Art of Glass

Art of Glass

Quest giver

J'bhen Tia

Location

Ul'dah (X:10.3, Y:8.3)

Level

15

Required items

3 20px  Rising Festival Flyers
1 20px  Rising Flyer

Experience

 3,360

Gil

 289

Patch

5.3?

“

The centerpiece of this year's Rising festivities is a work of art courtesy of J'bhen Tia, who hopes to foster goodwill among the citizens of Ul'dah.
※This quest is available for a limited time only.

— In-game description

Key Items

3x Rising Festival Flyer

Description: Considering that it is designed to advertise an art exhibition, this flyer strangely does not include any illustrations. Perhaps J'bhen Tia was unwilling to compromise his artistic vision by working with such humdrum materials as paper.

Unsellable Market Prohibited

Steps

• Hand out flyers on the Steps of Thal. #/3

Dialogue

Accepting the Quest

J'bhen Tia: Hullo there! Would I be correct in assuming you've come to view my exhibition?

[Cutscene #1 START]

J'bhen Tia: You see, I'm an artist by trade and my chosen medium is stained glass. While it's not the easiest thing to work with, the results are worth the considerable effort required!

J'bhen Tia: It's taken me a while to reach this point in my career, and this is actually my first public showing. I was wondering, if it's not too much of a bother, if I might give you a brief explanation of the subject matter.

J'bhen Tia: Ahem. Then pray, my good fellow, cast your eyes at yonder pane!

J'bhen Tia: 'Twas the final days before the fall of Dalamud, its inexorable approach foretelling our impending doom. Panic spread like wildfire, while many in their desperation turned on the sultanate. Looting and rioting broke out across Ul'dah.

J'bhen Tia: To quell the masses, Her Royal Majesty Nanamo Ul Namo took to the streets with a guard consisting of only seven subjects, for they alone had the courage to stand with their sultana. There, she addressed the rabble.

J'bhen Tia: "Heed me, my beloved citizens! The realm lies upon the brink of the Seventh Umbral Era. Yet so long as we live, we must not forget our compassion. Now is not the time to take from your neighbor, but to proffer him the hand of succor.“

J'bhen Tia: She was determined not to let the city that the Immortal Flames were risking their lives to defend tear itself apart in their absence. Her words brought the people to their senses.

J'bhen Tia: They laid down their arms and set about healing the wounds they themselves had inflicted on Ul'dah. Thanks to Her Majesty's impassioned speech, those who returned from the battlefield found their home much as they had left it: a gleaming jewel in the desert.

J'bhen Tia: <sigh> It all seems so long ago. To see the place today, you'd think that the people had entirely forgotten her words that day. The same hands that were once proffered in succor now grasp greedily at every last coin, even if it means one's fellow man must go hungry...

J'bhen Tia: It's times like these that we must remind ourselves of the sacrifices of those who came before us, which is why the Rising festival is of such profound importance. I draw inspiration from Her Majesty's deeds all those years ago, and through my work, perhaps others might do the same.

J'bhen Tia: Dear me, I'd better stop before I'm overcome with emotion! There are in fact, matters to which I must yet attend, and if I'm not mistaken, you are an adventurer, yes? I've something you might be able to help me with, if you're willing.

J'bhen Tia: In addition to having my stained glass on display, it's been arranged that a wandering minstrel give a recital as part of the festivities. I'm looking to gather as many spectators as possible, but I fear I'll struggle to cover the necessary ground by myself. Perhaps you could give me a hand?

J'bhen Tia: Twelve bless you, sir/madam! I plan to hand out these flyers, and with two of us, we'll be able to reach twice the number of people in the same span of time.

J'bhen Tia: If you'd be so kind as to look for potential attendees around the Steps of Thal, I'll head for the Sapphire Avenue Exchange. Let's meet there when you're done.

[Cutscene #1 END]

Handing out flyers on the Steps of Thal

Obviously Affluent Citizen: Yes?

Obviously Affluent Citizen: Hmm... That does sound rather intriguing. If it's the same minstrel my associates have mentioned on occasion, I had best go and see what all the fuss it about. I hear he's rather talented.

Eminently Approachable Citizen: May I help you?

Eminently Approachable Citizen: Stained glass? Depicting the sultana herself, no less. I've always been a loyal supporter of hers, and it would remiss of me to pass up such an opportunity. I shall be sure to attend.

Noticeably Dusty Citizen: Got somethin' you want diggin' up?

Noticeably Dusty Citizen: Hmm... Can't say I'm much of an expert when it comes to music and fine art, but it ain't often a bloke like me gets a chance to sample the high life. I'd be a fool to miss it!

If you talk to J'bhen Tia at the SAE before handing out all of your flyers

J'bhen Tia: I've still got one or two more flyers left, and so have you by the looks of it. Let's reconvene once they've all been distributed.

When you talk to J'bhen Tia in the Sapphire Avenue Exchange

J'bhen Tia: All done? Much appreciated, but I'm afraid I've run into a bit of a problem...

J'bhen Tia: I was in the process of a handing a flyer to this gentleman, when my friend Astin showed up out of the blue. As chance would have it, these two chaps are previously acquainted, though they do not appear to be on particularly good terms...

[Cutscene #2 START]

Disgruntled Merchant: But how am I supposed to pay you back if the amount keeps going up!?

Astin: If you'd coughed up the money on the day we'd originally agreed, there wouldn't be so much interest to pay. You've only got yourself to blame.

J'bhen Tia: But Astin, if your interest rates weren't so high, perhaps he'd have been able to pay you back by now. I'm not saying you should wipe the slate clean, but surely you can come to a compromise?

Astin: All I want is for him to honor our agreement. What's wrong with that? Besides, I've held up my side of the bargain, so why do I have to be the one to compromise?

Astin: <sigh> But let's say I give you the benefit of the doubt, that you genuinely lack the means to pay me back. I'll grant you one week's extension, but if you still don't have the money by then, there'll be consequences.

Disgruntled Merchant: Only a week? All right, you damned vulture, you'll get your gil. Then I'll be rid of you for good.

J'bhen Tia: I'm sad to say that such incidents are part of everyday life in Ul'dah.

J'bhen Tia: Someone in financial difficulty sees a moneylender as the answer to their woes, like an oasis in the desert. But it's only a mirage, an illusion of salvation, leading them into even greater debt.

J'bhen Tia: Then again, many debtors will borrow money without any intention of paying it back, relying on an endless stream of short-term solutions. <sigh> I hope that those who look upon my art will remember the words of the sultana, and seek to help rather than exploit one another.

J'bhen Tia: Those two chaps you saw arguing just now would benefit from it, I'm sure. You know, Astin wasn't always like that. He's picked me up when I was down more times than I can count.

J'bhen Tia: We both grew up on the streets of Ul'dah with no one to turn to but each other. The only reason I'm even here today─making a living as an artist, of all things─is because of Astin and his talent for business. With a few words and a couple of handshakes, he could turn a gil into a goldmine.

J'bhen Tia: But as the years passed, it became an obsession. No matter how much coin he made, it was never enough. I wish he'd realize there's more to life than personal gain, but nothing I say gets through to him.

J'bhen Tia: That's part of the reason why I turned to stained glass art in the first place. It can express my inner thoughts far better than words ever could. Well, my words, at any rate.

J'bhen Tia: Oh goodness, I do apologize! You must think I'm an awful bore to rope you into helping only to bombard you with complaints and sob stories. But enough of that─it's high time I returned to the exhibition and prepared for the arrival of the minstrel.

[Cutscene #2 END]

Talking to the NPCs before talking to J'bhen Tia

Astin: If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to avoid me...

Disgruntled Merchant: Of all the rotten luck...

When you speak with J'bhen Tia at the art exhibit again

Distraught Youth: If we'd known this would happen, we would never have gone near it!

J'bhen Tia: Ah, there you are. I hate to say this, but we've run into a slight problem. And by “slight problem,” I actually mean “rather a huge catastrophe.”

J'bhen Tia: So huge, in fact, I need a moment to compose myself. While I'm loath to impose on you any further, I've a feeling I may need your help again, or at least some moral support...