To Bend with the Wind

To Bend with the Wind

Quest giver

Soroban

Location

The Ruby Sea (X:29.5, Y:36.5)

Quest line

Stormblood Main Scenario Quests

Level

62

Experience

 102,000

Gil

 1,262

Previous quest

Boys with Boats

Next quest

Confederate Consternation

Patch

4.0

---

Main Scenario Progress: 419 / 960 (43.6%)

   

Stormblood Progress: 40 / 162 (24.7%)

   

“

Soroban is in high spirits.

— In-game description

Rewards

Choose one of the following options:

• 1   Gyuki Leather Boots of Aiming
• 1   Gyuki Leather Boots of Healing
• 1   Gyuki Leather Pattens
• 3   Heavens' Eye Materia V

Steps

• Speak with the proud Confederate.
• Speak with Soroban.
• Speak with Soroban.
• Speak with Alisaie.
• Follow Alisaie.
• Defeat the gyuki.
• Search for Lyse.
• Follow Lyse.

Journal

• Soroban is in high spirits.

• Relieved that you will not judge him and his fellow Blue Kojin harshly for the deeds of the Red, Soroban is eager to take you the rest of the way to Othard. He leaves with the others to ready his ship, and bids you inform the Confederates of your impending departure.

• The Confederate with whom you speak reiterates that there is no need to pay the Ruby Tithe, though he and the others should be glad if you would consider purchasing supplies before leaving the island.

• All due preparations made, you set forth, and Sakazuki recedes into the distance as the eastern coastline of Othard grows larger. Recalling that Tansui spoke of Doma's viceroy “holding court” in one of the fishing villages, you come ashore some distance from Isari, in case it should chance to be the selfsame village.

• Agreements fulfilled and debts paid, you part ways with Soroban, and turn your attentions to Isari, which you soon discover to be occupied by imperial forces. From afar, you catch your first glimpse of Yotsuyu, the imperial viceroy, and Grynewaht of all people, who seems none the worse for the trouncings you dealt him in Gyr Abania and Carteneau. To the disgust and horror of your comrades, Yotsuyu forces one villager to execute another, before having him shot for refusing to kill his own parents. Incensed, Gosetsu resolves to end the madness by surrendering himself into the viceroy's custody, reasoning that she will wish to question him thoroughly, giving you time to formulate a rescue plan. Despite your comrades' protestations, the samurai will not be swayed, and you can only watch as he is led away into the local tavern.

• Though Alisaie is frustrated by this turn of events, she recognizes that what is done is done, and that you have no choice but to find a solution. Recalling that Gosetsu bade you seek aid at the mysterious tower to the northeast, she takes to the water with Lyse, and begins swimming for the isle of Onokoro.

• As Alisaie laments a brief moment of Alphinaud-like exposition, massive beasts with big, nasty teeth emerge from the water and howl in rage. Others are soon drawn to the commotion, and since discretion is the better part of valor, your comrades resolve to run, fending the beasts off as they go. You, meanwhile, decide to deal with the first two beasts before following suit.

• Ravenous beasts are rarely a challenge for you, and these are no exception. Doubtless Lyse and Alisaie fared just as well...

• As expected, you find your comrades standing over several slain beasts, none the worse for wear. The tower is not far, and you can almost make out the banners, which look rather familiar even at this distance.

• It would seem that Gosetsu intended for you to seek the aid of the Confederacy, as the large settlement─complete with its own aetheryte─appears to be under their control. But given what Tansui told you before, there is surely little chance that they will answer your call.

Dialogue

Speak with Soroban

Soroban: I shall return to the ship and prepare for our departure. If you have any remaining business to conduct with the pirates here, I pray you do so now. Ah, that reminds me. [Forename], would you be so kind as to inform the Confederates of our plans? The more they know of our movements, the less like we are to be mistaken for another vessel by their comrades.

Speak with the proud Confederate

Proud Confederate: Oh, you're one of the ijin from the beach. Leaving us already? No need to pay the tithe, like Tansui said. On the other hand, if you were to peruse our wares and find anything to your liking, we should be glad to sell it to you for a fair price. 

Speak with Soroban

Soroban: You have spoken with the Confederates up above, then? Excellent! If you are ready to depart, we may do so at any time. 

Soroban: Then let us be off! I shall deliver you to the fishing village of Isari. 
Alisaie: Wait - Tansui said that the viceroy was "holding court" in one of the fishing villages, did he not? Should Isari chance to be the village in question, we could instantly find ourselves surrounded by imperial soldiers. I think it safer to come ashore some distance away. 
Soroban: Very well! I know just the place. 

Speak with Soroban

Soroban: Here we are! I am reasonable certain none bore witness to our approach. And with this, I believe I have fulfilled the terms of our agreement? 
Gosetsu: Aye, that you have. You have my deepest thanks, Soroban. Truly, we are blessed to have befriended such a clever and industrious merchant! 
Soroban: Oh, you are much too kind, good sir! I know not where your path may lead, but I wish you the very best, and hope that we shall meet again.
Lyse: So we've finally arrived in Othard. All we need to do now is, uh...liberate Doma. 
Alisaie: Ah, yes...that. Look...daunting though it is, we do have one thing our favor: the element of surprise. Unlike in Gyr Abania, the imperials don't know we're here. Admittedly, that may be our only advantage, considering how few of us there are...
Lyse: Well, I expect the Doman Liberation Front will even up the odds a bit. But before all, we need to see if this is the fishing village Tansui was talking about.
Gosetsu: It may well be. I smell ceruleum on the breeze...

Alisaie: Even accounting for the rebellion, such indiscriminate shows of force seem pointlessly excessive...
Gosetsu: If only you knew how commonplace such scenes have become. Hmm... Are we too late? 
Lyse: Over there - someone's coming! 
Gosetsu: ...It is she! Sworn enemy of Doma - of my master! The traitor who sold her homelands to the Garleans - Yotsuyu! 
Lyse: The viceroy herself. And look - behind her! Isn't that...?
Yotsuyu: Filth and squalor everywhere I look. How very Doman. What I wouldn't do for a drink... Come now, you've no reason to look so afraid. You have lived through a quarter of a century of Garlean rule, remember? 'Tis better to bend with the wind than stand tall and be broken. Therein lies...hope. Therein lies freedom. I come before you today seeking affirmation. A heartfelt declaration. You are free to answer me as you see fit - yet even the least among you should know the correct response. Should. A resident of your village - one of your neighbors, mayhap your friend - was detained by the Kojin this morning. They say he was attempting to flee to Kugane, but we both know that simply isn't true, don't we? Have you anything to say? 
Yotsuyu: ...A bit slow, this one. Is there anyone more sensible among you? Have any of you anything to say? To swear?
Isari Youth: M-My lady,I...I swear to serve the Empire! To do...whatever is asked of me...and never disobey...
Yotsuyu: Well said that man. Of course...it wouldn't do to simply take you at your word. (Yotsuyu hands the youth a gun). Kill him. Surely you can do that much? He must be guilty of something or other, or he wouldn't have attempted to flee the Empire. 
Isari Youth: I...I have a family... Kami forgive me...Kami forgive me...(points gun at the other youth, and fires the gun at them. They drop to the ground).
Yotsuyu: Very, very good. I've always had a soft spot for men like you. Next, I want you to shoot those two over there. Too old to work, you understand - a burden on the Empire, and we can't have that. 
'Isari Youth: But...they're my parents. You can't expect me to... (Youth tries to shoot Yotsuyu, and imperials shoot him down instead).
Warrior of Light: (What will you say?) (...We will show them no mercy. / We can't. Not now.) -> ...We will show them no mercy.
Alisaie: Stop and think for a moment! If you go charging in now, every one of those villagers is as good as dead! We must consider the wider picture. If we act recklessly we risk alerting the Garleans to our presence here, making it that much harder for us to work with the local rebels - to say nothing of the reprisals ordinary civilians would be made to suffer. 
Gosetsu: Open your eyes, girl - they are already suffering! Let me go - I am putting an end to this madness! I will approach the village alone and identify myself. As a former leader of the rebellion and known fugitive, they will wish to detain me until they are certain they have learned all I know. Use this time to make your plans! 
Lyse: You saw what those monsters did to the villagers! Who knows what they'll do to you - assuming they don't kill you where you stand! 
Gosetsu: We live and die at the pleasure of the kami. My fate is in their hands, and no other's. If it be of any comfort, I am no stranger to chains. 
Lyse: You can't expect us to stand idly by as a comrade goes marching off to his death! And this is nothing like Kugane! 
Alisaie: ...Nor is it like the Reach, Lyse - or the Wall. Let him go. Hold out for as long as you can, but remember: noble sacrifices are to remain an absolute last resort. I wish I could say it won't come to that, but only the gods know how we're going to get you and the others out in one piece. A miracle, perchance...
Gosetsu: A great tower stands to the north and east. Look to its occupants for aid and succor. Together, you may yet find your miracle. Now, leave this place. I must go. 
Yotsuyu: Tsk tsk...Another idiot like all the rest. I'm beginning to think it may be something fundamental, something intrinsic, something quintessentially Doman to ignore the simple truth: you can't do a damn thing if you're dead. (Holds gun out at the civilians)
Gosetsu: Enough, Yotsuyu! 
Yotsuyu: Well now...this is a surprise! 
Gosetsu: Hear me, Yotsuyu: cease this farce, here and now, and I shall surrender myself to you. Refuse, and all shall answer to my blade. 
Yotsuyu: ...Bring him to the tavern. (Gosetsu glares at Yotsuyu as he walks past her, and she smiles).

Speak with Alisaie

Alisaie: I hate it as much as you. Maybe even more. Every fiber of my being was crying out to intervene, but...But what's done is done. Gosetsu's gamble has gifted us the time we need to find a solution. He bade us seek aid at the distant tower, yes? For want of a better idea, I say we do just that - while taking care to avoid the imperials. 

Follow Alisaie

Alisaie: We seem to have evaded their patrols so far...
Lyse: What is that tower, anyway? I've never seen anything like it. 
Alisaie: According to the map, we are on Onkoro, and the tower is known as Heaven-on-High. A mysterious structure built long ago by persons unknown...Oh gods, listen to me. I'm starting to sound like Alphinaud. Next thing you know, I'll be saying things like, "As you are doubtless already aware..." Hm? Over there! Do you see it?
Lyse: Hmmm... Doesn't look like it's been dead long. Whoever did this, they're a good shot. I can't see a single stray arrow. Well, someone's hungry! Wait...that wasn't either of you two, was it. 
Alisaie: Calm down! We had nothing to do wi - Wait, what am I doing? They can't possibly understand us. 
Lyse: Probably not, no...
Alisaie: Time to run, Lyse! We save our strength for any that give chase! You too, [Forename]!

Search for Lyse

Lyse: Just imagine if they'd taken us by surprise. What a fine ending that would have been to our story... Anyway, I think it's safe to assume that the people at the tower know how to defend themselves. You'd have to, sharing an island with these things. Now all we need to do is convince them to help us! 

Follow Lyse

Lyse: Ohhh...there's a settlement here! And they've even got their own aetheryte. Wait a minute...I've seen that standard before. It was when we met with Tansui. Which means this place belongs to...Oh.