The Forest for the Trees

The Forest for the Trees

Quest giver

Belmont

Location

Coerthas Central Highlands (X:26.5, Y:16.2)

Level

37

Experience

 4,370

Gil

 1,571

Previous quest

Too Many Enemies

Next quest

Stand and Quiver

Patch

2.0

“

Belmont affects a sellsword's cynicism, but the Gods' Quiver in him dies hard. So urgently does he seek as scout that he will hire one himself.

— In-game description

Walkthrough

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Steps

• Search the Ixali lair for clues.
• Deliver the black yew log to Belmont.

Journal

• Belmont affects a sellsword's cynicism, but the Gods' Quiver in him dies hard. So urgently does he seek as scout that he will hire one himself.

• A veteran of many Ixali skirmishes in Gridania, Belmont suspects that there is more to the Ixal's presence in this part of the world than meets the eye. He bids you use your stealth and cunning to search their lair to the east.

• After a review of the Ixal's housekeeping and a battle to the death, you discover nothing more unusual than a log of very dark wood. Still, it grew not from these woods, and the birdmen hardly kept it as a pet. Return to the camp and give the log to Belmont.

• According to Belmont, the black yew you brought back is found only in the Twelveswood and is much favored by the Ixal who plant the tree to create living fortifications. Belmont believes that this is evidence that the Ixal are settling in Coerthas, seizing on the distraction afforded by Ishgard's many troubles.

Dialogue

Accepting the Quest

Belmont: I hail from Gridania, same as you. Fighting Ixal is what we do there, but I sure didn't expect to see them in these mountains.
Belmont: I know those shite-birds, and they're up to something. It's nothing I can go to my employer with... It's just a feeling. But whenever I got this feeling in the Twelveswood and nothing got done, something bad bit us on the arse.
Belmont: I've not had a moment to spare and the feeling grows stronger. It ill becomes a sellsword to part with his own gil in this manner, but will you enter the Ixali lair to the east and see if there are any clues to be found?

Delivering the black yew log to Belmont

Belmont: What news, sister/brother? What is it that you carry?
<Hand over Black Yew Log>
Belmont: This is black yew from the North Shroud, unknown in Coerthas. The Ixal make of it living blinds and walls. But the yew being slow to grow, why would they bother to cut it down and convey it west? Unless...
Belmont: The Ixal mean to stay here—this is the beginning of a settlement. While the Ishgardians busy themselves with dragons, the birdmen are stealing this patch of Coerthas from right under their noses.
Belmont: I tell you, unless the Holy See acts now, the Ixal will rapidly gain a foothold in this area. That means more war. And though that means more work for the likes of me, I have enough as is.