As the Scions of the Seventh Dawn have grown in size and influence, so too have their responsibilities, prompting Minfilia to consider if their expansion was wise. Alphinaud, however, does not harbor such concerns, having embraced his role as commander of the Crystal Braves and guardian of Eorzea. The yound Elezen now wishes to aid the Immortal Flames in their ongoing efforts to bring stability to Ul'Dah, and he would like your assistance with his mission as well. Join him outside the Solar and listen to what Riol, his subordinate, has to say.
Riol, who has been attempting to trace the source of some weapons wielded by disgruntled refugees, has learned of a large shipment which may be intended for the same purpose. A black marketeer in eastern Thanalan is planning to resell the weapons and reap a tidy profit - unless you and Ilbert intervene before the exchange takes place. Rendezvous with the captain of the Crystal Braves at Highbridge.
Ilberd informs you that the black marketeer's clients have arrived. With luck, you may prevent the sale of illicit goods, seize the men who covet them, and learn their intent.
BAIT AND SWITCH
Ilberd states that the 1st Unit will establish a perimeter, preventing the clients' escape, while you and he seize the black marketeer and his weapons. Follow the captain to the Burning Wall and survey the area.
Although he spies only a single sentry, Ilberd concludes that there must be others in hiding. He bids you create a distraction while he and his men slip past into the tunnels where the black marketeer and his clients are meeting. Approach the lone sentry and strike up a friendly conversation.
The sentry is less than pleased with your presence, and he and his comrades attempt to summarily dispatch you. They do not succeed. Captain Ilberd and his men are nowhere to be seen, and so you have no choice but to wait outside the tunnel as instructed.
A sudden scream of agony rings out from within the tunnel. Proceed inside and seek out the source of the disturbance.
You find a flustered Ilberd standing over a man who lies motionless in a pool of his own blood. The captain explains that the black marketeer fought back with a hidden blade, and that one of his subordinates, fearing for his safety, slew the man. What is worse, a party of Duskwight sellswords believed to be the clients managed to slip past the 1st Unit, which is currently giving chase. As a final ignominy, it would seem that Riol's information was erroneous, and that the massive shipment of weapons consists of a single wooden crate...
BEST LAID SCHEMES
Ilberd wishes to join the 1st Unit in their pursuit of the Duskwight sellswords. However, the crate of weapons you and he have confiscated cannot simply be abandoned. He asks that you collect it and deliver it in his stead to Yuyuhase of the 3rd.
With remarkable ease, you secure the wooden crate filled with weapons. All that remains is to leave it in the care of Yuyuhase, who can be found on the Steps of Thal in Ul'dah.
You find Yuyuhase conversing with Alianne of the 4th Unit and her subordinate, Wilfred, and place the crate of weapons at their feet. Although Alianne struggles to accept that the single crate is the entirety of the shipment, Yuyuhase dismisses the discrepancy as Riol's failure. After you part ways with the three Braves, Riol steps from the shadows and begs a private audience, though he does not explain why. Seek him out at the Sapphire Avenue Exchange.
After listening to your account of events at the Burning Wall, Riol shakes his head in disbelief and insists that something is not right. He reiterates his claim that there should have been more weapons, crediting his experience deciphering financial transactions, as he once did for the Crystal Braves to ensure that no funds came from unsanctioned sources ─ though such precautions are no longer taken, it would seem. Apologizing for his outburst, he takes his leave, moments before Tataru summons you to Revenant's Toll via linkpearl. Return to the Rising Stones and speak with the receptionist.
Tataru thanks you for returning so quickly and states that a guest from Ishgard has requested your presence. Given the urgency of the receptionist's summons, it seems likely that the envoy has a dangerous task in mind.
THE RISING CHORUS
Brooking no delay, Tataru bids you follow her to the solar to meet with the Antecedent, who is waiting for you with the Ishgardian envoy. Proceed within and speak with Minfilia.
Waiting for you in the solar is Lucia, Ser Aymeric's second-in-command, who has come on his behalf to request your assistance with a matter of grave import. The astrologians of the Observatorium have interpreted recent signs as an indication of Midgardsormr's imminent resurrection. Alas, the knights of Ishgard are in no position to dispatch forces to the Keeper of the Lake at present, and so Ser Aymeric would have you investigate the wreckage on their behalf and ascertain the veracity of the astrologians' claims. Before proceeding to the Keeper of the Lake, however, Minfilia advises you to speak with a Doman watch who has been stationed on the northern shore.
The Doman watch reports that forces from Castrum Centri have been scavenging materials from the wreckage, but that otherwise the distant monument has shown no signs of activity. Given the imperial presence, a stealthy approach will be necessary. Gather your allies and take the watch's ship to the base of the Agrius and survey the fallen airship from bottom to top.
※The Keeper of the Lake dungeon.
The Ishgardian's worst fears have seemingly come to pass, as atop the wreckage of the Agrius you confront the fallen guardian of Silvertear Falls. With no choice but to fight, you engage the wyrm lord in battle, at last laying him to rest forever.
As you turn to leave, the voice of Midgardsormr rings out once more, and you are invited to plead your case. Yet your words fall on deaf ears, and the wyrm lord flatly states that his children now sing of Ishgard's imminent destruction. Your fate sealed, he prepares to end your life ─ only to hesitate when Hydaelyn intervenes and marks you as one of her chosen. Midgardsormr then relents ─ but not before somehow stripping you of the Mothercrystal's blessing. Revealing that a covenant binds him to you, the essence of the wyrm lord coalesces into a tiny vessel, and though it subsequently vanishes, you can yet feel his eyes upon your back...
Before you can even begin to speak of your experiences, the Doman watch informs you that Alphinaud has summoned you to the Rising Stones. Return and seek out the young commander.
In private, you share your experiences with Minfilia, Alphinaud, and Urianger. Together, you conclude that it would be best to keep the majority of your conversation with Midgardsormr a secret, given Ishgardian attitudes towards consorting with Dravanians. Alphinaud leaves to speak with Lucia, and for a moment you are left alone with Minfilia, who observes that you are somehow changed. Having no choice, you reveal what you kept concealed from the others ─ that Midgardsormr took from you the blessing of Light. The Antecedent accepts your reassurances that everything is well...yet Midgardsormr's constant presence is a reminder of the opposite. Unaware of your new burden, Lucia thanks you for besting Midgardsormr, and for bringing confirmation of the impending Dravanian attack. Though she has complete faith in her nation's capacity to defend itself, Alphinaud remains doubtful, and as the knight takes her leave he mutters quietly to himself, head bowed in thought.
Despite his reservations, Alphinaud acknowledges that the Scions of the Seventh Dawn are in no position to intervene. Until such time as they choose to request aid, you and the others have no choice but to watch and wait.
AETHER ON DEMAND
You speak with Alphinaud, and the young commander of the Crystal Braves mentions Moenbryda's request for the Scions to assemble in the solar. Find Moenbryda within the Rising Stones, and let her know that your business with the Ishgardians is concluded. You have located the Roegadyn scholar and informed her that her requested meeting may now take place. Make your way to the solar and speak with Moenbryda once more.
Moenbryda reveals that she has formulated a means of producing the staggering amount of aether required to destroy a captured Ascian soul ─ namely, by siphoning energy from the corrupted crystals found across Eorzea. It is at this point in her presentation that Alphinaud arrives and suggests that she conduct her experiments in northern Thanalan, where such crystals formations are bountiful yet not too closely grouped. He soon adds, however, that the imperial forces in the area are seeking to ransack the resources of the Ceruleum Processing Plant. With a knowing smile, Alphinaud laments that Moenbryda's experiments will be nigh impossible to perform without the Scions first cooperating with the Crystal Braves to defeat the Garlean threat. Speak with Alphinaud at the Rising Stones to learn more about your role in defending the processing plant from the advancing imperial soldiers.
Alphinaud has bid you rendezvous with the 4th in northern Thanalan while he moves to take command of the Crystal Braves stationed in Ul'dah. As you make to depart, you encounter Hoary Boulder and Coultenet, who have been charged with escorting F'lhaminn during her efforts to recruit her influential Ul'dahn acquaintances to the Scions' cause. It seems that the call of duty shall once more empty the Rising Stones of Eorzea's stalwart defenders. Travel to the Ceruleum Processing Plant and report to Wilred.
After reporting to Wilred, the eager Crystal Braves member takes you to Lieutenant Edelstein for a briefing on the current situation. Edelstein appears elated at your presence, but his mood quickly turns sour as he relates to you the news of how several imperial explosive devices have been discovered within the perimeter of the plant. Join the soldiers and the newly arrived Scions in the search for any suspicious boxes that could prove a danger to the garrison. You have scoured the entire compound and uncovered what you believe to be four more imperial explosive devices. Return to Lieutenant Edelstein and deliver the suspicious containers.
Lieutenant Edelstein gingerly receives the crates from your steady hands, and puts them aside for his sappers to disable. Though one threat has been effectively neutralized, the garrison commander informs you that returning scouts have reported movement amongst the nearby Garlean forces...
ON THE COUNTEROFFENSIVE
Lieutenant Edelstein informs you that imperial soldiers have been seen marching from Castrum Meridianum. The garrison leader would have you join the Crystal Braves in their efforts to repel the advancing Garleans. Speak with Lieutenant Alianne of the 4th Unit Braves, and lend your strength to her planned counteroffensive.
Upon speaking with Alianne, you learn that another force of imperial soldiers has been spotted attempting to conceal themselves along the west approach to the processing plant. Before the lieutenant can outline her strategy, however, Captain Ilberd arrives, and drafts you into assisting the 3rd Unit Braves as they set out to engage this second threat. Speak with Yuyuhase at Raubahn's Push for further instructions.
Yuyuhase welcomes your arrival, and explains his plan to uproot the Garlean raiders from their places of concealment. Search your assigned areas, and eliminate any imperial soldiers you encounter.
You have discovered and defeated an imperial squad. Move on to the next location, and engage any remaining Garlean soldiers.
You have defeated the remaining imperial troops. Return to Yuyuhase at Raubahn's Push and report your success.
You rejoin Yuyuhase, and he speaks of similar victories in the field. The Lalafellin Brave offers to share news of the Garleans' demise with Alianne, and asks that you do the same for Lieutenant Edelstein. Return to the Ceruleum Processing Plant and make your report to the garrison leader.
You make your report to a relieved Lieutenant Edelstein, who once more thanks you for your deeds. With the Garlean threat neutralized, it would appear the processing plant has been delivered from potential disaster.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-08 02:16 pm (UTC)