An Ending to Mark a New Beginning

Quest giver: Alphinaud
Location: Southern Thanalan (X:21, Y:21)
Quest line: Post-Heavensward
Level: 60

Experience: 5,000
Gil: 1,420
Previous quest: One Life for One World
Next quest: Tidings from Gyr Abania
Patch: 3.4

Main Scenario Progress: 370 / 960 (38.5%)

Heavensward Progress: 129 / 138 (93.5%)

“

Alphinaud seems to be at a loss for words.

— In-game description

Rewards

1 Wind-up Moenbryda

Unlocks

No Retreat, No Surrender

Steps

Speak with Alisaie.
Speak with Papalymo.
Speak with Alphinaud in the Rising Stones.
Speak with Alphinaud.

Journal

Alphinaud recalls that the Ishgardian crystals are still somewhere within Zahar'ak, prompting Thancred to interject that he will see to their recovery -- alone. Unable to persuade the bard to accept assistance, Alphinaud resolved to go and find Yda and Papalymo, leaving you with a tired Alisaie and a morose Urianger, who are doing their best not to speak to each other.

You finally break the silence, giving the others an excuse to speak. Alisaie declares that she wanted to believe Urianger would never betray them, but that some small part of her feared the worst. In response, the Archon once more expresses his sorrow for his deception, though it is plain that he still believes the ends justified the means. Alisaie, however, cannot bring herself to condone his actions. Even so, she allows him to escort her to safety, suggesting that any rift that may have grown between them is already on its way to mending.

Having returned to Little Ala Mhigo, you and Alphinaud met with Yda and Papalymo, who are understandably dumbstruck to hear the tale of your visit to the aetherial sea. After a pause, Papalymo declares that it is past time he and Yda rejoined the Scions. A statement of the glaringly obvious, no doubt, but a welcome one nonetheless. As you all prepare to return to the Rising Stones, you are accosted by Gundobald, who is apparently acquainted with both Yda and her father, with whom he fought in the revolution against the King of Ruin twenty years ago. He goes on to recall how Yda once played an active role in the Resistance... until she vanished one day, leaving him fearing the worst. Though plainly startled, Yda musters an apology, explaining that her involvement in the Circle of Knowing and its successor, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, necessitated absolute secrecy. Suddenly conscious that her friends are waiting for her at the Rising Stones, she runs off, leaving Papalymo to reassure Gundobald that they will both return ere long.

With every surviving senior Scion now safely back at the Rising Stones, Alphinaud takes the opportunity to propose that the structure of the organization be revised. Rather than holding to a strict hierarchy, he believes that each member should be allowed to pursue whatever activities they think would best serve to ensure the safety and security of the realm. The others are amenable to this idea in principle -- though in practice, all seem content to carry on with their current activities. With thoughts now turning towards the future, Krile and Alisaie are welcomed as a fully fledged Scions, though the latter accepts the honor with rather less enthusiasm than the former. Still more negative is Urianger, who is plainly haunted by feelings of guilt towards his role in Minfilia's fate -- but after some urging from Thancred, he too agrees to resume his research, thus completing the party -- save, of course, for one. Expectantly, your friends and colleagues turn to you, eager to hear what you intend, and after looking deep within your heart, you know the answer.

The people you have met. The moments you have shared. The losses you have suffered. The tragedies you have overcome. All of it has made you and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn who you are today. Where you go from here and what the future holds, only the Twelve know... but Alphinaud knows that you will find out together.

Dialogue

Speak with Alphinaud

Alphinaud: ...Hm? Forgive me. MY thoughts were elsewhere. And this when I know full well there is yet work to be done. The crystals - 
Thancred: Leave them to me. I will go back into Zahar'ak and secure them. The Amalj'aa will still be in disarray after the thrashing the Warriors of Darkness gave them. They are not like to notice a lone bard skulking about. 
Alphinaud: But Thancred, you -
Thancred: Don't have to do this, I know. But I want to. I will see you at the Rising Stones. 
Alphinaud: ...I should go and find Yda and Papalymo. They must have finished searching the Masks' camp by now. Not that it matters anymore...

Speak with Alisaie

Alisaie: You must be tired, [Forename]. I know I am...
Urianger: If thou wilt permit me, my lady, I would ask a question. When didst thou become aware of mine independent pursuits? 
Alisaie: When I saw you meeting with that Warrior of Darkness and the Ascian in white at the Great Library. I tried not to think the worst. You've never been one to confide in others, so I knew that even were your intentions pure, you would not share your plans with us until you felt the time was right. But I cannot deny that a part of me feared you had simply betrayed us. 
Urianger: Would that there had been another way. Know that I took no pleasure in deceiving thee, and that these sins will forever weigh heavy on my heart. 
Alisaie: ...I understand why you did what you did. That you but sought to achieve the greatest good while inflicting the least harm. Not many would have the courage to make that choice. But even knowing what came of your actions...I find that I cannot condone them. I'm sorry. [Forename], forgive me, but I believe the events of the day have taken their toll on me. I should like to rest for a while. 
Urianger: If thou wilt grant me leave, I would gladly escort thee unto a refuge of thine own choosing. Once my lady hath regained her strength, we shall join thee at the Rising Stones. Until then, Warrior of Light.

Speak with Papalymo

Papalymo: Well met, [Forename]. Alphinaud said you would be joining us. 'Twould seem the Griffin's double was telling the truth, insofar as we found nothing resembling a sizable cache of crystals in the Masks' camp. Did you perchance find one in Zahar'ak?
Alphinaud: Actually...
Yda: ...I don't believe it. The crystals, Minfilia, all of it. It's just - I don't know what it is.
Alphinaud: I sympathize, Yda. Even now, I struggle to comprehend that which I saw... The only thing I can say with any certainty is that I feel blessed to have been granted a final chance to speak with her. 'Twas bittersweet, aye, but also...affirming.
Papalymo: ...Alphinaud, I believe it is past time Yda and I rejoined the Scions. We have been away for far too long. Though I am loath to leave the Griffin to his own devices, I feel our investigation would benefit from your more dispassionate perspectives. And I hope that we might, in turn, offer our own opinions on the many challenges that you have faced in our absence.
Yda: Gods, it's been absolutely ages, hasn't it? I can't wait to hear about everyone's adventures.
Alphinaud: We should be glad to recount them. And Tataru's tales may well surprise you.
Gundobald: Yda...? Yda! Rhalgr be praised, it is you! Yda, alive and standing before me, in the flesh! I can hardly believe my eyes!
Yda: I...Er...
Gundobald: Oh, come now, has it really been so long you don't remember me? It's Gundobald! I fought beside your father in the revolution! Do not think less of her, friends! It's been twenty years since the occupation sent us our separate ways. But the Resistance were always welcome in Little Ala Mhigo. They gave us hope - and young Yda most of all! Aye, Yda here was always full of fire, ever the first to volunteer for a mission. Until the day she up and vanished, that is! There were rumors, and we feared the worst, but here you are, alive and well, looking nary a day older!
Yda: W-Well, what can I say? I...I'm sorry for running off like that and making you all worry. It's a long story, but you see...I...I got involved with my friends here, the Scions - Oh, sorry, we were still in the Circle of Knowing back then, right! A-Anyway, I wanted to come back and tell you, but it wall very secretive stuff at the time and, uh...as you can see, I'm completely fine! (Yda turns to the Warrior of Light). I know we've got a lot to talk about - and we will - but right now I've got to hurry back to our headquarters! My friends are expecting me!
Papalymo: Pray forgive her. It has been a very long day for us all. I promise we will visit again at the first opportunity. Let us return to the Rising Stones. Hells take me for giving you that mask...