177
In Nature's Embrace
Conjurer class quest, level 30. 177th of 195 in play order.
Quest giver: E-Sumi-Yan, Old Gridania (X 6.0, Y 10.7).
Steps
- Investigate corruption in the South Shroud.
- Speak with Sylphie
. - Investigate the disturbance.
- Speak with Sylphie.
- Investigate the disturbance.
- Speak with Sylphie.
- Speak with Sylphie.
- Report to Brother E–Sumi–Yan at Stillglade Fane.
Journal
- Brother E–Sumi–Yan would have you investigate the creeping corruption which threatens the Twelveswood.
- Brother E–Sumi–Yan has tasked you and Sylphie with discerning the nature of the corruption spreading through the Twelveswood. Head to Quarrymill in the South Shroud and search the surrounding area for elemental disturbances.
- You have located and cleansed a patch of corrupted soil. Speak with Sylphie and determine your next move.
- Sylphie senses the taint of further corruption. Follow her directions, and seek out another disturbance.
- You have cleansed a second patch of corrupted soil. Speak with Sylphie once more.
- Despite your best efforts, Sylphie is certain that the forest still harbors unseen corruption. Trust in her senses, and search for a further elemental disturbance.
- You have cleansed a third patch of corrupted soil. Consult Sylphie as to whether your work in the forest is done.
- Worryingly, Sylphie insists that an even greater source of corruption yet remains... Follow the young conjurer to the southeast.
- You have defeated Akoman. Return to Stillglade Fane and report to Brother E–Sumi–Yan.
- At last, Sylphie has felt the embrace of nature and is ready to set forth upon the path of conjury alone. Observing that your experiences alongside the young conjurer have served to deepen your own understanding of the art, Brother E–Sumi rewards you with the potent healing spell Cure II. Though your tutelage under the guildmaster has come to an end, your journey as a conjurer continues ever onwards.
Hidden
Characters 3
Nolanel is only mentioned in this quest, as a Hearer at the guild.
What you know from earlier quests 3
- #21 Trial by Earth: Nolanel has you fight a tainted earth sprite in corrupted soil near Treespeak Stables, so the land can heal. He praises Sylphie's gift for healing but is frustrated that she ignores nature. He calls you an attentive student.
- #26 The Nose Knows: Nolanel smells the sack and knows at once it holds chocobo manure. He praises the elementals and thanks you warmly, because it feeds his plants. He asks you to thank Vionne
and advises you to wash your hands quickly. - #137 Like Mother, Like Daughter: Nolanel praises how much you have grown and advises you to stay out of the wilds until balance returns. Though deeply rooted in earth magic, Nolanel is confounded by this corruption and apologizes.
- #21 Trial by Earth: Nolanel has you fight a tainted earth sprite in corrupted soil near Treespeak Stables, so the land can heal. He praises Sylphie's
E-Sumi-Yan wants you to find the cause of the corruption spreading through the Twelveswood.
What you know from earlier quests 7
- #4 Way of the Conjurer: E-Sumi-Yan explains conjury: magic for healing and protection that uses earth, wind and water. He has you vow to embrace nature, admits you to the guild, and sends you to cull creatures harmed by the Calamity. He gives you a hunting log.
- #21 Trial by Earth: E-Sumi-Yan sends you to Hearer Nolanel, praising his bond with earth. He shares Nolanel's worry about Sylphie, who refuses to study nature. He fears she may cause a dangerous imbalance and asks you to help her listen to nature.
- #28 Chasing Shadows: Papalymo
wants Brother E-Sumi-Yan's help with the matter of the Ixali chieftain. He sends Kuplo Kopp
to tell him what happened and plans to give him a full report in person. - #44 Trial by Wind: E-Sumi-Yan is furious when Sylphie says she can cast Raise, and threatens to banish her if she tries it. He explains her mother healed without nature's power, blames himself as a teacher, and lets you join other guilds.
- #68 Trial by Water: E-Sumi-Yan finds Sylphie weak and scolds her. He explains that her healing uses up her own life force, just as her mother's did, and that it killed her mother. He vows to find a way to save her.
- #88 Sylphie's Trials: E-Sumi-Yan sends you to repeat the earth, wind and water trials while Sylphie watches. He believes she has her mother's rare gift of sensing nature. He reveals she changed her mind because you agreed to help, and asks you to keep guiding her.
- #137 Like Mother, Like Daughter: He says her mother avoided conjury out of love for nature. He tells Sylphie that hearing the elementals is a gift and she could become a Hearer. Mud pies, which are not native to the Twelveswood, trouble him.
Sylphie has studied nature since her return from the South Shroud and begs to help the hurting Twelveswood.
What you know from earlier quests 5
- #21 Trial by Earth: Sylphie heals you with her magic and is a very gifted healer. She joined the guild shortly before you. She sees no point in studying nature and insists she only wants to heal.
- #44 Trial by Wind: Sylphie mocks your wind lessons. Her mother was a conjurer who healed without embracing nature, and Sylphie wants to be just like her. She proudly says she has learned to cast Raise, and is hurt when E-Sumi-Yan gets angry.
- #68 Trial by Water: Sylphie heals wounded soldiers near Josselin's Spire despite the ban and grows weak. Then her magic is gone. She fears she is repeating her mother's fate and may die. She defends her mother and asks to be alone.
- #88 Sylphie's Trials: Sylphie admits she mocked you and thanks you for helping. Watching you fight the sprites, she feels nature's power and hears voices crying out in joy. She wonders why her mother kept this side of conjury from her.
- #137 Like Mother, Like Daughter: Sylphie hears nature shrieking. Her mother's journal says conjury angers nature, so she vows to quit and tries to stop Wulfiue's
group. Seeing the elementals help you changes her mind. She understands her mother now and could become a Hearer.
What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest
- Nolanel: Sylphie says she even sat through one of Hearer Nolanel's lectures, to show how hard she has studied.
- E-Sumi-Yan: He believes a hidden foe causes the corruption. He sends Sylphie with you but forbids any fight. He expected you to disobey, praises your defeat of Akoman, explains how Sylphie drew on nature, and gives you Cure II, his last teaching.
- Sylphie uses her hearing to guide you to three patches of corrupted soil. She urges you to face Akoman against orders and takes the blame. In battle she draws on nature for the first time, heals you, and wishes she could tell her mother.
Dialogue 63 lines
Accepting the quest
Sylphie
This creature is a voidsent! I've heard Brother E–Sumi speak of them!
Be careful, [name]! You'll be paralyzed if you meet its gaze!
It's drawing power from the corruption! We have to cleanse the disturbance first!
The corruption attracts the worst kind of monsters!
The power of nature is so incredible! I feel like I can do anything!
- FR Je crois avoir compris le truc pour emprunter la force de la nature ! ‘I think I've figured out the trick for borrowing the strength of nature!’ English marvels at nature's power and feeling able to do anything; French says she figured out the trick of borrowing it.
I don't think you need to be able to hear the voices of the forest to notice that, do you, [name]?
The corruption is definitely coming from somewhere around here.
Hmmm...that's odd. As soon as we arrived, that sense of wrongness I had suddenly felt less...well...it just felt less.
Guildmaster! You must let me help!
It's almost as if it's holding its breath. Or hiding.
- FR J'ai la désagréable sensation d'être observée... ‘I have the unpleasant feeling of being watched...’ English says something seems to hold its breath or hide; French says she feels she is being watched.
Do you see that? Just in that one spot, there─the air seems...wrong.
Since I got back from the South Shroud, I've spent all my time studying the forces of nature! I even sat through one of Hearer Nolanel's lectures!
Aaah!
The Twelveswood is crying out in pain. My skills are still a bit...lacking...in some areas, but I want to do what I can for the forest.
- DE Ich verstehe so viel. ‘I understand so much.’ English says the Twelveswood is crying out in pain; German says instead "I understand so much".
Speak with Sylphie.
Sylphie
...So I am to stay here, then?
- FR Oui, vous avez raison... ‘Ah... Yes, you're right...’ English has her ask whether she must stay behind; French has her simply agree that he is right.
Speak with Sylphie.
Sylphie
I... Yes, Guildmaster.
Something tells me we should start at Quarrymill in the South Shroud. Meet me there as soon as you can, [name]. And hurry─the corruption is spreading!
Investigate the disturbance.
E-Sumi-Yan
Ah, [name]─your presence here is most welcome. I have another task to which your maturing skills are well suited. Attend me closely.
Expansive wounds that ooze corruption have formed throughout the forest. After examining the traces of the sizable disturbance you previously cleansed, I can only conclude that this phenomenon is the work of a malign agent.
- FR Je me suis longuement entretenu avec les esprits au sujet des corruptions qui polluent la Sylve. ‘I spoke at length with the spirits about the corruptions polluting the Sylve.’ English bases his conclusion on examining the disturbance you cleansed; French says he consulted the spirits at length.
- DE Kleinere Störungen sind von Zeit zu Zeit nichts Ungewöhnliches, aber ein Auftreten in diesem Umfang ist mir bisher nicht untergekommen. ‘Smaller disturbances are nothing unusual from time to time, but I have never before come across an occurrence on this scale.’ English cites examining the disturbance you cleansed; German says he has never seen disturbances on this scale.
It must be found swiftly, lest the corruption spread, and I would have you assist in the investiga─
Sylphie?
Lacking? Sylphie, you have yet to master a single offensive spell. Without the means to defend yourself, it would be far too dangerous to send you off into the forest alone.
- FR Certes, vous avez été initiée par mes camarades druides, mais vous n'arrivez toujours pas à emprunter la force de la nature, je me trompe ? ‘Certainly, you have been initiated by my fellow druids, but you still cannot manage to borrow the strength of nature, am I wrong?’ English says she has not mastered one offensive spell; French says she still cannot borrow nature's strength.
Not necessarily...
[name], with your consent, I would have Sylphie accompany you once more.
I do not propose this arrangement solely with her safety in mind. Given the nature of the investigation, it is like that Sylphie's innate talent for hearing will prove as useful to you as your conjury will to her. There is much you might accomplish together.
- DE Mit ihrem Talent für das „Sehen“ und deiner mächtigen Magie könnt ihr viel zusammen erreichen. ‘With her talent for "seeing" and your powerful magic, you can achieve much together.’ English speaks of Sylphie's talent for hearing; German calls it a talent for "seeing".
Sylphie─you are not to approach any sources of corruption without [name] at your side. Do I make myself clear?
And should you chance to encounter the origin of these disturbances, do not initiate a confrontation. Too often, you allow your curiosity to overwhelm your good sense. Now go, and may the elementals watch over you.
- FR Je vous demanderai également de ne pas vous aventurer trop profondément dans la Sylve, même pour la meilleure des raisons. ‘I will also ask you not to venture too deeply into the Sylve, even for the best of reasons.’ English forbids confronting the source of the disturbances; French forbids venturing too deep into the forest.
Speak with Sylphie.
Sylphie
There's the tainted soil, [name]. Please do what you can.
That was brilliant, [name]! But it was only the start. The forest still groans in pain─I can hear it.
I think it's coming from...the north─no, the northeast. Let's go and have a look.
Speak with Sylphie.
Sylphie
More corrupted soil. Over to you.
You're doing really well, [name]...but I think there's another one. And, well...it calls to me even more fervently than the last.
It's to the east, I think. Yes, to the east.
Right there, [name]. This corruption is everywhere...
Nice work, the earth here feels healed. And yet...
There's another disturbance. And it's big. Really big. It's hard to describe, but it feels...sort of...wrong–er. I think... I think it might be what's causing all of this.
I know Brother E–Sumi said we weren't to confront it, but we can't just let it corrupt the rest of the forest. And however powerful it is, it can't be any more powerful than you. You're...well...you're amazing. Wh-What I mean to say is, I'm willing to risk a scolding if you are!
- DE E-Sumi-Yan hat gesagt, wir sollen eine Konfrontation mit dem Ursprung vermeiden, aber ich bin gewillt, einen Kampf zu riskieren, wenn du es bist. ‘E-Sumi-Yan said we should avoid a confrontation with the source, but I am willing to risk a fight if you are.’ English: she is willing to risk a scolding; German: she is willing to risk a fight.
It's not far from here─somewhere to the southeast, I think. Shall we at least have a closer look?
Report to Brother E–Sumi–Yan at Stillglade Fane.
E-Sumi-Yan
Welcome back, [name], Sylphie.
Sylphie
Our mission was a success, Guildmaster.
E-Sumi-Yan
Quite. I take it the two of you conspired to defy my orders?
- DE Du hast dich meinen Anweisungen widersetzt, oder? ‘Sylphie... You defied my instructions, didn't you?’ English accuses the two of you of defying orders; German accuses Sylphie alone.
- JA シルフィー……私との約束を破り、淀みへと深入りしましたね？ ‘Sylphie... you broke your promise to me and went deep into the corruption, didn't you?’ English accuses the two of you of defying orders; Japanese accuses Sylphie alone of breaking her promise.
Sylphie
W-Well...the forest was suffering! We couldn't just walk away...
It's not [name]'s fault! It's mine. It was all my idea. I take full responsibility!
E-Sumi-Yan
Calm yourself, child.
You did nothing I did not foresee. I am of no mind to lecture you.
Indeed, Gridania is indebted to you for your heroic deeds. The corruption born of Akoman had taken root in the Calamity-weakened soil─there is no telling how much further it might have spread if you had not defeated the creature.
- FR Akoman est un adversaire redoutable, l'éliminer n'a pas dû être une partie de plaisir. ‘Akoman is a formidable adversary; eliminating him can hardly have been a pleasure outing.’ English stresses how far the corruption might have spread; French stresses how formidable and hard to beat Akoman was.
And if I am not mistaken, Sylphie, you succeeded in drawing upon the energies of nature during the battle.
Sylphie
How did you─? Yes. Yes, I did. I'm not really sure how it happened. I remember thinking how badly I wanted to help [name], and then I suddenly felt the power surging through me.
E-Sumi-Yan
That is as it should be. One does not simply choose to borrow from nature's strength. The mind may command only that which the heart permits. In your desperation to help your friend, you opened your heart to nature, and nature responded to your need.
Ah, but we must not forget your part in this, [name]. It is clear to me that your journey with Sylphie has brought you still closer to the pinnacle of our art.
I believe you are ready for the last of my teachings. Thus it is with great pleasure that I pass on another of our guild's magicks─a more potent form of the Cure spell is now yours to command.
I have no doubt that it will serve you well in your continuing endeavors. Wheresoever you go, nature will go with you, my friend. Ever shall the earth meet your footfall, and the wind guide your path.
Sylphie
Heh. Heh heh. Ahahahahaha!
Isn't it amazing, [name]?
Did the breeze always feel this good?
Was the ground always this warm?
I'm so glad I finally understand.
I just wish I could tell my mother how incredible nature feels.
- JA 自然は怖くないってお母さんにも伝えてあげたい。 ‘I want to tell my mother too that nature isn't scary.’ English wants to tell her mother how incredible nature feels; Japanese wants to tell her nature is not frightening.
Oh, you're injured. Here.
Don't worry─healing doesn't drain me anymore.
Not since I learned how to borrow from nature.
And I have you to thank for that, [name].
Let's return to the guild. We have to explain everything to Brother E–Sumi.