Lemuria

Lemuria is an island located in the Great Eastern Sea. The small island is the home to the advanced, but stagnant, civilization of the same name.

Lemuria seems to be influenced by Plato's Atlantis and the Lemuria myth, both in appearance and in relative location. Lemuria's republic system, ruled by a king, may have been loosely influenced by Plato's Republic.

Description
By the time of Golden Sun, Lemuria is probably the only advanced civilization remaining on Weyard--although one would be hard-pressed to say that it is also thriving. The island still retains its wonderful buildings and powerful Psynergy, and its people age little. They still maintain strong and amazing ships that can be moved by Psynergy alone, without need of oars or sails. A Lemurian might live for many centuries.

However, the glory of Lemuria is long past. Its people are bored, and there has been little growth in the civilization since the Elemental Lighthouses were sealed. Nothing new has been built, and ancient parts of Lemuria have become submerged. Even knowledge of the outside world is lacking.

Location
Lemuria is located in the center of the Sea of Time, a region of the Eastern Sea surrounded by many rocks and whirlpools. It is covered with fog, and is guarded by Poseidon. It is very hard for any ship to navigate. Piers only escaped because of the tidal wave that carried his ship out. Before Golden Sun: The Lost Age, the only person known to have successfully navigated the Sea of Time was a master boatsman from Yallam named Yepp. Although Yepp has passed on before players ever reaches Yallam, he left behind instructions for navigating the Sea of Time hidden within a childrens' song.

People
Lemuria's people, as well as any visitors, age very little. In Lemuria, time appears to pass much more slowly, although this may simply be an illusion created by the slow rate at which Lemurians age. However, because of their long lives, they have lost vitality. There are few children (only two are seen during The Lost Age), and most people are extremely bored, doing nothing. Had King Hydros not ordered people to eat, the people of Lemuria might have stopped doing that as well.

Piers and Lunpa are notable characters who have resided on the island.

Government
Lemuria is ruled by King Hydros and a Senate. The King resides in a large palace, while the Senate works in the House of the Senate. The king and his senators, most notably Lord Conservato, do not always agree on issues, and they can spend a long time arguing. There are times when the Senate appears to have more power in Lemuria than the king. Decisions made by the Senate tend to influence popular opinion in Lemuria. The Senate passed a law that forbids Lemurians from leaving, which may have been a result of Babi's actions.

As of Golden Sun: The Lost Age, the Senate is against any form of change (King Hydros was perhaps much more progressive). This is most apparent in their insistence on keeping the Elemental Lighthouses unlit. Their concern is understandable, considering how Alchemy was abused in the past and nearly brought about the end of the world. However, their refusal to accept change borders on stubbornness and arrogance, as Lord Conservato refuses to believe that Weyard was (metaphorically) dying. As Lunpa said: "He refuses to acknowledge what he can see with his own eyes!" This arrogance is also reflected in most Lemurians' scornful view of the outside world (as Conservato puts it, decline is only the way of the outside, not of Lemuria) and equation of change with ruin.

Lemurian Draught
Lemuria once produced a magical draught that would allow visitors to extend their lives, even after leaving Lemuria. However, because of the actions of Babi, production of the draught has ceased. Instead, Lemurians keep themselves alive through the water in the fountain in the center of the town, which has the same effect as the draught. Despite their long lives, sickness is unknown to Lemurians, while death is not. The draught and the fountain only extends their lifespan and cannot keep them alive forever.

Lucky Medal Fountain
The Lucky Medal Fountain in Lemuria is found in the center of what appears to be the town square. The water from this fountain is what grants Lemurians their incredibly long lives. It also features a minigame of sorts, where people face away from the fountain and toss in coins or Lucky Medals. They then recieve a prize depending on where the coin or Medal landed. During his stay in Lemuria, Babi became fascinated with this game and decided to build one in Tolbi.

By drinking the water in the fountain, Felix and the entire party can restore all their HP and PP. By tossing Lucky Medals into the fountain, players can gain some powerful equipment, such as the Hestia Blade and the Crown of Glory. Perhaps the most valuable prize, however, is the Eclipse Summon, which is recieved the first time the player lands a Lucky Medal in the center of the spring.

Collectibles
Rime: After receiving the Grindstone from King Hydros, an ancient section of Lemuria becomes available. Rime is hiding in this area. Cast Cyclone in the bottom left area to bring Rime out of hiding. Afterwards, Rime hides in a nearby statue similar to those found in Mercury Lighthouse. Cast Tremor to bring Rime out into the open again, after which it will join your team without opposition.

Grindstone: Received as a gift from King Hydros. Equip it to a Venus Adept to teach that Adept the Grind Psynergy. Hard Nut: Found by using Cyclone on the weeds below Lunpa's house. Growth must be used to access this area. Lucky Medal: Found on the first floor of King Hydros' palace, in a barrel in the rightmost room. Rusty Sword: Found outside Lunpa's house. Can be reforged in Yallam to become Corsair's Edge. Star Dust: Found by using scoop on the ground under the butterfly, in the section of ground to the left of the palace.

There are a number of unlisted items buried throughout Lemuria, including a Bone and at least one Lucky Medal. These items can be found using Reveal and obtained using Scoop.

Lemuria's past
After Alchemy was sealed away, Lemuria entered a slow but steady decline. Over time Lemurians lost contact with the outside world, and, because little changed in Lemuria, the people began to lose interest in just about everything. Although Alchemy no longer existed in Weyard, Lemurians were able to keep themselves alive with the water from their fountain. They also produced a mystical draught that allowed them to maintain their extended lifespan outside of Lemuria, and was also capable of keeping outsiders alive.

150 years before Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Babi and Lunpa were traveling Weyard when a flood of some sort brought them to Lemuria. Apparently they were welcome to stay in Lemuria, and Lunpa remains there to this day. During their time in Lemuria, Babi was taught how to use some Psynergy. Lunpa probably also learned how to use Psynergy, although this is purely speculation. Babi was also enchanted by the game in the fountain, which inspired him to build one in Tolbi later on. Eventually, Babi stole some of Lemuria's draught and a Lemurian ship, after which he returned to Tolbi and ruled up to meeting Isaac's party during Golden Sun. Babi's actions resulted in halting the production of the draught, and is possibly the reason why Lemurians are no longer allowed to leave.

Piers' quest
While comparing Lunpa's map of Weyard with his own, King Hydros noticed that the continents had begun breaking apart and the entire world was shrinking. His most trusted scholars came to the conclusion that Weyard was eroding and would eventually be destroyed. Somehow they realized that this was a result of Alchemy being sealed away. Shortly before The Lost Age began, King Hydros asked Piers to leave Lemuria and confirm his fears. Before Piers could actually leave, Poseidon awoke and caused the tidal wave that destroyed Briggs' boat and wedged Indra between Gondowan and Osenia. The tidal wave carried Piers and his boat away from Lemuria and caused him to crash near Madra.

After joining Felix's party, traveling the Great Eastern Sea, and fighting their way past Poseidon, Piers was finally able to return to Lemuria. Unfortunately, they arrived right in the middle of a meeting between King Hydros and the most influential member of the Senate, Lord Conservato. While waiting for a chance to speak with the king, Felix and Co. visited Piers' uncle and learned that Piers' mother has passed away. Upon hearing this, Piers leaves the party for a short time while Felix and the others meet with Lunpa. Lunpa is informed of Babi's passing and Dodonpa's ruling of the village of Lunpa. Kraden then reveals his theory about how the great civilizations of Weyard began fading away once Alchemy was sealed, and that the rest of the world may follow.

After this, Lunpa took Felix's party to meet with King Hydros and Lord Conservato, and Piers was already there. King Hydros presents the maps of Weyard in Lemuria's time and in Lunpa's time, and Piers states that Weyard and it's continents appear to have shrunk even further since then. Kraden then compares Weyard to a living being, with the elements being the nourishment that keeps it alive. When Alchemy was sealed, Weyard went into a hibernation-like state, using less energy to keep itself alive. However, if Alchemy remains sealed, Weyard's "spring" will never come and it will be unable to replenish its energy. Because of this, Weyard is shrinking, wasting away, dying. Lord Conservato becomes outraged at this, regarding the comparison of Weyard to a living being as completely false, and stubbornly insisting that lighting the Lighthouses will only result in mankind abusing Alchemy like in the past. Despite Conservato's warnings, Felix and Co. depart Lemuria, more determined than ever to light the remaining Lighthouses.

Trivia

 * Some assume that a game-busting glitch is present concerning the Lash Psynergy. Normally, after Piers leaves the party temporarily to go to his mother's grave, Felix goes to Lunpa's house and uses Lash to climb inside the building to meet with Lunpa. However, if the Lash Pebble is in Piers' inventory when he leaves, Felix's party will not have Lash and be unable to climb into the house. This glitch has been programmed with a fix; Lunpa, standing on the balcony, will recognize that you are not able to enter his house and make some derogatory comments before tying his own rope to the left pole of his house that falls down to your level, so that you can climb up there. This is also the only Lash-style rope that is vertically dangling in the game; all other Lash-style ropes are on inclined slopes and are tied to two poles.


 * In a related detail that can be construed as a slight glitch depending on perspective: If after the battle with Poseidon you come to Lemuria with only Piers still alive and the other three party members knocked out, and get to the scene where Piers temporarily leaves the party, you will end up in in the only scenario in the game where your entire current party is Downed but you can still move around and interact as normal.


 * Lemurians consider it rude to use Psynergy in King Hydros' palace, according to a woman in the palace, whom you have to use Mind Read on to find out. The woman will only think this before you see King Hydros, it should be noted.

Cultural References
In the real world Lemuria is a fabled sunken city much like Atlantis. It sunk beneath the waves due to a great cataclysm. It apparently resided in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Madagascar and was home to a reptilian race of creatures. The myth is constantly disproved as an obvious work of fiction.