148
The Bear and the Young'uns' Cares
Main story quest #73, level 27. 148th of 173 in play order.
Quest giver: Gundobald, Southern Thanalan (X 16.9, Y 14.4).
Steps
- Speak with the youths of Little Ala Mhigo.
- Report to Gundobald.
Journal
- Gundobald is willing to share with you what he knows of the masked stranger.
- According to Gundobald, some young ones of Little Ala Mhigo may be meeting the masked man in secret. Approach four youths in the settlement and hear what they have to say.
- Judging by the youths' reactions, it would seem that something is indeed in the offing, and Lahabrea may be involved. Return to Gundobald with your observations.
- Gundobald fears that the youths may be involved in something they do not fully understand, and are likely to commit some great folly. You must get to the bottom of this before tragedy befalls.
Hidden
speaks of is the mad king Theodoric, Ala Mhigo's last king. The people rose against him twenty years before the game, and the Garlean Empire took the land soon after.Characters 3
Gundobald now trusts you and is ready to share what he knows of the masked stranger.
What you know from earlier quests 4
- #140 On to Little Ala Mhigo: Gundobald meets you coldly and asks why his people should help an outsider. He says they struggle enough already. He tells you that you are not welcome and orders you to leave.
- #141 Tea for Three: Gisilbehrt
mentions him as a bristly old bear and has no doubt that he told you to leave. - #142 Foot in the Door: Gisilbehrt mentions that Gundobald belongs to the Ala Mhigan Resistance. So the best person to vouch for you is someone from the same group.
- #147 Come Highly Recommended: Gundobald is moved to hear from Meffrid
, whom he feared dead. Any friend of Meffrid is his friend, he says. He drops his mistrust and agrees to tell you what he knows of the masked stranger.
Sifrid is one of the young people of Little Ala Mhigo.
Talebot is one of the young people of Little Ala Mhigo.
What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest
- Gundobald says some young people here meet the masked man in secret. He knows their anger: two decades ago he and his brothers rose against Ala Mhigo's ruler, playing into the Empire's hands, and Ala Mhigo fell. He asks you to report their plans.
- Sifrid acts as if thinking it over, then denies meeting any masked men, and promises to tell all friends that you are looking for him.
- Talebot says a group has been sneaking around in a suspicious way, but denies any part in it and calls it trouble.
Dialogue 13 lines
Accepting the quest
Gundobald
An outsider resembling your masked stranger has reportedly been appearing near Little Ala Mhigo of late. What's more, it seems that some of our youngbloods are meeting him in secret.
No doubt you'll want to question them about their trysts, but they are not like to yield the information readily to an outsider. If you tell them I sent you, though, they may well feel obliged to talk.
Speak with the youths of Little Ala Mhigo.
Waldhar
...A masked man? No idea what yer talkin' about. I ain't done nothin' wrong, so leave me be.
Adalind
G-Gundobald sent you? I, uh─ Listen, I told them it was a bad idea! All that tripe about believing the masked man and─
...O-Oh. You...you don't know anything about this? Why didn't you say so to start with!? You can't throw the old bear's name around like that and expect me to not think I'm in for it!
- FR S'il te plaît, dis à Gundobald que je suis innocente ! ‘Please, tell Gundobald that I'm innocent!’ English has her realize you know nothing; French has her beg you to tell Gundobald she is innocent.
Sifrid
What? Have I been meeting any masked men lately? Hmmm, let's see...
Nope, can't say I have! But I'll be sure to tell all my friends you're looking for him.
- DE Fremde wie du bringen uns nichts als Ärger. ‘Strangers like you bring us nothing but trouble.’ English cheerfully says he hasn't met him; German says strangers like you bring nothing but trouble.
Talebot
There's a bunch been skulkin' about right suspicious, like, but I've got nothin' to do with 'em. I know trouble when I see it, an' that there's trouble, mark me words.
- DE Mit solchen Kinderspielchen habe ich nichts am Hut. ‘I have nothing to do with such childish games.’ English calls the skulking group real trouble; German dismisses it as childish games.
- JA たしかにコソコソやってる連中もいるみたいだけど、オレに言わせりゃ、あんなの腹が減るだけさ。 ‘Sure, there seem to be some folks sneaking around, but if you ask me, all that just makes you hungry.’ English calls the skulking group real trouble; Japanese says such sneaking around only makes you hungry.
Report to Gundobald.
Gundobald
So, you have indeed confirmed my suspicions about a masked man... That is most troubling. Whatever the young ones are scheming, it can lead to no good end.
There's an anger inside them─I can see it in their eyes. I ought to know, for it once burned within me as well.
Two decades ago, that same anger drove me and my brothers to rise against the despot who ruled Ala Mhigo. Naught would do but to depose him and usher in a revolution. Well, we got our revolution all right...but it cost us our freedom.
Blinded by our hate, we didn't realize that we had been dancing to the Empire's tune. By the time we did, it was too late. Ala Mhigo had fallen.
There are times when a man must be patient. Now is such a time, though the young ones know this not. Unless we intervene, they are like to commit great folly. If you learn aught of their plans, I would thank you to bring word to me.