 Items Involved
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 NPCs Involved
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Maps
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| Nashu Mhakaracca, Shcoahe, Mobeel Ja, Outskirts Resident, Mechanical Sentry, Philomon, Laid-back Milalla, Forthright Hyune, Excitable Youth, Hardiboiled, Tavernkeep, Tavern Worker
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- Looking rather lost herself, Nashu Mhakaracca has come west in search of the missing inspector.
- Following a lead from the pages of The Thavnairian Truth, Nashu Mhakaracca has come west in search of the once more involuntarily displaced inspector. Her tentative plan is to interrogate local residents for sightings of the errant starship in an attempt to divine the missing Manderville man's current location. To that end, she has handed you a visual aid─an illustration of said starship─and enlisted you to expand the range of the investigation. The Landsguard stationed at Brightploom Post may be best equipped to handle any questions regarding unusual airborne vessels.
- You have gathered some reliable starship sightings from the Landsguard. Nashu will wish to hear of your findings back at the markets.
- Although Nashu herself discovered little amongst the stalls of Bayside Bevy (aside from a taste for several local delicacies), she is impressed by your successful investigative efforts. Based on the information provided by the city guard, you move your search northwards to the dome-enclosed Heritage Found.
- Having arrived in the location where the starship supposedly went down, Nashu suggests shifting the focus to tracking down the inspector himself. Surely one of the residents has sighted your gentlemanly quarry?
- One resident of the outskirts insists that no man of Hildibrand's description would have escaped his notice in such a tight-knit community. Enamored by the suggestion to seek the inspector in “Solution” Nine, Nashu immediately makes her way over to the mechanical sentry at the tower's entrance.
- The sentry verifies your unlimited access to Everkeep, but sounds the alarm upon detecting materials of an explosive nature upon Nashu's person. Her subsequent nonsensical explanation appears to overload the logic circuits of every nearby unit, allowing you to enter Solution Nine without further challenge.
- Nashu reasons that the best way to find the inspector is to locate an ongoing case, for that is where a gentlemanly agent of enquiry is most likely to be. You head off to True Vue, the liveliest part of town, to ask after any potential incidents or mysteries.
- Your inquiries are met with the news of a recent theft which, conveniently for you, occurred not far from where you now stand. This sounds like just the kind of case Nashu was hoping for.
- Nashu, too, has heard the details of the robbery, and you both head off to the scene of the crime. There you witness the detective work of a man who very much resembles Inspector Hildibrand, though his garb and speech seem that of an entirely different person. Nashu is nevertheless confident that he is the missing inspector, theorizing that the man's ungentlemanly manner is the result of shock from the crash. Although adamant that a healthy dose of her “medicine” will put him to rights, she heeds your call for restraint and settles for following the man in the overcoat from a distance...for now.
- After foiling Nashu's first attempt to “treat” him, the man in the overcoat denies being any sort of gentleman inspector, instead introducing himself as Detective Hardiboiled. While a second round of treatment (this time disguised as a hard-boiled egg) confirms the characteristic uncanny Manderville indestructibility, his pulpy demeanor nevertheless remains unchanged. This fact, along with the physical resemblance, leads you to suspect he shares a soul with the Hildibrand of the Source. Though confused and a little disappointed, Nashu concedes that you likely have the wrong man. The detective, for his part, is intrigued by your talk of a missing person, and Nashu eagerly accepts his offer to work on the case.
- Nashu opts to curtail her own investigations for a time, still feeling overwhelmed by the futuristic city of Solution Nine. It seems you are free to return to your usual activities until Detective Hardiboiled makes a break in the case.
Why, hello there, Forename! Cor, how serendipitous that we should cross paths in this far-flung nation!
Have you come all this way to lend me a hand, because let me tell you─I could use the help!
You see, I've been doing my absolute darnedest to track down the inspector ever since Mister PuPu's starship whisked him off to gods only know where.
My best lead turned out to be The Thavnairian Truth. Eyewitness accounts in the latest issue described a shiny craft headed west across the ocean, so I packed a few things and headed as far west as I was able...
This is where I ended up. I've made a few inquiries since my arrival, but I've mostly been acclimatizing myself to the native cuisine. Very important step, that.
Anyway, seeing as fate has sent you to assist me, I suppose it's time I continued questioning the locals on the matter of unidentified flying gentlemen.
Here, this should help aid in our investigations.
It's an illustration of the starship, clipped from Dorian's publication. Having this on hand should make it much easier to explain what we're looking for.
I'll ask around the markets hereabouts. As for you... Well, I've yet to venture beyond the food stalls, so practically anywhere else but here!
If you learn any useful information, come and find me around this spot. I'll be stuffing my...uh...ears with delicious...uh...intelligence.
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It is the Landsguard's duty to remain vigilant for threats and unusual developments that may warrant their intervention. It may be prudent to visit Brightploom Post and question the soldiers.
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You should show that picture to the city guards and ask if they've sighted anything similar. I'll concentrate my efforts on the stallkeepers and their delicious offerings...of information!
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An illustration of a starship, clipped from The Thavnairian Truth. The addition of a magnified inset in this hand-drawn picture hints at the illustrator's level of fixation upon the subject matter. |
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Yes? Is there something I can help you with?
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Actually, I have seen a vessel like that. It was some time before Zoraal Ja's flying ships appeared...
I watched it limp northwards through the skies above Tuliyollal, wobbling about like it might crash to the ground at any moment.
As I said, the vessel was flying north, but the way it was reeling about like a sailor drunk on mezcal, I don't imagine it stayed aloft much longer.
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Searching for a strange ship, you say?
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Yes, I saw a flying disk just like that during a patrol in Shaaloani!
It was slowly drifting towards the ground and seemed to come down somewhere in Yyasulani.
If you're determined to find it, then that's where you should try next. ...What were they calling the place that's covered by the dome now? Heritage Found?
From what I could see, this ship of yours went down over in Yyasulani. I suggest you take a look around Heritage Found.
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 Cutscene start.
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My forays into the stalls bore no fruit at all! None starship-shaped, anyway. How was your harvest, then?
Those are some solid leads. Nice work, Forename.
So by the sounds of things, the ship was malfunctioning and eventually came down somewhere to the north of here.
With any luck, this “Hostage Found” you mentioned will be the place we find the inspector!
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What will you say?
1) I think you mean “Heritage Found”...
2) I doubt it will be so simple. And certainly not without incident, knowing how matters involving the inspector tend to go.
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Well, with you as my escort, I'm sure we'll arrive at the right spot eventually, and none the worse for wear! Shall we head off?
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| Cutscene end.
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The air is all crackly and zappy!
This is where the starship supposedly came down, so let's start our search for the inspector.
Standard investigative procedure dictates that we question the residents for possible gentleman sightings. Off we go!
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Aha! This man could be a potential witness!
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This is a small settlement and all its inhabitants are known to me. If a man of such distinctive appearance and demeanor were among us, I'm sure I would have noticed.
Perhaps he's wandering around somewhere inside Solution Nine? They have so many more people, he could easily go unnoticed in the crowds.
You were here as Queen Sphene's guest, as I recall. If your companion wishes to enter the city as well, then I suggest you make arrangements with the sentry at the tower entrance.
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Ooh, Solution Nine! That sounds promising! Thank you for the tip!
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I'm afraid your friend won't be entering Solution Nine unless you can convince the sentry to let her in.
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| Cutscene start.
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Visitor detected. Verifying access rights...
Unlimited Everkeep access confirmed.
Scanning unregistered visitor...
Warning! Warning! Explosive device detected! Entry denied!
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I am not carrying explosives. This is medicine for treating Inspector Hildibrand's condition!
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Explosive...medicinal...compounds...?
Error! Does not compute...
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It's really quite simple. Inspector Hildibrand was sucked up by Mister PuPu's malfunctioning starship, after which it proceeded to drag him thousands of malms away and deposit him here. Ergo, you need to let me pass so I can blow away his brain cobwebs!
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Error... Logic circuits overloading... Emergency shutdown initiated.
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Huh, it must be nap time. I guess we can just go in!
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| Cutscene end.
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Cor, that's a good-sized city!
Well, there's one sure way of locating the inspector in a place like this: if there's an ongoing case, then that's where he'll be!
Let's head to the lively part of town and look into any nefarious incidents, shall we? Uh...do you know which is the lively part?
“True Vue”? And that's in the eastern sector, you say? Right then, let's get to it!
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Oooh, you don't say? And then what happened...?
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...What, like a crime? Hmm. Now that you mention it, I did hear about a theft recently.
Our city is peaceful, by and large, but anywhere you have a lot of people, incidents like these are bound to occur.
Despite this recent robbery, the residents of Solution Nine are a law-abiding folk...or so I'd like to think.
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A case, huh? I've heard talk of an odd, squealing creature of some sort, but I don't know if that's the kind of thing you're looking for.
“Odd creature” leaves rather a lot to the imagination, doesn't it? I wonder what they meant by “squealing”...?
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Recent troubles? I saw a pair of soldiers mobilizing not moments earlier. Responding to a disturbance, it seems.
I don't think it was far from here, but I'm a bit hazy on the details...
Sorry I can't give you more specific directions...
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Oh, I also heard about that theft! Something was stolen from a nearby tavern, apparently.
I got directions to the scene of the crime, so let's head over together!
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| Cutscene start.
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The thief absconded with an aged bottle of spirits─the most expensive one in my establishment! I demand you find this criminal at once!
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No need to get all hot and bothered. The culprit is right under your nose...
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Admit it, punk! You pinched the hooch!
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M-Me!? But why would you think─
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With the supply of souls cut off, folks with a habit have turned to black market rackets...and luxury goods of dubious provenance is one way of paying the asking price.
A top-shelf bottle of juice would make for a fine trade, I'd say.
By the by, you know there's a method for identifying contraband souls? Your regulator logs would tell the tale.
Don't wanna let us check 'em? Be my guest. I took a gander at the cabinet where the bottle was stored, and the lock showed obvious signs of tampering.
Electro-picking tools are awful hard to handle, aren't they? Most amateurs get singed, but you─you've got scorch marks all over your mitts.
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Give it up, kid! We've got you dead to rights!
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After they suspended soul provisions, I couldn't stop worrying about the future. It was...a moment of weakness.
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Save it for the authorities. Take him away, boys.
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That was Inspector Hildibrand...wasn't it?
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What will you say?
1) He didn't look very gentlemanly...
2) He didn't sound very gentlemanly...
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He must still be in shock after the starship's crash landing. A healthy dose of Nashu's Delights will put him to rights!
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What will you say?
1) Uh, maybe not in such a populated area...
2) Let's make absolutely sure it's him first, shall we?
Hrm, I suppose that would be the responsible course of action...
Come on, we should hurry along before we lose sight of this ungentlemanly Hildibrand.
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| Cutscene end.
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He walked thataway. Or it was more of a mosey?
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| Cutscene start.
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Hmmm, he looks like the inspector, but he's a touch old. And mopey...
Thirty years passed inside the dome!? Then if Inspector Hildibrand was here when it happened...that would put him in his fifties!
He must have been living here so long that he's forgotten everything about his previous life... Luckily, I have just the thing to jog his memory!
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Think I wouldn't notice such an obvious tail...?
I don't know what your game is, but bombs ain't toys. Best put 'em away before you hurt someone. Or yourself.
Like me, I see neither of you are sporting regulators, so I suggest you be more careful with the only lives you've got.
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Sir, don't you remember us? You're Hildibrand! Agent of enquiry! Gentleman inspector extraordinaire!
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I've been called a lot of things, but nothing so insulting as a gentleman...
I'm a weathered old fool with too many debts and regrets...
Detective Hardiboiled.
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Very impressive! But even with that name and those odd clothes, you might as well be the inspector's older, more wrinkled twin!
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Hate to break it to you, but you're barking up the wrong tree.
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You seem awfully fond of those hard-boiled eggs. Here, this one's on me!
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Thanks, dollface. You're a peach.
Whew, that's one way to cure a hangover. You got me good.
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Hrm, maybe we really do have the wrong person. That indestructibility is awfully Manderville-like, though.
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What will you say?
1) I've seen a few cases of this “twin person” phenomenon in the dome.
2) It might be someone who shares the same soul as Hildibrand.
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I'm not sure what's going on here, but I can see that you're not who I thought you were...and that we need to keep searching.
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A missing person, is it? If that's the rub, you can leave the sleuthing to me.
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Oh, we could really use your help!
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By the sounds of things, this fella looks a lot like me. What did you say his name was? Phildigrand?
I'll find him, don't you worry. I can feel a hunch coming on already...
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Are we sure that isn't the inspector?
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| Cutscene end.
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I'd like to rush off and do some investigative work of my own, but this city still has my head spinning. I think I'll wait and see if this Detective Hardiboiled is as good as he seems.
Meanwhile, you should get back to whatever it is that famous adventurers do when they're not embroiled in one of our fantastical cases!
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| Cutscene start.
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The dame had me looking for a needle in a neon-lit haystack. A city with an allergy to sleep.
This twin of mine had well and truly lost himself. The trail was colder than the ice at the bottom of my glass.
But I could smell it in the air, like the cloying stench of cheap perfume. A conspiracy...
Stay tuned for further episodes of Detective Hardiboiled.
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The inspector has finally set foot upon the Dawntrail! Get ready for Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures!
Who knows what his case will be this time!? When it happens─whatever happens─you'll be there on the scene!
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| Cutscene end.
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Closest Aetheryte: Tuliyollal → The Resplendent Quarter
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