While the first volume focused on the history leading through the Heavensward expansion, Volume II shifts its primary focus to the Far East and the events of the Stormblood expansion. It bridges the gap for players who have reached Patch 4.4, providing deep-dives into geography, character backstories, and regional cultures.
Beyond the frosty peaks of Ishgard, Volume II expands the scope of Eorzean knowledge to the Far East, effectively doubling the known world. The transition to Stormblood content allows the encyclopedia to tackle the complexities of imperialism and revolution. The entries on the Garlean occupation of Doma and Ala Mhigo are not simple villain descriptions; they are treatises on resistance and cultural erasure. The book details the administrative structure of the Garlean Empire, explaining the mechanics of its provinces and the specific methods of subjugation used against the conquered peoples. This lends a grounded realism to the liberation quests. When reading about the fall of Doma Castle or the tyranny of Zenos yae Galvus, the player understands the bureaucratic and military machinery behind the villains. The section on the Azim Steppe is particularly noteworthy for its anthropological approach, cataloging the distinct cultures, religious practices, and survival strategies of the Xaela tribes, enriching a region that, in-game, could easily be dismissed as a simple "wasteland" biome. eorzea encyclopedia 2
Buy it. Read it. Keep it next to your bed. And pray to Hydaelyn they release Volume III for Shadowbringers and Endwalker before the next Calamity. While the first volume focused on the history
Here is why EEII is essential reading for anyone who truly wants to understand the star of Hydaelyn. The transition to Stormblood content allows the encyclopedia
The book is structured into eight distinct "books" or chapters: