Zone Summary: Ul’dah is a plutocracy in the merest wrapping of a monarchy, and so it needs access not only to overland trade but also the eternally lucrative ocean trade routes. Western Thanalan is this access, positioned directly opposite Vylbrand and dotted with ports and thoroughfares aplenty. The landscape of the western coast is one of the most valuable and fertile in Thanalan, and thus is home to many, varied species as well as imported food crops, and threats such as the Garlean remnants in Cape Westwind. When one studies the sites of interest in Western Thanalan one thing becomes obvious; it is a landscape defined by the wealth disparity of Ul’dah. The wealthy merchants of the Syndicate move their trade interests from one port to another, devastating the lives of their previous workers and transforming previously minor settlements, while in other areas they literally pound the land flat with huge, impractical machines in order to create and idyllic escape from having to live in the same city as refugees.
The Weather of Western Thanalan
Western Thanalan is generally not exposed to weather of a particularly unusual nature, instead largely playing host to what one would expect in an area of coastal arid regions. Fair and clear skies, with the occasional cloudy outlook, though they never seem to break into true rainfall over the area. On rare occasions fog will roll into the landscape, a symptom of being so heavily coastal, as warm air passes over the oceanic waters and lifts them into the air.
Resources of Western Thanalan
Western Thanalan is most famed for providing income via trade, but it is also a resource-rich area. It is one of, if not the, most freshwater-rich area in Thanalan with many subterranean water sources. The area is also impressively resplendent in mineral wealth, with such vast repositories as Copperbell Mines and such aetheric density that the Mineral Concern is able to supplement its income while Copperbell is out of its control by exploiting local earth sprite populations, indicating their impressive number.
Material Resources of Hammerlea
Besides muddy water from contaminated aquifers, the primary ore found in Hammerlea is copper ore, an unsurprising fact considering that Copperbell Mines was, well, full of copper.
Material Resources of Horizon’s Edge
The primary material found to be mined in Horizon’s Edge is iron ore, a surprising fact considering how close to Copperbell these veins are. However, a skilled miner will tell you that iron ore can be used as a sign to indicate that veins of copper and even gold nearby. Quarrying in the area has been known to produce both iron and copper dust from minor sources of the ore, as well as cinnabar, a mineral that can refined to produce quicksilver, as well as certain potent sedatives.
Leave a Reply