A Mizzenmast Repast

Main story quest #21, level 14. 71st of 102 in play order.

Quest giver: Baderon, Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks (X 11.6, Y 11.1).

Next: Good for What Ales You ›

Steps

Put on the dress shoes and speak with Zanthael.
Speak with Merlwyb in the command room.

Journal

Baderon wants you to let him know when you are ready to depart for the banquet.
The banquet is soon to begin. Put on your dress shoes, and speak with Zanthael in Bulwark Hall.
At the banquet, Merlwyb recounts the deeds of the half-remembered heroes whom Eorzeans now call the Warriors of Light. The tale triggers inside your mind a vision of the final moments of the Battle of Carteneau. When you subsequently come to your senses, you are surprised to find yourself in a room at the Drowning Wench, with no idea how you got there. Baderon, who apparently carried you back from the Bridge himself, explains that you collapsed, and mentions that the Admiral would like to see you. Make your way to Bulwark Hall, and request admission to the command room.
Merlwyb has a task for you─one which she would entrust to no other. Speak to her again when you are ready to hear what it entails.

Hidden

Lore Merlwyb's

own father, Bloefhis, worked with the Sahagin. By pirate custom, she challenged him to a one-on-one fight on an empty island. She came back alone.

Easter egg Visit Zanthael

without shoes and you get an angry speech. Baderon

described you only by your 'fancy

dress shoes'. Zanthael would have 'settled for a distinctive facial scar'.

Spoiler about later in the story

Foreshadowing The Carteneau vision shows Raubahn and Kan-E-Senna. You meet them next, as envoy (step 22). It also shows Louisoix, named by Y'shtola in step 9. Note the '???' voice.

Spoiler about later in the story

Foreshadowing Merlwyb's toast ends with 'till sea swallows all'. This is Limsa's farewell. It is also the name of the quest where you join her Maelstrom, if you pick that Grand Company.

Characters 8

Baderon
Baderon waits for you to say you are ready for the banquet.
What you know from earlier quests 13
- #1 Coming to Limsa Lominsa: Baderon registers you at the Adventurers' Guild. He says the Calamity, a disaster, blurred everyone's memories, even of the heroes called Warriors of Light. He shields you from a suspicious Yellowjacket. He is the only son of Lodewicus, the guild's founder, and left home young.
- #10 Close to Home: Baderon sends you to touch the aetheryte, a travel crystal, to see Swozblaet with an old octant, and to visit the Arcanists' Guild. He blames the Calamity, or the ale, for his poor memory. He urges you to help people in need.
- #11 Glory Days: Baderon laughs at the gift: he has hated aurelia umbrellas since his days as a sellsword, a fighter for hire, when even salt and a campfire did not help. Few sellswords keep all their fingers, so he earned the respected nickname "Tenfingers".
- #15 The Rats in the Wharf: Baderon pays you from a huge sack left by a stranger, who said the rats' scurrying noise was driving him mad. Baderon thinks the man was already a bit unwell in the head and doubts he can ever find peace.
- #19 On to Summerford: Staelwyrn, the farm's owner, is Baderon's old mate. He runs it with mostly reformed pirates, trying to bring life back to soil the Calamity ruined. Baderon gave you a glowing recommendation and tells you to work hard and impress 'the old bastard'.
- #22 Fool Me Once: Ancreta says the Yellowjackets hire adventurers only through the Adventurers' Guild. The panel notes add that this means Baderon: official work for adventurers in Limsa goes through him.
- #27 Bait and Swat: Baderon calls the pact a farce that only bought Limsa time. He is sure the kobolds hoard crystals to summon their god, Titan. With no Company of Heroes to save them this time, he offers to ask the Yellowjackets to guard the Stead.
- #43 A Pound of Cure: Baderon has an Eorzean version of this quest's proverb about prevention and cure, using 'onze' and 'ponze', Eorzea's words for ounce and pound.
- #47 Just Deserts: Baderon promises fair treatment for Sevrin; a Yellowjacket who hands out punishments is his friend. He gives you free room and board at the Wench and signs you up for leves (paid odd jobs) with T'mokkri. He suspects some pirates of the kidnappings.
- #48 Sky-high: Baderon points you to the Skylift in middle La Noscea, a big scaffold on the cliff called the Descent, used to haul cargo. He hears the workers need help with odd jobs, and sends you to its head, Wyrkrhit.
- #68 Men of the Blue Tattoos: Ahtbyrm told Baderon the whole tale, and he thanks you. He jokes that the only man who can read the script is Baderon himself. He calls you one of his regulars and trusts you. What he reads tells him trouble is brewing.
- #69 Feint and Strike: Baderon was once a sellsword, a fighter for hire, and learned to read the script of the Sahagin, the "fishbacks," from orders taken off dead foes. He sees the Victory attack was a decoy, guesses Swiftperch is the real target, and sends you to Reyner.
- #70 High Society: Baderon nearly snorts ale at the news of your rise. He says the Bismarck, a fine restaurant, caters the banquet, and sends you to J'nasshym for clothes. The box holds dress shoes: a gift from him and everyone you have helped.
J'nasshym
J'nasshym is at the Octant, where she chose your dress shoes.
What you know from earlier quests 2
- #6 Edelweiss, Edelweiss: J'nasshym sends a thank-you gift to the Dutiful Sisters of the Edelweiss, who did a service for her firm. She does not say what they do, but says they are more than they seem and that they reassure businesses like hers.
- #70 High Society: J'nasshym greets you as the "underdressed" guest Baderon mentioned and says he was not exaggerating. She chose items for your debut in polite society and hands you a raxa-lined box.
Merlwyb
Merlwyb is hosting a banquet in your honor on the Bridge.
What you know from earlier quests 5
- #6 Edelweiss, Edelweiss: The Encyclopaedia Eorzea says Admiral Merlwyb gave an order that banned piracy. After that order, a group called the Upright Thieves became the Rogues' Guild.
- #10 Close to Home: Murie says Admiral Merlwyb keeps several arcanists on her personal staff. Fearing their art would die out, as it passed only from master to chosen student, she ordered an official Arcanists' Guild and paid for research and training.
- #19 On to Summerford: Staelwyrn took Admiral Merlwyb's offer to put pirates stuck on land to work in the fields. The panel notes add that Summerford is part of Merlwyb's plan to end piracy by giving former pirates land to work.
- #69 Feint and Strike: Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn, Admiral of Limsa Lominsa, thanks you at the Coral Tower. You seem familiar to her. She calls Baderon a good friend and invites you to a banquet as guest of honor. Her names mean "Sea Woman" and "Blue Fish's daughter" in Roegadyn.
- #70 High Society: Merlwyb does not appear. Reyner says it is very rare for the Admiral to invite an adventurer to a state banquet. Baderon teases you as "Merlwyb's guest of honor."
Y'shtola
Y'shtola has been watching you since she noticed your "special gift."
What you know from earlier quests 3
- #37 Lurkers in the Grotto: Her name is Y'shtola; she studies aether and hunts the kidnappers too. After you beat an enraged goobbue together, she finds a sailor's knife in it and suspects pirates. Your talk of a towering crystal surprises her. Staelwyrn vouches for her.
- #47 Just Deserts: After the golem fight, near Y'shtola you see a vision of her past: she fears the beast tribes may summon primals (summoned gods), as Louisoix foretold. She can see aether. She calls herself a naturalist, links the pirates to the Sahagin, and takes Sevrin home.
- #69 Feint and Strike: Y'shtola arrives when she senses the masked mage and fights beside you. She names him an Ascian, one of the "Bringers of Chaos" who steer the beast tribes. She is a Sharlayan and, surprised you know it, decides you have "a special gift."
Louisoix Leveilleur
Louisoix is not part of the events as this quest begins.
What you know from earlier quests 1
- #47 Just Deserts: Y'shtola says the rising seas and the falling lesser moon are as Louisoix foretold. He called on the Twelve, Eorzea's guardian gods, to prevent the Seventh Umbral Era (an age of calamity), then vanished in a blinding light.
Zanthael
Zanthael is in Bulwark Hall, waiting to lead the banquet's guest of honor to the briefing room.
Kan-E-Senna
Kan-E-Senna is someone you have never met.
Raubahn
Raubahn is someone you have never met.

What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest

Baderon tells you to wear the shoes and hold your head high. He described you to Zanthael only by your shoes. When you collapse at the banquet, he drags you back to the Wench, blames too much cake, and says the Admiral wants a word.
J'nasshym: If you lose the dress shoes, J'nasshym gives you another pair, out of kindness and the loathing she bears for your usual "attire."
Merlwyb tells of the lost Warriors of Light. She sees you as chosen by the Mothercrystal, the being in your vision, and has a task for you. Her father Bloefhis worked with the Sahagin; she challenged him to a duel and came back alone.
Y'shtola sees an extraordinary glow and names it one of the Crystals of Light. She recalls the vision of a towering crystal you had after your encounter with the goobbue, and concludes that you bathed in Her Light. Merlwyb agrees.
Louisoix Leveilleur: Your vision of the final moments of the Battle of Carteneau also shows Louisoix.
Zanthael is annoyed that Baderon described you only by your "fancy dress shoes." Once he sees them, he leads you to the briefing room. Afterward he announces you to the Admiral in the command room and suggests a brisk walk by the smelly waterfront.
Kan-E-Senna: You glimpse Kan-E-Senna in your vision of the final moments of the Battle of Carteneau, where Merlwyb says the Warriors of Light were lost.
Raubahn: You glimpse Raubahn in your vision of the final moments of the Battle of Carteneau, which comes to you as Merlwyb tells of the Warriors of Light.

What the Japanese, French and German versions say 10

Japanese

EN 'Yet, whenever we try to shout their names, the sound dies in our throats.'

JA 「しかし、その名を口に出そうとすると、日に焼けた書物を読み上げることができぬよう声に出すことができず……。」, 'But whenever we try to speak their names, the words won't come, just as you cannot read aloud from a book the sun has faded...'

Merlwyb says the names of the Warriors of Light have faded like old writing. So no one can speak them.

EN 'Heed well Her words, adventurer. For it is Hydaelyn Herself who speaks.'

JA 「君は星の声……ハイデリンの意思に、直接導かれたのだから。」, 'For you were guided directly by the voice of the Star... by the will of Hydaelyn.'

Merlwyb says this voice guided you. 星 (hoshi) means both 'star' and 'planet', so Hydaelyn's will is the world's own voice.

EN 'I know nothing about shoes, much less fancy─'

JA 「バデロンめ、面倒な目印を指定しおって！足元の見すぎで、首が凝ってかなわんわ！」, 'Blast that Baderon, picking such a bothersome thing to look out for! I've stared at so many feet that my neck's gone stiff!'

Zanthael stared at everyone's feet to find the shoes Baderon told him about. The English Zanthael never mentions his neck.

French

Title

EN A Mizzenmast Repast · 'Such an extraordinary glow...'

FR «Lueur d'espoir», 'a glimmer of hope' · «Quelle est cette lueur ?», 'What is this glimmer?'

The title echoes the big moment at the banquet, when Y'shtola asks this as the Crystal shines.

Different

EN 'You are the vessel of a higher power.'

FR «Il semblerait que tu possèdes le don de l'Écho.», 'It seems that you have the gift of the Echo.'

Merlwyb names your power. The English only speaks of a higher power, without a name.

Idiom

EN 'Now, make sure yer wearin' them fancy shoes when ye turn up, all right? Carryin' 'em won't do no good.'

FR «J'ai dû faire des pieds et des mains pour les avoir, alors t'as pas intérêt à les laisser croupir dans ton sac !», 'I had to move heaven and earth to get them, so you'd better not leave them rotting in your bag!'

The phrase means to move heaven and earth, and a phrase about feet fits footwear well. The English Baderon never says what the shoes cost him.

Different

EN 'Too much cake, I reckon.' · 'Anyroad, don't fret─'tis little wonder ye was exhausted after everythin' ye've been through lately.'

FR «T'as eu la main lourde sur la boisson, ou quoi !? Quoique t'es peut-être tout simplement claqué(e)...», 'Did you go a bit heavy on the drink, or what!? Then again, maybe you're just plain worn out...'

When you collapse, Baderon first blames the drink. In English, one line earlier, he blames 'too much cake'.

German

Different

EN 'This...being from your vision was the Mothercrystal.'

DE „Das, was du in deiner Vision gesehen hast, könnte der Urkristall, die Seele des Planeten Hydaelyn, gewesen sein.“, 'What you saw in your vision may have been the primordial crystal, soul of the planet Hydaelyn.'

Merlwyb names what your vision showed. The English Merlwyb just calls it the Mothercrystal.

Different

EN 'But thanks to you, our citizens may once more go about their daily lives, safe in the knowledge that they will not be dragged into the darkness by those execrable curs.'

DE „Dank dir können die Limser wieder ungestört über die Planken torkeln, ohne von fischigen Klauen ins Meer gezogen zu werden.“, 'Thanks to you, the Limsans can once again stagger along the planks in peace, without being dragged into the sea by fishy claws.'

Torkeln is how drunks walk, so Merlwyb is joking. The English Merlwyb stays grave.

Wordplay

EN 'He mentioned that if you were so careless as to misplace them, I was supposed to tell you to “get your arse back to J'nasshym, and beg fer another pair.”'

DE «Falls du sie nämlich verschustert haben solltest, dann - und ich zitiere Baderon - sollst du deinen „Hintern zu J'nasshym schwingen und dir schleunigst neue geben lassen“.», 'Should you have carelessly lost them, then, and I quote Baderon, you're to “haul your behind over to J'nasshym and get her to give you new ones, pronto”.'

Zanthael passes on Baderon's advice in case you lose the shoes. This Austrian verb hides „Schuster“, 'shoemaker', a sly word for lost shoes.

Dialogue 50 lines

Accepting the quest

Baderon

Yer ready, then, are ye? Good. The banquet'll be startin' soon. If ye'd waited any longer, I'd've considered it me civic duty to 'it ye over the 'ead an' drag ye there.

Now, make sure yer wearin' them fancy shoes when ye turn up, all right? Carryin' 'em won't do no good. They're meant to make ye look like a lady/gentleman, remember, not a lady/gentleman's bleedin' lackey.

JA 俺たちからの心づくしを無駄にしないでくれよな。 ‘Don't let our heartfelt gift go to waste, all right?’ English jokes about looking like a lackey; Japanese asks you not to waste their heartfelt gift.

As fer directions, the feast's bein' 'eld on the Bridge, in the Admiral's briefin' room.

Speak with Zanthael in Bulwark Hall, an' 'e'll show ye the way.

Just keep that 'ead 'eld 'igh, lass/lad. After everythin' ye've done fer Limsa, ye've good reason to be proud─an' don't let no 'ighborn bugger tell ye different.

Put on the dress shoes and speak with Zanthael

Zanthael

Dress shoes... Fancy dress shoes. An adventurer wearing fancy dress shoes...

Merlwyb

Brothers and sisters of the sea!

Zanthael

Godsdammit, Baderon, why could you not have told me this mysterious guest's name, or their hair color, or even their bloody gender!? I'd have settled for a distinctive facial scar! I know nothing about shoes, much less fancy─ What? You say you're the adventurer I'm looking for?

JA バデロンめ、面倒な目印を指定しおって！足元の見すぎで、首が凝ってかなわんわ！ ‘Blast that Baderon, picking such a bothersome thing to look out for! I've stared at so many feet that my neck's gone stiff!’ Zanthael stared at everyone's feet to find the shoes Baderon told him about. The English Zanthael never mentions his neck.
FR J'en ai marre de regarder les pieds de tous ceux qui passent ! ‘I'm sick of looking at the feet of everyone who walks by!’ English would settle for a facial scar as a sign; French complains of staring at everyone's feet.
DE Als ob es nur eine Person in Eorzea gäbe, die banketttaugliches Schuhwerk trägt! ‘As if there were only one person in Eorzea wearing banquet-worthy footwear!’ English would settle for a facial scar as a sign; German scoffs as if only one person wore banquet shoes.
JA 足元の見すぎで、首が凝ってかなわんわ！ ‘I've stared at feet so much that my neck is unbearably stiff!’ English would settle for a facial scar as a sign; Japanese complains his neck is stiff from staring at feet.

Then where are these “fancy dress shoes” that Baderon described to me in such excruciatingly unhelpful detail? Surely you didn't...? Ahem. He mentioned that if you were so careless as to misplace them, I was supposed to tell you to “get your arse back to J'nasshym, and beg fer another pair.” I never imagined I'd actually have to say it, though...

DE Falls du sie nämlich verschustert haben solltest, dann - und ich zitiere Baderon - sollst du deinen „Hintern zu J'nasshym schwingen und dir schleunigst neue geben lassen“. ‘Should you have carelessly lost them, then, and I quote Baderon, you're to “haul your behind over to J'nasshym and get her to give you new ones, pronto”.’ Zanthael passes on Baderon's advice in case you lose the shoes. This Austrian verb hides „Schuster“, 'shoemaker', a sly word for lost shoes.
FR Excuse-moi, mais il est hors de question que je te laisse entrer dans cette tenue. ‘Excuse me, but there is no way I'm letting you in dressed like that.’ English asks where the fancy dress shoes are; French refuses to let you in dressed like that.
FR Retire ces grolles cradingues et enfile les chaussures qu'on t'a données. ‘Take off those filthy clodhoppers and put on the shoes you were given.’ English relays the order to beg J'nasshym for another pair; French orders you to swap your filthy shoes.
JA もし、失くしてしまったのなら、八分儀広場のジャ・ナッシムに相談するんだな。 ‘If you have lost them, go and consult J'nasshym at the Octant plaza.’ Japanese gives a plain instruction with J'nasshym's location; English quotes Baderon's rude wording.

Oh! Now those are some fancy dress shoes. Come, adventurer, I will show you to the briefing room.

Merlwyb

Join me now in honoring this woman/man for her/his services to our great nation!

May the Navigator guide and protect her/him on her/his journey till sea swallows all!

DE Möge Llymlaen sie/ihn segnen und sicher durch jeden Sturm lotsen! ‘May Llymlaen bless her/him and pilot her/him safely through every storm!’ German wishes safe passage through every storm; English's blessing lasts "till sea swallows all".
JA 英雄に、海洋と航海の女神リムレーンの祝福を！ ‘For the hero, the blessing of Llymlaen, goddess of the seas and of navigation!’ Japanese names the goddess Llymlaen and her domain; English only says "the Navigator".

Baderon

Mornin', sunshine. All a bit much fer ye, was it?

DE Morgen, zartes Pflänzchen. ‘Morning, delicate little plant.’ English teasingly calls you sunshine; German teasingly calls you a delicate little plant.

...What 'appened? Ah, ye don't remember, then.

Ye keeled over in the middle o' the banquet, an' caused a right stir. 'Ad to carry ye back to the Wench meself. Well, I say “carry”...'twas more a matter o' draggin' an' rollin'. Too much cake, I reckon.

DE Du bist mitten im Festessen zusammengeklappt und sie haben dich hierher zurückgeschleift. ‘You collapsed in the middle of the feast and they dragged you back here.’ English says Baderon carried you back himself; German says "they" dragged you back here.
FR On m'a appelé en urgence pour que je vienne te chercher. ‘They called me in urgently to come and fetch you.’ French says Baderon was called in to fetch you; the dragging-and-cake joke is gone.
JA 慌てて俺が宿まで運んだってわけさ。 ‘So I hurriedly carried you to the inn, you see.’ Japanese has him simply carry you in a hurry; the dragging, rolling and cake joke is absent.

Anyroad, don't fret─'tis little wonder ye was exhausted after everythin' ye've been through lately.

FR T'as eu la main lourde sur la boisson, ou quoi !? ‘Did you go heavy on the drink, or what!?’ English tells you not to fret; French asks whether you drank too much.

Yer little nap seems to 'ave put some color back in yer cheeks, though, so I'll leave ye to it.

DE Das ist nicht gesund. Ruh dich mal ordentlich aus. ‘Just a little advice from me: That isn't healthy. Get some proper rest.’ English says the nap put color back in your cheeks; German warns it isn't healthy and tells you to rest.

...Bugger! I almost forgot: the Admiral wants to 'ave a word with ye.

When ye feel up to it, talk to Zanthael an' 'e'll let ye in to the command room. Oh, an' stay awake, eh? I'm told ol' Merlwyb was in the middle o' tellin' ye a story when ye started snorin' last time, an' I doubt she'd look kindly on it if ye repeated the trick!

DE Aber erst, wenn du dich erholt hast, klar? ‘But only once you've recovered, got it?’ English jokes you should stay awake this time; German says to go only once you've recovered.

Merlwyb

These pirates you encountered with the tattooed faces... They call themselves the “Serpent Reavers.” Their ranks are formed of cutthroats and madmen who have pledged themselves body and soul to the primal Leviathan.

Zanthael

Greetings, [name]. Admiral Bloefhiswyn awaits you in the command room. Shall I announce you?

Merlwyb

From what we have gathered, they sought to swell their numbers by spiriting away any soul unfortunate enough to cross their path.

Ah, [name], it is good to see you on your feet again. You are recovered?

I need not tell you the depth of the animosity between us and the Sahagin. How any seaman worth his salt could devote himself to the fishbacks' god is a question for a more temperate mind than mine.

J'nasshym

What's this? Are you struggling to tell me you have lost the fine pair of shoes I chose especially for you?

Fortunately, I have another such pair available. You may have them out of the kindness of my heart...and the loathing in my soul I bear for your usual “attire.”

FR Je vais être gentille et vous donner la pairrre que j'avais commandée pour une amie/un ami... ‘Well... I'll be nice and give you the pair I had ordered for a friend...’ English says she has another pair available; French says she gives you the pair ordered for a friend.
FR Tâchez d'y faire attention cette fois ! ‘Try to take care of them this time!’ English jokes she loathes your usual attire; French tells you to take care of them this time.
JA 今回は、を差しあげますが……次になくされたら、手間賃をいただきたいぐらいです……。 ‘This time I'll give them to you, but... if you lose them again, I'd almost like to charge you a handling fee...’ English jokes she loathes your usual attire; Japanese says next time she'd like to charge a fee.

Merlwyb

But thanks to you, our citizens may once more go about their daily lives, safe in the knowledge that they will not be dragged into the darkness by those execrable curs.

DE Dank dir können die Limser wieder ungestört über die Planken torkeln, ohne von fischigen Klauen ins Meer gezogen zu werden. ‘Thanks to you, the Limsans can once again stagger along the planks in peace, without being dragged into the sea by fishy claws.’ Torkeln is how drunks walk, so Merlwyb is joking. The English Merlwyb stays grave.
FR Enfin, grâce à toi, nous avons pu lever le voile sur leurs agissements. ‘Anyway, thanks to you, we were able to lift the veil on their doings.’ English says citizens can live safely again; French says you helped uncover their doings.
JA 君のお陰で、奴らの動きが解ったのだ。 ‘Thanks to you, we have learned of their movements.’ English says citizens can live safely again; Japanese says you revealed their movements.

Y'shtola

Such an extraordinary glow...

FR Quelle est cette lueur ? ‘What is this glimmer?’ The title echoes the big moment at the banquet, when Y'shtola asks this as the Crystal shines.

This...is one of the Crystals of Light.

Merlwyb

By the Navigator...

Y'shtola

After our encounter with the goobbue, you had a vision, did you not? Of a towering crystal?

FR L'autre fois, dans la grotte, tu m'as dit avoir vu un cristal géant, pas vrai ? ‘The other time, in the cave, you told me you had seen a giant crystal, right?’ English places it after the goobbue encounter; French says the other time, in the cave.

You bathed in Her Light...

FR Il ne peut s'agir que de la volonté du Cristal... ‘It can only be the will of the Crystal...’ English says you bathed in Her Light; French says it can only be the Crystal's will.
JA 光の意思に……。 ‘By the will of the Light...’ English says you bathed in Her Light; Japanese speaks of the Light's will.

Merlwyb

Y'shtola's conclusion is clear, and I see no reason to doubt it. You are the vessel of a higher power.

FR Il semblerait que tu possèdes le don de l'Écho. ‘It seems that you have the gift of the Echo.’ Merlwyb names your power. The English only speaks of a higher power, without a name.
JA やはり、ヤ・シュトラ殿の推察どおり、君は「超える力」を持っているようだな……。 ‘Just as Lady Y'shtola surmised, it seems you possess the "power to transcend"...’ English calls you the vessel of a higher power; Japanese says you hold the "power to transcend."

This...being from your vision was the Mothercrystal. Your description matches what little we know of Her.

DE Das, was du in deiner Vision gesehen hast, könnte der Urkristall, die Seele des Planeten Hydaelyn, gewesen sein. ‘What you saw in your vision may have been the primordial crystal, soul of the planet Hydaelyn.’ Merlwyb names what your vision showed. The English Merlwyb just calls it the Mothercrystal.

And if She has chosen you, then your deeds may yet shape the fate of nations.

FR Je sens que tu n'es pas un(e) simple aventurière/er... ‘I sense that you are no mere adventurer...’ English bases it on Her choosing you; French on Merlwyb sensing you are no mere adventurer.
JA 君は、一介の冒険者で終わらず、いずれは世界を左右する大物になるやもしれん。 ‘You may not end as a mere adventurer, but one day become a great figure who sways the world.’ English bases it on Her choosing you; Japanese simply says you won't stay a mere adventurer.

As once did the deeds of the Warriors of Light.

Know you the tale? Like you, they were not of these lands, yet they fought to protect us all 'gainst the corruption of the primals.

When the Garlean Empire began its conquest of the realm, these heroes joined the Grand Companies, and helped reforge the Eorzean Alliance.

DE Als die Eorzäische Allianz gegründet wurde, schlossen sie sich uns an, um das Garleische Kaiserreich zurückzuschlagen. ‘When the Eorzean Alliance was founded, they joined us to drive back the Garlean Empire.’ English says the heroes helped reforge the Alliance; German says they joined once it was founded.

And at the Battle of Carteneau, they took the field beneath our banners, to fight for everything we hold dear.

It was on that day, in the midst of that hell...that we lost them.

FR Mais ces valeureux héros se sont volatilisés juste après la confrontation. ‘But these valiant heroes vanished just after the confrontation.’ English says they were lost in the midst of that hell; French says they vanished just after it.

Every soul who survived that battle will never forget how it was to fight beside them. We are proud to call them our comrades.

FR Moi-même, j'en ai été témoin... ‘I myself witnessed it...’ English says they are proud to call them comrades; French has Merlwyb say she witnessed it herself.
DE Jeder, der das Blutbad überlebt hat, erinnert sich mit Stolz daran, an ihrer Seite gekämpft zu haben, doch niemand weiß, was aus ihnen geworden ist. ‘Everyone who survived the bloodbath remembers with pride fighting at their side, but no one knows what became of them.’ English says they are proud to call them comrades; German says no one knows what became of them.
JA ……確かに彼らはそこに居たのだ。 ‘They were surely there.’ English says they are proud to call them comrades; Japanese insists they were surely there.

Yet, whenever we try to shout their names, the sound dies in our throats.

JA しかし、その名を口に出そうとすると、日に焼けた書物を読み上げることができぬよう声に出すことができず……。 ‘But whenever we try to speak their names, the words won't come, just as you cannot read aloud from a book the sun has faded...’ Merlwyb says the names of the Warriors of Light have faded like old writing. So no one can speak them.
DE Und ihre Namen können wir nicht richtig fassen, als würden sie sich unseren Gedanken entziehen. ‘And we cannot properly grasp their names, as if they were slipping away from our thoughts.’ English says the sound dies in our throats; German says the names slip away from our thoughts.

And whenever we strain to see their faces with our mind's eye, naught but their shadows appear to us, set against a blinding light.

FR Ils m'apparaissent scintillants, immaculés, comme si une lumière éblouissante m'empêchait de les distinguer. ‘They appear to me sparkling, immaculate, as if a dazzling light kept me from making them out.’ English says only their shadows appear; French says they appear sparkling and immaculate.

Ask any true Eorzean who knew them, and the story will be the same. It is for this reason that we call them “the Warriors of Light.”

When I look upon you, I cannot help but be reminded of them.

Keep that Crystal safe.

FR Le Cristal-mère a choisi de te montrer la voie. ‘The Mothercrystal has chosen to show you the way.’ English tells you to keep the Crystal safe; French says the Mothercrystal chose to show you the way.

In time, I believe the Mothercrystal will make clear Her reasons for bestowing it upon you.

FR J'ignore la raison, mais je doute qu'Hydaelyn t'ait confié ce cristal par hasard. ‘I don't know the reason, but I doubt Hydaelyn entrusted this crystal to you by chance.’ French says it surely wasn't chance; English expects the Mothercrystal to reveal her reasons in time.

Heed well Her words, adventurer. For it is Hydaelyn Herself who speaks.

JA 君は星の声……ハイデリンの意思に、直接導かれたのだから。 ‘For you were guided directly by the voice of the Star... by the will of Hydaelyn.’ Merlwyb says this voice guided you. 星 (hoshi) means both 'star' and 'planet', so Hydaelyn's will is the world's own voice.
FR Peut-être tiens-tu notre salut entre tes mains... ‘Perhaps you hold our salvation in your hands...’ English says Hydaelyn Herself speaks; French says perhaps you hold their salvation in your hands.

Speak with Merlwyb in the command room

Zanthael

Still not recovered from your...er...sudden illness? I find a brisk walk along the waterfront always helps to blow away the cobwebs. The smell down there could wake the dead...

FR À ta place, je retournerais à L'Artimon et je piquerais un bon somme. ‘If I were you, I'd go back to L'Artimon and take a good nap.’ English recommends a brisk waterfront walk; French recommends going back to L'Artimon for a good nap.
FR T'inquiète pas pour l'Amirale, je lui dirai que t'as eu un empêchement de dernière minute ! ‘Don't worry about the Admiral, I'll tell her something came up at the last minute!’ English jokes the waterfront smell could wake the dead; French offers to excuse you to the Admiral.
JA ならば、無理をせずに宿屋に戻るがいい。 ‘Then don't push yourself, and go back to the inn.’ English recommends a brisk waterfront walk; Japanese tells you to go back to the inn.

Merlwyb

Then let us waste no time. I have a task that needs doing─one I would entrust to no other.

FR J'espère que tu as du temps devant toi, car ça risque d'être un peu long. ‘I hope you have some time ahead of you, because this may take a while.’ English says let us waste no time; French hopes you have time, as it may take a while.