Where Shadows Reign

Quest giver: Stacia
Location: The Sea of Clouds (X:6.2, Y:5.8)
Quest line: Shadow of Mhach
Level: 60

Gil: 7,500
Previous quest: Freedom for Our Skies
Next quest: A Redbill Farewell
Patch: 3.5

“

Stacia has been searching for you at Cait Sith's behest.

— In-game description

Rewards

Unlocks

Dun Scaith

Steps

Speak with Cait Sith in Leofard's chambers.
Speak with Leofard at the Parrock.
Enter Dun Scaith.
Speak with Leofard at the Parrock.

Journal

Stacia has been searching for you at Cait Sith's behest.

Stacia hails you on Coldwind, and explains that Cait Sith has made some significant discoveries in the recovered Mhachi tome. It seems the feline familiar is eager for you to return to the Parrock so that he can share his revelations with you and the Redbill crew. Fly over to the sky pirates' hideaway, and speak with Cait Sith inside Leofard's chambers.

Cait Sith once more holds court atop Leofard's table, and reveals the history behind his master, High Voidmage Cessair, and the summoning of Diabolos. As if in response to the mention of his name, the bat-winged voidsent descends upon the Parrock, and, after a decidedly one-sided battle, seizes the Nullstone scepter from Cait Sith's paws. Diabolos then threatens to tear the Parrock from the sky, only to withdraw when Radlia and a fleet of Talons arrive to reinforce the Redbills. Speak with the injured Leofard, and discuss what is to be done in the aftermath of the fiend's attack.

With the secrets of the Nullstone's power now revealed to him, Cait Sith is desperate to recover the relic from Diabolos's clutches and carry out the will of his long-dead master. The familiar is convinced that the island where Radlia uncovered the Mhachi tome is the logical location of the fiend's stronghold, and counsels a swift and sudden assault. Reasoning that Leofard's injuries will only endanger the mission, however, Cait Sith instead recruits Radlia and her crew to escort you to the floating haven. Gather your party of battle-hardened adventurers, and ride the winds into the voidsent's lair!

You have recovered the Nullstone and defeated the nightmarish Diabolos. Make your way back to the Parrock.

Despite besting Diabolos in combat, the wily voidsent is not so easily banished. Even as the fiend stands poised to flee with the Nullstone in hand, however, Leofard's unexpected and forceful arrival turns the tables in your favor. You retrieve the artifact for Cait Sith, and the Mhachi familiar unleashes its power upon Diabolos. With your demonic foe annihilated, it is time to return to the Parrock and discuss events with the Redbills' irrepressible captain.

Dialogue

Speak with Stacia

Stacia: [Forename]! Cait Sith just sent me out to find you! ...You've a proper knack for showin' up at just the right time, you know that? Anyway. Cait Sith cracked open that tome what we got from Radlia, and has been studyin' all the Nullstone's secrets. He thinks he may be onto somethin' important - not just concernin' Diabolos and the Shadow Queen, but also the cat himself. Come on back to the Parrock, and we can all hear what he has to say together.

Speak with Cait Sith in Leofard's chambers

Cait Sith: (Cait lights up the book). As I suspected, this tome was penned by a Mhachi sorcerer of superior standing. As well as detailing the methods by which the full power of the Nullstone might be unleashed, its pages also contain a number of revelations concerning my master, High Voidmage Cessair. If these histories are to be trusted, the it seems that Cessair herself was responsible for summoning Diabolos!
Stacia: But...I thought you said your master was opposed to supportin' the war effort. Why would she be the one to call up that bat-wings monster?
Cait Sith: (Cait puts the book down). Cessair only agreed to the ritual as a means to bring the conflict to an early resolution. From what I can glean from these passages, Diabolos was intended as a bluff - a threat that was never to be exercised. But those arrogant imbeciles ignored my master's carefully laid restrictions, and elected to unleash the fiend upon Amadpor. It was when Cessair moved to protest this act that she was branded a traitor and imprisoned! Once they had contained the "opposition," the voidmages studied all manner of otherworldly arts at the taloned feet of their new pet... ... The most dangerous of which was the rite for summoning Scathach, and the method for chaining her power. Yet even after all they had perpetrated, these ambitious fools had the gall to come crawling to Cessair when the coming of the great floods was predicted. They begged her to take control of the Void Ark, for the "salvation of the Mhachi people." As you saw for yourself, however, the energies of the Shadow Queen broke loose and turned the vessel into a derelict nest of voidsent. It seems obvious now that the arts taught by Diabolos were deliberately flawed... The only saving grace in all this madness was when that damnable fiend was sealed away by the white mages of Amdapor. I shudder to think what would have happened had he been reunited with his queen.
Leofard: So now, fifteen hundred years later, Diabolos is lookin' to finish what he started? I thought the bat-faced bastard was just some opportunistic underling, but it turns out he's the main villain behind this whole mess...
Cait Sith: Were Cessair alive today, she would accept responsibility for unleashing Diabolos upon the world. As the high voidmage's familiar, it is my duty to act in her stead! I have deciphered the secrets of the Nullstone, and with its undiluted power shall I erase Diabolos from existence!
Leofard: ...Heh. I like your spirit, puss, but try not to rush in too quickly, eh? Gettin' yourself killed won't do us - or your master - any good. (Cait nods).
Stacia: Wait, wait wait! No one's rushin' in anywhere just yet! Or have you forgotten that we're still in the middle of scoutin' out the fiend's lair? We've got the compass to go by, aye, but who knows what kind of place it'll lead us to or how many demons'll be lyin in wait when we get there. We fly in with our eyes open, or risk gettin' slaughtered just like the Talons!
Cait Sith: Oh, yes, speaking of which, the tome made mention of a potential location for - (Explosion sounds, Leofard runs off).

Stacia: Leofard!
Leofard: ...Ouch. Behind...He's behind you!
Cait Sith: Nyah! Curse you, fiend! (Diabolos is holding the Nullstone).
Diabolos: ...At last. At long last!
Cait Sith: <cough> This is far from over, demon! We'll not allow an abomination like the Shadow Queen to rule this world!
Diabolos: ...Then thou knowest naught of ruling. It is might which decideth dominion. But believe what thou mayest, frail creature. You are playthings. Your screams of denial shall amuse me as I send this rock and all upon it to shatter upon the ground below...(Someone shoots Diabolos).
Stacia: Gods, is that Radlia!? ...Where's she been hidin' that ship?
Diabolos: I would not tire my arm with the swatting of so many flies. The Nullstone is mine, and there is yet much to be done. (Diabolos flies way through a portal).

Speak with Leofard at the Parrock

Leofard: ...Well, well, ain't I a lucky sod: two demons in one day. Found some new dogs to lick your boots, Radlia?
Radlia: (laughs). Is that any way to welcome me back to the life? You needed allies, and persuading our reluctant fellows to join in common purpose is a feat only a woman of my charming beauty could accomplish! And besides, you look too injured to be of much use to anyone. You'd best take to your bed, old man, and let me and your champion there take care of the voidsent.
Leofard: ...What, so you can tuck tail and run again at the first sign of trouble? You'd not even be standin' there if it weren't for me, and even with me arm busted up I'm still twice the pirate you are.
Cait Sith: ...Nay, I think you should stay behind this time, Leofard. We must pursue Diabolos without you. Time is of the essence, and we cannot afford to wait for you to heal. We must take advantage of Captain Radlia's reinforcements, and proceed with all haste.
Leofard: Did the demon drop you on your head, furball? Without me to run things, you'll just end up gettin' in [Forename]'s way. And no one's makin' haste anywhere until we know what we're flyin' into!
Cait Sith: Again, Captain Radlia may hold the answer to that dilemma. I suspect that the island where she uncovered the Mhachi tome is the very location where Diabolos has chosen to lair! This floating marvel I speak of is not a natural occurrence - it was constructed as a haven for refugees of the floods. The tome makes very clear reference to the island's purpose, and describes in detail the voidsent sorcery employed in its creation... As the Void Ark never arrived at its destination, however, the island remained uninhabited. I can imagine no more suitable hideaway for our scheming fiend. Even better, Diabolos will not expect us to suddenly arrive on his secluded doorstep. The Talon fleet will carve us a path through the lesser fiends, and we shall strike swiftly into the heart of the confusion to seize the Nullstone. Once the relic is secured, I will use its power to obliterate our devilish foe! As a sky pirate, surely you understand how such an assault relies on speed and surprise. We cannot have a wounded companion slow us down...and potentially doom the entire enterprise.
Leofard: ...So, you think you're in charge now, do you, puss? Poor, broken Leofard's just some dead weight you need to cut away? You know what? I've had a bellyful of your mewlin' in any case. Go on- fly off without me, and see how far you get with your thrice-damned "enterprise".
Cait Sith: ...Captain Radlia, compare the direction indicated by the ectocompass with your navigational records, if you please. I think we'll find the coordinates coincide with the island in question.
Radlia: Certainly. And feel free to board our flagship when you're set to depart. My darling's large enough to accommodate your adventurer and (his/her) fellows with room to spare!