Journeys

The Greatest Story Never Told (Spoilers for quest)

The Hyur scowled into his ale mug. I chose to let him sit with it to see if he was bold enough to speak his mind. He didn't leave me waiting long.

"If noble reasons are for naught, then we might as well give in to our baser desires. If truth and glory will lead to our downfall, why not make that our destination! I say we adventure for wealth and fortune!"

His companions frowned at the thought but watched me, waiting for my answer.

I lifted my glass to my lips but it did a poor job of masking my smile.

"Let me guess," the Viera says in exasperation, "You have a story for this as well."

I shrug negligently. "You were told to seek me out for a reason, we're you not?"

"Aye! For advice! For guidance! Not to be mocked and turned away from our path!" the Hyur almost shouted in his anger.

"Be at peace, Leidorf." the Elezen said smoothly. "I'm not yet convinced our time is ill-spent. Mayhap we can spare one more tale 'ere we depart."

"The longer we listen to her ceaseless prattle Toireaux, the longer it takes us to get started on our own tale."

"One more tale, Leidorf. Then we will away." the Viera pressed.

Leidorf threw up his hands in exasperation. "Fine. One more tale then. Tell us, Oh warrior of light, why is adventuring for fortune folly?"

I let my fingers drum out a rhythm on the tabletop, a percussive accompaniment to the tale.

~

Lend me your ear dear travelers and hear the story of loves lost, nations that fell to ruin and the greatest treasure that never was.

I happened across a Roegadan who was investigating some ruins. He was chasing a rumor of an artifact that was worth a hundred million gil. One adventure and he would be set for life, living in the lap of luxury.

All he had to do was find the missing treasure of Lalafuto the third who ruled Belah'dia over seven hundred years ago. The problem? The treasure was hidden behind a myriad of riddles. Thus did he press me to aid him.

He bade me travel. In his stead to those who might help solve the riddles. My journey took me to Limsa where I met a new adventurer, not much more seasoned than yourselves. He gifted me with a journal that he obtained from his late master.

Upon my return, I learned that the Master was the one that penned the riddles. The Roegadan was not idle in my absence. Indeed he had uncovered another riddle.

This one took me to a waitress in the shroud. I learned the old adventurer often argued about his bill. In turn, she gave me a list of numbers. I saw the beauty of them even if she did not and made haste to a spot south of a dungeon in the wastes of Thanalan. It was there I found runes that shared lines of a long-forgotten poem.

Knowing this was but a step on the journey, I returned to my patron.

To my chagrin, he waited with yet another riddle. Deep in the Lominsan forests, I found still more runes and lines of poetry. The poetry began to pull me more than the quest itself. Indeed I vowed to complete the quest if only to learn the name of the poet.

I returned yet again to my employer only to find he had yet another riddle. So I made haste to the markets to speak to the master there. They remembered the old adventurer I was following and had a tale of frustration about him. As was his wont, he hid his clues in seemingly aimless ramblings of a senile adventurer who had seen too much.

And so I found the next clue and still more poetry.

When I finally returned to the Roegadan I related to him what I found. Sadly he had no more clues. All that remained was poetry. By now I had seen the adventurer and indeed caught a glimpse into the poet himself.

Upon studying the lines and their heart-wrenching longing, I discovered the final clue. Good fortune was on my side for I had what I needed in my bag.

When I used the item as bade, a section of the statue fell away revealing a secret chamber. In his haste to collect his prize, the Roegadan pushed me aside and reached in.

He withdrew a treasure, but it was not what he expected. Where he wanted gold, gems, and baubles, he found naught but a book of poetry. Not any poetry, love poems from Lalafuto the third to his paramour. The Sultan longed to abdicate and elope with his beloved. And the book contained his feelings for them.

The treasure we'd worked so hard to find had nothing to do with gold or riches, it was true love. Yet I argue, it was a priceless treasure nonetheless.

~

"So your parable is one man's treasure is another man's trash?" Leidorf scoffed.

I thought about that for a moment before answering. "I hadn't considered that take on it, but it is valid."

"I don't get it. If you don't adventure for fame, glory, fortune or noble purpose, why bother? Why put yourself through everything you've endured to become a warrior of light? Why do you continue to fight?"

My eyes lit up and I smiled. For the first time that evening I leaned forward and favored Leidorf with a pleased smile. "Now. Now you as the right question! Why indeed. If friends will betray you, if glory is shallow, if riches are not what you value and the truth can cause more harm than good, for what reason do you sacrifice so much?" 

The group looked at me, none of them willing to speak, even breathe as they waited for my answer. "For the people, dear Leidorf." I answered in a stage whisper. "Nations will rise and fall. Riches disappear as quickly as they were gained, nay faster. Truth depends on whose perspective you're looking through and glory, unchecked can lead to downfall. But people, ah, people will endure."