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Meffrid146

He Ain't Heavy

Main story quest #71, level 27. 146th of 173 in play order.

Quest giver: Meffrid, South Shroud (X 25.6, Y 20.7).

Next: Come Highly Recommended ›

Steps

  1. Speak with Albreda.
  2. Speak with Meffrid.
  3. Track down Gallien.
  4. Speak with Gallien.
  5. Speak with Meffrid.
Journal
  1. Meffrid needs your help to find a missing comrade.
  2. Meffrid is distraught to discover that Gallien has disappeared from Quarrymill, and entreats your help in tracking down his wounded comrade. Start by asking Albreda if she knows anything.
  3. In a note that Gallien left to Albreda, you have learned that the wounded Ala Mhigan decided to leave Quarrymill of his own volition, in an attempt to not burden his fellows any longer. Take word of this to Meffrid.
  4. Meffrid is furious to learn that Gallien has taken off alone. He asks for your help to find his comrade before something terrible befalls him.
  5. You have successfully tracked down Gallien, fending off the opportunistic goblin that sought to end him. Speak with Gallien to ascertain his safety.
  6. Gallien and Meffrid share a touching moment, and the two of them leave to rejoin their brothers. Make your own way back to Quarrymill, where Meffrid awaits.
  7. The spirit of unity is well and truly alive in the Ala Mhigan people. The home they have lost, they carry constantly within their hearts.
Hidden
Title reference The title comes from the song 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', a 1969 hit for The Hollies. It fits Gallien, who leaves so he is not a burden, and Meffrid, who calls his men brothers.
Characters 3

  • Albreda

    Albreda is at Quarrymill, where Meffrid hopes she saw something of the missing Gallien.

    What you know from earlier quests 2
    • #143 Meeting with the Resistance: Albreda first refuses to help. Hearing Haribehrt's name makes her furious, since he left his comrades and his woman. Then she calms, calls him a good man who did what he felt was right, and points you to Meffrid.
    • #144 Killing Him Softly: Albreda wants to help her countrymen, but she dares not defy the elementals, the guardians of the forest. She fears they could banish everyone because of her. She sends you to Charline, the Hearer, but does not expect much.

  • Meffrid

    Meffrid is staying at Quarrymill while his wounded comrade Gallien recovers.

    What you know from earlier quests 3
    • #143 Meeting with the Resistance: Albreda points Meffrid out to you at Quarrymill and names him as a captain of the Resistance. She hopes he can give you what you need.
    • #144 Killing Him Softly: Meffrid's man Gallien has a festering wound and a fever. Meffrid begged the villagers on his knees, but they refused to help. Too angry to plead well, he asks you to try through Albreda. The Hearer's refusal enrages him, and he curses the elementals.
    • #145 Helping Horn: Meffrid wants to leave Quarrymill, but some of his men cannot travel. He asks you for four long antelope horns, an Ala Mhigan cure for poison. He thanks Rhalgr for you and sends you to Buscarron's tavern to prepare them.

  • Gallien

    Gallien is a wounded soldier in Meffrid's group, recovering at Quarrymill.

    What you know from earlier quests 2
    • #144 Killing Him Softly: A Resistance soldier reports that Gallien's wound has festered and he is burning with fever. He may not have much time left, and the villagers refuse to help him.
    • #145 Helping Horn: With the ointment from Buscarron, Gallien gets treatment and now has a much better chance to survive.
What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest
  • Albreda watched Gallien leave and kept his sealed letter, as he asked. It says he left so as not to be a burden. She wishes she had stopped him and says going into the wood so weak is suicide.
  • Meffrid is frantic when Gallien goes missing and calls him a big sentimental fool. Finding him, Meffrid says Ala Mhigans never forsake one another and recalls their oath to retake their homeland together. He thanks you for saving Gallien.
  • Gallien leaves Quarrymill alone so he is no longer a burden to his brothers. You save him from a goblin. He is surprised Meffrid came, and agrees when told they return home together or not at all. He is expected to recover fully.
Dialogue 19 lines

Accepting the quest

Meffrid

A-Adventurer! Gallien has gone missing! He's nowhere to be found!

He shouldn't be walking about, not with those wounds! If he doesn't get the proper medicine and rest, his condition's like to deteriorate to where it was before...or worse.

We need you to help us find him, and quickly. Start by asking Albreda─might be as the woman's seen something!

Speak with Albreda.

Albreda

Ah, finally. It's about time you came asking about Gallien. I watched him leave Quarrymill some time ago, and he left me this sealed letter before he went off. Made me swear not to open it until someone came asking...

  • FR Je n'ai rien vu de particulier, mais peut-être que je peux vous aider. ‘I didn't see anything in particular, but maybe I can help you.’ English says Albreda watched Gallien leave Quarrymill; French says she saw nothing in particular.

“My brothers, I cannot bear to be a burden any longer. That is why I must leave you all. Do not worry for me─just find your way safely to Little Ala Mhigo.”

  • FR “Capitaine Meffrid, je ne supporte plus d'être un fardeau pour vous. ‘"Captain Meffrid, I can no longer bear being a burden to you."’ English letter is addressed to "My brothers"; French letter is addressed to Captain Meffrid.
  • DE „Hauptmann Meffrid, ich war der Truppe schon viel zu lange eine Last. ‘"Captain Meffrid, I have been a burden to the troop for far too long."’ English letter is addressed to "My brothers"; German letter is addressed to Captain Meffrid.

Blast it. Would that I'd known what he was thinking. I'd have stopped this folly myself.

  • FR (soupire) Si j'avais su qu'il projetait de s'en aller, je n'aurais pas attendu avant d'ouvrir sa lettre... ‘If I had known he was planning to leave, I wouldn't have waited before opening his letter...’ English says she would have stopped his folly herself; French says she would have opened his letter sooner.

The love Gallien bears for his brothers is so strong, he's willing to sacrifice himself for them. Make no mistake, entering the wood in his weakened state is suicide.

Speak with Meffrid.

Meffrid

Out in the wilds...alone!? That fool! That great big sentimental fool!

My men and I will scour the wood for Gallien! Please help us find him before something terrible happens!

Track down Gallien.

Gallien

W-Watch out! A goblin!

Dammy: Find Gallien, defeat mob.

Meffrid

Gallien!

Speak with Gallien.

Gallien

C-Captain? But...why? You should all be on your way...

Speak with Meffrid.

Meffrid

Who do you take us for!? We're Ala Mhigans, and Ala Mhigans never forsake one another, hardships be damned!

  • FR Je te porterai sur mon dos jusque dans le Thanalan méridional s'il le faut ! ‘I'll carry you on my back all the way to Southern Thanalan if I have to!’ English says "hardships be damned"; French promises to carry him on his back to Southern Thanalan.

Remember the oath we swore, godsdammit─the oath to reclaim our homeland! We'll set foot on Ala Mhigan soil again─together─or not at all! Do you understand me!?

  • DE Willst du lieber als Ameisenfutter in diesem Wald enden oder auf dem Schlachtfeld noch ein paar dreckige Garlear mit in den Tod reißen? ‘So I ask you, Galien: would you rather end up as ant food in this forest or drag a few filthy Garleans to their deaths on the battlefield?’ English vows they return to Ala Mhigan soil together; German asks if he'd rather be ant food or kill Garleans in battle.

Gallien

Yes, sir...

  • DE A-Aber Hauptmann ... ‘B-But, Captain...’ English has Gallien agree with "Yes, sir"; German has him start to object.

Meffrid

Good. Let us return to our brothers. Oh, and don't even think that you'll get off lightly. As soon as you're healed, I'll give you such a thorough thrashing, you'll wish we didn't find you!

  • DE Und sobald du wieder auf den Beinen bist, polierst du zur Strafe die komplette Truppenausrüstung, ist das klar? ‘And as soon as you're back on your feet, you'll polish the entire troop's equipment as punishment, is that clear?’ English threatens a thorough thrashing; German orders him to polish all the troop's equipment as punishment.

I can't thank you enough for saving Gallien. I will see you back at Quarrymill.

Gallien's expected to make a full recovery. We'll linger here till he's strong enough to take to the road again. As much as I mislike this place, beggars can't be choosers.

  • FR Les blessures de Gallien sont plus sévères que je ne le pensais. ‘Gallien's wounds are more severe than I thought.’ English says Gallien will make a full recovery; French says his wounds are worse than expected.
  • DE Galiens Verletzungen sind schwerer als gedacht. ‘Galien's injuries are more serious than expected.’ English says Gallien will make a full recovery; German says his injuries are worse than expected.