Sylph-management

Main story quest #42, level 20. 114th of 173 in play order.

Quest giver: Minfilia, The Waking Sands (X 6.9, Y 6.1).

Next: We Come in Peace ›

Steps

Speak with Vorsaile Heuloix at the Adders' Nest.

Journal

Minfilia needs you to investigate the sylphs.
Minfilia would have you ascertain the sylph tribe's intentions, aided by the power of the Echo. Before making contact with the diminutive beastmen, report to Commander Vorsaile Heuloix at the Adders' Nest in Gridania.
You arrive at the Adders' Nest to find the commander thinking out loud. Apprise him as to the purpose of your visit.

Hidden

Easter egg Thancred

jokes about Gridania's forest with two sayings: he would be 'a veritable babe in the woods', while Yda

and Papalymo

can 'see the forest for the trees'.

Title reference The title is a pun. 'Sylph' sounds a lot like 'self', so 'Sylph-management' plays on the word 'self-management'. Here the thing to manage is the sylphs.

Characters 6

Yda
Yda is with the Scions as Minfilia gathers everyone for a new task.
What you know from earlier quests 3
- #97 Into a Copper Hell: Yda cries "Case closed!" when the bully backs off, and teases that you were kind of dragged into the dodo-meat business. Yda names their order: the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, "defenders of justice." Only Momodi may know.
- #99 The Scions of the Seventh Dawn: In one version of this scene, you come at the request of Yda and Papalymo, and Tataru is startled to hear their names.
- #100 A Wild Rose by Any Other Name: Yda is the masked woman. Minfilia says she is an Archon, one of the Sharlayan scholars who stayed to protect Eorzea. She watches over the Twelveswood with Papalymo. She greets you cheerfully and was sure you'd agree.
Papalymo
Papalymo is with the Scions as Minfilia gathers everyone for a new task.
What you know from earlier quests 3
- #97 Into a Copper Hell: Papalymo has watched you since you left Gridania: you served well as envoy and helped people without pay. Papalymo offers to explain your visions, mentions a friend with the same gift, and asks you to join their cause. Momodi knows where to find them.
- #99 The Scions of the Seventh Dawn: In one version of this scene, you come at the request of Yda and Papalymo, and Tataru is startled to hear their names.
- #100 A Wild Rose by Any Other Name: Papalymo is an Archon, one of the Sharlayan scholars who stayed to protect Eorzea. He watches over the Twelveswood with Yda. He was confident you would help, and he calls Thancred their man in Ul'dah.
Thancred
Thancred is with the Scions as Minfilia gathers everyone for a new task.
What you know from earlier quests 8
- #97 Into a Copper Hell: Thancred has watched you since you left Ul'dah and praises your work as envoy and your selflessness, though the rescue was a happy accident. Thancred asks about your visions, knows a woman with the same talent, and invites you to join the Scions.
- #99 The Scions of the Seventh Dawn: In one version of this scene, you come at Thancred's request, and Tataru is startled to hear the name.
- #100 A Wild Rose by Any Other Name: Thancred is an Archon, a charming bard, and the Scions' man in Ul'dah. He explains the caravan robbery and the missing people, which point to the Amalj'aa, worshipers of the primal Ifrit. He sends you to Isembard at Camp Drybone.
- #103 A Proper Burial: Thancred meets Isembard at Camp Drybone. He spoke with Ungust many times. He suspects Sister Ourcen, since people confess to her behind closed doors. Ourcen heard he took offense at the lichkeeper Marques, and he thinks he has seen that face before.
- #104 For the Children: Isembard says Ourcen's risky search for an orphan's keepsake is not the kind of evil deed Thancred would have them believe.
- #105 Amalj'aa Wrong Places: Thancred admits his suspicion of Ourcen was misplaced. While following her, he tracked a band of Amalj'aa to their camp, but he asks you to search inside. He finds the leaflet badly written and thinks the culprit poses as a priest.
- #106 Dressed to Deceive: Thancred plans for you both to pose as poor vagrants. At the pond north of Sandgate he unmasks the false priest as Ungust. He scorns Ungust for trading lives for coin, questions him, and stays to learn more while you report to Minfilia.
- #108 Lord of the Inferno: Thancred arrives late, after fighting Amalj'aa zealots, and blames himself for leaving you alone. He praises your win over Ifrit. Then he tells you the truth: the tempered captives must be put to death. Alone, he swears to be stronger.
Minfilia
Minfilia has gathered the Scions and has a favor to ask of you.
What you know from earlier quests 8
- #99 The Scions of the Seventh Dawn: She welcomes you home after five years, as Louisoix said. The Scions protect Eorzea from the primals, godlike beings. Your power, the Echo, shows people's pasts and lets you understand any speech. She has it too, asks your help, and shares the password "wild rose."
- #100 A Wild Rose by Any Other Name: Minfilia welcomes you to the Scions and introduces its leaders. She thinks people forget you because of the power Louisoix used to save your life. She asks you to lead an investigation into crimes in Ul'dah that may involve a primal, a godlike being.
- #101 Unsolved Mystery: Isembard says Minfilia names the Amalj'aa as the culprits behind the disappearances, so he advises you to look into them first.
- #106 Dressed to Deceive: Thancred sends you to report to Minfilia. She praises your work and says only the Amalj'aa know where the abducted were taken. She fears blood must be spilled before this is over.
- #107 Life, Materia and Everything: Minfilia lends you a dagger to take to Mutamix. She admires how much one piece of materia improves it, and urges you to use materia, since good gear can decide victory or defeat. She then turns to your next mission.
- #108 Lord of the Inferno: Minfilia is relieved to see you safe. With Thancred, she explains that primals feed on crystals and worship. She says those with the Echo, like you, cannot be tempered, or forced to serve a primal. She leaves out the captives' fate.
- #111 A Hero in the Making: Minfilia warns that fame has a price. Officers from all three Grand Companies (city armies) come to recruit you. She urges you to join one for safety among friends, gives you a linkpearl to keep in touch, and hopes you still aid the Scions.
- #113 Till Sea Swallows All: Minfilia calls you by linkpearl to congratulate you on joining the Maelstrom. She reminds you that you are still a Scion and asks you back to the Waking Sands. There she says Biggs and Wedge are now under the Scions' protection.
Urianger
Urianger is with Minfilia and the other Scions.
What you know from earlier quests 1
- #100 A Wild Rose by Any Other Name: Urianger greets you with the words of a dear friend: dawn may banish even the darkest night. He is glad to meet you. He tells Minfilia that documents from the Students of Baldesion have arrived. You can ask him whenever you have questions.
Vorsaile Heuloix
Vorsaile Heuloix is a commander at the Adders' Nest in Gridania. You must report to him before you meet the sylphs.

What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest

Yda describes the sylphs as floating gysahl greens that worship Ramuh. She says Gridania does not even know what to worry about. She eagerly agrees to go to Gridania.
Papalymo explains that the sylphs worship the primal Ramuh but seem unable to summon it now. He warns the threat may not be over, and notes that Gridania is busy fighting Garuda. He agrees to go, reminding Yda it is "Us, Yda. Us!"
Thancred says he would be of little use in Gridania, calling himself a babe in the woods. He suggests that Yda and Papalymo go instead.
Minfilia explains a study of the sylphs, a beast tribe of the Twelveswood, done for the Order of the Twin Adder. She wants a peaceful approach. She asks you to use the Echo, the only sure way to show your intentions.
Urianger tells Minfilia that the documents from the Students of Baldesion have just arrived. He calls her "my lady".
Vorsaile Heuloix: You find Vorsaile thinking out loud. He knows too little about the sylphs and wants help from the Scions. He apologizes for his habit of thinking aloud and asks what brings you.

Dialogue 26 lines

Accepting the quest

Minfilia

Now, having set aside the formalities...

DE Nun, da wir unsere neuen Mitstreiter begrüßt haben ... ‘Now, since we have welcomed our new comrades...’ English says the formalities are set aside; German says the new comrades have now been welcomed.
JA さて、お仲間が増えたところで……。 ‘Well then, now that our companions have grown in number...’ English says the formalities are set aside; Japanese says their group of companions has just grown.

...We have a favor to ask of you.

Urianger. Have the documents arrived from the Students of Baldesion?

Urianger

Aye, my lady, they arrived but recently.

Minfilia

We have conducted a study at the behest of the Order of the Twin Adder.

Papalymo, Yda─a synopsis, if you would.

Papalymo

Our task was to survey the behavior of the sylphs, a beast tribe indigenous to the Twelveswood.

Yda

Oh, how to describe them... They look like...gysahl greens? Floating ones! That worship the primal Ramuh.

Papalymo

Ahem. Though technically a “beast tribe,” sylphs are blessed with a comparatively personable demeanor, conducive to peaceful communication.

Minfilia

Offering us an invaluable opportunity to learn what the beast tribes know of the primals.

Papalymo

While Ramuh's existence is well documented, the sylphs do not─or perhaps, can not─summon the primal any longer, insofar as can be ascertained. Until such time as we know...

FR L'existence de Ramuh est avérée depuis très longtemps, mais il n'a encore jamais été aperçu en Éorzéa. ‘Ramuh's existence has been established for a very long time, but he has never yet been seen in Eorzea.’ English says the sylphs no longer summon Ramuh; French says Ramuh has never been seen in Eorzea.

...It would be unwise to assume that the threat posed by the primal has passed.

FR Est-il terrifiant au point que ces créatures n'aient jamais osé l'invoquer ? ‘Is he so terrifying that these creatures have never dared to summon him?’ English warns the primal's threat may not have passed; French wonders if Ramuh is so terrifying the sylphs never dared summon him.

Yda

Which leaves Gridania with the added worry of not knowing what they should be worrying about!

DE Die Gridanier zerbrechen sich nun den Kopf darüber, ob sie gegen Ramuh vorgehen müssen. ‘The Gridanians are now racking their brains over whether they must take action against Ramuh.’ English jokes that Gridania worries without knowing what to worry about; German says Gridanians wonder whether to act against Ramuh.
JA グリダニアにしてみれば、この蛮神「ラムウ」に、どう対処するのか悩みどころだろーね。 ‘For Gridania, I bet how to deal with this primal Ramuh is a real dilemma.’ English jokes that Gridania worries without knowing what to worry about; Japanese says Gridania is torn over how to deal with Ramuh.

Papalymo

In that regard, they are hardly alone. What we can say with absolute certainty is that Gridania has its hands full fending off Garuda.

Who, I need hardly remind you, is among the most savage and terrible of all known primals.

Minfilia

In short, it is essential that we approach the sylphs in as diplomatic a manner as possible.

Words and actions can be misconstrued. The only sure way to communicate our intentions is the Echo.

Winning the sylphs' favor may well bring us a step closer to mitigating the threat of the primals. Will you help us?

I am grateful.

Thancred

Lovely! Well, as much as I'd like to help, I'm afraid I would be of little use to anyone in Gridania. A veritable babe in the woods.

Yda and Papalymo, however, should be able to see the forest for the trees. Is that not so, Minfilia?

Minfilia

Indeed. You are willing?

Yda

Leave it to me!

Papalymo

Us, Yda. Us!

FR Aucun problème ! ‘No problem!’ English has Papalymo stress that the task is for both of them; French simply agrees.
DE Selbstverständlich! ‘Of course!’ English has Papalymo stress that the task is for both of them; German simply agrees.
JA いいですとも！ ‘Certainly!’ English has Papalymo stress that the task is for both of them; Japanese simply agrees.

Vorsaile

We know far too little of the sylphs to lay any worthwhile plans. We must call upon the Scions once more if we are to─

Ah, beg pardons. 'Tis a terrible habit of mine to think aloud. But tell me, what brings you to the Adders' Nest?