Introduction

In The Beginning

It all began with a crystal, a crystal so bright and full of life, it can be mistaken as the brightest star in the sky. Thus the crystal, was named after the feeling it spread, the Mother Crystal.

Mother Crystal

Her purpose is quite clear to all, to safeguard and create life and spread its warmth to all living things. She is the very producer and essence of all life. She is the mother of all and the beginning of our story.

Her Origin

From within the darkness, came a shine, that shine came forth from but a speck of matter, this matter formed to become a crystal and overtime that crystal grew. The gem started to grow a consciousness and had but one thought, life
Thus matter became real; water, earth, fire, wind, ice, and lightning. Two other attributes came to be and is the alignment of all life: Light and Darkness, Harmony and Malice, Good and Evil.

Creation of the World

When Hydaelyn grew and gain consciousness she created twelve gods that governed life. Each god was tied to an element of some form and had their own responsibility. Light came from Hydaelyn like flowing water, mountains burst from within her, waters sprung out and created oceans and rivers, winds gushed out and mixed with both earth and water, forming canyons and rain, the lands became green and then it was teeming with life. Creatures of all shapes and sizes came to be. First it was the beasts upon the land and then it was the races.

Races of The Source

These races were primiative, they were young and knew nothing of the world around them. Their curiosity took them to explore the world and thus they created civilization. There are 9 main races on The Source: Au Ra, Elezen, Garlean, Hrothgar, Hyur, Lalafell, Miqo'te, Roegadyn, and Viera. There are also countless beast tribes, humanoids that are conscious but also have more animal traits than humanoid. All of the races on The Source had the spark of ingenuity and adventure, they quickly adapted to the world around them and bent it to their will. They created inventions, learned how to thrive on the land, and make use of its fruits.

The Source

Hydaelyn, also known as the Source, is the primary setting of Final Fantasy XIV. It shares its name with the Mothercrystal who guides heroes that it calls upon.
There are three main continents; Ilsabard, the continent on which the Garlean Empire was founded; Othard, a continent whose nations subjugated and absorbed into the Empire around twenty-five years prior to the game, and Aldenard, home to the realm of Eorzea and the main explorable continent of the game thus far.

Eorzea

is comprised of Aldenard, the westernmost of the Three Great Continents, and its surrounding islands, the realm of Eorzea has been the cradle of several unique civilizations throughout history. Towering mountains dominate the north, their peaks forever lashed with icy winds; to the south, a bleak expanse of unforgiving desert holds sway

The Black Shroud

The Black Shroud, also known as the Twelveswood, is a large forest in central Aldenard. Within these dense woodlands lies the city-state of Gridania; well known in Eorzea for its forestry, agriculture, carpentry and leather working trades.

Thanalan

In the southern reaches of Aldenard is a large arid region called Thanalan. In it's southern most reaches lies the great Sagolli Desert and far to the east is Pagl'than, ancestral home of the Amal'jaa.
The city-state of Ul'dah is located in these deserts. It is a popular location for visitors to partake in its fighting arenas and gambling halls. The Ul'dahn culture is known for its affluence. Despite historically being claimed sovereign by the sultan, it is under the rule of the Syndicate, an elite group comprising of the six wealthiest and most influential members of society.

Mor Dhona

Located near the west-center of Aldenard is Mor Dhona. This area is notable for a large derelict airship dominating the landscape, the Keeper of the Lake. Since the Calamity, many large crystalline deposits can be found dotting the area, including an immense Crystal Tower. As inhospitable as it is, the region has attracted many adventurers, resulting in the creation of the burgeoning town of Revenant's Toll.

Coerthas

This mountainous region contains the city-state of Ishgard. Originally featuring a temperate climate, the Calamity resulted in a transition to severe wintry conditions which have unrelentingly persisted in the years since.

Dravania

A region to the east of Coerthas featuring a temperate climate. The Dravanian Forelands and the floating isles around the peak of the mountain Sohm-Al have long been the territory of the broods of Hraesvelgr and Nidhogg. The Dravanian Hinterlands fall outside of this area, and subsequently allowed scholars from Sharlayan to found an outpost here of the same name. Since it's abandonment, a group of goblins and adventurers have made an alliance to retake the city, dubbing the Cenotaph and area immediately surrounding it "Idyllshire".

Abalathia's Spine

The mountain range that takes ups the northern part of Aldenard and prevents access to it's northern coast. It's large peaks host the Sea of Clouds, upon which float numerous islands thanks to their concentrations of wind crystals.

Gyr Abania

In the north-east of Aldenard lies Gyr Abania, a dry and mountainous region home to the city-state of Ala Mhigo. Due to the occupation of the Garlean Empire and the construction of Baelsar's Wall they were cut off for 20 years but due to the heroics of adventurers, Ala Mhigo was liberated, and the city state has joined in an alliance with the Three Grand Companies.

Ilsabard

Little is known about Ilsabard's geography, but it is known to be cold and mountainous in the north, there are temperate plains in the south where the Seeq originate, and according to Bajsaljen the southern coast of the continent is plentiful in foggy wetlands such as Gangos. Though it was once populated by many smaller nations, most have been subjugated by Garlemald and become its territories.

The capital city of Garlemald itself is in the north.

Bozja, the homeland of the Hrothgar, is in the far southeast near the Othardian kingdom Dalmasca. In addition to Hrothgar it is also known to be home to Hyur and Roegadyn.

Bozja Citadel was the former capital of Bozja until it was destroyed 15 years ago years ago by Midas nan Garlond's experiments with Dalamud, in an event known as the Bozja Incident. All that is left now is Firelight's Coffin, a crystallized crater visible from the Bozjan Southern Front.

Gangos is a wetland on Bozja's southern coast used as the base of operations for the Bozjan Resistance.

Othard

Many parts of Othard is under control of Garlemald, having invaded it once they began expanding out of Ilsabard. It was home to the city-state of Doma before its people rebelled against the imperial control and were forced to flee before their home was razed to the ground. The Garlean occupation has resulted in increasing numbers of displaced Au Ra seeking refuge in Eorzea.

Hingashi

A Far Eastern archipelago off the eastern coast of Othard, Hingashi is made up of three notable islands. It has a very strict isolationist policy and only one port, Kugane, located on Shishu, its westernmost island, is open to foreign trade. Koshu, the largest island, is the location of Bukyo, the capital of the bakufu government. The third island, Shirogane is within the domain of Kugane's bugyo and is a residential district for foreigners.

Yanxia

Through Yanxia flows the One River, upon whose shores the city-state of Doma has been built. It was occupied by Garlean rule, until it was liberated with the help of adventurers and domans under the leadership of Hien Rijin. Although it was crumbled by imperial rule, it now has a hopeful future and is in the middle of being rebuilt.

The Azim Steepe

A vast expanse of grassland that stretches across the far reaches of northern Othard, the Azim Steppe is said to be the ancestral home of the Au Ra, and remains to this day the home of the nomadic Xaela clan. Devout worshipers of the Dawn Father and the Dusk Mother─Azim and Nhaama─the Xaela are known for their unique set of beliefs. They are divided into fifty different tribes, all of which are very territorial and are engaged in a constant and fierce battle for land.

The Ruby Sea

Separating Othard and Hingashi yet ruled by neither, the Ruby Sea has, for as long as anyone can remember, been controlled by the Confederacy. To this day it remains free of any outside influence and is inhabited by a variety of peoples and beastmen, including the turtle-like Kojin. It also holds a spiraling tower Heaven-on-High, that pierces the heavens with no end on sight.