Toggle Background Color
Hello everyone and welcome back! Today's update is the first one in a post-Endwalker world. As I'm sure like 99% of you reading know, the game came out last Friday.
I rolled credits on it last night. Now that my focus isn't on the game itself, I can finally concentrate on creating an update, so let's rejoin Ginger's ongoing journey with Noctis after the little camping trip.
It's good that we took care of the daemon, but there weren't any clues this time either. <sigh>
So, how did you fare? Were you able to find your answers?
Nope. We found only more questions. Like how the hell a daemon ended up here as well.
A daemon?
It's... a kind of monster.
From your world, I assume. And it somehow came to be here, in Eorzea... I'm no naturalist, but I imagine it being similar to a voidsent. And if even a monster such as that could find its way to our world, then surely-surely you can find your way back too!
We'll eventually learn more about voidsent in the future. Just remember, for now, that they're Eorzea's equivalent of demons.
Yeah, I hope so...
I'll keep working with my colleagues to find new leads. So just sit tight for now.
Actually, I'd rather go for a walk, check out the area a little. That's cool, yeah?
Well, it should be safe enough if you keep close to the city...
Great. See ya later.
<sigh> There he goes again...
Though I do not think that Noctis would disappear on us, I would feel much better knowing you were with him. Will you go and keep him company? I promise to have new information to share before long, so see that you both return soon, all right?
Oh, hey. What's up?
Well...
Well, you can tell Kipih she doesn't need to worry. I can take care of myself, and I'm not about to run off somewhere. I was just checking out the clothing at this stall here. And as I was browsing, the shopkeeper offered me some stuff for free.
Your friend has a fine physique and exceptional fashion sense. Having an attractive young man such as him model our garments is the best form of advertisement.
Thanks, lady. Anyway, I wanna explore some more. You're cool to hang out for a bit, yeah?
This, I think, is FFXIV's strength. The story is quite good, but it would not achieve its highs without the excellent character writing. So while some would probably view hanging out with FF15's main character as a dumb, pointless waste of time, I enjoy it. It shows Noct and Ginger building a fun, platonic friendship and just spending time together.
It's a technique that other WoW MMOs used to know and have since forgotten. All the bombast in the world isn't worth shit if it's not happening to characters you care about. And you'd have a hard time convincing me there's a person alive who still cares about any of Blizzard's characters.
By the way, as we've been doing these quests, we've been getting pieces of Noct's clothing for our own use. The jacket in particular, which we get from this quest, is a very nice piece that goes with a lot of other glamour items to create a nice, casual look.
After all that, I still don't have any idea how I'm supposed to get home... For now, it looks like there's nothing I can do except wait for Kipih to dig up clues. So I was thinking, I've come all this way to this beautiful place. I might as well try to see what I can of it, so I've got something to tell my friends.
...It may not look like it, but I'm kinda crazy about fishing. I go whenever I have time, and I've got time now, so I'm gonna hit up a place nearby. You should come too.
Over in the Central Shroud, we can find Noct fishing away happily.
Safe Haven
What took you so long? I've already reeled in a dozen.
To be honest with you, I'm worried. I keep thinking, what if I never found my way back? And it gets me down.
But being here in this tranquil forest and casting the line... It calms me. Helps me focus. I have to get back. People are counting on me.
Oh hey, let's take a photo together. That massive waterwheel over there would make for a great backdrop.
Take a pho-what?
Huh, guess you don't have cameras here. So, a photo is a... Actually, let me just show you.
You ready? Here we go!
Relax and Reflect
Poor Ginger is surprised.
Nice! I can practically hear Prompto say "Love the lighting!" Can't wait to show this to the fellas when I get back.
Uhh...
You're right, we should be getting back ourselves. Come on, let's go.
Kipih is standing here jotting stuff down in her notebook.
Daemons
What's the matter?
I've just learned from a colleague that the mechanical soldiers have also appeared in Ixali territory.
That in itself wouldn't be a cause for concern, but the beastmen responded with alarm to the trespassers and have summoned forth Garuda!
Ginger's shocked expression is priceless. 
That bird lady? Pretty sure we already took care of her. Back in my world, anyway.
Never forget: miqo'te have expressive tails.
Primal? Is that like an Astral or a Messenger? Well, whatever it is, we'll take care of it one way or another. So, where's Garuda supposed to have appeared exactly?
At the Howling Eye, her domain to the north. But it's nigh impossible to venture near, for Garuda shrouds her sanctuary with violent winds. If you are determined to face her, however, I will contact the Ironworks and request a loan of an airship.
They both nod at each other.
Very well, then. While you see to your preparations, I will secure your transportation. When you are ready, come and meet me in front of the Carline Canopy.
You've proven yourself a friend. If we're gonna face Garuda together, I'll lend you the power of kings.
It's a special power that I have, but I can share it with others. With it, you can quickly warp around, like you've seen me do. Might take some getting used to, but I'm sure you've got what it takes.
Garuda's causing trouble because of the MTs, and I feel responsible for bringing them here. Let's go make things right!
Ready when you are!
The airship is ready to bear you and Noctis into battle! Are your preparations in order?
This duty is bugged. There's no two ways around it. I have yet to meet a single person who has beaten it their first try. You're supposed to use Ginger's temporary warp power up to warp to safety out of a one-shot AOE.
But the AOE keeps pulling you back to the boss before you can react. So you just get one shot. Eevee has informed me that even back in the day, this duty was still bugged to shit in the same fashion. So it's just never worked right.
Without further ado, then!
One Blood
Squawwwkkk! Run! Run for your lives! Like our goddess, it is...yet our goddess, it is not!
Horrors of the Night
Clamorous creatures... Why have they summoned me? And what strange land is this?
Ahhh, the Chosen King, Noctis. So that is the way of it. Yours was the presence that drew me hither. Very well. Take up your weapon, Chosen King, and face me. We shall see if you are worthy of my power.
So remember what I said about the duty being bugged and having never worked right?
Case in point. This is 3 minutes in to the duty as a black mage. Ginger got one shot by an attack that she was successfully dodging.
So after swapping to monk, let's try that again on Very Easy. I'm choosing to, from a roleplay perspective, believe this is Ginger going in at maximum Warrior of Light power instead of holding back.
Apocalypsis Noctis
Alright, Ginger, it's time to put your new power to use.
You might notice that shiny new button on Ginger's screen. This is the Extra Action Button. Occasionally duties or trials will have an extra mechanic that you need to activate with that. In this case, Noct has allowed Ginger to borrow the power of his Warp Strike ability.
You'll get the hang of it in no time. We'll warp circles around Garuda!
Anything we can target, we can warp to. We'll need this to dodge in and out of Garuda's attacks.
Garuda flits around and will occasionally do a huge AOE that you don't have time to run out of. But if we warp to the handy-dandy monolith...
It's a lot of fun warping around like this.
Get ready, Ginger! We warp in to strike together!
Yeah, that's what I call teamwork! Keep it up!
Warping with Noct causes a Link Strke which deals a lot of damage.
Eventually, a new mechanic pops up. This is a line stack marker. The boss will eventually shoot an attack at someone and anyone standing vaguely in line with them will share damage, splitting it among everyone in that line.
At less than half health, Garuda will start charging up Microburst. This is the attack that's bugged. What you're supposed to do is warp strike to the monolith but...
Pictured: Ginger being yanked back toward the boss mid-warp. You're SUPPOSED to line of sight the attack so the invulnerable monolith takes damage instead of you. Even if you get behind it, the charge still pulls you THROUGH the rocks to back to the boss. It's really frustrating.
On Very Easy, the attack merely does half of Ginger's health.
Another new mechanic: this is commonly called doritos for what I hope are obvious reasons. Anyone with a triangle marker needs to stack with the rest of the triangles to prevent a mechanic from happening.
Once you've almost beaten Garuda, she casts Mistral Gaol.
This puts the both of you in an inescapable wind prison.
Son of a-! Hang on, Ginger!
This is the last new mechanic introduced.
There's a button to press on screen. But the secret to all of these (with a single bugged exception in Endwalker content) is that you can just spam the shit out of your keybinds.
Some of these not-QTEs are designed to feel tense and so you have to keep a meter from emptying. Usually in those cases, the meter will not gain very much back if you spam when it's full. Instead if you spam when it's lower, you get more back. And if it's in the last 10%, you get a ton back.
This is the only one of these we will see until, I shit you not, the titular quest in Stormblood. For those of you that don't know what that means, it means the literal last quest of the 4.0 MSQ. This LP is at the tail end of 2.1 content. We have a ways to go.
Noct breaks free of his gaol!
I'll take it from here!
I have many questions about why he's using an Astrologian's, uh, card setup. But sure.
He punches and kicks the air some...
He shoots an arrow while jumping back...
Then he warp strikes at Garuda...
Which finally beats her!
Canticle
You pack a serious punch, Ginger. I'm impressed.
The Crystal has chosen well indeed. I acknowledge your strength, Noctis. Yours and your companion's both.
Man, what is it with gods and trials? Do you always have to be so skeptical?
So it is decreed. At the world's peril do we grant our power unto the untested.
Apologies for the delay! She's unlike anything I've seen before, so it took me a while to get acquainted, but the Regalia is as good as new.
Seriously? I owe you big time!
Noctis. There is much you have left undone on Eos. Your presence here is an anchor, allowing me to link the two worlds. For you, I shall open the way.
Tarry not, for the gate cannot remain for long.
Got it. Thanks.
Not-Garuda flies up into the air and dissipates.
Divinities... One minute they're trying to kill you, the next they're helping you. I'll never understand them.
Thanks for the company, Ginger. It was nice going around with you.
I had fun! Let's do it again sometime!
Yeah, definitely. We gotta hang out again.
Valse di Fantastica
Well, I better get moving. I've got a promise to keep, after all. Take care, now!
Seeya, Noct.
A mysterious girl appears in the portal!
Ginger is confused, but...
Noct rides off to join her.
And the portal closes after him.
Prayer de LUNA
Back in Gridania...
Before Noctis went into the portal, I could've sworn I saw a woman amidst the light. An ethereal beauty dressed all in white.
I saw her too. It seemed to me she was waiting for Noctis. Guiding him. I can only assume they share a deep bond.
Oh! Then perhaps that was his fiancée!
Perhaps so...and perhaps not. The sole person who could've enlightened us has vanished into the light.
Well, whoever and wherever Noctis's fiancée may be, I do hope they are reunited.
Valse di Fantastica
But the most thanks of all, I reserve for you, my dear adventurer. In no small part due to your help, Noctis managed to find his way home, and my article can reach a climactic conclusion. See that you do not miss it!
*nods*
Kipih runs off...
A strangely charismatic young man, was Noctis... In the end, we never learned the circumstances of his coming here. But if he has things he must do back home, as that Garuda-like being said, perhaps this was a trial that he had to overcome along his journey.
At any rate, old friend, I believe our work here is done. Wherever the long road may lead him, may Noctis ever ride in the light of the Crystal.
Cid and Ginger walk off, but...
She turns back for one last second...
And then continues on her way.
While this would make a good stopping point for the story... There's still one more thing for Ginger to do.
Back in the Gold Saucer, there's an Ironworks Vendor.
During this limited-time event that's now almost 2 months gone, you could spen 200,000 MGP to get a special 4 person mount. One that I called out in some of the earliest updates of the LP.
Now Ginger has her own FF15-mobile! And before I forget...
Final Fantasy XV - Final Fantasy XIV Crossover Walkthrough (FULL GAME) -- This is an hour long VOD someone streamed on youtube nearly 3 years ago. It shows all the content in this crossover, from the XV side. Give it a watch!
NEXT TIME: Ginger can do many things, but can she strum a lyre while reciting poetry? BRD 30-50 coming up next.