Lasthold: Possible Boss Fight Location?

[Yrusama]

I was helping someone with the exploration achievements in the Black Shroud and after finishing up in Lasthold we took the liberty to explore the structure to the northwest of it indicated on the map. I was shocked to find that it isn't another of the copy/paste castles found in Coerthas but the ruins of a unique and elegant altar. There we spotted a level53 Ixali Fencer, far more manageable than the level77 Waterdogs, and proceeded to take action screenshots while killing it.

After the battle our minds started swimming with ideas of what this place could be used for. Here are some of them:

I had visions of adventurers and NPCs alike standing around it as if it were the safest place in the world. The empty circle in the middle would be filled with water or flowers. It seemed that it could be a sanctuary for more peaceful activities, or simply for hanging out.

My companion Kane Altrath suggested a gigantic Malboro or some other stationary boss in the middle, which would make for an interesting boss fight.

A giant crystal could be placed there, like a more exotic and primitive structure than the cermet crags that house the mothercrystals in XI. Unlike the Aetheryte crystals, this crystal could be sentient and have unique properties.

Finally, the central area could be used as a portal to an endgame area, possibly a gateway to the realm of the gods.

I realize that this area will probably be gone when 2.0 is launched, but I hope there will be hidden spots like this for us to explore. Even if there's nothing to do there, stumbling on ancient structures like this adds a sense of mystery and wonder to break the mundane alternation between crafting and battle. There could also be a quest like the stone monument quest in XI, where you visit hidden areas and get information about the world. Things like these make the worlds feel so much more alive, and an alive world makes a good home for a loving fan.

[Yrusama]

Another thought comes to mind: a place that is difficult to reach but offers a vital reward. It could be part of a "pilgrimage" quest to meet your Guardian and gain unique skills or bonuses for having chosen that Guardian.

[Masamune1004]

It'd be pretty cool, but then people would bitch and moan that it's too hard to get there and they'd reduce the levels of the mobs around it to make Lasthold an easy gate to get to, thus ruining one of the more fun challenges in the game, so I have to say leave my Lasthold alone.

[Yrusama]

You have a point. The thing is they are redesigning ALL the maps. I'm worried Yoshi-P and his team are only going to develop the maps with 2.0 in mind and not include any little treats like this. If you ask me there are times where stumbling onto places like this makes the game far more enriching than any cutscene, and I LOVE cutscenes (I don't even skip the dungeon ones unless I've seen them before).

SE, Yoshi-P, and anyone else involved, please don't forget the inquisitive explorers among us. The game can be so much more than endless crafting and fighting.

[Yrusama]

I've recently taken to reading the map text. The ruins are called "Gelmorra Ruins", making it one of few above-ground structures from the Gelmorra civilization.

[Catapult]

I've recently taken to reading the map text. The ruins are called "Gelmorra Ruins", making it one of few above-ground structures from the Gelmorra civilization.

...my lore-sense is tingling

That REEKS of likely being a location in the climax of the seventh umbral era storyline. What you're getting at is quite plausible. The Gelmorra ruins may hold the key to countering/dealing with Meteor.

Go check out Letter from the producer XXX for 1.23 dev-cycle updates.
"Addition and adjustment of Seventh Umbral Era-related monsters. Addition of Seventh Umbral Era-related objects."