Masked Motives

Cloud Strife: No way! That thing's just a machine.

This article was generated, at least partially, by a machine and may contain subtle issues. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by proofreading it. Please remove this notice once this article has been proofread. If many machine-generated pages contain the same error, please contact the bot's operator.

Sanson is at his wit's end with Nourval.

Quest description

Masked Motives is a Quest in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

Journal[]

Against Sanson's express instructions to lay low in the garrison, Nourval has been doing anything but, approaching and questioning every single soldier about. While Sanson keeps an eye on the froward civilian, he bids you find Guydelot and ask what your fellow bard has been able to glean from the locals.
Instead of sharing his findings, Guydelot saddles you with a task. Masked bandits have been terrorizing the area of late, and your fellow bard would have you investigate a Twin Adder scout who is late to report back. While Guydelot keeps an eye on a suspicious Nourval, he bids you make your way to the northeast of the Fringes towards Schism, where the soldier was headed.
Near Pike Falls, you find the Twin Adder scout at the mercy of the masked bandits, and promptly drive away the assailants. With the area secured, render assistance to the ailing scout.
The Twin Adder scout thanks you for your timely intervention, and observes that the bandits seemed to know of his coming in advance and sought to bar his path. Take word of the encounter back to your comrades at Castrum Oriens.
At Sanson's insistence, Nourval reveals that the tome rests in a place connected to Gylbarde, the renowned general who led the Ala Mhigan forces during the Autumn War. Putting two and two together, Guydelot suggests that the bandits may also be after the tome. The possibility seems to rattle Nourval, who excuses himself in spite of Sanson's protests. At this time, Guydelot reveals that Nourval has been stealing out of the castrum while your backs are turned. Sanson decides to allow Nourval to act freely in order to learn his true purpose, and bids you stand at the ready for whatever may come to pass.

※The next bard quest will be available from Sanson upon reaching level 65.

Objectives[]

Look for Guydelot.
Look for the Twin Adder scout.
Aid the Twin Adder scout.
Speak with Guydelot.

Script[]

Masked Motives script

Nourval	Though I am but a humble civilian, I shall endeavor to make myself useful.
Sanson	Gah! I can't believe I'm saying this, but Nourval might be an even bigger pain than Guydelot!
Sanson	Despite my express instructions to keep out of the garrison's way, what does he do but go and bother every single soldier about? And now everyone here looks at us askance!
Sanson	<sigh> I brought a tome to record mission details, but instead I'm filling it with the names of those to whom I must apologize...

Nourval	I'm sorry if I've caused trouble, but it's simply more efficient that I make the inquiries myself. What a man says amounts to only half the story; how he says it gives you the rest.
Nourval	Besides, I felt compelled to make up for Master Guydelot. All he seemed to be doing was drinking and singing.

Sanson	Well, appearances can be deceiving with him. He has his own way of acquiring information. Speaking of which, I am curious as to what he has learned.
Sanson	[Player Name], might I ask you to look around the castrum for him? I will keep a close eye on Nourval in the meantime.

Sanson	Guydelot will be somewhere in the castrum, making his inquiries with a lyre in one hand and a cup in the other. Please find him and ask what he has managed to learn.

Nourval	Quite a character indeed, hehehe...

Guydelot	Sanson wants to know what I know, does he? Well, might be as I've learned a thing or two, but I ain't ready to share 'em yet.
Guydelot	Still need to clear up some details, see, and I'm not one for unfinished tales. It ain't bardly, as I'm sure you can appreciate.
Guydelot	Seeing as you're here, though, there is something I could use a hand with.
Guydelot	Of late, masked bandits have been terrorizing the area. Not even Alliance soldiers are safe, it seems. The brazen bastards set on a patrol just the other day.
Guydelot	And now, a Twin Adder scout's late to return, and chances are the bandits are at it again. I want you to go and check things out.
Guydelot	I'd go myself, but I need to keep an eye on our friend Nourval. He's been acting queer since we got here.
Guydelot	There'll be more to tell later, but for now you'd best be on your way. The soldier was bound for Schism, the ruins to the northeast of here.

Sanson	Not only does he refuse to divulge his findings, but he sets you a task instead? Well, knowing Guydelot, we must assume he has his reasons. Please do as he asks.

Guydelot	Remember, the Twin Adder scout was bound for Schism, the ruins to the northeast of here. I'll keep an eye on Nourval in the meantime.
Popmessage	You are under attack!

Balloon	More of them!
Balloon	That's as far as you go!
serpent soldier	Th-Thank you... They fell upon me with nary a warning.
serpent soldier	They knew I was coming. We alter our patrol routes on a regular basis, but they knew. What's more, it was as though they were barring my way.
serpent soldier	But now is not the time for speculation. I must take word of this back to my superiors. My thanks again, friend.

Sanson	Guydelot refuses to say a word until you return. I tell myself he has his reasons, but gods it's irritating.

Nourval	I ask you, how is a man supposed to go about his business when he is constantly watched? And I merely wish to be helpful.

Guydelot	There you are, [Player Name]. So, what happened? Was it the bandits after all?
Sanson	Masked bandits in the area, and you had an encounter with them!? Thank the Matron you did not come to harm!
Sanson	Guydelot, why did you not see fit to share this with us?
Guydelot	Aye, well, I knew it was nothing [Player Name] couldn't handle alone. Besides, I had some business of my own, someone to keep an eye on.
Nourval	...I cannot imagine who that might be. Master Guydelot─I owe you an apology. I had assumed in err that you were not doing your work. Unorthodox though your methods may be, there is no doubting their efficacy.
Guydelot	Ain't no trick to what I do. Everyone's got a song what's close to their hearts, and with a bit of camaraderie in the cups, they'll tell you what it is. Then I strum 'em their song over a heart-to-heart, is all.
Sanson	Thanks to Guydelot, we were able to learn of the recent incidents. So I ask you, will you not have a little faith in us?
Nourval	I'm not certain I understand.
Sanson	Look, Nourval. We've made a stop here at your request, that we might gather information for our search. But not once did you tell us what it is we should look for.
Sanson	By now we have more than a solid grasp of the region beyond. What should we do next?
Nourval	Oh my, did I neglect to tell you? My profoundest apologies. The tome we seek─it's said to rest in a place connected to Gylbarde, the general who led the Ala Mhigan forces during the Autumn War.
Guydelot	Now that you mention it, the masked bandits appeared on the way to Schism. And Gylbarde was a known devotee of the Fist of Rhalgr. Just taking a wild stab here, but might be as they're also after the tome.

Nourval	An unsettling notion. Should that be the case, we haven't any time to waste. I will go and make some inquiries immediately.
Sanson	W-Wait! I didn't give you perm─
Guydelot	Leave him. There's something you two need to know.
Guydelot	I got this from a soldier, but Nourval's been sneaking outside the castrum while our backs were turned.
Guydelot	Bastards's been acting right fishy since we got here, and he tensed up good when the subject of the masked bandits came up.
Sanson	Whatever his true motives may be, we must bring them to light. Rather than reel him in, let us give him some line to act.
Sanson	There is no telling what Nourval will do next. While we keep watch, please see that you are ready to deal with anything.
Quest complete.