The coastal hamlet of Aleport has survived pirates, monster raids and economic woes. Find out more about the town in Exploring Eorzea, our new series that delves into the lore of Final Fantasy XIV.

-Exploring Eorzea is a periodic feature taking a closer look at the people, places and lore of Final Fantasy XIV.

Life goes on in the tiny coastal hamlet of Aleport, a small but resilient town surrounded by towering cliffs on the southern shore of Western La Noscea.

Once one of many coastal communities, a band of pirates known as the Serpent Reavers burned those towns to the ground -- all except for Aleport. Perhaps hardened by their rough lives on shipping vessels, the residents of Aleport stood their ground against the Reavers, turning them away and saving their hamlet. No doubt the citizens of Aleport were aided by the town’s natural defenses; a ship could hardly sail through the town’s impenetrable cliffs without being an easy target for weaponry on the shore.

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Today, Aleport produces some of the most rugged brews in Eorzea. Shipping vessels depart from the hamlet regularly, delivering salt brew to bars and taverns throughout the land. Back in Aleport, the town’s residents pray to the goddess Llymlaen for the safe return of their loved ones. O’adebh, a Miqo‘te, stands on the end of a dock each day, waiting for her husband to return from his voyage.

With their livelihoods tied to the sea, the people of Aleport seem to worship Llymlaen above the other 11 deities of Eorzea. Llymlaen, who is the daughter of Thaliak (the guardian diety of Sharlayan) and the elder sister of Nophica (the guardian diety of Gridania), is the watcher of the seas and the goddess of navigation. The people of Aleport respectfully call her “the Navigator.” In the rolling surf, a young Lalafell named Bubusha collects shiny rocks, which his mother believes are gifts from the Navigator. Away from the shore, an Elezen by the name of Duchesnelt says he superstitiously offers Aleport’s finest rum to the Navigator whenever the seas roil. In older times, Duchesnelt implies more brutal sacrifices were offered in Llymlaen’s name.

The hamlet of Aleport has seen brighter days. Although the townspeople managed to turn away the Reavers -- referred to as “fishbacks” by the locals -- raiding hordes of Kobold forced many of the town’s shopkeepers to move to Limsa Lominsa. There was a time when Aleport was home to more than 20 different breweries, says Tsimh Panipahr, a Miqo’te standing outside what appears to be the town’s fishing guild. The few shops left in the town still offer reasonable prices for their wares, she said, but clearly she's concerned that the town's best days are behind it.

An influx of adventurers has helped keep the town going. One of the gate guards, a Miqo’te named Y’alabali, says all adventurers with gil in their pockets are welcome guests.

The people of Aleport remain a battle-hardened bunch, not by the clash of swords but by the everyday bouts with the sea. The salty breeze gives unparalleled flavor to the town’s trademark brew and fuels the spirits of the hardscrabble townsfolk. "There ain’t many men from the mainland who can stomach the brew, but then again, there ain't many men there of any sort!" laughs Immodest Mouse, a Roegadyn of the Sea Wolves tribe.

With so many voyages into the vast seas, some residents of Aleport see more distant lands than most Eorzeans could ever dream of. While the children of the town play along the rocky shore, they repeat stories from their elders about vast beaches to the east -- beaches so large that the people of those lands have never seen the ocean.

The young ones will have their shot at adventure; but for now, life goes on in Aleport, guided by the Navigator and forever linked to the sea.