Black Shroud / Legacy The Black Shroud is a region in " Final Fantasy XIV " . It is the forest region surrounding the city - state of Gridania . The forest itself is known to take the lives of anyone who does not heed the Elementals , a danger often referred to as the " woodwrath " . This makes it a natural filter against those would would bear arms against Gridania , though that hasn ' t stopped Garlemald from trying . The region contains the dungeon areas of The Mun - Tuy Cellars , The Tam - Tara Deepcroft , and the Thousand Maws of Toto - Rak . It is connected to Thanalan to the south , Mor Dhona to the south west , and Coerthas to the north west . It is also connected to two inaccessible regions : Xelphatol and Gyr Abania . Hamlets and Cabins . Quarrymill . Quarrymill is located at grid reference ( 44 , 47 ) , east of Tranquil . It is the destination for the Tranquil Caravan as well as a location used in several quests . Hyrstmill . Hyrstmill is located at grid reference ( 24 , 13 ) , north east of Treespeak in the North Shroud . It is the destination for the Treespeak Caravan , and the location of Black Shroud ' s Hamlet Defense . It also contains an Achievement NPC . Seasonal Events . Hyrstmill was used during the winter holiday events . Players would be rewarded after throwing snowballs ( using a seasonal emote ) at a snowman named Father Frost to help usher in the snow , the absence of which was considered a sign of the impending Seventh Umbral Era . Later , during the New Years event , the gigantic snowman mysteriously vanished . It was later revealed to be an Ice Elemental Incarnate ( the form of a Goobbue ) trapped in a gem called the " Heart of Winter " . Buscarron ' s Fold . Buscarron ' s Fold is located at grid reference ( 35 , 43 ) along the Furline , the path connecting the Central and South Shroud . Here stands the Achievement NPC Milith Ironheart , in charge of Dungeon Achievements . The Hawthorne Hut . The Hawthorne Hut is located at grid reference ( 50 , 32 ) , southeast of Camp Nine Ivies . Dungeons . Milith Ironheart , the NPC in charge of Dungeon Achievements , mentions an ancient subterranean civilization called " Gelmorra " , which existed before Gridania " when man feared the wrath of the elementals and lived in the shadow of the Ixal " . They were responsible for constructing the dungeons beneath the Black Shroud . Mun - Tuy Cellars . The Mun - Tuy Cellars can be accessed from a tunnel near Camp Emerald Moss towards the north - west of the map . In - game the player will find it at grid reference ( 24 , 18 ) , and also at ( 20 , 13 ) . The Mun - Tuy cellars are a subterranean winery , with yeast beds and cellars for aging , pressing , ripening , running , blending , fining , and wizening , as well as two - priming wells in the middle . The monsters in the area are all below Level 40 , ranging from squirrels to yarzons . Tam - Tara Deepcroft . The Tam - Tara Deepcroft is located near Camp Bent Branch towards to center of the map at grid reference ( 34 , 35 ) . It is a necropolis infested with puks in nearly every hall . Boars , floating eyes , gnats , and imps have also made it their home , and the undead roam the tombs . All monsters here are below Level 50 . The Thousand Maws of Toto - Rak . The Thousand Maws of Toto - Rak is an instanced dungeon located near Camp Tranquil at grid reference ( 39 , 44 ) . It is restricted to parties of two to four Disciples of War or Magic level 25 or greater . It is thick with Aether , and adventurers will be teleported safely outside if their stay reaches 30 minutes . The Garlean Empire have placed magitek devices throughout the dungeon that create barriers to block off paths . Each device can be turned off after finding four hidden photocells . There are also notes scattered throughout detailing the unfortunate fate of an investigation team . It is used in the optional quest " Imperial Devices " , but can be entered again for unique challenges , achievements , and rewards which can be redeemed for Grand Company seals . The quest does not require the party to defeat any of the three diremite bosses , but the rewards for defeating the strongest boss can be worthwhile . A level 50 adventurer , particularly a Black Mage , can complete the dungeon ' s speed challenge by them self , though a second party member is required to enter . Landmarks . There are several hidden landmarks throughout Eorzea , many of which are found in the Black Shroud . Many of these landmarks are indicated on the map in Eorzean , but otherwise go unmarked and in many cases unused . Airship Landing . An airship landing ramp that may have been built for use by Ishgard in their trade with Gridania , located around grid reference ( 19 , 16 ) . There are other landings like it in Coerthas , and an NPC mentions that Ishgardian airships stop at them on their way to Gridania . There are no such ramps in either Thanalan or La Noscea . They currently serve no purpose to players apart from adding to the scenery . White Willow . The White Willow is easily found at grid reference ( 23 , 19 ) , in the middle of the clearing on the way from Emerald Moss to the Mun - Tuy Cellars . Though easy to miss at night or in bad weather , it glows an angelic white in the sunlight . Lifemend Stump . Lifemend Stump is a marked clearing just off the main road on the way to Camp Emerald Moss . It is a giant flat stump , the top having been cut cleanly and horizontally , with a primitive pattern made of stones on top . Gridanians will sometimes journey here to leave broken items for the Moogles to mend . It is used in one of the Conjurer class quests , as well as the main scenario for Gridania . Stump of Births . Often overlooked at grid reference ( 21 , 13 ) , the trees here have been cut down . Such blatant deforestation of Black Shroud is considered a travesty by Elementals and Gridanians alike . Moonspore Grove . Moonspore Grove is located at grid reference ( 53 , 20 ) . It is the nesting ground of the Sylphs . While the Grove is entirely blocked off by boulders , players can peek in to see white plants that glow red , and propped - up triangular tarps shelters . On the way to the Grove one can encounter , and even fight , many Sylphs leveled in the low 40s . Their houses also make worthy sights , glowing from the tree trunks in small clusters . The plants in the area are noticeably different , almost luminous . The Honey Yard . Caravan Security Goldleaf Dais . Located at grid reference ( 55 , 21 ) , Goldleaf Dais is another structure built by the Sylphs . It is a wooden platform with a leaf - shaped table and an elongate altar . Above the altar is a lightning bolt emblem . The Dais is entered via the stairs in front , but a decorative chain bars passage at the top of the stairs . These stairs are indicative of their good relations with other beast tribes and humans , as the Sylphs are able to levitate without ever landing . Sorrel Haven . While the Aetherial Gate is pretty easy to spot , just southwest at grid reference ( 27 , 38 ) is a giant tree now used for the White Mage Level 50 climax . Oak Tree . The Oak Tree is located at grid reference ( 10 , 28 ) , just southwest of Lichenweed . It is unique in that it has lost all of its leaves . It spikes high upward in wicked branches . Gelmorra Ruins . The Gelmorra Ruins are located at grid reference ( 21 , 8 ) . It is a large circular altar with dilapidated columns surrounding it and dotted with glowing stones protruding from the bricks at regular intervals . As mentioned above , the Gelmorrans lived primarily underground , and this may be their only above - ground structure . This is one of the most heavily - guarded parts of the world , as most of the monsters in the area are above Level 70 and some will detect by scent , meaning anyone who goes near will be slaughtered . Nevertheless , they are one of the most thought - provoking sights outside the common adventuring territories . Knights ' Round . Located at grid reference ( 14 , 40 ) , like most of the Turning Leaf area it is guarded by notorious monster trees called Guardians of the Grove . The hog Buata can be fought for a key item related to the Good King Moggle Mog XII quest . This location subtly alludes to the Knights of the Round and their namesake from Arthurian Lore . Musical themes . " Emerald Labyrinth " played in all of the Black Shroud areas . The battle theme of this area is " The Forest ' s Pulse " . Criticism & Reception . In " Legacy " , the Black Shroud was generally the single most - criticized and least - liked zone in the entire game ; not only did the vast majority of the map consist of narrow , twisting paths , making navigation tremendously cumbersome ( doubly so in the early days before chocobos were available ) but this same zone design made it clear , more than any other zone in the game , just how extensive and pervasive the developers ' use of " copy - pasted " terrain features was . Unlike other maps , where it was marginally better - concealed , even an untrained user can discern all of the repeated terrain and map elements of the Shroud , without the need for a visual aid . This made the Shroud something of a symbol for the game ' s failings , and while it still saw traffic , generally it was only used if a player absolutely needed to go there . Later patches added very little content to the Shroud ; the only notable pieces of content for the area were the Gridanian versions of Hamlet Defense and Caravan Security and the entrance for the Good King Moggle Mog encounter , as the developers were aware of the players ' general dislike for the area ( and the design of the zone made it difficult to add any content ) . This all resulted in the Shroud being by far the most altered zone in the " Realm Reborn " version . While other zones are somewhat recognizable and flow in roughly a similar manner , the Shroud was reworked from the bottom - up : the " central " area was expanded , the " west " area was made completely inaccessible ( as a result of the Calamity ) , the narrow paths were removed entirely in favor of free - range fields broken up by large trees , and large parts of the landscape were completely redesigned to facilitate better gameplay flow and potential for content expansion .