96
Call of the Desert
Main story quest #27, level 16. 96th of 102 in play order.
Quest giver: Mother Miounne, New Gridania (X 11.7, Y 13.5).
Steps
- Speak with Momodi
at the Quicksand in Ul'dah.
Journal
- Miounne has information on a new task.
- According to Miounne, the Adventurers' Guild in Ul'dah is recruiting people for an as-yet-undisclosed task. You can learn more by speaking to Momodi, the proprietress of the Quicksand.
- You have expressed your interest in the task to Momodi. Let her know when you are ready to hear the details.
Hidden
Lore Look at Momodi's hairpin. The official lore book says it reminds her of a young man. She only meant to encourage him, but she pushed him so hard that his future changed forever.
hairpin. The official lore book says it reminds her of a young man. She only meant to encourage him, but she pushed him so hard that his future changed forever.Easter egg The three tavern mentors share the same joke. Baderon
(step 23), Miounne (step 25) and now Momodi greet you as a random customer. Then they stop in the middle of a sentence.
(step 23), Miounne (step 25) and now Momodi greet you as a random customer. Then they stop in the middle of a sentence.Characters 3
Miounne has a new task for you, from the Adventurers' Guild in Ul'dah.
What you know from earlier quests 2
- #94 Call of the Forest: She first greets you as a diner, then is delighted to learn you are the adventurer Baderon sent. She offers to brief you when you are ready. She cries "The Matron be praised!" A chart note says the Matron is Nophica, Gridania's guardian goddess.
- #95 Fire in the Gloom: She describes the Tam–Tara Deepcroft, a Gelmorran settlement where Gridanians bury their dead. Afterward, she passes on Lewin's
thanks. She says adventurer deaths are rising as untrained people take on too much, as one broken party shows. She then offers a job from Ul'dah.
- #94 Call of the Forest: She first greets you as a diner, then is delighted to learn you are the adventurer Baderon
Momodi runs the Quicksand in Ul'dah. She is busy when you walk in.
What you know from earlier quests 20
- #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. - #71 A Mizzenmast Repast: 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. - #73 The Lominsan Envoy: Baderon is stunned and proud that you are the Admiral's personal envoy. He describes the grim forest folk of Gridania and the crafty merchants of Ul'dah, warns of intrigue, beastmen and their primals, and wishes you good fortune as you board the airship.
- #79 Call of the Sea: Baderon greets you loudly by name, pleased the adventurer is you. He confirms the job but warns it is dangerous and not for the faint of heart. If you still want it, he offers to explain the details.
- #92 Rising to the Challenge: I'tolwann
mentions him: the last time she gave a customer a free drink, Baderon docked her wages. - #93 It's Probably Pirates: He says people are jumpy since the Sahagin's pirate allies paid a visit. He teases Commodore Reyner. When you report the Sahagin hideout, he is shocked, thanks you on behalf of Limsa, and offers a new job from the sister guild in Gridania.
- #94 Call of the Forest: He admits he knows nothing more about the task, but trusts you after the chaos in Sastasha. He sends you to Mother Miounne, his counterpart in Gridania. Miounne calls him a "foul-mouthed rogue."
- #95 Fire in the Gloom: Miounne says Baderon praised you so highly that she had little doubt about your skills.
What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest
- Mother Miounne: She sends you to Momodi, who runs the Quicksand in Ul'dah, and calls her the sultanate's version of herself. She expects Momodi to send you into danger, but trusts you to come through unhurt.
- Momodi: She first takes you for a customer, then knows you. Miounne called you "the adventurer of the moment," big praise from her. A chart note says her hairpin recalls a young man whose future she changed by pushing him too hard.
What the Japanese and German versions say 2
Japanese
EN Call of the Desert
JA 「砂都で待つ仕事」, 'The Job Awaiting in the Sand Capital'
砂都, 'Sand Capital', is Ul'dah's nickname. The title completes a set with Limsa's 海都, 'Sea Capital', and Gridania's 森都, 'Forest Capital'.
German
Idiom
EN 'Doubtless you're eager to get started, so let's talk business, shall we?'
DE „Du willst vermutlich wissen, wo uns der Schuh drückt, oder?“, 'You probably want to know what's troubling us, right?'
Momodi uses an idiom for what is troubling someone. The English just talks business.
Dialogue 8 lines
Accepting the quest
Miounne
So, you're not averse to taking a little trip? Wonderful!
As I mentioned earlier, the request comes to us from the Adventurers' Guild in Ul'dah. Once you arrive, seek out Momodi, the proprietress of the Quicksand. Think of her as the sultanate's version of myself.
Chances are she'll send you into the midst of danger, but I have every confidence that you will pull through unscathed. Now, off you go, [name], and good luck!
Speak with Momodi at the Quicksand in Ul'dah.
Momodi
Welcome to the Quicksand, friend. I'm a tad busy right now, if you wouldn't mind showin' yourself to─
Oh, it's you, [name]! And there I was, spoutin' the same tired line!
- FR Ça me fait plaisir de vous voir ! ‘It's a pleasure to see you!’ English jokes about repeating her stock greeting; French just says it is a pleasure to see you.
- JA よく来てくれたわね！ ‘Good of you to come!’ English jokes about repeating her stock greeting; Japanese just says it is good of you to come.
Judgin' by your determined expression, I take it you ain't here for ale. Are you called [name], by any chance?
Miounne sent word that you'd be reportin' for duty. She also made a point of callin' you the adventurer of the moment. That ain't no small praise, comin' from her.
But you didn't come all the way here to listen to my prattle. Doubtless you're eager to get started, so let's talk business, shall we?
- DE Du willst vermutlich wissen, wo uns der Schuh drückt, oder? ‘You probably want to know what's troubling us, right?’ Momodi uses an idiom for what is troubling someone. The English just talks business.