Gridania

Gridania
Wood's Will Be Done
Leader		Kan-E-Senna
Ruling Body		Seedseer Council
Patron Deity		Nophica, The Matron

In the eastern reaches of the landmass, home to vast, dense woodlands and coursing rivers, lies the forest nation of Gridania. The cityscape is a mosaic of labyrinthine waterways and great wooden structures, so gracefully constructed they seem a part of the surrounding environment.

The Gridanian emphasis on natural harmony has led to its preeminence among Eorzea's city-states in trades such as forestry, agriculture, carpentry, and leatherworking. Gridania is also home to the Wood Wailers, a militant band of polearm-wielding sentries charged with the protection of their homeland.

The favored goddess of the citizenry is Nophica, the Matron, but great faith is also placed in the wisdom of the Seedseers—young oracles who guide the nation based on the will of the forest's elementals.

Governance

The rule of Gridania falls to the Seedseer Council, a body composed of chosen officials known as Hearers. These conjurers are able to commune with the elementals, and decide the course of the city-state through discussion and consensus. Around the time of the Calamity, however, Gridania's fate was so uncertain that Kan-E-Senna -- the Elder Seedseer and head of the Council-- assumed direct control. At present, she continues to preside over all affairs of state.

Culture

Religion

Nophica, tender to the soils and goddess of good harvests, is the patron deity of Gridania. While She does not want for devotees in other lands, only in the Twelveswood does one find the curious belief that the elementals are sprung from Her essence. These beings are at once the force of the forest's vitality and its defenders, ever ready to purge invaders from amongst the trees. Their presence is felt most keenly in the everyday life of Gridanians, and many are the festivals and rituals performed in honor of the elementals.

Beliefs

Gridanians know the blessings bestowed upon them by the elementals, and heed to their will. Behind this lies a fear of disturbing the Twelveswood, and being cast from the forest by enraged elementals- just as the Ixal once were. Yet, Gridanians have earned a reputation as stubborn amongst the other city-states of Eorzea, as they can so unyielding in their commitment to the forest laws as to appear un-adaptable and brittle.

Diet

The bounty of the Black Shroud graces the Gridanian table, from fruit to vegetables to the meat of forest game. Yet, there are a few who feel this fare lacks in flavour. As animal husbandry is forbidden- lest the creatures upset the wood's balance - dairy goods are few and far between. Instead, Gridanians drink Mun-Tuy tonic, a concoction brewed from beans of the same name. In fact, many products made of fermented Mun-Tuy are known as Gridanian delicacies the realm over.

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.

Geography

Old Gridania

New Gridania