Limsa Lominsa

Limsa Lominsa is a city-state located in Eorzea. It is divided into two sections: the upper decks and the lower decks. It can be found on the southern coast of the island of Vylbrand, under the shadow of ancient cliffs worn by the relentless onslaught of The Rhotano Sea. Said to be blessed by the goddess of navigation, Llymlaen, the city is spread out over countless tiny islands, each connected by tiny ivory bridges. It is this that has earned her the name the "Navigator's Veil" from traveling bards who have witnessed the city's beauty from afar.

Legend holds that Limsa Lominsa was founded shortly after the remnants of a giant armada fled from its homeland following a crushing defeat. Llymlaen is said to have taken pity on the plight of these brave sailors, and guided them to the shallows of a rocky bay where their ships were grounded upon the sharp rocks. With no home to return to, the sailors chose to settle in this newly-found land, and use the remnants of their vessels to begin construction of a city.

However, the sailors never forget their nautical backgrounds, and once a new fleet was in order, they would take to the waters again. It was only a matter of time before their influence spread and they ruled the five seas of Eorzea. Thus, the Limsan thalassocracy was born.

Remnants of this legend live on even today in the nation's ruling party, whose members still address their leader as Admiral.

While fishing and shipbuilding are prominent, a majority of the city's wealth comes from the shipping industry, with over half of the city's population being employed in logistics. To maintain shipping routes, the thalassocracy employs a powerful navy known as the Knights of the Barracuda, who patrol the Eorzean seas, ensuring safe passage for all those who do business with the nation.

However, even in the waters nearby, pirate bands run rampant, reaving and pillaging, leading neighboring nations to suspect that the Knights of the Barracuda and local bandits are in some way working together to profit off of unwary traders.

The guilds of Limsa Lominsa
The choice of guild can prove the defining moment in an adventurer's budding career, and Limsa Lominsa offers a wide variety of unique options, many of which include businesses and organizations that constitute the backbone of the coastal city's government and economy.

The Mizzenmast
Built around the remnants of the Galadion -- a legendary battleship whose grounding off the shores of Vylbrand marked the humble beginnings of Limsa Lominsa -- the Towering Mizzenmast stands at the center of all that goes on in the city-state.

The bottom level is a veritable citadel, fortified with yalm-thick stone walls dotted with arrow loops and murder holes to fend off invaders in the event of an attack. On the middle levels can be found both a bustling pub and a cozy inn, while the uppermost levels comprise the offices of high-ranking thalassocratic officials, including the city-state's leader -- The Admiral.

Limsa Lominsa's airship landing is also located near the top of the tower, allowing for the safe disembarkation and boarding of passengers without the need for pilots to contend with the treacherous air currents swirling in the bay below.

The Octant
This grand outdoor plaza situated below the Mizzenmast earned its name for the resemblance it bears to the revolutionary nautical instrument invented by maritime scientist and "father of modern navigation", Hivabbu Gnonno.

During daylight hours, the round resounds with the cries of mountebanks, the songs of bards, and the laughter of children marvelin at the many talents of mummers' troupes. Yet come nightfall, the plaza assumes quite another aspect. Bedraped by the soft light of the moon, its steps become a private theater for lovers seeking to gaze upon the timeless drama of the heavens.

Pharos Polaris
Erected over decades out of bright white chalk mined from nearby cliffs, this collosal lighthouse is a beacon for sailors braving the night seas, her light providing safe passage through the perilous shallows of Galadion bay.

Few, save the candlekeeps who maintain a constant vigil over the flames, know anything about the pale blue light which emanates from atop the spire. Some say it comes from the maw of an arcane bomb, locked in a cage and tormented until its anger burns bright. Others say the keeps themselves are powerful mages who use their thaumaturgies to capture the rays of the sun each day, only to release them again at night.

Hawkers' Alley
Amidst the pungent aromas of smoke and spice, merchants from the four corners of Eorzea and beyond gather in this corner of city-state, peddling their tramontane wares to all who would buy, while providing a lifeline for those crafters hailing from the faraway nations of Gridania and Ul'dah.

However, the Markets of Limsa Lominsa are not limited to the cluttered confines of this narrow boulevard. On several of the lesser islands speckled about the bay can be found neighborhoods such as the Frippers Ward and the Leechers War -- homes to guilds and workshops of innumerable trades.

It is within these wards that many adventurers have chosen to set up retainer-run stalls, selling everything from the assorted spoils of their exploits to the fruits of their craft-du-jour.