A Gigantic Undertaking
«In Mt. Gulg's Shadow |
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Soon after you left, who should arrive in Amity but Urianger and the Exarch. I'm glad they were able to find you. |
I'm told you went ahead to scout out the volcano. I don't suppose some grappling hooks will suffice? |
A-All that grinding and shaking... I-I was afraid the lift floor would fall out from underneath me...
B-But don't worry! I-I'm sure the trembling will go away s-soon! |
Thus are we all gathered...though Ryne, I am afeared, did not much enjoy the ascent. |
Forgive us our delay. The Exarch arrived and we took some time to apprise him of our mission. |
...Concerned for my health, are you? Indeed, we are a little far from the Crystarium, but rest assured this old man can muster up another wind for what is to come. |
Oh, don't mind us. We're just taking in the sights. |
Ahhh, such an exhilarating ride! And such a magnificent view! Nothing in Eulmore compares to this! |
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...In short, there's no path, and the sky is thick with Vauthry's winged devils.
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We might consider amaro, but without extensive training, we cannot hope to contend with the eaters.
Eulmore's airship fleet, meanwhile, consists solely of transport vessels ill-suited for battle. And without the expertise of one such as Cid, we are in no position to attempt a refit. |
Oh, it's so frustrating! That wretched mountain should jolly well come back down to earth!
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Now, now, dearest. We mustn't disturb these good people at their work.
We've ridden the Ladder and seen the sights. It's past time we took our leave. |
The lady may well have the right of it.
Mt. Gulg will not soon come down to earth, nor can we compel it to do so. But if the mountain will not come to the land, mayhap the land may be made to come to the mountain... ...In the form of a Talos. A Talos large enough to reach out and take the volcano in its grasp. |
To build such a golem would be an onerous undertaking indeed...yet the principle seemeth sound in itself.
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Balderdash! No one has ever made one even half that size!
Leaving aside the small matter of logistics─which, by the way, would be no small matter─the design would need to be unimaginably complex! Though, I suppose... Hmm... If its only function is to cling to the ruddy mountain, perhaps it needn't be... A solid base, firmly rooted to the ground─sacrifice mobility to simplify the construction, reducing materials required... Wait, wait, wait! What am I thinking!? We would still need a veritable army of people to do the work! Left to the crew that helped down below, it would take decades, if not a nice round century! |
So we need more hands. And what sort of things would these hands be required to do?
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Oh? Er... Well, er... Well, let's see... First, we'd need people to procure the stone for the chassis.
The rock found near the mountain would suit our purposes well enough. It'd be a simple task to quarry the stuff, but given the stupendous quantity required, we'd need all the help we can get. |
We have friends amongst the miners of Amh Araeng. I will go and petition their aid.
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While you do that, I'll make for Mord Souq. I'm sure I'll be able to drum up some support.
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Then I shall return to Kholusia.
From fishers to carpenters, Eulmore is home to all manner of talented folk. I daresay their skills will avail us. |
Is there anything else you need?
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Well...yes, actually... Magic. Lots of the stuff. As much as possible. To awaken a Talos of this size would require an entire congregation of mages.
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Many among the Night's Blessed are gifted in the arcane arts. I will recruit them to our cause.
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The fae folk too, possess surpassing aptitude in magicks. Yet they are not wont to cooperate in the endeavors of men. Leastwise, not without making all manner of mischief.
That being the case, I would instead call upon the people of the Crystarium─with thy permission, Exarch. |
We are at your disposal, as are our amaro and chocobos.
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I'm sorry─you mean to tell me you can call on not only the people of Eulmore and the Crystarium, but the Night's Blessed, and the Mord, and even those miners!?
But that's just about everyone in bally Norvrandt! Who are you people!? And how did you come to have so many friends!? |
The saviors of the world. | Adventurers of no import. | The artist Alphinaud and his assistants. | ||||
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So, as you can see, you will not want for bodies. I trust you will have your design ready in good time for their arrival.
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Norvrandt is counting on you...heir to Daedalus Stoneworks.
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We'll be back as soon as we can─and we'll bring the whole world with us.
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...I take it we will be assisting Master Chai. Though I am quite sure he has everything under control...
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Shall we see how we might be of service? |
When he asked for my hand, my husband promised that he would one day build a Talos that could take us to the very heavens. And now he'll do it! |
Have the design ready, she says! In good time, she says! Does she even understand what's involved!?
Before I can even attempt to design anything, I need intimate knowledge of the land─the knowledge of locals. Last I heard, no one lives here! What? A village of Eulmoran exiles!? B-But...those people have every reason to loathe a free citizen like me! They couldn't possibly be willing to cooperate! <sob> This will never work. Never. I never should've fixed that ruddy lift. Never should've ridden it up here... Never should've...never should've... I can't do it... It's impossible... |
Oh dear, darling appears to have lost the plot...
But he has it in him, Forename. He's the cleverest man I know─he just wants for confidence sometimes. If you were to give him some words of encouragement, I'm sure he can give you your Talos. A bit of advice I learned from his mother: he responds poorly to obvious praise. You'll need to find another way to stoke the fires of his motivation─awaken his sense of daring! |
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I can't do it. No one can. A Talos of that size...no one's even dreamed of it.
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Alphinaud once struggled to collect firewood. | Dulia is counting on you as well. | You're a genius! You can do this! | |||
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Tristol's among them, you said so yourself! Lest you've forgotten, we essentially sent him to his death! Even if the others don't bear a personal grudge, he would never forgive us!
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You don't know until you apologize. I'll come with you. | Don't worry! He'll forgive you for sure! | Things won't improve by themselves. You have to take the first step. | |||
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And even if by some miracle the people of Amity were willing to let bygones be bygones, they'd think that the plan is absurd! I think it's absurd!
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It's less absurd than the change that's come to Eulmore. | We liberated a castle with a strategy that many would call absurd. | Everything you touch turns to gold! No one would doubt your plan! | |||
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Aye, imagine for a moment that we fail to reach Vauthry and only succeed in provoking him. In his fury, he may well unleash his hordes of eaters and we'll meet a horrible end!
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Then we'll go together! | I'll protect you. I'll protect everyone. | We could build Talos for battle. | |||
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To protect those I love. | Because I live for adventure. | I got roped into it... | |||
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Yes... Yes! By the gods, I can do this! I just need to have a little faith in myself!
Right, let's head to Amity and speak with the villagers─with Tristol. My love, things are liable to become more dangerous. I want you to wait for me back in Eulmore. |
No. Wherever you go, I'm going too.
Besides...you're not the only one who has to apologize. |
B-But there's no telling what may happen out here! I don't know if I can keep you safe!
P-Perhaps this is a bad idea after all... I-I don't think I have what it takes... |
Master Chai. That you are beset with doubt is proof that you can envision the task ahead.
And that which man can envision, he can make reality. Thus did some old friends of mine once say. Even should it be a feat fit for the divine, if something has been done before, then it most assuredly can be done again by our own hands. |
That's a little idealistic, don't you think!?
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Perhaps, Master Chai, perhaps. But what is man if not an idealistic creature?
'Tis not an easy thing to achieve one's dreams─my friends can attest to that. Countless times did they meet with frustration in the course of their endeavors. None would have found fault with them had they given up, yet they never did. One step after the next, they forged on towards their goals. And for their determination, they accomplished numerous feats that many believed lay beyond the reach of mankind. Like them, you are a man of science. Amidst your doubts, surely there is a spark of desire. The desire to make the impossible possible. |
Come, darling. Like the old days, I would be the first to see your Talos.
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And you shall be, my dear. I would have none other at my side when my greatest masterpiece awakens.
Right, then. To Amity. |
I am glad my words struck a chord. Shall we?
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Y-You!
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You have every right to be angry with us. But please listen to what I have to say.
I am tasked with delivering these people to Mt. Gulg─by means of a Talos of heretofore unseen proportions. However, I cannot do this without the cooperation of those with intimate knowledge of this land. That is, you and your fellow villagers. |
...Cooperation? After you ignored my desperate pleas and cast me out, you have the gall to come here and ask for my cooperation?
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You've every right to be upset. Vauthry's not the one to blame for your suffering─we are.
We were free citizens without a care in the world, indifferent to the hardship of others. We didn't know what would become of you, and frankly, we didn't care. But we know now that what we did to you─to full many─was wrong. Terribly wrong. No words will suffice to make amends, but I want you to know that we are deeply sorry. |
I'm not sure how I feel.
Should I forgive you? Hate you? Perhaps it's not even my place to judge. After all, I sought a place in your city. I wanted to be you, once... But one thing is clear to me. All of that is in the past. And we mustn't let past wrongs stand in the way of a brighter future. And so...I will cooperate with you. Please see our friends to Mt. Gulg. |
You have my word!
I'll set to work on the design at once. Wouldn't do to have nothing to show the others when they return with help. Make no mistake, this venture is unprecedented in the history of Talos building─nay, the history of all mankind! But rest assured this genius of Daedalus Stoneworks will deliver! Ah, wicked white! |
Is there a problem?
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Well...er, you see... I've been promised people to procure the stone as well as imbue magic.
When I was put on the spot earlier, I thought that was all we required. But I forgot about one rather important item needed to bring a Talos to life... |
The heart? | What is it? | ||
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So, while I work on the design, I'd be much obliged if you could see to procuring the ore with which to fashion a heart.
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A heart suitable of bringing to life a Talos that shall embrace the very firmament!
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