Previous posts in this series:
During our last recap, Vauthry had sicced his sin eaters on Lakeland. The battle was fierce and there were quite a few casualties. The Scions regroup in the Crystarium’s Ocular to discuss future plans, all in agreement not to give up the fight.
Alphinaud has had no luck finding the Lightwarden of Kholusia, while Alisaie has heard a few rumors about Amh Araeng’s Lightwarden but dare not investigate on her own. Still, Alisaie’s information is not concrete, leading Minfilia to suggest traveling to Nabaath Araeng to call back the original Minfilia, as her powers would allow the Scions to easily find the remaining Lightwardens.
Thancred is dead set against this course of action, but Minfilia is persistent.
Sensing your concern, Minfilia reaffirms her commitment to her chosen course of action, and asks that you trust her judgment with an earnestness worthy of her namesake. She then departs—presumably to make her preparations before joining Thancred at the gates.
After a short wait, Minfilia arrives at the appointed place and declares her readiness to depart. But before proceeding, you give her one last opportunity to abandon her chosen course. Her emphatic reply leaves little room for argument, however, so the group turns its attention to the question of how best to pass through Amh Araeng unnoticed. At Alisaie’s suggestion, you decide to split up—sending her, Alphinaud, and Y’shtola to the east to distract the Eulmoran Army while the rest of you take the western route to Nabaath Araeng.
As you near the gate to Amh Araeng, you realize you are not the only one contemplating the ordeals that may lie ahead. Hearing Thancred’s quiet plea for assistance in protecting Minfilia, his trepidation could not be more obvious.
You speak with Hardyss, who grants you passage through the gate—perhaps against her better judgment.
Vibrant violet gives way to dry red and orange as you, Urianger, Thancred, and Minfilia pass through the gate and proceed into the Hills of Amber.
As you enter the Hills, Ardbert’s voice echoes in a voiceover:
Take comfort in the bonds you share. Accept the pain when the time comes to part. Press on, for joy and sorrow walk hand in hand.
Beyond Mount Garik lie the Hills of Amber, beneath which run hidden veins of mineral wealth. Or ran, at least. Mayhap they are spent. Or mayhap, the ringing of hammers can yet be heard below…
Taking in the dusty and precipitous landscape, your eyes fall upon what appears to be a village nearby, and the party pauses for a moment to prepare for whatsoever may come.
As Minfilia looks out over the valley before you, you see newfound purpose in her eyes. Whatever doubts she may harbor, it is plain she is pleased to be in control of her own destiny at long last.
* * *
Upon arriving in Amh Araeng, you can speak with the party.
Urianger: "Sound though Mistress Alisaie’s logic was, I fear the road less traveled hath other perils in store for us."
Thancred: "A village so near? How convenient."
Minfiilia: "This place has been scarred by the Flood too. Who can say what lies ahead? But whatever else this road may be, it is mine to travel. And I don’t plan to take a moment of the time I spend upon it for granted. Our only path forward lies ahead—I’m sure of it. So...onward, I suppose!"
You then speak with Thancred:
Thancred: "I take it you’re seeing what I’m seeing? Finding a village when we’re hardly ten paces into the hills is a surprising stroke of luck—especially given our recent fortunes—but you won’t hear any complaints from me. Let’s see if the folk who live here can tell us what to expect from the road ahead."
The trio walk off, and you follow.
You arrive in the village of Garik, which appears to be populated with Mord, and begin questioning the locals.
Zhun Zun: "You sell? No…. No, you are no merchant. But then, why do I know your face? Hm… Oh, I remember! You spent Voeburt gold!"
You get a surprised look on your face at this.
Zhun Zun: "Such a coinpurse cracking! You are already a legend among Mord traders!"
Thancred: "You’re a traveling merchant, then. Can you tell us anything of this village?"
Zhun Zun: "Of course, anything for valued customers! This place is Garik. Before the Flood, it was home to many miners. After, not so many. Now, none. So Master Ghen Gen borrowed the village—made it into a trading post. Very convenient location!"
Minfilia: "In which case, you all must be familiar with the local roads, correct? We’re on our way to Nabaath Areng, ourselves. If we continue south from here, will we have any difficulties reaching it?"
Zhun Zun: "Oh, yes! Great difficulty… The Flood rent the stone and crushed the mines surrounding Nabaath Areng. Only steep cliffs and collapsed tunnels remain."
Minfillia: "Oh, no… But surely there must be some way. Do you think any of the other Mord might have some sort of hidden route?"
Zhun Zun: "Perhaps. You ask, they tell. Tell for free, even, to friends of our best customer."
Minfilia curtsies to him, and says, "Wonderful! Thank you for your help." She runs off.
Thancred turns to you. "Well, then, ‘best customer,’ let’s see what information your reputation buys us."
You and Urianger nod, and the group splits to question the other Mord.
You ask Rhil Ril, who says, "You wish to go to Nabaath Areng? Hm… There was a way, once. A gondola down from the cliffs. But it was built for those who had left something behind that they wished to retrieve. Now there is nothing left, and no one to use it. You may search for it, if you like. But I doubt that its rusted wires would bear your weight."
Next you ask Ghon Gon, who’s tending to a pair of rock lizards. "For Nabaath Areng, airship is best. Nothing is faster than an airship!" the Mord says. "The Eulmorans have one, I hear. You can ask them to take you!"
If you stop by Minfilia and talk to her, she says, "I’ve got it! I’ll lead by asking how business is, then mention you, and then ask about the route. That… should work, right?"
Stopping to talk to Thancred: "If we’re not lucky enough to encounter anyone who knows a route to Nabaath Areng here, perhaps they can at least point us in the direction of others who might."
Urianger remarks when you stop by him: "Perhaps we ought to inquire upon the matter of Eulmoran forces in the region, as well."
Next you enter one of the buildings, where you talk to Shul Sul: "Oh, that is a surprise! Not many bound for Nabaath Areng these days. I do know of a trolley that once went there--it used to travel between all the settlements and mines of the Hills of Amber. It is locked behind a gate, however. I assume that will have kept it from being stolen or damaged, but it also prevents it from being of much use."
Having questioned the locals, you return to Thancred, who says, "Ah, <first name>. I’m afraid I’ve learned little of use about how to reach Nabaath Areng. The Eulmoran presence, though---that’s another matter. Apparently, though their army is definitely in Amh Araeng, there have been no sightings of Eulmorans at all in the Hills of Amber. Perhaps we can take that as a sign that Alisaie’s plan has borne fruit. Did you have any better luck finding us a route forward?"
You had taken notes on scraps of paper while talking to the locals. The notes read:
You hand the notes over to Thancred, who says, "So these are our options… well, what do you think?"
You can say:
I said the last line, and Thancred says, "It does seem to be the least risky of our options, and I can’t imagine one gate is enough to thwart you. I’d like to know a bit more before we dash off in search of it, though. Perhaps Zhun Zun can offer some insight."
You return to Zhun Zun, who says, "Oh, valued customers! Were the other Mord of help?"
You adopt your thinking pose, and the other three Scions walk up. Thancred says, "Of a fashion. They told us of a trolley that runs to Nabaath Areng, at least… But am I correct in thinking that there was a reason you did not do so yourself, when first we asked?"
Zhun Zun: "Mm, Yes… The gate, you see. It is impassable. Before, there was a hulking thing of stone—the Talos. It opened the gate, they say. But none operate such a thing now. I do not even know if it yet exists."
Urianger considers this while Thancred gives a shrug. Zhun Zun then turns to you. "I do not know, but… You should travel east to Mount Biran Mines! That is where the trolley controls stand. I still see miners there from time to time. If anyone knows what happened to the Talos…"
Minfilia smiles. "...It would be them! Thank you, you’ve been a great help!"
Thacnred: "We’re off to Mount Biran, then. Let’s hope that someone will be there to answer our questions."
The quest ends.
If you speak with Urianger, he’ll say: "Mayhap the pall of light is the root of this land’s desolation. Or mayhap the fault lies with man and his insatiable greed..."
Speak to Minfilia, who says: "What a sight…" She turns to you. "Oh, pardon me! It’s only… It’s a bit daunting, isn’t it?"
Thancred: "The scale of the track is impressive, I’ll give them that. Now we only need follow it until we come to the mines."
The party moves on, and you follow them. It’s a fair distance to the Mount Biran Mines. When you arrive, there’s an obvious rail yard of trolley tracks.
Minfilia stands a short distance away from Thancred. "This lever can’t have been designed for a person to operate…" she says when you speak to her.
Urianger isn’t in sight, so instead you speak to Thancred, who says: "Bit of a mess, isn’t it? But the mechanisms for dispatching the trolley are here, just as Zhun Zun said. Unfortunately, anyone who might know how to use them is not. We might wait for Zhun Zun’s mysterious miners to appear, or have a look around and see if we can deduce anything useful in their absence. I’m in favor of the latter. Something near the entrance to the mines proper caught Urianger’s eye. Meet us there if you find anything."
You have a look around the rail yard, first examining one of the iron rails. Flecks of rust adorn the rails, but they nevertheless appear sturdy enough to bear the trolley without issue.
Next you examine a trolley car. The benches within suggest that this must have been a passenger car. Oddly enough, though it is clearly old, it appears to be well maintained.
You stop to talk to Thancred again, who says, "As much as I wish we could count on someone conveniently appearing to explain all of this to us, I’m sure you’re aware that we don’t have the time to waste."
You finally go inside a building, and find a conspicuous cup. The cup is slightly warm, and a fair amount of tea—steeped overlong, if the color is any indication—remains within.
Having finished your search, you set off to find Urianger. He’s indeed by the entrance to the mines, where the rails lead off into a darkened tunnel. Upon speaking to him, he says, "Ah, <first name>. What hast thou discerned?"
You relate what you have discovered, and he says, "I see… Indeed, thine observations are consistent with mine own. But let us refrain from further discussion ere our comrades arrive…"
The scene fades out a moment, and when it returns, you’re relaying your findings to Thancred and Minfilia. Thancred says, "Ample evidence of recent maintenace, and lukewarm tea besides…"
Minfilia: "The levers for switching tracks looked like they were in good condition, though I couldn’t move them myself. No ordinary person could, I think…"
Urianger: "It is my belief that no person is meant to." He turns around to look at the man-shaped mechanism sitting in a heap behind him. "This ‘Talos’ beareth more than a passing resemblance to golems of the Source… Nor doth it appear to be the sole example of its kind. The proliferation of Talon fragments, as well as the enormity of the mechanisms here, suggest a considerable number were once in operation. Alas, this specimen and its fellows now lie lifeless and broken, and I know not how to repair them that they might facilitate our passage through the gate. And without the aid of the Talos, even if thou wert somehow able to unbar the trolley’s path, we would still have no means of propelling it."
Thancred: "We might not know how to repair the Talos, but someone must. Otherwise, why keep everything else in working order? Whoever is maintaining the cars and rails must know something that we don’t." He bows his head and closes his eyes a moment, then looks up straight at you. "Let’s ask them what it is, shall we?"
Minfilia takes a step back in alarm, and Urianger shakes his head. Thancred speaks to you: "<first name>, I do believe you’ll find a person of some interest skulking in the shadows behind the warehouses on the northwestern side of the tracks."
You turn your head in that direction, then turn back to look at Thancred and nod.
Thancred looks at Urianger. "While you two have a friendly chat, the rest of us will gently encourage those to the south to come out of hiding. Defend yourself as necessary, of course, but do try to keep everyone in one piece."
Minfilia and Urianger nod in turn, and Thancred says, "Off we go, then!" They ready their weapons and rush off.
You make your way to the warehouses as ordered, and find a Suspicious Man lurking there. You make your presence known, and he says, "Wicked white! Where did you come from? No, never mind that—you have no business here, of that I’m sure!"
He attacks, and you retaliate. Upon his defeat, he says, "<huff> What are you?" (it goes by fast.)
You then go find Thancred and the others. They’re behind a tower, with a Fresh-faced Man and Well-muscled Man kneeling on the ground.
Well-muscled Man: "We… We won’t let you… <wheeze>"
Fresh-faced Man: "That smarts…"
Minfilia: "I feel a bit bad for them…"
Urianger: "They elected to take up arms against us, though the outcome was plain from the first."
Thancred’s got his arms crossed, and has his attention on you, over his shoulder. He says: "Good to hear." He then turns his attention to the men huffing on the ground. "These two weren’t much trouble either. Let’s see what they have to say for themselves."
Well-muscled Man: "Us? We’re not the brigands come to… to take what isn’t ours!"
Thancred: "Do we honestly look like we’d need to steal—what, some rusted bits of iron? Don’t be absurd. We’re not here to rob you."
The men stand. "A likely story," says the Well-muscled Man. "You look, well…"
The camera zooms in on Thancred, who has resting bitch face, then Minfilia, a fist clenched to her chest in worry, then Urianger, who’s just standing there.
Well-muscled Man: "You don’t look normal, that’s for certain. You don’t have any wares, so you’re clearly not merchants. Travelers never pass this way. The only reason you would come all the way out here is to strip the machinery for parts."
Urianger closes his eyes at this, and the camera shifts to the two men. The Fresh-faced Man says, "Oh, Thaffe, I have an idea! What if, once upon a time… A lovely lady of noble birth ventured forth in search of her lost love, joined by her two most loyal servants, sworn to follow her unto world’s end. On their journey, they met a sorcerer, as ancient as time itself. Moved by the lady’s devotion, he offered to be their guide, and they…" He turns his head to look at the party. "...turned up here, somehow!"
Thancred is not amused. "...I can only assume that you’re being intentionally obtuse, but in the unlikely event that that’s a serious conjecture—no. I suppose I am a bodyguard of a sort, but we have rather larger concerns that faerie tale romances."
Urianger looks at Thancred. "Though I would fain here more of this ageless sorcerer and his heroic deeds…" he says.
Thancred shakes his head. "Gods grant me strength…."
Minfilia then says, "Um, if I may—we’re actually searching for a means by which to travel to Nabaath Areng. We were hoping that the trolley here might offer a solution. I realize that we haven’t gotten off to the best of starts, but if you know anything about how we might get it working again…"
Fresh-faced Man: "The trolley?" He looks at his friend.
Well-muscled Man: "The trolley!"
They turn to the party, and the music changes from sinister to friendly. Fresh-faced Man: "You should have led with that! We’re always keen to discuss the trolley! We’re both engineers-in-training, in fact. Jeryk and Thaffe, at your service."
Thaffe: "Technically, I’m a miner, and he does repair work. But our true passion is the trolley."
Jeryk: "We’re working with a few other folks to get it up and running again. And before you ask—yes, it’s true that there’s little in need of transport these days. But that’s no reasons to consign a miracle of mechanical innovation to dust. There mere sight of it traveling the track once again would make hearts soar, mark my words!"
Thaffe nods.
Thancred: "You’ll hear no argument from us. What progress have you made thus far?"
Jeryk crosses his arms. "Not as much as we’d like, truth be told."
Minfilia: "Well, if there anything we could do to assist you? We could gather materials, or help put pieces together…"
Jeryk thinks on this, and Thaffe says: "It’s a sight more complicated than that, I’m afraid. If you spoke with Magnus, you’d understand. He’s the only one with full knowledge of the trolley’s operation. I suppose you could speak with him, if you’d like. We’ll introduce you."
The party turns to you, and you nod. They nod in return. Thancred says, "Very well. Our options are limited, and if this Magnus can explain whatever is preventing the trolley from being restored, I’d like to hear it."
Thaffe nods. "Right. It looks like you’ll be following us back to Twine, then!"
You speak with everyone before setting off.
Minfilia: "A quest for a lost love… Perhaps that could have been me, had things been different."
Urianger: "Dost thou seek the sorcerer’s wisdom, young one?"
Thancred: "<sigh> Come to think of it, Urianger always was fond of faerie tales…"
Jeryk: "To be honest, I’m impressed that you thought of the trolley to begin with. So few seem to, these days. Too used to living without it, I suppose."
Thaffe: "If you’re ready, we can leave right now. Though… you haven’t seen another fellow around here, have you? I thought he’d have come out by now."
You say something to Thaffe, explaining how you beat the guy up, and Thaffe says in response, "You ‘think’ he’ll be all right? That’s, er… Well, I suppose we did force your hand a bit."
Jeryk: "I’ll have a look. Just in case. You go on ahead, Thaffe."
Thaffe: "Alright. Looks like it’ll just be you lot and me, then. Try not to let anything take a bite out of you on the way out of the rail yard."
The party walks off, leaving Jeryk behind. If you speak with Jeryk, he’ll say, "We’ll catch up with you in Twine."
The walk to Twine is not terribly long, but you’ll stop at several locations along the way. At the first stop, Thaffe says, "Damn, that smarts. Did he have to thump me so hard? I’ll be feeling that for the next fortnight at least… Naught to be done about it now, though. I’ve pointed your overeager companions in the right direction and they’ve gone on ahead, so we need to get moving. Normally we walk atop the tracks, but seeing as the young lady has a much shorter stride, that’s more perilous a route than I’m comfortable suggesting. Wouldn’t want anyone falling through the gaps. Of course, the low road presents other dangers, but having been on the receiving end of your friend’s blows, I’m not worried on that account."
He walks off, and you follow.
The next stop occurs just before a bridge over a ravine.
Thaffe: "Wait a moment. I think I hear something… Oh, that’s something, all right! Run!"
He runs off, leaving you to fight a gibbering coyote alone. You dispatch it, and continue on, across the bridge.
You walk on a bit, then find Thaffe in trouble underneath the trolley tracks. A pair of large birds—longneck phorusrhacos—are glaring at him. You defeat them, and then speak with Thaffe.
Thaffe: "Sorry about that. I’ll admit—I didn’t expect this route to be quite so fraught with danger. We’re nearly to Twine, though, so we should make it without further incident."
He walks off again, and you follow once more. A short distance away, you find Twine, a small town of wooden buildings—and an aetheryte! You attune to it, then speak with the party.
Thancred: "Odd to find a place like this still occupied—it must have come dangerously close to being consumed by the Flood."
Urianger: "A testament to man’s resilience, that civilization may yet be found at the very edge of the world…"
Minfilia: "The town is small, but everything in it seems so purposeful. It’s amazing."
Thaffe: "This is it. Welcome to Twine! The original dwellings were built to house those laborers tasked with building the track. Over time miners came to seek their fortunes—and that’s what made the town grow to what you see before you today. But it was still the trolley that brought them here. As you’ve doubtless noticed, the track goes to the very heart of the town. It was the heart of the town, back when the trolley still carried everyone home at the end of each hard day in the mines. Now there is no trolley—nor much work to be had in the minds, for that matter. The only residents that remain are the destitute, the delusional, and those with nowhere else to go. Or so they say."
He pauses a moment, then speaks on. "That should give you some indication of what to expect when you meet Magnus. As I said, it will help you understand why we can’t get the trolley running. Just… don’t expect too much aside from that."
Thaffe walks off, and Thancred says, "Well, that’s encouraging. But I don’t see that we have much choice. Let’s go and meet the man."
The party follows after Thaffe, and so do you. You enter the nearby building, and find yourself in what is obviously a tavern. A few tables are scattered about the room, and a barkeep is standing behind the counter, arms crossed. At the far table sits a man hunched over, with a mess of bottles both upright and laying on their side in front of him.
You speak to Thaffe first, who says, "This is Magnus. He’s our boss, of a fashion."
You then speak to Magnus, and we drop into a cutscene. Magnus looks up as he hears the door open. "Who are you supposed to be?" he says. "Never seen the three of you in my life."
The camera pivots to shows the party—you, Thancred, Minfilia and Urianger—standing and looking at Magnus. Magnus speaks on. "Or the… four of you? Wicked white, it you’re going to bother me, at least have the damned courtesty to stand still!"
There’s a quick cut as the camera focuses on the party. Urianger says, "Methinks this one is deep in his cups." You have a serious look on your face, as you nod in agreement.
The camera shifts back to Thaffe and Magnus. Thaffe says, "These are my guests, Magnus. We ran into them at the mines. They’re looking for a way to reach Nabaath Areng, so they came to ask about the trolley, you see…"
Magnus: "What? There’s nothing in Nabaath Areng. Not anymore." He looks at Minfilia. "And especially not for frail little girls. Give it up."
Minfilia: "...No. We must reach Nabaath Areng. I must."
Magnus: "Bah. So you have your heart set on it—the world doesn’t care. The place is a ruin, nothing more." He shakes his head. "And you’re not getting there in the trolley. The thing doesn’t run on hopes and dreams."
Minfilia takes a step forward, but Thancred begins to speak and she steps back again.
Thancred: "We’re not fools--it’s necessity that drives us to Nabaath Areng. If you insist that the trolley is not an option, at least tell us why."
Magnus: "No. I’m sick of people asking me about the blasted thing. Leave me be." He stares forward, at nothing. The camera switches back to the party. You turn your head as Thancred says, "...We’ll speak outside." Thancred and Urianger leave. You look at Minfilia a moment, and she turns and leaves too. You follow them outside, then speak to each of them in turn.
Urianger: "I sense there is more to this belligerent drunk and his tale…"
Thancred: "Stubborn arse."
Minfilia: "He only said that because… because he thinks I’m weak. And he’s right. But I can’t be—I won’t be forever. There has to be some way… I must find it." After a moment, you speak with Minfilia again. "Oh! I’m sorry. I was… stuck in my own head again. It’s clear that Magnus has no intention of helping us, but perhaps we should ask the other residents? They may know something of the trolley. I’ll take the north side of town. Let me know if you learn anything!"
She runs off, and Urianger turns to Thancred. "Thancred, art thou truly content to stand witness to fate’s course and take no part?"
Thancred: "This isn’t a matter of fate, Urianger. It’s about choice. And I’ve had years to decide where I stand. Minfilia has spent too long in chains already. I would not shackle her again by making my hopes known. It is for her to choose what shape her destiny will take. It is for me to stay silent. To protect her, teach her, and stand by her. That, at least, I can do for her." Thancred walks off, and Urainger turns to you. "...So be it," Urianger says. "Come, let us make our own inquiries."
You find Jeryk standing next to a small building. "Oh, there you are!" He says as you speak to him. "You’ll be pleased to know that I got our friend back home with no trouble, and he’s just fine. He was a bit shaken up, is all. And you? What did Magnus have to say?"
You relate the conversation with Magnus, and Jeryk says, "Ah. I did have a faint hope that your need might prompt him to action where our interest has not, but I suppose that was foolish of me. I am sorry that we couldn’t be of help, though. I could at least show you the trolley car we have here, if you like? You could give it a stroke or two—it has some very smooth wood…"
The scene was too dark in the shadows of the building to see, but I think you shake your head here, because Jeryk goes on to say, "You mean to say you’re not giving up? Even knowing that Magnus is… Magnus? I don’t see much point in your being stubborn about it. Though… perhaps stubbornness is exactly what this calls for. Can’t forge iron without an anvil, after all. I can’t imagine that anything you try will work. But if you’re certain, you can help me make preparations in the event that it does! To that end—take this toolbox. We’re going to inspect the rails! I’ll have a look along the tracks for anything that’s in need of repair. You bring the tools, and be ready to hand them to me whenever I stop to work.
He runs off, and you follow him up the tracks. You find him a short distance from Twine, examining the tracks. "This spot looks like it could use a bit of work," he says. "Can you ready the tools for me?"
You open the box, revealing the proud array of lovingly maintained tools within.
Jeryk: "Brilliant! Now, if you could hand me what I need as I work, that would be a help."
There’s sort of a mini-game here as you have to choose which tool to give him. I’m not going to bother to transcribe it all. You stop twice to give him the tools, then he says something about being finished… unless you want to stop and admire the view?
The scene shifts to pan over the tracks as Jeryk speaks. "Mining has always been the primary vocation of folks in the Hills of Amber, you see. But after a certain point, they had dug up everything that could easily be reached and carried back by manpower alone. It was then that the Nabaath Empire struck upon the idea of the Talos, which they had seen at work abroad. At great expense, the Nabaath brought the Mystel engineers who specialized in Talos here, to the Hills. And wouldn’t you know it, the mining industry picked right up again."
The camera now pans over Twine as Jeryk continues speaking. "Twine itself sprung up around that time, as a matter of fact. It was named after the ‘entwining of tails’—the fruitful cooperation between the native Ronso and the newly come Mystel. But that, like so much else, fell apart in the wake of the Flood. The Mystel left, taking their knowledge with them. It was fifteen years ago that the last of them, the folks from Daedalus Stoneworks, took off for Eulmore. And now no one remains that can repair and operate the Talos. But there’s no use in lamenting what can’t be changed."
He speaks on. "And there’s one more thing we need to do while we’re out here, so we might as well get to it. Vultures occasionally make their nests on the tracks, you see, and if falls to us to remove them when they do. The creatures are angry when disturbed—which is natural, but nevertheless a danger to anyone passing by. It’s not my favorite task, to be honest with you. As you may have noticed, I’m not terribly suited to confrontation. That said—would you follow the tracks north and remove any nests you find for me? I’ll keep on eye on things from here."
You remove three nests on the tracks leading back to Mount Biran Mines, dispatching the angry Vultures that appear when you do so, then return back to Jeryk.
Jeryk: "Thank you. That should be everything taken care of. In return for your help, I’ll tell you a bit more about the trolley. Nothing that can get it started again, though--as I said, the only people who knew how to repair the Talos are long gone. When they left, the life began to bleed out of the town. The trolley’s tracks rusted, and its cars fell into disrepair. Now, I was born in Twine, raised there—my first word was ‘trolley,’ dammit—and those were the worst years of my life. But then, about seven years past, Magnus and his wife returned to us. Magnus is a real, proper trolley engineer, and perhaps he would never have left in the first place—if it hadn’t been for his son. As you’re well aware, Amh Araeng is hardly the safest place, and Magnus wanted his child to grow up away from its dangers. It didn’t help, in the end. The sin eaters got the boy. Isn’t that always the way? The child had always said that someday, he wanted to see Magnus’s trolley running again—so in his memory, they returned to Twine. Started fixing those rusted rails and broken cars. And it was going well, for a time…"
He stops as you hear the sound of a bird call. "Wicked white, vultures? Are they back for revenge? Never mind, I don’t want to find out!" He runs off back towards Twine. You follow him back to town, and upon speaking to him, he says, "Ahem. Nice work out there. And now you know the story of the trolley. Won’t do you much good without the Talos, though. If there was even a single one that still functioned, things might be different, but… well, here we are."
After a moment, you speak with Jeryk again, who says, "Not that it’ll do you any good, but we do have a Talos we’ve been meaning to repair. I can show you if you’d like. It’d certainly be nice to hear something other than Magnus’s griping for a change."
He walks off, and you follow. You find the Unrepaired Talos in a heap under the watchtower. Jeryk is there, along with Urianger who is staring at the Talos intently.
Jeryk: "Looks like someone’s already beat us here, but please—look about as much as you like."
Urianger: "Thou art come to examine the Talos?"
You examine the Talos and the camera drops into a cutscene. It shows the Talos kneeling on the ground, head bent. Urianger says, "Truly a most vexing state of affairs. I thought mayhap a closer examination might yield something of value…"
You turn to Urianger and relay the conversation you had with Jeryk about the Talos. Urianger then says, "I see. The means to build Talos stone by stone are lost to us, ‘tis true, but here before us slumbers a most fine specimen. Indeed, were it not for a few minor failings it would be in working condition. ‘Twill likely require naught but a few modest repairs and a suffusion of aether."
Jeryk reacts with surprise at this, and runs towards Urianger. "Well, if you think you can get the thing up and running, far be it from me to stop you. But, what exactly do you reckon is the problem?"
Urianger turns to Jeryk, then looks over his own shoulder back at the Talos. "I should stress that I have performed only the most cursory of examinations, though such arcane constructs are not wholly unfamiliar to me. As I did suspect from the first, it is host to a network of veins through which aether floweth freely." He turns back to Jeryk. "Or so it would, were it not for several fractures which now impede said flow."
Jeryk: "How in the hells did you get all that from just a glance? I take it you’ve thought up a solution as well, then?"
Urianger: "To bridge these fissures requireth a material highly conductive to aether. Once in place, I believe it will be possible to restore the Talos to life."
Urianger then turns to you. "Might I prevail upon thee to acquire that which we require? Not far beyond the walls of Twine dwelleth a creature of living stone—the debitage. Full sure am I that stone from such a being would prove most suitable to our needs."
You nod and give your classic "Let me at it!" gesture. Urianger then says, "Very good. I shall have Thancred and Minfilia attend me in the remaining preparations. I spied but three obstructions to the flow of aether in the Talos, and thus would I ask you provide three stones of the debitage. All else will be made ready upon thy return."
Jeryk jumps for joy, and the cutscene ends.
You speak with the two before going about your task. Jeryk says, "Wish we had a mage like him around sooner. As you might imagine, we’ve had trouble convincing people to come here to help. They either refuse outright or demand payment far beyond anything we could hope to afford. It’s why we’ve made such little progress in repairing the Talos. We’ve pored over every scrap of paper left behind by Daedalus Stoneworks hoping we might learn how it’s done, but there just isn’t enough."
Urianger: "Worry not, <first name>. Preparations here will be complete ere long."
Right outside Twine’s entrance are the stone debitages you seek. You quickly dispatch three of them, then return to Urianger.
Urianger: "Thancred and Minfilia will return ere long with the remaining supplies we require. Didst thou succeed in procuring stone from the debitage?"
You hand them over. Urianger then says, "Fine specimens one and all. You have my thanks. We need now but wait for Thancred and Minfilia’s return."
The camera drops into cutscene, showing the entire party and Jeryk in front of the Talos. Urianger is working on it. He turns and says, "From end to end, the paths by which aether may flow through the Talos have been duly mended." He turns back to the Talos. "They but require a sufficient enduement."
He holds out his hand, infusing the Talos with aether. The camera focuses on Thancred, who crosses his arms a moment, then uncrosses them and says, "It’s… not moving."
Urianger: "Strange… The core refuseth to stir. I fear the condition of this Talos is more dire than I previously surmised. As a heart driveth blood through a man’s veins, so doth the core aether throughout this massive frame. Failing its repair or replacement, the Talos cannot be restored."
Jeryk says, "So it was the heart after all.."
Urianger: "Thou didst foresee this outcome?"
Jeryk: "Well, no. Not exactly. We’d never gotten this far in trying to repair it, so we had no way of knowing the heart was the real problem. We tried to find another. In case things turned out as they are now, but…"
He looks upset, and bows his head.
Minfilia: "...Jeryk?"
Jeryk: "This isn’t really my story to share."
Minfilia takes a step, and says, "Please, Jeryk. If something went wrong, maybe we can help."
Jeryk looks up, and glances around at the party, who’s all looking at him intently. He reacts with surprise. "All right, all right. After all you lot have done for me, I suppose it’s the least I can do."
The cutscene ends, as does the current quest. You speak with the party before addressing Jeryk again.
Urianger: "Though the Talos yet wants for a beating heart, it would appear thine efforts were not for naught."
Thancred: "What could be so terrible he’d want to keep it from us?"
Minfilia: "I hope Jeryk doesn’t get in trouble for telling us what happened."
You then speak to Jeryk, who says, "Right, then. The Talos… their hearts cannot be made of just any stone. You need a special sort with sufficient aetherial conductivity. Both it and the other materials used in the construction of Talos bodies are mined in the same place… That place, of course, being here. The Hills of Amber… And it was three years ago when… when she…"
He pauses, then speaks again. "No, no I can’t. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to hear it from Thaffe or someone else." He runs off.
Thancred: "<sigh> Back to the tavern, then."
You speak to the trio before heading back to the tavern.
Minfilia: "This is all my fault. I never should have pressured him.
Thancred: "You don’t suppose Thaffe is going to run off too, do you?"
Urianger has his eyes fixed on the Talos. When you speak to him, he says, "What terrible tragedy befell him years ago, I wonder…"
You then head to the tavern, where you find Thaffe still standing next to the table where Magnus had been drinking… but Magnus is no where to be found.
Thaffe: "Still here, eh? You can ask again, but the answer’s the same. Our trolleys are—"
You interrupt him and explain the situation. He responds, "What!!? Godsdammit Jeryk. You could’ve at least finished so I wouldn’t have to clean up your mess. Seeing how you made such quick progress in fixing that Talos and all, he was probably thinking you could help change things around here. And I think he may be right… Gather your friends, and I’ll tell you what you want to know."
The scene drops back into cutscene, the party standing and listening to Thaffe. Thaffe has his arms crossed, eyes downcast. After a moment he uncrosses his arms and looks up, speaking.
Thaffe: "Magnus’s wife was a miner, you know. Greatest prospector there ever was. When the golem hearts started failing, she was the first to head out in search of more. Problem was, most of the veins ran dry ages ago, and finding fresh ones to tap’s only gotten harder. But she wasn’t one to be deterred. She just kept digging deeper and deeper. And then the mine collapsed. We labored day and night to clear away the rubble, but it took us two months to find her… …To find her body. Magnus has never been the same since."
Minfilia looks up at this, then bows her head. Thancred looks around the room they are in.
Thancred: "Where is he, if you don't mind my asking?"
Thaffe: "Ah, yes, well… if he’s not here, there’s only one other place he’d be."
The scene shifts to outdoors. The party is slowly walking towards the small graveyard in the town. Magnus is sitting in front of a grave, drinking from a bottle of wine. He looks up as Thancred draws near.
Magnus: "What? Oh… You again. How many times must I tell you—the trolley won't run! We’d be better off dismantling the damn thing and selling the parts for scrap. Now piss off back to wherever you came from, and don’t let me catch you around here again."
Thancred: "...What were their names?"
Magnus lifts his head a bit. "My son was named Skuli. My wife, Agna." He looks down at the bottle in his hand. "Being here with them… it beats going home. Home stopped being home when I lost them. I thought to try and drown my sorrows...but somehow… the bottle’s never deep enough."
Thancred: "No bottle is. Believe me—I know."
Magnus: "You’ve lost someone too?"
Thancred: "Not like you. Not my own flesh and blood,. I grew up an orphan, so I never really knew what family meant." He looks up to the sky. "Not until I met a man who offered to take me in and make me his pupil. He was a kindly soul. Always looking out for me, like a father. Not that I appreciated that at the time, or anything else for that matter…"
The scene shits to to a glimpse of the wild goobbue attack in Ul’dah that killed Minfilia’s father.
Thancred: "But I finally had a family. And then…. And then I robbed a young girl of hers. I did my best to make amends, to offer her comfort. But the more I look back on it, the more I realized just how inadequate my efforts were. I let her down. That is why I refuse to let her legacy die." He closes his eyes a second, and his when he opens then, they shift to look out the corner of his eyes, at the young Minfilia. "In the end, all we can do is press on. For those we have lost. For those we can yet save. And that requires your Talos. Please, Magnus. You are our only hope of reaching Nabaath Areng."
Magnus: "...What rubbish."
Thancred turns and walks back to the rest of the group. As he reaches them, Minfilia speaks. "She’s not gone. No matter what you say or believe, she’s not."
Thancred looks at her then approaches her slowly. Minfilia has her head bowed, but then she looks up at him. "We can still bring her back," she says.
She bows her head again. Thancred steps in front of her, and puts a hand on top of her head. She reacts with surprise, and then Thancred walks off. The scene ends.
You walk to Magnus and speak to him, but he only says, "If not for those damned Talos, she’d… she’d…"
You then return to Thaffe, Minfilia and Urianger. You speak to Thaffe, who says, "I wish there was more we could do for you, I truly do. But after Agna’s accident, no one is allowed near those mines."
Minfilia: "Why must he always treat me like this…"
Urianger: "Full well do I know the pain of loss and how heavily it can weigh on one’s heart. Nevertheless, there is but one way forward. We must needs procure a new heart for the Talos." He turns to Thaffe. "Thaffe. Knowest thou any location wherein we might find the stone we require? No matter how scant the possibility, we would seize it."
Thaffe: "I told you near all of the veins were tapped dry years ago. ...Though I suppose, if you really wanted to try, you may find something at Nuvy’s Leavings. It was opened well before Talos became commonplace, which is why the mining there was never quite as deep. When you get there, look for Guthjon and tell him I sent you. But don’t be surprised if he tells you the same thing."
Urianger: "Thine assistance is most appreciated." Urianger turns to you. "<first name> I think it best Thancred join thee in this search. Though he wouldst be quick to deny it, his heart is in turmoil, and his thoughts clouded. ‘Twould be unwise to ignore his distress."
You speak to Thaffe one more time, who says, "Guthjon has worked in these mines longer than near anyone I know. You’d do well to heed his advice in there."
So you take off to find Thancred, and find him leaning against one of the supports of the town’s wooden fence. "Off to somewhere, are you?" he says as you approach. You explain the situation, and he responds, "At least, a lead on the stone we need to power the Talos. I can’t very well have you go on your own. Lead the way. I’d say we’re long overdue for a good turn. I can only hope the gods feel the same way. Now, Nuvy’s Leavings was to the south, was it? Let’s get going." He walks off.
You follow, and find him standing outside the mine, peering in. "The way you described it, I was expecting the place to be abandoned. Perhaps our fortunes are finally improving. Though we should probably hear what Guthjon has to say before we celebrate—assuming we can find him, that is…"
Thancred enters the mine, and you follow. You find him a few chambers in, standing before Guthjon. "Is this our man?" Thancred asks when you approach.
Guthjob’s had his back turned to you. He turns now and says, "Hm? Who are you, and what are you doing in here?"
You explain, and he responds, "Well, you should have listened to Thaffe. You’re wasting your time."
Thancred: "But this site is not as developed as the others, is it not? Surely there must be something left."
Guthjon turns to Thancred. "I should explain. The stone you’re looking for is leonine. All the Talos in the Hills of Amber are powered using them. Or were, at least. Anyway, whatever’s left—it anything—is too far below to be safely excavated. In the deepest reaches of the mine, we used Talos to keep the pathways from collapsing. They’re still there, but they could give out at any time, which is why much of the mine is closed off."
Thancred: "Then our only option is to search the higher levels for any fragments of leonine that may have been overlooked."
Guthjom: "Hmm… I suppose there may be one other way,"
Thancred takes a step forward. "Well? Don’t leave us in suspense."
Guthjon: "What you’re asking for is a trade secret. I’ll need to be duly compensated in exchange."
Thancred: "<sigh> Fine. What do you want?"
Guthjon: "The other day I found a Voeburt gold piece down in the mines. A bloody Voeburt gold piece! And wouldn’t you know it, I dropped the damned thing somewhere while I was working. Find it, and I’ll tell you what you want to know."
Thancred: "You drive a hard bargain, sir, but we’ll take it." Thancred turns to you. "It seems we have our work cut out for us, <first name>. Thankfully, I have an idea for how we might hurry things along."
You question Thancred, who says, "As I’m sure you’ve noticed, despite their best effort to illuminate the corridors, it’s rather dark in here. Meaning it will be that much harder to find a single coin hiding in the shadows. That’s why I propose we use these—sundrops. They help the eye take in more light. Why don’t you start your search further in, and I handle this area here? I’ll retrace your steps after in case you happen to miss it. If you feel the drops’ efforts wearing off, I can give you more, so don’t worry,"
You venture deep in the mines, examining all dark shadows you see. The third such shadow is at a dead end. As you search the shadows, a glint catches your eye. You turn over a rock and find the Voeburt gold piece!
You return to Thancred and speak to him. He says, "I was hoping he dropped the gold piece somewhere closer to the entrance. More fool me for thinking Lady Luck was on our side…"
You hand over the gold piece, and Thancred says, "...Or maybe she is. Yours at least. In the end, my contribution was little more than poor company."
You have your choice of saying:
I said the first line.
Thancred: "So you say, but you have a proven knack for success regardless of circumstances. I doubt very much I could’ve discovered it unassisted." He continues on. "I only managed to survive the Coerthan wilderness and the imperial capital by virtue of extensive preparation—a habit of mine since childhood, and one of my few positive traits which endeared me to Louisoix, I imagine. It hasn’t been easy finding ways to compensate for my… condition. Every tool and trinket has proven vital to my continued success—such as it is. Had I chosen to pursue the arcane arts rather than espionage, well... I’d rather not think on it. So long as I have the means to protect those dear to me, and to see my duties through, that’s all that matters. Now let’s hurry and see that returned to Guthjon. The sooner we get back to Urianger and Minfilia, the better."
You speak with Guthjon, who says, "You’re back. Wait, does that mean…?" You hand over the gold piece. "I’ll be damned. You actually found it!" he says. "Well, a deal’s a deal. But don’t think this means you’ll find what you’re after." He pauses a moment. "To be honest, I wasn’t sure you could pull it off. But you did, and I’m a man of my word. Come with me."
You follow him out of the mine, and find him standing near a group of small crates which act as a makeshift table. As you speak with him, the camera drops into a cutscene, first focused on the brilliantly light sky. The camera pans down to the three of you.
Guthjon: "<sigh> Every time I step out of those mines the sky seems to get brighter. I’d never leave them if the air weren’t so stale…" He turns to you. "But you’re not come to hear my grievances. You’re after leonine. First, I have to ask—you ever heard of rockworms?"
Thancred: "Rockworms? I know them by another name, though I’m fairly certain the locals call them knockers."
Guthjon: "Aye, that they do. Whatever you want to call them, those little bastards may be the answer to your troubles. They can fit through cracks and crevices down where we could never hope to reach. And, on occasion, they come back with something valuable."
You and Thancred both react in surprise. Thancred takes a step forward. "They dig up leonine in the mines?"
Guthjon: "It’s a rare occurrence, but yes. That said, it usually amounts to no more than a few flakes."
Thancred: "Well our only other option sounds tantamount to suicide. So how can we draw out these rockworms?"
Guthjon turns and points at something in the distance. "Over by that shack, you’ll find a bag full of smoke bombs. Set off a few in the mines and you’ll flush them out in no time. Once they’re out in the open, knock ‘em senseless and check their backs." He turns back to you. "I should warn you this method of mining, if you can even call it that, is used as a last resort on account of what little they’re like to bring back. You’ll want to cover as much ground as you can if you hope to find anything of value. Assuming you do find something, bring it here and I’ll have a look."
Thancred: "We should split up if we’re to cover more ground as he suggests. If you can cover these three areas on your map, I’ll see to the parts between them." He hands over a map, then saunters off.
You go to the small shack and pick up the smoke bombs, then make your way back into the mine. At each of the three locations Thancred marked, you insert a smoke bomb into a crevice and set it off. After setting the last smoke bomb, you hear a rumble. Investigating some nearby rubble yields the discovery of some knockers! Seven times, you examine rumble and knock out a trio of knockers at each location.
Your job done, you return to Thancred and Guthjon outside. Speak to Thancred and he says, "I found my fair share of rocks. Hopefully there’s leonine among them."
You turn to Guthjon, who says, "There you are. Find anything promising?" You turn over the seven glittering rocks you found. "Between the two of you I’d say you’ve got quite the haul," Guthjon says. "Best get comfortable, friends. It’s going to take time for me to sift through all this."
The scene drops into a cutscene again, showing Guthjon examining the rocks. He nods. The camera them shows you and Thancred a short distance away, watching. The camera shifts to behind Thancred, looking over his shoulder as Thancred ponders the mine entrance. "You may not remember this about our Minfilia…" he starts.
You turn your head to look at Thancred, who’s still considering the mine. "But prior to founding the Path of the Twelve, long before the Scions, she was something of a miner." He finally turns to look at you, but he’s not smiling. "After her father died, F’lhaminn took her in and taught her the trade. I think they were both seeking to fill the voice left by a loved one. Maybe that’s why she took to it so readily."
He finally closes his eyes, smiles, and looks up at the sky as he continues. "Back in those days, I spent most of my time in the Quicksand or some other tavern, loosening tongues and gathering secrets. Occasionally, I’d catch a glimpse of her in the street, on her way home after another hard day’s work. I always felt a relief when I saw she’d come back safe… along with a pang of guilt at the fact I wasn’t there to support her as I should’ve been. Simply speaking with her more than once in a blue moon would’ve been a good start, but I could never bring myself to do it. Instead, I threw myself into my ‘work’ and became every drunkard’s best friend.
The camera switches to you as you shift to turn fully towards Thancred. You can say one of two lines:
I said the second one.
Thancred: "Far from it—and F’lhaminn has never let me live it down."
His smile drops and he turns serious as he looks to the horizon again. "But that was a lifetime ago. Here and now I have another chance to do things right, and I will not squander it again."
Thancred still has his eyes on the sky when Guthjon calls out. "Hey! Come and see what I’ve found! You’re not going to believe this!"
The two of you rush to Guthjon’s side. "Tell me it’s leonine," Thancred says, his face still set in a serious manner.
Guthjon nods. "It is, at that! You lot were born lucky. It’s mostly broken pieces—but look at this!"
He hands over a large rock to Thancred, whose voice lightens a bit as he says, "This is a rather fine specimen," though he still has that serious look on his face.
Guthjon: "It’s been decades since we’ve found anything approaching this big! But that’s not all—there’s an engraving on it."
You both look intently at the rock. Thancred has it up close to his face. "Ah, these scratches here? They’re a little hard to make out."
The camera shifts to the rock in Thancred’s hand, where indeed a series of scratches are on the rock. Thancred reads them aloud. "’To my beloved Magnus and Skuli.’" He looks up, shocked, and you as well turn to look at Guthjon with surprise.
Guthjon: "Yes! Do you see!? It was a gift to Magnus from his wife! She found it. She really found it. She must’ve spent her final hours carving this message into the stone, in the hope that he might see it one day. Those rock-backed bastards must’ve made off with it before we could clear a path to her." He bows his head a moment. "It’s fate that brought you here to find this stone. No other explanation. Makes me wonder what else might still be buried in these parts."
You smile, and both you and Thancred turn to look at the mine as the camera sweeps over it. The cutscene ends.
You speak with Thancred, who says, "I had hoped we would fine leonine, but to find that particular specimen is nothing short of a miracle."
Guthjon: "I wouldn’t believe it had I not seen it for myself. Before you set it in the Talos, would you take it to Magnus? For three long years he’s believed she died for nothing. He must know the truth—that her sacrifice was not in vain."
Thancred: "We’ll take it straight to him. You have my word. Thank you, Guthjon, for all your help." Thancred turns to you. "Right, then. Let’s not keep everyone waiting.
You hurry back to Twine, where you find Magnus still sitting dejectedly in front of the grave. Thancred stands next to him. "Gods. What do we say?" Thancred says as you approach.
As you speak to Magnus, it drops into cutscene again. Magnus looks up at Thancred. "...What? Oh, it’s you. If you’ve come to complain about the trolley, you’ll find no sympathy from me. I told you before it won’t run, and you wouldn’t listen."
Thancred: "Oh, but it will. Now that we have this." Thancred holds out the stone. "Your name is engraved on it, along with your son’s. It was a gift from your wife, Magnus. From Agna."
Magnus stands and takes the stone, lifting it up to peer at it. "No… No, she couldn’t have… Agna…" He drops his hand, then his head, then holds the stone back out to Thancred. "Take it. Do with it what you will."
Thancred takes it back. "Are you certain? It would delay our plans, but—"
Magnus shakes his head. "I said take it. It was you who found it, you who needs it. Looking at that stone, all I can see is… is…" He turns and sits back down. "Please, just leave me be."
Thancred: "I hope you’re be there when the Talos stirs to life. I’m sure she’d want you to see it."
Magnus moves his head slightly, but doesn’t say anything.
Thancred turns to you, holding out the stone. "Would you do the honors of delivering this to Urianger?"
You nod and take it. Thancred walks off.
You return to the unrepaired Talos, and find Thancred there with the others. You speak with each of them in turn.
Minfilia: "Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. By the sounds of it, you have a knack for handling strange requests. On the bright side, Urianger taught me a lot about the Talos and their hearts. I think I can help if they need further repairs."
Thancred; "Finally we can move on the Nabaath Araeng. Assuming this works, of course."
Jeryk, shouting: "You found leonine? Truly? Then what are we waiting for—let’s get that trolley moving!"
Thaffe: "You what!? By the gods, I didn’t think it possible."
Urianger: "Thou art returned, and with leonine it would seem. As promised, the Talos hath been made ready to receive its heart, thanks in no small part to Jeryk, Thaffe, and Minfilia. At last we shall return time to the timeless, this sentinel of stone, that we may press on towards Nabaath Araeng."
You hand over the leonine. Urianger takes it. "Very good. Now, let us begin," he says.
A voiced cutscene starts. Urianger says, "Preparations for the enchantment are complete. When the heart hath been suffused with a sufficient quantity of aether, the golem should be restored to life."
Urianger turns to Thaffe and Jeryk. Thaffe says, "All right then. Whenever you’re ready." Jeryk nods.
Urianger nods, and turns back to the Talos. He closes his eyes a moment, then suffuses the Talos with aether. The Talos’s eyes begin to glow. Jeryk and Thaffe react with surprise. The Talos slowly stands. "It’s working! It’s working!" Thaffe says.
The scene shifts to slightly outside the watchtower. You see a foot take a step, and the camera pans up to show Magnus, a look of wonderment on his face.
Thaffe turns to the sound of the footstep. "M...Magnus." he says.
Magnus slowly walks up to the Talos, which is standing at attention, dipping its knees a bit in rhythm. Magnus looks up at it. "You left me for this..this wretched heap of stone and rubble…" He drops his wine bottle and steps closer to the Talos. He leans forward, placing his forehead on the Talos’ chest, and punches it with his left fist. "This worthless pile of earth. And yet… I can’t… I can’t…"
Magnus has his eyes closed. The camera flashes to Thaffe and Jeryk. Then the camera focues on Minfilia, who bows her head, then runs off, upset. Urainger watches her go.
The scene shifts to show Minfilia sitting on one of the town’s cliffs, legs drawn up and hands clenched on her knees. Urianger slowly walks up to her. "What troubleth thee, child?" he asks.
Minfilia: "I shouldn’t be here. I don’t deserve to be. I don’t deserve any of the things you’ve done for me! I’m just a burden, helpless and hopeless. If tomorrow came and I was gone, it would be better for everyone!"
Urianger kneels next to her as she continues. "Thancred most of all. He’ll never admit it, but I can see it in his eyes…" She closes her eyes and speaks yet more, obviously upset. "I wish he’d just say it—just say that he hates me! That he wishes I was dead so that she could return…"
Urianger places his hand on Minfilia’s head. "None of this is thy doing, child. ‘Twas I who set the Oracle on her path unto the First. I who condemned you all to suffer these torments. ‘Tis my sin alone, and one that will haunt me unto my dying day." He removes his hand from her head and looks out over the hills of Amber. "Yet I dare not dwell overlong on my many regrets, for the world is a tapestry of fates, interwoven and inseparable, and we who strive to better it cannot choose but make difficult decisions. For naught of worth was ever achieved without sacrifice. And thus must man ever struggle to weigh life against loss."
Minfilia looks up at Urianger, who’s still looking out over the hills. Urianger continues: "The one for whom thou mournest beareth no grudge." He finally turns to look down at Minfilia again. "Where she here, she would not suffer thee to languish in sorrow. She would tell thee to seek thine own path, thine own purpose." His eyebrows lift in a slight sadness. "It is a truth which I myself was slow to learn. Yet a truth it remaineth." He places a hand back on her head. "Thou needst but have faith. Have faith and all will be well."
Minfilia’s lips part a bit as she takes this all in. Urianger drops his hand. The scene shifts to you and Thancred in the shadows nearby, watching.
You can say:
I said the first line.
Thancred: "Not today." he says, his eyes on Minfilia. The camera pans up over the windmill, and the scene ends.
Meanwhile, in the Crystarium…
The Crystal Exarch stands at the portal in his chamber, watching the Talos come alive in the Hills. The door opens and Emet-Selch walks in.
The Exarch does not turn. "To what do I owe the pleasure that is your extended stay?"
Emet-Selch: "Oh, to the tediousness of our heroes’ present endeavors. That, and the insufferable abundance of Light in Amh Araeng. I should be glad to keep my distance." He yawns and stretches. "I’m rather fond of sleep, you know. Wonderful way to pass the time. Not that my compeers would agree, mind you. Always on the move, the lot of them. Like Lahabrea, constantly jumping from vessel to vessel. Such fire, such determination! So much passion, fleeting and forgotten…"
The Exarch turns his head slightly, but does not speak.
Emet-Selch then questions the Exarch. "Come to think of it, Exarch, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you retire to your chambers for so much as forty winks. However do you keep your eyes from closing?"
The camera shifts back to show the Exarch, still staring at the portal. He says nothing. We see Emet-Selch over his shoulder.
"The cold shoulder," Emet-Selch says. "You wound me, sir. Always so guarded in our every interaction—interactions you curiously refrain from sharing with the Scions and their champion…"
The Exarch finally speaks, but does not turn. "And risk souring your budding relationship? I think not. Much as I dislike you, there are more useful targets for her energies. And I am not in the habit of pointing her at my enemies like a weapon."
Emet-Selch: "Is that right? Fond of her, are you?" He bows his head, eyes closing, then opens them again but does not fully lift his head. "You continue to fascinate me, Exarch. But tell me: who are you?"
The camera slowly moves so the Exarch is centered in the scene and we can no longer see Emet-Selch over his shoulder. The Exarch remains silent.
The camera spins around Emet-Selch, who has his hands outstretched as he speaks. "The once-great nation whose ingenuity gave birth to this tower was shaped by my hand. As such, I know full well the wonders it can facilitate...and those it cannot." He drops his hands. "There is nothing in these walls which could have aided you in summoning our dear friend across time and space. Much less in possession of her mortal flesh! Not even I could have performed such a feat."
The camera switches back to the view of the Exarch in foreground, Emet-Selch in background over his shoulder. "I see…" says the Exarch. "You had a hand in Allag as well." He finally turns to Emet-Selch. "You would know what I am? I am the adjudicator of the sacred history with which you dared trifle. I am keeper of this tower’s boundless wisdom. The wisdom of ages without age. Of everywhere and nowhere. The great work of those who tamed the wings of time, and grasped the nature of the rift. ‘Tis a boon born of sacrifices yet unmade… The parting gift of brave heroes who will one day give their lives for a brighter future."
The camera had panned up to the ceiling. It now switches to a point at the Exarch’s feet, looking up at him. Behind him is the scene in Twine, Magnus still standing in front of the Talos as Urianger looks on. The Exarch speaks again. "I will not see their hopes and dreams squandered. The history which led us here will be unwritten. I promise you that."
The camera flashes to Emet-Selch, his eyes opening, a look of pain on his face. The camera flashes back to the Exarch, who gives a brief half-smile.
Once more, the camera focuses on Emet-Selch. "Well, it seems we are both eager to fulfill our duties, then."
Exarch: "On that much we are in agreement." The Exarch turns to look at the portal again, and the scene ends.
The scene shifts back to Twine. You speak with Minfilia, who responds, "<sniff> I’m fine. Really. It’s just been a long day."
Thancred is leaning against a staircase behind Minfilia. "I only want what’s best for her. If only she could see that…" he says.
Urianger: "Mine apologies for the delay. Minfilia and I had a private matter to discuss. Which bringeth me to the question—how didst thou find Thancred during your search?"
You explain, and Urianger reponds, "He spoke of Minfilia? Of his own accord? I see… ‘Tis well that he did, and with such candor. I attempted to broach the subject before. Mine intention was to ensure no words remained unspoken between them, lest tragedy intercede. A regret I myself know all too well. Alas, in the end he refused to heed my counsel. A time will come when they must face the reality of their circumstances. But I have faith that all will be well in time… Now, let us not tarry any longer. The Talos and Nabaath Areng await."