Lv.80 Old Sharlayan, New to You
Krile: I had thought to launch directly into an explanation of what I've learned and how we might proceed...
Krile: But this is Ciel and Estinien's first time in Sharlayan─and for the rest of you, a homecoming that was long overdue.
Krile: You must have places you wish to visit, and people you're dying to see! Therefore I propose we postpone our agenda so that you all may have sufficient time to recover from your journey and get your bearings in the city.
Krile: Once you've settled in, we can reconvene at the Baldesion Annex. How does that sound?
Alphinaud: 'Tis a fine suggestion. We may not be welcome at the Leveilleur estate as such, but I should like to nose around the neighborhood all the same.
Y'shtola: I am equally untethered, as it were. There is no particular place that my kin call “home”...
Y'shtola: Still, I would not pass up the opportunity to reacquaint myself with the city.
Thancred: Likewise. A quick tour of our old haunts might even yield some useful gossip.
Thancred: The annex was west of the aetheryte plaza, wasn't it? I shall join you there anon.
Krile: Yes, we'll see you there!
Urianger: I, too, have places I would be remiss in not visiting forthwith. By thy leave...
Krile: What of you, Estinien? My services as a guide are yours for the asking.
Estinien: That won't be necessary. Until we reconvene, I prefer to wander as the wind takes me.
Krile: B-But, I could─! Oh.
Krile: Well, Raha, would you like to join us, then? You've been gone for quite a while, and this would be the perfect way to refresh those dusty old memories of yours.
G'raha Tia: Oh! Of course─if you will have me!
G'raha Tia: Come, Ciel! Sharlayan awaits!
Krile: Oh dear... His enthusiasm is infectious, isn't it?
G'raha Tia: After you, my friend! I am more than content to follow your lead.
Krile: All set? Then let us be on our way!
Krile: Our first stop, amusingly enough, will be the Last Stand. It's a café on the west side of the harbor.
G'raha Tia: With all the unusual wares coming and going at all hours, I expect the assistance of an intrepid adventurer would be highly appreciated.
G'raha Tia: I see no reason why you couldn't undertake any tasks which pique your interest─you have been cleared by the immigration officials, after all.
G'raha Tia: I look forward to the day your name is celebrated in Sharlayan the same way it is in Eorzea!
Krile: This place is called “the peristyle,” and it is the first stop for cargo unloaded at the docks.
Krile: You'll find the usual necessities for daily living and other imports vital to running an island nation, but also supplies that further Sharlayan's pursuit of knowledge─namely, large quantities of books, specimens, and samples. Sorting these stacks certainly seems to keep the attendants busy.
G'raha Tia: Now that is a sight one could hardly forget─the great statue of Thaliak.
G'raha Tia: As a Student of Baldesion, I was usually quartered on the Isle of Val, but I would gaze upon the Scholar's wise features every time I returned by ship to the city.
Krile: This path leading out towards the sea is known as “the Thaliak Stoa,” so named for the statue of the Scholar which stands at its end.
Krile: As you know, the Sharlayan people prize the accumulation of wisdom above all else. Thus when Thaliak was chosen as our patron deity, it was more a matter of pragmatism than belief─an alignment of principles, as it were.
Krile: We may have honored Him with a rather impressive sculpture, yes, but our faith is not so restrictive as that of, say, the Ishgardians. Individual Sharlayans can─and do!─worship the divinities of their choosing.
Krile: And here we are: the Last Stand.
Krile: I may have mentioned this before, but although our research into nutrition and food preparation is quite extensive, the average Sharlayan tends to regard seasoning and flavor with...a certain indifference.
Krile: How can I put this? The food is, um... It's bland. As encapsulated by our infamous Archon loaf, the prevailing sentiment towards cuisine is dietary value first, and taste a distant second.
Krile: There was one pupil at the Studium, however, who could stomach the school's insipid meals no longer. So he quit his lessons and poured all his savings into building a proper eatery.
Krile: And so the Last Stand came to be. It is, as the name implies, the sole dedicated outpost of fine dining in Sharlayan. The one and only bastion of the culinary arts in an isle of otherwise mediocre fare.
G'raha Tia: I seem to recall their burger being hailed as one of the more impressive items on the menu. Not that I ever had the pleasure of eating one myself...
Krile: Because you were a typical Sharlayan when it came to “cheap and convenient,” Raha. But surely Tataru has since taught you how to appreciate a well-prepared dish! We should all stop in when time permits, and sample the café's delights!
Krile: Shall we press on? The stairs to the side of the café there will take us up to the aetheryte plaza.
G'raha Tia: The Students of Baldesion would send us to investigate phenomena in locations across the world, so our funds were always stretched thin. And any spare coin I had went to books that caught my eye...
G'raha Tia: Food was the least of my concerns! Though now, having lived through some rather harrowing times, I've learned what a fortunate thing it is to be able to eat your fill.
G'raha Tia: Hm. The aetheryte looks different from how I remember it...
Krile: An unusual shape, isn't it?
Krile: I assure you, however, that it's a perfectly functioning aetheryte. Remember to attune yourself before we move on!
Krile: Now, being the diligent tour guide that I am, I should make mention of the Confluence─a research facility located on this very plaza. Its much-vaunted discoveries are the reason Sharlayan stands at the forefront of teleportation technology.
Krile: In deciphering the underlying principles of Allagan aetherytes, it allowed us to understand and reconstruct what was essentially a lost art.
Krile: ...And off we go to our next destination! Our path leads northeast to the Agora, Sharlayan's largest marketplace.
G'raha Tia: Speaking of aetherytes, those teleportation fees do add up after a while...which is why I tended to rely on the far cheaper ferry services.
G'raha Tia: I was pleasantly surprised when Mistress Tataru informed me that the Scions are reimbursed for transportation costs as part of our duties, but I find old habits hard to break. That, and I'd rather not be bothered filling out the necessary paperwork.
Krile: That's the entrance to the Confluence.
Krile: I have no doubt their expertise will prove useful at some point, so I suggest you remember the way here!
G'raha Tia: ...Do you mind if I browse the shelves for a moment? There might be some hidden gems I've yet to read!
Krile: Only “a moment”? How optimistic. Feel free to browse all you like, but we won't wait around for you.
G'raha Tia: Ah. Perhaps I'll return here later, then...
Krile: These little open-air book stalls are so uniquely Sharlayan. I'd always thought them a common sight until I visited other nations.
G'raha Tia: Anything worth cracking my coinpurse for today, I wonder...?
Krile: Welcome to the Agora, where you can find wares made in Sharlayan, as well as a wide selection of imported goods.
Krile: They also used to sell questionable “prototypes” from the various research institutes, but I think that practice has thankfully died out. For the most part.
Krile: Otherwise, I can think of no better place to stock up for your next big adventure!
Krile: ...Am I overselling it? Ahem. On a more serious note, the next stop on our tour is one which has particular relevance to our ultimate purpose here.
Krile: We must head back to the aetheryte plaza, follow the path north, then climb the stairs up to that imposing building at the very top.
G'raha Tia: These little decorative features are typical of Sharlayan architecture. Aside from the research wing, our headquarters on the Isle of Val were rather simple and rustic by comparison.
G'raha Tia: These little decorative features are typical of Sharlayan architecture. Aside from the research wing, our headquarters on the Isle of Val were rather simple and rustic by comparison.
Krile: This is the nymphaeum, an area dedicated to the blessings of water.
Krile: For Sharlayans, water represents more than a life-sustaining liquid─it is a reminder of the great flood which precipitated the birth of our nation, as well as a symbol of the knowledge which flows from Thaliak's divine ewer.
Krile: This is the reason you see an abundance of fountains throughout the city, and a propensity for utilizing water as a decorative feature in our architecture.
G'raha Tia: Ah, what an invigorating breeze. A touch biting, perhaps, but pleasant nonetheless.
Krile: This grand structure before you is the Rostra!
Krile: The name refers to the original public platform erected here, upon which a “forum” of elected representatives would deliver orations and debate policy.
Krile: Although the stage has since evolved into council chambers, the nature of the Forum and the duties of its members remain largely unchanged.
Krile: ...Am I boring you, Raha? You seem awfully distracted.
G'raha Tia: My apologies. From here, one can see the entire city spread out below...
G'raha Tia: The vista put me in mind of my arrival in the First. Those who had gathered at the Crystal Tower asked me how they might go about building a new home.
G'raha Tia: Naturally, my answers were all inspired by my knowledge of the finest settlement I could think of─the great city of Sharlayan.
G'raha Tia: And bit by bit, those few buildings grew into a town. A community. The Crystarium... I can almost see its echo...
Krile: I see... Feel free to come up here whenever you wish─I don't think the councilors would object to you simply enjoying the view. Such memories should be treasured.
Krile: For now, however, the tour must go on! Our spectacle of sightseeing concludes with the fittingly named Journey's End. Walk down the stairs to the east, and continue straight ahead!
G'raha Tia: This neighborhood is home to the highest echelons of Sharlayan society. I never did feel comfortable enough to wander these streets on a whim.
Krile: We've arrived at Journey's End! History tells us that this was where those who put ashore with Archon Nyunkrepf built their first homes.
Krile: In the present day, it serves as the residential district for the most important officials and the oldest Sharlayan families.
Krile: You'll see that one mansion is clearly larger than its neighbors─that estate belongs to our friends from House Leveilleur. All things considered, we should probably keep our distance for the time being...
Krile: And with that, we bring our little Sharlayan tour to a close. I hope it has proven to be an entertaining and enlightening experience!
Krile: Now, shall we head directly to the Baldesion Annex? You remember the way, don't you, Raha?
G'raha Tia: Let me think... We head down towards the harbor, cross the bridge to our right, then follow the path below the aetheryte plaza?
Krile: Correct! After you, Ciel!
G'raha Tia: Right, we cross this bridge here, as I recall. Stick to the path, and be careful not to end up back in the aetheryte plaza!
Krile: Sharlayan is full of educational and research institutions, but there are still professors who prefer to establish their own private practices.
Krile: Not that I ever attended the exclusive schools they run in these residences... Perhaps the twins could tell you more about them.
G'raha Tia: This is it! The Baldesion Annex!
Krile: As the joyous look on Raha's face has undoubtedly informed you, this is the Baldesion Annex.
Krile: If you continue up the hill, you'll arrive on the doorstep of Phenomenon...but I think we've explored enough for one day. We can take you there another time.
Krile: Inside with you, then!
Krile: I'm back! And I've brought Ciel and Raha with me.
???: Ah, you were right about the ship, then. Hello, G'raha, it's nice to see you again!
???: And it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ciel. I've heard many a tale of your exploits.
G'raha Tia: Ojika!? Ojika Tsunjika! It has been an age...
Krile: Allow me to introduce Ojika Tsunjika─administration officer for the Students of Baldesion. He oversees the day-to-day business of the annex.
Ojika Tsunjika: The “champion of Eorzea” has featured prominently in Krile and G'raha's reports, so for me, this is akin to seeing a fabled hero come to life! It is an honor to make your acquaintance.
Krile: This place is like a second home for the Students... The Isle of Val served as our main headquarters, of course, but we often had occasion to visit Sharlayan.
Krile: Whether to make use of the city's research facilities, attend conferences, or procure supplies from distant shores...
Krile: And the annex here was built to provide lodgings for our members while we engaged in such activities.
Ojika Tsunjika: Ever since our former headquarters─along with the isle itself─vanished, the annex has served as our base of operations.
Ojika Tsunjika: And yet it feels so empty. With so many lost to us, our organization is a shell of its former self.
Krile: The day will come when we will see the Students rise again...
Krile: But first, we must ensure that the Telophoroi fall!
Krile: Through that door on the left there is the main hall, where we can discuss our options moving forward.
Krile: ...Once everyone arrives, that is. You probably have time to rest before our discussions begin in earnest.
Krile: I've had private quarters prepared for you in the andron, so please, feel free to make yourself at home!
G'raha Tia: Ah, the nap rooms! Perfect for an afternoon doze...
G'raha Tia: Oh, I didn't mean to give you the wrong impression─the chambers are quite well appointed! Far more so than some cheap roadside inn, you may be assured.
G'raha Tia: 'Twas simply that we were often so busy with research, or exhausted from journeys abroad, that we would slip into the andron just to steal a few winks.
G'raha Tia: And thus they became known amongst the Students as “nap rooms”─even if many such “naps” might last well into the following morning!
Ojika Tsunjika: Say the word, and I'll be happy to show you to your chamber.
Krile: Hopefully the others won't be too long in coming! I'll wait for you all in the main hall.
G'raha Tia: Do you have papers pasted on the walls of your room? 'Twas not unusual for occupants to pin up notes or documents and such, and then forget to take them when they went on their merry way.
G'raha Tia: Sometimes it was quite deliberate, though. You might see complaints addressed to other members, or a thank-you card for the engrossing literature someone left behind.
G'raha Tia: Beloved traditions...that I should know better than to dwell upon. If we are to create a future for the Students of Baldesion and so many others, we must look to the days ahead.
Krile: Feeling refreshed and alert? Our colleagues should be wandering in soon, so I suggest we stay here and wait for them to join us.
Urianger: Pray forgive me. I was delayed...
Y'shtola: It's fine, Urianger. We're all here now.
Krile: Let's get down to business then, shall we?
Krile: Come what may, we must prevent the Telophoroi's plans from coming to fruition. At present, I see two paths for gathering the information which may aid us in achieving that goal.
Krile: The first involves an investigation into the change which has come over Sharlayan, not to mention the recent, inscrutable behavior of the Forum.
Krile: As most of you know, the ninety-nine members of the Forum are elected from the general populace. This alone guarantees a plethora of opinion with regards to foreign policy.
Krile: The Bibliothecs, for example, are a group of conservatives which would have Sharlayan focus on recording history, while remaining entirely uninvolved in the making of it.
Krile: And at the other extreme, we have advocates for proactive diplomacy and direct intervention. My grandfather, Galuf, was one such member, as was Archon Louisoix.
Krile: Yet despite our diverse factions and philosophies, the recent vote to deny Eorzea's request for assistance was unanimous.
Krile: Even more concerning was the fact that many cited other, more pressing duties as justification for their recalcitrance.
G'raha Tia: Fourchenault's refusal in Gridania had those same undertones. 'Twas as if, having stared unblinking into the face of impending doom, he'd simply turned away to pursue something more important. But what could that possibly be?
Krile: A mystery, indeed, and one which I ask for your help to solve. Our future may depend on it.
Krile: As for our second potential path, it concerns a request made directly to the Students of Baldesion.
Krile: Our organization was founded primarily to study strange and unexplained phenomena the world over. Mysterious relics and ruins, arcane disturbances, and so forth.
Krile: Compared to our more isolationist Sharlayan colleagues, we have strong connections overseas─namely with scholars and academics who share our passion for the unknown.
Krile: The request in question comes from one such acquaintance─Nidhana, an alchemist residing in distant Thavnair.
Krile: Her missive describes the sudden appearance of a tower, and the subsequent summoning of what I can only assume is a lunar primal.
Krile: In response to this threat, the satrap of Radz-at-Han─the individual who governs the city-state─has instructed the alchemists to find a means to deal with the spire.
Urianger: The artisans of that land are heirs to an ancient tradition─one rather unlike that of their Ul'dahn counterparts.
Urianger: 'Tis possible─nay, probable─that they have gleaned truths unattainable by Eorzea or her Far Eastern allies.
Krile: They do, in fact, appear to have a strategy in mind, though it will require further research. To that end, they have requested an introduction to a capable warrior shielded by the blessing of Light.
Y'shtola: Assuming we divide our forces to pursue both of Krile's lines of inquiry, then having you join the group heading to Thavnair would seem the obvious choice.
Y'shtola: But the investigation in Sharlayan is of vital importance as well. Equal, I think, to the Thavnairian one, given that the fate of the world may hinge on the results of both.
Krile: Yes, it is quite the quandary.
Krile: Though it is a great imposition─and an altogether-too-common one─our efforts would be more likely to succeed were you to lead the charge on both fronts.
Krile: You are indeed our champion. As to which task to tackle first, we will defer to your decision. Let us next decide how everyone else might best be assigned.
Krile: As for myself, I shall continue what I've begun in Sharlayan. I should also like to steal the services of an Archon or two.
Y'shtola: And thereby gain access to a greater range of reading material. I will help with that.
G'raha Tia: Allow me to offer my assistance. I have some small amount of experience in the field of research.
Alphinaud: Alisaie and I would also like to help, if you would have us.
Alisaie: Anything to understand even a fraction of what our father and the Forum might be thinking.
Krile: Of course, the more the merrier!
Thancred: Right, the rest of us will make the journey to Thavnair.
Thancred: Thoughts? Objections?
Estinien: I passed through Thavnair on my way to infiltrate the Empire, and though I'm not qualified to give a guided tour, I did gain a sense of where things lie.
Thancred: I'll be happy to have you along then. So for this group, it will be you, me, and Urianger.
Krile: Give me a moment afterwards, and I'll supply you with all the details of Nidhana's request.
Krile: Consider this hall our rendezvous point once our respective tasks are complete. May our investigations prove fruitful!
Urianger: Though I have read much on the subject of Radz-at-Han, this visit shall be my first. 'Twill be interesting to see how the Hannish mean to contend with the tower, different as their magical and technological disciplines are.
Estinien: So it's back to Thavnair... Had I known earlier, I would have considered more suitable attire.
Alisaie: I still don't understand how the vote could be unanimous... What could possibly convince them all to turn their backs on Eorzea?
Alphinaud: If the Forum is intent on concealing its intentions, then a cursory investigation will avail us little, I suspect. We will need to dig deeper─and with the greatest of care...
G'raha Tia: Our tour of the city was a pleasant distraction. I feel more than ready now to tackle the challenges of the day!
Y'shtola: The process by which Forum members are elected is fair and equitable─neither wealth nor social standing offers any advantages to a prospective candidate. But fairly elected or not, Master Matoya still found them all to be insufferable.