Old Caladan

A Journey South

Legendary figures known as the Six Archons are widely believed to have saved a great many Laërian lives during the Umbral Era. Nyunkrepf Nyunkrepfsyn, a towering giant of an hlaf-orc from beyond the Northern Wastes now known as the Archon of Knowledge, was one amongst this band of heroes. He foresaw the coming of floods through astrology, and, unable to stand idly by, made a great ship of wood, and set out upon a voyage for Laëril with a crew of volunteer sailors.   Along the way, Nyunkrepf's men rescued many souls set adrift on the seas. Yet, as they drew nearer their goal, they spied a tidal wave bearing down upon them. Knowing his vessel would be torn to splinters by the force of the water, Nyunkrepf made a desperate decision. He cast a powerful and ancient spell over the ship, knowing not where they would arrive. Thus, the crew and many refugees aboard found themselves teleported away from certain death, and perched precariously in Abalathia's Spine.  

The Long Descent

Though those aboard Nyunkrepf's ship found momentary succor, they were not alone in the mountains. Many other refugees had fled to Abalathia's Spine with little more than the clothes upon their backs, and what little sustenance they brought quickly ran out. As their hunger grew, their civility fell away. They became little better than snarling savages, fighting and killing for what little food the peaks offered.   From within his ship, Nyunkrepf watched with grief as precious lives were snuffed out by the barbarism. Knowing those he had saved would die if they tarried in the region, he and his followers fled as soon as the rains had abated. He led them unto the nrthern hinterlands, where they built a new ship. Though the seas remained rough and tossed them about, they nevertheless safely reached the isles in the northwestern seas. Having found home, Nyunkrepf and the survivors set about building a small settlement. This humble village was to grow into the mighty city of Caladan.   A New Center of Knowledge The Umbral Era passed, and the Second Astral Era dawned. Nyunkrepf's village had already advanced greatly by the start of this glorious new age, and had expanded enough to rightly be called a city. The citizens of the newly-named Caladan had pledged themselves to Nyunkrepf's teachings: to forever renounce war and walk in the light of wisdom and reason.   This spirit was evident in the city's governance. Every adult was given a voice in decisions affecting the nation's future through the great gathering known as the Ecclesia. Here, peers would discuss and debate until some consensus emerged-a system that many scholars have since called enlightened. In fact, it was in the Ecclesia that the Caladians voted to elect Sehko as their patron deity.   The city flourished under the motto of "Knowledge Seeks No Man," and a number of academies sprung up, allowing its people to expand their minds through scholarship. Of particular note was the Studium, founded in 2578. Instructing pupils in everything from aetherial studies to astromancy, it encouraged them to learn about both the arcane and the occult, and has produced a great many Archons over the ages. The Studium has made numerous discoveries that have helped Laëril as well, including the lost secrets of travel by magic.

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Note: Though its citizens are diverse, Caladan does not make population statistics public in the interest of equality

The people of Caladan came together in the pursuit of knowledge. The city itself was raised to aid in this endeavor, and in the process Sehko was named the guardian deity. However, the choice had less to do with pious worship than the creeds of the Caladians. Thus, little importance is placed upon religious rites, and many pray to others among the Gods.

Publishing: With scholars and Archons penning discourse upon discourse, it is no surprise that the city has a robust publishing industry. These learned treatises are prized by Eorzean academics and artisans, who willingly pay great sums to learn of Caladan's latest findings.   Education: Starting with the prestigious Studium, Caladan has numerous famed academies that accept students from all nations. In times past, Laërian pupils eagerly flocked to Caladan's settlement in the Dravanian hinterlands from all corners of the realm. There, they studied a multitude of subjects from different fields--though it seems instructors reserved certain wisdom for those of Caladan citizenship alone.

Teleportation Magic: Through long years of studying potential and magic, Caladan scholars have mastered the secrets of traversing the Sea of Dreams through magic circles. Indeed, by building and maintaining Laëril's teleportation agency, they have secured a steady source of foreign currency.

For greater purposes, Caladians seek to gather the knowledge of the world, and preserve it for posterity in the pages of Bibliotheca Historica. They covet the unknown and unexplored, and put great value upon education--in part as a gathering of like-minded fellows. They also abhor bloodshed, find war barbaric, and would never dream of allowing their wisdom to be used for martial purposes. As such, they guard closely all knowledge they deem dangerous.