137
Questions and Lancers
Lancer class quest, level 25. 137th of 194 in play order.
Quest giver: Ywain, Old Gridania (X 14.4, Y 5.8).
Steps
- Speak with Matheomi
at Amarissaix's Spire. - Sprinkle fresh
spoken blood at the foot of the great tree. - Report to Matheomi.
- Speak with Buscarron
. - Offer up the
Fullflower mead at Mistalle's Lance. - Report to Buscarron.
- Speak with Vauxclairt
at the Bobbing Cork. - Slay balloons and obtain their
fingers. - Use balloon fingers at the gutted campfire.
- Report to Vauxclairt.
- Report to Ywain at the Lancers' Guild.
Journal
- Guildmaster Ywain wants you to learn from other masters of the lancer's art.
- Ywain would send you to train under the tutelage of three renowned lancers. The first of these is a man named Matheomi, who can be found at Amarissaix's Spire in the East Shroud.
- Matheomi has set you a trial. Sprinkle the contents of the flask he has provided at the foot of the great tree to the north, and defeat the fell creatures that appear.
- You have vanquished the blood bats. Bear word of your success back to Matheomi.
- Matheomi praises your courage, and pronounces you a lancer of great promise. Your first lesson complete, it is now time to seek out Buscarron, the proprietor of Buscarron's Druthers in the South Shroud.
- Buscarron gives you a bottle of Fullflower mead, and bids you make an offering of it at Mistalle's Lance, a monument nestled in a rocky cleft to the south of his tavern.
- You have made an offering of the bottle of Fullflower mead at Mistalle's Lance. Report back to Buscarron at his tavern.
- You listen intently as Buscarron tells you of the life of Mistalle, a man to whom all students of the lancer's art owe a debt of gratitude. Imbued with newfound appreciation for the guild, the time is come to seek out your third and final instructor. Make your way to Fallgourd Float in the North Shroud, and partake of the wisdom of Vauxclairt.
- Vauxclairt has set you a trial, the first part of which requires you to procure six fingers from creatures known as balloons.
- You have procured the requisite number of fingers from slain balloons. Use the grisly digits to kindle a raging flame at the gutted campfire described by Vauxclairt, and lure out the true object of your trial─the red balloon.
- You have vanquished the red balloon. Bear word of your success back to Vauxclairt.
- You have completed your training under the three master lancers. Report back to Ywain at the Lancers' Guild.
- Ywain welcomes you back to the guild with pride in his eyes, and declares that he has little more to teach you. Only one trial remains before you may call yourself a fully fledged lancer. Dedicate yourself to your lancework, and return when you are ready to undertake the final challenge. ※The next lancer quest will be available from Ywain upon reaching level 30.
Hidden
warning that the red balloon will 'burst'.mead's item text says it smells of roses...and ochus. The ochu is a big flower monster found across the Final Fantasy series since the very first game. bait really is: the warm blood of a 'bipedal sentient', a thinking, two-legged being.Characters 4
Buscarron is at his Druthers in the South Shroud, waiting to be your second lancer instructor.
What you know from earlier quests 14
- #115 The Trees Have Eyes: Ianna
says travelers come to the tavern for Buscarron's ale and tales of adventure, as much as for the peace of the Shroud. - #116 No Guts, No Glory: Auphiliot
says Buscarron always did right by him, no matter his past. Auphiliot does not like anyone making trouble for Buscarron, even fish, and asks you to put your skills to work for him. - #117 Occupational Hazards: Yoenne
says Buscarron can seem rough to strangers, but he would be crushed if anything happened to one of his regulars. Irielle
looks forward to his meat and mead. - #119 Stash Saboteur: Auphiliot says Buscarron does not want the Qiqirn hunted down. He believes each battle avoided now saves another down the road, and he hopes for true peace in the forest. Burning the poison was his idea.
- #120 Spirited Away: Buscarron has heard talk of a sylph nearby, but cannot say if it is the elder. He says most folk cannot tell sylphs apart. He agrees to listen for news among his customers and invites you to stay.
- #121 Druthers House Rules: Buscarron gives you a tub of cold water to cool the drunk down without violence. He allows loud drinking but no fighting at the Druthers. He welcomes all who pay and behave, even Duskwight Elezen, whom many treat as brigands.
- #122 Never Forget: Buscarron found Teteroon
, a Qiqirn, near death in the Shroud after the Calamity and nursed him back to health. Teteroon worked at the Druthers, then left for La Noscea. Buscarron wants his forgotten 
scarlet earring returned to him. - #124 Like Fine Wine: Buscarron is moved to tears by Teteroon's firewater and hides it by blaming someone cutting onions. He agrees to keep it a year, though he hates to wait. He invites you back then to share the bottle.
- #125 Sylphish Concerns: When you report Garleans in the Twelveswood, Buscarron is shocked. He says imperials could never slip past the Wailers' spires alone. He suspects a Gridanian traitor guided them through.
- #126 Enemy Mine: Both the poacher and the Wasps flyer take Buscarron's worry seriously. They say if he is worried, things must be dire, and that he would not lie about such things.
- #127 Nouveau Riche: Buscarron hears that Laurentius
gave himself up to the Twin Adder. He tells you of Laurentius's hard past and hopes he gets a chance to make amends. Then he shares news: the sylph elder has been found. - #128 Into the Beast's Maw: Buscarron sends you to the Thousand Maws, an abandoned dungeon where Frixio was seen. When you return, he is relieved Frixio is safe, and he gives you a place of honor at the Druthers.
- #130 Shadows of the Empire: Auphiliot thanks you for driving off the Garleans on behalf of Buscarron and the people at the Druthers.
- #131 A Simple Gift: Buscarron sends
Azeyma rose oil as a sign of Gridania's wish to unite. He says the Calamity weakened the elementals of the wood, so Gridanians and sylphs must work and fight together to keep the Twelveswood safe.
- #115 The Trees Have Eyes: Ianna
Guildmaster Ywain sees you have grown stronger and wants you to learn from three famous lancers who once trained at his guild.
What you know from earlier quests 5
- #4 Way of the Lancer: Ywain teaches that lancers always attack and wear light armor to move fast. He values courage above all. He accepts you, sends you to kill squirrels, ladybugs and funguars, then gives you a hunting log listing creatures to train on.
- #21 Spear of the Fearless: Ywain teaches two sides of a lancer's courage: composure, staying calm when outnumbered, and resolve, daring to attack despite fear. A mysterious lancer challenges him; he refuses to be provoked and says you are only a novice. He tells you to ignore such challengers.
- #44 Courage of Stone: Ywain sends you for the
Stone of Courage on Naked Rock. Angry that Foulques moved it, he calls that man's words vain nonsense: a lancer's courage comes from composure and resolve. He lets you join other guilds, but hopes you master the lance first. - #68 A Dangerous Proposition: Ywain sends you to protect a young lancer who left to duel Foulques. On your return he praises your calm courage and teaches you Piercing Talon. He fears Foulques could do great harm and wants to stop him.
- #88 Lance of Destiny: Ywain tests you against three lancers. When Foulques vows to shut the guild, Ywain bets its fate on your lance. To him, rushing into danger is folly, not courage. He praises your calm before the Lord of the Bramble Patch.
Matheomi commands the sentries at Amarissaix's Spire in the East Shroud. Ywain
says no detail escapes his sharp eyes.Vauxclairt is a master lancer who spends his time at the Bobbing Cork, an inn in Fallgourd Float in the North Shroud.
What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest
- Buscarron, a former lancer, manned an outpost before opening the Druthers. He tells you how Mistalle founded the Lancers' Guild and opened it to foreign lancers. He never doubted your courage, so there is no trial. Vauxclairt is his old rival.
- Ywain laughs at Vauxclairt's demand that he visit. He is proud that all three masters approve of you. He says only one last trial remains before you are a full lancer and can leave the guild.
- Matheomi says you are strong and skilled but lack experience. He tests you against blood bats lured by spoken blood. He praises how you kept fighting without panic, sees the makings of a great lancer, and sends you to Buscarron.
- Vauxclairt was an adventurer, then a lance for hire, and is Buscarron's old rival. A strict teacher, he has you face the changing red balloon to learn courage in the face of change. He rarely praises, but says your courage is real.
Dialogue 50 lines
Accepting the quest
Ywain
It is good to see you again, [name], and stronger than when last we spoke. Plainly, you have devoted many hours to training─which is just as well, for I have a mind to set you your next task.
- DE [name], man erzählt sich viel über die Heldentaten, die du in letzter Zeit vollbracht hast. ‘[name], people are talking a lot about the heroic deeds you have done lately.’ English sees you have trained for many hours; German says people talk about your recent heroic deeds.
At the Bramble Patch, you came to grasp the true meaning of courage. I would have you put that courage to the proof before three masters of our art.
In the many years since they began their training within these walls, these men have led very different lives, yet they share the distinction of being regarded amongst the finest lancers of their time.
- DE Sie haben den Weg der Pike vor dir beschritten und sind hinter das Geheimnis des Muts gekommen. ‘They have walked the path of the pike before you and have discovered the secret of courage.’ English says they rank among the finest lancers of their time; German says they discovered the secret of courage.
And just as they once looked to their seniors for inspiration, so too shall you look to them. By availing yourself of their wisdom, you will take another step toward becoming a fully fledged lancer.
- FR Je t'ai dit autrefois que la sagesse des maîtres d'hast chevronnés pouvait aussi être instructive, si tu te souviens. ‘I once told you that the wisdom of seasoned lancers could also be instructive, if you remember.’ English says they once looked to their own seniors; French recalls the speaker once telling you seasoned lancers' wisdom teaches.
Your first instructor is a man named Matheomi. Seek him out at Amarissaix's Spire in the East Shroud, where he serves as a frontier sentry.
The long years at his post have honed Matheomi's perception─no detail escapes the man's piercing gaze. Present yourself before him for inspection, [name], and do as he bids you.
Speak with Matheomi at Amarissaix's Spire.
Matheomi
You must be the young lancer I was told to expect. Greetings and well met. I am Matheomi, commander of the brave men and women of this spire. Now, let's have a good look at you...
I see... You possess strength and skill in abundance, of this there is no doubt, but you still want for experience.
- DE Angeblich hast du Talent, doch in meinen Augen siehst du noch recht grün hinter den Ohren aus. ‘Supposedly you have talent, but in my eyes you still look rather green behind the ears.’ English says your strength and skill are beyond doubt; German only says you supposedly have talent.
Oh, I don't doubt you've seen much and more. Mayhap you believe there is naught left out there to unnerve you. Yet the world is wide, and only the gods can claim to know all. You may be assured that the legendary lancers of old faltered at times.
No lancer, nor any man, can foresee all possibilities, but he can steel himself for the unexpected. I would have you do just that.
- JA いっぱしの槍術士を自負するのなら、ひとつ、強敵との戦いを制してもらおう。 ‘If you consider yourself a full-fledged lancer, I'll have you win a battle against a powerful foe.’ English teaches steeling yourself for the unexpected; Japanese simply demands you win a fight against a strong foe.
Take this bottle of fresh spoken blood, and sprinkle it at the foot of the great tree to the north. Doing so will lure out creatures of the night, which you are to vanquish.
Report to Matheomi.
Matheomi
Welcome back, lass/son, and well done. I bore witness to your battle with mine own eyes.
The blood bat bewilders its prey with its ceaseless flittering, which makes putting a spear in the beast an exercise in frustration─frustration that may easily have given rise to panic. Yet to your credit, you fought on resolutely, and thus emerged the victor.
Ywain has taught you well, young one. You have a way to go, to be sure, but beneath those rough-hewn edges I see the makings of a great lancer.
- FR Je comprends pourquoi Ywain place autant d'espoir en toi. ‘I understand why Ywain places so much hope in you.’ English credits Ywain with teaching you well; French says it sees why Ywain has such hopes for you.
- DE Ywain hat mit seinem Lob nicht übertrieben. ‘Ywain did not exaggerate with his praise.’ English credits Ywain with teaching you well; German says Ywain's praise of you was not exaggerated.
- JA イウェインが目をかけるのも頷ける。 ‘I can see why Ywain has his eye on you.’ English credits Ywain with teaching you well; Japanese says it sees why Ywain favors you.
With my blessing, make your way to Buscarron's Druthers in the South Shroud. It is there that your next instructor─Buscarron himself─awaits.
The man had a unique approach to our art. Though it's a fair while since he hung up his spear, his words are well worth hearing. Indeed, lancers visit him as much for his counsel as they do his mead─good though it is.
By meeting Buscarron and availing yourself of his knowledge, your lancework will surely improve.
Speak with Buscarron.
Buscarron
Well, if it isn't Ywain's protégé. I thought it was about time you arrived.
I'm Buscarron, and this here's my place. In case you're wondering why ol' Ywain sent you, I should mention I've not always been in the food and drink business─before I opened the Druthers, I manned an outpost not far from here.
Anyroad, between keeping throats wet and bellies full, I ain't got a great deal of time to chat just now, so if you don't mind, I'll get on with educating you.
Now, take this nice bottle of Fullflower mead─ Wait! Don't open it. This ain't that kind of lesson. No, I want you to make an offering of it at Mistalle's Lance, which is a monument tucked away in a rocky cleft to the south of here. See the bottle safely there─complete with its contents─and when you come back, I'll tell you a story. Got all that? Good.
Report to Buscarron.
Buscarron
So you offered up the mead as I told you? And without drinking a drop? Very well, you shall have a tale of me, as promised.
Mistalle is the man who founded the Lancers' Guild, and the monument I sent you to was erected in his honor.
Mistalle was courage made flesh. Cut him and I daresay he'd have bled the stuff. It was him who first identified the two aspects of a lancer's courage, as well as how to go about tempering 'em.
And that weren't all he did. Seeing how the art had gone stale, what with our lancers keeping to the confines of the Twelveswood, he sought to bring in new techniques and methods from faraway lands.
But Gridania was a different place in his day. The outside world was a thing to be shunned back then, and non-forestborn were considered faithless savages. Aye...it was even worse than now!
'Course, ol' Mistalle wasn't afraid to call that way of thinking what it was─a lot of ignorance and cowardice.
To cut a long story short, despite a forestful of good old Gridanian stubbornness, he finally convinced the nation to open its doors to foreign lancers. And by blending their techniques with his own, he gave the world the art which you now practice.
To this day, the Lancers' Guild accepts students regardless of their origin. That wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't been for Mistalle.
Us lancers owe him much and more, and it's our charge to carry on his legacy. Never forget that.
Eh? What's that? When's the trial!? Bwah hah hah hah hah! Much as I hate to disappoint, there isn't one. Your courage was never in doubt, lass/son.
My part in your training's done. 'Tis time you visited your third and final instructor, a fellow named Vauxclairt. You'll find him whiling away his time at the Bobbing Cork, like as not. Oh, that's the name of an inn in Fallgourd Float, in case you don't know. Up in the North Shroud, it is.
Vauxclairt's an old rival of mine. Me and him used to go at it till neither man could lift his spear tip off the ground. I warn you: he was a right stubborn bugger back then, and the years ain't done much to improve his humours. So, er...good luck with impressing him!
Speak with Vauxclairt at the Bobbing Cork.
Vauxclairt
I take it you are the young lancer of whom Ywain spoke─and an adventurer besides, by the look of you. I was an adventurer myself once. That was before I became a lance for hire.
But enough idle talk. You have come to learn from me, and learn from me you shall. Be warned, though, that you will not find me as lenient an instructor as the others. Now pay attention.
- FR Fais attention, je n'ai pas la complaisance de maître Ywain. ‘Be careful, I do not have master Ywain's leniency.’ English compares his strictness with the other instructors; French compares it with master Ywain.
Thus far you have learned to muster your courage in situations of fear, panic, and uncertainty. With me you will learn to do so in the face of change.
The enemy is a living thing, and living things are apt to change. Whatever the nature of that change, a lancer must be able to think and adapt. And to think and adapt during battle requires courage.
To teach you the meaning of my words, I would have you challenge a fiery fiend known as the red balloon.
However, the creature will appear only where there is a raging flame. You may kindle such a flame by procuring six fingers from slain balloons, and depositing them at a gutted campfire. This should suffice to entice the red balloon.
As the battle wears on, the creature's fury shall burn with ever greater fervor until it is ripe to burst in a conflagration of death. Let courage lend strength to your lance, and extinguish this fiery foe.
- DE Ich wette, dass du dir in die Hosen machst, wenn du diesem Höllenfeuer gegenüberstehst. ‘I bet you'll wet your pants when you face this hellfire.’ English encourages you to let courage strengthen your lance; German mocks that you will wet your pants.
Report to Vauxclairt.
Vauxclairt
So you have vanquished the red balloon─no less than what I would expect of one of Ywain's.
Your enemy altered its nature throughout the encounter, thereby causing the terms of battle to shift repeatedly. Yet ever did you press onward, your courage holding firm in the midst of constant change. So it was that you emerged triumphant.
I am not known for being liberal with my praise...but you have done well. Yours is a genuine courage.
Mind you, this does not give you license to forsake your training. You are still but a fledgling among us, after all.
I have finished with you─you may report back to Ywain. And when you do, tell that young upstart that I demand he show his face here from time to time. That is all.
- FR Tu peux maintenant retourner voir Ywain pour lui annoncer ton succès... et dis-lui également qu'il peut passer chez Buscarron prendre un verre avec moi. ‘You may now go back to Ywain to announce your success... and also tell him that he can stop by Buscarron's for a drink with me.’ English demands he show his face here; French invites him for a drink at Buscarron's.
- DE Er soll sich ab und zu in Buscarrons Horst sehen lassen. ‘He should show himself at Buscarron's Druthers from time to time.’ English demands he show his face here; German wants him to show up at Buscarron's Druthers.
- JA ああ、ついでに……たまにはバスカロンの酒場に顔を出せ、と伝えておけ。 ‘Oh, and while you're at it... tell him to show his face at Buscarron's tavern once in a while.’ English demands he show his face here; Japanese tells him to show up at Buscarron's tavern.
Report to Ywain at the Lancers' Guild.
Ywain
Old Vauxclairt demands I show my face? Hah hah hah!
- FR Heureux de voir que tu as réussi, [name]. ‘Happy to see that you succeeded, [name].’ English laughs at Vauxclairt's demand that it visit; French says it is happy you succeeded.
- DE Alle drei Pikenier-Veteranen haben deinen Mut anerkannt. ‘All three lancer veterans have recognized your courage.’ English laughs at Vauxclairt's demand that it visit; German notes all three veterans recognized your courage.
- JA 無事、3人の槍術士から「勇気」を認めてもらうことができたようだな。 ‘It seems you safely got the three lancers to acknowledge your "courage."’ English laughs at Vauxclairt's demand that it visit; Japanese notes the three lancers acknowledged your courage.
I can only assume the buxom brunette at the Float isn't lavishing him with the attention he craves! Very well, I shall see what I can do.
- FR Je suis très content de toi. ‘I am very pleased with you.’ English jokes the buxom brunette at the Float neglects him; French says it is very pleased with you.
- DE Damit hast du deine Grundausbildung abgeschlossen und ich kann dir nicht mehr viel beibringen. ‘With that you have completed your basic training and I cannot teach you much more.’ English jokes the buxom brunette at the Float neglects him; German says your basic training is complete.
- JA もう、俺がとやかく言う必要もあるまい。 ‘There is no longer any need for me to say anything more.’ English jokes the buxom brunette at the Float neglects him; Japanese says it needs to tell you nothing more.
As for you, [name]...well done. I never doubted that you would meet with the approval of all three men, yet I am no less proud of you for having done so.
- DE Doch dein Mut wird in den zahlreichen Kämpfen, die dir unweigerlich bevorstehen, weiter wachsen! ‘But your courage will keep growing in the many battles that inevitably await you!’ English never doubted all three men would approve you; German says your courage will grow in battles ahead.
- JA 苦難が立ちはだかった時は、お前の成長の時だ。 ‘When hardship stands in your way, that is your time to grow.’ English never doubted all three men would approve you; Japanese says hardships are your time to grow.
You have traveled far along the lancer's path, and soon you will no longer require my guidance. In fact, you need overcome but one further trial to complete your education here. Do so and I will give you my blessing to leave the Lancers' Guild and embark upon a new adventure with spear in hand.
- DE Die Prüfungen sind hiermit abschlossen, doch ich hoffe, die Gilde kann auch weiterhin auf dich zählen. ‘The trials are hereby completed, but I hope the guild can continue to count on you.’ English says one further trial remains; German says the trials are now complete.
- DE Die Prüfungen sind hiermit abschlossen, doch ich hoffe, die Gilde kann auch weiterhin auf dich zählen. ‘The trials are hereby completed, but I hope the guild can continue to count on you.’ English promises a blessing to leave the guild; German hopes the guild can keep counting on you.
As ever, apply yourself to your lancework, and return when you are ready for your final challenge. I look forward to our next meeting.
- DE Trainiere fleißig weiter und komm ab und zu bei uns vorbei. ‘Keep training hard and drop by now and then.’ English asks you to return for your final challenge; German just asks you to drop by now and then.