Hydaelyn Lexicon

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A

Adventurer
A term used by those in Eorzea for the young men and women who seek fortune and fame by acting like explorers, fighters, and crafters. An Adventurer is almost like a mercenary, but not quite. Though the line between the two is very faded.

Aether

The magical energy and life force of Hydaelyn. It flows through all living things, from the trees, to the animals, and even people. It is believed by the people of Eorzea that the Aether ties all things together, which is why when someone dies, their body fades away, for they are returning back to the Aether. Yet Aether is not without its dangers either, as a great concentration of aether is lethal and cause anyone who is around for too long to become highly unstable and aggressive. High concentrations of aether in a location is visible to see like mist, and in places like the Black Shroud, such concentrations have also taken on the shape of what many call “the elements”. Curiously, because of natural born Garleans having lack of magic, they also have lack of attunement to the Aether flow and when they die, their bodies are known to actually remain, they also have the inability to effect any form of Aether without their Magitek devices.

Aetheryte

An Aetheryte is a large crystal surrounded by a type of machinery mimicking that of Magitek. These Aetheryte crystals are connected to the Aether and act as teleportation beacons, allows one to attune themselves to the energy of that crystal and grant them teleportation to that crystal. There is no limit to the Aetherytes one may attune themselves too and thus for those of Eorzea and those whom can ride the Aether energy, there is no limit to the places one can go, as there are other forms of Aetheryte as well, these are: Aetheryte Gates: A small font of aether energy that is connected to the main Aetheryte crystal. Aetheryte gates can only be accessed by its connected Aetheryte crystal and requires that of Anima to use. Aetheryte Nodes: These nodes are small pockets of Aether energy that can be summoned to return someone back to an Aetheryte Crystal in the area. These nodes do not remain long and will vanish quickly. It should be known also that Magitek weaponry can actually destroy an Aetheryte node and gate, by negating the flow of energy. This has lead to some concern that the Garlean Empire may be able to eventually design a weapon that could perhaps even destroy Aetheryte Crystals, though so far, none exists yet.

Ala Mhigo

Ala Mhigo is one of the city-states located in the eastern side of the content Aldenard. They were a city known for their great military power and great natural defenses thanks to the mountainous and highland region. However there military power was matched and fought off by the Garlean Empire. In their loss they ended up joining with the technological power and now are like many nations that have fallen to Garlemald, serve as a labor force and extra grunts for the military.

Allagan Empire

The Allagan Empire was a technological powerhouse in its time, though it is now a place that lies in ruins. The technology that the Allagans had created is the backbone of what runs the Garlean Empire, but yet so many secrets have the Garleans yet to uncover. It is a known fact, even to the Garleans, that the Allagan’s technological level was so advance, that it would make their own Magitek seem like a child’s play in comparison.

Allagans
The name of the once people of the Allagan Empire. Though none remain, many of their books are still found from time to time and many scholars work desperately to uncover the mysteries of these lost people.

Aldenard
Aldenard is one of the great Continents within the region of Eorzea. It contains Mor Dhona, The Black Shroud, Thanalan, and Coerthas.

Airship

The Airship technology was originally created by the Garlean Empire as a means of transportation. As such the Garlean Empire are the rulers of the skies when it comes to such things as Aerial combat. Though in more recent times, thanks to a man named Cid, the Eorzean people have now also acquired airships, though pale in comparison they may be, they still have their uses. Airships are considered part of the Magitek technology and operate on that of Ceruleum, though there are a few airships within Eorzea that still use pure Aether energy to operate. Though fewer they are becoming.

Anima

Anima is the aether energy located in someone. It is through this anima that allows those to even use the Aether energy for teleportation, though in teleporting, the aether energy interacting with ones own energy tends to cause light headedness, momentary vertigo, and shortness of breath. Thankfully once someone gets use to it, the effects grow shorter to the point where one is no longer bothered by it. It is also believed by some scholars that it is through the natural bodies Anima is how the Primals are able to control the people. Though such a thing is only a theory and none are sure if this to be true or not.

Ascians

The Ascians, also known as Paragons, are the minions of the dark god, Zodiark. They have the ability to corrupt, if not outright possess those of weak will. They were the forces that taught the Beast Men tribes how to summon the Primals and perhaps also lead one of the Imperial Legatus down his corrupted path. They tend to appear as people, but none are sure if this is their true form or not. They also have the ability to appear as beasts as well if they so desire. Their main objective seems to create disorder wherever they go and eventually corrupt the Mothercrystal.

Astral
The Astral is the first phase of the moon. It is also connected in some ways to the Primals, as the Primals are able to tap into the Astral flow in order to use their most devastating of attacks. It is believed by this that the Astral is not only connected to the moon phase, but perhaps also to a side of the Aether energy.

B

Beast Men

Beast Men is a term used across Hydaelyn for a race of sentient half human, half beast people that are not truly part of civilization and desire to live in the wilds like beasts. If someone also for example wants to get under the skin of a Miqo’te, they may refer to them as Beast Men as well, as it is hard to determine the reasons for why Miqo’te do not hold this title, beyond the fact they have joined civilization, but yet those such as Goblins are still titled it.

Bell
A bell in Eorzea is a marker of time. It represents a passing of an hour. So if you say wanted to meet in 30 mins, you would say “Half a bell”.

C

Castrum

A Castrum is the term that the Garleans use for their fortified bases. These bases have high metal walls, magitek gates, and typically are heavily guarded by both troops and Magitek armors. Some Castrums are larger than others and the tend to be constructed once an area has been fully secured. As an example of such a Castrum, there is Castrum Novus that has been renamed recently to Castrum Centri located in Mor Dhona.

Ceruleum
Ceruleum is the lifeblood of the Garlean Empire. It is the very fuel source that runs all there Magitek equipment from their airships to their Magitek armors. Ceruleum itself is a refined version of Aether that draws from the Aether itself or from that of the crystals. Because of its nature though, Ceruleum is extremely unstable and can easily explode if not handled correctly.

Coerthas
Coerthas is a mountainous region just outside of the Black Shroud and Mor Dhona. Before the unleashing of Bahamut, the land was already one of a cool climate that would snow from time to time, but will the fall of the world, the area has become one of a winter wonderland. Coerthas is also home of the city-state Ishgard, who keeps itself sealed away from the rest of the world.

Crystal
The Crystal is a shard of Aether energy that has taken material form. These Crystal can be used for many things such as lighting a fire in a stove, to aiding in the forging of weapons. Crystals are also used to create Ceruleum to run Magitek and tend to be heavily sought after by the Beast Men tribes to aid in summoning of their Primal lords.

D

Dalamud

Dalamud was one of the two moons that orbited the world of Hydaelyn. However with Project Meteor and with Nael Van Darnus order, they started to actually pull Dalamud out of its orbit and started to move the moon on a descent path with Eorzea. All in the name of Purifying Eorzea of its taint. Dalamud though was more than just a moon, but the very prison that confined the great Primal known as Bahamut. With it coming into the very atmosphere of the world, it shattered freeing the Primal to cause his massive devastation and what also shattered the very fabric to send Hydaelyn to the Multiverse. Also because of Dalamud it had changed the very face of Eorzea by impacting the environments of regions, the nature of some creatures, and the flow of Aether.

Dravania
Dravania is a nation directly northwest of Coerthas. It is the home the Dravanian Horde, which is a mighty group of dragons that have been at war with Ishgard for some time and seems to be no end to that very Holy War. Little beyond this is known about Dravanian, as the dragons make it a very dangerous area to travel into.

E

Echo
The Echo is a rare “gift” that awakens only very few. This ability allows for those whom have it to see into the past of others (though they can not interact or interfere with it in any way) and also grants them the ability to understand any language, including speak it. Those who also possess the Echo can not be tempered by the Primals.

Eikons

Eikons, also known as Primals, are a mysterious, mystical creatures of great power. These beings are worshiped by the Beast Men races as gods and each beast men has a Primal they worship-- though who they worship is not always clear. The Eikons are dangerous because of not only their tremendous power, but because they have the ability to “temper” the minds of the people who do not possess the “Echo” and even the strongest of wills may even fall victim to them. Once the victims fall tempered to the Primal, they will obey that Primal willingly and with great loyalty. The Eikons also required a great deal of energy to be summoned and once summoned, the Aether around the area is heavily disturbed by this power, to the point that it actually damages the area and could eventually lead to irreversible damage to the land, if not the world. It is for this reason that the Garlean Empire sees the Primals as such an extreme threat and the Beast Men who summon them. Though that threat is perhaps shared by the Eorzean people-- even though the means of how to deal with them can not be agreed upon. It should also be noted that the Garlean Empire sees the Divine Twelve that are believed by the people of Eorzea to also be Eikons and no different from the Primal Entities, given more reason why they see most people of Eorzea as no better then the Beast Men themselves.

Elementals

The Elements are beings of pure Aether energy, that for the most part remain invisible unless the deem to manifest themselves in pure light form. When they do take form, they tend to take on the color of their corresponding element. Under normal circumstances, no normal being can understand the elements, but those who are Conjurers of the Black Shroud do understand the words of the elements and can commune with them. The Black Shroud is also the most likely place to find the Elements as it is ruled by their law.

Eorzea
Eorzea is a region that comprises of the Aldenard continent and several smaller islands. It is the home of several different races and also the only place that the Primals seem to exist. It is at war with those of the North, known as the Garlean Empire who desire to conqueror it at any means.

Eorzeans

Eorzeans are the people of the region of Eorzea. There are several different races that all fit under this title and could be argued that even some beast men as well. Though in the eyes of the Garlean Empire, nearly all Eorzeans are beast men, as they are the ones who possess not only those within who would summon the Primals, but also those who possess the Echo. The Eorzeans as a culture believe in 12 gods and believe in a place called the Gates of the Seven Hells. These religious beliefs are strong in the people and are part of their normal vocabulary.

Epochs
The word Epoch refers to a set of of time, much like a decade is 10 years to us, an Epoch is 12 years for the Eorzean people, as they do not do things in tens, but in twelve. Perhaps because they worship twelve deities and desire for each deity to represented in some means.

F

Frumentarium
The Frumentarium is an intelligence branch within the Garlean Empire and a very good one at that. Their network is very deep within the system and there is very little that goes on that the Frumentarium does not know. As quoted from one of the head members of the Frumentarium branch: “The Frumentarium sees all.”

G

Garlean Empire

The Garlean Empire is located north and northeast of Eorzea region and its home nation, and city, is that of Garlemald. The Garlean Empire is known as a massive technological warmachine thanks to their Magitek creations and machina devices. There is no city-state or place in Hydaelyn that can match them for their ingenuity and ferocity. The only thing that has kept the Garlean Empire from ruling all over Eorzea is the common threat both face; The Primals.

Garleans

The Garleans are the people of Garlemald. They are a militaristic people who seem to have no religious beliefs and see gods as false things. One could say if they were to worship anything, it would be the technology they find from the old ruins of the Allagan Empire. Most Garleans are extremely loyal to the Empire and to the Emperor but there is always those few who question the activities going on. It also should be noted that Garlean is the plural of Garlemald. So one could simply call a Garlean, a Garlemald. Though it doesn’t have that nice of a ring too it.

Garlemald

Garlemald is a nation north, northeast of the main region of Eorzea, its main city is named after the nation and has consumed most of the North, which is why in more modern day of Eorzea, it has started to be called just “The North” by some. Garlemald consists of mostly Hyur like people, who have a small third eye in the center of their foreheads that bare no pupil or iris. They have no religious beliefs that are known and they tend to focus fully on military training and military power. There is also some prejudices within the Garlemald people. As more nations of Eorzea were taken under its power, people not of Garlemald started to join its fold. These people are mostly treated with some respect, but normally do not gain the prestige of the natural born citizens. It was once said before Emperor Solus Zos Galvus became ruler of Garlemald, that Garlemald was a nation that had republic views. It was also a very small nation and was not the technological power or military power at all. It was when Solus Zos Galvus was born, did all this change, as he was a man who single handedly changed the face of the nation of Garlemald and her people to what it is today.

Grand Companies

The Grand Companies are military factional groups created by the three city-states. Each Grand Company is a reputation of the city-state they hail from and each with that city-states willing citizens who want to fight against the war of not only the Primals, but more so that of the Garlean threat. The Grand Company officials act like officers, who speak for the main leader of the city-state they hail from and accept any willing soul who wishes to aid in their war effort. So long as they at least prove themselves to be truly loyal and able to lift a sword to honestly fight. The Three Grand Companies are The Maelstrom; which hails from Limsa Lominsa; The Order of The Twin Adder; which hails from Gridania; and The Immortal flames; which hail from Ul’Dah. All three carry the banner of the nations they come from and the resources that nation can provide in the war effort.

Gridania

Gridania is the city-state located in the Black Shroud of the continent of Aldenard. It is the most lush and heavily forested area of Eorzea and is said to be blessed by the Elements and the Divine. It is also the most unified city-state of the three. Many races live within the city of Gridania and many have come to learn the ways of the elements. They do try to teach newcomers the way as well, in fear that woodsin may come for them if they do not. Though after the attack carried out by Bahamut and the falling into the Multiverse, out of all the city-states, it is Gridania that has also taken the greatest of tolls. As most of the forest has been burned away and a large scar remains on the surface that has yet to heal. Including by this attack and sudden fall into another world, many of the elements have become enraged and the strong Aether flow here is in imbalance.

Gyr Abania

Gyr Abania is at the eastern most location of Aldenard, bordered by the Black Shroud, Garlemald, and Xelphatol. It was taken over by Garlemald in a very early part of their conquest and is where Ala Mhigo is located that have started to make up a good majority of Garlean ground troops. The nation has by this point serves the Garlean Empire willingly, though it is known that there are a few still small pockets of resistance to the Empire within it.

H

Hydaelyn

Hydaelyn is the name of their world. It is a vast world full of many races, many mysteries, and old legends. It is also the name of the goddess, the mothercrystal who has given all things life upon the surface. Known to speak to those who possess the Echo and has chosen many of these warriors as her warriors to fight off the approaching darkness. Though what that darkness is-- is never made clear. She is also the one who created the Twelve to oversee the races of Eorzea and be the interacting force to aid them.

I

Immortal Flames
The Immortal Flames are the military force of Ul’Dah. They consist of both Mercenaries and the Palace guards known as the Sultansworn.

Ishgard

Ishgard is the mighty city ruled by four houses and the Arch Bishop known as the Holy See. Their military force mostly consists of Dragoons, but they are at war with Dravania and can’t really aid Eorzea because most of their bulk of military is handling the dragons. Ishgard people however did give Eorzea the original fundamentals on how to train chocobos for military use and are known to be some of the best breeders in Eorzea. Ishgard people are known to be very prideful of this, but as a people though they tend to also be very paranoid and secretive when it comes to “outsiders”. Ishgard itself is located in Coerthas and has some good relations with their neighboring country of Black Shroud, but after the attack done by Bahamut, they have sealed themselves up even tighter.