Sharlayan Sharlayan is a nation of scholars in " Final Fantasy XIV " . Located on an island to the north of Eorzea , Sharlayan is well - known for being being a city of scholarship , and the Circle of Knowing , Sons of Saint Coinach , and Students of Baldesion all hail from the city - state . Appropriately , their patron deity is Thaliak the Scholar . Until recently , they had established a colony in the Dravania n hinterlands , which grew prosperous enough to be counted among Eorzea ' s great city - states . With the fall of Ala Mhigo , the Sharlayans elected to evacuate the colony in anticipation of turmoil that would engulf the realm , in accordance to their policy of neutrality . The abandoned city became accessible in " " expansion . Old World . Limited information is known of the nation of Sharlayan , beyond their members in the Scions of the Seventh Dawn . Though a highly academic and scholastic nation , they seldom involve themselves in international politics , and withdrew from Eorzea once it became apparent Garlemald was intent on conquest . They are located in the " Old World " to the north of Eorzea . Their main governing body is the Forum . The Astrologian job quests present a more cynical viewpoint , as the Sharlayan government seems to be selective in what knowledge it is willing to share with other nations . It is implied that sharing knowledge without sanction is even considered an act of treason . This isolationist stance is largely due to the dominant Bibliothec faction , who advocate hoarding knowledge and observing history from the sidelines . Nevertheless , the Circle of Knowing , led by the sage Louisoix Leveilleur , chose to go against official policy and intervene directly in the prophecy of the Divine Chronicles . Eorzean colony . The Sharlayans had set up a research colony during the Sixth Astral Era along the Thaliak river in Dravania , southwest of the territory held by the Dravanian Horde . Over time , it grew until it became counted among the city - states of Eorzea . The Garlean invasion prompted a mass exodus back to the motherland — leaving behind their buildings and artifacts , including the Great Gubal Library . At least one scholar , Matoya , stubbornly refused to leave , staying within her cave . The abandoned settlement would soon attract treasure hunters seeking treasures the Sharlayans left behind , including the goblins . Though normally a nomadic beast - tribe , the goblins who arrived made an unorthodox decision to create a settlement at the northern end of the city ruins called Idyllshire , along with other treasure hunters . These prospects were enough to prompt Rowena to expand her business there . Not all who arrived in the hinterlands have honest intentions though . Many less savory types such as brigands have sought the wealth of Sharlayan , often at the detriment of the current inhabitants . The goblin " Illuminati " — whose devotion to knowledge is said to rival Sharlayan itself — have set up operations at the vacant Arkitechton , and have no qualms about attacking the other goblin settlers and treasure - seekers with their military equipment . Even worse , they decided to summon a primal in an old defense mecha at the Tipped Ewer .