Sifaka Taxonomy: Beastkin (Opo-opo) Description: Opo-opo are communal creatures that gather underneath a single dominant member, they are famed for their agility and dexterousness. These small beastkin are capable of thriving both on the ground and in the trees, and have become a common farming pest, picking fields clean when they grow hungry. Etymology Notes: Sifaka are a real species of lemurs endemic to Madagascar, and the name choice here likely stems from the Sifaka’s island dwelling nature. Harpeia Taxonomy: Cloudkin (Harpeia) Description: Fiercely intelligent cloudkin, these odd-looking creatures typically reside in the Sea of Clouds, where they dwell in large hunting packs that excel … [Read more...]
Hullbreaker Isle – The Mists Revealed
Excerpt from ‘The history of Vylbrand, from Nym to Limsa Lominsa’ by Archon Niniri Niri. Just to the south of Vylbrand are the Cieldalaes, a reasonably sized island chain that is host to Hullbreaker Isle, an island of utter mystery that was more-or-less unknown for centuries. This was because of the Doxy's Pull, a phenomenon that took the form of thick, impenetrable mists which almost ensured that any ship which entered the area around the Isle would wash up on the rocks and shipwreck. This is where the island's name originates. It wasn't until the Seventh Umbral Calamity that the mists rose and revealed the island behind them, as well as the revelation that certain parties had already made it to the island when the island's explorers … [Read more...]
A Brief Primer on the Rulers of Eorzea
From a small pamphlet entitled ‘A Primer on Eorzean Geopolitics for New Researchers’ by Archon Niniri Niri. Kan-E-Senna - Elder Seedseer of Gridania Kan-E of the Senna family is a padjal of immense power and wisdom who leads the Seedseer Council, the presiding body of her forested home. Perhaps her most noted trait is the unprecedented ability for prophecy she has exhibited since a young age, a gift often attributed by her subjects to blessings from the elementals of the Shroud and the Twelve themselves. In her childhood, Kan-E was already protecting her home from catastrophe via her prophetic gifts, predicting fires and other such disasters with uncanny clarity. The padjal left her homeland to enter seclusion in the woods and commune … [Read more...]
The Bestiary of Pharos Sirius
Sirius Leech Taxonomy: Wavekin (Leech) Description: Leeches are amphibian creatures that dwell in water but often hunt on land. They use the leaf-life decorations on their bodies to lure in herbivores before latching on and drinking their fill of blood. Horrifyingly, despite the leech’s lack of eyes they are possessed of countless eyespots all across their bodies. Sirius Elbst Taxonomy: Wavekin (Elbst) Description: Likely a specialized evolution of the land-based peiste, the elbst is a vicious creature with razor sharp teeth and a hunger for flesh. Capabilities: The elbsts of the Pharos were able to emit large gushes of water from their maw in 'flash floods' capable of bruising flesh and … [Read more...]
The Pharos Sirius – A Memorial to the Calamity
Excerpt from ‘The history of Vylbrand, from Nym to Limsa Lominsa’ by Archon Niniri Niri. The Pharos was originally erected as a lighthouse to guide the ships sailing near Aleport safely, constructed by Naldiq and Vymelli's, the blacksmith/armorers guilds of Limsa Lominsa. The lighthouse was a true masterpiece, built in order to channel immense amounts of aether from the land into the tower and to its zenith, where it would be focused into a beam of light. Unfortunately, the sheer amount of aether channeled through the tower proved to be a mistake when the Seventh Umbral Calamity hit. A number of fireballs struck the Pharos, rupturing the aether-lines and overloading the crystals that lit the tower, unleashing a massive tide of aether … [Read more...]
The Bestiary of the Wanderer’s Palace
The Tonberries Taxonomy: Spoken (Tonberry) Description: Tonberries are the tragic Nymians afflicted by the plague of Bitoso, sent to smite Nym down by the Mhachi. Some of these figures apparently date back to the Fifth Astral Era, while others are more recent births. They have been driven quite mad by their fate, tragically, and are very aggressive. A particularly huge variant of the tonberry was apparently found in the Palace, nicknamed the stalker, which pursued foes at a slow pace. This creature was likely swollen due to a wild imbalance of aether, resulting in its size. Treasure Hunter Taxonomy: Spoken (Various) Description: Unfortunately, not all who approach the Palace do so with innocent curiosity … [Read more...]
The Wanderer’s Palace – Oschon Profaned
Excerpt from ‘The history of Vylbrand, from Nym to Limsa Lominsa’ by Archon Niniri Niri. The Wanderer's Palace is one of the finest relics left behind from the Fifth Astral Era. The structure was a temple or similarly sacred structure dedicated to Oschon the Wanderer. In modern Eorzea Oschon is regarded as a deity of the mountains, wanderers and vagrants, and is one of the deities associated with the element of wind alongside Llymlaen the Navigator, patron deity of Limsa Lominsa. He is represented by a walking cane and as a youthful ranger bearing a bow, and is regarded as friend to Halone the Fury, patron of Ishgard and brother of Nald'thal the Traders, twin patrons of Ul'dah. His lover is Menphina the Lover. Back in the Fifth Astral … [Read more...]
