Ah, my punch-prone manservant, I presume? You may and shall call me Erik. You are to guard my life, even at the cost of your own, and aid in my revolutionary research whenever and however asked.
Know that my primary endeavor is to reconstruct the military histories of old through the aetherial analysis of ancient battlegrounds.
I assume the words conjure in your simple mind romantic images of vast plains and open valleys, with armies charging blindly at one another. False!
I seek to know where the armies of old were deployed. Where they made camp and marched. No doubt you think such lands to be those sung of in the songs of bards. False! They are here, beneath our very feet! And to find them and determine precisely how events unfolded upon them is my purpose.
No doubt you jumped at the chance to aid in my work. Tell me, which of my treatises have you read? All of th─none!? Gods, I knew you adventurers had a reputation for being unlettered. I didn't know you actually made efforts to remain so. <sigh> It matters not.
I require only that you work with diligence─unlike that Widargelt buffoon. The man proved to be sloth itself. Alas, he is a monk of Ala Mhigo. I suppose the fool was too busy opening his chakra or whatever it is those barbarians do all day.
I admit, he seemed keenly interested in my research, but now he's gone off to Twelve know where and has yet to return. Do you understand the sheer magnitude of this inconvenience?
Good, good. You show that much promise, at least. But let us speak more of my work. Our first destination is the Sil'dih excavation site in central Thanalan. I believe events of great import to the history of Sil'dih transpired there.
Hm? Surely if you have ears you have heard of Sil'dih? Or are you deaf as well as dull? <sigh> Very well. I see you require some instruction. It would be remiss of me as an academic to allow you to wallow in such ignorance.
Sil'dih was plunged into chaos in the wake of King Lalawefu's demise─or the King of Springs, as he was known. Despite the success of economic reforms...<babble>...fomented unrest among the people...<babble>...resulting in violent outbreaks throughout the kingdom.
Sil'dih was...<babble>...sultan at the time...<babble>...distant descendant...<babble>...attack was ordered... <babble>
And so...<babble>...irony of ironies...<babble>...hadn't been for that horse... <babble>
Fascinating, is it not? It is enough to convince one things could not have happened any other way, no? False! One among my colleagues disagreed with this interpretation of events. He claimed to have evidence suggesting otherwise, but all trace of it disappeared before it was published.
Mine own research shall unearth any such evidence should it truly exist! I shall know the truth! Granted, you are not the brightest coal in the brazier, but surely such a prospect entices even you.
And so, we make for the Sil'dih excavation site in central Thanalan. Travel the way before me to see that it is safe, and once there set up this aetherometer.
And, should you ever care to know more of the Eorzean military history, do come and see me. It is a personal crusade of mine to guide the dullards of this realm towards some modicum of enlightenment.