Galfrid, chief instructor at the Bannock, would entrust you with the task of investigating Spirithold.
Galfrid: Mortimer! Thank the gods you’ve come!
Galfrid: We have a potential crisis on our hands, and I would appreciate your assistance. Will you hear me out?
Galfrid: Listen well, for we haven’t much time.
Galfrid: To the southeast of here lies a dungeon known as Spirithold. It was all but destroyed during the Calamity.
Galfrid: Desiring to offer the ruins back to the forest, a Hearer ventured inside to carry out the Rite of Returning.
Galfrid: Alas, it would seem something has gone awry. Word arrived just moments ago that the Hearer and his guards have been attacked by a towering shadow. Aye, you heard me true─a shadow.
Galfrid: On any other day, I would dispatch my best Quivermen to provide support, but I sent them to repel an Ixali incursion in the West Shroud nary a bell ago.
Galfrid: The timing of these events cannot be mere coincidence. I fear the Ixal somehow caught wind of our plans, and are attempting to disrupt the rite in an effort to weaken the bond between man and elemental.
Galfrid: They must not be allowed to succeed. And so I bid you go to Spirithold and do whatever is necessary to resolve the situation. Please, say you will help us.
Galfrid: I knew you would not let me down. You will have all the support I can muster.
Galfrid: Now, we are racing against time, so you had best make haste.
Alestan: Who goes there? An adventurer, is it?
Alestan: Here at Instructor Galfrid’s request, you say? Thank the Matron!
Alestan: Doubtless you already know this, but a towering shadow manifested without warning and attacked the Hearer in the midst of the rite.
Alestan: Most of his party has been successfully evacuated, but five remain unaccounted for.
Alestan: Please find them, and see them out of harm’s way.
Worried Wood Wailer: (groan) A great shadow…towering over me… What in the Twelve’s good grace?
Worried Wood Wailer: A-An adventurer!? Please, you must save the Hearer!
Witless Wood Wailer: Galfrid…sent you?
Witless Wood Wailer: I am no longer…of use here. Pray help the Hearer…in my stead.
Overwrought Wood Wailer: Away, vile fiend! Away, I say! I defy you! I defy yooouuu!!!
…Uh? …Oh! An adventurer!
Overwrought Wood Wailer: W-We were ambushed─ambushed in the midst of the ritual! And then… And then…I’m not sure what happened.
Cool-headed Conjurer: …You were sent to help? I fear you are too late─the ritual has failed.
Cool-headed Conjurer: I must needs return to Gridania. The Seedseers must know of this.
Confused Conjurer: That thing was no elemental, but a being born of darkness.
Confused Conjurer: The Hearer languishes alone in the depths. You must help him!
???: O mournful voice of creation! Grant ye this humble stone a soul, that it may wake to life!
???: That the golem could be vanquished…
???: That man is no ordinary adventurer.
Papalymo: Damnation! He has eluded us yet again!
Yda: Oh, fancy meeting you here! How are things?
Papalymo: Hm? Whatever are you─
Yda: Shhh! More birds! This makes it how many times today? Seven?
Papalymo: Their movements are beyond our fathoming.
Yda: Hmmm. Do you think maybe…they’re trying to summon their primal?
Papalymo: I hope not, for all our sakes. Yet we must be prepared for the worst.
Papalymo: Withered. The same fate has befallen Emerald Moss.
Papalymo: It is as we feared: Dalamud’s anomaly is affecting life in the Twelveswood.
Yda: You mean the disturbance in the aetheric flow?
Papalymo: The very same. The Garleans have a lot to answer for.
Papalymo: The imbalance they have created is plunging the land into chaos, just as Louisoix forewarned.
Yda: It’s no wonder the primals have started appearing…
Papalymo: Time is against us, but there is still hope for the land.
Papalymo: We must hold fast to that hope and fight to the very last.
Yda: Agreed!
Yda: Waaah!
Yda: Ack! Stupid things…
Papalymo: These stupid things happen to be the very latest in Sharlayan innovation! Show some respect!
Yda: But they’re so uncomfortable and…and…ugly!
Papalymo: If you ask me, they’re an improvement over that mask of yours.
Yda: (sigh) Hard to believe it’s already been five whole years, isn’t it?
Papalymo: Already? Five years is but a heartbeat in the life of the planet!
Yda: I suppose you’re right… Now that I think about it, the Twelveswood’s barely recovered at all, and the Gridanians still have the same old problems.
Papalymo: Aye, along with some new ones. Just in case the Ixal and Garuda weren’t troublesome enough, the sylphs had to go and invite Ramuh, didn’t they?
Yda: …Do you ever think about those adventurers who fought alongside us? I do. And then five years seems like ages… I wonder what became of them.
Yda: Ah…
Papalymo: Yda, look.
Yda: Hm?
Yda: Golly!
…And this is what, exactly?
Papalymo: Yet another disturbance in the aether, and freshly manifested at that.
Papalymo: It seems to be emanating from Lifemend Stump. We must hurry!
Yda: Are you all right? Your eyes glazed over for a while there.
Papalymo: The good news is that the Hearer is unharmed. Somewhat dazed, yes, but whole of mind and body. The bad news…concerns everything else.
Papalymo: Lest you forget, the Twelveswood is the domain of the elementals; it is by their leave that man abides in the forest and avails himself of its bounty. The ground which the dungeon occupies is no different.
Papalymo: Having no more use for the dungeon, the Gridanians sent a Hearer to offer the place back to the elementals by way of the Rite of Returning, which is essentially an expression of gratitude.
Papalymo: Alas, he failed to complete the ritual for obvious reasons.
Papalymo: While the poor soul cannot be blamed for this, the fact remains that unless the elementals are given their due, they may well consider it a slight. And the very last thing the Gridanians can afford to do in these uncertain times is risk alienating the Twelveswood’s eternal guardians.
Papalymo: But you have more than done your part. We shall see the Hearer to safety, and send for his peers to finish the rite.
Papalymo: In the meantime, please make your way outside and report to Alestan.
Papalymo: Ah, but where are my manners?
Papalymo: I am Papalymo, and the tactless woman beside me here is─
Yda: Yda!
Yda: Papalymo and I are surveying the Twelveswood together!
Yda: Pleased to meet you!
Papalymo: Yda, give me a hand, would you?
Papalymo: Wait. There is something…familiar about you. Could it be that you are…?
Papalymo: N-Never mind. Doubtless my eyes are playing tricks. Till we meet again!
Alestan: All this happened inside Spirithold? Twelve preserve us…
Alestan: Who was that masked mage, and by what dark ambition is he driven? So many things shrouded in mystery…
Alestan: Well, I shan’t find any answers on my own. I must needs discuss this with Galfrid. The matter warrants a full investigation, if I am any judge, and that shall certainly be my recommendation.
Alestan: Your courage has saved many lives this day, adventurer. For this you have my deepest gratitude.
Alestan: Pray return to Gridania and seek out Miounne.
Alestan: I understand she wishes to thank you for your efforts on our behalf.
Mother Miounne: Welcome back, Mortimer. A little bird tells me that the Hearer and his party owe you their lives.
Mother Miounne: A tale for the tavern if ever there were one!
…It is only a shame that I must ask you not to tell it─for the time being, at least. Do I make myself clear?
Mother Miounne: Until the Hearers have made their will on the matter known, it would be best to avoid unsettling people with stories of walking statues.
Mother Miounne: Now then, you must have suitable recompense for your valiant service.
Mother Miounne: For the first half of your reward, I give you leave to make use of the accommodations here at the guild.
Mother Miounne: Arrangements have been made, so all you need do is speak with Antoinaut whenever you crave the comfort of a firm bed and a soft pillow.
Mother Miounne: For the second half of your reward, I offer you another path to fame and fortune: guildleves.
Mother Miounne: Guildleves are records of the various requests we receive from the citizenry. They outline all manner of tasks which ambitious young adventurers like you can elect to undertake.
Mother Miounne: Gontrant is our guildleve official, or “levemete,” here at the Carline Canopy. I have spoken with him regarding your knack for solving challenging problems, and he is eager to make your acquaintance.
Mother Miounne: By the way, have you perchance heard about the coming festival? It is truly a splendid occasion, looked forward to by young and old alike, and one I heartily recommend that you take the time to enjoy.
Mother Miounne: Don’t be too disappointed if the recent troubles cast a shadow over proceedings, however. I fear nothing short of the mysterious interloper’s apprehension can prevent that…
Mother Miounne: But we were talking about you, Mortimer. You have made Mother proud. I expect great things of you, young man!
Keishinrei 