Toggle Background Color
Hello everyone and welcome to the endgame of FFXIV. Before we get started on the real meat of the next several updates, Ginger has some unfinished business with Erik and Widargelt both.
Muahahahaha! My theory was correct! Correct, I tell you! This will be the greatest academic breakthrough of my lifetime! Perhaps of all lifetimes! I shall spare you the details of my experiment-as you are not like to comprehend their significance anyway-and proceed directly to the all-important conclusion! The announcement of my theory before a council of my peers was met with thunderous applause!
And to think I owe it all to a vacant-eyed adventurer and a simpleton monk! Both you and the Pugilists' Guild that sent you are due a debt of gratitude. Speaking of the monk, where in Eorzea has the semiliterate oaf wandered off to? I took note of his attendance among the spectators at the conference, but he has yet to present himself and offer his congratulations.
...Aaahhh! What have I done!? Ginger, I fear the words I offered may have driven Widargelt to attempt the insane.
I analyzed the aetherial waves of your bodies, second by second. I was able to isolate and identify those of the final aetherial regulation mechanism-the so-called seventh chakra! From that, I was able to find the land which was most likely to resonate with those waves. Silvertear Falls! I went to the site myself to investigate, and it was there that I made my great discovery-the discovery of the century!
<sigh> It occurs to me that you shall never accomplish such a feat of the mind, Ginger, and I find myself pitying you. But I digress. Do you not see what I have done, Ginger! I told him precisely where he must go to unlock the seventh chakra!
He has given his life to the fight to reclaim Ala Mhigo from the Empire. More than anything, he desires the power needed to achieve that end-the power to combat the might of all Garlemald. Any fool can see that- Ahem, almost any fool can see that he imagines the seventh chakra to be that power! Yet battling the Empire on such terms will only result in another tragedy like that which befell Ala Mhigo. I pray you do not mean to follow him in this fool's crusade.
He has gone to Silvertear Falls in Mor Dhona. I am certain of it! You must go, Ginger! You must stop him! My words will not sway him-just as they could not sway my son. Perhaps yours will.
For all that Erik plays at being a total asshole, he genuinely cares for both Ginger and Widargelt both. And so now Ginger needs to stop her mentor from making a most terrible mistake.
There's Widdy now...
Oh dear.
I have Questions about how some imperial scouts made it past Revenant's Toll. The city would have torn them apart and spit them out!
You claim the power of Garlemald? Fools. Power outside your own cannot be trusted. You had no hope of defeating me.
The seventh chakra swells within me. Soon it will open. When it does, the Empire will burn. The power of magitek... The power of Garlemald...
Ala Mhigo fell to these!?
Ginger takes a step back because she's not sure what Widargelt is capable of now...
But she's surrounded.
Ah, sister. You are late.
He's practically gone Super Saiyan.
I wanted us to be alone.
Erik was right. This is the place. You have come. Our chakra beat as drums... Do you not feel it, sister? Living in constant fear of death. Struggling to stay warm enough to sleep. Eating crumbs to fight hunger.
Garlemald took everything from Ala Mhigo! They left us nothing! Not even our pride. Look to the craven teacher. He is proof of the truth I speak. I will reclaim it. All of it. But I need great power to do so. That power rests in the seventh chakra.
I made you a promise. I have not forgotten. The fifth and final piece. It is yours to claim. But only if you defeat me. I told you when we first met. We monks seek sacred ground. There we train. That is how the chakra are opened.
The teacher told me himself. This is where the seventh chakra opens. This is my sacred battleground. The ground of battle between you and me. Your strength has peaked. Through it, mine will grow. Do not despair. Your death will have purpose. It will be for Ala Mhigo. Rejoice, sister...
Day of Fate ~Spirit vs Spirit~
Ginger starts off surrounded so...
One...
Two...
Three...
Four!
Widargelt may have the legendary Seventh Chakra open but...
Ginger is just that much more badass.
Give me your hand and let me help you up. Dumbass.
So close... Why? Why will you not yield your power? For the greater good...
Ginger approaches him.
Stay back! This power...is mine! The others of Eorzea ignore our suffering. Why should I care for their lives? Why should I care for yours? I must have that power. I must protect my people.
Ginger... That power...
That light! Never have I seen any like it. Is this the opening of the seventh chakra? Fascinating! Simply fascinating!
You have no mind for study, but your gift for fieldwork is extraordinary indeed.
Erik throws a haymaker right at Widargelt's jaw.
Wh-Why!? Why did you strike me?
Silence, you bloody fool! You oaf! You idiot! I would strike you a thousand times more if it did not pain my hand so. Next time, I shall bring a stick! Bugger opening your infernal chakra, and open your bloody ears for once! Cid Garlond of the Ironworks that bear his name once wrote that these Silvertear Falls lie at the center of our world.
Our world is round, and we live on its surface. Even you should see, then, that he did not speak of a center in the physical sense. I am no astrologian, nor a biologist, but I have studied enough of the various sciences to say this:
The vital energy of Hydaelyn, that which is called aether, is one and the same as the life force in which you monks believe. As the center of our world, these Silvertear Falls are connected to what you call chakra in an inexplicably profound way. We all share in the same existence. We are neither separate nor distinct from the world. Our energy and its energy are one.
At times, that energy may wreak havoc and destruction, but it plays a far grander and more significant role. To bring forth life! As part of this world, you must endeavor to do the same. You sought only to gain power by force. In that, you are no different than the very Garleans you seek to destroy. Is this what you truly wish to be?
You speak pretty words. But would you speak them to our people? To every soul who has suffered? To children with empty bellies? To wives made widows?
I would. To every last soul among them. Even if they failed to grasp their meaning, as you do now. I would, and will, speak those words until they are understood.
Long have I studied the history of this realm's wars. If there is aught I have learned, it is that there is no future for Eorzea should her people struggle and vie for power without considering the consequences of their doing so. With great power comes great responsibility. To seize the former and deny the latter is to beget despair.
The duty we owe to one another, and to this world as part of it, is to use what power we possess to deliver a future full of life-not death. Can you truly not see the right in this?
Erik finally got through to him.
You have done the realm, indeed the world, a great service, Ginger. As a scholar, as a teacher, as an Ala Mhigan, as a man-I offer you my deepest thanks.
Widargelt is stubborn, as most monks are. I do not know if it will be possible for him to change his mind. But I pray he does. For his own sake, and for the world's. He calls you his sister. Go now. Speak to him as one.
Not long ago, I spoke with a man. An Ala Mhigan. He too was of the Resistance. He asked me a simple question. Why do I fight? I did not hesitate. I did not think. The word came of its own will-revenge. He said revenge is in all our hearts. That it is the most common of reasons. The easiest. And the most dangerous.
Sounds like Widargelt talked to Gundobald.
I did not think on it then. Perhaps now I should. I thought of nothing else. But you thought of me, sister. You and the teacher. For that I thank you both.
I made a promise. I will keep it. The fifth piece is yours. It is meant for you. For one whose seventh chakra is open.
Never actually going to wear it. I don't like the way the monk artifact gear looks.
Ala Mhigo fought to protect itself. To protect all Eorzea from the Empire. And yet we are despised. Ignored. Worse, we are forgotten. Even so, the teacher preached peace. For a long time, I did not understand. I hated him for it. Ala Mhigans are a proud people. This pride is strong in me. And in the teacher. As it was in his son.
He fought in the Resistance. Yet it cost him his life. He, too, cursed his father for being a coward. I wish I could speak to him. I wish to tell him this is not so. Farewell, sister. May Rhalgr watch over you.
Ginger, I shit you not, now has most of her basic kit. With the addition of Dragon Kick, she now has two full combos - one for the rear positional, and one for the flank positional.
Furthermore, if Ginger hits Dragon Kick after coming off of a combo finisher, her next Bootshine attack is empowered. The Bootshine needs to hit from behind, but if she does so... it's a guaranteed crit!
This concludes the monk quests for FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn. In order to undertake the next series of quests, you must first meet the following requirements:
You must have completed the main scenario quest "Before the Dawn." Once you have done so, the next monk quest will be available from Erik.
Before the Dawn is the very last quest that this LP is going to cover. It is the final quest in Patch 2.55. So for all intents and purposes, we're done with MNK for a very long time.
And let's get on with the feature presentation. I recorded this this past week and a few things have changed, most notably being that Ginger now has some new duds thanks to a generous donation from Eevee.
Also worth pointing out:
In order to proceed with this quest, you must first complete the quest "My Little Chocobo (Immortal Flames)." You may accept the quest "My Little Chocobo (Immortal Flames)" by speaking with Commander Swift at the Hall of Flames.
Also the previous quest in the MSQ ended at level 46. This one requires you to be level 49 to proceed. The amount of XP you get for doing the MSQ was increased, but apparently this infamous three level gap still leaves people out in the cold. It definitely did when I took Bren through the MSQ the first time.
Do your daily roulettes! They're really important!
Ginger's level 52, for what it's worth. She's done a lot of beast tribe quests in the time since I recorded the Scion Rescue arc.
All present? Then let us begin.
Kiss of Chaos
We have received the details of the impending operation. In what promises to be the largest single counteroffensive in the realm's troubled history, the Alliance will strike at every imperial stronghold standing upon Eorzean soil. As might be expected, the operation will be complex, but you need not commit its intricacies to memory.
It is enough that each man understands his part and plays it to the best of his ability.
The finer instructions, you will receive at each staging point.
The action on the map is gonna point out the broad strokes of the plan. You'll see.
To begin, let us review the distribution of our forces. From west to east-the Maelstrom of Limsa Lominsa, the Immortal Flames of Ul'dah, and the Order of the Twin Adder of Gridania.
Next, let us examine the locations of the imperial strongholds.
Near Limsa Lominsa, we have Castrum Occidens, situated in eastern Vylbrand, and Castrum Marinum, which lies to the south and east, in the midst of the Rhotano Sea.
Near Ul'dah, we have Castrum Meridianum to the north, and the coastal outpost at Cape Westwind which connects Castrum Marinum to the mainland by means of a magitek transporter.
Near Gridania, we have Castrum Oriens, which lies upon the eastern edge of the Twelveswood. And finally, in Mor Dhona...stands Castrum Centri. A thorn in the heart of Eorzea.
Each of the shots adds new imperial bases. And given what I've covered of Eorzean geography in this LP, you can actually make pretty educated guesses about which is which.
The forthcoming operation will see Allied forces assault each of the aforementioned locations, with the ultimate objective of destroying the Empire's new weapon, housed within Castrum Meridianum.
To do otherwise would be to risk being caught 'twixt hammer and anvil.
The operation will comprise four distinct phases, all told. The first shall see us eliminate one of the Black Wolf's most trusted lieutenants-Rhitahtyn sas Arvina.
According to our intelligence, the praefectus is due to visit the imperial outpost at Cape Westwind for an inspection. When he arrives, we shall dispatch an elite adventurer unit to eliminate him. Ginger, we would have you lead this assault.
Ginger's the crystal here!
Rhitahtyn is a peerless field tactician. Shorn of his leadership, the garrison at Castrum Occidens will be as a snake without its head.
Phase two will see us sever Castrum Meridianum's primary lines of supply.
As soon as Rhitahtyn's presence is confirmed at the coastal outpost, the Maelstrom will lay siege to Castrum Occidens.
At that very hour, the Lominsan Armada, helmed by the Admiral herself, shall move to blockade Castrum Marinum.
Meanwhile, in the Twelveswood, the Order of the Twin Adder will surround Castrum Oriens.
And they'll have the sylphs to help them! Frixio's been waiting for a chance to avenge these ones!
Phase three shall see us neutralize Castrum Meridianum's defenses.
Forming our main thrust, the Immortal Flames will march against the stronghold with all their strength. While the enemy's eyes are thus drawn outwards, another elite adventurer unit shall infiltrate the castrum.
Its mission: to disable the magitek field generator which protects the Praetorium, a fortress within a fortress wherein the Ultima Weapon is believed to be housed. Ginger, we would have you take command once more.
Meanwhile, the Order of the Twin Adder will blockade the railway which connects Centri and Meridianum, preventing the timely arrival of reinforcements from Mor Dhona.
A wise precaution. The monstrous locomotive which runs back and forth between the two castra is capacious enough to transport a small army, by all accounts.
It is well the Garleans did not think to give it wings.
Once Meridianum's defenses have been compromised, the operation will enter its fourth and final phase.
This will see the Immortal Flames enter the stronghold and suppress the remnants of the enemy garrison.
...Allowing Ginger's unit to pass unopposed into the Praetorium, where they will locate and destroy the Ultima Weapon.
By this feat shall the operation be deemed a success.
The plan is simple enough, but there are a lot of moving parts and a lot of ways that it could go sideways. And Ginger has the most dangerous job of all!
In addition to the Grand Companies, we can count upon the support of a variety of other parties, from the pirates of Limsa Lominsa to the Monetarists of Ul'dah. In all, the operation will involve no fewer than twelve major factions.
Legend holds that the Archons were twelve in one, and one in twelve... It is for this reason that our grand endeavor has been dubbed "Operation Archon."
Countless free companies have also pledged their swords, and more join us by the day. At long last, all of Eorzea is rising as one.
As before, we Scions shall work in concert with the Grand Companies. Yda, Papalymo, Y'shtola-pray accompany your respective organizations on their missions.
Urianger, I would have you represent us in Ul'dah. Reassure the financiers that they have made a sound investment. When that is done, pray return here and aid in the coordination of our forces. Tataru, please assist Urianger in any way you are able, and ensure that everyone is kept abreast of the latest developments.
Minfilia, Cid, and I shall accompany the main host in an advisory capacity. It will be our task to analyze intelligence as it comes into our possession, and make the necessary recommendations to command.
As Alphinaud mentioned, you are to lead the elite unit of adventurers whose task it will be to see each of Operation Archon's main objectives fulfilled. Yours is the most important role of all, and like to be the most dangerous. Pray choose your party well, and stint not in your preparation.
The battle for the future of the realm is about to begin. Together, let us show the Black Wolf the power of a united Eorzea!
Pray report to the Immortal Flames encampment situated to the north of here when you are ready to be briefed on your first mission. I cannot stress this enough, but please be careful. May you walk in the light of the Crystal.
There's a restless energy in the air.
Each phase of Operation Archon must be executed to perfection, Ginger. The fate of Eorzea hangs in the balance!
The Maelstrom has committed its forces to the operation. In fact, the pirates look forward to their part in this naval warfare with something approaching unholy glee.
The chief? To be honest, I don't know where he is or what he's up to at the moment. Probably busy doing something only he can do.
<sigh> Tataru... I suppose it wasn't meant to be.
Goddamn, dude. You gotta actually talk to her and make your intentions known. You can't just moon over a girl and expect to get anywhere with it. Sink or swim, you gotta give it a whirl.
Arenvald is still stuck on A'aba and Aulie, which is understandable. They were all pretty tight.
We'll win this one for A'aba and Aulie and Una and Satzfloh and Clive and Percevains and... and everyone who died.
They finally did it. They finally managed to get together!
Have a seat, lass! I was just tellin' me brothers about the time these Amalj'aa saved me from the Brass Blades. You were there, remember?
Bah, Brendt thinks he had it bad. Try bribin' a pirate an' see where that gets you!
Listen to these two, swappin' their stories. Life ain't always got to be an adventure, I say. Me, I'm the sort who enjoys a nice, relaxin' carriage ride.
Urianger is offering us a quest to deal with Odin. Seriously. This is a chain that unlocks one of the hardest trials in A Realm Reborn, that even back in the day it was a shitshow if you could finish it.
It has some neat looking gear, at least. We'll be covering that in good time. All in good time.
Gods' sake, Yda! We have the operation to think about, and you're wearing yourself down by exercising!? Your form isn't evne correct! It's cheating to swing your arms! I appreciate that you have nervous energy, but there will be no shortage of opportunities to expend it when we go toe-to-toe with the Garleans!
Oh, Ginger! Just warming up... <pant> ...for the operation. We're going to accompany... <pant> ...the Gridanians. Um... <pant> ...how many times was that...?
The entire headquarters is up in arms! I can scarce stay abreast of all the goings-on!
If we leave north out of Vesper Bay, we can find a disused area that nobody ever comes to unless they're forced to.
You are well come, Ginger Pepper of the Scions. As communications officer, it falls to me to issue you your orders, and provide guidance on forthcoming missions. Your first mission is to infiltrate the imperial outpost at Cape Westwind and eliminate Praefectus Rhitahtyn sas Arvina.
All participating units are now in position and awaiting your arrival. Please proceed to the staging point and report to Lieutenant Adalbert. This is but the first step in our bid to purge the realm of the Garlean menace. I shall pray for your success!
I think one of the THM quests comes out here. I've since recorded the class quest that comes out here. It's THM 30.
If we climb the left wall, we'll eventually arrive at Cape Westwind.
So you're Ginger Pepper, the fearless adventurer who's to lead the assault. We've been expecting you. Our Maelstrom friends report that Rhitahtyn sas Arvina departed Castrum Occidens a bell ago.
And sure enough, a convoy of imperial airships landed here just now. The likelihood is high that our target was aboard one of the vessels. I've dispatched scouts to verify his presence before we strike.
Command to all units. Requesting status report.
This is Antlion I. Target has not been sighted.
This is Antlion II. Likewise, target has not been sighted.
Antlion III here. We've got nothin' for ye neither.
This is Antlion IV. Nothing to report as of- Wait! Disregard previous message! Target sighted. I say again: target sighted.
Understood. Hold your position.
Attention, all units. This is Lieutenant Adalbert Cotter. The first step of Operation Archon begins with us. Should we falter here, all hope of victory will be lost. 'Tis no small burden, but know that I believe in all of you. So believe in yourselves, and together we will blaze a path for our brothers and sisters of the Alliance to follow.
We will create multiple diversions and disperse the enemy garrison. That should give your people a chance to breach their defenses. Go now, Ginger, and bring us Rhitahtyn's head! May Rhalgr grant you strength!
Commence diversionary maneuvers!
Past three fences is the actual entrance to Cape Westwind.
Cape Westwind is the first 8-player trial. All future trials will involve 7 other players! So Ginger's really in the big leagues now. With Ginger for this particular trial are Royce Wield and Tydus Grey, the characters of Roluth and Solitair respectively.
Ginger and Rhitahtyn stare each other down.
It would appear we have unexpected guests. Now, where have I seen you before? Ah, but of course-the woman who felled the mighty Titan.
This is the eikon-slayer!?
I see. The commotion without is naught but a diversion. Allow me to hazard a guess: by eliminating me, you hope to undermine the garrison at Occidens. A bold strategy, to be sure, but have you the strength to see it to fruition?
Leave us. None of you are a match for her. Send word to Castrum Occidens. Tell them the Lominsans are coming.
At once, my lord!
Fifteen years have come and gone since Lord van Baelsar first set foot in Eorzea, yet his ambition for the realm burns as strong as ever it did. Know you what fuels it, adventurer? The desire to deliver the people from their suffering. The lands he has conquered were all beset with problems-poverty, starvation, lawlessness, and strife. My homeland was no exception. Had my lord not reached out and claimed it for the Empire, it would eventually have destroyed itself.
But under his sage leadership, my people enjoyed such peace and stability as we had never known. And he only desires the selfsame for the people of this realm. Under his rule, Eorzea would be free from the shackles which bind it-the shackles of false faith.
There would be no feeble leaders to misguide the masses, no eikons to bleed the realm dry. True peace would reign, and the people would be free to live their lives without fear of persecution or oppression.
Should you doubt the truth of my words, I bid you look upon me. I am no son of Garlemald, yet Lord van Baelsar saw fit to raise me to a station of great honor. He measures a man not by his birth, but by his worth. Such is his sense of justice. By the grace of His Excellency, I am where I was born to be-upon the field of battle.
He has given me a noble cause to fight for, and worthy adversaries to smite. I am not wont to bare my steel needlessly. But if you are deaf to reason... In the name of Lord van Baelsar, I, Rhitahtyn sas Arvina, do swear to strike you down!
So Rhitahtyn has several phases that the group needs to burn through. 8 players means he has a lot of health, and so we'll be here for a while.
At 75% health he'll mark both healers for stack markers. The DPS need to group up with them in order to share the incoming damage. And don't move away after the first hit, because this is training for later on when Ahk Morn markers will require you to stay put for three hits.
After the three hits go out, everyone can resume beating on him until he reaches 50% HP...
<gasp> <pant> Forgive me... I have failed you... Lord van Baelsar!!!
At 50% HP, he'll chain tankbusters, so the first tank needs to use their invuln to soak the hit...
Then the second tank needs to taunt the boss and then activate THEIR invulnerability as well to survive.
Naturally the whole time, Rhitahtyn is throwing out AOEs to dodge left, right, and center.
There are some particularly nasty combinations, too. You gotta keep on your toes. It's not uncommon to wipe on this one. The players keep asking Square to nerf it, but the devs just don't listen.
