Coerthas Central Highlands

Map of Coerthas Central Highlands

Type: Zone
Zone: Coerthas
(Aldenard)
Connects to: Mor Dhona (SW)
North Shroud (S)
Foundation (N)
Aetherytes: Camp Dragonhead (X:26.0, Y:16, Z:4)

“

The Coerthas central highlands are the gateway to the capital, which is why Ishgard long ago established several strongholds at the base of the Nail, many of which have been damaged or destroyed in recent years by the Dravanians.

— In-game description

Coerthas Central Highlands is a zone in Coerthas.
Level 1 & 50 Striking Dummies are located at (13.2, 16.9).

Locations

Area	Points of Interest
Dragonhead	First Dicasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena Chocobo Porter Griffin Crossing Skyfire Locks Battle on the Big Bridge
Haldrath's March
Camp Dragonhead	Camp Dragonhead Chocobo Porter
Providence Point	Witchdrop Steel Vigil The Ogre's Belly The Weeping Saint Natalan A Relic Reborn: The Chimera Xelphatol
Boulder Downs	The Aurum Vale Hall of the Seven Echoes Monument Tower The Fury's Gaze Daniffen Pass Dzemael Darkhold Dzemael Darkhold The Aurum Vale
Whitebrim	The Stone Vigil Behemoth's Dominion Snowcloak
Whitebrim Front	Chocobo Porter
Natalan	The Howling Eye (Hard)

Activities

Coerthas Central Highlands Sidequests

Coerthas Central Highlands FATEs

Shops & Services

Merchant Name	Merchant Location
Merchant & Mender	(X:26.3, Y:16.4)
Merchant & Mender	(X:26.2, Y:27.8)
Merchant & Mender	(X:13.2, Y:15.9)

Enemies

Normal

Vistas

Players can unlock the Sightseeing Log by completing the level 20 quest A Sight to Behold. After completing the first 20 vistas, players can unlock the remaining vistas by talking to the NPC Millith Ironheart in Old Gridania (X:10.7, Y:6.0).

#	Name	Zone	Coordinate	Weather	Time	Emote	Comment
68	The Nail	Coerthas Central Highlands	(X:25.4, Y:29.9)	Fair Skies Clear Skies	17:00-18:00	Lookout	Top of the Observatorium on the ladder under the telescope. Jump onto the lamp closest to the ladder and then onto the ladder itself.
69	The Observatorium	Coerthas Central Highlands	(X:25.4, Y:29.8)	Fog	18:00-5:00	Lookout	Take a couple of steps down from the first floor and walk/fall off into the center of the tower, landing on the highest chandelier.
70	The Frozen Fang	Coerthas Central Highlands	(X:11.7, Y:15.8)	Blizzards	8:00-12:00	Lookout	From the base of the stairs at (11.0,15.5) walk along the small ledge that sticks out until you're at the middle of the semi-circle part of the bridge.
71	The Holy See of Ishgard	Coerthas Central Highlands	(X:12.8, Y:17.3, Z:1.4)	Fair Skies Clear Skies	5:00-8:00	Lookout	Top of the tower on the over-arch. After climbing the stone spiral staircase, enter the small room and use the wooden stairs to get all the way up.
72	Boulder Downs	Coerthas Central Highlands	(X:7.8, Y:28.9, Z:1.8)	Fair Skies Clear Skies	17:00-18:00	Lookout	Top of monument tower next to the NPC standing next to the top of the stairs.
73	The Fury's Gaze	Coerthas Central Highlands	(X:7.9, Y:31.3)	Blizzards	18:00-5:00	Lookout	Inside the cave before you reach the plasmoids.
74	Snowcloak	Coerthas Central Highlands	(X:2.2, Y:21.4)	Fair Skies Clear Skies	8:00-12:00	Lookout	Climb up to the highest ledge.
75	Camp Dragonhead	Coerthas Central Highlands	(X:26.5, Y:17.7)	Fair Skies Clear Skies	12:00-17:00	Lookout	Climb up to the eastern battlements and head south to draw parallel to the green-roofed building. Jump up onto a higher crenelation that's in line with a buttress opposite and sprint one step and jump over to the building.
76	The Steel Vigil	Coerthas Central Highlands	(X:28.2, Y:10.3)	Fair Skies Clear Skies	5:00-8:00	Lookout	On the broken arch of the ruins. Start climbing from the most South Eastern edge of the broken wall. The vista is just on the other side of the steeple.

Achievements

This zone is associated with the following achievements:

Name	Points	Task	Reward	Patch
Mapping the Realm: Coerthas Central Highlands	10	Visit the Coerthas central highlands and unlock the area map.	-	2.1

Music

Condition	Theme
Main (day only)	Fealty
Natalan	Flightless Wings
Observatorium	Undying Faith
Camp Dragonhead, Whitebrim Front	The Dragon's Dirge
Battle	The Land Breaks

Images

Steel Vigil
Natalan
the Gates of Judgement
Camp Dragonhead
the Central Highlands before the Calamity (during 1.x)

Lore

Dragonhead

The first knights to settle and build the fortress in Coerthas were said to have named the area after the unusual shape of its rocky outcroppings, which to them resembled the severed head of a dragon.

First Dicasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena

Three hundred years ago, Ishgardian astrologian Adaunel the Younger convinced the Holy See that he could predict the comings and goings of the Dravanian Horde by studying the movements of the heavens, and thus secured funding for the construction of the Observatorium and its grand astroscope.

Griffin Crossing

This massive viaduct which once provided passage to the Coerthas eastern highlands is immortalized in Ishgardian legend as the location where King Thordan and his knights twelve fought the great wyrm Nidhogg. A portion of the bridge was destroyed during the Seventh Umbral Calamity and is currently undergoing repair.

Skyfire Locks

Built into the rolling knolls so that they appear smaller than they actually are, the Skyfire Locks are a series of defensive fortifications which may be used as shelters for merchants and smallfolk to escape an assault from above.

Camp Dragonhead

An Ishgardian stronghold situated atop Haldrath’s March and under the command of House Fortemps, this camp is responsible for ensuring the safety of the smallfolk and merchants traveling to and from Ishgard.

Providence Point

According to the Enchiridion, the vision of the Promised Land which King Thordan received prompting him to lead his people to Coerthas was of this very vista overseeing the Sea of Clouds.

Witchdrop

Those accused of heresy under Ishgardian law are sometimes made to answer to a higher power, and are thus cast into this gorge. If they are deemed innocent in the eyes of Halone, their death will be quick, and their soul gently guided to Her halls. However, if the accused is indeed guilty of consorting with dragons, then they will surely spread their fiendish wings to save themselves from the sharp crags below. Their absconsion will surely be fleeting, though, as the presiding inquisitor is often accompanied by a skilled bowman to shoot any who try to escape.

Steel Vigil

Under the authority of House Haillenarte, the Steel Vigil was Ishgard’s eastern watchtower, and warned the Holy See of aerial attacks for centuries before being razed and gutted by the Dravanian Horde and their vile commander, Svara. As if relinquishing the citadel was not misfortune enough, the Count de Haillenarte also lost his third son and commander of the Vigil, Ser Chlodebaimt, to Svara’s snapping thralls.

The Ogre’s Belly

Thought to be the den of ogres and other unsavory beasts, the locals tell of men who sought shelter from the harsh snowstorms, only to be “swallowed” up by the cavern’s twisting paths.

The Weeping Saint

Ishgardian legend tells that this grotto was where Saint Daniffen came to mourn the maiden he loved that was murdered by a basilisk, and later vowed retribution on the fiend and its kin. The icy waters which trickle down from the mountains and form pools are said to be the saint’s tears, and they are often collected for use in the church’s purification rituals and in the production of sacramental wine.

Natalan

Intended to function as an outpost, the Ixal established Natalan to take advantage of the strong updrafts from the valley below to launch their dirigibles. As the population increased, it was gradually expanded and fortified.

Boulder Downs

Before the Calamity, Boulder Downs was a vast sloped lea littered with moraine deposited by realm-swallowing glaciers long receded. The rain of debris that accompanied the fall of Dalamud, however, transformed the landscape into a frozen wasteland pocked with gaping impact craters and peculiar dark matter formations.

Aurum Vale

The Aurum Vale is, contrary to its name, not a valley of riches, but rather a series of underground caves containing precious deposits of mythril and sulphur. However, these coveted veins are largely submerged in heated groundwater, triggering a chemical reaction which results in puddles of a highly toxic sludge known as goldbile.

Hall of the Seven Echoes

So high are its walls, were one to cry out while traversing this narrow canyon road linking Mor Dhona to the Coerthas central highlands, it is said her voice would echo seven times.

Monument Tower

Pilgrims of the Ishgardian faith often stop here to pray to the sacred stone suspended within the Fury’s Gaze—a holy place guarded by the Temple Knights stationed within the tower.

Daniffen Pass

Ishgardian scripture asserts that this winding cavern is the selfsame one traversed by Saint Daniffen long ago. As a result, pilgrims from the Holy See attempting to walk in the saint’s footsteps are a common sight.

Dzemael Darkhold

As its name suggests, the construction of the Darkhold was financed by House Dzemael, which sought to utilize existing underground caves to build a flawless fortification to defend against the Dravanian Horde. However, construction was postponed indefinitely when the house’s digging uncovered an entrance to the void, from which an army of voidsent emerged.

Whitebrim

When one peers to the north from atop Whitebrim’s jagged cliffs, she can spy the Holy See of Ishgard; yet if she were to look down, they would see naught but an endless sea of white clouds, and it is for this sight which Whitebrim was named.

Whitebrim

When one peers to the north from atop Whitebrim’s jagged cliffs, she can spy the Holy See of Ishgard; yet if she were to look down, they would see naught but an endless sea of white clouds, and it is for this sight which Whitebrim was named.

Whitebrim front

Under the command of Lord Drillemont of House Durendaire, Whitebrim Front is a relatively new outpost established for the purpose of quartering the Temple Knights tasked with retaking the Stone Vigil.

Stone vigil

This great watchtower was constructed as part of the last line of defense before the Dravanian Horde would reach the city proper. Once the responsibility of House Haillenarte, which supplied it with the most advanced cannons, airships, and other weaponry, it suffered severe damage during the Calamity, and was overrun and occupied by the Dravanians soon after.

Behemoth’s dominion

Although this valley appears to be a prime tract of land for settlement, it is a kingdom already claimed by a terrible beast which occasionally descends from the mountains to wreak havoc: the behemoth. The first sightings of the behemoth were reported after shards of Dalamud fell to the earth, leading to speculation that the monster came from within the false moon. Thus the behemoth is thought to be “Bahamut’s spawn” despite its anatomical dissimilarity to dragons.

Snowcloak

Formed in the aftermath of the Calamity, the great ice wall has long been thought an impenetrable barrier between central and western Coerthas. In truth, however, the wall is riddled with hidden tunnels, which heretics have employed as a base of operations. ^[1]

References

↑ Encyclopaedia Eorzea: Volume I, page 162

[1] Encyclopaedia Eorzea: Volume I, page 162

[1]

Coerthas Central Highlands

Contents

Locations

Activities

Shops & Services