68
Men of the Blue Tattoos
Main story quest #18, level 14. 68th of 102 in play order.
Quest giver: Ghimthota, Lower La Noscea (X 24.8, Y 35.1).
Steps
- Deliver the
arcane epistle to Baderon
in Limsa Lominsa.
Journal
- Ghimthota wishes to entrust you with an important task.
- Among the possessions of Ahtzapfyn
, the pirate behind the plot to sabotage the Victory, a missive written in some manner of code has been discovered. Unable to find anyone capable of deciphering the curious lettering, Ghimthota wishes to enlist the help of Baderon and his colorful circle of acquaintance. Deliver the missive to the proprietor of the Drowning Wench. - After reading the contents of the missive, a visibly worried Baderon bids you prepare for the worst. Summon up your courage, and speak with him once more.
Hidden
Spoiler about later in the story
Foreshadowing Ghimthota stops to wonder about Baderon's handy connections. Baderon reads the code himself. He has a past, and part of it is told in Feint and Strike (step 19).
Characters 3
Baderon is at the Drowning Wench, where news of your deeds at the Drydocks has already reached him.
What you know from earlier quests 10
- #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
.
Ahtbyrm is not seen in this quest; his father, the pirate Ahtzapfyn
, was behind the plot against the Victory.What you know from earlier quests 7
- #57 On to the Drydocks: Ahtbyrm is angry at another delay, then says sorry to you, the messenger. He leads work on the Victory, the first new warship since the Calamity, the disaster that sank most of their ships. To him it is a symbol of Limsa Lominsa's rebirth.
- #58 Without a Doubt: Fyrilsmyd
was never late in twelve months. Ahtbyrm doubts Haldbroda
at Candlekeep Quay, who claims he never saw Fyrilsmyd. Ahtbyrm cannot leave his post, so he sends you to threaten Haldbroda with a move to lonely Turtleback Island. - #59 Failure to Lunch: Ahtbyrm does not speak here. Wafufu
mentions him as the hungry foreman whose belly keeps grumbling and who gives her "the evil eye". She fears he might eat her if the 
lunches stay lost. - #61 Nailed It: Ahtbyrm does not speak here. Hezzkhezl
mentions him as the clever foreman who thought of heating rivets with 
sprite cores, and says that is likely why he became chief so fast. Ahtbyrm's name means "Eight Tree" in old Roegadyn. - #62 Righting the Shipwright: Ahtbyrm is relieved that Fyrilsmyd and the supplies are safe, and says it was foolish to think he would blame him. The sea was calm that day, so he suspects the waves were made by Sahagin magic, not a natural storm.
- #63 Do Angry Pirates Dream: Ahtbyrm admits he doubted you at first. He still does not like you, but he trusts you, and recommends you to Ghimthota. It sickens him that some would betray Limsa Lominsa for a few coins after all it has suffered.
- #67 Victory in Peril: The pirate leader Ahtzapfyn is Ahtbyrm's father. Ahtbyrm gave up pirate life to become a shipwright, and his father attacks the Victory to "knock some sense" into him. Ahtbyrm says the pirates' glory days are over. Shaken, he thanks you and sends Ghimthota his apologies.
Ghimthota wants someone to read a coded letter found among the things of Ahtzapfyn
, the pirate behind the plot against the Victory.What you know from earlier quests 3
- #63 Do Angry Pirates Dream: Ghimthota has had her men watch you since you arrived, as with all newcomers, and found nothing wrong. She sends you to spy on the pirates. Hearing they want "me boy back", she wonders if the Victory was ever their target, and orders more patrols.
- #66 Say It with Flowers: Ghimthota barely remembers Rostnzeh
, and only because lilybells make her sneeze. Flattered, she says no: her duty comes first until the Victory's christening, its naming ceremony. Yet she does not rule out a visit after that. Her family name is Sthalmoenwyn. - #67 Victory in Peril: Ghimthota sends you to fight the pirates while she tends a wounded soldier. She calls the Victory the hope of Limsa Lominsa. She admits security must improve, hopes finishing the ship can heal Ahtbyrm, mentions a strange object they found, and asks another favor.
What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest
- Baderon: 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.
- Ahtbyrm: Baderon says Ahtbyrm told him the whole tale and was still reeling from his old man's part in the business.
- Ghimthota: The letter is in a strange script no one around her can read, and the Maelstrom wants to know its secrets. Ghimthota has heard the Yellowjackets turn to Baderon's "connections," so she trusts you to hand it to Baderon alone.
What the Japanese, French and German versions say 4
Japanese
EN 'Ahoy there, [name]! I've been 'earin' about your deeds at the Drydocks!' · 'Ye know, yer like one o' me regulars now, [name].'
JA 「よう、<last name>」, 'Hey, <last name>' · 「[name]。……いや、もう余所余所しいのは止めよう。おまえさんは俺たちの仲間だ。」, meaning '[name]. ...No, let's drop the formality — you're one of us.'
Until now Baderon used your family name. Now he drops the distance and uses your first name. The English uses your first name from the start.
French
EN 'Since last we spoke, a curious missive has been discovered amongst the personal effects of Ahtzapfyn, the pirate behind the plot to sabotage the Victory.'
FR «Avant de remettre le cadavre d'Ahtzapfyn aux casaques jaunes, mes hommes ont procédé à une fouille minutieuse de ses effets.», 'Before handing Ahtzapfyn's corpse to the Yellowjackets, my men carefully searched his belongings.'
Ghimthota's men had the body, so Ahtbyrm's father is dead. The English never says so.
EN 'Poor sod was still reelin' at 'is old man's part in the business, but at least ye kept the Victory from bein' sunk afore she'd sailed.'
FR «Le bougre va avoir du mal à s'en remettre. Pour les gens de la rue, c'est devenu le fils du terroriste qui a essayé de faire sauter le Victoire.», 'The poor devil will have a hard time getting over it. To people in the street, he has become the son of the terrorist who tried to blow up the Victoire.'
Ahtbyrm now carries his father's crime. The English Baderon only pities him.
German
EN 'Ye've really made a name fer yerself 'ere in Limsa, lass/lad. Folk know that when they need summat doin'─'
DE „Wenn du nicht wärst, wäre Limsa wohl noch abgewrackter als es ohnehin schon ist, und ...“, 'If it weren't for you, Limsa would probably be even more of a wreck than it already is, and ...'
Abgewrackt comes from abwracken, 'to break up an old ship for scrap'. Baderon jokes about the state of Limsa. The English Baderon praises you instead.
Dialogue 17 lines
Accepting the quest
Ghimthota
[name]. In light of your role in recent events, there are few others to whom I would entrust this task.
Since last we spoke, a curious missive has been discovered amongst the personal effects of Ahtzapfyn, the pirate behind the plot to sabotage the Victory.
- FR Avant de remettre le cadavre d'Ahtzapfyn aux casaques jaunes, mes hommes ont procédé à une fouille minutieuse de ses effets. ‘Before handing Ahtzapfyn's corpse to the Yellowjackets, my men carefully searched his belongings.’ Ghimthota's men had the body, so Ahtbyrm's father is dead. The English never says so.
This missive was penned in the most unusual script─a script we believe to be some manner of code.
Needless to say, anything which a proven enemy of Limsa Lominsa deems worthy of enciphering is like to be of great interest to the Maelstrom. Unfortunately, none among us can make any sense of the message.
In cases such as this, I am told the Yellowjackets are wont to turn to Baderon and his convenient...connections.
- FR Il paraît que le gérant du Dauphin noyé a des relations influentes chez les pirates. ‘They say the manager of the Drowned Dolphin has influential connections among the pirates.’ French calls the tavern the Drowned Dolphin (English: Drowning Wench) and says outright that Baderon's contacts are pirates.
Thus I would have you deliver this missive to the proprietor of the Drowning Wench. Into his hand, and no other, do you understand?
Baderon
Ahoy there, [name]! I've been 'earin' about your deeds at the Drydocks!
Deliver the arcane epistle to Baderon in Limsa Lominsa
Baderon
Ahtbyrm laid out the entire tale fer me. Poor sod was still reelin' at 'is old man's part in the business, but at least ye kept the Victory from bein' sunk afore she'd sailed.
- FR Le bougre va avoir du mal à s'en remettre. Pour les gens de la rue, c'est devenu le fils du terroriste qui a essayé de faire sauter le Victoire. ‘The poor devil will have a hard time getting over it. To people in the street, he has become the son of the terrorist who tried to blow up the Victoire.’ Ahtbyrm now carries his father's crime. The English Baderon only pities him.
- FR Pour les gens de la rue, c'est devenu le fils du terroriste qui a essayé de faire sauter le Victoire. ‘To the people in the street, he has become the son of the terrorist who tried to blow up the Victory.’ English credits you with keeping the Victory from being sunk; French says people now see Ahtbyrm as the terrorist's son.
An' fer that, I owe ye me thanks!
- FR Il incarne l'espoir et la fierté du peuple de la Noscea. ‘It embodies the hope and pride of the people of La Noscea.’ French has Baderon explain what the ship means to Limsans; English has him simply say thanks.
Ye've really made a name fer yerself 'ere in Limsa, lass/lad. Folk know that when they need summat doin'─
- DE Wenn du nicht wärst, wäre Limsa wohl noch abgewrackter als es ohnehin schon ist, und ... ‘If it weren't for you, Limsa would probably be even more of a wreck than it already is, and ...’ Abgewrackt comes from abwracken, 'to break up an old ship for scrap'. Baderon jokes about the state of Limsa. The English Baderon praises you instead.
- FR Au nom de tous les habitants de Limsa Lominsa, je te remercie. ‘On behalf of all the inhabitants of Limsa Lominsa, I thank you.’ English trails off on «when they need summat doin'»; French formally thanks you on behalf of Limsa Lominsa's people.
- JA おまえさんも、すっかり、リムサ・ロミンサに慣れたようだな。 ‘You too seem to have gotten completely used to Limsa Lominsa.’ English says you've made a name for yourself in Limsa; Japanese says you've grown fully used to Limsa Lominsa.
- FR En empêchant Ahtzapfyn et sa bande de le détruire, tu as non seulement protégé les intérêts de la cité, mais tu as aussi prouvé ton attachement à notre nation. ‘By stopping Ahtzapfyn and his gang from destroying it, you not only protected the city's interests, but you also proved your attachment to our nation.’ French gives a solemn tribute to the player's loyalty; English casually notes the player's growing reputation.
Eh? You need summat doin'? An' what might that be?
...Ye want someone to read a message writ in funny letters fer ye? An' Ghimthota thought I might know a man as could? Well, let's see it, then!
Aye...
...I reckon I might know a canny bugger what can read stuff like this. Ugly sod by the name o' Baderon.
- DE Der Typ trägt 'nen Bart und den schönen Namen Baderon. ‘The guy wears a beard and the lovely name Baderon.’ English jokes he is an ugly sod named Baderon; German says the guy wears a beard and the lovely name Baderon.
Ye know, yer like one o' me regulars now, [name].
- FR [name], je sais que tu viens tout juste d'accomplir une mission périlleuse, mais si j'en crois ce qui est écrit sur cette note, le pire reste à venir. ‘[name], I know you've only just completed a perilous mission, but if I believe what's written in this note, the worst is yet to come.’ English says you're like one of his regulars now; French warns that, going by the note, the worst is yet to come.
Ye've never let me down yet, an', Navigator 'elp me, I reckon I can trust ye.
- FR Je vais avoir besoin d'un peu de temps pour relire le message. ‘I'm going to need a little time to reread the message.’ English says he trusts you since you've never let him down; French says he needs time to reread the message.
- FR Profites-en pour faire du tri dans ton inventaire ou réparer tes équipements. ‘Use the time to sort out your inventory or repair your gear.’ French has Baderon ask for time to reread and suggest tidying inventory; English has him declare his trust.
Ghimthota was right to want this message deciphered... We've got us some trouble brewin', 'ere, an' no mistake. Get ready fer action, an' I'll explain.