Author Archives: Keishinrei

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – Loam Maintenance

Gurcant seeks fertile soil to improve the yields of his newly plowed fields.

Gurcant: Blast! At this rate, the crops will never be ready for harvest.
Gurcant: If only we had blackloam… Just a bit could send our stalks soaring!
Gurcant: I’ll bet Rhotwyda knows where you might find some. Perhaps you might pay her a visit in the orchard?

Rhotwyda: That Gurcant’s got a head of cabbage if he thinks I’m fetchin’ him any blackloam!
Rhotwyda: But if you dare to pinch some from the Cookpot, then be my guest. Just mind you don’t get trampled upon by the aurochs that dwell there.
Rhotwyda: Once you’ve three bushels’ worth, take the blackloam to Pfrewahl at Tiller’s Rest. He’ll know what to do.

Pfrewahl: Argh, even the weeds wither and die in this desolate dirt.
Pfrewahl: But a bit of this blackloam ought to change all that! I haven’t seen any in ages. Gathering blackloam’s not for the weak of will…nor the weak of stomach, eh? Hahaha!
Pfrewahl: …Oh, don’t tell me Gurcant and Rhotwyda neglected to mention where blackloam comes from.
Pfrewahl: Well, surely you figured it out on your own from the cloying stench! It comes from the aurochs’ lair, of all places!
Pfrewahl: Ahem, well, why dwell on who misled whom about what? What matters is that your efforts have brought us the blackloam, and we can expect a bountiful harvest as a result. Thank you!

Four Fundamental Forces – Introduction

The Big Bang theory can satisfyingly explain the creation of the cosmos, but it fails to explain the interaction among various types of energy in the universe. Why did shortly after the Big Bang some elementary particles join to make protons and neutrons? And what made electrons bind to them later to create atoms? Why did these atoms then go on to build glaring stars and vibrant galaxies?

It turns out that all events in the universe can be blamed on four fundamental interactions (four fundamental forces) – gravity, electromagnetism, strong interaction and weak interaction. I am sure everybody has at least a basic overview of the first two forces, the last two, however, might be entirely foreign to some. But it is crucial to understand these interactions, since they govern the whole universe.

Take your own body as an example. First, let us dive deep into the microworld, where we can see the basic building blocks of everything. Your body is, just like everything else in the universe, made up of energy. It is of course present in many various forms, but fundamentally, it is simply energy.

The energy of the human body is concentrated mainly in the form of elementary particles – the same particles that were created just a moment after the Big Bang. These particles then form composite particles – protons and neutrons. But what keeps elementary particles together? The answer lies in the strong interaction. If we jump one level up, we can see collections of protons and neutrons – atomic nuclei. Again, we can blame the strong interaction. Going another level up, we can see electrons, devoutly whizzing around the nuclei. Here, we observe the token of another fundamental force – electromagnetism. Individual atoms then go on to form molecules – electromagnetism shows itself once again.

And finally, unless you are currently at the international space station or reading this text in a distant future on a faraway planet (most likely on Mars, as explained in one of the following chapters), it is quite likely that you are finding yourself on our tiny blue planet. And the only “force” keeping your feet on the ground instead of flying off to space is gravity – another of the four forces.

Our demonstration is over now. We have seen the essence of three of the four interactions using only the human body on Earth. If you are interested in the fourth force as well, you will have to wait a while – it manifests itself the least of the four forces. But now, let us analyse the interactions in detail, one by one. And we will start with the most sneaky and peculiar one – gravity.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – A Soldier’s Breakfast

Pauline at Gabineaux’s Bower needs an adventurer to cull the growing anole population, as well as gather one of the scalekin’s eggs.

Pauline: I hesitate to make such a dangerous request, but might you assist us in thinning the number of anoles on Naked Rock?
Pauline: In our efforts to commune with the elementals, we conjurers often find ourselves in the area. Of late, however, our meditations have all too frequently been interrupted by unprovoked anole attacks. Truly, the beasts grow more aggressive by the day.
Pauline: Their numbers have continued to grow since the advent of the Seventh Umbral Era, you see, forcing packs of the scalekin to come down from the mountains in search of food. If you could slay a handful of the beasts, that should lessen their need to hunt and also serve as a warning to the anoles to remain within their territory.
Pauline: But I am afraid you must do more than thin the existing population. If we are to truly break this spiraling growth, then we must also target their future offspring. Bring me one of their eggs, and you will have played your part in returning balance to this area of the forest.

Pauline: Ah, you have returned. Now might my brothers and sisters continue their meditations undisturbed. You have my thanks.
Pauline: As for the egg, may I ask you to deliver it to Tsubh Khamazom at the Bannock?
Pauline: Anole eggs are both large and filled with nutrients─the perfect meal for a soldier. She will be more than a little pleased to see you, I should imagine.

Tsubh Khamazom: Who goes there!? Oh, Mortimer, it’s you. Hm? Another delivery?
Tsubh Khamazom: I’m not certain I should be the one to─ By Nophica, that’s an anole egg! The troops will be glad indeed to see one of these at table! And you say Hearer Pauline sent you on this errand?
Tsubh Khamazom: I hear the anoles are more numerous than ever, yet you appear to have managed the task with your skin intact. Your skill and bravery continue to amaze me, Mortimer.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – Out of House and Home

Warin has work for an adventurer willing to exterminate the coblyns attacking ore wagons.

Warin: Let’s get to it then, shall we?
Warin: Ore wagons pass through this station every day─but not without incident.
Warin: Wagons coming and going from the Dispatch Yard to the south must pass through a tunnel by Fesca’s Watch─a tunnel in which some genius saw fit to put an ore storehouse, creating ideal conditions for a coblyn nest!
Warin: So now the ore-loving beasts have taken up residence in a tunnel we dug, and we’re practically delivering meals to their doorstep!
Warin: But no more. Inside the tunnel in question, you will find a narrow fissure where the coblyns hide. Use this silver ore cluster to lure out the creatures, then slay them.

Warin: Well done! It shan’t be easy work to keep the tunnel free of coblyns, but our wagons should be able to go unmolested for a time.
Warin: Disruptions to ore shipments threaten not only the interests of Amajina & Sons Mineral Concern, but of Ul’dah herself. One might liken these train tracks to veins that bear our nation’s lifeblood.
Warin: If only we had more women like you to lend a hand.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – Double Dealing

Staelwyrn worries his sack of oranges will not reach the La Thagran Checkpoint as planned.

Staelwyrn: Pains me to say, but all the gil in the world can’t buy loyalty. There are some, like you, who can be trusted. But then there are others…
Staelwyrn: Until now, I’ve had no choice but to rely on that charlatan Sevrin, even though I am full aware he’s been doin’ shady deals behind my back. More than once I’ve heard tell of improper tradin’ with goblins.
Staelwyrn: I wouldn’t be the least surprised if that were happenin’ right now. Not a bell ago, a sack of oranges vanished, as did Sevrin. I want you to find and confront the bastard for me, Croix. I’m sure there’s wrongdoin’ afoot, so be sure to doubt anythin’ that comes out of his mouth.

Sevrin: Bloody hells! I’m up the strait without a paddle!
Sevrin: What’s this now? Staelwyrn sent you for the oranges? Huh… So the old bugger had known all this time… Argh, what does it matter anyway?
Sevrin: Listen, you’re one o’ those goody-goody adventurer types, right? Go rescue me mates from those double-dealin’ goblins! They’re just over yonder by the bonfire.

Eyrimhus: Sevrin sent you? Hah! The way he flew out of here, I was sure he’d sold us down the river!

Sozai Rarzai: If you hadn’t come, my dodo would’ve been cooked! Mmm…cooked dodo.

Aylmer: I owe you one. Would’ve gotten away meself if not fer Sevrin shovin’ me aside.

Sevrin: You saved me mates, and for that, I owe you.
Sevrin: S’pose I should be ashamed I couldn’t clean up my own mess…
Sevrin: …But a pirate knows no shame! I’ve no qualms about goin’ back on my word! I’m only givin’ you this sack ’cause I like the cut of your jib. Take it to Ossine, an’ send him my regards.

Ossine: What have we here? A delivery from Summerford Farms, and as scheduled? Hah! There’s a first time for everything!
Ossine: Well, look at that… Not a single one missing, either! About the only things not here are those bagmen, and I don’t miss them one bit.
Ossine: Here’s Staelwyrn’s payment in full. With you, I can trust it’ll reach him!

Staelwyrn: Back in one piece! That’s a relief. How did you fare, Croix?
Staelwyrn: Ah, this is what I was aimin’ for! Looks to be all I was owed, all right. Though, I’d be tellin’ you false if I claimed I had not held out more hope for Sevrin.
Staelwyrn: I was even willin’ to overlook the skimmin’ off the top, but to sell us all short in favor of those godsforsaken goblins… (sigh)
Staelwyrn: You’d do well to mind yourself around that two-gil cheat. If he’d leave his own mates for dead, there’s no tellin’ what he’d do to you.