Eorzea Eorzea is the setting of " Final Fantasy XIV " . It is a region within the world of Hydaelyn , and comprises the Aldenard continent and its outlying islands . Profile . 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 . Yet these inhospitable lands hold irresistible lure for man and monster alike , for wide and deep flow the currents of aether , and rich are the veins of power - infused crystal . In this harsh though vibrant region , the people of Eorzea have carved out their histories — a cycle of prosperous Astral and disastrous Umbral eras . The First Umbral Era brought an end to the age of the gods , and there have been six such eras of calamity since the First Astral Era ushered in the age of man . Each of the Umbral catastrophes has , in turn , borne the characteristics of one of the six elements . With all the elements now represented , it was believed the current Astral era would last into eternity . But in the seventh verse of the Divine Chronicles , Mezaya Thousand Eyes prophesied a less fortunate fate . The " senary sun , " or Sixth Astral Era , would indeed end , and the " septenary moon , " or Seventh Umbral Era , would cast its shadow upon the land . Geography . The vast realm of Eorzea , comprising the continent of Aldenard and its outlying islands , has seen the rise of a civilization with peoples as diverse as its environs . Throughout its history , the landscape has played home to a number of city - states — the tenuous relations among them fluctuating between friendly and hostile . The pantheon of the Twelve is followed devoutly by most , and doctrine holds that the past wars of the realm were the wars of the heavens , with the gods and goddesses laying their favor with nations to champion them . In this way , war spread throughout the realm , discouraging unity and peace . As a result , years passed without the lay of the land and its borders ever being mapped in their entirety . It was not until some 70 years ago , when an intrepid soul set out to wander the land , at great peril to himself , that the first map of Eorzea was completed . Since then , the original rendering has been amended and improved by others , and the form it takes today is used by adventurers across the realm as an indispensable guide on their travels . Climate . For the most part Eorzea ' s climate ranges from temperate in the north to sub - tropical in the south , with the southernmost part of Aldenard being a harsh desert . However , the aetherial disturbances at the start of the Seventh Umbral Era brought about a number of sudden changes to the climate in the few years since the Battle of Carteneau . For example , more rainforests have appeared in La Noscea , eastern Thanalan has begun shifting to a more semi - arid savannah biome , while Coerthas has experienced a perpetual winter . City - States . Eorzea is comprised of six major city - states : Limsa Lominsa . Located on the southern coast of the island Vylbrand , Limsa Lominsa is spread out across numerous surrounding islands , all connected by bridges . The marine city - state is a thalassocracy , currently under the power of the ruling party and its leader , the Admiral . Limsa Lominsa ' s economy is driven by shipbuilding , fishing and blacksmithing , but largely by the lucrative shipping industry . Gridania . Gridania is located in the east of the Aldenard continent , within dense woodlands and coursing rivers . It is well known in Eorzea for its forestry , agriculture , carpentry and leather working trades - a product of Gridania ' s emphasis on harmony with nature and the forest ' s Elementals . Ul ' dah . The city - state of Ul ' dah is located in the deserts of southern Aldenard . 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 . Ishgard . The Holy See of Ishgard is found in the central region of Abalathia ' s Spine , the highlands of Coerthas . The archbishop of the Ishgardian Orthodox Church rules as the nation ' s sovereign . For a thousand years , they have waged war with the great wyrm Nidhogg and his Dravanian Horde . Ala Mhigo . This city - state is located in the region of Gyr Abania , situated upon the eastern highlands of Aldenard . Though this aggressive nation frequently sought to conquer its neighbors in the west , at the same time it repelled countless invasions from the east in Ilsebard . It finally succumbed in the Year 1557 to incursions from the mighty Garlean Empire , and now is reduced to an imperial province . Sharlayan . Though not truly a city - state in the strictest sense , the same - named colony of Sharlayan in the Dravanian hinterlands came to be considered among the great city - states as it grew into a major city of learning . However , when Ala Mhigo fell to Garlemald , the Sharlayans decided to return to their northern homeland in a mass exodus , leaving the city abandoned .