Marilionne : An adventurer, are you not? Perhaps it would behoove you to speak to our esteemed governor.
Marilionne : There is doubtless a mountain of work around here that needs a steady hand. Somo Aatsula can show you the way.

You find Somo Aatsula standing nearby and talk to her.

Somo Aatsula : Hello. I haven't seen you around here beforrre. Are you new in town?

You nod.

Somo Aatsula : Ah, I thought so. Welcome to Mhaura. You should go to the governor's house. They'll tell you all you need to know about our little town.
Somo Aatsula : First, climb the stairs there, and walk along the ledge to another set of stairs. Go up, and you're therrre.

The camera flies over the path to take as Somo speaks. You follow it dutifully, and enter the governor's house.

Numi Adaligo : Welcome to the governor's house. How may I be of assistance?

You're given a few options, the first of which is to ask about someone looking for adventurers. Choose that option.

Numi Adaligo : Ah, I was told to expect someone named Valara. Would that be you?
Numi Adaligo : Forgive me for not recognizing you sooner. I had been told to be on the lookout and usher you into the governor's office without delay.

The mayor walks up to you.

Ekokoko : Oh, this is wonderful, indeed! I was worried I'd have to hunt and peck for you all down the coast.
Ekokoko : I, Ekokoko, serve as the governor of our bright town.
Ekokoko : Truth be told, I was not the one who sought you out. No, that would be Gilgamesh, one of Vana'diel's most renowned pir--er, entrepreneurs.
Ekokoko : Something about setting sail and finding someone lost at sea? Bah, I never had much of a head for details.
Ekokoko : What I do know is that your name came up on more than one occasion.
Ekokoko : He also mentioned something about wanting you to procure some mandragora dewdrops from mandragoras around the Crag of Mea before you meet him.
Ekokoko : He hopes to use it to create a special herbal remedy for his crew--er, associates.
Numi Adaligo : The world has been bursting at the seams with odd news these days, and frankly, none of us here can make heads or tails of it all.
Ekokoko : And Mhaura has felt the effects particularly hard--our supply of mandragora dewdrops has been dwindling.
Ekokoko : I'll call Gilgamesh back to port immediately.
Ekokoko : In the meantime, rough up some of those mandragoras and come back with three mandragora dewdrops.
Ekokoko : And yes, I am well aware that adventurers often charge a fee for their services, and I will personally see to it that you are properly recompensed.
Numi Adaligo : Come back soon!

The dewdrops can be farmed by killing mandragoras (named "Pygmaioi") in Tahrongi Canyon. They are an uncommon drop. I farmed them on my way to Mhaura - you do not need the mission flagged to get them. It took over 30 minutes to get the three.

Once you have the dewdrops, you can return to the mayor and trade them to her.

Ekokoko : How fabulous that you made it back safe, Valara!
Ekokoko : Your return couldn't have been more timely--Gilgamesh's ship has only just docked.

The door opens, and a white-haired man wearing a black eyepatch walks in. He's accompanied by a samurai.

Gilgamesh : So you're Valara, eh? I've 'eard much 'bout ya.
Ekokoko : Let's get the small matter of the mandragora dewdrops out of the way first. Here you go.
Gilgamesh : Aye, this be just what we ordered. Now a little tit-fer-tat...
Ekokoko : Always too kind, Gilgamesh. Here, Valara--one for you, too.
Gilgamesh : Suppose we'd best get down t' business.
Gilgamesh : Valara, might come as a bit of a surprise to hear this, but I'm a pirate known for roamin' the Bastore Sea.

You react in surprise to this.

Gilgamesh : The oceans ta the west have been a bit stormier'n usual of late, an' me crew an' I came across a small vessel adrift upon the tides.
Gilgamesh : So 'course I say to meself, who'd'a thunk that such a delicate rowboat could stay whole in such a terrible brew...an' then the whole thin' started flashin' red.
Gilgamesh : Being the curious sailor I am, I went an' investigated. Lo and behold, there was a pretty young lass lyin' prone along the deck.
Gilgamesh : I've always had quite the fondness fer the color red. Figurin' it must be a sign from Altana herself, I took her on board and brought her back with me ta Norg.
Gilgamesh : When she came to, the first words from those pale lips of hers were yer name.
Gilgamesh : So I want ya ta come back ta Norg with us. She was quite insistent on meetin' ya.
Gilgamesh : Ya see, she's gone on a bit of a...hunger strike.
Gilgamesh : The ship's docked at port waitin' ta take you whenever ya've got yer affairs in order here.
Gilgamesh : I just remembered a bit of a pressin' engagement I've gotta attend to, but I'll catch up with ya there.

Gilgamesh leaves, along with his companion.

Ekokoko : A-ahem. One last thing before you go. Please, please breathe no word to the citizens about me abetting a known pirate.
Ekokoko : They might not all understand that a port town is only looking out for its best interests when it ensures that those less on the...up-and-up remain happy. When push comes to shove, aren't we all just looking out for each other?
Ekokoko : And while I'm not biting the hand that feeds me, I'd like to inform you that the token I have just offered is highly valued here in Mhaura.
Ekokoko : Why don't you have a brief chat with Vera here before you leave for Norg?

Obtained key item: Gilgamesh's introductory letter.

You do as suggested and seek our Vera.

Vera : Eh? Another fledgling adventurer? There seem to be more and more of you people these days.
Vera : I may be able to teach you a thing or two... Interested?

You agree to listen.

Vera : I'm glad you are. But I won't talk for free. Why don't you bring me a wild rabbit tail for starters, eh?
Vera : Not that I'd be terribly upset with a Gilgamesh's introductory letter, provided you could get your hands on one.
Vera : Good. I'll be waiting here.

Editor's note: Originally, players would need to farm three difficult-to-get items and give them to Vera to unlock the ability to use a subjob. The quest could be undertaken at level 18, and you were meant to team up to get the items. If you were a shy player, like me, you might level into the mid twenties before you could safely get the items. Rhapsodies changes this quest, and now you just need to talk to her while possessing the key item.

Vera : Hoh-hoh. Yes, this is what I asked for. I'm ready to talk now.
Vera : Have you ever seen people use abilities from jobs other than their main one? Those people are using something called "support jobs."
Vera : And if you can't use support jobs, you don't deserve to be called an adventurer! But I can help you with that. Hoh-hoh.
Vera : You can add a support job to your main one wherever you can change jobs. Of course, it has to be a job you've already acquired.
Vera : But whatever you choose as your support job, its effective level will never exceed half that of your main one. Your support job won't benefit from any experience points you gain, either. It is, after all, only meant to be supplemental.
Vera : Let me give you an example: Let's say you've achieved level 20 as a warrior and level 10 as a white mage. If you choose warrior as your main job and white mage as your support job, the following will occur...
Vera : Your warrior level stays the same at 20, and your effective level in white mage also stays at 10--half the level of your main job. In this case, both jobs function to the fullest in their roles.
Vera : Now, say you choose the same white mage job as your main one and put your warrior job as your support job...
Vera : Your white mage level is still 10, but the effective level of your warrior job drops to 5, half the level of your main job. Now, that's a lot of wasted potential, isn't it? Hoh-hoh.
Vera : And selecting a job with a level less than half of your main one as your support job isn't going to do you much good, either. Make sure you're using your jobs to their fullest when choosing support jobs.
Vera : As to which job is best suited to your main job...ideally, it should be one that either covers your main job's weaknesses, or one that enhances its strengths.
Vera : ...That's about it. Is everything clear?
Vera : Good. Then why are you still here? Go try it out, already! And don't forget to thank me when it saves your skin. Hoh-hoh.

Your next step is to find the boat that will take you to Norg. In Mhaura, it is piloted by Tonasav, the samurai who accompanied Gilgamesh.

A short cutscene occurs as you enter Selbina.

Esteban : Selbina's mayor is looking for adventurers to fulfill a special task for him. I'm not familiar with the particulars...
Esteban : ...But Flandiace is. He can direct you to the mayor's residence.

Flandiace : Hello there. Is this your first visit to our fine town?

You can answer yes or no. For this playthrough, I said I'd been there before.

Flandiace : Is that a fact? I never forget a face. Oh well. Never mind.
Flandiace : Have you been to see the mayor? If not, you should!

If I had said I was new in town, Flandiace would tell me where to find the mayor and the camera would fly over the path. The mayor is found in the building farthest from the entrance. You'll want to speak with the clerk at the desk first.

Naillina : Welcome to the mayor's residence. How can I help you?

You'll be given some options. Choose the one about the mayor seeking adventurers for a special task.

Naillina : Ah, you must be Amalberga.
Naillina : Thank you for answering the summons. One of the mayor's confidantes has been asking for you.

An old man approaches you.

Abelard : I'm Abelard, mayor of this village. It's so tiny, you see, that all I do is mediate when there are disagreements.
Abelard : A pira...entrepreneur associate of mine known as Gilgamesh has had your name on his lips the past several days.
Abelard : He rescued a young woman adrift at sea, and she spoke quite highly of you when she woke up.
Abelard : Finding you has removed one burden off my shoulders, but there remains yet another.
Abelard : You see, Gilgamesh made a second request.
Abelard : He's looking for clumps of bee pollen that can be procured from some of the large bees around the Crag of Holla or Crag of Dem.
Naillina : Their medicinal properties are highly valued even during times of peace, and what with the recent strange happenings...
Abelard : You probably know what I'm going to ask.
Abelard : Wrest three clumps of bee pollen from those buzzing menaces located around either of the two aforementioned crags.
Abelard : Of course, your efforts will be duly rewarded.
Naillina : Best of luck!

The pollen is an uncommon drop, so takes a while to farm. You do not need the mission flagged to get the pollen, so I farmed it on my way to Selbina. You can either farm it in La Theine Plateau (on the way from San d'Oria) or Konschtat Highlands (nearer to Bastok). Once you have three, return to the mayor and trade it to him.

Abelard : Oho! You've brought them back safely, then?
Abelard : Gilgamesh and his entourage've just arrived back in port.

A white-haired man wearing a black eyepatch enters, followed by a companion.

Gilgamesh : So you're Amalberga, eh? I've heard much 'bout ya.
Abelard : My friend, Amalberga gathered these clumps of bee pollen, just as you requested.
Gilgamesh : Aye, this be just what we ordered. Now a little tit-fer-tat...
Abelard : Excellent. I think adventurers would have a use for these.
Abelard : So here, Amalberga--for you.
Gilgamesh : Suppose we'd best get down t' business.
Gilgamesh : Amalberga, might come as a bit of a surprise to hear this, but I'm a pirate known for roamin' the Bastore Sea.

You react in surprise to this.

Gilgamesh : The oceans ta the west have been a bit stormier'n usual of late, an' me crew an' I came across a small vessel adrift upon the tides.
Gilgamesh : So 'course I say to meself, who'd'a thunk that such a delicate rowboat could stay whole in such a terrible brew...an' then the whole thin' started flashin' red.
Gilgamesh : Being the curious sailor I am, I went an' investigated. Lo and behold, there was a pretty young lass lyin' prone along the deck.
Gilgamesh : I've always had quite the fondness fer the color red. Figurin' it must be a sign from Altana herself, I took her on board and brought her back with me ta Norg.
Gilgamesh : When she came to, the first words from those pale lips of hers were yer name.
Gilgamesh : So I want ya ta come back ta Norg with us. She was quite insistent on meetin' ya.
Gilgamesh : Ya see, she's gone on a bit of a...hunger strike.
Gilgamesh : The ship's docked at port waitin' ta take you whenever ya've got yer affairs in order here.
Gilgamesh : I just remembered a bit of a pressin' engagement I've gotta attend to, but I'll catch up with ya there.
Abelard : I...I have a request. Don't breathe a word to the populace that I aided a known pirate.
Abelard : Their activities aren't completely on the up-and-up, but as a port town, we still depend on them.
Abelard : And while we're talking of aid, remember to use that item I gave you.
Abelard : Isacio here in town will know what to do with it.

Obtained key item: Gilgamesh's introductory letter.

You find Isacio and speak with him.

Isacio : So, little girl, you want to be an adventurer, do you? Well, you've got a long way to go, I reckon.
Isacio : I, too, once took up arms for honor and country. But it was all in vain.
Isacio : I helped defend the nation. I tasted glory. But behind their smiles people grew jealous. I lost my family, and my comrades deserted me.
Isacio : Soon I realized that all I did, everything I fought for was in vain. I left the ranks for good.
Isacio : But of late the beastmen rise in challenge. Again, many may lose dear friends and family to the storms of war.
Isacio : I thought then of preventing such tragedy from happening again. Fortunately, an answer came to me.
Isacio : I decided to teach my survival techniques to brave youths like yourself.
Isacio : If you wish to learn them, you must prove your worthiness to me.
Isacio : Very well. First, bring me a damselfly worm. I shall wait here.
Isacio : A Gilgamesh's introductory letter would be fine, too...if you can find one.

Editor's note: Originally, players would need to farm three difficult-to-get items and give them to Isacio to unlock the ability to use a subjob. The quest could be undertaken at level 18, and you were meant to team up to get the items. If you were a shy player, like me, you might level into the mid twenties before you could safely get the items. Rhapsodies changes this quest, and now you just need to talk to him while possessing the key item.

Isacio : Splendid. As promised, I will now instruct you in a most precious skill. I call it a ・support job.・ Listen well to learn its secrets.
Isacio : Support jobs are undertaken anywhere you normally change jobs. And you must already be proficient in a job before you can declare it your support job.
Isacio : Furthermore, the effective level of your support job can never exceed half that of your main job. Also, since it is merely a support job, you'll never advance through experience.
Isacio : I shall give an example. Let us say you have attained level 20 as a warrior and level 10 as a white mage. You would obviously declare your main job warrior, and your support job white mage.
Isacio : In this example, you fight as a warrior of 20 levels and as a white mage 10 levels lower. Thus, you would be performing both jobs to their maximum potential.
Isacio : In contrast, if you had declared white mage your main job and warrior your support job, things would be very different!
Isacio : Since you would have only 10 levels of experience as a white mage, your potential as a warrior would be reduced to half that of your main job. Thus, 5! Not a wise decision, is it?
Isacio : Similarly, you wouldn't want to make your support job something you've never done before. If your support job level is less than half that of your main job, your undeveloped skills would make not a difference. Remember this well!
Isacio : I recommend you choose a support job that covers your main job's weaknesses, or one that enhances its strengths.
Isacio : I realize there is much to remember, my pupil.
Isacio : Very good. Now, try your hand at a support job. You'll find it helpful in your journeys, I'm sure.

You can now designate a support job.

Your next step is to find the boat that will take you to Norg. In Selbina, it is piloted by Pacomart, an Elvaan. If memory serves, he was Gilgamesh's companion in the earlier cutscenes. Speaking with him will board the boat and you'll automatically be teleported to Norg with no travel cutscene.