Toggle Background Color
Hello everyone and welcome back! Ginger's now a hero of Ul'dah and she has a personal token of thanks from the Sultana. But the accolades don't stop there. We've got a royal banquet to prepare for! Unfortunately we don't have anything nice to wear, but that's alright. We can make do with our adventurer duds.
What's really sad is that the earrings we get as a reward from this quest and the ring we got from Nanamo are both generic items. They really missed an opporutnity to make them unique, you know?
(Owyne) By the Twelve, Ginger! For an adventurer to receive a personal invitation from Her Majesty is unprecedented! Seats at these banquets are offered only to the most distinguished individuals. You will be dining with some of the most influential people in Ul'dah. There are, of course, certain protocols that must be observed.
(Owyne) ...But I am no authority on them. Fear not, however--Mistress Momodi has long been responsible for familiarizing foreign guests with our customs. Pray return to the Quicksand and speak with her. She will tell you all you need know. My fellow Sultansworn and I must see to our own preparations. In the meantime, you should speak with Mistress Momodi. She will explain to you the protocols that must be observed by all in attendance.
And this is pretty much the last time we'll see Owyne in the entire game. He pops up much, much later on in one of the PLD quests from Stormblood as a bit role. So wave goodbye to him, because if we ever see him again, it probably won't be for many years yet to come.
Back to Momodi we go! Also that fellow in the blue cape is a Blue Mage. Eevee can tell you more about them eventually. Though that won't be for several months at the least!
Welcome back, Ginger, and congratulations on your invite to the big soirée! To be honest, I never imagined I'd be explainin' these procedures to you. It's usually only foreign dignitaries who get to hear me prattle on and on about royal traditions.
Anyroad, I know you're a busy woman, so I'll keep it short and sweet. In accordance with ancient custom, all guests to this banquet are required to wear a pair of ceremonial earrin's, made 'specially for the occasion. They're meant to symbolize-- Actually, forget about that. This was meant to be the short version. Ahem. Bein' of a design unique to the occasion, the earrin's serve as a security measure. The Sultansworn won't let you near the hall without 'em.
Your set should be ready and waitin' for you at the Goldsmiths' Guild. Mistress Serendipity is expectin' you, so you'll want to head down there now. Once you've got them, bring them back here and we'll continue.
This is a simple run to-and-fro mission, but it's got a lot of worldbuilding, so it's pretty important.
Serendipity is the guildmistress of the Goldsmith's (GSM) guild. She has a lot of dialogue and is naturally pretty heavily involved with not only those quests, but also several MSQ quests as well. So...
Greetings! Is there something I can help you with? Ah, Ginger! Your earrings are right here. I crafted them myself, I'll have you know. I think you'll be very pleased! In case Mistress Momodi didn't warn you, the box is locked, and I am not permitted to give you the key. It's a final safeguard, you see--only designated individuals are authorized to distribute the earrings to guests. In this instance, the person in question is none other than Mistress Momodi, so you will need to ask her to open the box on your behalf. Pardon the inconvenience, but the Sultansworn take Her Majesty's safety very seriously.
Foreign dignitaries attending banquets would probably use this opportunity to get some matching jewelry from the guild. So for them it's also sneakily a "hey make sure you have everything you need. If not, the city can provide it for a price" check.
Back, once again, to Momodi!
Picked up your earrin's yet, Ginger?
*hands over the box*
Let me just... <gasp> Well, now, looks like the guildmaster outdid herself with this pair! You'd best take good care of these earrin's! If they fell into the wrong hands, gods only know what might happen! Now then, I hope you're feelin' sociable, Ginger, 'cause you're about to hobnob with Ul'dah's elite! Let me know when you're ready to head to the banquet.
Sit back, relax, and get yourself something nice to snack on. This update is gonna be primarily cutscenes. It'll be a good 10-15 minutes before we're given control back!
This is it, Ginger--your big debut in Ul'dahn high society! The banquet is bein' held in the Fragrant Chamber. Head over to the Royal Promenade and Bartholomew will show you in. Oh, but be sure to put on your earrin's first, or he'll send you packin'. Right, well, I reckon that's everythin'. Try not to let all the pomp and ceremony get to you. Just be yourself and you'll be fine!
We need to teleport to the Chamber of Rule and then go up the exquisitely carpeted staircase.
It's not uncommon to see players hanging out here. You get sent here for a variety of reasons through the different MSQs. Anyway, make sure your generic earrings are equipped before speaking with Bart(holomew).
(Bartholomew) A banquet hosted by Her Majesty the sultana is due to begin shortly. Attendance is by invitation only. Please make way for arriving guests. We are honored to receive you, milady. Please proceed inside.
The Banquet (Recommended watching, if only to hear how bad everyone's voice acting is)
That icon, by the way, is what I'm using to denote a cutscene! So if you see it, you can click on the link to see stuff happening in motion and often with not-so-great voice acting.
And for reference, whenever I know what a particular track is, or when I want to draw your attention to one, I'll use the following icon to show that music is being played...
- Ul'Dah Day Time Theme (A New Hope)
For as much as I play this game, I do not know what most of the music tracks in it are. Many aren't listed or included in the official soundtracks, either. So while I'm pretty sure every song from the game IS on youtube, without knowing the name, there's no easy way to find them.
Ginger's hob-nobbing with the Ul'dahn elite! Here, she's talking to Papashan in the middle-right.
All hail the Sultana!
There's sometimes gonna be dialogue repeated. Thanks to the way I resize, it's nearly impossible to read anyway, and capturing the character animations is more important. So don't worry too hard about reading the text boxes.
Your Grace.
Raubahn.
These are the exact same voice clips from the previous cutscene. I didn't link that one, so you just have to take my word for it. But every time Nanamo says "Raubahn." as a single statement, it's the exact same voice clip.
Ginger's the only one wearing her earring. 
By right of the Royal House of Ul, I, Nanamo, seventeenth of my line, have summoned you here. We are graced this day by the presence of a hero to Ul'dah, and dear friend to the crown.
Honored guests, I give you our champion!
Everyone's clapping and cheering for Ginger. 
And with that, I bid you enjoy the feast.
And as soon as she says that, everyone goes straight back to what they were doing. The Lalafell in the middle-left is dancing nonstop.
Ginger has seen enough and decides to go elsewhere.
She's stopped by someone very tall...
I'm sure this cutscene is a lot less awkward when your character is more than three feet tall. Everyone's craning their necks in very awkward and uncomfortable-looking ways. Also time to sit back and relax. It's time for Raubahn to filibuster at us for a lot of paragraphs.
Not to spoil your appetite, but Ul'dah is hardly so bountiful as this meal would have you believe. While we gorge ourselves, children starve in the streets. Nor can Her Grace do aught to help them. She is thwarted at every turn by those on the Syndicate who derive their wealth from the workers' poverty.
Beneath her mask of stately serenity, she is aghast at the plight of her subjects. But there will be no hope for the masses until the crown is restored to power. I am truly grateful for all you have done for Ul'dah. But there is so much more to do.
Expecting a random adventurer to help overthrow capitalism and greed is a bit of an ask.
That light--what is it?
So bright... Almost like... By the Twelve! Tell me true--have you been troubled by strange dreams of late? Visions--of the Crystal? Mayhap you put them down to an excess of aether?
*says something*
Yes. You are like they were... Allow me to explain. Before you came to Eorzea, there were others like you who fought the primals. Though they were not of this land, when the Garlean Empire threatened the realm, they helped bring together the three Grand Companies.
These screenshots are mostly here to break up a monumental-sized wall of text.
And they stood with us at Carteneau, that fateful day five years ago... ...The day we lost them. None who survived have forgotten the heroes' sacrifice, nor would any man deny they fought alongside us...
But the names of these heroes come not to our lips. The once-familiar pages of their story are now blank to us. And in our mind's eye, their faces are naught but silhouettes amid a blinding glare... It is for this reason that we have come to call them the Warriors of Light.
When I look at you, I cannot help but think of them, and of what you might achieve. You must protect that crystal at all costs. It is a gift from Hydaelyn, mother of all--and one she gave to you for a reason. Yours is no ordinary tale. If I am right, the fate of the realm may yet hang upon your deeds. Only heroes and martyrs are fit to bear such a burden. Let us pray you are the former.
For whatever reason, Raubahn seems to like Ginger. I guess it's because she's proven she's competent and can be trusted with important and secretive tasks. The efflusive praise of Papashan and Momodi has got to count for something as well! We'll see in just a few minutes, that Raubahn can be kind of a dick to people he doesn't think so highly of.
*heartbeat*
Uh oh... Ginger's having another vision!
Also, not gonna lie, I expected the party to take longer. My plan originally was to put the party and this upcoming flashback as two different updates. And then the party ended 33 screenshots in...
Banquet Flashback
Uh oh... we've seen red clouds before.
This flashback happens during the Answers cinematic, from the first update.
It's time to be introduced to the three Grand Company leaders.
Flames, to the fore! Victory belongs to the bold! Show those imperial whoresons what we're made of!
Raubahn is here representing the Immortal Flames. His voice actor spends the entire cutscene quiet-shouting because he was trying to avoid peaking his audio. So all of the angry noises he's gonna make coming up sounds like someone doing an exaggerated stage whisper.
The left flank buckles! Divert the Barracudas! Bid 'em hold that position though it cost 'em their lives!
This is Admiral Merlwyb. She has a last name. Literally nobody who plays this game can remember it. She's here in this battle leading the Maelstrom, from Limsa Lominsa. She also has the best voice out of the three present because it actually sounds like what a battle-hardened pirate admiral should sound like!
The Yellow Serpents are in need of succor. Pray send the White Wolves to their aid. The adventurers risk life and limb for our cause. We must not fail them.
This is Kan-E-Senna. She's the head of the Order of the Twin Adder, from Gridania. She's also literally a teenager who stopped aging and is one of the only White Mages allowed to exist in the world. Her voice is also terrible be-cause she e-nun-ci-ates ev-ry-thing slow-ly and de-lib-er-ate-ly.
You can juuuuuuust barely see a tiny black blip behind Kan-E-Senna.
She realizes this and turns to look, but...
The tiny black blip representing Mr. Red Mask is in the dead center of the image. Can YOU see it?
Is aught amiss?
No... It is nothing.
A fireball impacts against their shield.
The honor guard within stumbles to their feet because fucking hell a fireball nearly landed right on them!
The barrier won't go down so easily! Eyes forward!
Kan-E-Senna is definitely a teenager. Her attention span is utterly shit. Why concentrate on the battle to determine the fate of your world when you can watch tiny specks on the horizon?
We are being watched...
The flashback statics and then we're here. So I assume time has jumped ahead some period of time. Everyone's still at Carteneau, but...
Raging Bull calling Blood Thorn! Blood Thorn, respond! Respond, damn you! Arrrgh!!!
By the way, this is a scene you should watch in cutscene form. Scroll back up a ways to find it and click on it. Not because it's good, but because it's funny listening to Raubahn stage-shout.
Raging Bull! This is Mad Snake! Respond!
Ryder!? This is Raging Bull! What news!?
(Mad Snake) We're surrounded by a blaze! There's no way out! Gods preserve, what is that thing!?
What's going on!? Speak to me!
(Mad Snake) Godsdammit! We cannot hold much longer!
(Mad Snake) AaaaaaAAAAAAAAAH!!!
Mad Snake!? Mad Snaaaaaake! Answer me!
Snake? Snaaaaaaaake! Koji Fox, the man in charge of the English translation, loves puns, wordplay, and not-so-overt references... even in a relatively serious scene like this. His team does an outstanding job and we'll be seeing more and more of this as the LP wears on. Apparently the Japanese players, upon seeing the amount of wordplay in the English translation, got jealous.
The popular saying among the fanbase is a fond "Koji Fox is a menace." An implied 
usually follows.
Raubahn slams his fist into the ground.
Damn it! Damn it all to the seventh hell!
I included a timestamped link for that particular line, just because it's Raubahn's voice actor at his hammiest. Please listen to it. Please.
What of the Barracudas? Can they not be reached?
*ring ring ring*
(Storm Runner) Sorry, Admiral--shell's not workin'!
This random roegadyn is the only one in existence with what I assume is meant to be a Jamaican accent. It's like Conrad Hermes with a bad cold.
What of our own?
(Serpent Runner) I cannot say, my lady! That monstrosity appears to be disrupting our communications!
We must keep trying. Call till they respond.
(Serpent Runner) Yes, my lady!
Admiral, General--we can do no more. We must give the order to withdraw.
I will not forsake Louisoix!
Even with the semi-sepia filter going on, there are still some surprisingly cinematic and colorful shots. I really like this one in particular of Kan-E-Senna against the red sky.
General, please! Victory may belong to the bold, but there will be no victor this day! You know this to be true. Let us not sacrifice lives in vain. The adventurers fight bravely, but to no avail.
Let them withdraw, and let us be the ones to stand with Louisoix.
Reminder that Louisoix is the guy who cast a powerful shield on the Warrior of Light party.
Belay previous orders! All Maelstrom units are commanded to fall back, effective immediately! Give the Foreign Levy priority! Let the main host cover their retreat, and bring up the rear!
Damn it... Relay the order: all Flames are to withdraw. I don't care if our linkshells are useless! You still have a working pair of legs, don't you!? Well use 'em, you bloody half-wit!
Things are getting pretty dire at Carteneau. But then again...
The outcome of this battle was long since decided. Better to retreat now, than risk a massacre.
It's almost like the world was ending because of a monstrously large dragon laying waste to everything.
It's our first clear shot of the spy friend watching the Commanders.
This dark, stifling presence... Who...or what...?
We go to take our place beside Archon Louisoix! To your positions!
This is pretty much the last look we get at the Calamity. The cutscene helps give a little clarity to an extremely confusing time, but we don't really ever understand all that happened in its wake. The world very nearly ended, but the full extent of the damage - nearly five years later - is only starting to be calculated.
The cutscene also serves to introduce us to all three Grand Company leaders and lays out their personalities. Except for Raubahn. He never again acts like this that we can see. Whether that's because he's putting on an act for Ginger or because he's changed in the intervening time is difficult to say.
{That I should live to behold Bahamut once more... Magnificent. The aeons of imprisonment have only made him hungrier.}
We join a pair of nosy jerks having a heartfelt discussion. This is also your periodic reminder that text in {} is meant to be in red text.
{I am aware of them. Pay them no mind. They are powerless to act.}
Well, one person monologuing to someone else at least.
{It has begun. Soon the planet will regain its true form.}
{Ahahaha... Ahahahahaha!}
