Spirithold Broken

Quest giver: Galfrid
Location: Central Shroud (X:23, Y:19)
Quest line: Seventh Umbral Era
Level: 9

Experience: 3,240
Gil: 206
Previous quest: A Soldier's Breakfast
Next quest: On to Bentbranch
Leves of Bentbranch
Patch: 2.0

“

Galfrid, chief instructor at the Bannock, would entrust you with the task of investigating Spirithold.

— In-game description

Rewards

23 Earth Shard

Unlocks

Steps

Speak with Alestan.

Rescue the missing conjurers and Wood Wailers. 0/5

Rescue the Hearer.

Report to Alestan.

Return to Gridania and speak with Mother Miounne.

Journal

You learn that a party of conjurers and their Wood Wailer escort were attacked by a towering shadow while performing a sacred rite inside Spirithold. Report to Alestan, who stands guard at the dungeon's entrance, and request further orders.

While the majority of those who entered Spirithold have been evacuated, two conjurers, three Wood Wailers, and the Hearer remain unaccounted for. Locate the missing, and rescue any survivors.

Only the Hearer remains, somewhere in the dungeon's depths. Find him and ensure that he leaves Spirithold alive.

You encounter a mysterious masked mage who unleashes a clay golem upon you. After a desperate struggle, you manage to dispatch the automaton just as Yda and Papalymo arrive, their presence triggering yet another inexplicable vision inside your mind. Though your soul cries out for answers, this is neither the time nor place to ask questions. Report to Alestan outside Spirithold.

Alestan listens intently as you recount all that unfolded within Spirithold. Understandably concerned, the Wood Wailer promises to investigate the masked mage, and bids you return to Gridania and speak with Miounne.

Safely back in Gridania, you relate your tale to Miounne, only for her to forbid you from repeating the story to others. What strange forces could be at work in the Twelveswood? Such matters are best left to the Hearers, it would seem. For now, take advantage of Miounne's introduction to guildleves, as well as her offer of guild accommodations, and prepare yourself for future adventures.

Dialogue

Accepting the Quest

Galfrid: Adventurer! Thank the gods you've come!

Galfrid: We have a potential crisis on our hands, and I would appreciate your assistance. Will you hear me out?

Galfrid: Listen well, for we haven't much time.

Galfrid: To the southeast of here lies a dungeon known as Spirithold. It was all but destroyed during the Calamity.

Galfrid: Desiring to offer the ruins back to the forest, a Hearer ventured inside to carry out the Rite of Returning.

Galfrid: Alas, it would seem something has gone awry. Word arrived just moments ago that the Hearer and his guards have been attacked by a towering shadow. Aye, you heard me true - a shadow.

Galfrid: On any other day, I would dispatch my best Quivermen to provide support, but I sent them to repel an Ixali incursion in the West Shroud nary a bell ago.

Galfrid: The timing of these events cannot be mere coincidence. I fear the Ixal somehow caught wind of our plans, and are attempting to disrupt the rite in an effort to weaken the bond between man and elemental.

Galfrid: They must not be allowed to succeed. And so I bid you go to Spirithold and do whatever is necessary to resolve the situation. Please, say you will help us.

Galfrid: I knew you would not let me down. You will have all the support I can muster.

Galfrid: Now, we are racing against time, so you had best make haste.

Speak with Alestan

Alestan: Who goes there? An adventurer, is it?

Alestan: Here at Instructor Galfrid's request, you say? Thank the Matron!

Alestan: Doubtless you already know this, but a towering shadow manifested without warning and attacked the Hearer in the midst of the rite.

Alestan: Most of his party has been successfully evacuated, but five remain unaccounted for.

Alestan: Please find them, and see them out of harm's way.

To the Rescue

Worried Wood Wailer: <groan> A shadow... towering over me... What in the Twelve's good grace?

Worried Wood Wailer: A-an adventurer!? Please, you must save the Hearer!

Witless Wood Wailer: Galfrid... sent you?

Witless Wood Wailer: I am no longer... of use here. Pray help the Hearer... in my stead.

Overwrought Wood Wailer: Away, vile fiend! Away, I say! I defy you! I defy yooouuu!!! ...Uh? ...Oh! An adventurer!

Overwrought Wood Wailer: W-We were ambushed - ambushed in the midst of the ritual! And then... And then... I'm not sure what happened.

Cool-headed Conjurer: ...You were sent to help? I fear you are too late - the ritual has failed.

Cool-headed Conjurer: I must needs return to Gridania. The Seedseers must know of this.

Confused Conjurer: That thing was no elemental, but a being born of darkness.

Confused Conjurer: The Hearer languishes alone in the depths. You must help him!

Speaking to the Hearer

Masked Mage: O mournful voice of creation! Grant ye this humble stone a soul, that it may wake to life!

Masked Mage: That the golem could be vanquished...

Masked Mage: That wo/man is no ordinary adventurer.

Papalymo: Damnation! He has eluded us yet again!

Yda: Oh, fancy meeting you here! How are things?

In the Vision

Papalymo: Hm? Whatever are you-

Yda: Shhh! More birds! This makes it how many times today? Seven?

Papalymo: Their movements are beyond our fathoming.

Yda: Hmmm. Do you think maybe... they're trying to summon their primal?

Papalymo: I hope not, for all our sakes. Yet we must be prepared for the worst.

Vision Pt. 2

Papalymo: Withered. The same fate has befallen Emerald Moss.

Papalymo: It is as we feared: Dalamud's anomaly is affecting life in the Twelveswood.

Yda: You mean the disturbance in the aetheric flow?

Papalymo: The very same. The Garleans have a lot to answer for.

Papalymo: The imbalance they have created is plunging the land into chaos, just as Louisoix forewarned.

Yda: It's no wonder the primals have started appearing...

Papalymo: Time is against us, but there is still hope for the land.

Papalymo: We must hold fast to that hope and fight to the very last.

Yda: Agreed!

Vision Pt. 3

Yda: Waaah!

Yda: Ack! Stupid things...

Papalymo: These stupid things happen to be the very latest in Sharlayan innovation! Show some respect!

Yda: But they're so uncomfortable and... and... ugly!

Papalymo: If you ask me, they're an improvement over that mask of yours.

Yda: <sigh> Hard to believe it's already been five whole years, isn't it?

Papalymo: Already? Five years is but a heartbeat in the life of the planet!

Yda: I suppose you're right... Now that I think about it, the Twelveswood's barely recovered at all, and the Gridanians still have the same old problems.

Papalymo: Aye, along with some new ones. Just in case the Ixal and Garuda weren't troublesome enough, the sylphs had to go and invite Ramuh, didn't they?

Yda: ...Do you ever think about those adventurers who fought alongside us? I do. And then five years seems like ages... I wonder what became of them.

Yda: Ah...

Papalymo: Yda, look.

Yda: Hm?

Yda: Golly! ...And this is what, exactly?

Papalymo: Yet another disturbance in the aether, and freshly manifested at that.

Papalymo: It seems to be emanating from Lifemend Stump. We must hurry!

Back to the Present

Yda: Are you all right? Your eyes glazed over for a while there.

Papalymo: The good news is that the Hearer is unharmed. Somewhat dazed, yes, but whole of mind and body. The bad news... concerns everything else.

Papalymo: Lest you forget, the Twelveswood is the domain of the elementals; it is by their leave that man abides in the forest and avails himself of its bounty. The ground which the dungeon occupies is no different.

Papalymo: Having no more use for the dungeon, the Gridanians sent a Hearer to offer the place back to the elementals by way of the Rite of Returning, which is essentially an expression of gratitude.

Papalymo: Alas, he failed to complete the ritual for obvious reasons.

Papalymo: While the poor soul cannot be blamed for this, the fact remains that unless the elementals are given their due, they may well consider it a slight. And the very last thing the Gridanians can afford to do in these uncertain times is risk alienating the Twelveswood's eternal guardians.

Papalymo: But you have more than done your part. We shall see the Hearer to safety, and send for his peers to finish the rite.

Papalymo: In the meantime, please make your way outside and report to Alestan.

Papalymo: Ah, but where are my manners?

Papalymo: I am Papalymo, and the tactless woman beside me here is-

Yda: Yda!

Yda: Papalymo and I are surveying the Twelveswood together!

Yda: Pleased to meet you!

Papalymo: Yda, give me a hand, would you?

Papalymo: Wait. There is something... familiar about you. Could it be that you are...?

Papalymo: N-Never mind. Doubtless my eyes are playing tricks. Till we meet again!