The Astrologian Quests & You (Part 2)
May. 18th, 2024 12:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
graiaiWe're picking up where we left off in part one with the Stormblood Lv60 quest (thanks for nothing, character limit!), then after a brief ship manifesto we'll put on our tinfoil hats and do some theorycrafting, and then it's into the weeds with the appendices. Let's get to it!
Before the release of Stormblood, visiting the Athenaeum after completing The Hands of Fate provided the following dialogue.
Jannequinard: Welcome back, CHARNAME. It is always a pleasure to see you here in the Athenaeum. Things have been quite hectic as of late, what with Lord Rufin traveling about the countryside preaching the merits of our field. Why, the number of applications for novitiate positions has increased tenfold over the past moon. And now, the Observatorium has begun requesting reports on domicile, modality, cadence... Dare I say we needn't wait much longer for the day when Sharlayan and Ishgardian astrologies have joined back together as one?
Jannequinard: Top of the morning to you, CHARNAME. Or is it the evening? It is so hard to tell locked up here in the Athenaeum day and night. Alright, technically speaking I can leave at any time of my choosing, but it is as if some strange force prevents me for stepping forth into the light... But enough of that. You are here to learn what became of your humble companions while you were off saving the realm.
Jannequinard: Well, since Ishgard's quite abrupt change in leadership[14], the Vault has become somewhat more receptive to the contemporary ideas of Lady Leve─er, Master Rufin. They have even asked our compatriot-in-disguise to hold for them another symposium on Sharlayan astrology...and this time within the city–state proper, and not at some forsaken hamlet! (Nothing against the fine citizenry of Falcon's Nest, mind you.) 
Heurriette: Between you and me... I've never been that skilled at astrology. Two winters here and I still haven't opened a single heaven. I can't even spell half of the ridiculous terms we're supposed to memorize! But since the arrival of that mysterious Easterner, I seem to have found a renewed interest in his body─I mean, my studies!
(CW: pet death) Fleuraie: When Chief Astrologian Forlemort assigned me here for “further training” I knew my accidental killing of his cat in that experiment with the Earthly Star was not to be forgiven. But now that Lady Leveva's teachings have garnered the attention of the Vault, it appears our stars have finally risen. The arrival of the brilliant and talented and handsome and talented Kyokuho is just further proof of this!
Kyokuho has been set upon by dragons. As they are so fond of saying in this game, we must needs offer our aid.
Kyokuho: It is as if the more I learn of your stars, the less I know! To think this may be the last I ever see of your heavens... I am beginning to understand why your people treasure them so.
Kyokuho: And with the opening of the sixth, I have prepared my mind and soul for the seventh. The final gate that leads to true dominion over the elements...or so Lady Leveva insists.[17] Our conversations have been...eye-opening, to say the least. She theorizes that our two schools may actually be one and the same. Whereas astrologians look to the stars above to read their fates, we geomancers look to the star below and listen to its songs, and draw our answers from its whispers.
Kyokuho: And with that, I bid you, Lady Leveva, Quimperain, Mugueniel, soft-skinned Fleuraie, sweet-lipped Heurriette, that tall chap on the second floor always mumbling about some star's magnitude...even Jannequinard the fondest of farewells. I have a long journey ahead of me, and if I do not leave now...I fear I will never be able to.
Before reaching Lv 65 to accept the quest, going to the Athenaeum gets you this dialogue:
Time to enter an instanced duty! The listed task is to "Test the barrier's strength at the westerly shrine."
Kyokuho: Quickly! Check the shrine and tell me its condition!
Kyokuho: It is worse than I thought. The speed with which the bonds deteriorate increases with each passing day. At this rate, they will not survive through the next new moon.
We cast Aspected Benefic (once upon a time, in the Nocturnal Sect).
Kyokuho: The magicks intertwine! Like two halves of a whole!
The bond strengthened, Kyokuho prays over the shrine to strengthen the geomantic bond.
Kyokuho: From the heart of the mountain... To the eye of the storm... So do the waters flow 'til lasting bridges form.
Kyokuho: To the next shrine! We will find it deep in Rakusui Gardens to the south of here. You know what to do. Attune with the shrine to determine the extent of the bond's damage.
When we attune to the shrine, three evil spirits spawn.
Kyokuho: Servants of the fox? Our mending of the first westerly bond must have alerted her to our presence! Focus is required to complete the seal, and my heart will not rest easy until these restless spirits are sent back to the land. Now, CHARNAME! Before more are summoned!
We cast Aspected Benefic to strengthen the magicks of the shrine.
Kyokuho: That wasn't so bad! Now step aside. I shall complete the ritual. 'From the heart of the mountain... To the eye of the storm... So do the waters flow 'til lasting bridges form.' That's half! At this rate, the barrier will be at full strength before sunrise! Onward, to Kugane Castle!
Fleeting spirits roam the streets, attacking all on sight.
Kyokuho: It appears I spoke too soon... Kinko knows what we do, and is sending her minions out in force to stay our hands. Try and not stray too far from my side, if not for your safety...for mine!
Attuning to the easterly shrine causes more evil spirits to spawn.
Kyokuho: There's no end to them! I knew that Kugane had a bloody history, but to think this many of the dead still linger... Alright, CHARNAME. Let us put this shrine behind us. I fear every moment we tarry, the stronger Kinko's gaze upon us grows. Be my eyes, friend. I must now concentrate on the anchor. 'From the heart of the mountain... To the eye of the storm... So do the waters flow 'til lasting bridges form.'
Kyokuho: There is but one shrine remaining─the northerly. As you know...or do not, the north is where all ill fortune gathers. I expect the most resistance there. Prepare yourself.
An enormous enemy called 'the Fury of the Golden Fox' spawns when we attune to the northerly shrine.
Kyokuho: Away! Away foul denizen of the dark... It doesn't hurt to try, does it? L-Look out! We cannot breathe easy until your magicks are cast and I have completed the rite. Hurry! Deep breath, Kyokuho. You can do this... 'From the heart of the mountain... To the eye of the storm... So do the waters flow 'til lasting bridges form.'
Kyokuho: I, ah, we did it! We strengthened my great-grandfather's barrier and thwarted the golden fox! A fine display! Fine indeed. Though, if it were I, I might have used Gravity instead of Malefic when the foul creature had─Ah, right. I'll just be staying that tongue of mine again.
???: Kyokuho! I was told there were spirits in the streets!
Kyokuho: And you arrive just as they are vanquished! How fortunate! Yes, Master Murakumo. The bonds are mended, made whole with western magicks...and a little shoulder grease, or was it knuckle grease? CHARNAME?
Murakumo: Western magicks? Then this ijin lady is─
Kyokuho: None other! And wait until you see the reinforced bonds. The energies twist together with ours like sun and moon, like darkness and light. They are as one, Master!
Murakumo: In his haste to find a difficult answer, he looks past the simple one right before his eyes.
Leveva: And you had no trouble channeling the aether from that world's heavens despite the fact that you never once physically laid eyes upon them?
Leveva: Just...not here. I am unsure why I thought this would be a suitable location to ponder my predicament in the first place. Perhaps it was the memories of our first lesson here... Ahem. Let us hurry back to the Athenaeum lest we catch cold.
Jannequinard: So...my original reading was accurate all along! You were the dark wind! But then why...dark? I thought people were calling you the Warrior of Light... [22]
Kyokuho: Jannequinard was right. I was the dark wind from the east. If I hadn't arrived and upset Lady Leveva with my ridiculous notions, we wouldn't find ourselves in this mess...
Kyokuho: When CHARNAME and Jannequinard mentioned you were not yourself after returning from Kugane, I simply assumed that─
Jannequinard: Do you dare suggest that we had any hand in this, Kyokuho? You were not a quarter bell in the Pillars before you were telling anyone who would listen about the cavernous maw that yawned in the heart of poor, lonely Master Rufin...and how you were to fill it.
Leveva: Lonely? Pah! I'm far from lonely. In fact, I've already promised my heart to another.
Kyokuho: Of course. Already promised to a─ Wait...what?
Leveva: You heard me, and I've never spoken a truer word.
Jannequinard: Whoever could it be? It is certainly not CHARNAME...or, heavens forfend, Kyokuho?
Leveva: Why, astrology, of course!
Leveva: What? Who did you expect, Quimperain?
Kyokuho: I suppose you're wondering what brought me to Ishgard in the first place. It most certainly wasn't to ruffle Master Rufin's feathers...though it seems I have succeeded in that nonetheless. Our triumph over Kinko having restored the people of Kugane's faith in geomancy, it was not long before a gaggle of eager mages were clamoring at my door, seeking guidance in the art of wind and water.
Kyokuho: To accommodate, I transformed my grandfather's study into a place where I might train those who are willing to invest the time and effort necessary to become masters. Which reminds me... My students are likely wondering where their sensei is! Farewell, CHARNAME!
Leveva: So he came to tell us of his new school of geomancy? Did we not give him a linkpearl?
Leveva: At any rate, allow me to thank you once again for the inspiration you provided. Despite being your mentor in matters astrological, I find myself consistently in your debt when it comes to...well, everything else. You are a true friend and confidant, CHARNAME.
Jannequinard: And as always, she has once again failed to acknowledge that it was I who first noticed her change in mood, and that it was my reading that predicted your arrival, and that it was my good judgment that eventually pointed you in her direction. But such is my destiny, I suppose. I am simply happy that Lady Leveva is back to her normal self. If aught were to befall her, Rufin would haunt me 'til the Eighth Umbral Era.
...and that's all of the AST quests! There are also a handful of quests that are not in the AST questline proper but have lore relevant to us, so we'll be looking at those now.
Old Woman: Oh, how do you do there, deary? Not many people have time to talk to someone like me. I wanted to go and visit my husband's grave, but my back is troubling me dreadfully. Do you have the time to do a kindness for a weary old woman? It would mean the world to me if you could take these flowers to Gorgagne Mills and place them on my husband's grave.
Old Woman: Thank you ever so much for that, deary. I'm sure my husband appreciated it. ...Well, that, or he's turning in his grave, shouting, “Do it yourself, you lazy hag!” Heh...
Okay, so. A couple things: first of all, despite the fact these are Lv 60 quests, they weren't released until after Love, Astrologically. Secondly, most of these quests are irrelevant to our purposes, so I'm not going to put the full text of them in like we have been up 'til now - just the relevant bits. If you'd like to see all of the resto quests, Claire Faye @ Lamia very kindly made a full playlist of them over on YouTube.
The TL;DR for our purposes is that Joacin Charlemend Francel de Haillenarte, the youngest of Count Haillenarte's children - who thankfully just goes by 'Francel' - has made it his business to become overseer of the postwar rebuilding of the Holy See, and we're helping him out with various tasks.[23] In "Overseer for a Day", the third quest in the chain, we have this dialogue:
After finishing this quest, we can wander around the Firmament and find a pair of schoolchildren!
Janne and Leveva don't appear anywhere else in this questline (well, okay, you can very briefly see the back of Janne's head in a crowd cutscene, but I'm not counting that), butJanne's father uncle the Count de Durendaire is in several quests!
From "The Making of a Market":
???: And if you would not disapprove─or, quite honestly, even if you would─I will be accompanying you as well.
Charlemend de Durendaire: I'll thank you not to make assumptions about the interests of my house, Lord Francel. I have always acted in what I believe to be my homeland's best interests. And I will continue to do so. Mayhap House Durendaire did not give the warmest of welcomes to outsiders at the Observatorium and Whitebrim Front... But I assure you that we took only the necessary precautions to defend the See from external threats at a time of war. Surely the savior of Ishgard can understand our position.
Francel de Haillenarte: Your offer of assistance is most generous, Lord Charlemend. I would not dream of refusing it.
Charlemend de Durendaire: Of course not. We depart at once, yes? I've heard Gridania is most lovely at this time of year.
This is another Resto MSQ quest, but the whole thing is pretty relevant to our interests, so it gets its own section to keep these sections from getting too unwieldy.
Zranmaia: ...Ahem. Pray excuse me for a moment.
She calls her boss.
Charlemend de Durendaire: I know not what you have done to earn a pirate captain's trust, but─in this rarest of cases─I am most thankful for it.
Gerald: Are you quite sure about this, Captain?
Carvallain: Let us be thankful for that adventurer showing up when she did. If that man had forced his way to my office, I shudder to think of what might have ensued. 'Tis strange, though... For long years the mere sight of the man's face filled me with loathing. But seeing it again now, I feel only this odd sense of...nostalgia. And yet, I dare not entertain the thought of doing anything more. It would only serve to undo all I have accomplished. ...No, I have no mind to give up my freedom for whatever I might gain in its place. Yes, this will do...
Francel de Haillenarte: Dare I ask how you fared in there, CHARNAME?
Charlemend de Durendaire: At any rate, I have finally accomplished that which I sought to here in Eorzea, and can finally return to Ishgard in triumph, as befitting the lord of the highest of houses.
For some reason, the Ishgard Restoration quests at this point make the truly deranged choice to give Charlemend de Durendaire, a man whose eldest, much-adored son by his own admission loathes him so deeply he describes being picked up by human traffickers as the best thing that ever happened to him and whose younger son(?) spent twenty-ish years certain that his only friend (and lover...?) was murdered on his orders, a redemption arc. Well. 'Redemption arc' is a tad strong. Immediately after "A Parley with Pirates", Charlemend becomes a champion of the poor in the space of two quests, and starts volunteering in a free medical clinic.
At the start of Endwalker, we find ourselves in Sharlayan─as Jannequinard would say, the Sharlayan.
Albright Manor, you say? As in... Sevestre Albright? And what an interesting title! I wonder who wr─
That's right, baby! Jannequinard de Durendaire, the dimmest star in the constellation, successfully completed his dissertation. This man has a doctorate. Potentially more importantly, we can't see it because his uniform has a turtleneck, but Sharlayan-educated scholars get neck tattoos when they defend their dissertations... so, uh, here's Jannequinard in neo-Ishgardian menswear with his Archon mark on full display. For reasons. Yeah.
Anyway, let's go to Sevestre's house!
And that’s it. That’s all the lore that currently exists for these characters, and is all that is likely to. It’s been three and a half years since the last mention of any of these characters (the sidequest in Sharlayan where we deliver Jannequinard’s dissertation to Sevestre Albright’s manor[25]), and we’re just shy of five years out from any substantive content, unless we’re to count the constant retcons as content - and I really do mean constant. In the time between publishing part one of this write-up and writing this section (less than a day!), the FF14 team has announced another complete rework of the job to release in a month and a half, which will necessitate even more quest rewrites! I will never be free!
It’s kind of hard to figure out where to start off my little mini ship manifesto, because I’m so taken with Janne and Leveva I’m sitting here like, ‘how could you read these quest scripts and not ship them?’ They’re soulmates. They’re sharing the same single braincell. Dare I say they have… Synastry? During one of the job reworks, dialogue explaining the skill “Redraw” was taken from Jannequinard and given, completely unchanged, to Leveva instead. And it doesn't sound out of character at all!
Bro, I wish I knew. Koji Fox, who wrote the quests, gave an official word-of-god explanation of the inconsistencies in the AST quests back in November 2018, but they don’t really answer all the questions we’re left with, introduces more questions as of late 2019 with the Ishgard Restoration quests, and anyway, I don’t much hold with extracanonical information like posts on forums.
Athenaeum Astrologicum: Founded by Guenriol de Durendaire, who confirmed the link between the coruscations of the dragon star and the movement of the Dravanians, the Astrologicum is the center of learning for students of the Ishgardian school of astrology. For expanding upon the theories of Adaunel the Younger and building the foundation of the moderm school, Guenriol was later venerated as a saint. [page 161]
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. [page 162]
The legacy of House Durendaire extends back into antiquity, to Geunriol de Durendaire, one of King Thordan’s Knights Twelve and a founding father of lshgard. Represented by a golden bell on a red field, the House is known for their preeminent astrologians, who for generations have studied the heavens to predict the movements of the Dravanians, sounding the alarum should an assault be imminent. To that end, they have funded the construction and maintenance of the Athenaeum Astrologicum and the First Dicasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena. Many of lshgard’s most formidable knights are sworn to the golden bell, and House Durendaire is widely considered to be the strongest and most influential of the four High Houses. However, the house is not without its troubles; the count’s firstborn son disappeared twenty years ago, and since then the line of succession has remained unclear. Whether the count will remarry and attempt to produce another heir, or turn to a rather less than ideal candidate, is an oft-discussed topic among the nobility. [page 157]
Born in the same year as his House Fortemps counterpart, [at age fifty-nine] Count Charlemend de Durendaire has, for decades, been engaged in a political rivalry with Lord Edmont. Yet his staunch opposition is not born out of mere stubbornness. Indeed, he once shared the Count de Fortemps’s desire to open lshgard’s borders and welcome foreign influences. Lord Charlemend’s position on such matters changed after his firstborn son took to sea on a voyage to broaden his horizons, only to be set upon by pirates and never seen again. Following that tragic incident, the count grew distrustful of outsiders, and adopted far more conservative positions in line with established policy. However, he is not blind to the changing times, and in light of recent historical revelations, he resolved to support the popular Ser Aymeric, in a pragmatic bid to retain influence and preserve some semblance of the status quo. [page 157]
An Elezen man of Ishgardian descent, Carvallain de Gorgagne is an enlightened pirate who believes men must change with their times. He was born the heir to House Durendaire, and walked the gilded path that all firstborn of Ishgard’s High Houses do. Dissatisfied with this fate, Carvallain assumed the alias of a House Durendaire bannerman and set out soon after his fourteenth nameday to learn much and more of the realm. A vessel he had signed aboard to gain passage south ran afoul of the Kraken’s Arms but three days out of port, whereupon he was taken captive. Jumping at the chance to escape the stifling confines of Ishgardian high culture, Carvallain enlisted in the pirate crew. He learned how to read the stars, and grew into a rare and excellent leader—so much so that he rose in the ranks. Now thirty-four years of age, he commands all of the Kraken’s Arms as their captain. When he is upon dry land, Carvallain is known to be an excellent chocobo rider who can put most men to shame in a race. [page 99]
Jannequinard de Durendaire
Race (Clan): Elezen (Wildwood)
Gender: Male Age: 32
Epithet: Jannequinard the Succedent
The sole proponent of astromancy in Ishgard, Jannequinard began his studies in the art when, during his formative years, he spent several moons at the Sharlayan settlement in the Dravanian hinterlands. Barely had he begun to graspthe fundamentals, however, when the Sharlayans withdrew to the Old World in fear of the Garlean Empire’s hostile advance. Jannequinard found himself suddenly bereft of both tutor and classroom, and had little choice but to make his way home. Upon his return to Ishgard, the disappointed and dissatisfied noble leveraged the inheritance of House Durendaire to secure a position at the Athenaeum Astrologicum. Fixated upon the dragon star and predicting the movements of the Horde, however, his colleagues had little time for the intricacies of astromancy, and Jannequinard’s efforts to pursue the discipline were met with disinterest, if not outright mockery. [page 243]
Leveva Byrde
Race (Clan): Hyur (Midlander)
Gender: Female Age: 16
Epithet: Leveva Heavensreader
Leveva’s parents both died early in her life—her mother during childbirth, and her father a scant few years later. This left the orphaned girl to be taken in by her grandfather, Mace, a renowned professor of astromancy, and his influence is ever present in her decidedly un-youthful perspective and manner of speech. Burning beneath Leveva’s mature veneer, however, is a fiery ambition to embrace her destiny, and continue her departed father’s work to bring astromancy to the wider world. Thus, when she learned of Ishgard’s desire to host an envoy of Sharlayan astrology, she immediately began making preparations to depart for Eorzea. But despite the haste of her decision, she did not make it in ignorance of the displeasure likely to be evinced by the isolationists in the [Sharlayan government]... [page 243]
This is not a job guide. My goal here is just to provide a couple resources regarding old actions and mechanics available to AST because sometimes you might want to use one in a fanfic! The Deck of Sixty is also very useful - here is a writeup of the lore on the Deck of Sixty that was printed in the EE.
The basic concept of AST is that you are manipulating fate to buff allies and debuff enemies, and manipulating the laws of physics to deal harm to enemies or heal allies. I personally write AST healing as literally hitting "rewind" on injuries, which makes the patient relive the experience of receiving the injury as it's undone - this makes astromancy a more painful form of healing magicks than conjury/"white magic", but does not run the risk of healing "wrong" or what I call "overheal", where for example a bad injury of both arm and torso healed not carefully enough with conjury may lead to the injuries healing together, fusing the limb to the body. There is no explicit reference to such a problem in the game, but it seems to be implied by the fact that non-magical treatments such as bone setting and stitches are commonplace even when characters are expecting to be seen to by a healer.
The reason why I interpret AST healing this way is twofold: first of all, obviously it's a time magick job. Secondly, one of the most...ah, essential... part of the AST kit is "Essential Dignity", which is a single-target healing ability that is more effective the nearer the target is to death. For gameplay-story integration purposes, it makes sense to me that the astrologian's goal is to put off healing for as long as possible and instead prioritize other ways of manipulating fate, due to the pain of re-experiencing an injury that is being healed through astromancy. Your mileage may vary!
In gameplay, all healers have access to the ability to raise the dead from a very low level (12), but in the lore, a holdover from the earliest iteration of the game (where you had to level several jobs to learn skills from them that you would take back to the job you were actually playing) is that only conjury is capable of raising the dead. While I am not nearly as mentally ill about the lore for jobs other than AST, this seems to still be true at time of writing, seeing as the white mage job guide on the official site reads as follows:
Anyway. In the EE (on page 243), a few skills have writeups, which are copied below:
Stormblood specials:
This is where I'm throwing the stuff that hasn't got anywhere else to go but might be of interest or use to the enterprising astrologian enthusiast.
First up: the map of the Three Great Continents has very faintly visible latitude and longitude lines on it. Combining these with some basic assumptions based on geography, real-world cultural influences, and weather patterns in various in-game locations, I somewhat amateurishly overlaid the Three Great Continents on a globe for the purposes of hopefully, eventually, being able to construct semi-functional in-universe natal horoscopy. Maybe you will find it useful as well!
Now, so, the elemental aspect of hours, days, months, and years has no impact on gameplay, but it is presumably very relevant to horoscopy in-universe, and as you might have noticed, I think about horoscopy in-universe way too much. So I have some very ugly charts to show you!
But first, let's turn to "The Five Ages - An Eorzean Chronology":
So, there's a lot to unpack here, honestly. The six elements have innate astral and umbral leanings, as seen in this poster in the Bookman's Shelves in-game, which I've recreated beside it.
So that every hour is aspected to a particular element, going through the six first in the Astral and then in the Umbral. It's kind of like how the months go through the Astral and Umbral in turns (the months being the "1st Astral Moon" then "1st Umbral Moon" and so on until we reach the "6th Umbral Moon"), except...that would be too easy, obviously, because we also know that the months are ordered so that we begin with the Astral Ice (Halone), then Umbral Ice (Menphina) and so on each element at a time, while the hours do all six elements in one of the polarities and then switches to the other. It's very overcomplicated for no reason and I feel bad for little baby Jannequinard trying to keep all this straight and in a foreign language to boot. But hopefully this kind of makes sense, and I'm very sorry because it is 3:30 in the morning and I'm a little scatterbrained.
And then this brings us to the week, which The Five Ages seems to be saying has eight elemental aspects, where the Astral and Umbral are for some reason separate from the elements (is that even possible outside of an active Calamity? A purely Astral or purely Umbral alignment? That doesn't feel possible to me), and the first day of each week is affiliated with Ice, the second with Water, the third with Wind, the fourth with Lightning, the fifth with Fire, the sixth with Earth, the seventh with the Astral, and the eighth with the Umbral. Which is already really weird! But then to add onto it, people talk about sennights all the time in Final Fantasy XIV, even though weeks are canonically eight days long and "sennight" means "seven nights".
But while I was working on transcribing the early quests, someone did use the word "week", and it got me thinking about the nundinal cycle, which is the traditional Roman eight-day market week which continued to be used alongside the seven-day liturgical week after the introduction of Christianity as the state religion. The word "nundinal" comes from the Latin word for "nine", because Romans counted inclusively - which means that the first day of the new week was considered the "ninth" day of the old week and also the first day of the new one. And I got to thinking, what if the "sennight" is, in fact, the six-day elemental week, while the "week" is the eight-day lunar week? The first of the month is always the new moon, and the seventeenth (the beginning of the third week) always the full moon. The lunar week would seemingly be very useful to astrologians, who are concerned with mapping the stars, while for most people the elemental week, the inclusively counted sennight, is perfectly sufficient.
This would of course allow the polarities of Astral and Umbral to not be needlessly and confusingly separated from the six traditional elemental aspects, and then the days can cycle as the hours do, one week being Astral and the next being Umbral so that each three months we begin anew with the 1st of the month being of Astral Ice. Does this feel right to you? It feels right to me. Unfortunately, we do still have to deal with the confusing wording in The Five Ages regarding the eight days of the week - but Lewphon calls the hours the "elemental hours", while of the days he says only that the eight "deriveth" from the six elements and two polarities. Can you tell where I'm going with this? I'm so sorry.
What if the days of the week are named for the elements and polarities, but do not necessarily correspond to the actual elemental alignment of those days? Iceday, Waterday, and so forth through Umbralday, so that, for example, Astralday the 7th of the 3rd Astral Moon in the Year of the Wanderer is triply aligned with Astral Wind (through year, month, and day), and at 2AM and 2PM quadruply so aligned?
Is it terrible and needlessly confusing? Yes. Do I love it? Kind of, yes. Here's a spreadsheet for you to look upon in horror.
Finally, lastly, no discussion of Ishgard can be complete without a side note about the clear linguistic ties between Ishgard and Garlemald. Or at least, none that I'm having. Why do they use so much Latin in Ishgard? Why doesn't Halone have elf ears? Why does "Ishgard" seem to share a root with "Eschva", the name of the Ilsabardian Elezen tribe that seems to have been one of the founding seven tribes of the Republic of Garlemald? I'm so glad you asked! I just so happen to have a 2500 word transcript of a ramble I posted on Discord two years ago about my completely unhinged theory about the shared cultural and religious history of the Holy See and Republican Garlemald on hand. Read if it you want.
[21] Shadowbringers (70-80) takes place in a mirror universe where the sun has not set in a hundred years. ⬏
[22] The Warrior of Light takes on the title of the Warrior of Darkness in the aforementioned mirror universe. ⬏
[23] These tasks included a lot of manual labor if you were a crafter or gatherer. Personally, I made more than seven thousand awnings in the space of ten days. But by the Twelve, we sure did rebuild Ishgard. ⬏
[24] The Missing Member was called the Bloody Member in the first few expansions! This isn't really relevant to anything, it's just a favorite bit of trivia. ⬏
16. East Meets West (Lv 60)
Before the release of Stormblood, visiting the Athenaeum after completing The Hands of Fate provided the following dialogue.
Jannequinard: Welcome back, CHARNAME. It is always a pleasure to see you here in the Athenaeum. Things have been quite hectic as of late, what with Lord Rufin traveling about the countryside preaching the merits of our field. Why, the number of applications for novitiate positions has increased tenfold over the past moon. And now, the Observatorium has begun requesting reports on domicile, modality, cadence... Dare I say we needn't wait much longer for the day when Sharlayan and Ishgardian astrologies have joined back together as one?
Heurriette: “Lord” Rufin will soon find that her disguise has not fooled anyone. A quick cut and tousle doesn't change the fact that her hair is still purple.
Mugueniel: Would you believe that the Observatorium has requested the drafting of new constellation-based celestial charts to supplement those we have used for the past four centuries? Of course you would. It was you and Lord Jannequinard who started this chaos.
Fleuraie: The Athenaeum headmaster has ordered me to begin training in Sharlayan astrology... What, I ask, did I do to deserve this fate? And don't you tell me Sharlayan astrology can show me the answer!
Jannequinard has something to say, and that glint behind his monocle suggests it is important.
Jannequinard: Top of the morning to you, CHARNAME. Or is it the evening? It is so hard to tell locked up here in the Athenaeum day and night. Alright, technically speaking I can leave at any time of my choosing, but it is as if some strange force prevents me for stepping forth into the light... But enough of that. You are here to learn what became of your humble companions while you were off saving the realm.
Jannequinard: Well, since Ishgard's quite abrupt change in leadership[14], the Vault has become somewhat more receptive to the contemporary ideas of Lady Leve─er, Master Rufin. They have even asked our compatriot-in-disguise to hold for them another symposium on Sharlayan astrology...and this time within the city–state proper, and not at some forsaken hamlet! (Nothing against the fine citizenry of Falcon's Nest, mind you.)
Jannequinard: In fact, the good Rufin has foreseen your arrival in the stars, and awaits you in the Observatorium. The look on your face tells me you are less than convinced. Still the skeptic after all we have been through together, eh? Allow me to recreate this morning's reading. In the center of the Dawn Cross we have the Spear. To its left, the inverted Arrow. To its right, the inverted Balance. Beneath, we have the inverted Spire and the inverted Bole. And finally at the crown, is the Ewer.
Jannequinard: Well...? Do you not see it? It is as plain as the stench of day-old piss in the Brume on a balmy summer's eve. “Though peace hath settled upon our great land, it will be along the path of coming destruction that friends new and old shall discover the bush that doth bear the fruit of knowledge and hope.” And to think it was you who attuned to all six heavens!
Jannequinard: In other words, she who brought peace to Ishgard (that would be you) will walk the road south to the Observatorium where...I don't know, you shall read some books with Lady Leveva to discover a new spell for delivering excruciating pain to your enemies and their families? It all sounded more convincing when she explained it to me this morning over that bottle of wine. Or was it two bottles...? At any rate, I would suggest you make haste. You know how our little protégée does not take kindly to those who make her wait. It was good seeing you again, CHARNAME. And something tells me you will be back again soon. <wink>
Jannequinard: The Dawn Cross uses all six of the major arcana to tell a person's fortune. The cards are shuffled and drawn one at a time. The first card drawn is placed face up in the scrying table's center. This card is also known as the “core” and represents the subject's present state. The second card is placed immediately to the core's left and represents what, in the past, has exerted influence over the subject. The third card is placed immediately to the right of the core and represents what will most affect the subject in the near future. The fourth card is placed below the core, with the fifth card placed immediately below that one. These cards represent misfortune the subject may face in the foreseeable future and the root of that misfortune respectively. The sixth and final card is placed directly above the core to form the cross, and is representative of the subject's overall fortune... Or at least that is what it said in that tome I copied it from on introductory astrology.
Well, who are we to spurn fate? On to find "Lord Rufin".
Well, who are we to spurn fate? On to find "Lord Rufin".
Leveva: Friend and fellow astrologian! It is so good to see you again. What has it been? Two...? Three...?[15] Ah, let us just say that it has been too long. Did Jannequinard speak to you of my reading? Well, then there is hope for that well-dressed dullard yet, though I've learned the key to success is not entrusting him with more than one task at a time, and making certain that task does not require much in the way of thinking...or acting, for that matter. As for the reading, I believe it instructs as to my─as to our─next step in spreading the knowledge of─
???: Master Rufin! An injured traveler has arrived at our gates seeking succor!
Far Eastern Traveler: Please... I can walk no further...
Far Eastern Traveler: Astrologians!? I have no need of prophecy or prognosticatio─ Or...I could stay my tongue and allow you to tend to my wounds... My apologies.
House Durendaire Knight: May you have a quick recovery, friend. In time you will come to believe the power the stars wield.
Our mysterious visitor has just gotten to his feet when Jannequinard and Quimperain arrive.
Jannequinard: Lady Levev─er, Master Rufin! CHARNAME's felicitous return inspires me to step out for a breath of fresh air, and behold! Already does it appear a new adventure is upon us!
Leveva: Ah, and here I was thinking you made the journey south to lend your talents in preparing for the forthcoming symposium.
Far Eastern Traveler: Master Rufin. Or was it Lady Leveva? If I may, allow me to give you my thanks...and my apologies for earlier. I have a tendency to─
Leveva: Allow your unbridled emotions to get the best of you?
Kyokuho: That was amazing! You knew what I was going to say...before I even said it! But where are my manners. I am Kyokuho of Hingashi, and have braved storm and sea to learn of the many wonders it is said are to be found in this magnificent realm...but you already knew that, didn't you!?
Leveva: No. I did not. Now, if you would excuse me, I must get back to...um, matters...which are important.
Kyokuho: Important matters? Such as...astrological matters? Could you show me? I wouldn't be a burden. I'd stand in the corner. In the shadows. Behind a curtain.
Leveva: While I appreciate the somewhat forced enthusiasm, I'm afraid that won't be po─
Kyokuho: Oh, I was merely hoping that we might be able to share insight into each other's fields.
Leveva: Each other's fields...? You wouldn't happen to be a geomancer, would you!?
Jannequinard: A geomancer?
Leveva: So-called masters of wind and water. My grandfather had a tome written on the Far Eastern art of elemental and directional divination. Though much of it seemed little more than folklore.
Jannequinard: Lady Leveva, did not the morning's reading mention “friends new and old”? What if CHARNAME were the friend old, and this peculiar little man the friend new?
Leveva: The Spear pointing west, the Balance pointing east, the Arrow pointing in all directions and none... It might just mean... Kyokuho. Though it pains me so to admit as much, it appears your arrival has been foretold. Perhaps there is much that I can learn from you─nay, that we can learn from each other.
Kyokuho: Hah hah! Oh, but there is! Soon you will learn the push and pull of the elements brings together those who require companionship most.
Leveva: Er, yes... The elements... We will have to discuss that further at another juncture. For the time being, I am placing you in the care of my first and foremost pupil, CHARNAME.
Jannequinard: An excellent proposal...or as I believe the Hingans say, “keikaku.” I dabbled a bit in the language when I was younger but for the life of me that ebon-haired emissary would not afford me even a sidelong glan─ Ahem! Then might I hazard that there is no finer place to begin unlocking the secrets of the stars than under the Bole near Rootslake? I shall even lead good Kyokuho to the South Shroud myself...if, ah, CHARNAME agrees to do the rest.
Kyokuho: After you, then!
Leveva: Next we meet, Kyokuho, you will have opened the first gate and better understand the influence the stars hold over all of us. Safe journeys. If this all goes according to plan...or keikaku, or whatever, then not only will the Easterner teach me his people's secrets, but he will help spread the art of my homeland across the Three Great Continents to the far shores of Othard!
Jannequinard: You most certainly do not need me telling you that Rootslake is located in the South Shroud near Camp Tranquil. You obviously remember the whereabouts of that particular location from that time that you, yourself opened the first gate. <wink>
Jannequinard: It all begins here, under the earthly stars. By opening the gate to the first heaven, we embark on a journey to self-enlightenment, to self-betterment, to unlock secrets untold... Finishing that journey, now, is another matter altogether. Hah hah...hah... <sigh>
Kyokuho: There you are! I was beginning to wonder if you hadn't been eaten by the hoverflies on your way here! But I jest. Jannequinard tells me that you are quite the authority on all things relating the Bole. So enlighten me, oh, honorable sensei. I am, as you Westerners say, all eyes...or was it ears?
Jannequinard: A most thought-provoking opinion that I am certain Lady Leveva will be delighted to hear...though might I suggest you withhold the part about being unable to wrap your head around our “foolish notions”...unless you enjoy having a steel-toed boot wedged firmly 'twixt the bollocks.
Jannequinard: Ahem! Shall we be going then? By this hour, Lady Leveva will have already made the journey back to the Athenaeum.
Leveva: I see. Perhaps I judged Kyokuho too hastily. I still have my reservations, but I shall afford him the benefit of the doubt...for now. The teachings of geomancy may be grounded in faerie tales and falsehoods, but my grandfather told me that every lie is born of the truth. If I can find the truth within Kyokuho's backwards beliefs, it may provide insight into our own school of thought.
???: Master Rufin! An injured traveler has arrived at our gates seeking succor!
Leveva: An ill omen... With me, CHARNAME.
Far Eastern Traveler: Please... I can walk no further...
Leveva: The stars were kind in guiding you to this place. The astrologians here have ways of easing one's hurts.
Far Eastern Traveler: Astrologians!? I have no need of prophecy or prognosticatio─ Or...I could stay my tongue and allow you to tend to my wounds... My apologies.
House Durendaire Knight: May you have a quick recovery, friend. In time you will come to believe the power the stars wield.
Our mysterious visitor has just gotten to his feet when Jannequinard and Quimperain arrive.
Jannequinard: Lady Levev─er, Master Rufin! CHARNAME's felicitous return inspires me to step out for a breath of fresh air, and behold! Already does it appear a new adventure is upon us!
Leveva: Ah, and here I was thinking you made the journey south to lend your talents in preparing for the forthcoming symposium.
Far Eastern Traveler: Master Rufin. Or was it Lady Leveva? If I may, allow me to give you my thanks...and my apologies for earlier. I have a tendency to─
Leveva: Allow your unbridled emotions to get the best of you?
Kyokuho: That was amazing! You knew what I was going to say...before I even said it! But where are my manners. I am Kyokuho of Hingashi, and have braved storm and sea to learn of the many wonders it is said are to be found in this magnificent realm...but you already knew that, didn't you!?
Leveva: No. I did not. Now, if you would excuse me, I must get back to...um, matters...which are important.
Kyokuho: Important matters? Such as...astrological matters? Could you show me? I wouldn't be a burden. I'd stand in the corner. In the shadows. Behind a curtain.
Leveva: While I appreciate the somewhat forced enthusiasm, I'm afraid that won't be po─
Kyokuho: Oh, I was merely hoping that we might be able to share insight into each other's fields.
Leveva: Each other's fields...? You wouldn't happen to be a geomancer, would you!?
Jannequinard: A geomancer?
Leveva: So-called masters of wind and water. My grandfather had a tome written on the Far Eastern art of elemental and directional divination. Though much of it seemed little more than folklore.
Jannequinard: Lady Leveva, did not the morning's reading mention “friends new and old”? What if CHARNAME were the friend old, and this peculiar little man the friend new?
Leveva: The Spear pointing west, the Balance pointing east, the Arrow pointing in all directions and none... It might just mean... Kyokuho. Though it pains me so to admit as much, it appears your arrival has been foretold. Perhaps there is much that I can learn from you─nay, that we can learn from each other.
Kyokuho: Hah hah! Oh, but there is! Soon you will learn the push and pull of the elements brings together those who require companionship most.
Leveva: Er, yes... The elements... We will have to discuss that further at another juncture. For the time being, I am placing you in the care of my first and foremost pupil, CHARNAME.
Jannequinard: An excellent proposal...or as I believe the Hingans say, “keikaku.” I dabbled a bit in the language when I was younger but for the life of me that ebon-haired emissary would not afford me even a sidelong glan─ Ahem! Then might I hazard that there is no finer place to begin unlocking the secrets of the stars than under the Bole near Rootslake? I shall even lead good Kyokuho to the South Shroud myself...if, ah, CHARNAME agrees to do the rest.
Kyokuho: After you, then!
Leveva: Next we meet, Kyokuho, you will have opened the first gate and better understand the influence the stars hold over all of us. Safe journeys. If this all goes according to plan...or keikaku, or whatever, then not only will the Easterner teach me his people's secrets, but he will help spread the art of my homeland across the Three Great Continents to the far shores of Othard!
Jannequinard: You most certainly do not need me telling you that Rootslake is located in the South Shroud near Camp Tranquil. You obviously remember the whereabouts of that particular location from that time that you, yourself opened the first gate. <wink>
Jannequinard: It all begins here, under the earthly stars. By opening the gate to the first heaven, we embark on a journey to self-enlightenment, to self-betterment, to unlock secrets untold... Finishing that journey, now, is another matter altogether. Hah hah...hah... <sigh>
Quimperain: My lady, it is an honor to defend you once again.
Kyokuho: There you are! I was beginning to wonder if you hadn't been eaten by the hoverflies on your way here! But I jest. Jannequinard tells me that you are quite the authority on all things relating the Bole. So enlighten me, oh, honorable sensei. I am, as you Westerners say, all eyes...or was it ears?
What will you explain?
| > THE BOLE'S ORIGIN Kyokuho: And Eorzeans believe it is from this tree planted by your gods in the very heavens that all life was born? Fascinating... | > THE BOLE'S BLESSING Kyokuho: So say you the Bole offers protection to the weak? Intriguing... |
Kyokuho: So this is your Bole... In the Far East we know of the constellation as something different, but know it all the same. I must admit, however, that seeing it under a different sky than my own fills my heart with a sense of both wonderment...and now confusion knowing what it represents to your people.
Kyokuho: What I cannot wrap my head around is that you would truly believe a notion so foolish as that the power of earth─a word that by your own definition means “soil”─would not come from the land itself, but rather from six tiny lights flickering in the night skies. We students of geomancy believe that such power naturally lies beneath our feet, ever flowing through creation, as blood does through our veins. Yet, despite the differences in our thinking, the similarities are encouraging. All trees are born of the earth, and their protection is universal.
Jannequinard: A most thought-provoking opinion that I am certain Lady Leveva will be delighted to hear...though might I suggest you withhold the part about being unable to wrap your head around our “foolish notions”...unless you enjoy having a steel-toed boot wedged firmly 'twixt the bollocks.
Jannequinard: Ahem! Shall we be going then? By this hour, Lady Leveva will have already made the journey back to the Athenaeum.
Kyokuho: I was just speaking with these fine ladies regarding their thoughts on the Sharlayan school of astrology. Your name came up quite often. Everyone here seems to think very highly of you. Of Jannequinard? Er...
ORIGINAL (THROUGH NOVEMBER 2018) Jannequinard: Our Far Eastern friend has quickly become acquainted with many of the Athenaeum's female apprentices, who all seem smitten with his exotic locks and trappings. Not that I am jealous. Why would I be jealous? I am a son of the house of Durendaire! Third in line to my father's title! The most eligible bachelor in all the See! Hm? Leveva? Over there. | CURRENT Jannequinard: Our Far Eastern friend has quickly become acquainted with many of the Athenaeum's female apprentices, who all seem smitten with his exotic locks and trappings. Not that I am jealous. Why would I be jealous? I am of House Durendaire! Third in line to my uncle's title! Or was it second? The most eligible bachelor in all the See! Hm? Leveva? Over there. |
Leveva: My thanks for taking the Hingan off my hands. And not because I think our visitor an annoying little braggart with all the manners of a kobold foundling, which I still do, but because I needed the time to finish my work without distraction. So tell me, what did I miss?
Leveva: I see. Perhaps I judged Kyokuho too hastily. I still have my reservations, but I shall afford him the benefit of the doubt...for now. The teachings of geomancy may be grounded in faerie tales and falsehoods, but my grandfather told me that every lie is born of the truth. If I can find the truth within Kyokuho's backwards beliefs, it may provide insight into our own school of thought.
Leveva: I see now that my choice to assign you as his tutor was a wise decision. Might I ask this of you, CHARNAME? I promise that once the symposium has ended, I shall assume the duties of Kyokuho's tutelage. I sense good fortune in our stars, my friend. Good fortune, indeed.
17. Ride Like the Wind (Lv 63)
Lady Leveva has something to ask of her favorite pupil.
Heurriette: Between you and me... I've never been that skilled at astrology. Two winters here and I still haven't opened a single heaven. I can't even spell half of the ridiculous terms we're supposed to memorize! But since the arrival of that mysterious Easterner, I seem to have found a renewed interest in his body─I mean, my studies!
(CW: pet death) Fleuraie: When Chief Astrologian Forlemort assigned me here for “further training” I knew my accidental killing of his cat in that experiment with the Earthly Star was not to be forgiven. But now that Lady Leveva's teachings have garnered the attention of the Vault, it appears our stars have finally risen. The arrival of the brilliant and talented and handsome and talented Kyokuho is just further proof of this!
Kyokuho: Greetings! I know that Lady Leveva asked you to help me train, but since you were not around, I took it upon myself to open a few more of those pesky gates on my own. I hope you don't mind.
Jannequinard: Why hello, CHARNAME! If you haven't noticed, the Athenaeum is practically abuzz with talk of wind, water, and the optimal position of your bed pillows if you wish to avoid ill fortune in commerce. In other words, it hasn't changed since Kyokuho arrived...
Leveva: Then it is settled! You shall guide young Kyokuho on his final steps to glory and enlightenment, just as I did you those many moons ago. Follow me outside, CHARNAME, and let us bring our friend the good tidings together.
Jannequinard: Am I bitter that it took Kyokuho all of a single moon to open five gates? Am I bitter that he accomplished in a blink of an eye what took me near twenty summers?[16] No. Not. Bitter. At. All. See, I'm even smiling. Verily.
Leveva: That is odd. I could have sworn he was right here but a moment ago. Fleuraie! Have you seen Kyokuho? Fleuraie! Are you even listening to me!?
Jannequinard: If it is our Hingan novitiate you seek, he hurried out the Athenaeum's side entrance not five heartbeats past. He was quite animated...even more than usual. A veritable one-man mummer's tragedy all full of jumping and flailing and pumping of fists.
Leveva: What could have unsettled the boy so?
Jannequinard: I suppose it might have been that letter I handed him. It was delivered just this morning. Kyokuho skimmed over it quickly, asked me several cursory questions about the heaven of ice to which I gave several cursory answers, and then was gone.
Leveva: And you did not try and stop him?
Jannequinard: Why would I? He was leaving.
Leveva: Bah, if my intuition is correct...and it usually is, something in that missive has led Kyokuho to believe that he does not have much time left in Eorzea, and so has set out for the Steel Vigil that he might open the final gate and complete his training before he departs our realm. CHARNAME, it looks as if our plan is already set in motion. To the central highlands!
Jannequinard: Something tells me Lady Leveva is correct in her assumption about Kyokuho's whereabouts. Something indeed...
Jannequinard: Why hello, CHARNAME! If you haven't noticed, the Athenaeum is practically abuzz with talk of wind, water, and the optimal position of your bed pillows if you wish to avoid ill fortune in commerce. In other words, it hasn't changed since Kyokuho arrived...
Leveva: CHARNAME! I see you received my summons. You didn't receive my summons? Twelve damn that Jannequinard to the seventh hell and back! He is going to p─ Ah, forgive me. There shall be sufficient time for the condemnation of his soul after eleventh bell tarts. For now, I must speak to you of Kyokuho's training. Despite appearances...and attitude...and manners...and courting habits, our traveler from the East has proven quite motivated in his study of our ways. In fact, while you were off doing whatever it is you do, he successfully opened the next four gates of heaven.
Leveva: Anyway, preparations for the symposium have left me with little time to pick the boy's mind, but I have nevertheless managed to fully grasp the primitive concept of geomancy. In fact, I plan on incorporating several of the ideas as anecdotes into my presentation. It is what my father would have wanted.
Leveva: Now, as to why I have called you here. Kyokuho is very close to attuning to the final heaven─the Spear─and I think it only fitting that his instructor be there to accompany him during his finest moment. ...And because I am obviously too occupied at the moment, I thought perhaps you could join him in my stead.
Leveva: Now, as to why I have called you here. Kyokuho is very close to attuning to the final heaven─the Spear─and I think it only fitting that his instructor be there to accompany him during his finest moment. ...And because I am obviously too occupied at the moment, I thought perhaps you could join him in my stead.
Leveva: Then it is settled! You shall guide young Kyokuho on his final steps to glory and enlightenment, just as I did you those many moons ago. Follow me outside, CHARNAME, and let us bring our friend the good tidings together.
Jannequinard: Am I bitter that it took Kyokuho all of a single moon to open five gates? Am I bitter that he accomplished in a blink of an eye what took me near twenty summers?[16] No. Not. Bitter. At. All. See, I'm even smiling. Verily.
Leveva: That is odd. I could have sworn he was right here but a moment ago. Fleuraie! Have you seen Kyokuho? Fleuraie! Are you even listening to me!?
Jannequinard: If it is our Hingan novitiate you seek, he hurried out the Athenaeum's side entrance not five heartbeats past. He was quite animated...even more than usual. A veritable one-man mummer's tragedy all full of jumping and flailing and pumping of fists.
Leveva: What could have unsettled the boy so?
Jannequinard: I suppose it might have been that letter I handed him. It was delivered just this morning. Kyokuho skimmed over it quickly, asked me several cursory questions about the heaven of ice to which I gave several cursory answers, and then was gone.
Leveva: And you did not try and stop him?
Jannequinard: Why would I? He was leaving.
Leveva: Bah, if my intuition is correct...and it usually is, something in that missive has led Kyokuho to believe that he does not have much time left in Eorzea, and so has set out for the Steel Vigil that he might open the final gate and complete his training before he departs our realm. CHARNAME, it looks as if our plan is already set in motion. To the central highlands!
Jannequinard: Something tells me Lady Leveva is correct in her assumption about Kyokuho's whereabouts. Something indeed...
Kyokuho has been set upon by dragons. As they are so fond of saying in this game, we must needs offer our aid.
Kyokuho: CHARNAME. This is the second time you have saved me from my folly...well, technically speaking it is the first. You were merely standing around as Lady Leveva healed my wounds last ti─ Right. I'll stop there. I know it makes little sense to leave without saying anything despite the fact you, Lady Leveva, and Jannequinard all were but mere yalms from where I stood, but some stories are already told, and who are we to struggle against the ebb and flow that carry us ever toward our fates?
Kyokuho: All right, that was a poor excuse. The truth is, I have been summoned back to my homeland and was too ashamed to face those who had showed me so much support. And so I thought to come here, open the gate to the final heaven, and then take the next trading galley out of Ul'dah before any of you realized I was gone. As you can see, things did not unfold as planned... But since you are here, perhaps we could have one last lesson, for old times' sake?
What will you explain?
| > THE SPEAR'S ORIGINS Kyokuho: A palace of ice set ablaze with the light of the moon... And you say it was carved by a single spear? Remarkable! | > THE SPEAR'S BLESSINGS Kyokuho: I see... Both power and compassion. The yin to the other's yang... |
Kyokuho: It is as if the more I learn of your stars, the less I know! To think this may be the last I ever see of your heavens... I am beginning to understand why your people treasure them so.
Kyokuho: And with the opening of the sixth, I have prepared my mind and soul for the seventh. The final gate that leads to true dominion over the elements...or so Lady Leveva insists.[17] Our conversations have been...eye-opening, to say the least. She theorizes that our two schools may actually be one and the same. Whereas astrologians look to the stars above to read their fates, we geomancers look to the star below and listen to its songs, and draw our answers from its whispers.
| ORIGINAL (THROUGH NOVEMBER 2018) Kyokuho: While I am certain my masters back in Hingashi would cringe upon hearing that a westerner of but twenty summers believes she has grasped a thousand generations of teaching, I am more willing to indulge her eccentricities now that I know she means no ill will. I only wish that we would have had more time to possibly see if there were some way we could have combined our knowledge to create something new. Something the world has never before seen. | CURRENT Kyokuho: While I am certain my masters back in Hingashi would cringe upon hearing that a Westerner of not twenty summers believes she has grasped a thousand generations of teaching, I am more willing to indulge her eccentricities now that I know she means no ill will. I only wish that we would have had more time to possibly see if there were some way we could have combined our knowledge to create something new. Something the world has never before seen. |
Kyokuho: And with that, I bid you, Lady Leveva, Quimperain, Mugueniel, soft-skinned Fleuraie, sweet-lipped Heurriette, that tall chap on the second floor always mumbling about some star's magnitude...even Jannequinard the fondest of farewells. I have a long journey ahead of me, and if I do not leave now...I fear I will never be able to.
Jannequinard: Shoo! If Lady Leveva catches you speaking with me before you have reported to her, she'll have my head thinking that it was I who made you come to me first.
Jannequinard: He's gone!? And without saying good-bye!? I cannot believe it! I will not believe it! Oh, what I would not give to have but one last moment with my brother, my soulmate, my─ Lady Leveva told you I read his letter? Oh, well then.
Jannequinard: Yes, it will pain me to tell the other novitiates that Kyokuho has returned to his native lands far away on the other side of the world. I may even need to personally comfort those most stricken with grief by his sudden, and tragic departure. But truth be told? I am going to miss having the Hingan around. He certainly did liven the place up. Godsspeed, Kyokuho. May your return journey leave you miserable and wet...but see you safely home.
Leveva: You are back...but I do not see Kyokuho. Is he out fawning over Fleuraie again? Back to Hingashi? I cannot say this was unexpected. The Deck of Sixty told me as much this morning. That, and I asked Jannequinard what was written in the letter. What, you thought him above reading another's correspondence? You give him far too much credit where none is due.
Leveva: Kyokuho is not a child. He knew what coming to Eorzea would entail, and he knew that he would one day need return to his homeland. And while we may not have always agreed─alright, almost never agreed─I did come to respect the man and his, ah, steely resolve. Allow him his space. If the stars deem it fitting, then he will be back. Or perhaps next it will be our turn for a journey over storm and sea.
Jannequinard: He's gone!? And without saying good-bye!? I cannot believe it! I will not believe it! Oh, what I would not give to have but one last moment with my brother, my soulmate, my─ Lady Leveva told you I read his letter? Oh, well then.
Jannequinard: Yes, it will pain me to tell the other novitiates that Kyokuho has returned to his native lands far away on the other side of the world. I may even need to personally comfort those most stricken with grief by his sudden, and tragic departure. But truth be told? I am going to miss having the Hingan around. He certainly did liven the place up. Godsspeed, Kyokuho. May your return journey leave you miserable and wet...but see you safely home.
18. Come Rain or Shrine (Lv 65)
Before reaching Lv 65 to accept the quest, going to the Athenaeum gets you this dialogue:
Jannequinard: To keep her mind off Kyokuho's sudden return to his homeland, Lady Leveva has buried herself in the preparations for her symposium, locking herself in her alcove for days on end. Free from her usual nagging, I've found myself with a considerable amount of time on my hands...and decided to take up fortune-telling! Allow me to read your future.
Jannequinard: Ahem... The Bole...then the Spire...then over here goes the inverted Arrow...then down here another Arrow... Wait! Another Arrow? Who put two arrows in my deck!? If I find out who did this─!
Jannequinard appears ill. Could it be he is recovering from another long evening at the Forgotten Knight, or is something else disturbing the viscount?
Jannequinard: While your visit fills my heart with joy, CHARNAME, I cannot bring myself to smile knowing that the Lady Leveva is troubled so. Though she should be spending these final days before the symposium placing the final touches on her address to the Vault, she instead spends her time wandering about the Pillars in a daze, mumbling to herself about earth, wind, and water. I fear that Kyokuho's departure has left a gap in Lady Leveva's heart that she knows not how to fill.
Jannequinard: I have tried at length to set her mind at ease, but one need not be a reader of stars to guess how well that ended. Perhaps if you spoke with her, she would finally listen to reason.
And so, we're off to find Leveva, who is indeed wandering about the Pillars.[18]
Jannequinard: Why Lady Leveva...and CHARNAME! Imagine finding you two out here this fair morning!
Leveva: Enough with the theatrics, Janne. I know your play here; and as I have told you time and again, I have not forgotten my duty to the Athenaeum or my obligations to the symposium. I simply need...time to think. Alone.
Jannequinard: To which I keep replying, why think alone when you have one of the greatest minds in the realm at your disposal? And CHARNAME!
Leveva: <sigh> The greatest minds, eh? Then riddle me this: why are the results of my reading from that day both CHARNAME and Kyokuho arrived still weighing on my mind? Why does it feel as if I am missing...or rather misinterpreting some devilishly important detail?
Jannequinard: Peace comes, friends are made, dangerous paths are trodden, knowledge is gained. Did that not already occur? Kyokuho and CHARNAME both arrive as the Dragonsong War ends, CHARNAME saves Kyokuho from death at the Steel Vigil, and knowledge of geomancy is shared with the Athenaeum.
Leveva: Yes, but what if the coming destruction told by the inverted Spire was not the incident at the citadel, but something else? Something far more grave?
Jannequinard: ...Then that would mean the prophecy's "fruit of knowledge and hope" was not Kyokuho's stories of his art...but something different. Something we will only see by continuing on this perilous path?
Leveva: But is it truly the path that is disastrous, or our decision to pursue it? What is your interpretation of the cards, CHARNAME?
Leveva: And I believe the disaster in question has something to do with Kyokuho's return home, if not the return itself. It could also mean that our friend is in danger.
Jannequinard: I see where you are going with this, and while I loved our red-robed ruckus-rouser as much as anyone (excepting Fleuraie perhaps), a journey at this time would mean the cancellation of our symposium, and with that, any chance of the Holy See ever taking us seriously.
Leveva: And now you can see why I've been up here day and night biting my nails to the quick!
Leveva: <sigh> I apologize. A lack of sleep can work ill on one's humours. But...I think your intervention here today may have provided me a solution to our predicament. A solution that I am now kicking myself for not having come to earlier. A solution I myself proposed not days ago when deciding how I might attend Kyokuho's opening of the sixth heaven! CHARNAME will travel to Hingashi!
Jannequinard: The reading did only mention "friends old" and "friends new." I recall nothing in there about silver-haired astrologians from Sharlayan.[19] But how do you propose CHARNAME find our charge? The Far East is a big place. Perhaps we could write a letter?
Leveva: Yes, and address it "To: Kyokuho. Hingashi." No, you dullard. We have something far better! We have the stars, and our undying faith that they will guide us to that which we seek!
Jannequinard: Or, CHARNAME could start her search in Kugane, the port city from which Kyokuho claimed he came, focusing on locations which serve as exceptional venues for stargazing—a pastime our friend warmed to during his stay with us.
Leveva: Or CHARNAME could— No, wait. That is actually a decent proposal. CHARNAME, you have your quest! May the stars guide you true! Oh, and I will expect reports. Many reports! Janne, let us return to the prepar— <yawn> Alright, maybe after a few bells rest first...
At this point, Kyokuho's dialogue is the same regardless of your answer.
This dialogue change is due to the removal of Nocturnal Sect, the gameplay mechanic that the original 60-70 questline was built around.
Kyokuho: Hah hah! I did it, Great-grandfather! I found a way to make things right! Well, then. We have no time to lose. My great-grandfather created his barrier by anchoring the energies of wind, water, and earth to four shrines located at the north, east, south, and west ends of the city. It is there the bonds must be repaired. We shall begin with the nearby westerly shrine on the Short Pier.
Kyokuho: This is one of the shrines of which I spoke. It may not look like much, but if it were to be destroyed, the entire city would be overrun with large-testicled raccoon dogs and flying rainbow cats...or possibly just angry spirits.
Jannequinard: Lady Leveva could be anywhere in the Pillars. Perhaps it would be best if we searched for her separately. I shall inform you via linkpearl if I happen across her first.
And so, we're off to find Leveva, who is indeed wandering about the Pillars.[18]
Leveva: CHARNAME? To what do I owe the honor? No, let me guess—our good friend Jannequinard asked you to talk some sense into poor addle-pated Leveva. And oh, goody. Today I have the privilege of being lectured by both of you.
Jannequinard: Why Lady Leveva...and CHARNAME! Imagine finding you two out here this fair morning!
Leveva: Enough with the theatrics, Janne. I know your play here; and as I have told you time and again, I have not forgotten my duty to the Athenaeum or my obligations to the symposium. I simply need...time to think. Alone.
Jannequinard: To which I keep replying, why think alone when you have one of the greatest minds in the realm at your disposal? And CHARNAME!
Leveva: <sigh> The greatest minds, eh? Then riddle me this: why are the results of my reading from that day both CHARNAME and Kyokuho arrived still weighing on my mind? Why does it feel as if I am missing...or rather misinterpreting some devilishly important detail?
Jannequinard: Peace comes, friends are made, dangerous paths are trodden, knowledge is gained. Did that not already occur? Kyokuho and CHARNAME both arrive as the Dragonsong War ends, CHARNAME saves Kyokuho from death at the Steel Vigil, and knowledge of geomancy is shared with the Athenaeum.
Leveva: Yes, but what if the coming destruction told by the inverted Spire was not the incident at the citadel, but something else? Something far more grave?
Jannequinard: ...Then that would mean the prophecy's "fruit of knowledge and hope" was not Kyokuho's stories of his art...but something different. Something we will only see by continuing on this perilous path?
Leveva: But is it truly the path that is disastrous, or our decision to pursue it? What is your interpretation of the cards, CHARNAME?
| > At the end of the path of disaster is hope. Leveva: Exactly what I was thinking. Only through the avoidance of some unforeseen peril will hope...and knowledge be acquired. | > To seek hope would be disastrous. Leveva: An interesting...if not fairly liberal interpretation of the cards...as well as the basic rules of grammar and syntax. No, the sixth card clearly states that hope is a resulting factor of the misfortune described in the fourth and fifth cards. | > A big promotion is just around the corner? Leveva: I know you are merely trying to ease my mind with humor, but this isn't the time for jests. If we are to understand where our fates lie, we must try and comprehend the signs we are given...and I believe those signs point to the pursuit of hope in the face of disaster. |
Leveva: And I believe the disaster in question has something to do with Kyokuho's return home, if not the return itself. It could also mean that our friend is in danger.
Jannequinard: I see where you are going with this, and while I loved our red-robed ruckus-rouser as much as anyone (excepting Fleuraie perhaps), a journey at this time would mean the cancellation of our symposium, and with that, any chance of the Holy See ever taking us seriously.
Leveva: And now you can see why I've been up here day and night biting my nails to the quick!
Leveva: <sigh> I apologize. A lack of sleep can work ill on one's humours. But...I think your intervention here today may have provided me a solution to our predicament. A solution that I am now kicking myself for not having come to earlier. A solution I myself proposed not days ago when deciding how I might attend Kyokuho's opening of the sixth heaven! CHARNAME will travel to Hingashi!
Jannequinard: The reading did only mention "friends old" and "friends new." I recall nothing in there about silver-haired astrologians from Sharlayan.[19] But how do you propose CHARNAME find our charge? The Far East is a big place. Perhaps we could write a letter?
Leveva: Yes, and address it "To: Kyokuho. Hingashi." No, you dullard. We have something far better! We have the stars, and our undying faith that they will guide us to that which we seek!
Jannequinard: Or, CHARNAME could start her search in Kugane, the port city from which Kyokuho claimed he came, focusing on locations which serve as exceptional venues for stargazing—a pastime our friend warmed to during his stay with us.
Leveva: Or CHARNAME could— No, wait. That is actually a decent proposal. CHARNAME, you have your quest! May the stars guide you true! Oh, and I will expect reports. Many reports! Janne, let us return to the prepar— <yawn> Alright, maybe after a few bells rest first...
The UI tells us now to "Travel to Kugane and locate a place suitable for stargazing."
Wizened Elder: Kugane is packed like a warehouse with multistoried hostels and teahouses, so the cobbles will ne'er afford a man a decent view of the skies. No, if you want to see the heavens in all their glory, you must needs make your way up. Take this bridge behind me. There, atop that mighty span, the stars await. She faces directly west of Kugane castle, out towards the Ruby Tide and Othard beyond. It is said her location was determined by a great geomancer who told the first bugyo placing it there would ensure the city's prosperity for generations to come.
Udoku: If it is the stars you seek, then you need only look up! Hahahaha! But if it is a fool you seek—one who calls himself a master of wind and water when in fact he is nothing more than a cheat, a liar, and a disgrace to our noble profession—then perhaps you might find the rat where all rats hide: near the piers. You'd be wise to not allow that one your ear. He is liable to fill it with tales of woe and ruin in an attempt to cozen you out of your hard-earned coin—coin that would be better spent on the talents of a true geomancer.
Alluring Lady: When I wish to walk under the stars, I go with my promised to the Tasogare Bridge spanning yon pier. The melting of crimson into indigo is a sight you will not soon forget.
And so we go to the Tasogare Bridge at nightfall.
Kyokuho: I see someone has taken my spot. I may just have to slit her throat and toss her body to the tide. Hah hah hah! I'm pulling your arm, CHARNAME...or was it ear? You westerners have such odd sayings. What brings you so far from home?
Kyokuho: A path fraught with disaster? Misfortune? Impending doom? Hah hah hah! Ahem. Yes, well, the situation may not be as encouraging as my jovial demeanor suggests. It all began several decades ago when the bakufu decided they were opening the port to foreign trade vessels. To accommodate the influx of ships, a section of ancient coastline forest was cleared. However, doing so angered the entity who had guarded the wood for countless generations—a golden fox named Kinko.
Kyokuho: A great battle ensued, but claws and fangs were no match for cold steel. Kinko was slain and the new port completed. The fox's spirit, however, remained, spoiling our milk, withering our crops, causing storms that dashed ship after ship against our rocky cliffs, In desperation, the bakufu turned to the land's most powerful geomancer—my great-grandfather, Kazan. Kazan used the power of the sea, the skies, and the land to soothe the spirit long enough that he could erect an invisible barrier that not only protected the city, but ensured that it would prosper.
Wizened Elder: Kugane is packed like a warehouse with multistoried hostels and teahouses, so the cobbles will ne'er afford a man a decent view of the skies. No, if you want to see the heavens in all their glory, you must needs make your way up. Take this bridge behind me. There, atop that mighty span, the stars await. She faces directly west of Kugane castle, out towards the Ruby Tide and Othard beyond. It is said her location was determined by a great geomancer who told the first bugyo placing it there would ensure the city's prosperity for generations to come.
Udoku: If it is the stars you seek, then you need only look up! Hahahaha! But if it is a fool you seek—one who calls himself a master of wind and water when in fact he is nothing more than a cheat, a liar, and a disgrace to our noble profession—then perhaps you might find the rat where all rats hide: near the piers. You'd be wise to not allow that one your ear. He is liable to fill it with tales of woe and ruin in an attempt to cozen you out of your hard-earned coin—coin that would be better spent on the talents of a true geomancer.
Alluring Lady: When I wish to walk under the stars, I go with my promised to the Tasogare Bridge spanning yon pier. The melting of crimson into indigo is a sight you will not soon forget.
And so we go to the Tasogare Bridge at nightfall.
Kyokuho: I see someone has taken my spot. I may just have to slit her throat and toss her body to the tide. Hah hah hah! I'm pulling your arm, CHARNAME...or was it ear? You westerners have such odd sayings. What brings you so far from home?
Kyokuho: A path fraught with disaster? Misfortune? Impending doom? Hah hah hah! Ahem. Yes, well, the situation may not be as encouraging as my jovial demeanor suggests. It all began several decades ago when the bakufu decided they were opening the port to foreign trade vessels. To accommodate the influx of ships, a section of ancient coastline forest was cleared. However, doing so angered the entity who had guarded the wood for countless generations—a golden fox named Kinko.
Kyokuho: A great battle ensued, but claws and fangs were no match for cold steel. Kinko was slain and the new port completed. The fox's spirit, however, remained, spoiling our milk, withering our crops, causing storms that dashed ship after ship against our rocky cliffs, In desperation, the bakufu turned to the land's most powerful geomancer—my great-grandfather, Kazan. Kazan used the power of the sea, the skies, and the land to soothe the spirit long enough that he could erect an invisible barrier that not only protected the city, but ensured that it would prosper.
Kyokuho: At once, the fortunes of Kugane's citizenry turned. My great-grandfather was hailed as a hero, and geomancy as the savior of our nation. Within a matter of moons, the streets were lined with the stalls and tents of would-be seers, the people practically throwing coin at them for their advice and blessings. These pretenders, these charlatans, were not interested in the sacred rites passed down to my great-grandfather from his great-grandfather and his great-grandfather before him. They were not interested in maintaining the barrier that preserved Kugane's luster, and drove back the powers that would see it fall. No, they were more interested in lining their pockets. And now...
Kyokuho: Now the bonds that hold the barrier in place are about to break, and there is none left with the knowledge to mend them! The knowledge that died with the passing of my grandfather... And so I set out to convince the geomancers of Kugane that only united would we discover the means to save our fair city. That only united would we stave off the darkness and bring lasting prosperity to one and all. That only united would my great-grandfather's legacy live on.
Kyokuho: Alas, I failed. Branded a deceiver by those very men and women who had grown fat on deceit. Unable to mend the bonds myself, nor rouse my peers to action, I stood on this very bridge and thought on an answer...and then I saw it in the setting sun. My answer lay in the West. And so I packed my bags and headed to Eorzea, in search of something, anything that might help me save Kugane. I believed that something astrology, but before I could be certain, I was summoned home. This, you already know.
Kyokuho: Since then, I have been coming here every night, hoping the stars might provide me with another revelation. But they remain silent... CHARNAME, the heavens speak through you. Tell me, what do they say?
| > Use geomancy to mend the barrier. Kyokuho: I admit it was a long story, but did you not hear a single thing that I even said? If I could mend the barrier myself, I wouldn't have traveled halfway across the world in the first place! Wait... But I did travel halfway across the world, and I didn't come home empty-handed. | > Use astrology to strengthen the barrier. Kyokuho: That's... That's brilliant! I don't know why I didn't think of it. | > Solve your own problems. Kyokuho: Hah hah. Spare me your western— Your western...? Western? Western! |
At this point, Kyokuho's dialogue is the same regardless of your answer.
| ORIGINAL (THROUGH DEC 2021) Kyokuho: If I learned one thing while in Ishgard, it was that western astrology is in many ways a complement to geomancy. Used together, they might just—! Unfortunately, that concept is all I had time to learn before the letter arrived. How to actually harness and wield the power of the stars was a lesson conveniently scheduled for the day after I returned home. But you... You know all the spells, right? You could help me mend the barrier! | CURRENT Kyokuho: If I learned one thing while in Ishgard, it was that western astrology is in many ways a complement to geomancy. Used together, they might just work! After all, you need only use your Aspected Benefic and you can mend any injury, is that not so? ...No, really─I'm genuinely asking. The lesson explaining the finer details of the stars' power and how to harness it was conveniently scheduled for the day after I returned home. But you... You know it all! Tell me you can help repair the barrier! |
Kyokuho: Hah hah! I did it, Great-grandfather! I found a way to make things right! Well, then. We have no time to lose. My great-grandfather created his barrier by anchoring the energies of wind, water, and earth to four shrines located at the north, east, south, and west ends of the city. It is there the bonds must be repaired. We shall begin with the nearby westerly shrine on the Short Pier.
Kyokuho: This is one of the shrines of which I spoke. It may not look like much, but if it were to be destroyed, the entire city would be overrun with large-testicled raccoon dogs and flying rainbow cats...or possibly just angry spirits.
| ORIGINAL (THROUGH DECEMBER 2021) Kyokuho: My plan is simple. If I am correct, the strongest barrier the stars can create is through the use of Aspected Benefic while under the influence of the Nocturnal Sect. We shall wait until nightfall to perform the rite, for the last thing we need is a drunken ronin breaking your concentration. | CURRENT My plan is simple─if I am correct, Aspected Benefic will intertwine with the barrier's geomantic energies, mending it as easily as it does flesh. We shall wait until nightfall to perform the rite, for the last thing we need is a drunken ronin breaking your concentration. |
Time to enter an instanced duty! The listed task is to "Test the barrier's strength at the westerly shrine."
Kyokuho: Quickly! Check the shrine and tell me its condition!
Kyokuho: It is worse than I thought. The speed with which the bonds deteriorate increases with each passing day. At this rate, they will not survive through the next new moon.
We cast Aspected Benefic (once upon a time, in the Nocturnal Sect).
Kyokuho: The magicks intertwine! Like two halves of a whole!
The bond strengthened, Kyokuho prays over the shrine to strengthen the geomantic bond.
Kyokuho: From the heart of the mountain... To the eye of the storm... So do the waters flow 'til lasting bridges form.
Kyokuho: To the next shrine! We will find it deep in Rakusui Gardens to the south of here. You know what to do. Attune with the shrine to determine the extent of the bond's damage.
When we attune to the shrine, three evil spirits spawn.
Kyokuho: Servants of the fox? Our mending of the first westerly bond must have alerted her to our presence! Focus is required to complete the seal, and my heart will not rest easy until these restless spirits are sent back to the land. Now, CHARNAME! Before more are summoned!
We cast Aspected Benefic to strengthen the magicks of the shrine.
Kyokuho: That wasn't so bad! Now step aside. I shall complete the ritual. 'From the heart of the mountain... To the eye of the storm... So do the waters flow 'til lasting bridges form.' That's half! At this rate, the barrier will be at full strength before sunrise! Onward, to Kugane Castle!
Fleeting spirits roam the streets, attacking all on sight.
Kyokuho: It appears I spoke too soon... Kinko knows what we do, and is sending her minions out in force to stay our hands. Try and not stray too far from my side, if not for your safety...for mine!
Attuning to the easterly shrine causes more evil spirits to spawn.
Kyokuho: There's no end to them! I knew that Kugane had a bloody history, but to think this many of the dead still linger... Alright, CHARNAME. Let us put this shrine behind us. I fear every moment we tarry, the stronger Kinko's gaze upon us grows. Be my eyes, friend. I must now concentrate on the anchor. 'From the heart of the mountain... To the eye of the storm... So do the waters flow 'til lasting bridges form.'
Kyokuho: There is but one shrine remaining─the northerly. As you know...or do not, the north is where all ill fortune gathers. I expect the most resistance there. Prepare yourself.
An enormous enemy called 'the Fury of the Golden Fox' spawns when we attune to the northerly shrine.
Kyokuho: Away! Away foul denizen of the dark... It doesn't hurt to try, does it? L-Look out! We cannot breathe easy until your magicks are cast and I have completed the rite. Hurry! Deep breath, Kyokuho. You can do this... 'From the heart of the mountain... To the eye of the storm... So do the waters flow 'til lasting bridges form.'
Kyokuho: I, ah, we did it! We strengthened my great-grandfather's barrier and thwarted the golden fox! A fine display! Fine indeed. Though, if it were I, I might have used Gravity instead of Malefic when the foul creature had─Ah, right. I'll just be staying that tongue of mine again.
???: Kyokuho! I was told there were spirits in the streets!
Kyokuho: And you arrive just as they are vanquished! How fortunate! Yes, Master Murakumo. The bonds are mended, made whole with western magicks...and a little shoulder grease, or was it knuckle grease? CHARNAME?
Murakumo: Western magicks? Then this ijin lady is─
Kyokuho: None other! And wait until you see the reinforced bonds. The energies twist together with ours like sun and moon, like darkness and light. They are as one, Master!
Murakumo: Then I was right to summon you home. Pardon my intrusion, traveler. I am Murakumo. Second pupil of the great Kazan, and instructor to young Kyokuho.
Kyokuho: But with Kugane safe...I can now return to Ishgard to complete my training as an astrologian. Huzzah!
Murakumo: Absolutely not. While you have mended the weakened bonds for now, their ephemerality remains. Unless you expect your friend here to remain in Kugane for the remainder of her life, we will need to find a more permanent solution. In other words, the bonds must be laid anew.
Kyokuho: But you know as well as I, the secret to laying those bonds died with my grandfather!
Murakumo: Not a day goes by that I do not suffer the burden of my ineptitude. Had I shown promise in the art as your grandfather did, perhaps Kazan would have entrusted me with the knowledge as well. But he did not, and now they are both gone. We can lament that which we cannot change, or we can put aside our past failures and seek the path which leads us forward.
Kyokuho: My master is right. Perhaps there is something in my grandfather's tomes, or perhaps I may still find a way to win over the other geomancers to our cause. There is always hope, is there not? If anything, you've given us time to search for an answer, and for that I am grateful. The city would be, as well, if they knew you had saved them from an army of angry wraiths looking to devour their souls and defecate their bones straight to the darkest of hells!
Murakumo: In his haste to find a difficult answer, he looks past the simple one right before his eyes.
It may take Kyokuho time to realize it, but you are the hope which we seek. In time, you will come to see it, as well.
Murakumo: Though it was but a single generation past, the people of Kugane have already forgotten that the prosperity they experience is not the result of some serpent-tongued swindlers, but of the humble efforts of true geomancers like Kyokuho's great-grandfather.
Murakumo: Though it was but a single generation past, the people of Kugane have already forgotten that the prosperity they experience is not the result of some serpent-tongued swindlers, but of the humble efforts of true geomancers like Kyokuho's great-grandfather.
Kyokuho: So, I guess this is farewell... Unless, that is, you're staying? You're staying!? She's staying! Master, she's staying! What changed your mind?
Kyokuho: No, don't tell me. Knowing that you will be here with me and Master Murakumo is enough. I was beginning to worry what I would do the next time the city was invaded by Kinko's minions. The master can barely make his way out of the privy each morning, let alone battle blood-lusting specters.
Kyokuho: Now that you mention it, this all reminds me of that reading Lady Leveva conducted the morning I arrived at the Observatory. Something about friendly paths lined with dangerous fruit bushes winding their way to hope. Could the stars truly have predicted all this? If so...I'm impressed! I will need to think more on the issue. Until then, might I suggest you continue the refinement of your art here in scenic Hingashi? You will find our beasts just as formidable as yours in the West, if not doubly so!
Kyokuho: No, don't tell me. Knowing that you will be here with me and Master Murakumo is enough. I was beginning to worry what I would do the next time the city was invaded by Kinko's minions. The master can barely make his way out of the privy each morning, let alone battle blood-lusting specters.
Kyokuho: Now that you mention it, this all reminds me of that reading Lady Leveva conducted the morning I arrived at the Observatory. Something about friendly paths lined with dangerous fruit bushes winding their way to hope. Could the stars truly have predicted all this? If so...I'm impressed! I will need to think more on the issue. Until then, might I suggest you continue the refinement of your art here in scenic Hingashi? You will find our beasts just as formidable as yours in the West, if not doubly so!
19. Behind Door Number Two (Lv 68)
Kyokuho is giving you his best “Where have you been, young lady? I've been waiting for days” look.
Murakumo: Greetings, CHARNAME. I hope your training has fared better than our search for information...
Kyokuho: I have some good news and some bad news, CHARNAME. The bad news is, a thirty-seventh reading of my great-grandfather's tomes failed to reveal anything about the bonds that the previous thirty-six readings had not. The good news─if you can call it that─is that we did discover where Grandmaster Kazan conducted his training when he was a youth. How does this help us? Good question. I'm still not completely certain myself, but it is more than we had the last time you were here, and an onze of hope is better than none at all, so...what do you say, friend. Are you up for a journey across the Ruby Sea?
Kyokuho: Hah hah! I knew you couldn't turn me down. Still, the road ahead won't be easy. Yanxia is large and the scars of war run deep along the Gensui Chain. It may be that which might have helped has already been claimed by flame. We'll have to place faith in our fortunes, and hope they guide us true. I have decided we shall begin our search in Namai for the reason that, well...there is no reason, but you have to start somewhere, eh? I shall meet you there. Safe journeys, CHARNAME.
Murakumo: Master Kazan would rarely speak of his youth, but I do recall several instances during my own training where he would treat with visitors from the mainland. I did not dare ask who they were, for we were allowed to speak only when spoken to, but now that I reflect back upon those visits, it might have been that the men were geomancers from Yanxia.
Murakumo: Master Kazan would rarely speak of his youth, but I do recall several instances during my own training where he would treat with visitors from the mainland. I did not dare ask who they were, for we were allowed to speak only when spoken to, but now that I reflect back upon those visits, it might have been that the men were geomancers from Yanxia.
Kyokuho: The air is heavy with mist, and these shacks probably let in more rain than they keep out. Something like a tome wouldn't survive a single moon here...let alone the decades since my great-grandfather's training. Still, a few words with the village elders provided an interesting bit of information. Though it required some coaxing, several were able to recall memories of robed seers who resided in a nearby temple─a temple that was in use right up until the Garlean invasion and the subsequent banning of all religion.
Kyokuho: The building─called the Swallow's Compass─while since abandoned, still remains in good repair. But listen to this. The locals avoid it for fear of disturbing the spirits with which they believed the geomancers communed. Do you know what this means? There could still be something left inside! Come!
Kyokuho: The Swallow's Compass. Built during the rule of the first Doman king. I took the liberty to explore the grounds before you arrived and discovered this door. I know, I know. It pales in comparison to that impressive gate behind us, compelling any normal thief or bandit to dismiss it outright. But then why erect a geomantic field to protect it? I sense the flow of powerful energies here. Whatever lies behind this door, the geomancers wanted to keep it safe. In fact...there may even be traps. Which is why only I should attempt a crossing of the threshold. I mean, who knows what terrible guardians have been summoned to protect the temple?
Kyokuho: Well, I guess now we know what terrible guardians were summoned to protect the temple! You'll also be happy to hear I was able to temporarily nullify the barrier, granting access into the chamber beyond. As there may be more traps, I ask that you wait out here to deal with them for me. Just kidding! I have already checked. There are no more traps. Probably.
Kyokuho: Fortune is with us, CHARNAME! The scrolls were intact, the barrier having protected them from both the elements and thieves. It took some searching, but I believe I was able to locate several that touch upon the laying of geomantic bonds. At least I think I was able to... The script on these scrolls is old and faded, not to mention written in a hand far beyond my comprehension.
Kyokuho: Luckily, Master Murakumo is almost as ancient as the tomes, and should have little difficulty prising out their secrets. A decanter or six of hot sake and he'll warm to the task. Ahah hah hah. I'll see you back at the Shiokaze Hostelry, CHARNAME. I'll even save you a cup!
Kyokuho: I...oh. My apologies, CHARNAME. You may want to sit down for this... Or not. It doesn't matter... Nothing really matters, does it? The scrolls─they contained knowledge of the complete ritual. In fact it was in the very first one. Hah... Just our luck, right? Wind, water, earth. Creation of the bonds calls for the energies of all three. Though this much even a first-year novice of geomancy could tell you. No, what gave us pause was the mention of a fourth energy─an energy to render the seal permanent...
Murakumo: Kyokuho...
Kyokuho: Life! Don't you see, CHARNAME? They spilled living blood to complete the ritual! They damned a soul to an eternity without peace so that their magicks would not fade!
Murakumo: That's enough, Kyokuho. There will be time to think on this with the morrow. Return to Kogane Dori and see if you can find some solace in sleep.
Murakumo: I do not fault my master for keeping this dark secret from me. The burden would have been far too much for me to bear. But then...why tell Kyokuho's grandfather?
Kyokuho: I've failed... Just as did my great-grandfather, and my grandfather after him. We all knew the one means of creating a flawless barrier, and none of us could bring ourselves to do it. And lo, the bonds we strengthened but several nights past...already have they begun to loosen and fray. They were weak for overlong, allowing Kinko to regain her strength. To mend her wounds. To feed her anger. And now there is naught we can do but watch as she gathers her minions for a final assault on the land she once ruled. Kugane does not stand a chance...
Kyokuho: Now would be a good time for us to stumble across that hope Lady Leveva's reading promised would be at the end of this road to destruction.
Kyokuho: Luckily, Master Murakumo is almost as ancient as the tomes, and should have little difficulty prising out their secrets. A decanter or six of hot sake and he'll warm to the task. Ahah hah hah. I'll see you back at the Shiokaze Hostelry, CHARNAME. I'll even save you a cup!
Murakumo: Welcome back. The scrolls you and Kyokuho retrieved from Yanxia were not difficult to decipher. No, what has been difficult is deciding how to use this newfound information.
Kyokuho: ...
Murakumo: Kyokuho. The Westerner has joined us. Might I suggest you do the same?
Kyokuho: I...oh. My apologies, CHARNAME. You may want to sit down for this... Or not. It doesn't matter... Nothing really matters, does it? The scrolls─they contained knowledge of the complete ritual. In fact it was in the very first one. Hah... Just our luck, right? Wind, water, earth. Creation of the bonds calls for the energies of all three. Though this much even a first-year novice of geomancy could tell you. No, what gave us pause was the mention of a fourth energy─an energy to render the seal permanent...
Murakumo: Kyokuho...
Kyokuho: Life! Don't you see, CHARNAME? They spilled living blood to complete the ritual! They damned a soul to an eternity without peace so that their magicks would not fade!
Murakumo: I now understand why Grandmaster Kazan left no notes on the rites. He did not wish this knowledge to fall in the wrong hands.
Kyokuho: And because he never performed the rites himself, the bonds anchoring the barrier around Kugane were never completed. And that is why they require constant attention. No blood was spilled to make them everlasting.
My great-grandfather would not sacrifice even a single life to achieve his ends, and neither will I!
Murakumo: That's enough, Kyokuho. There will be time to think on this with the morrow. Return to Kogane Dori and see if you can find some solace in sleep.
Murakumo: I do not fault my master for keeping this dark secret from me. The burden would have been far too much for me to bear. But then...why tell Kyokuho's grandfather?
Kyokuho: I've failed... Just as did my great-grandfather, and my grandfather after him. We all knew the one means of creating a flawless barrier, and none of us could bring ourselves to do it. And lo, the bonds we strengthened but several nights past...already have they begun to loosen and fray. They were weak for overlong, allowing Kinko to regain her strength. To mend her wounds. To feed her anger. And now there is naught we can do but watch as she gathers her minions for a final assault on the land she once ruled. Kugane does not stand a chance...
Kyokuho: Now would be a good time for us to stumble across that hope Lady Leveva's reading promised would be at the end of this road to destruction.
20. Foxfire (Lv 70)
Kyokuho appears frantic...and Master Murakumo is nowhere to be found.
Kyokuho: CHARNAME! Thank the stars you are finally here. It's been almost four bells since Master Murakumo left on his daily inspection of the bonds. He most likely just stopped to warm his belly along the way, but I can't help wondering if it's something worse. Will you help me search for the old man? We can start at the closest shrine in Rakusui Gardens.
Udoku: Well look what we have here, boys. The pretender is back with his ijin lapdog to do...whatever it is they're doing. Tell me again, what exactly is it you're doing?
Kyokuho: Not here but two beats of the heart and I'm accosted by Udoku and his merry band of minions. I'll handle these three while you search yonder for Master Murakumo.
Kyokuho: Well, any sign of him? Where could he be? You don't suppose he tried anything foolish, do you? With the bonds as weak as they are, any manner of disturbance could rouse the golden fox...and the master is no longer of an age to defend himself.
Kyokuho: Well, any sign of him? Where could he be? You don't suppose he tried anything foolish, do you? With the bonds as weak as they are, any manner of disturbance could rouse the golden fox...and the master is no longer of an age to defend himself.
Udoku: Defend himself against what? A maid could walk the streets naked and unattended carrying a gold-filled sack and not have so much as a finger laid upon her. Or are you spreading more lies about angry spirits to sow fear so that you might offer your “protection” in exchange for a bugyo's ransom?
Kyokuho: I've done no such thing! I've merely bid my fellow geomancers aid the city in its time of need. Not once have I asked compensation for what I seek! If anything, it is you who seek to prey on the citizenry's ignorance!
Udoku: Hah! So says the talentless hack who waves his great-grandfather's name around like he does his member! Your lies are growing stale, Kyokuho. Continue spouting them, and not only do you sully our craft, but the very legacy of Grandmaster Kazan. What would he say to this nonsense!?
Kyokuho: Are you even listening to me? Why does no one listen to me!? All I desire is to mend my great-grandfather's magicks and save Kugane! I do not seek coin! I do not seek fame! Why is that so hard for you to grasp!? Gah! We are wasting our time here, CHARNAME. Let us continue the search for Master Murakumo at the westerly shrine.
Murakumo: The bond...was nearly undone... I...tried to... But the...... Argh! Kinko... She's here. She's already through. We...we need to perform the blood ritual. It is the only way...
Kyokuho: No. I already told you. My great-grandfather spurned the spilling of innocent blood to complete the seal, and so have I. Besides, even if we were to conduct the ritual, there is no one to sacrifice.
Kyokuho: Lady Leveva! How did y─Where did y─Why did y─Lady Leveva...?
Leveva: The symposium was a rousing success, the Vault quick to realize the benefits my school's wisdom could bring when applied to the rebuilding of Ishgard. It was even decided that several new courses in Sharlayan astrology were to be taught at the scholasticate starting next term. And so, with my father's dream fulfilled, I was finally free to pursue whatever I wished...and I wished to learn more of geomancy. So here I am...and not a moment too soon, by the looks of it.
Leveva: There will be no sacrificing tonight, tomorrow, or ever! The stars have foretold our victory and will provide us the strength we need to see our enemy overcome!
Kyokuho: That's what I like to hear! Follow me, then, to Kugane Castle! The spirits are certain to be drawn there!
Kyokuho: The fox is a creature of the night. If Kinko is to reveal herself, it will be under the cover of darkness.
Kyokuho: Tenkonto? We just walked up all those steps for a final showdown at Kugane Castle, and now we have to walk all the way back down to Ten─ Right. Mouth shut.
Leveva: Kinko will seek to draw our attention away from her by sowing chaos in the streets. Kyokuho, you focus your energies on the fox. CHARNAME, you make swift work of her angry supplicants. I shall provide you both with support from the rear.
It's time for an instanced d-d-d-d-d-duty!
Kyokuho: Kinko is attacking the people of Kugane! We have to save them!
Udoku: It was true... It was all true!
Kinko Kugane: Defilers of the land, hearken unto me! Tonight there shall be a reckoning!
Kyokuho: She flees! We can use this time to deal with Kinko's thralls before giving chase.
Kinko Kugane: What is this I smell...? The blood of he who dared keep me from my rightful domain! Kazan!
Kyokuho: The fox thinks I'm my great-grandfather... and it doesn't appear she's all that thrilled to see me...
Kinko Kugane: Your insolence is neither forgotten nor forgiven! It is you I shall devour first! For too long have I suffered the likes of man!
After a little while in combat, she teleports away.
Leveva: Hurry! We must not allow her time to heal her wounds!
One (1) add phase later...
Kinko Kugane: You will pay! All of you!
Leveva: Look there! So overwhelming are her wrath and anguish that they have taken shape!
We (literally) heal her Anguish and Wrath add tethers.[20]
Kinko Kugane: This light... Its warmth... The flames within recede with the morning tide... Trust... Forgiveness... They are truly what bind us...
Leveva: Her anger─we must soothe it once and for all!
Kinko Kugane: Hath man finally learned his power need not only be used for destruction? Perhaps my guardianship is no longer required...
Leveva: Kinko is calmed! Now lay the bonds and complete your great-grandfather's ritual!
Kyokuho: May the rivers of heaven and earth, wind and water, flow together as one. May their currents cleanse this land of its impurities and see it ever guarded.
Kyokuho: May the wrath that once held rule be carried to the seas where it be forgotten...for eternity.
Leveva: It is done. Together we have saved Kugane, and with it torn down the walls that separated our two schools. This will be a day long remembered─the day a new hope was born.
Leveva: “At the end of the path of disaster is hope.” I'm not going to say I told you so...but I told you so. <wink>
Kyokuho: I don't know how to begin to thank you─both of you.
Leveva: Normally, I would say that this uncharacteristic display of humility is more than enough thanks, but I still require one thing in return for my assistance─a promise that this is not the end.
Kyokuho: Of course it's not the end! This is just the beginning─a new beginning for both geomancy and astrology! There's so much to be done. First, we'll need to write down all that happened here today, then I'll need to─
Jannequinard: So this is Kugane, eh? Not bad.
Leveva: Jannequinard!? What in the seventh heaven's name are you doing here!? I explicitly stated in my letter that you were not to follow me!
Jannequinard: Lady Leveva. I am disappointed. You of all people should know had you wanted me to stay put, you should have rather demanded that I come.
Leveva: Yes, yes. Whatever was I thinking?
Udoku: Kyokuho! I... I wanted to...ap─ To apol─ Apol─ To apologize. There, I said it. I still despise you and that smirk of yours, but I can see I was mistaken about your being a pretender. You have talent...almost as much as I. You will make a worthy rival.
Kyokuho: Hah! Coming from you, Udoku, I'll take that as a compliment. Lady Leveva, under any other circumstances, I would be on a barque headed back to Eorzea this very evening to complete my training as an astrologian. But there is something I need to do first. Just as you fought to educate Ishgard of your school, I must do the same here in Kugane with mine. A geomancy unfaithful to the teachings of the masters has poisoned this city for too long.
Leveva: A wise decision─one that was surely not easy for you to make. Take as much time as you need, Kyokuho. See the ship righted. See truth prevail. The stars will guide you back to us when the hour is right.
Kyokuho: Don't you worry, Lady Leveva. Give me a few summers and I'll have an entire army of geomancers trained by yours truly lining up at your desk!
Leveva: An...entire army of Kyokuhos...?
Kyokuho: What? Is that a problem? Hah hah hah!
Kyokuho: CHARNAME! You're still in Kugane? I thought you would have sailed back to Eorzea by now. Is there something that keeps you in our fair city, or do you simply enjoy its pleasures too much to leave? As for me, I will require a little more time to...what did Lady Leveva say? Sit the straight ship? Pah, how I despise your cryptic expressions. Just tell her, if you see her, that I haven't forgot our promise.
Fleuraie: Have you heard the news? Of course you have! But I'll tell you anyway! They have made me an assistant professor at the Scholasticate! I will be teaching Lady Leveva's courses to all the young, handsome students... Oh, and the old, ugly ones as well. Of course. Why wouldn't I?
Mugueniel: While I am happy for Lady Leveva, the Vault's newfound interest in Sharlayan astrology has increased our workload here tenfold. Alright, that may be an exaggeration. Sevenfold, then! And not a fold less!
Heurriette: The symposium was a success, and now there is news that Kyokuho may soon return to the Athenaeum to resume his studies! Perhaps Lady Leveva will put us in the same kisses─I mean, classes! In the same classes.
Jannequinard: We have seen quite a change in Lady Leveva since her little sojourn in the Far East. Where once one could rarely find her in her study for the wanderlust which kept her ever abroad, she now has taken to remaining within the city's walls, content on guiding budding young minds to bloom.
Udoku: Quite the performance. Perhaps the pretender should trade in his geomancer's robes for mummer's paint. Hah hah hah hah!
Kyokuho: Master Murakumo! Are you hurt!?
Murakumo: The bond...was nearly undone... I...tried to... But the...... Argh! Kinko... She's here. She's already through. We...we need to perform the blood ritual. It is the only way...
Kyokuho: No. I already told you. My great-grandfather spurned the spilling of innocent blood to complete the seal, and so have I. Besides, even if we were to conduct the ritual, there is no one to sacrifice.
Murakumo: Then I shall be the sacrifice, Kyokuho. For the many years since your grandfather passed, my sole purpose has been to find a means to mend Kazan's barrier. It would be the greatest honor knowing that with my death, I might not only save the city, but be granted the opportunity to watch over it for eternity.
Kyokuho: No! I can't let you die, Master!
Murakumo: Listen to what you are saying, Kyokuho. You cannot let me die? I want to do this. It is my decision to make and mine alone. Let not this selfishness in your heart distract you from what needs to be done.
Kyokuho: You're wrong, Master! There must be another way. There is always another way! There is always hope! Right, CHARNAME? Tell me! How do we save Kugane!?
| > It's simple. Use astrology. Kyokuho: 'Stop focusing on the bonds, and look to the fox'? What do you mean, CHARNAME? Leveva: What she means? I'll tell you exactly what she means! | > It's simple. Sacrifice Master Murakumo. Leveva: Not on my watch! Leveva: There is a much easier solution to all this nonsense... but only if you stop focusing on the bonds, and turn your attention to the fox! |
Kyokuho: Lady Leveva! How did y─Where did y─Why did y─Lady Leveva...?
Leveva: Your powers of observation never cease to amaze me, Kyokuho. Aye, it is me, in the flesh. Fresh off a galley put into port this very morn.
Leveva: The symposium was a rousing success, the Vault quick to realize the benefits my school's wisdom could bring when applied to the rebuilding of Ishgard. It was even decided that several new courses in Sharlayan astrology were to be taught at the scholasticate starting next term. And so, with my father's dream fulfilled, I was finally free to pursue whatever I wished...and I wished to learn more of geomancy. So here I am...and not a moment too soon, by the looks of it.
Leveva: In the few bells I spent exploring the city for leads as to your whereabouts, I learned much and more about our “pretender” and his end-is-nigh advocacy, so I began testing the bonds of this barrier myself. It did not take long to realize that it was Kyokuho who was speaking verily, and his detractors the true pretenders.
Kyokuho: So, you'll help us mend the bonds!? But how? CHARNAME and I have already tried using energies drawn from the heavens, and that only worked to delay the inevitable. The guardian spirit's strength has grown so great that the only thing that might hold her now is a new barrier anchored with bonds of lifeblood─but this I cannot allow.
Kyokuho: So, you'll help us mend the bonds!? But how? CHARNAME and I have already tried using energies drawn from the heavens, and that only worked to delay the inevitable. The guardian spirit's strength has grown so great that the only thing that might hold her now is a new barrier anchored with bonds of lifeblood─but this I cannot allow.
| ORIGINAL (THROUGH DEC 2021) Leveva: As always, Kyokuho, your hasty charge into a difficult answer blinds you from the simple solution. For so long you have focused on mending your great-grandfather's bonds, when you should have focused on Kinko herself. If her wrath can be quelled, then a barrier will no longer be needed. In the heavens, there exist two sects which influence the type of energy that dominates the plane─nocturnal and diurnal. The former draws energies from the moon with the power to repel and protect. My guess is that this is what you and CHARNAME used to mend the bonds before. The second sect, however─the diurnal─draws energy from the sun. Energy to calm and to heal. Kyokuho: So...you're saying that if we use Aspected Benefic under the Diurnal Sect, it will soothe Kinko so that we may convince her to stay her attack? Leveva: Giving you time to re-lay your great-grandfather's bloodless bonds. But it will only work if Kinko is first weakened herself. Kyokuho: Right! Weakened! Wait... Weakened? But won't attacking Kinko and her minions simply anger the spirit even more? | CURRENT Leveva: As always, Kyokuho, your hasty charge into a difficult answer blinds you from the simple solution. You were right to harness the power of Aspected Benefic─but you failed to grasp its true potential to bring succor. For so long you have focused on mending your great-grandfather's bonds, when you should have focused on Kinko herself. If her wrath can be quelled, then a barrier will no longer be needed. Kyokuho: So....you're saying that if we use the power of the stars to soothe Kinko's wounded heart, we may convince her to stay her attack? Leveva: Giving you time to re-lay your great-grandfather's bloodless bonds. But it will only work if Kinko is weak, and the manifestations of her soul's scars cleansed. Kyokuho: Right! So we only need to─ Wait. Won't attacking Kinko and her spiritual minions simply anger her even more? |
Murakumo: Before something can be healed, it must first be hurt. It is a sound plan, Kyokuho. And...if it turns out you still require a sacrifice, I─
Leveva: There will be no sacrificing tonight, tomorrow, or ever! The stars have foretold our victory and will provide us the strength we need to see our enemy overcome!
Kyokuho: That's what I like to hear! Follow me, then, to Kugane Castle! The spirits are certain to be drawn there!
Kyokuho: The fox is a creature of the night. If Kinko is to reveal herself, it will be under the cover of darkness.
Leveva: Trust in the heavens...and always trust in yourself.
Udoku: The very hells have opened! Who will save us!?
Kyokuho: Tenkonto? We just walked up all those steps for a final showdown at Kugane Castle, and now we have to walk all the way back down to Ten─ Right. Mouth shut.
Leveva: Kinko will seek to draw our attention away from her by sowing chaos in the streets. Kyokuho, you focus your energies on the fox. CHARNAME, you make swift work of her angry supplicants. I shall provide you both with support from the rear.
It's time for an instanced d-d-d-d-d-duty!
Kyokuho: Kinko is attacking the people of Kugane! We have to save them!
Udoku: It was true... It was all true!
Kinko Kugane: Defilers of the land, hearken unto me! Tonight there shall be a reckoning!
Kyokuho: She flees! We can use this time to deal with Kinko's thralls before giving chase.
Kinko Kugane: What is this I smell...? The blood of he who dared keep me from my rightful domain! Kazan!
Kyokuho: The fox thinks I'm my great-grandfather... and it doesn't appear she's all that thrilled to see me...
Kinko Kugane: Your insolence is neither forgotten nor forgiven! It is you I shall devour first! For too long have I suffered the likes of man!
After a little while in combat, she teleports away.
Leveva: Hurry! We must not allow her time to heal her wounds!
One (1) add phase later...
Kinko Kugane: You will pay! All of you!
Leveva: Look there! So overwhelming are her wrath and anguish that they have taken shape!
We (literally) heal her Anguish and Wrath add tethers.[20]
Kinko Kugane: This light... Its warmth... The flames within recede with the morning tide... Trust... Forgiveness... They are truly what bind us...
Leveva: Her anger─we must soothe it once and for all!
Kinko Kugane: Hath man finally learned his power need not only be used for destruction? Perhaps my guardianship is no longer required...
| ORIGINAL (THROUGH DECEMBER 2021) Leveva: Now! She is ready! I shall prime the diurnal! CHARNAME! Tap into the nocturnal and guide its energies through Kinko! | CURRENT Leveva: Now! She is ready! CHARNAME! Tap into the stars and guide their soothing energies through Kinko! |
Leveva: Kinko is calmed! Now lay the bonds and complete your great-grandfather's ritual!
Kyokuho: May the rivers of heaven and earth, wind and water, flow together as one. May their currents cleanse this land of its impurities and see it ever guarded.
Kyokuho: May the wrath that once held rule be carried to the seas where it be forgotten...for eternity.
Leveva: It is done. Together we have saved Kugane, and with it torn down the walls that separated our two schools. This will be a day long remembered─the day a new hope was born.
Leveva: “At the end of the path of disaster is hope.” I'm not going to say I told you so...but I told you so. <wink>
Kyokuho: I don't know how to begin to thank you─both of you.
Leveva: Normally, I would say that this uncharacteristic display of humility is more than enough thanks, but I still require one thing in return for my assistance─a promise that this is not the end.
Kyokuho: Of course it's not the end! This is just the beginning─a new beginning for both geomancy and astrology! There's so much to be done. First, we'll need to write down all that happened here today, then I'll need to─
Jannequinard: So this is Kugane, eh? Not bad.
Leveva: Jannequinard!? What in the seventh heaven's name are you doing here!? I explicitly stated in my letter that you were not to follow me!
Jannequinard: Lady Leveva. I am disappointed. You of all people should know had you wanted me to stay put, you should have rather demanded that I come.
Leveva: Yes, yes. Whatever was I thinking?
Murakumo: Ahem. May I say that I am honored to have before me the foremost authorities on astrology. Your display last night taught me there is still much I must learn about my own school. Something I would not have been able to do had I...er...allowed myself to be sacrificed.
Udoku: Kyokuho! I... I wanted to...ap─ To apol─ Apol─ To apologize. There, I said it. I still despise you and that smirk of yours, but I can see I was mistaken about your being a pretender. You have talent...almost as much as I. You will make a worthy rival.
Kyokuho: Hah! Coming from you, Udoku, I'll take that as a compliment. Lady Leveva, under any other circumstances, I would be on a barque headed back to Eorzea this very evening to complete my training as an astrologian. But there is something I need to do first. Just as you fought to educate Ishgard of your school, I must do the same here in Kugane with mine. A geomancy unfaithful to the teachings of the masters has poisoned this city for too long.
Leveva: A wise decision─one that was surely not easy for you to make. Take as much time as you need, Kyokuho. See the ship righted. See truth prevail. The stars will guide you back to us when the hour is right.
Kyokuho: Don't you worry, Lady Leveva. Give me a few summers and I'll have an entire army of geomancers trained by yours truly lining up at your desk!
Leveva: An...entire army of Kyokuhos...?
Kyokuho: What? Is that a problem? Hah hah hah!
Kyokuho: CHARNAME! You're still in Kugane? I thought you would have sailed back to Eorzea by now. Is there something that keeps you in our fair city, or do you simply enjoy its pleasures too much to leave? As for me, I will require a little more time to...what did Lady Leveva say? Sit the straight ship? Pah, how I despise your cryptic expressions. Just tell her, if you see her, that I haven't forgot our promise.
Fleuraie: Have you heard the news? Of course you have! But I'll tell you anyway! They have made me an assistant professor at the Scholasticate! I will be teaching Lady Leveva's courses to all the young, handsome students... Oh, and the old, ugly ones as well. Of course. Why wouldn't I?
Mugueniel: While I am happy for Lady Leveva, the Vault's newfound interest in Sharlayan astrology has increased our workload here tenfold. Alright, that may be an exaggeration. Sevenfold, then! And not a fold less!
Heurriette: The symposium was a success, and now there is news that Kyokuho may soon return to the Athenaeum to resume his studies! Perhaps Lady Leveva will put us in the same kisses─I mean, classes! In the same classes.
Jannequinard: We have seen quite a change in Lady Leveva since her little sojourn in the Far East. Where once one could rarely find her in her study for the wanderlust which kept her ever abroad, she now has taken to remaining within the city's walls, content on guiding budding young minds to bloom.
21. Love, Astrologically (Lv 80)
Something─mayhap the stars─tells you that Jannequinard would like a word or two...hundred.
Jannequinard: CHARNAME! You always seem to know the precise moment at which your services are required. Such is the mark of an accomplished astrologian, if I do say so myself! Which would, of course, imply you are already aware of what I would ask of you! Yet, I shall indulge you with my request nonetheless. It is Master Rufin. Following our return from Kugane, she has been...distant. Well, more distant than usual. Enough to give one pause, at least. I thought I might ascertain the source of her worriment with the Deck of Sixty, but was presented the usual slumgullion of vague portents and portentous vagaries. By the time I unwrapped my throbbing head from the spread, all I could discern was something about a “dark wind blowing from the east.”
Jannequinard: I suppose this could imply any number of things─ill tidings from our allies in Doma, a rainstorm brewing over the Black Shroud, a fire at that fine patisserie near the Arc of the Venerable... Why, I suppose even you could be the dark wind. Ahem. No. Right. Let us simply say, I am worried about our companion, but am at a loss as to how I might help her. Leveva has been spending much of her days up at the Last Vigil, staring blankly out over the Sea of Clouds. I've attempted speaking with her, but the lady is about as receptive to my concerns as one might expect. Perhaps, though, she would prove more forthcoming with her star pupil?
Jannequinard: The Last Vigil was once a lookout for the See's Knights Dragoon, though by the time anyone manning the outpost spotted a dragon, it was far too late to do aught but crawl into a root cellar and pray.
Jannequinard: The Last Vigil was once a lookout for the See's Knights Dragoon, though by the time anyone manning the outpost spotted a dragon, it was far too late to do aught but crawl into a root cellar and pray.
Leveva: <sigh> It will never work, and I was a fool to think─ Oh, CHARNAME. Just the woman I wanted to see. Might you remember our good fr─ Might you remember Kyokuho? Lanky fellow, disheveled hair, somewhat capable in the geomantic arts? Well, it appears his travels will be bringing him once again to Ishgard. Seeing as he has provided me with a wealth of valuable insight into his discipline, the least I could do would be to greet him upon his arrival. Unfortunately, I must see to some unfinished affairs near the Architects... Would it be too much to ask for you to visit the aetheryte plaza in my stead? I shall catch up with both of you later at the Athenaeum Astrologicum.
(If you go back to the Athenaeum first...
(If you go back to the Athenaeum first...
Jannequinard: Kyokuho will be arriving at the aetheryte plaza. You cannot well greet him while loitering here in the Pillars, unless you heard tell he was flying in on the back of a dragon?)
Jannequinard: Why if it isn't...a dark wind from the East!
Jannequinard: Ah, so I see someone has wasted little time in informing every rat in the Brume of matters that I thought it obvious were of a more personal nature.
Kyokuho: Oh, save the drama for the stage, my friend. CHARNAME merely recognized that the intimate connection Lady Leveva and I forged in Kugane made me the perfect candidate for discerning what might be weighing oh so heavily on her soul.
Jannequinard: Hah! And how do you propose to do that?
Kyokuho: Do it? I've already done it! Lady Leveva's in love!
Jannequinard: But of course she is! Wait...what?
Jannequinard: Don't tell me you take that addle-pated moonboy seriously. Lady Leveva? In love? What a ridiculous notion. Unless... If she is smitten with some unknown individual─and I am, by no means, implying that she is─it is my duty as friend of her father to determine if the cur is worthy of Lady Leveva's attention.
Leveva: CHARNAME. Might I assume you saw Kyokuho safely to the Athenaeum? Very well. I shall be along shortly.
Kyokuho: What do you think we should do? I'm but a humble student of the geomantic arts. I have little understanding when it comes to matters of the heart.
Kyokuho: I, uh...greetings and salutations, my dearest Leveva! Aren't you looking most resplendent this fine evening!
Leveva: Resplendent? Spent a few bells in the books, have we? Time will tell if this new vocabulary suits you, but time is not a luxury I am afforded at this moment. The city's din is positively deafening. It stifles my thoughts and upsets my humours. What I require is clarity─something unattainable within these stone walls. The quiet of Camp Dragonhead, however, may provide me with a moment's respite. 
Kyokuho: How is that even...?
Jannequinard: Ah, Kyokuho. There's no need to kneel in my presence.
Jannequinard: Did I miss anything? I see. It comes as little surprise that one of her social standing would be betrothed at such a young age. Such is the custom amongst older houses─even in a city as progressive as Sharlayan─and she hails from one of the oldest.
Kyokuho: I suppose... It's just that─
Jannequinard: Kyokuho! Whither the vim and vigor from our conversation earlier? And all this upon learning Lady Leveva is to be married. A more astute observant might presume a certain emotional attachment to our young protégé. But that would be ludicrous. I, for one, know that good Kyokuho's feelings towards Leveva are naught but those of admiration for her skill at the astromantic arts. So let us return to the task at hand. We still do not know what is weighing down on the lady's fragile heart.
Jannequinard: I could accompany you to Camp Dragonhead, but one thing my time with Lady Leveva has taught me is that when she has her head wrapped about some vexatious affair, the last person's company she desires is mine.
Kyokuho: I fear I have offended the Lady Leveva... Will she ever forgive me?
Kyokuho: CHARNAME! Imagine us, meeting here! Could it be fate? Hah hah hah, I jest! Slow down, friend. I've only just arrived in Ishgard and already you're recruiting me to some urgent cause? You Westlanders certainly don't waste your time. I intended this to be but a short visit to discuss how matters have progressed since you vanquished Kinko and aided me in restoring my grandfather's wards. However, I suppose all that can wait. To the Athenaeum, then?
Jannequinard: Why if it isn't...a dark wind from the East!
Kyokuho: It is good to see you again, too, Jannequinard. CHARNAME tells me all is not well with Lady Leveva?
Jannequinard: Ah, so I see someone has wasted little time in informing every rat in the Brume of matters that I thought it obvious were of a more personal nature.
Kyokuho: Oh, save the drama for the stage, my friend. CHARNAME merely recognized that the intimate connection Lady Leveva and I forged in Kugane made me the perfect candidate for discerning what might be weighing oh so heavily on her soul.
Jannequinard: Hah! And how do you propose to do that?
Kyokuho: Do it? I've already done it! Lady Leveva's in love!
Jannequinard: But of course she is! Wait...what?
Kyokuho: Her archenemy defeated, her father's memory honored, and a city saved─Lady Leveva has conquered the countless peaks that rose before her with an air of aplomb that would belie her mere sixteen summers. And now, bereft of purpose, she has turned her eyes to companionship to fill the void that lies agape in her heart. And I believe I can help. CHARNAME, might you know the lonely lady's current whereabouts? Those massive stone effigies to raw masculinity!? Oh, it is worse than I thought! We must make haste!
Jannequinard: Don't tell me you take that addle-pated moonboy seriously. Lady Leveva? In love? What a ridiculous notion. Unless... If she is smitten with some unknown individual─and I am, by no means, implying that she is─it is my duty as friend of her father to determine if the cur is worthy of Lady Leveva's attention.
Leveva: CHARNAME. Might I assume you saw Kyokuho safely to the Athenaeum? Very well. I shall be along shortly.
Kyokuho: Look, there she is.
| > Indeed. There she is. And? Kyokuho: And nothing. That's the problem. She's just been standing there. | > Then why are we here? Kyokuho: I was afraid you might ask that. |
Kyokuho: What do you think we should do? I'm but a humble student of the geomantic arts. I have little understanding when it comes to matters of the heart.
Leveva: And what, pray tell, are you two doing here?
Kyokuho: I, uh...greetings and salutations, my dearest Leveva! Aren't you looking most resplendent this fine evening!
Leveva: Resplendent? Spent a few bells in the books, have we? Time will tell if this new vocabulary suits you, but time is not a luxury I am afforded at this moment. The city's din is positively deafening. It stifles my thoughts and upsets my humours. What I require is clarity─something unattainable within these stone walls. The quiet of Camp Dragonhead, however, may provide me with a moment's respite.
Leveva: Oh, and you may cease with this ridiculous talk of “matters of the heart.” Love is the furthest of my worries. I, for one, am already promised to another.
Kyokuho: Al... ...ready... ...promised!?
Kyokuho: How is that even...?
Jannequinard: Ah, Kyokuho. There's no need to kneel in my presence.
Jannequinard: Did I miss anything? I see. It comes as little surprise that one of her social standing would be betrothed at such a young age. Such is the custom amongst older houses─even in a city as progressive as Sharlayan─and she hails from one of the oldest.
Kyokuho: I suppose... It's just that─
Jannequinard: Kyokuho! Whither the vim and vigor from our conversation earlier? And all this upon learning Lady Leveva is to be married. A more astute observant might presume a certain emotional attachment to our young protégé. But that would be ludicrous. I, for one, know that good Kyokuho's feelings towards Leveva are naught but those of admiration for her skill at the astromantic arts. So let us return to the task at hand. We still do not know what is weighing down on the lady's fragile heart.
Jannequinard: And what better way to find out than to ask. A novel idea, don't you think? Asking someone what is troubling them rather than assuming─without having actually spoken with them, or even seen them for some time─that they're simply longing for amorous relations. Wonderful. Kyokuho and I shall return to the Athenaeum where I will make certain he refrains from idle meddlement in any other lives.
Jannequinard: I could accompany you to Camp Dragonhead, but one thing my time with Lady Leveva has taught me is that when she has her head wrapped about some vexatious affair, the last person's company she desires is mine.
Kyokuho: I fear I have offended the Lady Leveva... Will she ever forgive me?
Leveva: As persistent as always... Fine. You have seen through my ruse. I am not, in fact, promised to another. I simply implied as much to silence Kyokuho. Alright, there was a time I was promised to another. We have my grandfather to thank for that. However, since I am now officially deceased, my assumption is that the arrangement will have been annulled. Not that I shall ever bother to actually confirm this assumption.
Leveva: What is troubling me? <sigh> 'Twas not my intention to involve you or Jannequinard...or even Kyokuho in such matters. However, the discord my silence has sown perhaps warrants an explanation.
Despite repeated efforts following our recent achievements in Kugane, I have been unable to conceive feasible means of blending the teachings of Sharlayan astrology and those of Far Eastern geomancy. As Kyokuho explained, unlike astrologians who look to the stars above to read their fates, geomancers look to the star below and listen to its songs, and draw their answers from its whispers. Yet try as I might, I remain impotent in tapping the land's puissance. I've spent my life attuning to the slight variations in the aether of distant stars. So much so that when I look to Hydaelyn and her aether, I am overwhelmed by its potency...its glow, you could say. Think of it as trying to open one of the heavens' gates in a world of everlasting daylight.
| > A world of everlasting daylight? About that... [21] Leveva: You have visited such a place? Then my readings were accurate. Exactly where have your adventures taken you, CHARNAME? | > ..... Leveva: Your silence speaks louder than words. As do my readings. The Deck of Sixty has already revealed much and more about your recent foray into distant realms. Now, if you would care to elaborate. |
Leveva: And you had no trouble channeling the aether from that world's heavens despite the fact that you never once physically laid eyes upon them?
| ORIGINAL (THROUGH DECEMBER 2021) Leveva: Intriguing... But I am a woman of reason, and shall require more than the word of another─no matter how close─to convince me of this phenomenon. A firsthand demonstration, however, might suffice. A single Aspected Benefic, perhaps? But only under the influence of the Diurnal Sect, mind you. Leveva: When you are ready, CHARNAME. A single incantation of Aspected Benefic will suffice. But only under the influence of the Diurnal Sect, of course. | CURRENT Leveva: Intriguing... But I am a woman of reason, and shall require more than the word of another─no matter how close─to convince me of this phenomenon. A firsthand demonstration, however, might suffice. A single Aspected Benefic, perhaps? Leveva: When you are ready, CHARNAME. A single incantation of Aspected Benefic will suffice. |
Leveva: Your faculty for aetherially conversing with celestial bodies both far and near is peerless. A most eloquent display...and one I should endeavor to learn from. I have committed the most grievous of sins by allowing things such as light, distance, and dimension─things that hold no dominion over the realm aetherial─to prevent me from unbinding my full potential. You, however, helped me to realize the error in my ways. I believe now I might continue my studies.
Leveva: Just...not here. I am unsure why I thought this would be a suitable location to ponder my predicament in the first place. Perhaps it was the memories of our first lesson here... Ahem. Let us hurry back to the Athenaeum lest we catch cold.
Jannequinard: So...my original reading was accurate all along! You were the dark wind! But then why...dark? I thought people were calling you the Warrior of Light... [22]
Kyokuho: Jannequinard was right. I was the dark wind from the east. If I hadn't arrived and upset Lady Leveva with my ridiculous notions, we wouldn't find ourselves in this mess...
Leveva: Foremost, I believe I owe you both an apology. Or at least I owe you one, Jannequinard. As for you, Kyokuho─ How did you arrive at the ridiculous notion that I was somehow languishing in the throes of love?
Kyokuho: When CHARNAME and Jannequinard mentioned you were not yourself after returning from Kugane, I simply assumed that─
Jannequinard: Do you dare suggest that we had any hand in this, Kyokuho? You were not a quarter bell in the Pillars before you were telling anyone who would listen about the cavernous maw that yawned in the heart of poor, lonely Master Rufin...and how you were to fill it.
Leveva: Lonely? Pah! I'm far from lonely. In fact, I've already promised my heart to another.
Kyokuho: Of course. Already promised to a─ Wait...what?
Leveva: You heard me, and I've never spoken a truer word.
Jannequinard: Whoever could it be? It is certainly not CHARNAME...or, heavens forfend, Kyokuho?
Leveva: Why, astrology, of course!
Leveva: What? Who did you expect, Quimperain?
Kyokuho: I suppose you're wondering what brought me to Ishgard in the first place. It most certainly wasn't to ruffle Master Rufin's feathers...though it seems I have succeeded in that nonetheless. Our triumph over Kinko having restored the people of Kugane's faith in geomancy, it was not long before a gaggle of eager mages were clamoring at my door, seeking guidance in the art of wind and water.
Kyokuho: To accommodate, I transformed my grandfather's study into a place where I might train those who are willing to invest the time and effort necessary to become masters. Which reminds me... My students are likely wondering where their sensei is! Farewell, CHARNAME!
Leveva: So he came to tell us of his new school of geomancy? Did we not give him a linkpearl?
Leveva: At any rate, allow me to thank you once again for the inspiration you provided. Despite being your mentor in matters astrological, I find myself consistently in your debt when it comes to...well, everything else. You are a true friend and confidant, CHARNAME.
Jannequinard: And as always, she has once again failed to acknowledge that it was I who first noticed her change in mood, and that it was my reading that predicted your arrival, and that it was my good judgment that eventually pointed you in her direction. But such is my destiny, I suppose. I am simply happy that Lady Leveva is back to her normal self. If aught were to befall her, Rufin would haunt me 'til the Eighth Umbral Era.
Jannequinard: Thank you again, CHARNAME. I would say we make a fine team, but considering you cover the coeurl's share of the footwork, I will refrain from any further analogies of a sporting nature.
Jannequinard: Ah, CHARNAME. I can only apologize once more for the role I played in the recent...farce to which you were forced to be party. Rest assured that there will be no more of that. As for Lady Leveva─she seems satisfied with the pace of her progress at the moment. She was practically skipping with joy last we spoke, in fact.
...and that's all of the AST quests! There are also a handful of quests that are not in the AST questline proper but have lore relevant to us, so we'll be looking at those now.
Supplementary Quest 1 - Flower Mill (Lv 51)
The widow is gazing mournfully at the bunch of flowers she is carrying.
Old Woman: Oh, how do you do there, deary? Not many people have time to talk to someone like me. I wanted to go and visit my husband's grave, but my back is troubling me dreadfully. Do you have the time to do a kindness for a weary old woman? It would mean the world to me if you could take these flowers to Gorgagne Mills and place them on my husband's grave.
Old Woman: Thank you ever so much for that, deary. I'm sure my husband appreciated it. ...Well, that, or he's turning in his grave, shouting, “Do it yourself, you lazy hag!” Heh...
Old Woman: He used to be a great knight under House Durendaire, you know. He was tutor to the house's heir─training him in the ways of combat. I was so proud of him having a job like that. And the heir himself was ever such a bright young lad. A genius if ever there was one... But one day, the poor boy set out to see the realm...and didn't come back. We never saw him again...
Old Woman: After that, my husband just wasn't the same... He ended up stepping down from his position and cutting his ties with the nobility. He became a farmer and started the farm at Gorgagne Mills. I think he just couldn't stand to be reminded of that boy every day he was at House Durendaire.
Supplementary Quest 2a - Ishgardian Restoration MSQ (Lv 60)
Okay, so. A couple things: first of all, despite the fact these are Lv 60 quests, they weren't released until after Love, Astrologically. Secondly, most of these quests are irrelevant to our purposes, so I'm not going to put the full text of them in like we have been up 'til now - just the relevant bits. If you'd like to see all of the resto quests, Claire Faye @ Lamia very kindly made a full playlist of them over on YouTube.
The TL;DR for our purposes is that Joacin Charlemend Francel de Haillenarte, the youngest of Count Haillenarte's children - who thankfully just goes by 'Francel' - has made it his business to become overseer of the postwar rebuilding of the Holy See, and we're helping him out with various tasks.[23] In "Overseer for a Day", the third quest in the chain, we have this dialogue:
Francel: We have received promising responses from all the High Houses. Though it was largely a matter of formality, I first went to secure the support of House Haillenarte. I then paid a visit to House Fortemps, which has been providing lodgings to visiting workers. There, I was given the assurance that they will increase their capacity as the need arises.
Francel: Next, I knocked upon the door of Durendaire Manor. As a house founded upon military traditions, I was informed that they had little to offer to the restoration effort. Resigned, I was about to take my leave when, by a stroke of good fortune, Lord Jannequinard appeared and pledged to open a school where children might learn their letters, numbers, and stars.
Francel: Next, I knocked upon the door of Durendaire Manor. As a house founded upon military traditions, I was informed that they had little to offer to the restoration effort. Resigned, I was about to take my leave when, by a stroke of good fortune, Lord Jannequinard appeared and pledged to open a school where children might learn their letters, numbers, and stars.
Francel: Last but not least, I took myself to House Dzemael, renowned for its architectural prowess, and they agreed to employ their expertise for the Firmament's benefit. [...]
After finishing this quest, we can wander around the Firmament and find a pair of schoolchildren!
Special thanks to Aeryn Striker @ Coeurl for caps of this pop-up dialogue!
Janne and Leveva don't appear anywhere else in this questline (well, okay, you can very briefly see the back of Janne's head in a crowd cutscene, but I'm not counting that), but
From "The Making of a Market":
Francel de Haillenarte: After giving the matter considerable thought, it struck me─what if we were to bring in merchants from the realm over to ply their trade here, that Featherfall might be the Holy See's new hub of foreign trade? It is a most inspired idea, would you not say? And─if you would not disapprove─I would ask you to accompany me as our designated emissary to the three city–states. After all, who better to convince our esteemed guests to make the journey here to Ishgard than one of your influence and prestige?
???: And if you would not disapprove─or, quite honestly, even if you would─I will be accompanying you as well.
Francel de Haillenarte: L-Lord Charlemend! It is far from my place to object, but for whatever reason would the Count de Durendaire wish to come along on our humble expedition? Particularly in light of your honored house's rather...shall we say, conservative...views toward the expansion of foreign trade...
Charlemend de Durendaire: I'll thank you not to make assumptions about the interests of my house, Lord Francel. I have always acted in what I believe to be my homeland's best interests. And I will continue to do so. Mayhap House Durendaire did not give the warmest of welcomes to outsiders at the Observatorium and Whitebrim Front... But I assure you that we took only the necessary precautions to defend the See from external threats at a time of war. Surely the savior of Ishgard can understand our position.
Charlemend de Durendaire: At any rate, the war is over, and our nation has entered a new age. I am not inclined to sit idly by as House Durendaire is left behind the times. And yet, at this most vital of junctures, my son and heir remains lost at sea, and my cousins are either too young or unworldly for the task. And so it falls to me to see to matters myself. I daresay there is some merit for you as well. After all, whatever negotiations you intend to conduct, they can only be aided by the presence of the head of Ishgard's highest of High Houses.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...I trust you have no objections?
Francel de Haillenarte: Your offer of assistance is most generous, Lord Charlemend. I would not dream of refusing it.
Charlemend de Durendaire: Of course not. We depart at once, yes? I've heard Gridania is most lovely at this time of year.
From "Dealings in the Desert":
Wymond: Aye, I'd be more than pleased to, friend. An' pray tell─how much is this introduction worth to you?
Charlemend de Durendaire: Worth!? You would demand payment for your piddling knowledge!
Wymond: Heh, you don't know how things work 'round here, do you, old man? In Ul'dah, information's a commodity like any other, an' a bloke only gets as much as he's willin' to pay for... Clearly, the knowledge I've got is worth somethin' to you─else you wouldn't be standin' here before me. So, we return to the question: how heavy is your coinpurse feelin' today?
Emmanellain de Fortemps: ...Allow me to handle this, old girl. Well met, my friend! How do you fare this fine day?
Wymond: If it ain't my favorite Ishgardian! Come to pick ol' Wymond's brain 'bout the latest happenings here in the sultanate? 'Course, I'm happy to oblige...in exchange for whispers you've heard 'round the Holy See.
Emmanellain de Fortemps: Ah, any other day and I would gladly trade rumors with you. Today, however, I meant only to offer a word of warning. That man is none other than the lord of the highest of our High Houses. He breathes political intrigue and sups upon machination...and believe me when I say you do not wish to make an enemy of him. ...But don't take my word for it. Just ask our friend CHARNAME.
Wymond: Seven hells! On second thought, don't bother takin' out your coinpurse. Whatever you're offerin', it's more than clear it ain't worth the trouble. An' now, if you don't mind, I've more pressin' matters to attend to.
Emmanellain de Fortemps: A wise decision, if I do say so myself. And worry not─I shall return before long with the rumors from the Holy See you so desire. Till next time, my friend! Fancy meeting you here, old girl! I would have never expected to find you in the company of the illustrious Count de Durendaire. Whatever is the occasion?
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Hmph. I might ask you the same. Does the philandering son of House Fortemps intend to upstage his betters?
Honoroit: Worry not, Lady CHARNAME. I will see to it that my lord remains focused on the task at hand, and does not let his emotions lead him to enter into any potentially disadvantageous agreements. We shall be in touch at a later juncture.
Emmanellain de Fortemps: Till next time, old girl! I do believe there is a banquet I should be attending...
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Hmph. I suppose even foppery can serve a purpose on rare occasions. Though, needless to say, I could have handled the negotiations just as well without that fool's meddling. On the bright side, we can at long last take our leave of this blasted desert. Lord Francel was at some tavern called the Quicksand, yes? Let us tell him the deed is done and be on our way.
Charlemend de Durendaire: You there! You know something of these parts, yes? I seek to do business with a trader possessed of a reputation worthy of my great house. You will introduce one to me at once.
Wymond: Aye, I'd be more than pleased to, friend. An' pray tell─how much is this introduction worth to you?
Charlemend de Durendaire: Worth!? You would demand payment for your piddling knowledge!
Wymond: Heh, you don't know how things work 'round here, do you, old man? In Ul'dah, information's a commodity like any other, an' a bloke only gets as much as he's willin' to pay for... Clearly, the knowledge I've got is worth somethin' to you─else you wouldn't be standin' here before me. So, we return to the question: how heavy is your coinpurse feelin' today?
Emmanellain de Fortemps: ...Allow me to handle this, old girl. Well met, my friend! How do you fare this fine day?
Wymond: If it ain't my favorite Ishgardian! Come to pick ol' Wymond's brain 'bout the latest happenings here in the sultanate? 'Course, I'm happy to oblige...in exchange for whispers you've heard 'round the Holy See.
Emmanellain de Fortemps: Ah, any other day and I would gladly trade rumors with you. Today, however, I meant only to offer a word of warning. That man is none other than the lord of the highest of our High Houses. He breathes political intrigue and sups upon machination...and believe me when I say you do not wish to make an enemy of him. ...But don't take my word for it. Just ask our friend CHARNAME.
Wymond: Seven hells! On second thought, don't bother takin' out your coinpurse. Whatever you're offerin', it's more than clear it ain't worth the trouble. An' now, if you don't mind, I've more pressin' matters to attend to.
Emmanellain de Fortemps: A wise decision, if I do say so myself. And worry not─I shall return before long with the rumors from the Holy See you so desire. Till next time, my friend! Fancy meeting you here, old girl! I would have never expected to find you in the company of the illustrious Count de Durendaire. Whatever is the occasion?
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Hmph. I might ask you the same. Does the philandering son of House Fortemps intend to upstage his betters?
Emmanellain de Fortemps: Why, Lord Charlemend, you wound me! Rest assured that I meant only to spare you from a potentially inexpedient encounter. Purveyors of information in these parts are inevitably sharper than they let on─if they judge you to be less than knowledgeable about your surroundings, they will not hesitate to take advantage.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Hmph. If I needed the help of a self-indulgent stripling, I'd have asked for it.
Emmanellain de Fortemps: But I must ask, old girl, what brings you to the Jewel of the Desert with the good count at your side? What manner of information, pray tell, were you hoping to glean from our friend Wymond?
Lord Francel is looking to stimulate commerce and trade in the Firmament? Well, why didn't you come to me sooner! Do you think so little of your comrade Emmanellain!?
Emmanellain de Fortemps: ...Allow me to explain. My dear brother suggested that I might employ my considerable skill in mingling amongst the upper crust to more...shall we say productive ends. After all, social gatherings are a prime opportunity for overhearing choice tidbits of rumor and gossip. Remember the time we bumped into each other at the ball in Kugane? Oh, but I could regale you for hours with all the juicy tales I picked up on that particular excursion! And hours more about the fine ladies I encountered, but that is neither here nor there...
Emmanellain de Fortemps: The point being that I have acquainted myself with no small end of prestigious merchants and traders, including many who I believe would be most amenable to the idea of expanding their operations to Ishgard. I daresay that more than a few of them have most fetching daughters, as well. At any rate, you need trouble yourself no further. I will reach out to the parties in question and make the necessary arrangements. In return, I ask only that you convince Lord Francel to put in a good word with the lovely Lady Laniaitte on my behalf. A fair enough exchange, is it not?
Honoroit: Worry not, Lady CHARNAME. I will see to it that my lord remains focused on the task at hand, and does not let his emotions lead him to enter into any potentially disadvantageous agreements. We shall be in touch at a later juncture.
Emmanellain de Fortemps: Till next time, old girl! I do believe there is a banquet I should be attending...
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Hmph. I suppose even foppery can serve a purpose on rare occasions. Though, needless to say, I could have handled the negotiations just as well without that fool's meddling. On the bright side, we can at long last take our leave of this blasted desert. Lord Francel was at some tavern called the Quicksand, yes? Let us tell him the deed is done and be on our way.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Hmph. Another den of riffraff and reprobates. Still, coming to a place like this...I can't help but look around for signs of my boy. It's been twenty years since he vanished with nary a trace, ambushed by pirates on a voyage around the realm. From time to time, rumors reach my ears─that he's rotting in a gaol somewhere, that someone resembling him has been sighted making the rounds in Limsa. For my part, I fear the boy is long dead. After all, if he were alive, why would he not return home?
Supplementary Quest 2b - A Parley with Pirates (Lv 60)
This is another Resto MSQ quest, but the whole thing is pretty relevant to our interests, so it gets its own section to keep these sections from getting too unwieldy.
Charlemend de Durendaire: Drunkards and ruffians, the lot of them. Rumors be damned, how anyone could even imply that my son might be found among them is beyond me... I still remember the sparkle in his eye the day he told me he meant to leave the See on a journey around the...
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Ahem. I would thank you to leave me alone with my thoughts for a while.
Francel de Haillenarte: Are you ready to take to the road again, CHARNAME? Our final destination awaits us─Limsa Lominsa!
Charlemend de Durendaire: Hmph...if we must. ...Though if you truly expect to find a reliable trading partner in that den of pirates and ruffians, you are even more of a fool than I thought.
Francel de Haillenarte: Believe me, Lord Charlemend, when I say that I bear no love for barbarous outlaws. That said, by all accounts things have changed much in the years since Admiral Bloefhiswyn rose to power.
Charlemend de Durendaire: I have spoken of my son's disappearance to you in the past, have I not? If by chance you have forgotten, it was those accursed pirates who took him from me, and for that I will never forgive them. It was twenty long years ago. He was a boy of great promise, possessed of a curious mind and a burning desire to see the world. Then a murderous band of sea reavers raided his vessel, and...just like that, he was gone. To this day, the rumors reach my ears. That he rots in a gaol deep beneath the city. Or that someone resembling him has been seen wandering the streets. As his father, I want to believe he still lives somewhere, but there is only so long a man can...
Francel de Haillenarte: You have my most heartfelt sympathies for the loss of your son, Lord Charlemend. By no means do I wish to open old wounds and stir up painful memories. Pray return to Ishgard ahead of us. CHARNAME and I shall handle matters from here.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...No. I will accompany you. Regardless of what happened─nay, precisely because of it─I will not shirk my duty as lord of House Durendaire. I will march into that wretched hive of murder and villainy and seize from it a new age of prosperity for my house as due retribution for all they have taken from me.
Francel de Haillenarte: If it is what you wish, my lord. Let us be on our way. My preliminary research has led me to conclude that the area known as Bulwark Hall, a stone's throw from the airship landing, would make for a suitable place to commence our efforts.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Hmph, I see. Very well, then, let us be off to this Mealvaan's Gate, or whatever the place was called.
Carvallain: To think the old man would be willing to reveal a treasured house secret to outsiders─dastardly, despicable pirates, no less... Perhaps there's hope for Ishgard yet.Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Ahem. What I mean to say is, I would not trust a pirate half as far as I could throw him. They are the scourge of our realm and my house, and I will have nothing to do with them.
Francel de Haillenarte: You have my most heartfelt sympathies for the loss of your son, Lord Charlemend. By no means do I wish to open old wounds and stir up painful memories. Pray return to Ishgard ahead of us. CHARNAME and I shall handle matters from here.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...No. I will accompany you. Regardless of what happened─nay, precisely because of it─I will not shirk my duty as lord of House Durendaire. I will march into that wretched hive of murder and villainy and seize from it a new age of prosperity for my house as due retribution for all they have taken from me.
Francel de Haillenarte: If it is what you wish, my lord. Let us be on our way. My preliminary research has led me to conclude that the area known as Bulwark Hall, a stone's throw from the airship landing, would make for a suitable place to commence our efforts.
Francel de Haillenarte: So this is Limsa Lominsa! Why, it is even livelier than I imagined!
Charlemend de Durendaire: <sniff> The Fury take me...how can all these people abide that gods-awful stench of salt and brine in the air!? Let us conclude our business swiftly and take our leave of this place. Lord Francel...I trust that your research has enlightened you as to where we might find a suitable trading partner?
Francel de Haillenarte: Indeed it has, Lord Charlemend! I have read that all goods incoming and outgoing must pass inspection at a place called Mealvaan's Gate. No doubt that would be a productive place to begin our inquiry.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Hmph, I see. Very well, then, let us be off to this Mealvaan's Gate, or whatever the place was called.
Francel de Haillenarte: Perhaps it is but wishful thinking on my part, but would you not say Lord Charlemend has softened some since we arrived here in Limsa? Why, he even waited for me to complete a full utterance before dashing off. Could it be that we have earned his trust?
Charlemend de Durendaire: You are employed here, yes? My companions and I hail from Ishgard, and we have come to Limsa to discuss matters of trade.
Mealvaan's Gate Assessor: Then ye've most definitely come to the right place! Any inquiries ye may have regarding duties, tariffs, prohibited goods, and what-have-ye, I or one of my fellow assessors would be more than happy to enlighten ye!
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...I see. To be precise, we seek to introduce wares from your nation to our own homeland, where we believe such items would be in demand. Might you be able to recommend to us a trader dealing in such wares?
Mealvaan's Gate Assessor: Aye, but of course! Why didn't ye say so sooner, my good man!? In that case, ye'll be wantin' to talk to one o' the three great pirate powers here in town.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Pirates!?
Mealvaan's Gate Assessor: Aye! 'Course, since the signin' of the Galadion Accord, they're more of an officially sanctioned agency, raidin' the Garleans at the Admiral's behest, takin' part in honest trade, and the like. 'Least, that much can be said o' the Sanguine Sirens and the Krakens. The Bloody Executioners are a whole 'nother matter, so I'd recommend ye limit any dealin' and negotiatin' ye feel like partakin' in to the former two. I reckon the Sanguine Sirens would be as good a start as any, as they're known to be a bit more welcomin' to outsiders like yerselves. Ye'll find them over in the tavern known as the Missin' Member, if ye're up for a parley.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Yes, I do believe I've heard enough. Thank you for your time, and good day.
Francel de Haillenarte: So this is where they conduct inspections on all goods imported to Limsa Lominsa. Most fascinating! I simply must take notes for future reference...
Mealvaan's Gate Assessor: Yes? What business have ye at Mealvaan's Gate?
Charlemend de Durendaire: You are employed here, yes? My companions and I hail from Ishgard, and we have come to Limsa to discuss matters of trade.
Mealvaan's Gate Assessor: Then ye've most definitely come to the right place! Any inquiries ye may have regarding duties, tariffs, prohibited goods, and what-have-ye, I or one of my fellow assessors would be more than happy to enlighten ye!
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...I see. To be precise, we seek to introduce wares from your nation to our own homeland, where we believe such items would be in demand. Might you be able to recommend to us a trader dealing in such wares?
Mealvaan's Gate Assessor: Aye, but of course! Why didn't ye say so sooner, my good man!? In that case, ye'll be wantin' to talk to one o' the three great pirate powers here in town.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Pirates!?
Mealvaan's Gate Assessor: Aye! 'Course, since the signin' of the Galadion Accord, they're more of an officially sanctioned agency, raidin' the Garleans at the Admiral's behest, takin' part in honest trade, and the like. 'Least, that much can be said o' the Sanguine Sirens and the Krakens. The Bloody Executioners are a whole 'nother matter, so I'd recommend ye limit any dealin' and negotiatin' ye feel like partakin' in to the former two. I reckon the Sanguine Sirens would be as good a start as any, as they're known to be a bit more welcomin' to outsiders like yerselves. Ye'll find them over in the tavern known as the Missin' Member, if ye're up for a parley.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Yes, I do believe I've heard enough. Thank you for your time, and good day.
I can scarce believe it has come to this, but I suppose we have no recourse. Well, Lord Francel? I trust you know the way to this “Missing Member”...[24]
Mealvaan's Gate Assessor: Should ye cut yourself a deal, don't forget to report all yer imports and exports to Mealvaan's Gate. Otherwise, we'll claim what's due one way or the other...
Charlemend de Durendaire: I...I do not. I have come from Ishgard to discuss matters of trade with the captain of the esteemed Sanguine Sirens, and I was told I might find her here.
Melkoko: You were, were you? Why, yes...I suppose you might. Make yourself comfortable and I'll go let the captain know that she's got a new vict─er, visitor.
Rhoswen: The 'ells ye want, drylanders? State yer business quick, and ye'd best hope it's worth my while, else me Sirens'll see ye gutted and sleepin' with the fishes before ye knew what cuffed ye!
Charlemend de Durendaire: P-Pray stay your hand, ah...my lady. I meant only to consult with you on a p-potential business proposition that might prove...ahem...mutually b-beneficial. I hail from the nation of Ishgard, and I...ah, do believe that your fine wares would be most highly s-sought after in our nation.
Rhoswen: I said get out of my─wait a bleedin' minute. Why does that self-righteous face o' yers seem so bloody familiar...? Bah, never mind. I've bigger fish to gut. Now begone from here, or ye'll be joinin' 'em!
Melkoko: If I were you, I'd be taking her advice to heart. You'll find the Krakens at the Seventh Sage, just past here and beyond the Drowning Wench. I do hope your parley there proves more...fruitful.
Zranmaia: Welcome to the Seventh Sage! Would you care to peruse our diverse array of exotic herbs and spices?
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Ahem. Pardon me, my good lady. I am Charlemend of House Durendaire, and I have traveled to your fair nation from Ishgard. Might you or any of your colleagues perchance be interested in selling your fine spices in my homeland? I can assure you many of my countrymen would be willing to pay a handsome price for them.
Zranmaia: D-Durendaire, did you say!? I, ah...
Zranmaia: ...My sincere apologies, good sir, but in accordance with...ah...company policy, we are not entering into partnerships with parties from the Holy See at this time.
Charlemend de Durendaire: No parties from the Holy See...? What insular, closed-minded nonsense is─ ...Ahem. What I mean to say is, we are prepared to make the arrangement most appetizing to you. As appetizing as salted harbor herring, one might say. To wit: our astrologians have devised a method to accurately gauge one's present location and bearing regardless of the season, a technique which I do believe would be most beneficial to esteemed privateers such as yourselves.
Francel de Haillenarte: This is my first time visiting an actual den of pirates. I must confess, I am rather excited and intimidated by it all!
Charlemend de Durendaire: Everyone is here, yes? Then let us be on our way.
Charlemend de Durendaire: By the Fury! Why, it's a veritable haven of pirate wenches... But I will not back down from this challenge. Watch closely, Lord Francel, and let me show you how a deal is made.
Melkoko: Greetings, and welcome to the Missing Member! Do you have a reservation, sir?
Charlemend de Durendaire: I...I do not. I have come from Ishgard to discuss matters of trade with the captain of the esteemed Sanguine Sirens, and I was told I might find her here.
Melkoko: You were, were you? Why, yes...I suppose you might. Make yourself comfortable and I'll go let the captain know that she's got a new vict─er, visitor.
Rhoswen: The 'ells ye want, drylanders? State yer business quick, and ye'd best hope it's worth my while, else me Sirens'll see ye gutted and sleepin' with the fishes before ye knew what cuffed ye!
Charlemend de Durendaire: P-Pray stay your hand, ah...my lady. I meant only to consult with you on a p-potential business proposition that might prove...ahem...mutually b-beneficial. I hail from the nation of Ishgard, and I...ah, do believe that your fine wares would be most highly s-sought after in our nation.
Rhoswen: Ishgard!? Ye must be daft to think any pirate in 'er right mind would have even 'alf a mind to set one foot in some bleedin' snow-swept wasteland at the edge o' the world! Ye must have me confused with that puffy-shirted captain o' the Krakens, or someone else who's got more swagger than sense. Now get out o' my sight before I cut out yer blabbin' tongue an' toss it into tonight's stew!
Charlemend de Durendaire: A thousand p-pardons, my lady. I shall take my leave anon and s-seek out these K-Krakens of whom you speak. I th-thank you for your kindness, and wish you and your S-Sirens all the─
Rhoswen: I said get out of my─wait a bleedin' minute. Why does that self-righteous face o' yers seem so bloody familiar...? Bah, never mind. I've bigger fish to gut. Now begone from here, or ye'll be joinin' 'em!
Melkoko: If I were you, I'd be taking her advice to heart. You'll find the Krakens at the Seventh Sage, just past here and beyond the Drowning Wench. I do hope your parley there proves more...fruitful.
Rhoswen: I could swear I've seen that smug old bastard's self-satisfied mug somewhere before, but bugger me if I could tell ye where...
Francel de Haillenarte: Considering his son's tragic disappearance at sea, one can only imagine the complex emotions the count must be feeling. Let us tread lightly, friend.
Zranmaia: Welcome to the Seventh Sage! Would you care to peruse our diverse array of exotic herbs and spices?
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...Ahem. Pardon me, my good lady. I am Charlemend of House Durendaire, and I have traveled to your fair nation from Ishgard. Might you or any of your colleagues perchance be interested in selling your fine spices in my homeland? I can assure you many of my countrymen would be willing to pay a handsome price for them.
Zranmaia: D-Durendaire, did you say!? I, ah...
Zranmaia: ...My sincere apologies, good sir, but in accordance with...ah...company policy, we are not entering into partnerships with parties from the Holy See at this time.
Charlemend de Durendaire: No parties from the Holy See...? What insular, closed-minded nonsense is─ ...Ahem. What I mean to say is, we are prepared to make the arrangement most appetizing to you. As appetizing as salted harbor herring, one might say. To wit: our astrologians have devised a method to accurately gauge one's present location and bearing regardless of the season, a technique which I do believe would be most beneficial to esteemed privateers such as yourselves.
Zranmaia: ...Ahem. Pray excuse me for a moment.
She calls her boss.
Zranmaia: C-Captain!? Why, yes. Worry not. I was just about to bid our guest farewell, as per your explicit orders not to─ Wh-What's that? Are you certain? ...I see. I'll convey the message, then. Forgive me for my hasty decision.
Zranmaia: ...Ahem. The captain says he will entertain your proposition, but on one condition: he will only speak to the adventurer here.
Charlemend de Durendaire: ...I see. In that case, I have little choice. CHARNAME, was it? I have done little to deserve your charity, but I would ask you this one favor. Might I entrust the negotiations to you?
Zranmaia: Very well, then. If you would come this way... Captain Carvallain of the Krakens awaits you atop the stairs. One more thing: you are by no means to speak his name, nor describe his face to anyone from Ishgard, or he will personally have you keelhauled. No hard feelings, of course.
Francel de Haillenarte: I place my full trust in you, CHARNAME. May the negotiations be a success!
Charlemend de Durendaire: I know not what you have done to earn a pirate captain's trust, but─in this rarest of cases─I am most thankful for it.
Carvallain: My associate has apprised me of the situation. So this delegation from the See wishes to establish trade relations with us, do they? The Ishgardians...consumed only with their petty war...living out their days in that gloomy, frigid land devoid of passion or imagination... Just thinking back to my dreary days in that miserable place is enough to make me ill.
Carvallain: But with the war's end, it would appear that a new wind blows in my homeland... While I am not so naive to assume that they have left their past entirely behind, I will trust that the See's desire to change─as well as that of the man who has come to me on their behalf─is sincere.
Carvallain: But with the war's end, it would appear that a new wind blows in my homeland... While I am not so naive to assume that they have left their past entirely behind, I will trust that the See's desire to change─as well as that of the man who has come to me on their behalf─is sincere.
Carvallain: ...Besides, it would not hurt to be owed a debt of gratitude by one of Eorzea's greatest heroes, no? Anything to keep that most fearsome Lalafellin acquaintance of yours from making things difficult for me... Gerald! The document. This here is an agreement consenting to the formal commencement of trade between the Krakens and House Durendaire of Ishgard. It is in Gerald's name, and marked with our official seal to authorize the transaction. I would appreciate if you could deliver this to the Count de Durendaire on my behalf.
Gerald: Are you quite sure about this, Captain?
Carvallain: Let us be thankful for that adventurer showing up when she did. If that man had forced his way to my office, I shudder to think of what might have ensued. 'Tis strange, though... For long years the mere sight of the man's face filled me with loathing. But seeing it again now, I feel only this odd sense of...nostalgia. And yet, I dare not entertain the thought of doing anything more. It would only serve to undo all I have accomplished. ...No, I have no mind to give up my freedom for whatever I might gain in its place. Yes, this will do...
Carvallain: The Count de Durendaire is waiting. I suggest you deliver the document with all speed─I have it on good account that he is not a patient man.
Francel de Haillenarte: Dare I ask how you fared in there, CHARNAME?
Charlemend de Durendaire: Well? Do you have anything to show for your efforts? Why, this is...more than I dared to hope we would achieve! However did you manage this!?
What will you say?
What will you say?
| > Your passionate plea won him over. Charlemend de Durendaire: You mean...he was listening in on our discussion? I...I am not quite sure what to say... | > He chose to believe in Ishgard's future. Charlemend de Durendaire: He did? Pirate or no, this man clearly has done his research on our great nation, and I commend him for his wisdom and prescience. | > I made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Charlemend de Durendaire: An offer? What sort of─ Hm, never mind. I will trust that you have more experience in these matters than I. |
Charlemend de Durendaire: At any rate, I have finally accomplished that which I sought to here in Eorzea, and can finally return to Ishgard in triumph, as befitting the lord of the highest of houses.
Francel de Haillenarte: I am in your debt, Lord Charlemend. And you, CHARNAME. With this, the day that the finest goods from the realm over are traded freely in the markets of Featherfall is all but upon us!
Supplementary Quest 2c - Charlemend Custom Deliveries (Lv 70)
For some reason, the Ishgard Restoration quests at this point make the truly deranged choice to give Charlemend de Durendaire, a man whose eldest, much-adored son by his own admission loathes him so deeply he describes being picked up by human traffickers as the best thing that ever happened to him and whose younger son(?) spent twenty-ish years certain that his only friend (and lover...?) was murdered on his orders, a redemption arc. Well. 'Redemption arc' is a tad strong. Immediately after "A Parley with Pirates", Charlemend becomes a champion of the poor in the space of two quests, and starts volunteering in a free medical clinic.
Absolutely nowhere in these quests is Jannequinard mentioned, which is even more confusing than the face turn, especially when Janne's total absence makes the whole vibe of this questline, uh... worse. I'll show you what I mean by that.
Meet Maelie. She's a young street urchin who Charlemend works with at the clinic.
Maurilette: I took the liberty of inspecting our inventory, and I'm pleased to say that all is in good order. The two of you are doing a fine job of managing the medical supplies.
Maelie: Hehe, that's because Charlemend's been teachin' me my numbers!
Maurilette: I certainly see you teaching Maelie often of late. A more zealous tutor one would be hard-pressed to find.
Charlemend: Yes, well, one might say 'tis a force of habit. I have a nephew, you see─a boy of an age with Maelie─and I daresay I see him in her. With my brother passed and firstborn lost, I took him under my wing as my successor, teaching him such knowledge as he needs to one day lead our knights in battle against the dragons. Yet now that the Dragonsong War has ended, we must dedicate ourselves not to the taking of life, but the bettering of it.
Charlemend: However, not all of our countrymen have embraced change. And as a father figure to my nephew, I felt that I must needs practice that which I preach. Leading by example, I wished to give him a glimpse of a new Ishgard, one where there is no highborn and lowborn─just fellow Ishgardians striving together for a better tomorrow. By that, I must confess that I do not have only the interests of the patients in mind. 'Twas wrong of me not to disclose this fact from the first, and I beg your forgiveness.
Maurilette: No apologies are necessary, Charlemend. Whatever your reasons, you've been naught but an asset to the infirmary. You and Maelie both.
And then, in the quest "Those Who Serve":
???: There you are, Uncle!
Charlemend: R-Ronantain! What are you doing here?
Ronantain: I'm here to bring you back to your senses! Since returning from abroad, you have turned your back on your highborn peers, choosing instead to consort with lowborn rabble! And as if that weren't unseemly enough, it transpires that you are working at an infirmary used by commoners! Your actions threaten to erode the standing that we nobles have had for generations! You've taught me everything I know, Uncle. You've taught me to follow in your footsteps, and I wanted naught more than to do you proud.
Ronantain: But now I scarcely recognize you! Whatever has happened to the man I so respected? Wherever he has gone, I want him back!
Charlemend: ...My apologies for the commotion. Please, continue.
Maurilette: Are you certain, Charlemend? Should you not attend to your nephew first?
Charlemend: Nay, this is a family matter, and I will not have it disrupt our work. I shall have words with my nephew afterwards.
Maelie: But he looked so sad and lonely... I'm goin' after him!
Charlemend: I apologize for my nephew's outburst. He is a good lad, truly.
Ronantain: ...
Maelie: There he is, CHARNAME! Ronantain!
Ronantain: Hmph, that's Lord Ronantain to you!
Maelie: Oh, hmph yourself! Don't you know there's no more highborn and lowborn? We're all just Ishgardians now. Your uncle himself said so! But never mind that now. You have to make up with him, you know. Your uncle. You do like him, don't you?
Ronantain: Th-That's none of your business! But...you have the right of it. Since my father died in the war, my uncle has treated me as his own son. There is no one I admire more. But of late, I struggle to understand him...
Maelie: Might be as you don't understand him, but your uncle's a good man. And you have to cherish the family you've got. So come on, let's go back to the infirmary.
[...]
Maelie: Family should get along. Isn't that right?
Ronantain: ...
Charlemend: Forgive me, CHARNAME, Maelie. 'Twas not my wish to embroil you in family affairs.
Ronantain: Not only do you keep the company of commoners; you would even bow to them!? We are of the noble blood of the knights twelve! Surely you've not forgotten this!
Charlemend: Listen well, my dear boy. While it is important to uphold tradition and honor our ancestors, I have come to see that it is wrong to look down upon others simply on account of their birth. Besides, as you too should know, it has since been revealed that all Ishgardians are descended from the knights twelve. This makes all of us equal according to our very own traditions.
Charlemend: After centuries upon centuries of the privileged standing we nobles have enjoyed, it is no easy thing to accept change. But the age where one's birth determines one's worth has ended, and change will come whether we will it or no. Hereon, 'tis our deeds that shall speak for us. That shall dictate our place in the world. To use an analogy─when you are exhausted after combat training, what is it that you desire?
Ronantain: ...That would be rest, I suppose. And perhaps some sweets with tea.
Charlemend: In like manner, at the end of a thousand-year war, the people of Ishgard yearn for the sweetness of stability. But stability will not manifest of its own accord. Nay, hard work is necessary to bring it about. So I ask you, in an age such as this, whom would you respect more? A man who sits idly by, waiting for the sweets to appear at his table? Or a man who busies himself in an effort to see everyone served?
Ronantain: I...I would respect the latter─the man who would see everyone served.
Charlemend: As you should, my boy. And I know none who serves more diligently than young Maelie here, who places the needs of the patients above all else. Learning from her fine example, I too am striving to be a man who serves others. In this way do I hope to set my own example for you, my heir.
Ronantain: You're doing this...for me?
So, uh. Anyway. There's that.
Supplementary Quest 3 - A Literary Delivery (Lv 80)
At the start of Endwalker, we find ourselves in Sharlayan─as Jannequinard would say, the Sharlayan.
Toffwyb seems excited to meet a real-life adventurer.
Toffwyb: Are you... Are you one of those adventuring types I've heard so much about!? Oh, but this is perfect! I just happen to have an errand of the kind that adventurers love! Or so I'm told. I'm holding on to some volumes my customers ordered in, but instead of coming to pick them up, they've all decided that they want their goods delivered. So, I find myself in need of a delivery drudge...er, person. Might that person be you!?
Toffwyb: Huzzah! Let me give you the details, then. All in all, there are three books on the delivery docket. The first, Ishgardian Astrology: A Comprehensive Theory, should be handed to the servant at Albright Manor. The White Yonder is for a certain talkative booklover who you'll know by the constant stream of chatter. And the last, Narrow Road through the Deep Grass, goes to one of the toughest, most unflappable gleaners I have ever met. I'll just mark their locations on this handy map...like so. The books are bought and paid for─no need to collect any coin─but do return to me for your own reward!
Albright Manor, you say? As in... Sevestre Albright? And what an interesting title! I wonder who wr─
That's right, baby! Jannequinard de Durendaire, the dimmest star in the constellation, successfully completed his dissertation. This man has a doctorate. Potentially more importantly, we can't see it because his uniform has a turtleneck, but Sharlayan-educated scholars get neck tattoos when they defend their dissertations... so, uh, here's Jannequinard in neo-Ishgardian menswear with his Archon mark on full display. For reasons. Yeah.
Anyway, let's go to Sevestre's house!
Albright Manor Servant: Welcome to Albright Manor! ...Do you have an appointment?
Albright Manor Servant: Ah, yes, one copy of Ishgardian Astrology: A Comprehensive Theory, just as his lordship requested. I must confess to some confusion, however... What interest would his lordship, an esteemed practitioner of Sharlayan astrology, have in such an outdated Ishgardian discipline? ...Not that I am in any position to question his lordship's reading habits, of course. Ahem. On your way, then.
And that’s it. That’s all the lore that currently exists for these characters, and is all that is likely to. It’s been three and a half years since the last mention of any of these characters (the sidequest in Sharlayan where we deliver Jannequinard’s dissertation to Sevestre Albright’s manor[25]), and we’re just shy of five years out from any substantive content, unless we’re to count the constant retcons as content - and I really do mean constant. In the time between publishing part one of this write-up and writing this section (less than a day!), the FF14 team has announced another complete rework of the job to release in a month and a half, which will necessitate even more quest rewrites! I will never be free!
Anyway.
The Ship, The Myth, The Legend
It’s kind of hard to figure out where to start off my little mini ship manifesto, because I’m so taken with Janne and Leveva I’m sitting here like, ‘how could you read these quest scripts and not ship them?’ They’re soulmates. They’re sharing the same single braincell. Dare I say they have… Synastry? During one of the job reworks, dialogue explaining the skill “Redraw” was taken from Jannequinard and given, completely unchanged, to Leveva instead. And it doesn't sound out of character at all!
There’s some obvious, shallow appeal to the ship - look at them, for one! They’re both gorgeous! No matter what age you think they are (16 and 32, or 19/20 and…mid-30s to 40?, or another option entirely), there’s a huge age gap. Jannequinard, at Elezen 0 height, is just shy of 6 foot 5, and Leveva at Midlander 25, is a whopping 5 foot 3. Leveva doesn’t seem to be a virgin (“‘Maiden’! Flattery will earn you nothing, Jannequinard… but I will accept it nonetheless.”), but there’s still an enormous experience gap in the bedroom—Janne’s been partying the early hours away for most of Leveva’s life. They’ve got kind of a mild “mean femdom” thing going on, which is especially cute seeing as Leveva is half Jannequinard’s age. They have access to magicks that can heal, manipulate time, and create temporary soulbonds that we don’t know doesn’t involve sharing sensations as well as the effects of healing magicks - you know the sex is gonna be insane.
If you’re a little more adventurous in your ship tastes, you can do some absolutely incredible pseudocest stuff with them too - I think a lot about Janne telling Leveva about her father, clearly the first (and ‘til now, only) great love of his life, stargazing with him on a rooftop garden and telling him about his wife’s pregnancy. Were Jannequinard and Rufin lovers? Sharlayans practice arranged marriage with childhood betrothals, and we know next to nothing about Rufin’s wife. Was Jannequinard just pining? He says more than once how much Leveva reminds him of Rufin, and then she goes and assumes her father’s identity! Imagine the half-joking roleplay, Leveva ordering Janne around as usual, an “Of course, Master Rufin,
Sorry. Uh. I really love fun domestic fluff with these two (as anyone who has ever heard me talk about Leveva scheduling their first child’s conception around her ideal natal chart can attest), but something that’s so compelling about this questline to me is how, beneath the light-hearted tone of the quests, these people have honestly miserable lives, and they’re dealing with it the very best they can. Leveva lost her father to a tragic crime that completely transformed the political landscape of her homeland, turned into a rallying cry for a cause that he would have ahbored. She’s committed treason, faked her death to dodge assassination attempts from her national government, can never go home and see her family and friends again. Her whole life thus far has been dedicated to her father’s dreams: she learned French (sorry, ‘langue ishvaise’ perhaps?[26]) so that she could travel halfway across the world to Ishgard to finish what he set out to do, leaving everything and everyone she ever knew behind, and now that she’s achieved her—her father’s—goals, what does she want? Does she even know?
And Jannequinard… oh, Janne. He says that he “will not claim [his] life is in any way difficult”, and while he’s certainly never gone cold or hungry… I really cannot stress enough that his brother—we’ll say brother for the purposes of this, because they look identical—was kidnapped as a boy and chose to give them a fake name so that they would just…traffick him and not ransom him back to his father, and even as an adult Carvallain is hiding behind pillars to avoid Ishgardians catching a glimpse of him and talking about how much he loathes the man - what on earth was going on behind closed doors, that the pirates seemed like the better option? Jannequinard was shipped off to another country to get him out of the way, and seemingly only came back because the Sharlayans deported him. His uncle has tried to kill him. Other unspecified relatives have tried to kill him. He spent twenty years certain that his father had Rufin killed, an experience that completely wrecked him! We see him having what appears to be a flashback to Rufin’s death when he’s trying to heal mortal wounds in the Lv 54 quest! Janne’s family wants him dead or at least gone, his coworkers can’t stand him, his only friend died in his arms, even many players take him at face value and think of him as nothing more than a and it’s only when Leveva (and the WoL) came into his life he realized “maybe life is more than the coffin that has been fitted for me.”
I’m not crying. You’re crying.
It's so satisfying to watch their relationship develop from near animosity (“You either continue your training with me and your...ahem...protégé, or you crawl back to obscurity.”) to grudging respect (“While I cannot forgive our patron for skipping yet another of his lessons, I cannot deny that the passion hidden deep beneath all his posturing may have its uses.”) to real fondness (“I would not trade friends such as you for all the gold in the Aurum Vale.”) to, after the Heavensward-to-Stormblood timeskip, sharing a bottle of wine while doing readings with the Deck of Sixty before heading to bed. Leveva isn’t living in the Athenaeum anymore either, after HW 60… How scandalous!
God. Anyway, their lives are terrible, Jannequinard has seemingly been disinherited by the end of Shadowbringers judging by the Charlemend Custom Delivery quests (or at the very least, Charlemend has deigned to completely ignore him in favor of a twelve-year-old nephew he’s decided to raise like a son and name his heir), Leveva can never go back to Sharlayan, and they’re left at the end of it all remarkably high in spirits, ready to build their lives anew.
They deserve the world. And a really fancy fantasy-Catholic wedding Leveva thinks is ridiculous. And several children to dote on. All I have left to say is this...
They're in love, Your Honor.
But What’s Up With All the Retcons?
Bro, I wish I knew. Koji Fox, who wrote the quests, gave an official word-of-god explanation of the inconsistencies in the AST quests back in November 2018, but they don’t really answer all the questions we’re left with, introduces more questions as of late 2019 with the Ishgard Restoration quests, and anyway, I don’t much hold with extracanonical information like posts on forums.
What Koji says is: Janne is 32, because that’s what the Encyclopedia Eorzea says; he’s Charlemend’s nephew, again because that’s what EE says; he’s third in line to the Count’s title, after Carvallain (supposedly Charlemend's only child) and then Charlemend’s oldest nephew, Janne’s cousin; Forlemort “is only a distant relative to Jannequinard. Janne refers to him as ‘mine uncle’...not because Forlemort is actually his father’s brother. It is a more generic term of affection/loose relation.” Which is a bit of a stretch, if you ask me, but sure. Okay. Unfortunately for Koji, this explanation does nothing to account for the fact that the nephew and heir of Count Durendaire we actually meet is very clearly a child, so clearly not the eldest nephew - so even if we do accept extracanonical information we have to throw away something.
To take the game in its current form at complete face value, we're looking at a family tree that looks something like this...
From Sharlayan Ascending (Lv 50), post-retcon:
Jannequinard: The count only truly cares about his newly appointed heir─just like the rest of my family. They expect great things from him. From me, they expect nothing. For a long time, I tried to prove that I could be as great as my cousin. It is why I went to Sharlayan. It is why I have tried to do things I had no business even trying.
If Ronantain is the cousin Janne is talking about here, then he has to be at least 17 years old, and Janne got a PhD to prove he was better than a literal infant. And that's... insane. Technically possible (Rielle is another character with a teacup elf model, and she's in her early 20s), but incredibly unlikely given the rest of Janne's comment. Janne also refers to "the commander of my father's guard" in Trumped (Lv 58) - from a Doylist perspective, it's obviously a missed line from the son-to-nephew retcon, but it's still there in the game, as is his Lv 50 duty's death line "I'm sorry, Father...", and so it's our problem. Possibly his father was disinherited, or he was born out of wedlock to Charlemend's sister, and that's why he has the name Durendaire but his father is not ahead of him in the succession? No good answers here.
Charlemend implies that Ronantain is his brother's son with the line "with my brother passed and firstborn lost...", but we could potentially amend this to the following...
...with the cousin Janne was attempting to live up to when he went to Sharlayan being Ronantain's father, who must then have died during the Heavensward MSQ, perhaps at the Steps of Faith. Still not perfectly consistent, and we keep the problem with Jannequinard's clearly living father, but it's a little less unhinged.
There's another Charlemend line in Ishgard Restoration, though, that throws another wrench in things. From The Making of a Market (Lv 60):
Charlemend: I am not inclined to sit idly by as House Durendaire is left behind the times. And yet, at this most vital of junctures, my son and heir remains lost at sea, and my cousins are either too young or unworldly for the task. And so it falls to me to see to matters myself.
'Cousins'?
(audibly pained) I guess if Jannequinard can call Forlemort his uncle non-literally, he can also be calling Charlie his uncle non-literally. Same problem with the living father, but Charlemend's brother becomes the one who died during Heavensward.
The above are the options that seem most viable if we're to take the current state of canon as...well...canon, but that's also not the story that I was introduced to these characters with. I started the AST quests in early 2019, which was right after the November 2018 retcon of the 60-70 quests' references to Charlemend being Jannequinard's father, but predated all of the other retcons - both about timeline and Janne's parentage. What this meant was that halfway through the questline, Janne suddenly started calling his father 'uncle' without explanation. And the thing is... well.
Here's an image of Carvallain, Charlemend, and Jannequinard side by side I took using modding tools in November 2020. Carvallain is Charlemend's firstborn, we know this. And Carvallain and Jannequinard look almost exactly alike. Here's another image of just the two of them:
When we look at raw data, Carvallain and Jannequinard have the same skin tone (3,7), while Charlemend and Ronantain are significantly lighter-skinned at 3,5, and the other known Durendaires paler still. Carvallain and Charlemend have 12,5 hair and 1,1 (pure white) eyes, while Jannequinard has 12,7 and 19,1 (the palest possible blue), respectively. No other known members of the family look so similar, and this is a game where characters further removed than siblings or parent-child tend to look completely different. The three of them appear very closely related, and especially Carvallain and Jannequinard. Based on this, and the information available to me when I was introduced to this characters - Janne repeatedly called the second son of the Count, right up until the end of Heavensward brought major political upheaval to Ishgard and Jannequinard now publicly at odds with Charlemend, the family situation of the Durendaires implied to be... very bad, judging by Carvallain's ARR-era description of being taken hostage by pirates as "the best thing that ever happened to me" and Jannequinard's total confidence that Charlemend had had his best friend assassinated - what seemed most likely to me is that Carvallain and Jannequinard are half-brothers, with Jannequinard's biological father being Charlemend's brother. 'Father' becomes 'uncle' when Jannequinard has fallen so far in favor with the house that there's no point in pretending.
Now, what happened to Charlemend's wife and brother after that, who's to say? This is all highly theoretical, but considering Carvallain says he loathes his father, and Emmanellain de Fortemps says "believe me when I say you do not wish to make an enemy of [Count Durendaire]"... I can't imagine, if this were correct, anything good.
The Encyclopedia Eorzea - the game’s official lore bible - lists Jannequinard’s age as 32 and Carvallain’s as 34. The EE is known to be a somewhat questionable resource where timelines and ages are concerned. It simultaneously claims that Estinien Varlineau was 12 and 17 when he was orphaned, that Solus zos Galvus was both 30 and 33 when he became dictator of Garlemald, and that Y’shtola Rhul and Lucia goe Junius are both several years younger than their younger siblings, just to name a few problems. The timeline is always a mess, because of the time bubble.
In the Stormblood MSQ, we get the following exchange:
Tataru: Well, I for one think the captain has a point. The five seas can be extremely treacherous, and many a poor, unfortunate soul has to come to grief out there on the waves. Why, when we were in Ishgard, I heard the tragical tale of how the heir to House Durendaire vanished at sea! Even now, nearly twenty years later, the poor count remains convinced that his son still lives, and would pay a sultan's ransom for news of his whereabouts...
Carvallain: Hahaha... Ahahahahaha! Truly a tragedy for the ages, and a testament to the misfortunes that may befall us should we act without...due consideration. But so long as you are prepared to abide the capricious whims of fate, I am willing to oblige you this once.
Tataru: The poor little boy had only seen fourteen summers when he left Ishgard. Can you imagine what it must have felt like─to finally be free to explore the world, unbeholden to all the stuffy traditions of the Holy See? Such a shame that he never returned home. Without him, the Count de Durendaire must look elsewhere for a successor...and the good Lord Jannequinard is one step closer to being the next in line...
Thanks to the fact that the game dialogue does occasionally recognize the passage of time between expansions, even if it remains insistent that 1562 6AE was fifteen years ago, damn it!, I've generally found it a relatively decent solution to treat references to characters' ages as true at their first post-Calamity introduction, even if they don't make sense in the context of where or when they're spoken. This might make Carvallain 34 in A Realm Reborn, so then likely 37 or 38 in Stormblood. At the very least, I believe that Carvallain went missing in the year 1557 6AE. It's worth noting that Tataru says that the Durendaire heir was fourteen when he left Ishgard, not fourteen when he went missing. An insignificant detail, maybe, except... remember when we met Carvallain back in Slings and Arrows (Lv 40)?
Carvallain: I only wish I had the time to speak a little longer with the young astrologian. There was something so familiar about her...
This implies he knew Rufin, which means either Rufin came to Ishgard before Carvallain went missing, or (more likely) Carvallain and Jannequinard went to Sharlayan together.
Jannequinard: For a long time, I tried to prove that I could be as great as my brother. It is why I went to Sharlayan. (Pre-retcon dialogue.)
If we assume that they went to Sharlayan together, spent a year or so there (Guillestet's "twelvemoon"), and then Carvallain left while Jannequinard remained in Sharlayan to apparently pursue his PhD and become an Archon, while Carvallain set out on an already-planned sailing trip 'round the─continent? World? Charlie, why didn't you finish your sentence?! In any case, he was summarily taken hostage by pirates. That... seems to match up? It even explains away the single year, which even Koji's forum post has to fudge:
"Jannequinard (at the age of 15) is sent to Sharlayan to be educated. For the next 1.5 years (the lorebook says “for several moons”...when in fact it’s between 16-18 moons--a “big” several, I know) he studies astrology (among other things) at the Studium." (x)
Jannequinard probably didn't complete and successfully defend his dissertation in a single year, and if he's two years younger than Carvallain and they went to Sharlayan together when Carvallain was fourteen, then he definitely didn't, especially if he attended the Studium, where the absolute youngest students to ever be accepted were eleven at age of entry and are very explictly stated to be child prodigies. It's worth noting that his education at the Studium - the in-universe equivalent of Harvard or MIT - specifically is extracanonical, and that in-game dialogue says that he studied at the Athenaeum of Sharlayan. It's possible both are true (the Athenaeum for a year, and then the Studium for his Archon candidacy), but also worth noting is that if he did attend the Studium, it either had an Idyllshire campus or he did spend time in the Old World.
Which brings us to Rufin and Leveva! Unfortunately, unlike with Jannequinard's family situation, we can't actually clear up the issue without taking sides. Pre- or post-retcon, we have to pick, because pre-retcon says that Rufin's death "a score─mayhap more" years ago was the impetus for the Sharlayan Exodus, and post-retcon says that Jannequinard left Sharlayan when he was deported due to the closure of Sharlayan's borders. It's worth noting that the Exodus (which took place in 1562 6AE) was planned around five years in advance, so if Jannequinard went to Sharlayan twenty years past with Carvallain, he would have probably known from the start that his stay would have to be temporary. This lets us combine pre- and post-retcon lines about Janne and Rufin leaving Sharlayan (that his education was complete, and that he was forced by the Exodus to leave) and going to Ishgard. Rufin's death in Ishgard cannot have been the reason for Sharlayan's borders to close, given that it was planned five years in advance of the event itself and surely Leveva was not five years old when her father died(!), but it was very likely taken as evidence that closing their borders was the correct move, and generally further radicalized Sharlayan politics. We can't really blame Leveva for confusing details like this, this all happened when she was literally a baby.
And on that note! The post-retcon dialogue that says that Rufin left for Sharlayan "several moons after" Leveva's birth and yet that she never met him is insane. Absolutely not, I'm sorry. That doesn't make any sense, and also if Rufin and Jannequinard left together then this game would expect me to believe that Jannequinard knew Leveva's name when she was born and then just, what, forgot? Thought that Mace Byrde had two different granddaughters both named Leveva? Spare me. We keep "several moons before I was born", giving Leveva a birthdate in late 1562 or early 1563, making her around fourteen in A Realm Reborn, and around sixteen when she's introduced in Heavensward, which of course makes her sixteen years old eternally. Koji in the forum post says that Kyokuho is just assuming she's 20ish, but the line...
Leveva: Friend and fellow astrologian! It is so good to see you again. What has it been? Two...? Three...?
...does suggest it's been a few years, as is typical between expansions, so she's probably eighteen or nineteen when Kyokuho guesses twenty. Jannequinard, whose age is never explicitly stated, but who we can probably assume is indeed two years younger than Carvallain given that absolutely no one ever suggests he's older, and two years is as good an age gap as any, would probably have been born then in 1545...? 32 in ARR, ~34 in HW, 36 or 37 in StB.
Does this all work out? My head hurts.
Another interesting detail in the context of Charlemend's relationship with Ronantain is this line from Ewer Right (Lv 45):
Forlemort: [Jannequinard] has only been allowed to continue this nonsense because he is harmless. Too caught up in the luxury of being the Count de Durendaire's thir─ah, second son to actually put forth any real effort in furthering his, ahem, “cause.”
What a fascinating line! A secret son! Or not so very secret, but not official, either. There are two options for interpreting this one, I think. The first is that there's a 33 year old middle child who's transfemme? Unlikely, but an entertaining option. The second is straight out of a soap opera plot, so of course you know what I'm rooting for.
Imagine: Charlemend has an affair with his brother's wife, who has his son. His brother in retaliation gets a child on Charlemend's wife. Charlemend's illegitimate son dies at the Steps of Faith or another one of the battles in Heavensward, and Charlemend adopts his orphaned 'grand-nephew' (really his grandson) and names him heir.
I know, I know. My own genius scares me sometimes.
Appendix A: Excerpts from the Encyclopedia Eorzea, vol. 1
Athenaeum Astrologicum: Founded by Guenriol de Durendaire, who confirmed the link between the coruscations of the dragon star and the movement of the Dravanians, the Astrologicum is the center of learning for students of the Ishgardian school of astrology. For expanding upon the theories of Adaunel the Younger and building the foundation of the moderm school, Guenriol was later venerated as a saint. [page 161]
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. [page 162]
The legacy of House Durendaire extends back into antiquity, to Geunriol de Durendaire, one of King Thordan’s Knights Twelve and a founding father of lshgard. Represented by a golden bell on a red field, the House is known for their preeminent astrologians, who for generations have studied the heavens to predict the movements of the Dravanians, sounding the alarum should an assault be imminent. To that end, they have funded the construction and maintenance of the Athenaeum Astrologicum and the First Dicasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena. Many of lshgard’s most formidable knights are sworn to the golden bell, and House Durendaire is widely considered to be the strongest and most influential of the four High Houses. However, the house is not without its troubles; the count’s firstborn son disappeared twenty years ago, and since then the line of succession has remained unclear. Whether the count will remarry and attempt to produce another heir, or turn to a rather less than ideal candidate, is an oft-discussed topic among the nobility. [page 157]
Born in the same year as his House Fortemps counterpart, [at age fifty-nine] Count Charlemend de Durendaire has, for decades, been engaged in a political rivalry with Lord Edmont. Yet his staunch opposition is not born out of mere stubbornness. Indeed, he once shared the Count de Fortemps’s desire to open lshgard’s borders and welcome foreign influences. Lord Charlemend’s position on such matters changed after his firstborn son took to sea on a voyage to broaden his horizons, only to be set upon by pirates and never seen again. Following that tragic incident, the count grew distrustful of outsiders, and adopted far more conservative positions in line with established policy. However, he is not blind to the changing times, and in light of recent historical revelations, he resolved to support the popular Ser Aymeric, in a pragmatic bid to retain influence and preserve some semblance of the status quo. [page 157]
An Elezen man of Ishgardian descent, Carvallain de Gorgagne is an enlightened pirate who believes men must change with their times. He was born the heir to House Durendaire, and walked the gilded path that all firstborn of Ishgard’s High Houses do. Dissatisfied with this fate, Carvallain assumed the alias of a House Durendaire bannerman and set out soon after his fourteenth nameday to learn much and more of the realm. A vessel he had signed aboard to gain passage south ran afoul of the Kraken’s Arms but three days out of port, whereupon he was taken captive. Jumping at the chance to escape the stifling confines of Ishgardian high culture, Carvallain enlisted in the pirate crew. He learned how to read the stars, and grew into a rare and excellent leader—so much so that he rose in the ranks. Now thirty-four years of age, he commands all of the Kraken’s Arms as their captain. When he is upon dry land, Carvallain is known to be an excellent chocobo rider who can put most men to shame in a race. [page 99]
Jannequinard de Durendaire
Race (Clan): Elezen (Wildwood)
Gender: Male Age: 32
Epithet: Jannequinard the Succedent
The sole proponent of astromancy in Ishgard, Jannequinard began his studies in the art when, during his formative years, he spent several moons at the Sharlayan settlement in the Dravanian hinterlands. Barely had he begun to graspthe fundamentals, however, when the Sharlayans withdrew to the Old World in fear of the Garlean Empire’s hostile advance. Jannequinard found himself suddenly bereft of both tutor and classroom, and had little choice but to make his way home. Upon his return to Ishgard, the disappointed and dissatisfied noble leveraged the inheritance of House Durendaire to secure a position at the Athenaeum Astrologicum. Fixated upon the dragon star and predicting the movements of the Horde, however, his colleagues had little time for the intricacies of astromancy, and Jannequinard’s efforts to pursue the discipline were met with disinterest, if not outright mockery. [page 243]
Leveva Byrde
Race (Clan): Hyur (Midlander)
Gender: Female Age: 16
Epithet: Leveva Heavensreader
Leveva’s parents both died early in her life—her mother during childbirth, and her father a scant few years later. This left the orphaned girl to be taken in by her grandfather, Mace, a renowned professor of astromancy, and his influence is ever present in her decidedly un-youthful perspective and manner of speech. Burning beneath Leveva’s mature veneer, however, is a fiery ambition to embrace her destiny, and continue her departed father’s work to bring astromancy to the wider world. Thus, when she learned of Ishgard’s desire to host an envoy of Sharlayan astrology, she immediately began making preparations to depart for Eorzea. But despite the haste of her decision, she did not make it in ignorance of the displeasure likely to be evinced by the isolationists in the [Sharlayan government]... [page 243]
Appendix B: Job Changes (For the Fic Writer)
This is not a job guide. My goal here is just to provide a couple resources regarding old actions and mechanics available to AST because sometimes you might want to use one in a fanfic! The Deck of Sixty is also very useful - here is a writeup of the lore on the Deck of Sixty that was printed in the EE.
The basic concept of AST is that you are manipulating fate to buff allies and debuff enemies, and manipulating the laws of physics to deal harm to enemies or heal allies. I personally write AST healing as literally hitting "rewind" on injuries, which makes the patient relive the experience of receiving the injury as it's undone - this makes astromancy a more painful form of healing magicks than conjury/"white magic", but does not run the risk of healing "wrong" or what I call "overheal", where for example a bad injury of both arm and torso healed not carefully enough with conjury may lead to the injuries healing together, fusing the limb to the body. There is no explicit reference to such a problem in the game, but it seems to be implied by the fact that non-magical treatments such as bone setting and stitches are commonplace even when characters are expecting to be seen to by a healer.
The reason why I interpret AST healing this way is twofold: first of all, obviously it's a time magick job. Secondly, one of the most...ah, essential... part of the AST kit is "Essential Dignity", which is a single-target healing ability that is more effective the nearer the target is to death. For gameplay-story integration purposes, it makes sense to me that the astrologian's goal is to put off healing for as long as possible and instead prioritize other ways of manipulating fate, due to the pain of re-experiencing an injury that is being healed through astromancy. Your mileage may vary!
In gameplay, all healers have access to the ability to raise the dead from a very low level (12), but in the lore, a holdover from the earliest iteration of the game (where you had to level several jobs to learn skills from them that you would take back to the job you were actually playing) is that only conjury is capable of raising the dead. While I am not nearly as mentally ill about the lore for jobs other than AST, this seems to still be true at time of writing, seeing as the white mage job guide on the official site reads as follows:
Those who would walk the path of the white mage are healers without peer, possessed of the power to deliver comrades from the direst of afflictions—even the icy grip of death itself.
This is worth noting especially for the context of Jannequinard's backstory. Why didn't he heal Rufin, when he found him near death? Well, surely he tried, but channelling healing magicks canonically requires total stillness and concentration. Holding his dying best friend/lover in his arms, it's not difficult to imagine Janne unable to stop his hands from shaking and his concentration faltering.[27] Why didn't he simply cast Ascend, once he had calmed? It's a mechanical placeholder for the cross-class skill Raise, and Jannequinard never studied conjury.
Anyway. In the EE (on page 243), a few skills have writeups, which are copied below:
- Astral Stasis. By throwing wide the gate to the seventh heaven—the highest of the astral domains—the astrologian favors the battlefield with celestial benediction. This technique is said to hold the power to skew one's fate towards an almost certain victory.[28]
- Benefic. Astrologians channel healing energies by attuning their aether to the "benefic" bodies in the heavens. Paired with an affinity for "malefic" bodies to effect destructive magicks, this attunement represents the fundamental principle of astromancy.
- Gravity. This magick manipulates the inexorable pull of the stars to magnify the force of gravity. Creatures within the area are subjected to a crushing pressure, with the worst of the effects centered on the primary target.
- Celestial Opposition. Considered to be the very essence of astromancy, this technique binds the astrologian's aether to the loftiest of heavens. A single tug on this celestial cord alters the patterns of fate, showering allies with fortune, and afflicting foes with sudden adversity.
In Heavensward, we had...
- Cleric Stance! In HW, Cleric Stance was a toggle that, while active, significantly reduced the potency of your healing abilities, and significantly increased your damage output.
- "Luminiferous Aether", which reduced enmity generation (makes enemies want to murder you specifically slightly less - one presumes this is how Jannequinard has survived so long) and restored MP over time.
- "Stella" - much like the skill "Gravity", Stella manipulates gravitational fields to weigh down an enemy, making it incredibly difficult for them to move. They probably should have swapped the names, but it is what it is.
- "Exalted Detriment" - from the days when debuffs were removed by Scholars with Leeches, AST had this guy. It's not as fun as Leeches for fanfic unfortunately. Not as sexy a concept.
- "Disable" - no fun name for this one, but it's a short debuff on enemies. The implied ability to inflict curses/negative effects with AST beyond that of the Lord of Crowns is potentially interesting on a lore level.
- Diurnal and Nocturnal Sect. At this point in time, Diurnal and Nocturnal were sort of a second Cleric Stance that could not be toggled off in combat: in Diurnal you had lowered cast times and higher damage output, while in Nocturnal you had increased healing potency and put protective shields on certain abilities.
- Royal Road & Spread. "Spread" let you hold onto a particular card indefinitely to play when convenient, as cards at this time had specific and unique effects. RR would transform a card that was undesirable into a buff for the next card played.
- "Synergy" - I linked this one up above in the ship manifesto bit, but this is a magick tether between two souls. They share the effects of healing magic, and you could definitely write them as also sharing pain and even other sensations.
- "Time Dilation" - it slowed down time! In combat this effect functionally increases the length of your buffs, but the lore implications are fascinating.
- "Celestial Opposition" - this ability still exists at time of writing, but in HW it was a wave of energy that stunned enemies, holding them in place briefly while also extending the effective length of your buffs: so basically a very short term time-stop.
- "Lightspeed" - you guessed it, another time manipulation skill. This one made your actions much faster, many of them instantaneous and therefore not requiring concentration.
| ARROW | BALANCE | BOLE | EWER | SPEAR | SPIRE |
| Increased movement speed, cast times, and recast times. | Increased damage output. | Reduced damage taken. | Regenerated MP. | Reduced cooldown times on abilities. | Regenerated TP (don't worry about what this means). |
| Royal Road effect: Increased buff duration. | Royal Road effect: Increased buff potency. | Royal Road effect: Increased buff potency. | Royal Road effect: Spread buff to nearby allies. | Royal Road effect: Increased buff duration. | Royal Road effect: Spread buff to nearby allies. |
Stormblood specials:
- Cleric Stance becomes a short-term damage buff.
- Diurnal Sect is no longer a damage buff and instead Diurnal becomes focused on heal-over-time effects while Nocturnal remains focused on shields.
- "Sleeve Draw" is introduced, but there's no real lore implications there - it just does Draw/Royal Road/Spread and another ability called Minor Arcana (which transforms a held card into either a healing effect or a damaging spell) all at once. There's probably a fun lore implication about the Deck of Sixty from the fact that that skill is called Minor Arcana, but I'm not creative enough to figure out what it might be.
- Cut skills: Luminiferous Aether, Stella, Exalted Detriment, Disable.
- The cards were reworked so that they no longer have specific abilities but just increase damage various amounts based on the job of the player a card was played on.
- Royal Road mechanics were replaced with "Arcane Seals" - each card was associated with one of three seal types (Solar, Lunar, and Celestial, symbolized by the sun, moon, and the Earth respectively), and the goal was to acquire as many different seals as possible to maximize the effect of a party-wide buff called "Divination". This created an absolutely disastrous RNG opener that I dearly miss.
- Lord and Lady of Crowns from the Minor Arcana were very briefly replaced with higher-level damage buffs that did not grant seals, and then the change was quickly reversed.
- "Horoscope"! As the skill itself states, you read yours and your allies' fortunes. This is a delayed healing ability - lore-wise, one must assume that basically, you read in the cards that everyone will take damage in the near future, so the knowledge of this makes it possible to avoid taking that damage.
- "Neutral Sect" - for a short period of time, a skilled astrologian could attune to both the Diurnal and Nocturnal Sects simultaneously, doing an astonishing amount of burst healing and protective shielding.
- Cut skills: Cleric Stance, Royal Road, Spread, Time Dilation, Celestial Opposition was reworked so completely it is functionally cut (it's just a healing spell now).
- "Divination" RNG was replaced with RNG on a personal buff called "Astrodyne". It still uses the Arcane Seals, now for some reason called "Astrosigns", which I for one think would be very funny to use in a fanfic as a younger astrologian's slang for the Arcane Seals associated with particular cards. Leveva would be alarmed, I think. Astrodyne's effects are called "Harmony of Spirit" (MP restoration), "Harmony of Body" (faster cast times and recast times), and "Harmony of Mind" (increased damage and healing output).
- Diurnal and Nocturnal Sect were removed entirely. Neutral Sect stayed, and there's no dialogue regarding the skill, so the in-universe explanation for what you're supposed to be doing when you cast NS is... unclear. Personally I choose to believe that all historic mechanics exist in-universe simultaneously, so the Sects live on in the lore even if they've been removed from gameplay in an effort to simplify the job.
- "Exaltation" - a damage reduction and delayed heal. Presumably in the lore the single-target equivalent of Horoscope.
- "Macrocosmos" - another delayed healing ability, or more accurately it "compiles" damage taken while under the effect of the skill, and then can be triggered to immediately restore that health. So, another time travel thing, basically. It's time travel all the way down, babey.
- Cut skills: Diurnal, Nocturnal, Sleeve Draw.
- At time of writing, upcoming changes to the job were announced earlier today. They're removing RNG entirely, reworking the cards again, and removing Arcane Seals/"Astrosigns". This document will be updated upon DT release with the inevitable changes to dialogue, and with updates to this appendix as well.
- Please look forward to it. 🫠
Appendix C: Random Bullshit Go!
This is where I'm throwing the stuff that hasn't got anywhere else to go but might be of interest or use to the enterprising astrologian enthusiast.
First up: the map of the Three Great Continents has very faintly visible latitude and longitude lines on it. Combining these with some basic assumptions based on geography, real-world cultural influences, and weather patterns in various in-game locations, I somewhat amateurishly overlaid the Three Great Continents on a globe for the purposes of hopefully, eventually, being able to construct semi-functional in-universe natal horoscopy. Maybe you will find it useful as well!
Now, so, the elemental aspect of hours, days, months, and years has no impact on gameplay, but it is presumably very relevant to horoscopy in-universe, and as you might have noticed, I think about horoscopy in-universe way too much. So I have some very ugly charts to show you!
But first, let's turn to "The Five Ages - An Eorzean Chronology":
Penned by Lewphon of Sharlayan, master theologian and astrologist, in the Year 233 of the Sixth Astral Era, to weave together the disparate histories of the nations of Eorzea with a common thread - the thread of time. For through its inevitable march the hours turn into Suns, and they into Moons, and they into Years. And from the Years come the Ages of Man. And ever eclipsing those is the eternity of Gods.
The Suns - By the unit of a sole Sun we mean that period which lasts for the duration of four cycles of the six elemental hours - those of Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, and Earth. And so is the sun twenty hours and four, and so shall it ever be.
The Suns - By the unit of a sole Sun we mean that period which lasts for the duration of four cycles of the six elemental hours - those of Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, and Earth. And so is the sun twenty hours and four, and so shall it ever be.
The Moons - The life of a single Moon spans four cycles of eight Suns, and is thus the sum of thirty and two. The eight deriveth from the elements six, Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, and Earth, and the polarities two, Astral and Umbral.
The Years - The Year is made when the Moon goeth round the two Astral and Umbral poles, fluctuating between the six elements, and that in turn. In this, the Year can be said to be the length of twelve Moons. The first and second Moons of the Year are the first astral and first Umbral, and together they share affinity with Ice. On their watch, all is frozen, and breath of life sloweth to near silence beneath. The second Astral and second Umbral Moons come third and fourth in turn, and they are the Water of the melting Ice, and with their flowing slaketh the thirst of life again. Fifth and sixth are the third Astral and third Umbral Moons, and the Wind bloweth over the Water, carrying its heavenly boons near and far. The fourth pairing of Astral and Umbral Moons come six and seven. when the heavens rageth with the furies of Lightning and sendeth them below with godly terror to test the faith of men. The ninth and tenth Moons are the Fifth Astral and Umbral, as the Lightning turns to Fire, and it charreth growing life with the colors of its flames, bleeding blade and leaf with brilliant ues of crimson and scarlet. Year's end eometh in the eleventh and twelfth Moons, the sixth Astral and sixth Umbral, in which the Earth consumes all, for out of the ground we are taken for the dust we are, and to the dust we shall return.
Of Man - The wisdom of the Twelve saw fit to grant man with the cycle of years, and in turn the reverence of man bound them to his gods - the Year of the Navigator, of the Wanderer, of the Builder, of the Destroyer, of the Warden, of the Traders, of the Matron, of the Keeper, of the Fury, of the Lover, of the Scholar, and of the Spinner. The turning of these Years twelve is a sacred thing, and together they comprise one epoch of man, by which the histories of his endeavor are measured.
Of Gods - The constancy and eternity of time derive from the pulse and breath of the Twelve. And by their divine will the brilliance of the Astral Eras which see man flourish and prosper, and the shadows of the Umbral Eras which see man falter and doubt, are visited upon him in equal, and neither the greatest good nor the greatest evil may escape their purview. Since the peace among the Twelve was broken and life was created to wage their wars, six cycles of the Eras have come to pass in keeping with the elemental order. The Sixth Umbral Era belonged to the waters, as heavy rains fell and the seas rose high, submerging and cleansing all in a great deluge. With time the waters receded, ushering in the present Sixth Astral Era, during which man has again rebuilt his halls and tilled his lands. Naught save the ken of the Twelve themselves knoweth when the Seventh Umbral Era shall come and end our days. The sole certainty what resides within man is the selfsame as it has ever been - ours is the power to make of our Era what we might.
So, wind, lightning, and fire are traditionally aligned with the Astral and earth, ice, and water are traditionally aligned with the Umbral. The epoch, or cycle of years, begins with the Astral, moving through the cycle clockwise (so that it begins with the element of Wind), while hours, days, and months begin with the element of Ice moving clockwise. I wish I could tell you why, but I don't actually know. In any case, the clock sort of looks like this:
So that every hour is aspected to a particular element, going through the six first in the Astral and then in the Umbral. It's kind of like how the months go through the Astral and Umbral in turns (the months being the "1st Astral Moon" then "1st Umbral Moon" and so on until we reach the "6th Umbral Moon"), except...that would be too easy, obviously, because we also know that the months are ordered so that we begin with the Astral Ice (Halone), then Umbral Ice (Menphina) and so on each element at a time, while the hours do all six elements in one of the polarities and then switches to the other. It's very overcomplicated for no reason and I feel bad for little baby Jannequinard trying to keep all this straight and in a foreign language to boot. But hopefully this kind of makes sense, and I'm very sorry because it is 3:30 in the morning and I'm a little scatterbrained.
And then this brings us to the week, which The Five Ages seems to be saying has eight elemental aspects, where the Astral and Umbral are for some reason separate from the elements (is that even possible outside of an active Calamity? A purely Astral or purely Umbral alignment? That doesn't feel possible to me), and the first day of each week is affiliated with Ice, the second with Water, the third with Wind, the fourth with Lightning, the fifth with Fire, the sixth with Earth, the seventh with the Astral, and the eighth with the Umbral. Which is already really weird! But then to add onto it, people talk about sennights all the time in Final Fantasy XIV, even though weeks are canonically eight days long and "sennight" means "seven nights".
But while I was working on transcribing the early quests, someone did use the word "week", and it got me thinking about the nundinal cycle, which is the traditional Roman eight-day market week which continued to be used alongside the seven-day liturgical week after the introduction of Christianity as the state religion. The word "nundinal" comes from the Latin word for "nine", because Romans counted inclusively - which means that the first day of the new week was considered the "ninth" day of the old week and also the first day of the new one. And I got to thinking, what if the "sennight" is, in fact, the six-day elemental week, while the "week" is the eight-day lunar week? The first of the month is always the new moon, and the seventeenth (the beginning of the third week) always the full moon. The lunar week would seemingly be very useful to astrologians, who are concerned with mapping the stars, while for most people the elemental week, the inclusively counted sennight, is perfectly sufficient.
This would of course allow the polarities of Astral and Umbral to not be needlessly and confusingly separated from the six traditional elemental aspects, and then the days can cycle as the hours do, one week being Astral and the next being Umbral so that each three months we begin anew with the 1st of the month being of Astral Ice. Does this feel right to you? It feels right to me. Unfortunately, we do still have to deal with the confusing wording in The Five Ages regarding the eight days of the week - but Lewphon calls the hours the "elemental hours", while of the days he says only that the eight "deriveth" from the six elements and two polarities. Can you tell where I'm going with this? I'm so sorry.
What if the days of the week are named for the elements and polarities, but do not necessarily correspond to the actual elemental alignment of those days? Iceday, Waterday, and so forth through Umbralday, so that, for example, Astralday the 7th of the 3rd Astral Moon in the Year of the Wanderer is triply aligned with Astral Wind (through year, month, and day), and at 2AM and 2PM quadruply so aligned?
Is it terrible and needlessly confusing? Yes. Do I love it? Kind of, yes. Here's a spreadsheet for you to look upon in horror.
Finally, lastly, no discussion of Ishgard can be complete without a side note about the clear linguistic ties between Ishgard and Garlemald. Or at least, none that I'm having. Why do they use so much Latin in Ishgard? Why doesn't Halone have elf ears? Why does "Ishgard" seem to share a root with "Eschva", the name of the Ilsabardian Elezen tribe that seems to have been one of the founding seven tribes of the Republic of Garlemald? I'm so glad you asked! I just so happen to have a 2500 word transcript of a ramble I posted on Discord two years ago about my completely unhinged theory about the shared cultural and religious history of the Holy See and Republican Garlemald on hand. Read if it you want.
Appendix D: Ship Memes and Fanart <3
You made it to the end! Congratulations! Here are some dumb, self-indulgent bullshit, because, by the Twelve, you've earned it after reading all that, and I've earned it after writing all of it.
First, some ship art! Both drawn on commission by![[twitter.com profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/e0caa790ec10/-/twitter.com/favicon.ico)
cadaver1ne:
First, some ship art! Both drawn on commission by
FOOTNOTES
[14] The Heavensward expansion (levels 50-60) culminated in the dissolution of the theocratic government, end of the Dragonsong War, and foundation of a Parliament of Peers in Ishgard. ⬏
[15] While our mortal enemy the time bubble is still very much an extenuating factor to contend with, expansions are generally treated as occurring more or less 'in real time' compared to each other, as exemplified by dialogue like this and by the visible aging of Meteor/John Finalfantasy/Default Warrior of Light in the cinematic trailers for each expac. Heavensward released in 6/15 and Stormblood 7/17, so it has been just over two years since we last saw Leveva. ⬏
[16] I cannot find any early StB era screencaps or clips of this world NPC dialogue to confirm or deny that the current dialogue (which makes its first confirmed appearance in early 2019) matches the original; I expect that there is an original version that read "what took me more than twenty summers", but I don't want to claim as much without proof. ⬏
[17] Potential lore discrepancy! In 30-50 we establish that unlocking the gate to the seventh (purely Astral in aspect) heaven would outright kill you, but then, maybe Leveva is really just that hostile to the man. ⬏
[16] I cannot find any early StB era screencaps or clips of this world NPC dialogue to confirm or deny that the current dialogue (which makes its first confirmed appearance in early 2019) matches the original; I expect that there is an original version that read "what took me more than twenty summers", but I don't want to claim as much without proof. ⬏
[17] Potential lore discrepancy! In 30-50 we establish that unlocking the gate to the seventh (purely Astral in aspect) heaven would outright kill you, but then, maybe Leveva is really just that hostile to the man. ⬏
[19] Silver is...not purple. Leveva natural hair color reveal? While Elezen often have candy floss hair, Hyur seem to be restricted to human hair colors. ⬏
[20] Defeat dialogue.
[20] Defeat dialogue.
Kyokuhou: Great-grandfather... I have failed...you...
[22] The Warrior of Light takes on the title of the Warrior of Darkness in the aforementioned mirror universe. ⬏
[23] These tasks included a lot of manual labor if you were a crafter or gatherer. Personally, I made more than seven thousand awnings in the space of ten days. But by the Twelve, we sure did rebuild Ishgard. ⬏
[24] The Missing Member was called the Bloody Member in the first few expansions! This isn't really relevant to anything, it's just a favorite bit of trivia. ⬏
[25] Sevestre is also named in another Endwalker sidequest, though no information about him is given that wasn’t prior established in the AST quests, and appears in the background of one crowd cutscene. Neither Leveva nor Mace made any appearance, and the Athenaeum in Sharlayan is a building that cannot be entered and those NPCs wearing Astrologian’s gear are non-interactable. ⬏
[26] See Appendix C: Random Bullshit Go! for some notes on Eorzean languages and particularly the fantasy equivalents of French and Latin, both of which heavily feature in the Holy See. Everyone who knows me well enough to see where this is going is groaning already. ⬏
[27] I also personally interpret Janne's lack of progress in his studies in the past years as partially reactionary. If he had been slacking off on his studies in his youth and aware of it, his inability to save Rufin's life then becomes the fault of his own lax attitude. If he never learns how to heal well, then he can tell himself he's simply incompetent by nature. In a way, this alleviates his guilt. ⬏
[28] "Astral Stasis" is the name of the AST LB3, a once-per-fight full party resurrect that restores full HP and MP without granting weakness. In the Endwalker MSQ, LB3 is explained in-universe as being a manifestation not of magick but of hope itself. One might imagine this skill as almost a type of time travel? Because it is prior established that attunement to the seventh heaven would instantly kill you, it may be that you're forcing the universe to reset because your death in this manner was not fated. There's a lot of ways to interpret this skill, honestly, and they're all fascinating. It's also absolutely gorgeous. ⬏
[27] I also personally interpret Janne's lack of progress in his studies in the past years as partially reactionary. If he had been slacking off on his studies in his youth and aware of it, his inability to save Rufin's life then becomes the fault of his own lax attitude. If he never learns how to heal well, then he can tell himself he's simply incompetent by nature. In a way, this alleviates his guilt. ⬏
[28] "Astral Stasis" is the name of the AST LB3, a once-per-fight full party resurrect that restores full HP and MP without granting weakness. In the Endwalker MSQ, LB3 is explained in-universe as being a manifestation not of magick but of hope itself. One might imagine this skill as almost a type of time travel? Because it is prior established that attunement to the seventh heaven would instantly kill you, it may be that you're forcing the universe to reset because your death in this manner was not fated. There's a lot of ways to interpret this skill, honestly, and they're all fascinating. It's also absolutely gorgeous. ⬏
Credit where it's due to Airell Gardiner @ Adamantoise, Galen Blackwell @ Cactuar, Kimiko Katsumi @ Adamantoise, Etienne Laurus @ Zalera, Ardonis Ryedel @ Adamantoise, and Thea Hyrtfyrwyn @ Omega for their gameplay footage.
