The Word of the Mother

The Word of the Mother

Quest giver

Alphinaud

Location

The Rising Stones (X:6, Y:5)

Quest line

Dragonsong Main Scenario Quests

Level

60

Experience

 5,000

Gil

 4,500

Previous quest

As It Once Was

Next quest

This War of Ours

Patch

3.2

---

Main Scenario Progress: 345 / 960 (35.9%)

   

Heavensward Progress: 104 / 138 (75.4%)

   

“

Alphinaud is eager to return to the search for Minfilia.

— In-game description

Rewards

• 1   Poro Roggo

Unlocks

• 
  The Antitower

Steps

• Rendezvous with Krile in Idyllshire.

• Speak with Matoya.

• Enter the Antitower.

• Speak with Alphinaud.

Journal

• It would seem that Krile and Thancred's foray into Castrum Meridianum was a success. According to Alphinaud, the pair have called a meeting in Idyllshire, where they will share their findings. But what could they have learned, and how might it lead you to the Antecedent?

• You learn that after concluding their investigation in the Praetorium, Krile and Thancred journeyed to the Sil'dih Aqueducts, where Minfilia was last seen. Apparently, the readings from these two locations yielded a unique aetheric signature—one which was also detected at the Isle of Val, where Krile claims she was shielded by the Blessing of Light. The conclusion is clear: Hydaelyn's intercessions can be measured and traced. Furthermore, Krile states that not two but three people were caught in Y'shtola's Flow. Unlike the Archons, however, the third individual appears to have vanished without a trace. Though it is something of a logical leap, Krile surmises that Hydaelyn—who has a demonstrated capacity to summon the consciousness of those blessed with the Echo to Her realm—may have guided Minfilia into the teleportation magick's compass, and thence summoned her, body and soul, unto the aetherial sea. Should this be the case, then the search must continue in that near-mythical place. Fortunately, it would seem that the Sharlayans built a structure to study the aetherial sea, and that its custodian yet remains, in defiance of the exodus...

• All things come at a price, and Matoya's permission is no different. Although she grants your company access to the Antitower, she demands that Krile stays behind to help her restore the ward over the door, while you are to tend to any unruly familiars you encounter. Knowing better than to argue the terms, you quietly prepare to sally forth into the Sharlayan structure.
  • ※Challenge the Antitower with other players via the Duty Finder, or with a party of NPCs via Duty Support. Both systems are accessible from the main menu as well as the dungeon's entrance point.

• As you drive back the last of the tower's magical guardians and silence descends, you take in your surroundings. What was it you thought to find here, in this forgotten place, left to molder until the end of time? And then, on the edge of hearing, a voice. “Hear... Feel... Think...”

• Once more, you bask in the light of the crystal, in the midst of the aetherial sea. A voice, familiar yet strange, welcomes you; Minfilia's at times, but at others... She calls herself the Word of the Mother, and with one will do they tell you a tale of the beginning—of when Light and Dark dwelt as one, before Zodiark's covetousness forced Hydaelyn to banish Him to the distant heavens. Not only was the star sundered in so doing, but the barriers between realities as well, giving birth to reflections of the source, wherein shards of light and dark were scattered. To restore Zodiark to His former glory do the Ascians ever labor, and each Calamity marks a Rejoining—the obliteration of a reflection, and a triumph of the Dark. Alas, before she can say more, the Word cries out in pain, and the Mothercrystal shudders. Your Crystal of Light, whose power she drew upon, is all but spent, and she has no choice but to return you to the tower. With a final desperate plea, the Word bids you farewell, before shattering into a thousand thousand pieces.

  Upon returning to Matoya's cave, your fellow Scions listen in silence as you tell of your meeting with Minfilia, and of her transformation into the Word of the Mother. Alphinaud, at last realizing the implications of your encounter, cries out in despair for the loss of your leader, prompting Master Matoya to scold him for his childish naivety. She reminds him that wars are not won without sacrifice—that Minfilia made her choice, and that the Scions must move forward without her. Unimpressed by her lecture, Y'shtola leaves with Krile in tow, while Thancred storms out without uttering a word, leaving you alone with Alphinaud and Matoya.

• Though he does his best to accept that Minfilia made her choice, and that you must carry on without her, Alphinaud cannot help but wonder if there was not another way. Loss after loss, sacrifice upon sacrifice... Your victories have ever come at a price—one which Alphinaud seems increasingly unwilling to pay.

Dialogue

Optional Dialogue

Tataru: It'll all be like it was. Just you wait and see!

Accepting the Quest

Alphinaud: Thancred and Krile contacted us a short while ago. It would seem that their foray into Castrum Meridianum bore fruit. 
Alphinaud: They ask that we rendezvous with them and Y'shtola in Idyllshire, where they will share their findings. 
Alphinaud: Rude though it is to depart without speaking to the guest of honor, I expect she will forgive me if I return with her daughter.

Optional Dialogue

Tataru: What are you still doing here? They're waiting for you in Idyllshire!

Y'shtola: 'Twas rather less than I had hoped...though mayhap I asked too much.

Thancred: How is F'lhaminn, by the way? Enchanting as ever, I trust. I shall have to pay my respects when time allows.

Optional Dialogue in the Rising Stones

F'lhaminn: ...Mayhap it is for the best that I remain ignorant of the details. Otherwise, I might be tempted to do something rash.
F'lhaminn: I will place my faith in you all, and the Twelve to see her returned to me.

Alianne: Now that Lady F'lhaminn and the others have returned, we can redouble our efforts to find Yda and Paplymo. If only we had some inkling of where they went when they left Pearl Lane...

Ephemie: A shame that Higiri was not here to welcome Lady F'lhaminn home. Still, it shall be a pleasure to see the look on her face when she returns and learns of her homecoming!

V'mah Tia: We'll keep things running smoothly while you're away, miss/sir. You should devote all your attention to the search for the missing Scions.

Aergmhus: 'Bout time everyone came back to the Toll! Though there's still a few missing, like young Wilred. Been too long since that boy and I had a drink!
Bluomwyda: (I know, I know. I will look after him and see that he is fit for duty.)

Isildaure: Lately I've been practicing calisthenics every morning to stay loose and limber. In fact, I think I might be fit to venture out into the field once more!

Homei: A warrior should not boast or brag of his accomplishments. So it was taught to me by my father, and by his father before him.
Homei: Yet I must admit that I delight in hearing the young ones tell of their adventures. Their eagerness, their boldness—it is comforting and inspirational both. When the time comes to reclaim what was lost, I know they will rise to the challenge.

Hoary Boulder: But enough about me, Brother—what of your escapades? And what of this fetching young lady with whom you seem so well acquainted?

Ocher Boulder: Perceptive as ever, Brother! Aye, Aenor and I have taken part in many a mission together, and through adversity have forged unbreakable bonds!
Ocher Boulder: Indeed, her skillful ministrations have provided much comfort...

Aenor: Mmm... Why not both?

Coultenet: Looks like Hoary is off to a smashing start. Mayhap I should leave them to it and set about being sociable myself.
Coultenet: Besides, I'd rather not be around when these two rising stones begin to clash.

Clemence: But I don't understand! I was the healer on those expeditions! How could she have—
Clemence: Oh...oh gods... I was sleeping less than ten fulms away! I...<sniffle> <sob>...I have no sister!

Rendezvousing with Krile in Idyllshire (Cutscene)

Alphinaud: My apologies, I see I am the last to arrive. So—what news have you for us? 

Krile: Well, as we postulated, there were indeed what appeared to be the remnants of an unexplained disturbance in the aether at the scene of the Ultima Weapon's destruction. A ripple at odds with the presiding pattern. 
Krile: Though faint, the waveforms bore a strong resemblance to those observed following the destruction of the Isle of Val—when I believe Hydaelyn shielded me with the blessing of Light. 

Thancred: To confirm our findings, we paid a visit to the Sil'dih Aquaducts. 
Thancred: There we detected the same waveform, but orders of magnitude larger...as one would expect of a more recent disturbance. 

Y'shtola: Hydaelyn. There is no other explanation. 

Krile: But there is more. When I studied the site where Y'shtola used flow, it appeared that not two but three beings had been affected. 
Krile: Yet unlike Y'shtola and Thancred, there was no trail to follow. Our unknown third party was simply there...and then not there. 
Krile: Now, recall your visions of a vast crystal floating in a sea of aether. Though this too is but a theory, studies of gifted objects suggest that, when communing with Hydaelyn, we briefly leave our bodies behind. 
Krile: So, let us consider the facts. One—Hydaelyn interceded. Two—a third being was caught in Y'shtola's Flow and vanished without a trace. And three— Hydaelyn may have the capacity to summon the consciousness of gifted individuals to Her side. 

Y'shtola: You are implying, I take it, that Hydaelyn guided Minfilia into the compass of my magick...that She might summon her, body and soul, unto the aetherial sea? 
Y'shtola: In which case, we must needs continue our search there. For a blessing, the means to do so already exists. 
Y'shtola: I speak of the Antitower—a Sharlayan construction conceived to provide scholars a vantage point over the aetherial sea. 
Y'shtola: Though I know not where its entrance lies, we need only ask its last custodian - a contrary old crone who, for another blessing, refused to join the exodus. 

Alphinaud: Master Matoya was the keeper of the Antitower!? I had no idea... 
Alphinaud: Then our course is clear. We must petition her aid once again. 

Speaking with Matoya (Cutscene)

Matoya: Oh, what a surprise? Well? What secrets have you come to extract from me this time? 

Alphinaud: Ah. Though it pains me to admit it, your words strike close to the mark. We humbly ask that you grant us entry to the Antitower, that we might use it to seek a friend who we believe has been transported to the aetherial sea. 

Matoya: And who told you I could do such a thing, I wonder. 
Matoya: The tower was abandoned to its magical keepers fifteen years ago. They have the run of the place now. If that is no deterrent to you,t hen by all means. 

Y'shtola: Is that all? I felt sure you would seek to dissuade us from our course, given your role as custodian. 

Matoya: Role? Hardly. The Forum foisted the title on me. 
Matoya: During the exodus, every entrance to the Antitower was sealed save one. 
Matoya: My role consists of making sure no one with ill intent sneaks through it. Such was the Forum's final "order" to me.  
Matoya: Well? I can remove the wards right now. Will you be going or not? 

Krile: We will, Master Matoya. We will do whatever it takes to find Minfilia! 

Matoya: ...We'll see about that. 
Matoya: You, Baldesion girl—you're staying here with me. I need your help to restore the wards to their original state. 
Matoya: The rest of you can go—on the condition that you clean up the mess in the tower. If you encounter any unruly familiars, you're to tend to them. Those are my terms, and I'll hear no argument. 

Thancred: Well, it appears the mistress has spoken. Lead the way, [Forename]. 

Optional Dialogue

Matoya: Fair warning, but the arcane entities in the Antitower are a troublesome lot. Try not to die in there.

Krile: To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what you'll need to do once you reach the bottom...but you've always been so resourceful, so...

Alphinaud: The Antitower is the sole reason a Sharlayan settlement existed in Eorzea. One cannot overstate the structure's importance.

Y'shtola: Long did I wonder what awaited beyond that door. Several times in my youth, I even tried to open it, but the wards were beyond my ability to dispel.
Y'shtola: All I earned for my efforts was a mountain of menial chores, and I had given up on ever satisfying my curiosity. To think that I'm about to step through the threshold after all these years...

Thancred: Whatever it takes, we will find Minfilia. Whatever it takes.

Entering the Antitower

Duty Dialogue

Zuro Roggo: Croaaak! Who dares approach the tower!?
Ones with ears to listen!? How wonderful!
Zuro Roggo: It's...it's not easy being... <croak>

Cutscene

Calcabrina: We are Calcabrina! Adorable dolls! Terrible dolls! Yip-ho-ho!

Duty Support Dialogue

Y'shtola: An aetherial path... No simple thing to create. 

Thancred: ...Let's keep moving.

Alphinaud: By the Twelve, it's literally upside down! 

Y'shtola: The aether is so dense as to be blinding.

Alphinaud: Good gods, what an enormous poroggo! 

Zuro Roggo: Croaaak! Who dares approach the tower!?
Ones with ears to listen!? How wonderful! 

Thancred: They must provide excellent board here. 

Zuro Roggo: It's...it's not easy being... <croak> 

Alphinaud: I pray I never hear that song again...

Thancred: Right, into the aether we go.
Thancred: Is this it, then? The aetherial sea? 

Y'shtola: This is the shore, you might say.

Alphinaud: More homunculi! 

Thancred: We'll deal with them like the rest.

Alphinaud: All these spriggans here... 

Y'shtola: I imagine they were drawn to the crystals.

Alphinaud: That was tougher than I expected... 

Y'shtola: Come, the lowest level awaits.

Alphinaud: Even the candles burn upside down... 

Y'shtola: How very Sharlayan to obsess over useless details.

Thancred: Defenses for the innermost sector, eh? 

Alphinaud: Can't lower our guard even for a moment!

Alphinaud: Those dolls are the guardians of the viewing chamber? 

Y'shtola: Have care─I sense tremendous power from them! 

Post Duty Cutscene

(Echo Vision)
???:Hear...Feel...Think...
???: Through time and space hast thou journeyed unto me...as I knew thou wouldst.
The Word of the Mother: We are the Word of the Mother. We who were once called "Minfilia." 
The Word of the Mother: Much time hath passed for thee, since the bloody banquet. Since...since I hearkened to Her word. 
The Word of the Mother: Mother... Hydaelyn guided me...towards Y'shtola and Thancred, that I might be swept up in their Flow...and delivered unto the aetherial sea... 
The Word of the Mother: There, adrift and alone, Her voice silent once more, I prayed... For those who have lost. For those we can yet save. To Her I would make an offering...
The Word of the Mother: We speak now with one Voice. One Will. One Word. Unto thee we bequeath the most precious of gifts: the truth which lieth at the heart of this world. 
The Word of the Mother: Thus do we beseech thee once more... Hear...Feel...Think...
The Word of the Mother: Before there was life, in the depths of the aetherial sea, Light and Dark did once dwell as one. 
The Word of the Mother: But the Darkness coveted power, and the balance was broken. Thus was I forced to banish Him unto the distant heavens, to forever remain apart. A moon bound. 
The Word of the Mother: In sundering the star did we cry out, and the barriers 'twixt planes chance to falter. 
The Word of the Mother: Across ten and three were we then divided. Reflections of the Source, each possessed of a shard. 
The Word of the Mother: Zodiark longeth to be made whole. For His restoration, for His resurrection, His servants labor without cease.  
The Word of the Mother: They seek to tear down the barriers which surround the Source. 
The Word of the Mother: Thus to they rejoice in their Ardor—in your calamities—for each marks a Rejoining. 
The Word of the Mother: Seven times have they succeeded. Seven times has the Darkness grown stronger. Seven times have I failed. 
The Word of the Mother: The Ascians cannot be suffered to continue. This...this is my final...
The Word of the Mother: The Crystal's power is all but spent. With what remains, I will return you to the shore of the aetherial sea. 
The Word of the Mother: Blessed children, go forth and seek...seek....

(Vision Ended)
Alphinaud: You've had another vision, haven't you?
Alphinaud: Let us return to Master Matoya's cave. Everyone will wish to hear what you saw. 

Cutscene

Matoya: Still in one piece, are we? 
Matoya: Well? Did you learn anything? 

Alphinaud: The Word of the Mother...? I am not sure I understand. 

Y'shtola: Nor am I. Krile? 

Krile: As unbelievable as it sounds, I see no reason to doubt her—the Word's tale. No one was more sensitive to the will of Hydaelyn than Minfilia. 
Krile: And if Hydaelyn has grown so weak that She can barely make Herself heard, it is not hard to see why Minfilia, having joined with Her, might struggle to maintain her own form. 

Alphinaud: What? Why would she need to “maintain her own form”? Are you saying—Are you saying she's gone? 
Alphinaud: But that cannot be! Not now, not after all we have accomplished! We were meant to usher in the dawn's light together! 

Matoya: She threw herself on the fire to fuel your "dawn's light," boy. You'll just have to usher it in on your own. 

Y'shtola: Must you be so ungentle!? 

Matoya: Tell me about the Scions, boy. 

Alphinaud: The...the Scions of the Seventh Dawn labor for Eorzea's salvation.  
Alphinaud: Whenever the realm is threatened, be it by primal, Ascian, Garlean, or any other, we take up arms in her defense, that all in Eorzea may live to see a brighter tomorrow. 

Matoya: And that's very noble of you. But in chasing after these lofty goals of yours, you seem to have lost sight of some basic truths. 
Matoya: To win a war, you must be willing to do whatever it takes. To fight, to kill, and, if necessary, to die. 
Matoya: The path you've chosen is paved with the dead. Walk it with your eyes open, or not at all. 

Y'shtola: I know the truth of which you speak, and have from the first. 
Y'shtola: If the Ascians will go to any lengths to resurrect their god, then we must needs be as committed to our cause—to unmask them and their schemes, and to crush them both utterly. 
Y'shtola: Come. There is much to be done. 

Krile: Y-Yes, of course.

Alphinaud: Thancred, wait! 
Alphinaud: No...No, this is all wrong. 

Optional Dialogue

Matoya: 'Tis a blessed few who get to choose how and when and for what they die.
Matoya: Not that you need reminding, I suppose. But that boy... <sigh>
Matoya: For all the suffering he has known, he still clings to the notion that there is a cosmic justice, a morality by which we are saved or condemned. And there isn't.

Speaking with Alphinaud

Alphinaud: She...she's not coming back, is she. 

< What will you say? >
< She did what she thought was best. >
< ...What now? >
< ... >

< She did what she thought was best. >
Alphinaud: I know that, I do. To give all for her beliefs was ever her way. 
Alphinaud: So will we, as we must. What greater calling could there be than to stand against the Dark as defenders of the Light? And yet...where does it end? The sacrifice, the loss....

< ...What now? >
Alphinaud: ...We carry on, as we must. She went to great lengths to inform us of the enemy's designs. We stand, as ever, against the Dark, as defenders of the Light.
Alphinaud: Yet for how long, I wonder. How much more loss must we endure...?

< ... >
Alphinaud: It weighs on you too, I know. I understand why she made her decision, and yet... 
Alphinaud: Every time we lose another friend, I have to ask myself if there was not another way...