Peasants by Day, Ninjas by Night

Jacke

Ah, [name]. Keepin' yer stabbers sharpened, I hope? 'Cause I've got a job to be done, and I reckon the dimber damber what put the Executioners on the choppin' block is just the one to do the doin'.

My men have sighted some shifty types 'round Wineport o' late. Not code-breakin' curs, so far as I know, an' that's the rub─we don't know half as much about them as I'd like.

They claim to be simple peasants─refugees from some far-flung realm─but I don't know many peasants what skulk about in the darkmans as much as they've been doin'.

• FR Ils se font passer pour des immigrants, mais personne n'a réussi à savoir d'où ils viennent, ce qui est tout de même bizarre. ‘They pass themselves off as immigrants, but no one has managed to find out where they come from, which is rather strange.’ English is suspicious because they skulk about at night; French because no one knows where they come from.
• DE Sie geben sich als harmlose Übersiedler aus und sind wie einfache Bauern gekleidet, aber ihre wirkliche Herkunft ist ein Rätsel. ‘They pose as harmless settlers and dress like simple farmers, but their real origin is a mystery.’ English is suspicious because they skulk about at night; German because their real origin is a mystery.
• JA 移民者を装ってはいるんだが、完璧なまでに正体を隠していて、出自がわからねぇ……。 ‘They pose as immigrants, but they hide who they are so perfectly that their origins are unknown...’ English is suspicious because they skulk about at night; Japanese because their origins are unknown.

So long as they're not breakin' the code, they can do as they please. But bein' who we are, it falls to us to look into the matter an' make sure that all's bob.

As my gut tells me this may be a two-rogue job, I've sent Underfoot on ahead. So pull on yer best beater cases, head to Wineport, an' meet him there.

This ain't the time for prittle prattle, [name]. I'm countin' on you and Underfoot to snilch Wineport and make sure that all's bob.

Perimu Haurimu

[name]! When Jacke said he'd be sendin' one o' the guild's canniest morts/coves along after me, I had a feelin' it might be you.

• DE Als hätte ich das nötig ... ‘As if I needed that ...’ English is pleased he guessed it would be you; German grumbles that he needs no help.

Now, I'd love to tell ye ol' Underfoot's already whiddled the whole scrap on our friends, but truth is I've turned up more questions than answers.

They claim to hail from the south sea isles, but me little birds at Mealvaan's Gate swear to the last man that that's some piss-poor mummery. There's no record of any such ship sailin' into port.

Looks like it falls to you and me to take a closer snilch, aye? I hope ye brought yer sharpest stabbers, as there's no tellin' who we're─

Did ye hear that, lass/lad? Either ol' Underfoot's gone daft, or some mort just screamed out for dear life.

Somethin' tells me our little task is about to take a turn for the interestin'. What say we go see what's what?

Tsubame

H-Have mercy! I am but a simple milkmaid, with not a single gil to my name.

Perimu Haurimu

Rest easy, lass─my friend and I don't mean ye no harm. Though I must say ye've got me curious─just what in the name o' the Twelve happened here?

Tsubame

I had just come to town to purchase some supplies. No sooner had I walked through the gates than I was suddenly accosted by three burly drunkards who demanded that I hand over all of my possessions.

• FR Eh bien je... j'étais à la recherche d'une amie, et j'ai croisé la route de ces individus qui ont commencé à me p-provoquer sans raison... ‘Well, I... I was looking for a friend, and I crossed paths with these people, who started to p-provoke me for no reason...’ English says she came to buy supplies; French says she was looking for a friend.
• FR Eh bien je... j'étais à la recherche d'une amie, et j'ai croisé la route de ces individus qui ont commencé à me p-provoquer sans raison... ‘Well, I... I was looking for a friend, and I crossed paths with these people, who started to p-provoke me for no reason...’ English says the drunkards demanded all her possessions; French says they provoked her for no reason.
• DE Ich war hier auf der Suche nach jemandem ... und dann sind diese zwielichtigen Gestalten erschienen und haben mich bedroht, obwohl ich nichts getan hatte! ‘I was here looking for someone ... and then these shady figures appeared and threatened me, even though I had done nothing!’ English says she came to buy supplies; German says she was looking for someone.
• DE Ich war hier auf der Suche nach jemandem ... und dann sind diese zwielichtigen Gestalten erschienen und haben mich bedroht, obwohl ich nichts getan hatte! ‘I was here looking for someone ... and then these shady figures appeared and threatened me, even though I had done nothing!’ English says the drunkards demanded all her possessions; German says they threatened her though she had done nothing.
• JA 人探しの途中で、怖い人たちにぶつかって……因縁をつけられていたんです……。 ‘While I was searching for someone, I ran into some frightening people... and they were picking a quarrel with me...’ English says she came to buy supplies; Japanese says she was searching for someone.
• JA 人探しの途中で、怖い人たちにぶつかって……因縁をつけられていたんです……。 ‘While I was searching for someone, I ran into some frightening people... and they were picking a quarrel with me...’ English says the drunkards demanded all her possessions; Japanese says they picked a quarrel with her.

To my good fortune, it seems the men had partaken a bit too heavily. When they saw the meager contents of my coinpurse, they began to squabble among themselves. A fistfight ensued, and before I knew it, the three men were lying on the ground as you see them now.

Perimu Haurimu

Sounds like Nymeia smiled upon you today, lass. Though might I suggest ye be a bit more careful on yer next visit. All manner of scurvy sorts frequent these parts, and you'll find that not all of them are blundering lackwits like yer friends here.

• FR Il y a beaucoup de pirates qui viennent remplir leurs réserves de gnôle ici, et lorsqu'ils sont un peu trop imbibés, un accident est vite arrivé. ‘Many pirates come here to stock up on booze, and when they are a little too soaked, an accident happens fast.’ English warns the next ones may not be blundering lackwits; French says drunk pirates easily cause accidents.
• DE Da rutscht ihnen schon mal die Axt aus. ‘Then their axe can easily slip.’ English warns the next ones may not be blundering lackwits; German jokes that the thirsty pirates' axes slip.

Tsubame

Thank you for your concern, good sir, and rest assured that I will take your words to heart. Good day to the both of you.

Perimu Haurimu

Well, [name]? How did the girl's whids strike ye?

You too? I was thinkin' the very same. Squabblin' amongst themselves? Just look─there's barely a scratch on any o' these louts.

• FR Elle nous a parlé d'une bagarre, mais on voit bien que ces hommes ont été assassinés par des professionnels, proprement et en un seul coup. ‘She told us about a brawl, but you can clearly see that these men were murdered by professionals, cleanly and with a single blow.’ English notes there is barely a scratch on the louts; French says they were murdered by professionals.

Ye reckon? As for me, I've got me questions. Squabblin' amongst themselves? Just look─there's barely a scratch on any o' these louts.

Aye, I'd wager there's more to the rum doxy than she's lettin' on. Come, let's go on the drag and see what she might be hidin'.

...And a right mess we've got here. Ye reckon these coves got on the wrong side of our lass? One thing's for sure, they're no more peasants than you an' I─one look at those stabbers tells me as much.

Perimu Haurimu

...It's too late. The poor sod's dead. As for this stone, yer guess's as good as mine. A lucky charm o' sorts, mayhap?

Anyroad, we'd best start movin' our dew beaters afore the lass gets away. Her footprints lead in the direction of upper La Noscea.

KKarasu

???: She hides behind a tree...as if that could hide her from me!

Eccentric Easterner: She didn't really think she could fool me with those silly rags, did she? Or did she? Perhaps she's not as clever as we believed?

Eccentric Easterner: And a mysterious savior rushes to the damsel's defense! Such bravery/chivalry! Such compassion!

Eccentric Easterner: ...Such folly! Little does she/he know that the girl is more than capable of taking care of herself.

Eccentric Easterner: ...And right on cue! Oboro the dim leaps onto the scene to save his dear little swallow in the most unsurprising surprise attack the realm has ever seen!

Oboro

Oboro: Cease your ramblings, Karasu, before I rip that tongue from your bloody beak!

KKarasu

Karasu: Yeeeow! Our hero is wounded! A stab through the heart! His childhood friends stand before him, blades drawn and hate in their eyes! Oh, the tragedy of it all! The audience sobs!

• FR Si tu crois que ça m'amuse... eh bien tu as tout à fait raison, ha ha ! ‘If you think this amuses me... well, you're quite right, ha ha!’ English mocks the scene as a tragedy that makes the audience sob; French admits it amuses him.
• JA …………と、違ったネ。 ‘...Oh, that's not right, is it.’ English mocks the scene as a stage tragedy; Japanese takes back its feigned sadness.

Karasu: ...And what's this? A couple of bit players who have forgotten to leave the stage? Did no one tell them their part in the play is long since over?

• FR Je ne me rappelle pas les avoir invités à notre petite fête de retrouvailles. ‘I don't remember inviting them to our little reunion party.’ English mocks bit players whose part in the play is over; French mocks uninvited guests at a reunion party.
• DE Besser wäre es noch, wenn wir dabei ungestört wären. ‘It would be even better if we were undisturbed while doing it.’ English mocks bit players who forgot to leave the stage; German wishes to be undisturbed, hinting he can arrange it.

Karasu: Oho! And the faceless rogue shows surprising skill! Perhaps she/he yet has a role to play? I will say this much: unlike a certain someone, at least you...intrigue me.

Karasu: ...But other matters demand our hero's attention, and so the first act must draw to a close. Come, my pet!

Oboro

Oboro: Wait! Karasu! ...Ever quick to retreat, that one.

Tsubame

Queer Maid: The two/two gentlemen from Wineport? Did you...follow me here?

Perimu Haurimu

Beg pardon, miss. My friend an' I are here on behalf o' the Dutiful Sisters. An' you, Sister, have some questions to answer.

I've lived on the underbelly o' society long enough to recognize when a man's more than he seems. So make this easy for us, lass─just who exactly are ye, and what are ye doin' here? And here's hopin' for both your sakes that it doesn't involve breakin' no code.

Oboro

Oboro: ...So you are the rogues of whom Lady Yugiri spoke. Forgive me─we were remiss in not seeking you out sooner. Very well. You shall know all there is to know.

Oboro: ...So you are the rogues of whom I have heard so much. Forgive me─we were remiss in not seeking you out sooner. Very well. You shall know all there is to know.

My name is Oboro, and she is Tsubame. We hail from a village in Doma, several thousand malms across the sea. We are─ah, but perhaps you have no word for what we are. In our own tongue, one might call us shinobi.

Perimu Haurimu

Doma? The imperial province!?

Tsubame

...The same, though it did not have to be so. Our countrymen fought with honor against the might of Garlemald. What we lacked in number, we made up for with martial prowess. It was a battle we could have won...had we not been betrayed by one of our own.

• DE Wir wussten, dass wir ihnen zahlenmäßig weit unterlegen waren, aber wir konnten nicht länger tatenlos zusehen, wie unsere Landsleute unter der barbarischen Herrschaft der Garlear litten. ‘We knew that we were far outnumbered, but we could no longer stand idly by while our countrymen suffered under the barbaric rule of the Garleans.’ English says skill made up for small numbers; German says they could no longer watch their people suffer.

Our every secret, our every move known to our foe, the tide of battle turned on the morrow. Thousands of our countrymen were slaughtered, and at day's end, Doma remained under the imperial yoke.

• DE Doch in unseren Reihen befand sich ein Verräter, der sich eines Nachts zum Feind schlich und die genaue Position unseres gut versteckten Dorfes verriet. ‘But among us was a traitor who crept to the enemy one night and revealed the exact location of our well-hidden village.’ English says the foe knew every secret and move; German says the traitor revealed the hidden village's location.
• DE Doch ein paar von uns wurden mit der Mission betraut, die Schwachen und Kinder in Sicherheit zu bringen - darunter waren auch wir. ‘But a few of us were entrusted with the mission of bringing the weak and the children to safety - we among them.’ English ends with Doma still under the imperial yoke; German says some were sent to save the weak and children.

Oboro

The traitorous cur joined the imperial ranks as chief of their covert operatives, or so they say. That is the man you just met, Karasu─though I am loath to call him a man.

To this day, he whispers in the ears of the Garleans, making a mockery of those who once called him friend and brother─but no longer. We have come to Eorzea at our village elder's behest to see that Karasu pays for his crimes...with his life.

Perimu Haurimu

Come to mill a treacherous rook who blew the gab on his comrades? You sound like a right bene cove─consider ol' Underfoot impressed.

Oboro

...Hm? Forgive me─this land and its tongue are still new to us. Nonetheless, we were able to lure Karasu here, but more than a few of our comrades gave their lives in the effort. And now this... Was their sacrifice for naught?

• DE Wir haben Karasu bis hierher verfolgt ... und dabei viele Leute verloren. ‘We followed Karasu all the way here ... and lost many people doing so.’ English says they lured Karasu here; German says they pursued him here.
• DE Wir hatten nicht einmal die Zeit, sie anständig zu begraben ... ‘We did not even have time to bury them properly ...’ English asks whether their sacrifice was in vain; German says there was no time to bury them properly.

Ah... You have my gratitude. When one of our kind falls, tradition dictates that we return their soul to the village, that it may rest with our ancestors.

What!? Our fallen brother's soul calls out to this woman/man? Could it be a sign? Are we fated to fight as one?

• FR Vous avez en vous les qualités requises pour devenir un véritable ninja. ‘You have within you the qualities needed to become a true ninja.’ English wonders if they are fated to fight as one; French says you have what it takes to be a ninja.
• DE Das bedeutet ... in dir schlummert die geheime Kraft des Ninjutsu! ‘That means ... the secret power of ninjutsu slumbers within you!’ English wonders if they are fated to fight as one; German says the power of ninjutsu slumbers in you.
• JA 驚いた、お主には忍びたる素質が備わっている様子。 ‘I am astonished: it seems you possess the makings of a shinobi.’ English wonders if they are fated to fight as one; Japanese says you have the makings of a shinobi.

I would make you an offer. We will instruct you in our art─the art of ninjutsu. In return, you will share with us your knowledge of this land, that it might serve us in our mission.

• DE Nimm diese Kraft entgegen und setze sie ein, um für unsere Sache, die Sache der Schwachen und Unterdrückten, zu kämpfen. ‘Accept this power and use it to fight for our cause, the cause of the weak and the oppressed.’ English asks in return for your knowledge of this land; German asks you to fight for the weak and oppressed.

Tsubame

B-But, Oboro! She/He is not Doman! She/He is not of the village!

Oboro

Look around you, Tsubame. Our brothers and sisters are fallen or gravely wounded. And today's failure makes it all too clear─we cannot hope to stand against Karasu without knowing the lay of the land.

Perimu Haurimu

Can't say I'm thrilled at the prospect o' losin' a dimber damber like yerself, but hells! In my younger days, I'd like been keen to try my fams at some o' those techniques myself!

• FR Je sens bien que l'appel de l'aventure est trop fort pour vous, n'est-ce pas ? ‘I can tell the call of adventure is too strong for you, isn't it?’ English: he himself would once have wanted to try these techniques; French: adventure is calling you too strongly.
• DE Aber zuallererst ist sie eine Abenteurerin/er ein Abenteurer und nur sich selbst verpflichtet. ‘But first and foremost she/he is an adventurer and answers only to herself/himself.’ English: he himself would once have wanted to try these techniques; German: you are an adventurer bound only to yourself.
• JA あんたみたいな冒険者にとっちゃ、ワクワクする話でしょうね？ ‘For an adventurer like you, this must sound exciting, eh?’ English: he himself would once have wanted to try these techniques; Japanese: it must excite an adventurer like you.

An' the more my wattles take in, the more these two strike me as benar and benar folks. If yer keen to lend them yer daddles, I'll not be the one to stand in yer way.

• FR Et puis vous pourrez en profiter pour surveiller ces deux-là, hé hé... ‘And besides, you can take the opportunity to keep an eye on those two, heh heh...’ English says the two seem better and better folk; French suggests keeping an eye on them.
• JA この人たちが変なことをしないか、見張りを兼ねるってことで！ ‘Think of it as also keeping watch that these people don't do anything strange!’ English says the two seem better and better folk; Japanese suggests watching that they do nothing strange.

Oboro

If you would know more, come to the dock storehouse at Raincatcher Gully. We shall await you there.

Perimu Haurimu

Who'd have figured, eh? Anyroad, the choice is yours, [name]. In the meantime, I'm goin' to head back to Limsa and report to Jacke afore he comes an' gives me a good clout in the nob.

• DE Der nächste Job wartet bestimmt schon. ‘The next job is surely already waiting.’ English jokes he must report before Jacke clouts him on the head; German says the next job awaits.
• JA それじゃあオレは帰りますよ、次の仕事が待ってますからね。 ‘Well then, I'm heading back, since the next job is waiting.’ English jokes he must report before Jacke clouts him on the head; Japanese says the next job awaits.

Tsubame

Tradition forbids us from sharing our art with those from outside our village. Yet watching you hold your own against Karasu today, I cannot deny your potential...

Oboro

And so we meet again. Am I to take your presence to mean that you have chosen to accept our offer?

...Thank you. I speak not only for myself and Tsubame but for our entire village when I say that you have our profound gratitude.

What I would tell you next, I would tell you out of the earshot of strangers. Byakubu has been instructed to let only trusted visitors through the doors behind me.

When he speaks to you a-ya-me, you are to answer ka-e-de. You need not know what the words mean, only that they will grant you entrance.

...I see. This disappoints me, yet it is honorable of you to deliver the message in person. Should you ever have a change of heart, pray return to us.

Tsubame

Oboro has chosen to accept you, and it is not my place to question his judgment. From this day on, you are one of us.

Byakubu

A...ya...me...

...Enter.

...Begone.

...Master Oboro awaits.

Oboro

Welcome, [name]. You stand within the provisional base of operations my people have established in your land of Eorzea.

It may not look like much─either without or within─but that is precisely the point. We find it an ideal vantage point from which to observe the comings and goings of Karasu and his men without attracting undue attention to ourselves.

My fallen brother saw you as a worthy inheritor to his soul. To honor his memory, I entrust it to you. But soul alone will not make you a shinobi. No, this will require training of the body and mind.

Our art─the art of ninjutsu─originated with our ancestors many years ago. Since then, it has been passed down with each generation...mother to daughter, father to son.

We draw power from the world around us─the heaven, the earth, and the hearts of man─and channel this power into physical form. I am told that this is similar to your concept of...ay-ther, was it? I must confess that Eorzean words and ways remain unfamiliar to me.

How does one channel this power, you ask? Through the use of mudra, hand gestures that call forth each of the three forms of energy of which I spoke. The first mudra I will teach you will call power from the heavens. In Doma, we call this Ten.

You are eager to learn, yes? Attune your soul to that of my fallen brother, then approach me once more. It is then that your training will begin.