but important to not make this time travel, which imo is always paradox city ). As you work through their story you're able to find a means to release the energy burned into the land (releasing them from the dream). When released it doesn't change the past but helps restore the land in the sky to ancient ruins with nature healing over time (Laputa, castle in the sky vibes/FFXI sky). If the Ishgard restoration housing project is a success or SE sees it can be made better, here in we get a new floating in the sky housing area (restore part of zeal to the magical self). From one of the machines in the ancient ruins you can visit the dream or ruined versions (the housing restoration project could even utilize this being a housing area betwixt dimensions, so connected to the dream "city"), just so players don't feel cut out from content later. Perhaps allowing and adding more content to be added to those spaces, like "what if you fought a primal of dreams? Nani?" lol.

To add some logic to why Garleans did what they did perhaps they were running into an energy crisis and saw an opportunity with a neighbor. Who were both magical and technologically advanced, recently creating a machine which took a fraction of their (magical caster's) power to create astronomical levels of energy. The civilization didn't want to share the technology out of fear of misuse or perhaps pride/prejudice, to add a spin to the story, and Garleans couldn't use magic to run it themselves even if their spies could learn how part of it works. So the Garleans used a unique weapon to burn the magical civilization's souls into the area creating a giant soul dam, where the civilization's energy machine would nom on it's creators (their life energy trapped and pushed through the generator, not allowed to return to the stream and slowly consumed for the city below). Better if the Garleans below were fed some propaganda rather than the whole nation being complicit (leaders fed the populace lies, made the decision because they were worried about the city falling apart and upset the people above wouldn't help - will have to massage some of that for ascian's interference but I think it can be done). This is also why us the players will be there, not only to set a wrong right but because we can't enter the city (Garlemald) while this massive powerhouse is supplying them an energy barrier.