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Hello everyone and welcome back. We're here in Limsa to start off with because I very nearly went and took ROG to NIN. But I haven't even shown off the ROG quests yet, and so that can wait until at least then. The plan, if I haven't mentioned it yet, is to show off class quests after each of the major story arcs for ARR. There are enough arcs left that when we finish 2.0, I'll only have a single class left to show off.
So instead of going somewhere worthwhile, I went to the PVP hub to turn in the quest pointing me here.
This guy insults us and says we're wasting his time. That's seriously the extent of his dialogue. There's a whole cutscene for it and everything. Fuck this guy.
The PVP gear looks pretty sweet at least. All Ginger needs is a little sombrero and a poncho over her gear and she'll look like Hideo Kojima's ideal hero. This is the Striking armor set, which is shared between MNK and SAM(urai). NIN and DRG both have recolors of the same set as well. So if Ginger does a bunch of PVP matches, she can eventually earn this. And when I say a bunch, I mean like... maybe a week's worth? If even that?
The slight problem is... look at the clock in the upper right. I recorded this at 2AM back in November. PVP queues do not pop between approximately midnight and noon eastern time. It just doesn't happen. I actually tried queuing after finishing this recording session. After 45 minutes of idling and reading the forums on my phone I gave up and logged out.
Anyway, let's get on with the actual update!
Aye, the ferry docked at the base of this hill will carry you across the lake to the East Shroud. Once you're ashore, head due east and you should find the Hawthorne Hut without much trouble.
Not sure why this is introducing us to the ferry. It's not like it's locked before this. You can just, for free, ride out to East Shroud whenever you want. In fact I did so multiple times during the LNC quests.
This is another quest that got changed with the rework and it shows their design ethos for the rework in general. In the old days, you had an objective to kill 3 hornet clouds to collect their honey, and then you were supposed to deliver that honey to the contact in Hawthorne Hut.
Now we just go straight to the contact.
Indeed, I am Amelain of the Twin Adder. I understand you're here to learn of the sylphs, yes? For all their whimsy, they are a wary lot. Particularly since the Empire has come to the Shroud. Earn their trust, however, and they're as friendly as any folk. They have their quirks, but so do we all, no? Would you know more, you'd do well to speak with the master of this hut, Rolfe. He's forgotten more about the sylphs than I'll ever know.
As a result, while there are a number of quests in this arc, they're all stupidly short like that. The counter I'm using to keep track says there's 23 quests!
This quest is on the guy next to him, Rolfe.
Come to learn a thing or two about the sylphs, have you? I'll tell you one thing, they're a peculiar folk. How peculiar, you ask? Well, just let me tell you! They're... They're... Er... <sigh> Beg pardon, friend. My memory's just not what it used to be. I've seen much and more in my adventuring days, and it's all a clutter in my noggin now. Though, I've shared my stories with those around the hut before. You might have more luck with them.
So we'll just wander around and talk to everyone. This is seriously one of the 23 quests in the arc.
The sylphs? Yes, Father's told me his stories plenty of times. What I've always found most captivating is how their concept of etiquette is almost completely alien to our own. You'd do best not to underestimate them on account of their childlike looks, lest your face end up a mess of glyphs, squiggles, and chocobo scratches. Tee hee!
The quickest way to a Quiverwoman's heart might be through her stomach, but don't even think of trying to foist your foodstuffs on a sylph. They sustain themselves simply by bathing in the sun, or so Rolfe once told me.
The sylphs? Inveterate tricksters and troublemakers, that's what they are! One day they're drawing morbol faces on our masks, the next they're sending our young sentries falling to the bottom of a ravine! Tell them to stop and they just laugh at you. Rolfe claims they harbor no ill will, but I daresay such pranks are no laughing matter.
The sylphs definitely sound faelike. Not quite faeries, but enough like them to invite comparison.
Oh, of course, of course! Hearing your stories-well, my stories-has brought the memories flooding back to me. I feel...I feel like dancing! Yes, nothing brings people together quite like a little toe-tapping. A sylph told me long ago that dancing is a time-honored greeting among their kind. You'd do well to remember this-it just may help win the favor of our forest friends.
I normally wouldn't point a out a level up, but we get Arm's Length at 32. I mentioned in the previous update but didn't mention what it does. A lot of bosses later on in the game have a fondness of knocking you back. Arm's Length is a fairly short cooldown ability that prevents you from being pushed around! Trust me, that's a lot more helpful than you might imagine.
In terms of tanking, it's also one of the more powerful defensive cooldowns in the game because in addition to the knockback resistance, it also applies a pretty potent slow effect on anything that hits you. Given the dungeon meta in this game is gathering up a huge pile of enemies and AOEing them down... well, I'm sure you don't need me to point out its usefulness in that situation.
Also to be clear... I mean a Final Fantasy-style slow, not a move speed debuff.
Oh, still here, eh? Great! There's one more thing you should know about the sylphs. They don't take kindly to guests who show up empty-handed. To earn their trust, you'd do well to bring along a...a... Uh... Drat! What was it, again? And my wife Rosa and I were just speaking of the matter not days ago... Forgive me, friend. Speak to Rosa at the Comb--her memory should prove more reliable than mine own.
The Comb is a nearby apiary.
A peace offering for the sylphs? Were it anyone else, I'd recommend a jar of honey, but I fear that wouldn't get you past their front doorstep, dear. No, their tastes run more to the unusual. Are you, perchance, familiar with milkroot? That's what we call the root of that most fiendish seedkin, the ochu. When chewed, it exudes a cloudy liquid that's said to induce curious visions in the imbiber. You'd not catch me dead trying the stuff, but the sylphs seem to enjoy it to no end.
I've not seen an ochu around the Comb in quite some time, but I did encounter a suspicious clump of grass the other day. Were you to stimulate it somehow--with some of this amber syrup, for example--you might be surprised at what comes out. Good luck.
I play Ginger pretty infrequently, so I'm not really interested in joining a free company. (Like I said earlier, I recorded this footage in early November. Writing this update, it's 2AM on New Year's Day.) And yet if I don't toggle on the game's Busy status, I get fucking inundated with FC invites. It's especially bad during prime time where every 10 minutes it's another whisper: "hey i saw you dont have a free company do you want to join mine"
This particular jerk didn't even bother asking, they just sent an invite at random.
Anyway, we need to spread syrup on the grass nearby.
And then beat up an Ochu.
Ah, you're back. Was my wife able to direct you to a suitable offering?
*hands over milkroot*
Milkroot! But of course! Those sylphs quaff that cloudy stuff as quick as I do a flagon of mead. The effect's just about the same, as well. Anyroad, a gift of milkroot will have the sylphs calling you friend and sister the moment they lay eyes on it. Now let me wrap that up for you-I'm startin' to feel a bit woozy...
You can always tell when I'm cruising through the quests because I just hammer accept before QUEST COMPLETE fades. These are the hidden downsides of doing LPs, folks: you have to move a lot slower than you would if you were playing just for yourself.
Another cutscene recorded in the dead of Eorzean night. I swear I don't even intend to do this.
I've taken the liberty of wrapping your milkroot well and good. This should keep it nice and fresh, not to mention spare you from that gods-awful stench. The sylphs love the stuff, but me, I'd rather bury my nose in chocobo dung. I daresay the reek even rivals the breath of the morbol that put an end to my adventuring days! But I can tell you that story another time. You've more important matters to attend to today, yes? The sylphs are an eccentric bunch, but I've shared their company enough to know they're kind at heart. They'll not shun one whose intentions are true.
May your parley be a fruitful one, friend. And do stop by on your return-there's a flagon of Fullflower mead with your name on it if you'd regale me with your adventuring tales. Ah, and afore I forget, don't go traipsing off just yet. Amelain here would have a word with you. Travel in safety, friend, and do pass along my regards to the winged ones.
It's good to see your knowledge of sylphic culture has matured. I see no reason to delay your mission any further. Upon your arrival at Little Solace, seek out a young sylph by the name of Komuxio. He has served as an intermediary between our peoples on many an occasion, and has the close ear of his tribe's elder. I see that Hawthorne has furnished you with some of that malodorous root the sylphs so adore. I have something of far greater import for you to deliver-a missive from the Elder Seedseer herself.
To summarize the letter's contents in brief, it vouches for the integrity of our envoy-that would be you-and restates Gridania's desire to maintain a harmonious relationship with our long-standing friends of the forest. The war with the Ixal has taken a toll on our resources; we can ill afford to get mired in another conflict. I need not impress upon you any further the importance of this mission. May the Twelve see you return with good tidings.
Flibbertigibbet
The theme of Little Solace is certainly very whimsical. 
Walking one is not familiar to this one. This one does not trust strange walking ones. Strange dancing ones might be a different story, but this one expects no such thing. Walking one should go home, and leave this one be.
/dance
This one would welcome walking one who moves like these ones. If walking one would talk to this one, this one will answer. This one is a busy one, so walking one should speak with quick tongue.
*hands over milkroot and letter*
Walking one brings milkroot! Milkroot fills this one with great joy! This one gives thanks. Gives many, many thanks.
Walking one carries message for elder one? This one will deliver the message to elder one. Walking one should not worry.
Yes, the sylphs are floating leaf things. There's a reason that the generic portrait up above is a head of cabbage.
Hello there! We're envoys from Gridania, and we're here to treat with your people!
Aye. We come to pay our respects to your elder, and to learn from him more of your Lord Ramuh.
Who are these ones? These walking ones come from Gridania?
Walking one became a dancing one and brought milkroot, but walking one tricks this one! This one does not like tricks! This one will speak no more. Elder one is busy. Walking ones should go home.
G-Go home, you say!? But the sylphs of Little Solace have always welcomed Gridanian envoys with open wings!
The letter carried by Ginger here is an oath of peace penned by the Elder Seedseer herself! Still you would refuse us?
This one's reasons are no business of walking ones. Elder one has no words for Gridania. Walking ones waste every one's time.
Well, I never! Turned away at the gates! Whatever did we do to deserve such a rude welcome? Was Ginger's jig insufficiently jiggy?
I'm as baffled as you, but something tells me recent events have our erstwhile fluttery friends feeling uncommonly wary. It would seem we've no choice but to ask around and see how we might earn their trust.
The Scions have a very unfortunate reputation throughout ARR. Thancred at least tried to help you with the investigation into Ifrit. But at the end of the day he still sat back and let us do all the work, and then used his laziness as an excuse to engage in self-pity so he could get words of praise from his surrogate daughter.
Yes, Thancred is technically Minfilia's father figure. It basically never comes up during A Realm Reborn. There's a long story about what happened but the short version is "he directly caused her actual father's death."
Anyway, you can see a pattern starting to emerge. Yda and Papalymo are the least liked Scions and there's a really good reason why. Like I said, Thancred at least pretended to help and even appeared to regret his indolence in letting Ginger face Ifrit alone. These two? They don't even do that. They quite happily sit back and let Ginger do everything. And when all's said and done? They're the first ones back in the Waking Sands to "personally deliver the report" to Minfilia. You just know they're falsifying how much work they did. Which is literally fucking nothing.
Why do I bring this up?
Say, Ginger. Are you in the mood for dancing? That's right: dancing! You went through all that trouble to learn the sylphs' traditional greeting, but you've greeted hardly any of them. Why, if I were a sylph, I'd be beside myself with delight to see an adventurer expressing an interest in my culture! Me? Of course I'd be happy to join--ow, ow! There go those bloody leg cramps of mine acting up again!
Oh... no reason. 
The change to this quest was a very simple one. In the old days, you had to dance for eight people, Sylphs and Gridanian visitors included. Now? You only have to dance for three, and all of them are Sylphs.
/dance
Oooh, walking one knows jolly dance! Jolly dance fills this one with good cheer! Let these two be friends!
/dance
Walking one would be a friend to these ones? This one is overjoyed! But this one keeps the ways of weaving a secret. Even if walking one learned the secret, walking one could not weave in the same way.
Much later on, the sylphs unlock as a beast tribe quest hub. Beast tribe quests are a series of daily quests you do to make a reputation bar go up. However, just unlocking their quests lets you buy, for cheap, the cloth you need for most A Realm Reborn weaving crafts. Even if you have no intention of actually doing the quests, you owe it to yourself to unlock them as a vendor. Trust me, if you have any interest in crafting, it will save you soooo much time in the long run.
Back in one of the first updates, when I covered the Moonfire Faire 2019, I briefly showed off another beast tribe vendor that sold cooking supplies. Anyway...
/dance
Ah, walking one is a friend to these ones! Friendly like gracious elder one of forest city. Knows how to dance into these ones' hearts!
Can you imagine having to do that 5 more times? I'm sure most of you can. Vividly.
Ginger! Would you like to hear the good news, or the better news? The good news is that your lovely dancing has brought smiles and high spirits to all of Little Solace! The better news? Why, I've thoroughly recovered from those accursed leg cramps! Onward to our next adventure!
Ginger. As an adventurer, you're no stranger to helping distressed folk, I'd wager. Tales of good deeds are quick to spread. The adventurer who comes to the aid of the local populace can go from stranger to hero o'ernight. No doubt you see what I'm getting at. The sylphs who make their home in Little Solace do so having been driven from their woodland home. Surely, they have their fair share of troubles.
Seek out troubled sylphs, and see what might be done to ease their worries. A sound plan, would you not say? That said, the sylphs are not known to share their worries with outsiders. You would be better off inquiring with Hearer Imedia; of the Gridanians who reside here, she is most like to be privy to the sylphs' troubles.
Praise be to the elementals-I cannot express how happy I am to see an adventurer with a truly gentle heart. The sylphs of Little Solace are sorely in need of aid. Pray hear me out. Being a temporary settlement, Little Solace wants for amenities, not least a stout set of defenses. Consequently, beasts from malms around are free to wander in and terrorize the hapless residents.
The ziz gorlins and gall gnats that roam these parts are especially troublesome, but slaying one of each should serve as a warning to the rest. Furthermore, perhaps you could gather three brownie brushes as well. They play an important role in sylphic culture-I do not claim to know the details-and what with such feral beasts prowling the forests, they are not easily come by. When you are done with the deeds, seek out Komuxio. He is slow to warm to outsiders, but your good intentions will not be lost on him. My own experience speaks to this.
This is a bog standard kill 'n gather quest. It also got quite heavily changed by the 5.3 rework. The old quest required...
Slay 5 ziz gorlins
Slay 5 gall gnats
Collect 5 brownie brushes
The new quest?
Slay 1 ziz gorlin
Slay 1gall gnat
Collect 3 brownie brushes
Quite a reduction, huh? Anyway let's...
Orokin Reactor has a rocket-propelled turtle...
Anyway, it doesn't take very long to find all the brownie bushes and kill the required enemies.
And while looking for a wasp to kill, I found this guy. There's only a handful of cutscenes that happen at this specific spot. So this guy is very likely watching the ending (or end credits) of Heavensward.
Moving on, Orokin makes a delivery to Ginger and we spend a few minutes comparing mounts. I think I won by virtue of being asked why I have a camel ten times Ginger's size. Zeratanis bought it for me off the marketboard for a pittance. As for the delivery?
Now that Ginger is a proper monk, I think it's only fitting that she actually uses her fists to fight. So every cutscene from now on, she won't be pulling out a caestus or a katar on enemies, she'll be ready to bare-knuckle box! As Yoship intended.
And the good thing about the glamour system in the game is that if I do this... then only the slots that have glamour items in them will have their appearance overwritten. So from now on, Ginger's MNK weapons will not appear, her fists will always be a set of punching gloves, and that gaudy-ass aetheryte earring will no longer appear either.
Like so!
Anyway, back to Komuxio. Also chat is full of spoilers, so I blurred them out.
Dancing one is still here? Dancing one can dance all day-this one's trust is not so easily earned.
*hands over brownie bushes*
Hm? Dancing one brings brownie brushes for this one? This one can dye thread once more. This one is pleased. Dancing one kills bitey, buzzy one? This one hates, hates, hates bitey, buzzy ones! Dancing one is kind... Too kind. Many walking ones come to these ones' abode, but few are friendly like dancing one. Perhaps this one was wrong not to trust dancing one, after all.
Anyway, that's quite enough for now.
NEXT TIME: More "proving our worth" to the sylphs 