Gwynham Ironheart.
Gwynham Ironheart is a historical figure in Final Fantasy XI and one of the two primary figures behind the quest found in Selbina called An Explorer's Footsteps. One of the gems of the intricately created world of Vana'diel are the 17 stone tablets erected Gwynham and his daughter Enid, exalting the beauty of the continents. Further information was added about this figure, in addition to what can be learned in the game, from the game publication "Vana'diel Tribune", listed below.
Vana'diel Tribune Information[]
- Gwynham Ironheart
- Seaman. Adventurer. Cartographer.
- 688 - 765
Ironheart was once the captain of a trading vessel plying the Bastore Sea, but a chance meeting with disaster cost him both his ship and his crew. Never one to dwell on misfortune, the elderly Hume took up the profession of adventurer and set out on foot to map all the lands of Vana'diel. His seemingly ludicrous plan was originally the source of much derision and amusement; however, once the precision of his cartography became well known amongst sailors and travelers, the Kingdom of San d'Oria and the Republic of Bastok acknowledged the value (and danger) of his work with financial backing.
Ironheart eventually met a heroic demise at the hands of Orcish marauders while exploring the last unknown frontier of the Quon continent—Valdeaunia. His quest was continued by his daughter Enid, who traveled to the continent of Mindartia and successfully mapped the remaining territories.
The accuracy of the Ironheart maps was proven more than a century later with the appearance of the first airships. With various notations being constantly added, these maps are still relied upon by adventurers today. Gwynham Ironheart's gravestone lies in Valdeaunia and was inscribed with the following words by his Elvaan rival, Lord Torresapet B Ordelle: "Here lies a most courageous man who brought the safety of charted lands to Vana'diel".
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Allusions[]
A family in Final Fantasy XIV with the surname Ironheart act as a reference to Gwynham, with the historical Roddard Ironheart having mapped Eorzea while his descendants appear as NPCs through the game and expansions:
- Nedrick and Millith Ironheart first appeared pre-calamity, during the Seventh Umbral Era. Then Millith was in charge of all Dungeon achievements (with particular interest in Gelmorra) while Nedrick kept track of Exploration achievements. Post-calamity their roles have inexplicably swapped—Nedrick now acting as a quest giver for several instanced dungeons, and Millith bestowing the Adventurer with the sightseeing log.
- Kester Ironheart appears in Heavensward, where he updates the sightseeing log to include locations from Northern Eorzea.
- Ulger Ironheart appears in Stormblood, where he updates the sightseeing log to include locations from Gyr Abania and the Far East.
- Babeth Ironheart appears in Endwalker, where she updates the sightseeing log to include locations from the Northern Empty, Ilsabard, the World Unsundered, and the Sea of Stars.
- Elsebee Ironheart is set to appear in Dawntrail, where she updates the sightseeing log to include locations from Tural.