Beneath a Star-filled Sky

Quest giver: Alphinaud
Location: Outer La Noscea (X:20.6, Y:16.9)
Quest line: Post-Heavensward
Level: 60

Experience: 5,000
Gil: 1,670
Previous quest: The Beast That Mourned at the Heart of the Mountain
Next quest: When We Were Free
Patch: 3.4

Main Scenario Progress: 366 / 960 (38.1%)

Heavensward Progress: 125 / 138 (90.6%)

“

Alphinaud would rather not worry about what may or may not come to pass.

— In-game description

Steps

Speak with Bloeidin.
Speak with Alphinaud.
Search for Alisaie.
Return to the Waking Sands.
Speak with Alphinaud.
Speak with Alisaie in Little Ala Mhigo.

Journal

Disinclined to dwell on the unpleasant question of Ga Bu's fate, Alphinaud bids you apprise the Maelstrom of your victory over Titan. Yet as pleased as Commander Bloeidin will be to hear the news, he will inevitably demand that a decision be made...

Commander Bloeidin is greatly relieved to hear that you have spared him the burden of sending good men to their deaths. In a show of gratitude, he invites you to stay the night and celebrate with the Maelstrom forces, and you accept -- yet as the evening wears on, you become aware that Alisaie is nowhere to be seen. You find her outside the camp enjoying a moment of quiet solitude with Ga Bu, and after joining her, she tells you of her struggle to understand her grandfather's motivations and to find her own path having parted ways with her brother. The story of her journey seems more than a little familiar, as does the answer she found at the end of it: that in a world where high-minded ideals and earnest efforts all too often fall short, where the good suffer and the evil prosper, one must nevertheless aspire to a higher ideal. Her heart thus unburdened, Alisaie bids you share some tales of your time in the north, and you duly recount an adventure near and dear to your heart. Looking up into the starry night, you reflect on your own journey and what drives you to carry on...

In the morning, you find Alphinaud packed and ready to depart. He reveals that he has been in contact with Thancred and Y'shtola, both of whom have apparently discovered crates bearing defaced Ishgardian seals during the course of their investigations. Armed with this information, Alphinaud thinks it prudent to consult with Urianger once more, and is eager to take to the road. Alisaie, however, is nowhere to be found -- and neither, you realize, is Ga Bu.

No child should be forced to confront death firsthand, much less that of a parent. Though she knows she can never truly understand the depths of his despair, Alisaie takes a moment to comfort Ga Bu one final time. Having given up hope of eliciting a response, she surrenders him into Commander Bloeidin's care, entreating him to show the young kobold every kindness. But in that instant, the child breaks his silence, thanking Alisaie for everything she has done. All is not lost -- Ga Bu may one day recover from his trauma. With hope in your hearts, you set forth for Thanalan.

Back at the Waking Sands, Urianger shares his latest findings. Per Alisaie's request, he has studied The Gerun Oracles and discovered a passage which suggests that a Rejoining would result in the deaths of all those living upon a reflection of the Source. Yet in death there is seemingly life as their souls would then be returned to the Source, where they might be reborn anew. Drastic as it sounds, Urianger speculates this may yet be preferable to the alternative, for it is possible that a world which falls to transcendent Light or Dark may ultimately be transformed into an unfathomable void.

Even as you pause to contemplate the implications of these theories, Urianger reveals that the Ishgardian smugglers supplying the beast tribes with crystals have been identified as remnants of the criminal network established by Eline Roaille -- the infamous Garlean spymaster, the Ivy. What is more, the group has recently supplied crystals to another party: refugees devoted to the cause of Ala Mhigan liberation. Wasting no time, Alphinaud bids you and Alisaie accompany him to Little Ala Mhigo to track down the shipment's recipients and find out what they intend.

As you round the corner and head for the exit, you and the twins are contacted via linkpearl by Thancred, who proudly informs you of the latest developments in Ishgard. When he subsequently hears that you have obtained the same information, however, his disappointment is palpable. A troubled Alisaie then confirms that the raid on the smugglers' hideout was conducted less than an hour before, and that only a select few should know the group's true identity, and the destination of their final shipment...

Alphinaud is unsure what to make of his sister's recent behavior towards Urianger, the two of them having always been quite close. As one of Louisoix's most dedicated pupils, Urianger was practically a member of the family. Yet her treatment of the Archon during your past several visits has suggested nothing of the sort. On the contrary, her words and actions seem to indicate a deep-seated suspicion. But why?

Having spent the journey to Little Ala Mhigo turning the mystery over and over in your mind, you press Alisaie for an explanation, but find her reluctant to say anything more than that she is prepared “to do what must be done.” Whatever has passed between her and Urianger remains unclear for now, but you sense it will not be long before the truth comes out -- for better or for worse.

Dialogue

Speak with Alphinaud

Alphinaud: There is naught to be gained from dwelling on an eventuality over which we have no control, much less one which may never even come to pass. Let us tend to the more immediate matters - informing Commander Bloeidin of Titan's demise, for example. You may be certain that he will be glad of the news. Would you be so kind as to break it to him?

Speak with Bloeidin

Bloeidin: Ah, you're a sight for sore eyes! When the others came back without you, I feared the worst, but they said you had matters well in hand. All is settled then, is it? I'm glad to hear it. But not as half as glad as my men'll be, believe you me! Regardless of whether or not he was summoned properly, a primal's a primal. And there ain't a soul in the Maelstrom that hasn't lost a friend to one. Don't get me wrong, like - we were all prepared to do our part. But we weren't so naive as to think we'd live to tell the tale.  Thankfully, of course, it didn't come to that - which, my friend, sounds to me like cause for celebration! Now, I know you lot have places to be, but why not stay the night? We'd be honored to raise a glass to the trimuphant return of Titan's Bane!

Cutscene to nighttime

Alisaie: Who goes there? (Alisaie notices Warrior of Light, who had followed Alisaie as she walked off). Oh, it's you. Forgive me for straying from the camp. He hasn't been feeling too welcome, to say the least. I thought a change of scenery might do him good, but, alas... (Warrior of Light walks over and sits next to Alisaie). It's so quiet out here. The stars spread out before us, beckoning across time and space... "Dawn may banish even the darkest night." How bitterly beautiful, those words. I should be stronger for all my experiences, yet my heart aches more than ever. I never understood why Grandfather gave his life that day. I thought that, if I came here, I would find the answers I needed. But when I finally laid eye son the land he sacrificed everything to save, saw firsthand the bickering, the pettiness... I was disappointed. I was angry. I could not fathom how these people were more deserving of his love than his family...than me... Nevertheless, I had to believe he had good reason. I was determined to uncover the whole truth of the Calamity, and perhaps in doing so find my own purpose in this sea of chaos. My travels have been enlightening, but I cannot say that I have enjoyed them. I have lost count of the many petty crises that I was helpless to resolve, and of the people whose actions I could not understand. There were others, of course. Good people. People with whom I felt a kinship...whose lives I could not save. I found myself asking what it was all for. Why try if I was doomed to fail in the end? But then I recalled Grandfather's words to my father, years ago, before he left Sharlayan behind forever.
Alisaie: "To ignore the plight of those one who might conceivably save is not wisdom - it is indolence. We must all protect that which we hold most dear in the manner of our own choosing." ...We have to try, do we not? Of course, it's one thing to try and another to do. There were times while I was tracking the Warriors of Darkness when I faltered - when I was afraid. But then I thought of my brother, of Urianger... Ah, pray forgive me. The conversation has been rather one-sided, hasn't it. Mayhap you could recount some of your adventures in Ishgard?
Warrior of Light: (I traveled far and wide with two companions, Estinen and Ysayle, who were very.../Under some rather unique circumstances, I had the pleasure to fight alongside Ser Aymeric... / When Alphinaud and I came at last to the Dravanian hinterlands...) -> When Alphinaud and I came at last to the Dravanian hinterlands...
'Alisaie: We had no clear memories of our life in the hinterlands, having returned to the motherlands as infants. Nevertheless, I am quite familiar with Master Matoya, as is every Sharlayan. I should like to speak with her someday. 'Twould not surprise me if Alphinaud's recent maturation was at least somewhat due to her sage guidance. I would never tell him this, of course, but there have been moments when I've caught myself thinking of him as an elder brother... The hopes and dreams of so many rest on your shoulders, Warrior of Light. As long as the sun rises, we can but carry on. For the sake of those we hold dear. (Alphinaud looks on)

Cutscene to Warrior of Darkness=

Masked Man: (Warrior of Darkness is holding an orange, glowing crystal). To what end dost thou cling to the tainted gifts of the Mother?
Warrior of Darkness: Every tool has its purpose. Even this. Well, what is it?
Masked Man: The seeds sown in Vylbrand have been plucked from the earth and left to wither. Alas, Titan's demise sufficed not to drive the kobolds to deepest desperation.
Warrior of Darkness: What did the man in white have to say?
Masked Man: That we are to proceed as he did first set forth.
Warrior of Darkness: (Pounds the railing in front of him) Well that's easy for him to say! It's not his bloody world on the brink of destruction, is it?
Masked Man: Be thou well reminded that with an end to Ishgard's unrest, naught now remaineth to preoccupy the Scion's thoughts. And thus may they devote their every energy to thwarting thee and thine. I foresee only greater difficulties ahead.
Warrior of Darkness: Foresee? Are you sure you don't welcome them? I'm starting to think you might hold a candle for your old friends, after all...
Masked Man: Pray do not mistake mine intent. I but look upon the path which lieth before us with due trepidation. Shouldst thou be of like mind, pray consider, then, another course, for the power to invoke the Ardor belongeth not unto the Ascians alone. With thine own hand, strike down thine enemy - the so-called hero who would see thy home lost to Light. Do but this and thou wouldst, at a single stroke, disrupt the all to delicate balance of this realm, plunging (him/her) straightways into chaos.
Warrior of Darkness: You do realize what you're suggesting, yes?
Masked Man: "To ignore the plight of those one might conceivably save is not wisdom - it is indolence." The words of my teacher, and a creed I hold close to my heart.
Warrior of Darkness: Very well. Draw her out. We'll make it quick.
Masked Man: It shall be done. (Warrior of Darkness leaves). Waht good a creed one cannot uphold? What hurts soothed, what lives saved... O hapless foo, what hast thou wrought by thine own hands? Minfilia, my friends - I shall not now beg your forgiveness. Full deeply though it paineth me to walk it, I shall not stray from my chosen path. As Moenbryda remained steadfast, so too shall I...