Summary: Ulmia and I try to find Prishe. Some Mithran trackers get in our way. Ominous black magicite embedded within Prishe’s chest.
-Prishe isn’t the only bounty Shikaree X is looking for either – there’s also a bounty out for the Pale Kid, Selh’teus.
-Shikaree X walks off. No way this is the last we’re seeing of her.
-Ulmia and I head for the cathedral.
-Chasalvige is aware of the Tavnazian Choire’s attempts to complete the “five verses.” Must be about the Memoria de la Stona. The third and fourth verses were known only by immortals, and now there’s a mysterious fifth verse.
-Interesting! Chasalvige has met Ulmia before. He references something we saw in that Promathia-induced flashback: the time when Cardinal Mildaurion brought Prishe to San d’Oria. Ulmia was on that trip, and even sang.
The San d’Orian papsque heard the song and grew outraged. He was afraid that Ulmia would finish the song. At the time Ulmia just thought her singing was bad, but that wasn’t it. The song had power, power that Ulmia didn’t know about.
CHASALVIGE: “This story finds its beginning almost 500 years ago… a time of humiliation for the Elvaan. At that time, the Quon continent was under the control of an army… of Windurst.”
Like… a Tarutaru army? Lolol. The Elvaan weren’t yet their own nation and lived disparately. Pre-San d’Oria.
-The future Marquis of Tavnazia, General Alphollon Tajeux, founded San d’Oria “on the strength of two valuable artifacts.” Both treasures, whatever they were, were lost/stolen after the Elvaan won their freedom.
-In their places in the cathedrals of San d’Oria and Tavnazia were two stone tablets. The San d’Orian cathedral eventually used their tablet to rediscover one of the objects, the holy sword Lightbringer. But the Tavnazian Cathedral didn’t reveal anything about the second tablet.
-The San d’Orians eventually learned that the writings upon the Tavnazian stone were song verses. The Lay of the Immortals/Memorial de la Stona.
“It was a song that would conclude with the manifestation of a deity.”
Whew. Powerful song. My main question: which deity would it summon? Altana, or Promathia?
-The Tavnazians knew the song, but couldn’t grasp the melody. It wasn’t until they found Ulmia who could start to sing its first verse that the song revealed its first promise of power.
ULMIA: “But I was told the lay was sung to prove that Prishe was not the abhorrent one!”
This was a lie. And yet another lie from Cardinal Mildaurion. She played Ulmia.
-Chasalvige reveals that Cardinal Mildaurion was seeking knowledge of Promathia.
-I’m convinced. Cardinal Mildaurion is a major villain. She manipulated Prishe. She manipulated Ulmia. She’s now manipulating Nag’molada.
-The conversation wraps up with the rumor that Prishe was seen in Windurst. We’re off.
-Shantotto seems to know a lot about what’s going on.
“Show them why the magicite is not yours to give.
Show them why it would be impossible for you to hand over the stone – and live.”
-Prishe turns her back to the camera and lifts her shirt… Wait. The magicite is embedded in Prishe’s flesh? ??
SHIKAREE Y: “The possessor [of the magicite] eventually sheds any vestige of mortality, becoming an anathema to other living creatures. Tell me, cutie pie. Why do you have that stone embedded within you? Why have you not become an abhorrent being, feared by all?”
…well about that.
-Prishe doesn’t really respond. Just says she has places to be. She has to go “throw down with Bahamut” for the sake of Vana’diel.
SHIKAREE Y: “Bahamut? You mean the Wyrmking, Bahamut?”
PRISHE: “No, my uncle Bahamut. Of course I mean the Wyrmking!”
I’M CRYING XD XD XD
-Shikaree Y (and I’m very curious to see whether she’s a friend or foe of Shikaree X) is still determined to get the magicite, but doesn’t want to carve it out of Prishe’s chest. She asks Prishe to accompany her to Attohwa Chasm. There’s someone there who apparently knows a lot about the black magicite.
-They leave together.
-This also helps me understand Prishe’s amulet. If Prishe had a shard of black magicite (crystallized Emptiness) within her, then the amulet helped suppress its effect. It also explains why her connection to Selh’teus was amplified when she removed the amulet.
---
Next time: pursuing Shikaree and Prishe to Attohwa Chasm.
Mission: Desires of Emptiness (Chains of Promathia, ch.5)
-Last time, I escaped the Emptiness of Promyvion with my party and Nag’molada. He went off to investigate his suspicions. I return to Cid in Bastok.
-Louverance, Tenzen, Ulmia are here, but no sign of Prishe.
-ARGH FUCKING JEUNO – Jeuno put out a warrant for Prishe’s arrest. I suppose this makes sense if Nag’molada thinks Prishe is working with Selh’teus. And since Prishe helped Selh’teus escape, well… that’s how it looks.
-We also need to find Prishe because she had an idea about breaking the pact with the Wyrmking Bahamut.
-The “pact” we’ve heard so much about is finally spelled out: when the Keeper of the Apocalypse arrives, Bahamut will destroy mankind to protect Vana’diel.
-Tenzen thinks that Selh’teus is the Keeper of the Apocalypse. I doubt it.
-Cid has a new plan. If the Keeper’s arrival triggers Bahamut’s genocide, then why not stop the Keeper from coming? Sounds like a good plan, if a difficult one.
-Ulmia will try to find Prishe, since Prishe can communicate with Selh’teus. Tenzen will seek out Carbuncle for his aid. And Louverance will investigate the celestial capital of Al’Taieu.
-I get three options now. Do I investigate Al’Taieu, look for Selh’teus, or find Prishe?
This is tough. I really, really want to see Al’Taieu… but screw it. Prishe takes priority. I’ll join Ulmia to look for her.
-San d’Oria is the closest city to Beaucedine Glacier and Pso’Xja. If Prishe escaped on foot, she might have passed through San d’Oria.
-The group splits up. The quest log makes it seem like I actually have to clear all three quests mentioned. Yay! So I get to explore the Carbuncle and Al’Taieu missions after I find Prishe.
---
Mission: Entanglement (Chains of Promathia, ch.5)
-I head to Southern San d’Oria, for the old woman, Hinaree, who we’d asked about Prishe.
-Hinaree believes Prishe’s innocent. However, Hinaree’s husband did not. “Her birth was a great misfortune, and in due time she would commit a great crime against Vana’diel and her children – this was her destiny.” Jeez.
-A priest, Chasalvige, came by earlier looking for Ulmia. I’ll find Ulmia and we’ll see him together.
-Ulmia is playing the harp and singing down in the city port. An audience gathers, entranced.
-Apparently, Ulmia’s been down here for a while now. The passers-by recognize her, wondering how long it’ll be until the girl Ulmia’s looking for shows up.
-A Mithra named Shikaree X approaches Ulmia. Shikaree X is looking for Prishe too. Why? Is Shikaree X a bounty hunter or something?
-Shikaree says she doesn’t work for Jeuno. We also see Shikaree’s face, and she’s wearing this awesome animal-head helm.
Sure looks like a bounty hunter. Looking for Prishe, but not on Jeuno’s behalf.
-Last time, I escaped the Emptiness of Promyvion with my party and Nag’molada. He went off to investigate his suspicions. I return to Cid in Bastok.
-Louverance, Tenzen, Ulmia are here, but no sign of Prishe.
-ARGH FUCKING JEUNO – Jeuno put out a warrant for Prishe’s arrest. I suppose this makes sense if Nag’molada thinks Prishe is working with Selh’teus. And since Prishe helped Selh’teus escape, well… that’s how it looks.
-We also need to find Prishe because she had an idea about breaking the pact with the Wyrmking Bahamut.
-The “pact” we’ve heard so much about is finally spelled out: when the Keeper of the Apocalypse arrives, Bahamut will destroy mankind to protect Vana’diel.
-Tenzen thinks that Selh’teus is the Keeper of the Apocalypse. I doubt it.
-Cid has a new plan. If the Keeper’s arrival triggers Bahamut’s genocide, then why not stop the Keeper from coming? Sounds like a good plan, if a difficult one.
-Ulmia will try to find Prishe, since Prishe can communicate with Selh’teus. Tenzen will seek out Carbuncle for his aid. And Louverance will investigate the celestial capital of Al’Taieu.
-I get three options now. Do I investigate Al’Taieu, look for Selh’teus, or find Prishe?
This is tough. I really, really want to see Al’Taieu… but screw it. Prishe takes priority. I’ll join Ulmia to look for her.
-San d’Oria is the closest city to Beaucedine Glacier and Pso’Xja. If Prishe escaped on foot, she might have passed through San d’Oria.
-The group splits up. The quest log makes it seem like I actually have to clear all three quests mentioned. Yay! So I get to explore the Carbuncle and Al’Taieu missions after I find Prishe.
---
Mission: Entanglement (Chains of Promathia, ch.5)
-I head to Southern San d’Oria, for the old woman, Hinaree, who we’d asked about Prishe.
-Hinaree believes Prishe’s innocent. However, Hinaree’s husband did not. “Her birth was a great misfortune, and in due time she would commit a great crime against Vana’diel and her children – this was her destiny.” Jeez.
-A priest, Chasalvige, came by earlier looking for Ulmia. I’ll find Ulmia and we’ll see him together.
-Ulmia is playing the harp and singing down in the city port. An audience gathers, entranced.
-Apparently, Ulmia’s been down here for a while now. The passers-by recognize her, wondering how long it’ll be until the girl Ulmia’s looking for shows up.
-A Mithra named Shikaree X approaches Ulmia. Shikaree X is looking for Prishe too. Why? Is Shikaree X a bounty hunter or something?
-Shikaree says she doesn’t work for Jeuno. We also see Shikaree’s face, and she’s wearing this awesome animal-head helm.
Sure looks like a bounty hunter. Looking for Prishe, but not on Jeuno’s behalf.
-Prishe isn’t the only bounty Shikaree X is looking for either – there’s also a bounty out for the Pale Kid, Selh’teus.
-Shikaree X walks off. No way this is the last we’re seeing of her.
-Ulmia and I head for the cathedral.
-Chasalvige is aware of the Tavnazian Choire’s attempts to complete the “five verses.” Must be about the Memoria de la Stona. The third and fourth verses were known only by immortals, and now there’s a mysterious fifth verse.
-Interesting! Chasalvige has met Ulmia before. He references something we saw in that Promathia-induced flashback: the time when Cardinal Mildaurion brought Prishe to San d’Oria. Ulmia was on that trip, and even sang.
The San d’Orian papsque heard the song and grew outraged. He was afraid that Ulmia would finish the song. At the time Ulmia just thought her singing was bad, but that wasn’t it. The song had power, power that Ulmia didn’t know about.
CHASALVIGE: “This story finds its beginning almost 500 years ago… a time of humiliation for the Elvaan. At that time, the Quon continent was under the control of an army… of Windurst.”
Like… a Tarutaru army? Lolol. The Elvaan weren’t yet their own nation and lived disparately. Pre-San d’Oria.
-The future Marquis of Tavnazia, General Alphollon Tajeux, founded San d’Oria “on the strength of two valuable artifacts.” Both treasures, whatever they were, were lost/stolen after the Elvaan won their freedom.
-In their places in the cathedrals of San d’Oria and Tavnazia were two stone tablets. The San d’Orian cathedral eventually used their tablet to rediscover one of the objects, the holy sword Lightbringer. But the Tavnazian Cathedral didn’t reveal anything about the second tablet.
-The San d’Orians eventually learned that the writings upon the Tavnazian stone were song verses. The Lay of the Immortals/Memorial de la Stona.
“It was a song that would conclude with the manifestation of a deity.”
Whew. Powerful song. My main question: which deity would it summon? Altana, or Promathia?
-The Tavnazians knew the song, but couldn’t grasp the melody. It wasn’t until they found Ulmia who could start to sing its first verse that the song revealed its first promise of power.
ULMIA: “But I was told the lay was sung to prove that Prishe was not the abhorrent one!”
This was a lie. And yet another lie from Cardinal Mildaurion. She played Ulmia.
-Chasalvige reveals that Cardinal Mildaurion was seeking knowledge of Promathia.
-I’m convinced. Cardinal Mildaurion is a major villain. She manipulated Prishe. She manipulated Ulmia. She’s now manipulating Nag’molada.
-The conversation wraps up with the rumor that Prishe was seen in Windurst. We’re off.
---
Mission: Head Wind (Chains of Promathia, ch.5)
-I meet a mage in Windurst named Kerutoto. He saw a girl with “crikey-spikey hair” taken to Doctor Yoran-Oran’s home.
“That girl is a disastaru waiting to happen… she is surrounded by a dark, creepy-weepy cloud. It is that very cloud of doom and gloom that has made her a target of the great being I see in my dreams.”
Diabolos. Apparently, since the ruins of Pso’Xja have been activated, Diabolos is more limited. And pissed. “The being is so furious-wurious over losing its prey…”
-I go to Yoran-Oran. He’s still annoyed at me for bringing him the Tarutaru Trio who claimed he was their dad. XD
-Then Ulmia comes in.
-AND IT’S A PARADE! Three Mithra follow, including one who looks like an especially badass dark knight.
-The knight politely introduces herself. “I am the Mithran Tracker, Shikaree Y. Are you ready to meet your doom, Doctor Yoran-Oran?”
-Shikaree Y smells dark magic here. Magicite. Yoran-Oran swears he has nothing like that here, and I believe him. Shikaree Y must be smelling Prishe.
-Shikaree Y… doesn’t quite believe him. “Is that right, sugarplum? I don’t usually like to say this up front, but I do so love the sight of brrright, gushing blood.” I kind of love this character.
???: “Heh heh heh… You’re way off the mark, ladies!”
-WOOHOOO! Prishe’s back! As the Mithra raise their bows to fire at Prishe, Doctor Shantotto herself busts in.
“That’s far enough!
You kitties play far too rough!”
Mission: Head Wind (Chains of Promathia, ch.5)
-I meet a mage in Windurst named Kerutoto. He saw a girl with “crikey-spikey hair” taken to Doctor Yoran-Oran’s home.
“That girl is a disastaru waiting to happen… she is surrounded by a dark, creepy-weepy cloud. It is that very cloud of doom and gloom that has made her a target of the great being I see in my dreams.”
Diabolos. Apparently, since the ruins of Pso’Xja have been activated, Diabolos is more limited. And pissed. “The being is so furious-wurious over losing its prey…”
-I go to Yoran-Oran. He’s still annoyed at me for bringing him the Tarutaru Trio who claimed he was their dad. XD
-Then Ulmia comes in.
-AND IT’S A PARADE! Three Mithra follow, including one who looks like an especially badass dark knight.
-The knight politely introduces herself. “I am the Mithran Tracker, Shikaree Y. Are you ready to meet your doom, Doctor Yoran-Oran?”
-Shikaree Y smells dark magic here. Magicite. Yoran-Oran swears he has nothing like that here, and I believe him. Shikaree Y must be smelling Prishe.
-Shikaree Y… doesn’t quite believe him. “Is that right, sugarplum? I don’t usually like to say this up front, but I do so love the sight of brrright, gushing blood.” I kind of love this character.
???: “Heh heh heh… You’re way off the mark, ladies!”
-WOOHOOO! Prishe’s back! As the Mithra raise their bows to fire at Prishe, Doctor Shantotto herself busts in.
“That’s far enough!
You kitties play far too rough!”
-Shantotto seems to know a lot about what’s going on.
“Show them why the magicite is not yours to give.
Show them why it would be impossible for you to hand over the stone – and live.”
-Prishe turns her back to the camera and lifts her shirt… Wait. The magicite is embedded in Prishe’s flesh? ??
SHIKAREE Y: “The possessor [of the magicite] eventually sheds any vestige of mortality, becoming an anathema to other living creatures. Tell me, cutie pie. Why do you have that stone embedded within you? Why have you not become an abhorrent being, feared by all?”
…well about that.
-Prishe doesn’t really respond. Just says she has places to be. She has to go “throw down with Bahamut” for the sake of Vana’diel.
SHIKAREE Y: “Bahamut? You mean the Wyrmking, Bahamut?”
PRISHE: “No, my uncle Bahamut. Of course I mean the Wyrmking!”
I’M CRYING XD XD XD
-Shikaree Y (and I’m very curious to see whether she’s a friend or foe of Shikaree X) is still determined to get the magicite, but doesn’t want to carve it out of Prishe’s chest. She asks Prishe to accompany her to Attohwa Chasm. There’s someone there who apparently knows a lot about the black magicite.
-They leave together.
-This also helps me understand Prishe’s amulet. If Prishe had a shard of black magicite (crystallized Emptiness) within her, then the amulet helped suppress its effect. It also explains why her connection to Selh’teus was amplified when she removed the amulet.
---
Next time: pursuing Shikaree and Prishe to Attohwa Chasm.
