Editing Category:Gridania (section)

== History ==
=== Blood Between Men ===
In the latter 7th century of the [[Sixth Astral Era]], the second migration of [[Hyur]] came upon [[Eorzea]], forcing [[Elezen]] from their lands and into [[the Black Shroud]]. The [[elementals]] looked upon these settlers as intruders, and sought to purge their presence from amongst the trees. Surviving accounts of this period describe chaos; the [[Elezen]] lacked knowledge of the elementals' existence, and knew not what attacked them. In time, they realised what had befallen their people, and sought respite from the merciless onslaught in the caverns deep beneath the forest. They escaped annihilation- but at the cost of many [[Elezen]] lives.
Fifty years later, population grown pushed the Hyur to enter the forest as well. Upon finding people already ensconced underground, they challenged the [[Elezen]] for ownership of the habitable caves. Quarrel soon led to conflict, and the two races came to cross blades time and again.
=== Gelmorra ===
Though this conflict raged for decades, overtures towards peace had begun by around the year 740. Realising they had a common goal in avoiding the [[elementals]]' hostile gaze, the [[Hyur]] and [[Elezen]] put aside their differences. The two war-weary races sealed a pact, that both might prosper beneath the Twelveswood. The fruit of their alliance was [[Gelmorra]], a great subterranean city. For three centuries, the [[Elezen]] and Hyuran laboured to expand their home, burrowing between natural caves and shoring up the passages with walls of stone. In time, Gelmorra's intricate network of tunnels would come to put any antlings' nest to shame.
Around 1020, however, a great change came over the Twelveswood. Since times of eld, the elementals had allowed the Ixal to live within their forest. Yet suddenly, they cast the beastmen from the Shroud. What caused such a radical change in the elementals? The commonly accepted reason is that the Ixal population had grown too great for their area of the forest to support. For this defiance, exile was their reward. When the Gelmorrans learned of this, they realized that a chance was upon them to negotiate for land above ground. Those verse in the magic gathered, seeking a way to commune with the elementals through their art.
=== A New Nation ===
For a long while, the mages' attempts went unanswered. However, with perseverance came success. After fifty years of effort, they finally succeeded in relaying their wishes to the elementals. On the understanding that the Gelmorrans would defend the forest, the elementals gave them permission to return to the light of day. As a blessing and of proof of the accord, they bestowed a glowing light upon Jorin Lightheart, the Hyuran leader of the mages. Thus, the Gelmorrans abandoned the caves and began building a home amidst the Jadeite Thick. They christened this new city Gridania.
Just as people were growing accustomed to their lives above ground, a child was born to the house of Jorin. Curiously, the child had horns, and never seemed to age beyond childhood, no matter how many years passed. Most extraordinary of all, the child could hear the elementals' thoughts and began to act as their emissary. With time, Gridanians came to realize the child was the selfsame blessing given to Jorin- a bridge betwixt man and elemental. These horn beings came to be venerated as Padjal, and continue to be born to Hyuran houses on rare occasions. To this day, they serve as the honored leaders of Gridania. 
=== The Autumn War ===
In the 1,468th year of the Sixth Astral Era, King Manfred of Ala Mhigo suddenly laid claim to the East Shroud. He raised a mighty army, and ordered it to cross the Velodyna River- the true border of Gridania. In haste, Gridania sent its Wood Wailers and Gods' Quiver against the invaders. They met in the First Battle of Tinolqa, where Ala Mhigo triumphed over the defenders, and routed Gridanians to Five Hangs.
In the face of crisis, Gridania entreated the other city-states of Eorzea to dispatch their armies. Since ascending the throne, Manfred's unconcealed hunger for land had not gone unnoticed by Ishgard, Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa. In 1469, these three answered Gridania's call with a great army. Reinforcements at its rear, Gridania rallied and drove the invading army back to the East End. There, in the Second Battle of Tinolqa, the alliance forces slew General Gylbarde of Ala Mhigo and Gridania was victorious in defending it's borders.
Known as the Autumn War, this conflict demonstrated to the realm that Gridania had answered the elementals' call and stood ready to defend the Twelveswood from all intruders. Nethertheless, in more recent times Ala Mhigo has fallen into the hands of the Garlean Empire, and Gridania has done little to halt the imperial advance.