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A reoccuring problem in MMORPGs: queues to get into the game. Primal is a very, very busy datacenter and unlike last time, this was recorded in the late afternoon EDT.
All the previous updates, minus the festival stuff, were from a single recording session. This is the start of the second one!
We hit level 6 last time, though I don't remember it. To be fair, I did skip a lot of stuff toward the end. When we hit level 6, we got the Thunder spell, which in FFXIV is a damage over time spell. 40 potency doesn't sound like a lot, but spread it across 18 seconds and... well, let's do a little math.
Effective Potency = (Potency * Duration) / 3 (Server tick speed)
EP = (40 * 18) / 3 = (720) / 3 = 240
That's not too terrible for level 6. Fire and Blizzard are both 180 potency spells, if that's any indication. So across 18 seconds, Thunder is effectively a little better than a single fire spell. It's not a lot of damage, but it adds up over time.
To make up for the past couple updates being slow, today is all about the main scenario quests. If you recall, Momodi wanted us to go meet a fellow by the name of Papashan.
Along the way, I find some hunting log targets. So I stop long enough to kill some of those.
Papashan can be found at the rail yards in front of Ul'dah.
Well, you certainly look the part of an adventurer, my friend. Might you be the good soul Momodi advised me to expect, hm? I am Papashan, stationmaster of this humble Dispatch Yard. An empty title, I assure you. I truly am no more than a tired old Lalafell passing his final years in quiet and solitude. Twelve know there have been plenty of both these last five years since the Calamity struck. The devastation...was vast. Yet now true Ul'dahns work together, doing all in our power to rebuild what was laid to ruin. By the sweat of our brows and the love of our home, we have rebuilt Ul'dah to the grandeur and majesty that you see today.
The railways which run through this Dispatch Yard, too, were born of the noble efforts of a great many souls. But there is still much work to be done. The wounds left by the Calamity run deep. Isolated areas beyond our lines of supply remain, and there are places yet wanting for relief and restoration. Ul'dah needs the aid of you and your brethren, friend. In fact, never has our need been more dire. Which brings me to the point, I suppose. I do believe I may have some work suited to one of your ability.
These colorful crystals we've been getting are used as reagents in crafting.
Since you've come all this way, perhaps you can perform an errand for me. It just so happens a number of sentries have been sent to guard the area. A dispatch to the Dispatch Yard, as it were. They have long been away from the shade and featherbeds of the city. The hot days and cold nights can play hells on the mind and body out here. It isn't much, but go and give them these twilight pretzels, would you? I find comfort food always helps when I feel like killing myself.
It's not glamorous work, but bringing food to sentries is honest enough. And Papashan seems a decent enough guy! (And because he has a portrait, you know he's important!)
Western front, clear! Eastern front, clear!
*hands over pretzel*
For me? From Papashan? A twilight pretzel... My favorite! How did he know!? Can't fight on an empty stomach, now, can I? Actually...I can't fight on any stomach. I suppose you could say I have no stomach...for fighting.
I also decide at this point to equip Ginger's hat instead of the XP bonus circlet. The little floppy mage hat is extremely cute!
Halt! Madam, I'm going to have to ask you to put the pretzel on the ground and place your hands above your head! State your name and business!
*hands over pretzel*
A twilight pretzel from Papashan? By the gods, forgive me! You could say this new post has my nerves in a...twist. I'm...I'm terribly sorry for that. Ahem, yes, well, you may rest assured that the Dispatch Yard is safe so long as I stand watch. Please give Papashan my thanks, and tell him that I only wish I could repay the favor...
The Sultansworn seem nervous, don't they?
Twelve save me. Scorching days... Freezing nights... This post will be the end of me.
*hands over pretzel*
A twilight pretzel? Don't mind if I do! Ahhh, now that's a refreshing godsdamned pretzel! I feel reborn!
You've returned-and with a deal fewer pretzels, I see! Tell me, how fare our Sultansworn sentries? Did they have anything to report, anything at all!? What? Nothing? Are you sure? I...oh, oh dear. Take this for your troubles, then. And stay a moment-there is more I would ask of you.
Ginger, I have just this moment-No! No, the time for concealment is past! The truth is, even before I had you deliver those pretzels, I was privy to some most unsettling news! ...Which is the real reason I sent you to meet those Sultansworn.
A young noblewoman from a very prestigious family has run away from home, and I have been ordered to see to her safe return. The Sultansworn you met earlier are assisting with the search. Alas, it seems they have found no trace of her. I apologize for not being frank with you from the start, but we must proceed with caution-should word of her disappearance spread, I fear others with less honorable motives may join the hunt. And should we allow her to come to any harm, not even a hundred beheadings would be punishment enough... That cannot happen, Ginger. It must not! I need you to help me find her!
*nods*
Praise the Twelve, I knew I could count on you! I've instructed the others to expand the search, but Thanalan is vast and there are only so many of us. The young noblewoman's name is Lady Lilira. I want you to go south and look for her in the vicinity of the Sultantree. Good luck!
This is kind of an important quest. So important, in fact, that it gets its own update!
Do you see that weird light around the "Hooded Lalafell"? That's the sign of an imminent instanced duty. It typically means a harder-than-usual battle in an instanced part of the larger zone.
O Sultantree...
Underneath the Sultantree Duty & Cutscene *** You should watch this ***
O Sultantree... O Sultantree, hallowed spirit of my line, forgive my weakness. My failings have cost us dear...
For voiced cutscenes (like this one! that's why I told you to click on the movie link) you can hit the spacebar to activate text auto advance. Then you won't have to click after every line of dialogue and can instead watch it like a movie.
Show yourself!
As you command, O Lilira.
Forgive my selfish desire to assure your welfare.
I don't recall requesting an escort! Simply pretend we never met and continue on your way.
We both know I can do no such thing. It isn't safe for you here alone. It isn't safe for anyone-not with this aetheric disturbance... It's as though the dead are watching us... And I'd prefer not to join them, if it's all the same to you.
Ah, you must be the one that Papashan mentioned. Congratulations on finding our elusive young charge. You'll have to forgive Her Impetuousness. What she lacks in discipline, she makes up for in stubbornness. You should return with us. The stationmaster will be eager to thank Lady Lilira's protector in person.
Read between the lines a little and suddenly you realize exactly who Lady Lilira is. The Sultansworn are looking for her. This mysterious stranger is giving her titles like Your Impetuousness. She called the Sultantree the "hallowed spirit of her line." The game never outright says it, but this is Nanamo Ul Namo... the ruler of Ul'dah. It's a secret to only Ginger because she's a no-name adventurer who's fresh off the carriage and they don't know if they can trust her yet.
Alas, the stationmaster will have to wait. Dear Lilira, for my sake, please stay out of harm's way.
As for you, dear friend-for Lilira's sake-please stay in harm's way!
Come, let's attend to our uninvited guest!
This is just a random voidsent (a demon) with a bunch of HP.
Because this is the first Duty of the game, it's pretty simple. This nice man will tank for us while we pelt the Blanga with fire and ice.
Lovely, it brought friends! Leave the big one to me! You handle the rest! Stay close if you want me to heal you!
It summons a few friends in the middle of the fight. They go down like chumps.
After a little bit, it summons even more friends.
More of them!? Really now, there are limits to our hospitality!
Just a little more...
Zero troubles. This Duty is meant to be completed by someone who hasn't done any sidequests and just grinded in their starting gear to level 4. So even with the tiny bonuses on our hat and robes, we've got a step up on everyone else.
Our helper goes to check on the Sultana Lady Lilira.
And we spy a blue crystal on the ground!
A beam of light shoots out of the one corner of the hexagon and into the sky.
The Mother Crystal *** You should also probably watch this ***
Hear... Feel... Think...
I spent hours last week looking for this cutscene and couldn't find it anywhere. And then I accidentally stumble across it while recording for the LP.
Crystal bearer...
Ginger floats over to the crystal.
I am Hydaelyn. All made one. A Light there once was that shone throughout this realm...yet it hath since grown dim.
And as it hath faltered, so hath Darkness risen up in its stead, presaging an end to Life. For the sake of all, I beseech thee: deliver us from this fate! The power to banish the Darkness dwelleth in the Crystals of Light. Journey forth and lay claim to them.
This crystal, Hydaelyn, is fucking gigantic.
By thy deeds shall the Crystals reveal themselves to thee. Only believe, for the Light liveth in thy heart.
All these other people start flying past Ginger.
So she decides to join them too.
I have theories about what all these images mean, but no concrete ideas. It looks like Hydaelyn is hedging her bets. While she's empowering Ginger to go save the world, she's also doing it to some other people as well.
Go now, my child, and shine thy Light on all creation.
I also have other theories that require knowledge from the mid-late Shadowbringers MSQ.
Ginger, it seems, has resting Dreamworks Face.
Ah, coming around now.
Would you mind telling me what that was?
If only I knew. A denizen of the void, at any rate.
The voidsent? Here? But how?
The question isn't "how," but "who"-we're not dealing with bookless bandits.
Don't suppose the answer came to you in a dream? No sooner did you fell the beast than you fell asleep. Too much aether, no doubt.
*says something*
Interesting... I hadn't considered the Crystal. But of course... This changes everything. Hm? Oh, just thinking aloud. At any rate, we haven't a moment to spare. I must return and report this at once. I leave Lady Lilira in your capable hands!
How dare you pass me about like a swaddled babe! I shall return and tell them myself!
He's used to this it seems.
As you wish, Your Impetuousness. I suspect we shall meet again before long. Until then, do try and stay awake!
Time for us to return to Papashan.
Thank the gods you've returned! You had us all so worried! You do realize what would happen if a person of your noble stature were to be injured-or worse? Why, Her Majesty the sultana would be beside herself with grief-and so would her subjects! I daresay they'd be weeping in the streets!
But I have already given you cause to weep, Papashan...you and the people of Ul'dah...
Please, Your- You're not to say such things! We will find it, I swear to you! It is not my place to make demands, m-my lady, but I beg you, please stay out of harm's way.
...I apologize for causing you undue worry, Papashan. I shall refrain from traveling unescorted in future.
Lilira, her handmaiden, and the three Sultansworn all walk off.
I cannot thank you enough, Ginger! I understand you fought bravely to protect Lady Lilira from voidsent fiends. For your gallant service, you deserve all the riches in the royal vaults. Alas, a small token of my gratitude is the best I can offer.
*asks about the tall sarcastic man*
...Hm? A sarcastic man with a strange contraption strapped to his shoulder? I see you met Thancred. He's a scholar who spends his days investigating oddities in the aether. Rather too fond of the sound of his own voice for my liking, but perfectly harmless. As for you, Ginger-you're just the sort of adventurer we need around here. I pray you show the same kindness to the people of Thanalan as you did to us today.
And that's enough for now! We know the name of our tall friend, we've helped the upper class of Ul'dah, and we've proven to the Sultansworn we can be trusted. Not too shabby for a day's work, eh?
Linked Videos:
The Sultantree & Duty
The Mother Crystal