Man's Best Fiend

Map quest, level 15. 78th of 102 in play order.

Quest giver: Skribyld, Western La Noscea (X 26.4, Y 26.4).

Next: Call of the Sea ›

Steps

Speak with R'kontai.
Give the succulent bone to the starved pup.
/soothe the starved pup.
Report to Skribyld.

Journal

Skribyld is ready to set his plans into motion.
Skribyld believes R'kontai may be concealing more jackals for future black market sales. He has requested you speak with her to confirm his suspicions.
R'kontai reveals that, although there are no longer jackals in her care, she has a wolf pup in her keeping. Fearing that the pirates will come and take him away, the remorseful merchant begs you to retrieve him. Find the wolf pup and give him a succulent bone to win his trust.
The starved pup hungrily hunkers down on the bone, but still seems wary of you. Attempt to /soothe the frightened pup by rubbing his belly.
You have earned the pup's trust, and he now seems willing to go with you. Make your way back to Skribyld and show him what you found.
Skribyld is thrilled to hear that the pup is in good health and safe from the hands of the pirates. Seeing as the pup has grown so fond of you, Skribyld believes it best that he remains in your care.

Hidden

Lore Quarterstone is the pup's hiding place. One part in four of its soil is rock. Yet it once had many grain stores and much golden wheat. That was partly thanks to the hard work of the people who lived there before.

Easter egg The

Wolf Pup's minion entry gives him a darker past. He was bred as a war wolf for the Garlean army. He looks up to Gaius van Baelsar

, the legatus called the Black Wolf.

In-game text The juicy

bone you give the pup has a joke in its item text. It is a tasty dog treat that was 'not made using a plump Lalafell'.

Title reference The title turns 'man's best friend', the dog, into a 'fiend', an evil creature. Here that is a starved, growling wolf pup. R'kontai

hid him to sell before the pirates could take him to train.

Characters 4

Gaius van Baelsar
Gaius van Baelsar takes no part in this quest. No one here speaks his name.
What you know from earlier quests 1
- #73 The Lominsan Envoy: Gaius's legion is dug in along Eorzea's borders. Raubahn says Gaius has long wanted conquest and fears Eorzea would fall if he struck now. In a scene among the imperials, Gaius recalls a countless army of dragons meeting the imperial fleet.
Skribyld
Skribyld knows R'kontai bred jackals for pirates. He fears she still hides more animals to smuggle, and wants you to question her again.
What you know from earlier quests 2
- #76 Like Cats and Dogs: Skribyld believes the coeurls were smuggled into Vylbrand and sends you after the merchant R'kontai. Skribyld blames her greed, says she must answer for it, and has a plan to end the beasts' fighting. The name means "Write Make" in Roegadyn.
- #77 Curiosity Killed the Coeurl: Skribyld sadly orders the last coeurls killed, putting people's safety first. Hearing that only an orphaned kitten is left, Skribyld is saddened, reports some pirates were caught, and, since the Yellowjackets cannot raise a coeurl, leaves the kitten in your care.
R'kontai
R'kontai has admitted to breeding jackals for pirates. The Yellowjackets, the local guards, suspect she still hides more animals.
What you know from earlier quests 1
- #76 Like Cats and Dogs: R'kontai flees, fearing pirates sent you, and her bodyguard fights you. She admits smuggling coeurls for pirates, who also had her breed jackals as watchdogs. The pirates let the coeurls escape and now use jackals to kill them. She calls herself a victim too.
Starved Pup
This wolf pup is hidden in Quarterstone, weak with hunger. He growls at anyone who comes near.

What happens in this quest spoilers for this quest

Gaius van Baelsar: Only a chart note links him here. The wolf pup's pet entry says the pup was bred as a war wolf for the Garlean army and looks up to Gaius, a legatus (high Garlean commander) called the Black Wolf.
Skribyld offers R'kontai a lighter sentence, not freedom, for her help. He is glad the pup is safe. Pirates tied to his case are now caught, though the ringleader is still free. With no room at headquarters, he asks you to keep the pup.
R'kontai comes clean to stay free. The jackals are gone, but she hid a wolf pup in Quarterstone to sell. She gives you a bone and begs you to take him before the pirates do. She then agrees to help the authorities.
Starved Pup: The pup gulps the bone but stays wary until you rub his belly. Then he trusts you and follows you. With no room at headquarters, Skribyld leaves him in your care. His pet entry says he was bred as a Garlean war wolf.

What the Japanese and French versions say 2

Japanese

EN Man's Best Fiend

JA 「幼い狼犬を救え」, 'Rescue the Young Wolfdog'

The title makes the pup a wolfdog from R'kontai's hidden stock, not a wolf. Wolfdogs are the kind the pirates used as hounds.

French

Different

EN Man's Best Fiend · 'All the jackals are long gone, but there's a wolf pup I was lookin' after not too far from here.' · 'Jackals are easy to come by in Aleport, but wolves? Ye can be sure folk will pay good money for 'em.'

FR «Le chacal amical», 'The Friendly Jackal' · «Tous les chacals adultes sont déjà loin, mais il rrreste un petit près d'ici, dont je m'occupe.», 'All the adult jackals are long gone, but there's still a pup near here that I'm looking after.' · «Les pirates voulaient le récupérer pour remplacer une bête tuée par un coeurl.», 'The pirates wanted to take him to replace a beast killed by a coeurl.'

Here the pup is a jackal, so the title rhymes. The English makes him a wolf, worth good money because wolves are rarer.

Dialogue 20 lines

Accepting the quest

Skribyld

R'kontai has admitted to breeding jackals for pirates, but I fear she may be concealing more to be smuggled elsewhere.

I bid you speak with her once more to prove my suspicions true. If she wishes to play the role of victim, perhaps this time she will be more forthcoming with information. Tell her that although we cannot grant her impunity, her cooperation will ensure a lighter sentencing.

DE Nur um sicherzugehen, dass von ihr keine weitere Gefahr für die öffentliche Sicherheit ausgeht. ‘Just to make sure that no further danger to public safety comes from her.’ German gives a safety check as the reason; the English offer of a lighter sentence is absent.

Speak with R'kontai

R'kontai

The Yellowjackets want to know if I'm hidin' more jackals? Fine, I'll come clean if it means preservin' me liberty.

DE Ich doch nicht! ‘Not me!’ German has her deny it first, then give in; English has her confess to keep her liberty.

All the jackals are long gone, but there's a wolf pup I was lookin' after not too far from here. Jackals are easy to come by in Aleport, but wolves? Ye can be sure folk will pay good money for 'em.

FR Les pirates voulaient le récupérer pour remplacer une bête tuée par un coeurl. ‘The pirates wanted to take him to replace a beast killed by a coeurl.’
DE Ich fürchte, die Piraten wollen ihn sich unter den Nagel reißen, um ihre Meute aufzustocken. ‘I'm afraid the pirates want to grab him to top up their pack.’ English says wolves fetch good money, unlike jackals; German says the pirates want the pup to restock their pack.
JA 海賊がクァールに殺された猟犬を補充するためにさ、そいつを狙ってるみたいなんだよ。 ‘It seems the pirates are after him, to replace the hounds the coeurls killed.’ English says wolves fetch good money, unlike jackals; Japanese says the pirates want the pup to replace hounds coeurls killed.

With the Yellowjackets breathin' down me neck of late, though, I haven't had time to care for him. The poor thing's probably too weak from hunger to move.

DE Seit die Sache so eskaliert ist, habe ich mich nicht getraut, nach dem Welpen zu sehen, aus Angst, die Piraten zu ihm zu führen. ‘Since things escalated like this, I haven't dared to look in on the pup, for fear of leading the pirates to him.’ English blames the Yellowjackets watching her; German says she feared leading the pirates to the pup.
DE Doch auch so ist es nur eine Frage der Zeit, bis sie ihn finden. ‘But even so, it is only a matter of time until they find him.’ English worries the pup is too weak from hunger to move; German worries the pirates will find him soon.
JA この騒ぎのせいでしばらく世話していないから、きっと腹を空かせてるに違いないんだ。 ‘Because of this uproar I haven't looked after him for a while, so he must be starving.’ Japanese blames the general uproar; English blames the Yellowjackets watching her.

I'll tell ye where I hid him, but if ye want to take him, best move now. What with the coeurls runnin' wild, killin' the pirates' jackals an' all, it won't be long before they start snoopin' about for more animals to train.

DE Oder er verhungert elend. ‘Or he starves miserably.’ German has her plead that the pup may starve; English warns the pirates will come looking for animals.

I have to warn ye, though, he may be a pup, but he'll likely make a meal of anyone what gets close to him. Try winnin' over his stomach with this here succulent bone. If that ain't enough, try rubbin' his belly to soothe him. Ye can bet he'll be followin' you everywhere.

DE Er ist noch recht scheu und hat bestimmt Angst vor dir. ‘He is still quite shy and is surely afraid of you.’ English warns the pup may make a meal of anyone close; German says he is shy and afraid.
JA ただ、その子犬は警戒心が強くてね。 ‘Only, that puppy is very wary, you see.’ English warns the pup may make a meal of anyone close; Japanese only says he is very wary.

I left the critter in Quarterstone─hurry before the pirates find him!

Give the succulent bone to the starved pup

R'kontai

Hurry to Quarterstone before it's too late. Just remember to give him the bone an' rub his belly.

Starved Pup

Grrrrrr...

Yip, yip, yip!

/soothe the starved pup

Starved Pup

Grrr...

Report to Skribyld

Skribyld

I heard from R'kontai you went looking for the starved pup in Quarterstone. Did you have any luck?

Ah, so this is the pup R'kontai has been hiding. Well done.

She was here not long ago, as a matter of fact. It seems she is willing to cooperate with the authorities and help set things right.

But that's not all, friend.

While you were searching for this pup, a group of pirates related to the investigation was taken into custody.

DE Während du nach dem Welpen gesucht hast, hab ich zusammen mit anderen Gelbjacken die meisten Piraten, die für den ganzen Schlamassel verantwortlich sind, verhaftet. ‘While you were looking for the pup, I, together with other Yellowjackets, arrested most of the pirates responsible for the whole mess.’ German has Skribyld make the arrests himself, and of most of the pirates; English only says a group was arrested.
JA きみがル・コンタイのところへ行っていたあいだに、ぼくたちイエロージャケットが、件の海賊を検挙したのさ！ ‘While you were away at R'kontai's, we Yellowjackets arrested the pirates in question!’ Japanese places the arrests during your visit to R'kontai; English during your search for the pup.

We couldn't have done it without your help. The ringleader has yet to be found, but perhaps now Aleport can enjoy a moment of respite.

All that remains is what to do with this pup. He seems to have taken a liking to you. Hmmm...perhaps it would be best if you looked after him.

There's simply no room for him at headquarters, and letting him wander about on his own is out of the question. I realize how sudden this is, but please give him a good home.

DE Bei uns Gelbjacken würde ihn kein schönes Leben erwarten. ‘With us Yellowjackets, no nice life would await him.’ English says there is no room at headquarters; German says he would have no nice life with the Yellowjackets.
JA どうせ、イエロージャケットの詰め所じゃあ、勝手に狼犬を飼うことはできないしね……。 ‘Anyway, at the Yellowjacket post we can't just keep a wolf-dog as we please...’ English says there is no room at headquarters; Japanese says they may not keep a wolf-dog there.
DE Wir müssten ihn wohl in einen Zwinger sperren. ‘We would probably have to lock him in a kennel.’ German: with the Yellowjackets he would be shut in a kennel. English: there is no room at headquarters.