138
Where There Is Smoke
Main story quest #64, level 25. 138th of 173 in play order.
Quest giver: Hihibaru, Eastern Thanalan (X 20.2, Y 21.3).
Steps
- Use the
smoldering coal at the specified location. - Present the
ward of the Destroyer to Hihibaru.
Journal
- Hihibaru has information that will surely lead you to Lahabrea.
- Hihibaru claims to have witnessed a masked man meeting his beastman accomplices in secret. Make your way to the ash-covered ground northeast of Highbridge, and use a smoldering coal to arrange a similar rendezvous.
- The smoldering coal gives rise to a column of smoke, which serves to summon a bandit. Forced to defend yourself, you slay the man and find upon his corpse a peculiar scroll bearing the mark of Rhalgr, the Destroyer. Return to Highbridge and present your find to Hihibaru.
- It would seem that Lahabrea has clandestine connections not only with the Qiqirn, but also the Ala Mhigans. Your investigation begins to unfold, and where it may lead is anyone's guess...
Hidden
line that reads 'Bound for the deletion train.' rumors finally pay off, and you light the smoke yourself.Characters 1
Hihibaru says he finally has real news about the masked man, because he saw him with his own eyes.
What you know from earlier quests 2
- #136 Shadow of Darkness: Hihibaru greets you warmly and says he can provide anything, probably. At first he takes your question as a shopping request. Then he hints that the masked man is in some rumors he heard, and asks you to linger.
- #137 Highbridge Times: Hihibaru sold everything for his business, hoping for pilgrims at Highbridge. Beastman raids keep them away, and he fears going bankrupt. He snaps at you, then apologizes. He suspects someone is directing the Qiqirn raids and promises to watch for the masked man.
What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest
- Hihibaru saw the masked man meet Qiqirn at a fire near Thal's Respite. He gives you a smoldering coal to call a similar meeting. The bandit's scroll bears a prayer to Rhalgr, god of Ala Mhigo, so he judges the man Ala Mhigan.
Dialogue 13 lines
Accepting the quest
Hihibaru
I've finally got some honest-to-gods information on your masked man! Why so confident? Because I saw him with my own two eyes!
I was out for an evening stroll, minding my own business, when I noticed a column of smoke rising from a cliff over at Thal's Respite. Curious, I took myself there to find a masked man─your masked man, I'm sure of it─standing by a fire.
As if in answer, some Qiqirn appeared soon after, and the group began talking at length. I'm afraid I was too far out of earshot to hear much of anything.
- DE Ich vermute mal, um den Wilden Stämmen irgendwelche Anweisungen zu geben. ‘I suppose to give the beast tribes some kind of instructions.’ English says Qiqirn arrived and talked with him at length; German says his signal fire likely gave beast tribes instructions.
- JA その男はね「ザルの祠」あたりの崖で、「狼煙」を使って、蛮族とやり取りしていたんです。 ‘That man, on the cliff around "Thal's Respite", was exchanging messages with beastmen using "smoke signals".’ English says Qiqirn arrived and talked with him at length; Japanese says he communicated with beastmen by smoke signals.
After the group had dispersed, an idea came to me: if you were to use this smoldering coal to start a fire, you might be able to arrange a similar meeting. It will be dangerous, I shouldn't doubt, but you've proven yourself more than a match for a pack of rats.
So, what do you think? That's some sound, reliable information, even if I do say so myself. Well worth all the lingering about you've been doing, wouldn't you say?
- DE Wenn du diesen Fall gelöst hast, solltest du dir erst mal etwas Ruhe gönnen. ‘I'll tell you what: once you've solved this case, you should treat yourself to some rest first.’ English says the tip was worth the hero's lingering; German urges the hero to rest at Highbridge afterwards.
- JA これが終わったら、しばらくここにご逗留ってことは……。 ‘...So, I have a proposal. Once this is over, how about staying here for a while...’ English says the tip was worth the hero's lingering; Japanese proposes the hero stay a while afterwards.
Use the smoldering coal at the specified location.
//Use stuff and kill things.
Present the ward of the Destroyer to Hihibaru.
Hihibaru
Back so soon? Were you able to find any clues leading to your masked man?
Bound for the deletion train.
Th-This scroll! It bears a prayer to Rhalgr, the Destroyer!
In case you're unfamiliar, Rhalgr is the guardian deity of Ala Mhigo, which is currently under Garlean rule.
- DE Tja, die Garlear hat er den Mhigiten nicht wirklich vom Hals halten können, was? ‘Well, he couldn't really keep the Garleans off the Mhigites' backs, could he?’ English notes Ala Mhigo is under Garlean rule; German mocks Rhalgr for failing to keep the Garleans away.
It's highly uncommon for folk of other nations to revere Him. I'd wager my last gil that your assailant was Ala Mhigan.
It seems this masked man of yours is very well connected. I must confess, the merchant in me envies such a diverse network of contacts.
That selfsame merchant also senses danger ahead...and darkness besides. Are you certain you'd rather not take things nice and slow here at Highbridge?
- FR D'ailleurs, en parlant de prudence, j'ai reçu une livraison d'équipements de protection tout à l'heure. ‘Speaking of caution, I received a delivery of protective equipment earlier.’ English invites the hero to take it slow at Highbridge; French pitches newly delivered protective gear at a discount.