Part 70: Airship Sidequesting, Part 2

More sidequesting! If we stay at Ehmead we can find another event by the broken blastia.






Yep, that's right.



That's right.
So in other words, you did it to save the world from harm?
I don't mind if you think of it that way.
...Something about that just doesn't make sense to me. Why not just take down that Hermes guy who was making the blastia? Either that, or tell a mage about it, or something...
...I was putting my life on the line to put a stop to rogue blastia that were causing strange effects on the world's aer... No one would believe a crazy story like that.
! If you had only told me...!
You think you could have done something about all of the hermes blastia in the world, when you don't even know how many there are? I'm sure that you may have been able to stop one or two of them, with enough trying. But you would surely die before you had managed to take care of all of them.
...
Since you were with Ba'ul, there was something you could do about the blastia going out of control. Is that what you mean, Judy?



But...
You think we might be able to go by Aspio the next time we get some free time?
Why bring that up all of the sudden?
It's about the hermes blastia. There's something I'd like to investigate a bit.
...But you see...
Yeah, you'd like to go back home, wouldn't you, Rita?
Not particularly...
All right, let's stop by there when we have some time.


Well, we have all the time in the world, so...






So we should just look for the right bookshelf?
Yes, please.

...



Hey, it's Ifmunft Nepmayjup's "Discourses on Aer!"

That is a really terrible name. Don't ask me how you're supposed to pronounce it.

What? You've heard of this book before?
This book used to be in my house. I think it may've belonged to the person who lived there before me.
...I see... Yes, I see...



I ended up giving it to the first person who showed any interest in it.



What?! Really?!
...So that means Hermes used to live in Aspio?
That's what it would mean, yes.
Keeping something important like that from us yet again...
I'm sorry. I wasn't entirely sure of it until now.
*Sigh* ...Well, whatever.
What...is all this? I can't understand any of it at all...



It looks like he just wrote letters at random...
It's all in code. I thought about trying to figure it out a few times, but... This annoying type of writing is often used for taking down personal memos and the like. But not for research papers. And look at the front of the book.
It says, "I dedicate this to my daughter."



I never felt up to trying to read it.
...Do you think this could've been his way of giving a challenge to his daughter...?
Yes, I think it was.
I see... What a ridiculous, foolish researcher. He didn't even know what the blastia he'd created were capable of.
Yeah...
That's it... I'm going to take this book and decode it!
Wait... C-can you really do that...?
No, I think that's best. We went to all the trouble of finding it, after all.
I...I guess so...
Right. I'll show that blastia-researching bozo!
...




What can we do with this? Well, Rita does indeed study it, but instead of making some sensible system for that, you have to rest at specific inns in the world to trigger those events. The first one -- and only one available at the moment -- is in Capua Torim.






Each page is a little different, but it looks like he's just using a cipher to shift all of the characters in the text. It just takes time to figure out the cipher...
What sort of things is the book about?
...At first, I thought that Hermes was an average mage who was using his knowledge for evil... But he wasn't. He was an upright mage who had dreams about the potential of blastia and aer, and he was just innocently going wherever his curiosity led him..
...So what is it that's troubling you?
There are so many interesting things written in Hermes' notes.



So Hermes was a genius...even compared to you?
It hurts a little to admit it, but yes. I was shocked to see that he wrote down so many ideas and observations I'd never had... And it seems he wrote down a formula in this book to destroy blastia that had gone out of control...
...!



He understood the dangers of the blastia he had created.
Hmmm... Yes, I see.
Yes. That's why he was studying magic to destroy the blastia in case that happened.
...If a type of magic like that exists, I think that you should use it! No matter who or how, Hermes was looking for someone who could use that magic for good. He was looking for someone to take over his work for him. That's why he left behind these notes.



Oh? But what if that daughter doesn't know how to use magic? Or maybe...
... Or maybe...?
We'll never get anywhere if we keep talking in hypotheticals.
Well, yes...
Even if it's something that was thought up to destroy blastia... ...You could put it to some other use. Don't you think so?
W-well, that's true, but... ...You're right. I don't think that any other mage besides me could ever use this formula properly. Perhaps I'll take it, after all...



You're just saying that...
No, I'm saying it because I really think it's true!


This gets us a new spell!




Negative Gate, dark-elemental area spell. It's pretty good, though really, nearly all of Rita's spells are.


While we're in Torim, we can finish up a questline we've had going for a while now.








Yes, that was me.
I see... The reason for these flowers blooming like that was the aer imbalance from the blastia you destroyed... And in the coliseum, too...
You heard what the man in the boat said about the fish around there, right? I looked into it, and it was all due to the blastia. So I did what I had to do.



I'm plenty mad! But...it's in the past. I hate arguing about things that have already happened.




And continue the quest about Judith's spear.






We do, but... If you'd like to sell that, you'd be better off going directly to a store than talking to me.
No, I don't want to sell it... I wanted to see if maybe I could see other spears that have been sold to you.
You're still trying to find that spear of yours, aren't you?
...
It seems you have some personal stake in this, but I don't think it's been sold to us. If any of our vendors received any valuable items, no matter what they are, I would've heard of it. And I haven't heard anything...
I see...


And continue it further in Dahngrest's store.






Store owner: They do indeed, on occasion. But most of them are secondhand, used items. Are you in the market for something like that?
If it's the spear she's looking for... It's not the sort of thing to be easily damaged or dulled. Right, Judy?
Yeah, I think you're right.
Store owner: No one's brought in a fancy spear like that, nope.
I see...


And again, while we're here, there's a couple quests to do in Dahngrest.






Oho, what a nice surprise. I've been out runnin' all over the place on the Don's orders.
Woman: No way, baby! Are you kidding? You and hard work don't mix!
Goin' on a world tour is pretty nice. You should try it sometime.
Woman: Tee hee hee! I'll bet you've been partying it up everywhere you've gone. You rascal! By the way...


(yes that is an actual line)

Nah, not at all.
Woman: Ah. Good. Well, let's have a drink next time you're free. See ya.



Just someone I know.
I dunno, you two seemed pretty buddy-buddy, Old Man...
Karol, let's keep our nosy little questions to ourselves, eh?
What the hell's her problem?


Running around Dahngrest, we can find a few more short scenes relating to this.





Hey.
Woman: Looks like you're drifting around aimlessly as usual.
Hey, don't talk ta people like they're jellyfish!
Woman: When are you ever going to just settle down?
Not until these ol' legs of mine rust and fall apart! Don't worry, I'm sure the arthritis'll set in soon enough.
Woman: It's just like you to say that. Come by and see me sometime, won't you?
Sure will. See ya!




Ya. We used ta meet every now and then.
Woman: I thought so. It's been a while. I'm still in the same place as always, if you want to come and visit...
Ah, maybe one of these days.
Woman: Sure. Well then, until then.
Wherever we go, we run into girls who know Raven...




Uh oh, looks like a feisty one found me.
Woman: I'm still waiting for you to apologize for hurting my feelings. I've been waiting in the Red Meteor Swarm.
Sorry 'bout that. I've been pretty busy.
Woman: You're so cold, baby. Drop me a line the next time you think of me.
Sure thing. See ya.




Woman: Welcome back!
Hey.
That's a bit different from the usual reaction he gets, don't you think?
Woman: Where were you travelling, this time? Tell me all about your journey! How would you like some tea? I baked a cake yesterday, too. You're all invited, of course.
Ya know I don't like sweet things, right?
Woman: Oh, maybe I should have made dinner instead of tea and cake.
Everyone's got their own tastes, I guess.
Seems that way.
I'm tired, so I think I'll be on my way. You have someone else ta eat your cake for you, right?
Woman: I want to feed you, Raven!



Don'tcha have an up-and-comin' young lad ta keep ya company? Go and be with him.
Woman: ...You mean Harry? No thank you! He's so wimpy and negative all the time...I hate it!
Men change for women everyday! I'm sure you'd be able ta change him inta yer dream guy in no time. Stop just makin' excuses and get a move on.
Woman: I'm not making excuses! Raven, you're so mean!



Wow.
Hmmm...I don't know what to think about Raven anymore.
I feel sorry for that girl after he treated her so harshly...
Really? I think I see Raven in a whole new light.
Oh yeah? Ol' Raven'll welcome ya with open arms, ya sweet thing. Just say the word.
I think I've finally realized just how much Raven likes girls!

This just gives us a title, plus some insight into Raven's personality.


Since we're right next to the Union HQ, we might as well enter it.





Union Member: Wait! Just hear me out.
We've already got our hands pretty full with other people's troubles, ya know.
Union Member: Harry isn't in any sort of state to help us with this...
Okay, okay. I'll hear what ya got ta say. But that's all!
Union Member: Yes, sir!



Union Member: In the past, the Union has always mediated these disputes. But now that the Don has passed away, the Union is only a shell of what it once was.
The Union's not workin' like it use ta, so that's why yer comin' by yerself ta talk with me about this?
Union Member: Yes. I hear that Fortune's Market and the Knights also clashed the other day over the sealing off of the Weasand of Cados.
That would be Flynn's blockade, I think.
Yeah, probably so.
Union Member: And because of the law of no intervention between guilds, Altosk can't directly admonish Fortune's Market for what they did.
Restorin' the Union ta its former self may be the only choice we've got...
Union Member: But Harry's in no condition to help, and we still need to do something about the next head of the Blood Alliance...



And if I run inta Madam President, I'll see if I can't convince her ta do things right, through the Union.
Union Member: I understand. Thank you for your help.



Don't ya worry about that. We don't hafta search fer her or anything. We'll just let her know if we happen ta see her.
But...
You think that Altosk will be able to knock the Union back into shape, don't you old man?
They learn quick and act fast. They're the only thing keepin' the Union in check, if ya ask me.
Ahh, right.
So if we happen ta see that pretty president anytime soon, let's be sure ta ask fer her help.


Well since we just were there, we know where to find Kaufman.





Since you sealed off the roads, I guess you're okay with our cargo shipments not going to the capital?
Knight officer: That's not what I'm saying!
It's just like Nordopolica. What gives the Knights--protectors of the people--the right to oppress them?
Knight officer: The Imperial Knights don't need your permission to do what needs to be done. I can see we're not going to reach an agreement like this. Now, if you would please let me pass?





Yuri Lowell? And you, aren't you with Altosk...
What a happy surprise ta be remembered by such a lovely lady.
Perhaps Altosk is planning on sticking its nose into the business of Fortune's Market?



Our cooperation?
Help us make the Union as strong as it useta be. Fortune's Market is one of the pillars of the Union. Or aren't ya? I'm sure ya know how important the Union is fer the guilds. We'll all just get trampled on if we don't work together against them.
...This, from someone who's been parading all over the world with Yuri for the past how many weeks?
Altosk has already mobilized. That's why I'm out here gatherin' information.
I hear you've been traveling as the Don's right-hand man, and watching the Imperial Knights.



I'm glad you're as decisive as they say.
It is an honor to be recognized as such by someone so well-versed in negotiations with the Empire.
Please, ya flatter me. I've just lived long enough ta get a little clever about these things.
I hope that I can do the same. Now, if you'll excuse me.



Compared to the Don, she was nothin'.
Yeah. The Don was more...impressive.



Huh? B-but...
Come on, let's go.


Okay, just one more sidequest left for now, though it's a fairly long one. Back in Dahngrest.



Hi there!



Yeah.
Union Member: Let's see, a job I could give to you guys... How's this?
...I'm looking for a lost pendant. -Rhianna...Kale...?!
What's up, Karol? Recognize the name?
Uhh...yeah, it's, umm, someone in a guild I used to belong to.
Union Member: So, you already know the client?



"The usual"?
I guess people lose things.
Union Member: It pays 4500 Gald. It should go pretty quick since you already know the client. You'll find her in the inn.
All right. Let's go.




Rhianna: Yes, I'm Rhianna Kale. Who are all of you?
We've been sent by the Union.
Rhianna: So you're the guild members who'll look for my mother's necklace for me?
Ah, you poor, beautiful lady. You're searching desperately for a memento of your mother?
Rhianna: That's right. It's the necklace that my father gave my mother when they got married.
Oh! The necklace she received on her wedding day...! What a wonderful story, my sweet.
It's getting kinda creepy, old man...
Rhianna: This necklace is made of a rather valuable metal called Everlight. My father mined the ore himself and hand-crafted it into a necklace. It was truly the only one of its kind...
So, what sort of identifying features does your necklace have?
Rhianna: Everlight is a bright red metal. My father made that metal into hexagonal links to form a necklace and gave it to my mother.
A necklace of bright red hexagons... Quite distinctive.
Yeah, that should make it easier to find. So, do you have any idea where you might have lost it?



What...?!
How are we supposed to find that...?
Rhianna: Please! It's extremely important to me!
We can see that, with all you've told us, but...



But we did tell the Union we'd accept the task, after all.
Any other guild would turn a request like this down, once they realized they couldn't do it.
Rhianna: No...
No! No, no, NO! Once a guild has taken a job, it cannot refuse to do it!
What got into you?!
Can't you see that this young lady is deeply troubled? What kind of guild would refuse to help such a poor, sweet, beautiful girl?



Rhianna: Thank you!
And who put you in charge?
...Oh well. I guess we'll go ahead and take care of it, right, Karol...?



He's gone.
Huh? He was waiting at the entrance just a minute ago...
That would explain why it's so quiet.
Woof, woof!
Let's go and find him.



Hey, are you done talking to her?
Where were you?
Oh, I just remembered something that I had to do.
That's all well and good, but let us know before you run off, would ya?
Y-yeah, sure. Sorry about that.
Anyway, let's go over to where she said she dropped the necklace.
Woof!
I'm pretty sure she said she dropped it from the bridge.



I never really noticed how deep the water is here...
So the client dropped her necklace right down here...
Then, we dive in to get it, I suppose?
Even if you jumped in, I doubt the necklace is there anymore. Everlight isn't all that heavy as far as metals go, so yeah. I'm sure it's drifted downstream.
...Well, that would mean it's lying somewhere on the bottom of the ocean about now.
*Whine*



Man: The current's pretty crazy around here, thanks to the ocean tides. If you fell in, you'd be swept off in a jiffy!
The tides? This isn't the sea, though.
Man: The water in this river is a mixture of ocean water and fresh water that runs down from the mountains. All of the rivers around here are like that.
Wow, really... I had no idea...



Man: That just goes to show you how far the current can carry things that fall in.
...Sounds like starting this search in Heliord might not be a bad idea.
Thanks for your help, sir.
Man: Huh? For what...?


Off to Heliord!





If it was washed downstream, it wouldn't be unthinkable for someone to have picked it up.
Why don't we ask around a bit in town?
Guess we've gotta start somewhere.




Ah...!
Woman: Wh-what is it?
Hey, can you tell me how you got that thing you're wearing around your neck?



Aha, just as we thought!
Is there any way you'd consider giving it to us? The original owner's sent us to come looking for it.
Woman: But I...
Now, be a bit more accommodatin'. If it's money, we'll reimburse ya however much ya want.
Hey, old man, whose money are you talking about...!
Oh, don't throw a hissy.
Woman: Well... I couldn't accept money for it.



All right, well then...



Man: I'll be taking that necklace. Even if I have to use force... No, I mustn't use force. Perhaps I'll persuade her to give it to me. But I won't let you all have it!
She's already told us that she'll exchange it for a small bird feather, buddy...
Man: Well then if I get here with that small bird feather first, will you give it to me?
Woman: I don't care which one of you gets it. I'll give the necklace to the first person who brings a small bird feather to me.
Man: All right, I'm off. Farewell!



And he's gone, just like that. What a busy little man.
We shouldn't loiter around waiting for him to beat us to it. Let's go!


Oh come on Namco, at least hide your arbitrary fetch quests in some way. Oh well, it's just a bird feather, you should have some of those just from random battles.




Woman: My, that was quick. Oh well. I had really taken a liking to it...but anyway, here you go.
All right!





It's already a little...beaten up...
Woman: But I promised I'd give the necklace to the person who came back with the item first, so I already gave it to them.
Man: W-what! Y-you're not going to give it to me!? But I must have it!
Unfortunately, we need this, too. Sorry, man, but we can't give it to you.
Man: Damn...damn it! It looks like I'll have to use force...
*Big growl*
Man: A-ack, no, violence isn't the solution... ...Hah...I give up...oh, but, if only...
I sort of feel bad for him.
This is no time for pity, Karol.
This is Rhianna's necklace, anyway. It isn't ours to give, even if we wanted to.
Yeah. You're right.
All right, let's go back to Dahngrest!


Watch the cutscene!



Rhianna: Ah...oh my gosh...! Thank you so much...! Where did you ever find it?
Well, you see...

...

Rhianna: Oh, wow...what a miracle. Thank goodness... Now, for your reward...
Oh, your love is reward enough...!
Settle down, old man...



Man: Rhianna...!
Rhianna: You...where have you been...!
You're that man...from Heliord...
Man: Hey! You! Rhianna, how do you know these people...?
Rhianna: They were looking for my necklace.
Man: What the..! Oh, so that's why you were...!
That's right! So, who the hell are you?
Man: I'm an old friend of hers!
An "old friend," huh... *grumble*



All right, I can take a hint...
Rhianna: Where were you all this time? I've been looking for you.



Man: The necklace that you said was a memento of your father... But I couldn't find it...
Rhianna: Don't worry. There's a reason that I wanted to find it myself. In the end I had to get some help from these people, but...



Huh? Engagement...?
Man: You did that for me...?



Oh? But what about our payment...?
Consider it a wedding present. Right, Karol...?
He's gone.
Hmm? He was right here a moment ago.
Maybe something came up again. Hey old man, let's go!
Huh? Oh, right...



Are you done? Sorry, I remembered I had to do something... So did you get the payment?
Nah, no payment this time.
What! What are you talking about?! How can you not take payment for a guild job?!
Let's just say this job was a wedding present.
A wedding present... Huh? You mean, Professor Rhianna is...?!
Professor...?
Uh, well, umm...
You did say that you knew her from a guild you used to be in.
Actually...she was sort of my teacher in the guild... She was famous for being really strict. I know I got my share of beatings...
Hmmm, so that's why you didn't come with us to meet her. Well, no biggie.



There is something besides payment that I'd like to settle.
Huh? What do you mean, Judith?
So far, we've delivered stuff and found stuff. Two totally different kinds of work.



She's got a point. What are you doing all this for? Money? You like doing it? Looking at it from the outside, I can't tell what you want to do.
Uhh...well, uh... Errr...
I mean, I'm not a member or anything, so...whatever...
Okay, let's just say this is a trial period while we're figuring that out.
Huh? Y-yeah, okay...
If we can't come up with an answer right now, we'll just think on it for a while.
Woof!
...Right.


And with that, we're done with Sidequests! Phew.

For now, at least. Well, technically the waitress minigame is also open, but that's really annoying and never expires so I'm saving it for later.

In the meantime, here's some skits that came up while doing these sidequests:


Skit: An Improved Recipe
Oh ho, Rita! I hear yer finally a stir-fried veggie master?
I guess so. Nothing's impossible for me.
You sure you didn't just have a good teacher?
It always has to be about you, doesn't it?
This was all my genius.
But stir-fry is a pain to eat. It ties up both my hands so I can't read!
Estelle'll get mad at you if she catches you reading while you're eating.
I got it! Put the vegetables between slices of bread like a sandwich. One hand! Genius!
Why do you want to go mess up perfectly good food like that?!
A stir-fried veggie sandwich... What an original concept!
...It looks like Judith's ready ta add that to her cookbook.
Man, Rita's always gotta screw things up...
You're just jealous!



Skit: "It"
Hey, what's with making me do all the cooking?!
Ah, perhaps you've gotten better and ya finally came to enjoy cookin'?
No way! Cooking is a pain, and it's a waste of time, too!
The point of eating is to restore your energy, right? Just eat some bread or a banana or something!
What, you want us to just eat the ingredients raw?
I remember Rita serving a sandwich that was just two pieces of bread with a raw egg in between...
A raw egg? How original!
Hey, don't get any ideas, now!
Make me cook again...and I'll put "it" in the food.
Put what in the food?
Something I've been saving for a special occasion.
Ooh, that sounds interesting.
Judith, don't encourage her!
Don't you dare make me cook next time!
Aww, and I wanted to try what Rita was saving for a special occasion...
Estelle, I don't think you do...



Skit: The Saver, the Spender, and the Gambler
Ohh, my heart!
Whoa, whoa, are you okay, old man?
It's just...the sound of money gets this old heart racin'! Stop that jinglin', would ya, Karol?
Huh...? All right, whatever...
I can't believe how much Gald we have!
I bet it would feel great to spend all this Gald at once!
No way! We still need to save lots more!
Ahh, sounds like ya've got plans fer the future, kid! Saving for a hideout fer Brave Vesperia?
No, I wasn't thinking of that...
It's just that saving lots of money feels...good, you know?
Ya know what they call that, kid? Penny-pinching, that's what!
There's no use hoarding your money for later. You gotta spend it all at once! Go wild!
No, no, that's even worse! Ya kids've got no sense of moderation!
All right, old man, then what do you think we should do with it?



Pass!



Skit: High Standards?
Now that ya kids have gotten an insight inta the real Raven, I think it's yer turn.
Our turn to what?
Ta tell about yer love lives, what else?
You're so stupid...
I'd...kind of like to hear what everyone has to say.
Oh? Then you have to start, Estelle.
What's your ideal man like?
My ideal man...is someone like the Amber Knight in the Tale of the Jade Planet.
Who?
In the Tale of the Jade Planet, he's a good friend of the main character, and--
Sure, sure. Who's next?
I prefer a girl who's nice, a little quiet,
maybe kinda gentle, not too tall...
...That girl ya liked...was she like that?
I seem to remember her being a bit more on the strong-willed side.
Rita and Judith, what about you?
Someone who's not like the old man.
That sounds about right.
Yeah, I'll go with that, too.
You kids just don't understand the beauty of the middle-aged man! Someday, someday...


Next time, we're gonna continue the story by going to Aspio to find the Krytian hometown, and take a trip to a beach with red flowers.