A Dainty Dilemma

Jacke

Ho there, [name]. I must say, yer lookin' comfortable enough with those stabbers o' yers.

Aye, I reckon yer good an' ready for yer first assignment.

...Ordinarily I'd stow me whids an' let ye get on with yer work, but seein' as we only just dragged ye into the shadows, there might be a couple things what ye ain't yet familiar with.

Let's build on what ye likely do know. An' that's the fact that the Admiral─gods bless her soul─has outlawed piracy in Limsa Lominsa.

So, why do ye think there're still so many soddin' pirates in this town? I'll tell ye why: it's 'cause there's still one way for 'em to loot an' pillage without incurrin' the wrath o' the law.

All ye need do is apply to serve the thalassocracy as a “certified privateer.” A captain with a privateer's license is free to terrorize the seas till the aldgoats come home...so long as he only targets vessels what belong to the Garlean Empire.

'Course, considerin' how bloody vast the Empire is, that's plenty o' lootin' to go around.

Crews fill their holds with imperial plunder, then sail back here to Limsa to off-load the spoils. ...An' that's where this particular case went sour.

See, this one crew got their fambles on a magitek device─a firin' mechanism to be precise─but was rooked out o' their haul by some heavy-handed coves.

• JA ある海賊団が売りに出そうとした魔導兵器の部品、「」って代物を、口八丁で、だましとった連中がいるんだ。 ‘There are some guys who, with smooth talk, swindled a pirate crew out of a magitek weapon part, the item, that the crew was trying to sell.’ English says forceful, heavy-handed men cheated the crew; Japanese says they swindled it with smooth talk.

If ye'll recall, that don't sit well with the code. If yer bold enough to rook a pirate out o' his due, then ye'd best be prepared for a visit from the rogues.

Ah, an' speakin' o' visitin' rogues... Underfoot! Over here, lad!

I want the pair o' ye workin' together on this. Pass sentence on them code-defyin' rooks, and bite back that magitek part.

Perimu Haurimu

Eh!? What's the lass/colt need me for!?

Jacke

Yer in charge o' new recruits, ain't ye? It's [name]'s first assignment─yer to go along an' give her/him the benefit o' yer wisdom.

• FR Aujourd'hui a lieu le baptême du surin pour [name], et tu as intérêt à faire en sorte que tout se passe bien, sinon tu entendras parler de moi ! ‘Today is the dagger baptism for [name], and you'd better make sure everything goes well, or else you'll be hearing from me!’ English simply tells him to share his wisdom; French threatens him if things go badly.

Perimu Haurimu

Since when was I in charge o' new─ Ah, bugger it...

Er... So I guess we're to be partners for the now. The name's Perimu Haurimu, but most o' me fellows call me “Underfoot.”

Jacke

He might seem a touch reluctant, but Perimu's one of our best. You just do as he says, an' ye'll get the job done.

• FR Ne fais pas cette tête, [name] est déjà une aventurière/ aventurier plus que chevronné(e). ‘Don't make that face, [name] is already a more than seasoned adventurer.’ English reassures the player that Perimu is one of the best; French reassures Perimu that the player is seasoned.

Perimu Haurimu

All right, then, me young rogue. Seein' as this is yer first official outin', I want to be sure yer dance steps are up to the task.

• FR Écoutez, je préfère vous prévenir tout de suite, notre chef n'est pas un mauvais bougre mais il n'est pas non plus du genre à passer l'éponge en cas d'échec, même s'il s'agit de votre première mission. ‘Listen, I'd rather warn you right away: our boss isn't a bad sort, but he's not the type to let a failure slide either, even if it's your first mission.’ English wants to check your footwork first; French warns that the boss will not forgive a failure.
• JA 初仕事といっても、失敗したらアニキが怖いんで、先に肩慣らしをしておきましょうか。 ‘Even if it's your first job, Big Bro is scary if you fail, so shall we warm up first?’ English wants to check your footwork first; Japanese warms up because the boss is scary if you fail.

With them shortblades, ye need to get in good an' close to yer mark, aye? But we ain't bleedin' swads in shinin' armor, an' the lighter kit we wear ain't much protection from a click to the gan.

So if ye don't fancy spittin' blood an' teeth, yer best defense is simply not bein' there when yer mark winds up to land a nasty clout.

Perimu Haurimu

Slidin' 'round to a flank usually does the trick, but there's some rum fun every rogue should master: the shade shift. Clear yer mind an' trust in yer speed, an' ye can leave an axe-wieldin' brute or spell-flingin' mage chasin' yer shadow while ye bury yer stabbers in his guts.

• DE Normalerweise ist es damit getan, sich auf die Flanke des Gegners zu schwingen, aber es gibt da noch einen besonderen Trick, den jeder Schurke meistern sollte: den Superkniff. ‘Normally it's enough to swing onto the enemy's flank, but there's also a special trick every rogue should master: the super trick.’ English names the move "shade shift"; German calls it "Superkniff", a super trick, with no shadow.

Right, now it's time ye put this lesson into practice against some o' those aureliae out in lower La Noscea. I hope ye was payin' attention, lass/lad, 'cause those tentacles can pack a wallop. Enjoy!

Head out into lower La Noscea an' pick a fight with a few o' them aureliae. Remember: the point o' this exercise is to practice yer evasion, so don't come back to me with welts all over yer face!

Done with yer practice, then? Heh heh, the sting o' them tentacled buggers'll soon teach ye to stay on yer toes, eh?

Ahem. Now we've got yer blood rushin', I'd say it's time to get down to work.

First things first, we need to track down them addled coves what rooked that magitek gadget.

Might be as one of our rogues has heard somethin'. The guild thrives on information, ye see, an' we've agents scattered far an' wide with their glazes keen an' their wattles to the ground.

Let's pay us a visit to I'tolwann at the Drownin' Wench. Ask her for a weak ale, an' see what that gets ye.

I'm not settin' ye up for a laugh, lass/lad. Trust me!

Order yerself a weak ale. It'll all make sense in a bit.

I'tolwann

Welcome to the Drowning Wench! What's your pleasure, miss/sir?

Certainly, miss/sir. Take a seat, and I'll bring it straight to your─ Hm? Changed your mind?

Never in all my days! We may serve some cheap grog in the Wench, but naught that was watered down.

If our usual ale is too bold for your taste, mayhaps you'd like to order from the underground menu?

• FR Se pourrait-il que vous ayez des obligations qui vous empêchent de boirrre comme tout un chacun ? ‘Could it be that you have obligations that keep you from drinking like everyone else?’ English suggests the usual ale is too strong for you; French suggests duties keep you from drinking.
• JA 酔うつもりのないあなたは、さしずめ仕事の虜かしら？ ‘You, with no intention of getting drunk, must be a captive of your work?’ English suggests the usual ale is too strong for you; Japanese suggests you are a captive of work.

Aye, there's quite a lot on offer for a customer with your roguish charms. Was there something in particular I could help you with?

...Ah, the trouble over that magitek loot? 'Twas not a subtle job.

The gang in question is an unusual group of former pirates calling themselves the “Dainty Demolishers.” They seem to be enamored of court dandy mannerisms, and have a preference for seizing Garlean machinery.

They're also known for conspiring with goblins. Rumors say that the Demolishers visit a beastman camp in middle La Noscea to fence their goods.

• FR Ces derniers leur permettent d'utiliser les installations de leur campement, tandis que les Exterrrminateurs leur procurent en retour des marchandises de haute qualité. ‘The latter let them use the facilities of their camp, while the Exterminators supply them in return with high-quality goods.’ English says they go to the camp to sell goods; French says they give goods in exchange for using the camp.
• JA ゴブリン族に上納品を渡すことで、中央ラノシアにあるキャンプを使っているのだとか……。 ‘By handing tribute goods to the goblins, they apparently use the camp in central La Noscea.’ English says they go to the camp to sell goods; Japanese says they pay goblins tribute to use the camp.

And those goods generally take the form of imperial technology─I imagine the goblins were rather pleased to take possession of a Mark XLIII anti-aircraft cannon firing mechanism.

If you mean to steal the device back, then your trail leads to the goblin camp in Summerford.

Perimu Haurimu

Summerford, eh? On yer way, lass/lad. Meet me across the river from the camp an' we'll plan our next move...

I'tolwann

That twice-stolen magitek device is likely at the goblin camp in Summerford. I'd be quick if I were you─it won't be long before those curious beastmen begin taking it to pieces.

Perimu Haurimu

Get yer noggin down, [name]. I've been snilchin' the action across the way there.

No sign o' the Demolishers, but I did see one o' them gambler coves stuffin' the Garlean gadget into his backpack.

I knew I'tolwann would steer us aright. This is yer chance, lass/lad─clout that gambler gobbie an' grabble that device!

Er... I've lost track o' which gob it was, but I'm thinkin' it's that sod on the left. Just make sure ye dance away from any bomb blasts─twistin' an' dodgin' in the middle of a fireball might not save ye from gettin' yer eyebrows singed off.

Go on, then─that gambler ain't gonna wait all day. Show ol' Underfoot how ye've learned yer lessons!

That's the way, lass/lad. There was naught for me to do but sit on me daddles an' watch! ...So, ye've got the goods, then?

Aye, this is the device, an' no mistakin'.

Let's get it back to the guild, eh? We still owe them Demolisher bastards a millin', but they'll keep for the now.

Here, you should be the one to deliver the prize to Jacke. It was yer hand what snatched it outta the goblins' paws, after all.

Perimu Haurimu

Hand that magitek gadget directly to Jacke─I ain't about to take credit for yer fieldwork!

Jacke

Ye manage to grabble that firin' mechanism yet, [name]?

Jacke

Ah, still in one piece, too!

Ye've done well for yer first assignment, lass/lad. It don't look like much, but that crew put their lives on the line to cloy this here bauble. They'll be pleased to see it snatched back from the ruffmans.

• FR Malgré sa petite taille, ce bout de métal est une pièce indispensable au maintien des navires impériaux, tu sais. ‘Despite its small size, this bit of metal is an indispensable part for the upkeep of imperial ships, you know.’ English says the crew risked their lives to steal it; French says it is essential for maintaining imperial ships.

Perimu Haurimu

We've yet to do for the Dainty Demolishers, Jacke... The job ain't over.

Jacke

Yer right, Underfoot. It ain't. Ye break the code, ye face the consequences.

• FR C'est bien connu, quiconque transgresse le code d'honneur une première fois se retrouve plongé dans la spirale infernale du vice... ‘As everyone knows, whoever breaks the code of honor once ends up plunged into the infernal spiral of vice...’ English says code breakers face consequences; French says a first breach drags one into a spiral of vice.

Perimu Haurimu

...An' who might you be, sirs?

Jacke

...Oho, an errand boy now, am I?

• FR Alors comme ça, j'ai l'air d'un agneau sans défense... ‘Ho ho ho... So I look like a defenseless lamb...’ English: Jacke repeats being called an errand boy; French: being called a defenseless lamb.

Tell me, Captain: just what kind o' place do ye think this is, then?

Jacke

An ye've yet to realize yer mistake? Yer fate was sealed the moment ye dragged yer sorry quarron across the threshold.

• FR Il va falloir revoir vos techniques d'investigation, si vous voulez mon avis... ‘You'll have to rework your investigation techniques, if you want my opinion...’ English threatens that their fate is sealed; French mockingly advises them to improve their investigating.

V'kebbe

Red-haired Rogue: Ye still don't understand, do ye?

Red-haired Rogue: There are but three sorts o' culls what the doorman'll let pass: clients, recruits─

Perimu Haurimu

Didn't yer mum teach ye not to interrupt a lady when she's talkin'?

Ye'd have learned that the third sort o' cull is a bollocks-for-brains mark what marches himself right into the rogues' den.

• FR On dirait que vous avez vu un fantôme ! ‘You look like you've seen a ghost!’ English names the third sort: idiots who walk into the rogues' den; French only says they look like they saw a ghost.

Jacke

Deceptions? Aye. Anyone ye meet could be a rogue, Captain─even a clean-cheeked errand boy.

• FR Les agneaux ne sont pas tous aussi doux qu'ils en ont l'air, patron... ‘Lambs aren't all as gentle as they look, boss...’ English warns even a clean-cheeked errand boy could be a rogue; French says lambs aren't all as gentle as they look.

He's still breathin'. Find some rope an' string him up someplace in town.

An' now the job's done. Quite an introduction ye had there, eh?

Welcome to Limsa Lominsa's ever-churnin' underbelly, where the thieves shed their skins an' became rogues.

I'm not much for discussin' the old days, but since it's come up I might as well clear up the confusion.

• FR Désolé de ne pas avoir été plus honnête avec toi dès le départ, mais le titre de voleur n'a pas une connotation très positive, et nous ne voulons pas que nos nouvelles recrues se méprennent sur nos intentions. ‘Sorry for not being more honest with you from the start, but the title of thief doesn't have a very positive connotation, and we don't want our new recruits to misunderstand our intentions.’ English says he dislikes discussing the old days; French apologizes for not being honest from the start.
• JA いろいろと黙ってて悪かった。 ‘Sorry for keeping quiet about a lot of things.’ English says he dislikes discussing the old days; Japanese apologizes for keeping things quiet.

It was back when piracy was at its peak. The coves what protected the code were dimber dambers─the best lads an' lasses to be had from among the pirate crews.

They bit back the goods what was wrongly bitten, an' came for the guilty under cover of darkmans. “Upright Thief” became the title for these coves what dealt in sanctioned stealin' an' millin'.

• JA どんな状況でも奪われた品を奪還し、ときに掟破りの罰として命まで奪うことから、番人たちは、盗る者……「シーフ」と呼ばれてたんだ。 ‘Because they recovered stolen goods in any situation and sometimes took even lives as punishment for code-breakers, the guardians were called takers... "Thieves."’ English says they came for the guilty by night; Japanese says they sometimes took lives as punishment.

But it was only those as had cut all ties with the buccaneer's life what was accepted into the ranks. Conflictin' loyalties, an' all that.

They formed their own guild an' even their own way o' speakin', an' what was once pirates was pirates no more.

Later on, when Merlwyb took the Admiral's chair, the Upright Thieves agreed to abide by her laws.

• FR Après le décret de l'Amirale concernant la piraterie, les voleurs furent forcés de se plier aux nouvelles règles et de renouer avec les autres groupes sociaux qui font de notre belle cité l'endroit de toutes les convoitises. ‘After the Admiral's decree on piracy, the thieves were forced to bow to the new rules and to reconnect with the other social groups that make our fair city the place everyone covets.’ English says the thieves agreed to her laws; French says they were forced to submit to the new rules.

We became the “Rogues' Guild” to mark the change, an' altered our recruitin' policy to accept 'venturers like yerself. But although the title is different, the job remains the same: uphold the code, an' preserve the underground society what spawned us.

...Just as ye've done with this assignment. Keep up the good work, [name], an' ye'll go far in the shadows!