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Chapter LXXV: Influencing Inquisitors
Music: Fealty
Aggro's quest in Ishgardian territory has gotten rather complex. Cid's airship—the tool we'll need to reach and slay the Primal Garuda—is just behind the walls of the Stone Vigil, but the Ishgardian Inquisition has taken issue with us and turned the locals against us. Without winning them over, we won't be able to get the permission we need to enter the Stone Vigil.
We know little and less about the good inquisitor, despite him being such a prominent figure in Coerthas. Perhaps we should learn more by speaking with the people of Whitebrim Front. Share your findings with Alphinaud in the square. I'm sure he can formulate a strategy from there.
It's not the most glamorous work, but this makes sense. We can't exactly overturn an establishment just to get what we want. We just need to get the Inquisitor off our case. Let's go ask around.
Our first local interview is with a knight on a sickbed just downstairs.
My memory is somewhat muddled, but I recall that a blizzard nearly buried us in snow that day, and I had the ill fortune of being assigned to the night's watch. While the stronghold slept, we walked the walls and patrolled the exterior in a darkness black as pitch.
The Inquisitor must be pretty dedicated to his work to be traveling to Whitebrim Front in a blizzard.
My route took me outside the eastern gate at one point, where I caught sight of a silhouette illuminated by the light of the city. Thinking it was a wayward traveler, I cried out and gave chase, but slipped and took a terrible fall. When I woke, it was days later in this very bed, where I have lain recuperating from my injuries ever since.
Well, it just so happens that our first interview is with Guillaime's biggest fan. I can't blame the guy. Dying in a blizzard is up there among my least desirable deaths.
Downstairs and... ugh. Word has already spread, and Alboise is a dead end. She was helpful before, so I expected that she could have helped again. We'll need to try someone else.
Guillaime is really dedicated to his work.
So basically, don't dare question them? Got it.
Alright. Aggro's heard enough. We've spoken to our four required NPCs, and now it's time for us to report to Alphinaud.
We can find Alphinaud out where the aetheryte really should be. Talking to him starts the next cutscene.
Oh, I've noticed. Alphinaud, have you ever considered... buying a change of outfit? No? Okay.
I realized it soon after our arrival, but paid it no mind as I had hoped we might find the Enterprise far faster. Instead, we've wasted far too much time meddling in local affairs. <sigh>
Alphinaud, we saved a man from an unjust death and won the favour of two Ishgardian Houses. It's not all that bad.
Aggro shares what we've been told so far.
...Hm. It should come as no surprise that he is held in high regard. Even so, I am beginning to suspect he has other reasons for hindering us now.
That was enough to finish the quest. Our reward isn't very impressive, especially given that we're wearing equipment from the sort-of most recent dungeon. (There's actually another optional one I've skipped to focus on the MSQ. We'll come back to it when leveling another job.)
Still, it has two materia slots and doesn't look terrible.
Since we've arrived in Whitebrim Front, I've seen no travelers arrive by the eastern gate. Moreover, he said he glimpsed a "silhouette illuminated by the light of the city," which would imply that the inquisitor came from north of the eastern gate, not south. But it cannot be so—that way lies naught but a deep chasm.
Anyway, back to the task at hand. Alphinaud has some thoughts. It's clear that he's familiarised himself with the area, but we haven't. That's a bit daft in hindsight. Fortunately, we're about to fix that.
Assuming Ser Joellaut is not misremembering, the inquisitor's behavior that night makes absolutely no sense, at least to me. Mayhap retracing his steps will shed light on this mystery.
Right, so let's take a look at what Alphinaud is talking about. We know that to the north of Whitebrim Front is the Sea of Clouds. There's a vast nothingness, with only Ishgard towering over in the distance.
When we travel westward, we actually cross over a crevice. Looking to the north, there's a clear path that wraps around Whitebrim Front.
Alright, so the testimony states that Guillaime came from the north. Let's follow the path that way. If anything, it'll be scenic.
Following along, the Stone Vigil comes into view. We'll be entering it soon.
The path continues to lead lower. It doesn't really make sense that he'd come from this crevice on the night he arrived.
Curiously, Aggro spots something of interest at the bottom.
Laying at the bottom of this crevice lies the frozen body of a deceased dragon and a rather suspicious mound of snow.
Not giving Aggro much time to investigate, three Plasmoids ambush us. They're exclusively spellcasters, so it's a bit of a pain to gather them together to AoE.
After a bit of back and forth nudging, they're all in range of Aggro's blade. It takes no time to slay them all.
Anyway, back to that snow mound.
Uhhhhh... this is some terrible news for our plan.
Aggro inspects the corpse and yep. This is the Inquisitor. That's not good. Let's get back to Alphinaud.
It'd be funnier if this was another quest in which we collect the corpse. I like the idea of just dumping it on him. Anyway, we give him the Bloody Encyclical.
You're enjoying this a bit much, little guy.
Still, while this is incontrovertible proof that the inquisitor is an imposter, we have yet to discern his true identity, or why he has decided to oppose us. We must proceed quickly, Aggro, before he learns that his deception has been discovered!
We're rewarded with a pair of boots for our efforts. It must be freezing to be a tank in Coerthas, since we're being rewarded with a mythril set instead of anything that looks, well, warmer.
Sadly, the encyclical will not be enough. Alphinaud is correct. The Inquisitor's role alone demands a lot of respect and there's little reason to doubt him just yet.
But what might persuade a man so quick to disregard the endorsements of two High Houses? The cook did say that the lord listens to and respects the opinions of his knights. If a certain knight were to provide testimony that supports our claim...
Yes, mayhap that is the only way left to us. Confront Ser Joellaut with the evidence you discovered and see if it helps him to recall the truth of that night.
This is probably going to hurt him a little bit. Aggro reveals the encyclical.
He is a paragon of virtue, a dedicated servant of the Fury! You would have me believe that is all a lie!?
Joellaut is taking this about as well as I'd expect.
If you are so certain that your ludicrous story is true, then go and speak with Ser Prunilla! She was at the eastern gate that night, and she helped the inquisitor carry me here. But I will never speak against the man who saved my life!
Right. This is a dead end. Let's go speak with Prunilla. If it's true that she helped the inquisitor, then she might actually have the testimony we need.
We can find Prunilla just downstairs. Above and behind her is the clinic we just came from. Aggro shows her the encyclical.
Huh. That's a suspicious response if I'd ever heard read one. Aggro has to /doubt to continue the quest.
A breakthrough! At last. Expect a lot of text below. Prunilla has quite the story to share.
He... he knew things about me, about my family. Secrets I had never told another. He said that if I kept his confidence, Ser Joellaut and I would be spared. But, if I defied him... everyone I loved would suffer unimaginable horrors before they died. When at last I agreed to his terms, the man came forward. His robes marked him as an inquisitor, but I knew him to be false. Together, we carried Ser Joellaut to the infirmary, and on his first night in Whitebrim Front "Inquisitor Guillaime" was heralded as a hero...
Soon after came the accusations—countless men and women of good moral standing, seized whilst in possession of draconian rosaries. As I feared, he was condemning the innocent to death. I wanted to confess to Lord Drillemont, wanted to put an end to the madness—but then I would remember the inquisitor's threats. And so I did nothing... until Lord Francel was accused.
It must have been hard for Prunilla to keep this to herself all this time.
As I hoped, they were discovered and considered evidence of a conspiracy against House Haillenarte, thus exonerating Lord Francel and casting doubt on the other recent trials. And that is the entire truth, I swear. Halone forgive me for not acting sooner...
It seems like we've unwittingly been assisted by Prunilla before, too. She's been more help than she knows. On that note, let's go search in the south east. We may be able to find Not Guillaime's rosary collection.
Alongside the fortress wall of Whitebrim Front is yet another suspicious snow mound.
Masked underneath is a Suspicious Box. Of course, we can already guess the contents inside it.
Alongside the encyclical, we should have enough evidence against Guillaime. Let's pray Drillemont is willing to listen to us.
Drillemont, prepare to blow your mind! Aggro hands over the encyclical and rosaries.
There had better be a very good explanation for why you were carrying these rosaries. And where did you find this papal encyclical?
I have misjudged you and your friends, Aggro, and for that I deeply apologize. I will permit you to enter the outpost—but first, I must needs beg your assistance. Help me and my knights bring this infernal imposter to justice!
And with that, we're done for now. We'll continue this conversation in the next update when we'll finally get to confront Not Guillaime and get payback for all the trouble they've caused us. Until then!
Chapter Summary