The Bozja Incident (quest)

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

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The Bozja Incident
(シタデル・ボズヤ蒸発事変, [missing rōmaji]?)
Type	Side Story Quests
Quest details
Level	80
Assigned by	Ironworks engineer
Reward	3734
Location	Rhalgr's Reach, Gyr Abania
Preceded by	Path to the Past
Followed by	Fire in the Forge Where Eagles Nest

The Ironworks engineer is confused as to why you are still here and not at the Doman Enclave.

Quest description

The Bozja Incident is a Quest in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

Journal

• You begin to strike up another conversation with Lilja who, perhaps fearing the ire of her superiors, quickly directs you to the Doman Enclave. Rather than engage her with more friendly banter, you set your sights on the enclave to meet with Cid.
• You arrive at the Doman Enclave to find Cid preoccupied with the calm and quiet of the settlement, but his stern expression makes clear he understands why he has come. Though apprehensive of what awaits him at Gangos, Cid reaffirms his commitment to helping the Bozjan Resistance. Together you board the airship which bears the two of you to Gangos.
• Together with Mikoto you delve into Cid's memories of Bozja Citadel. An arduous journey through his mind eventually leads you to a massive transmission tower, wherein you confront a manifestation of Cid's trauma in the form of Lord Varis.
• The phantom of Cid's past is laid low, but something about this glimpse into the past still appears amiss. Realizing Lord Varis had no reason to be present at the citadel, he strains to remember who was the source of this anguished memory. In an instant his mind becomes clear, and the visage of Lord Varis is replaced by the man who shot him so many years ago─his own father, Midas nan Garlond. What's more, a closer inspection reveals he is in fact a thrall of the dreadwyrm Bahamut. With the mystery of Cid's past brought to light, you return to the waking world with the inscriptions of the blades of Gunnhildr, as well as an onerous truth.
• Gerolt has begun work on reforging the blades of Gunnhildr, bringing the people of Bozja one step closer to reclaiming their homeland. There is much to do in preparation for their encounter with the Empire, and Marsak bids you speak with Gerolt to learn what part you yet have to play.

Objectives

• Ask after Cid at the Doman Enclave.
• Speak with Mikoto.
• Speak with Marsak.

Script

The Bozja Incident script
Gerolt	If it ain't about me forge, it'll have to wait, lass/lad. I...I need to think.
Ironworks clerk	The chief said he'd be meeting you at the Doman Enclave, didn't he? Well, best not keep him waiting.
Ironworks clerk	As much as I enjoy your company, I understand duty calls. Hopefully we'll have the chance to talk another time.
Airshipguide	Master Garlond? Yes, I've seen him restlessly pacing about the enclave. If you wait here, I'm sure he'll come by before long.
Cid	It's hard to believe this place was, until recently, occupied by the Garleans. Doma has a long way to go before it regains its former glory, but they're off to a good start.
Cid	So I've heard. If the Bozjans wish to follow the Domans' lead, I plan to do what I can to help them.
Cid	In fact, I've already spoken to Lord Hien and agreed to divert part of the Ironworks' resources to assist in Doma's reconstruction.
Cid	The offer seemed to have taken him by surprise, but I assured him that in addition to the Ironworks' commitment to freedom through technology, I have my own reasons to reverse the destruction wrought by the Empire.
Cid	While it's true that I eventually defected, I played no small part in the development of magitek now used by their military.
Cid	<sigh> Sometimes it's the threads you can't see that have the strongest ties. Would that I could cut them.
Cid	Our talks were focused mainly on the reconstruction, as we thought it best to wait for your arrival to discuss how I might help the Bozjans.
Cid	Even so, not a day goes by that I don't think about the part I played in the atrocities they committed.
Cid	<sigh> If I could have made my father see reason, there would have been no Bozja incident.
Cid	...But I was powerless to stop him.
Cid	Yes, you're right. There's a time for wallowing in self-pity and a time for action. I plan to do whatever I can for the Bozjan Resistance, but they're up against the IVth Legion...
Cid	If they're to stand a chance, their allies here in the East won't be enough. They're going to need all the help they can muster.
Cid	I'm not entirely sure what part I'll have to play in all this, and I doubt anything I do now will be enough to atone for my past mistakes.
Cid	But if it means throwing a spanner in the Empire's works, then count me in.
Gerolt	He can fashion all manner o' magitek gadgets and whatnot, I'll give him that, but if it's a kettle yer after, that's where ol' Gerolt really shines.
Mikoto	If you are ready, I would begin our exploration. Think back to your time at Bozja Citadel. You needn't focus on a specific memory, if that helps.
Cid	All right. Just promise me you'll be careful in there.
Solus zos Galvus	Know your place, whelp. The Meteor project cannot─will not─be stopped. Certainly not by the likes of you.
Cid	No... No, this is wrong. Emperor Solus couldn't have been there.
Cid	No, please! Lord Varis... Nooo!
Mikoto	Cid! Cid, you mustn't forget─this is only a memory!
Varis	Cid Garlond, bringer of ruin. Herald of ash. Your father must be proud.
Varis	How does it feel to know such calamity follows in your wake? That your failings bring death to all you hold dear?
Varis	And now you would set this filth against me. Very well...
Varis	But one fate awaits those who oppose the will of the Empire.
Mikoto	This trauma is too much─he's lost control!
Mikoto	But this memory is false, [Player Name]! Perhaps you can alter it with the Echo!
Cid	That was...always your greatest strength... Instilling in others the courage to rise up... The courage to fight for what's right.
Cid	This...isn't right, either. Emperor...Lord Varis... He wasn't there. The Academy was given full charge of the project.
Mikoto	Though these events are as you remember them, this is not the truth. Not entirely. Whoever this is, your mind has been trying to protect you from them.
Cid	Well if it isn't Varis, then who in the hells is it? What could I possibly have to hide from myself?
Cid	So it was you who pulled the trigger... Father.
Mikoto	Cid, look! His eyes!
Cid	No...it can't be.
Mikoto	If contact with Dalamud was able to stir Bahamut to consciousness, it stands to reason the dreadwyrm discovered a way to link to the tower and thereby enslave your father.
Mikoto	In which case, there was nothing that could be done for him. There is no arguing or reasoning with such individuals. There is only the will of the primal.
Mikoto	And if Bahamut was controlling your father at the time of the accident...
Cid	Then in all likelihood, it wasn't an accident.
Cid	And so the truth finally comes to light.
Cid	Bahamut's thrall, and no one was the wiser. Not even your own son...
Gerolt	Ye crazy bastards did it! Once Mikoto's described the inscriptions to me, I'll have those weapons forged in no time!
Baishaen	On behalf of the Bozjan Resistance, you have my deepest thanks.
Cid	I'm just glad I could help.
Baishaen	Ever since that fateful day, the truth of what befell our loved ones had eluded us.
Baishaen	I held the Empire and your father responsible for their part in the tragedy, and for many years, that hatred was all that kept me going.
Baishaen	Indeed, I was blinded by that hatred. So much so that even you appeared to me as an enemy. I could not see the blood, sweat, and tears you have poured into bettering the lives of those seeking freedom from the Empire.
Baishaen	I could see only a Garlean. And for that, I am sorry.
Baishaen	If you can forgive me, let us be allies, united against a common foe.
Cid	Come now, I'm the one who should apologize to you. After all my father and the Empire did, even if not all of their own volition, their crimes will never be forgotten.
Cid	I'd hazard even victory over the Empire won't be enough to ease such pain. And even now that I know the truth behind the Bozja incident, all it's done is make me question the choices that led me here to this moment.
Cid	But regardless of the past, we have to keep pressing forward, one step at a time. For freedom.
Baishaen	Just as the heroes of eld would have done. We Bozjans grew up on such tales, of peerless warriors pure of heart and unwavering in their conviction. Yet here we are, so full of doubt and uncertainty. Will we ever earn our place in the pages of history?
Cid	Cheer up, Bajsaljen. If we live long enough, perhaps we'll be the ones to pen them.
Cid	You say the crystal focus is no longer responsive?
Mikoto	It would appear what stores of aether resided within it have been depleted. I did not expect our exploration of your mind to be such a taxing endeavor.
Mikoto	Once I identify its aetheric affinity, and a power source with a compliant energy frequency, I am confident its reserves can be replenished.
Cid	I thought perhaps the Alliance could use it to extract information from some of their less cooperative Garlean captives, but nothing's ever that easy, is it?
Cid	I'm afraid aetherology is beyond the scope of my expertise, so I'll leave the rest to you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call for me.
Mikoto	Thank you for all your help, Master Cid.
Cid	Well, I'd better head back. I've a mountain of work waiting for me.
Mikoto	Er, before you go...
Mikoto	I...
Mikoto	If you ever feel lost, you...you can always talk to me...
Cid	Of course. If I run into any aether-related problems, you'll be the first to know.
Mikoto	Right! I, er... I really must get to work on the crystal focus!
Gerolt	I told him I didn't need no assistant, but Marsak insisted. His name is, uh... Er... Well, he's standin' right there. Ask him yerself.
Zlatan	[Player Name]? I am Zlatan. It's an honor to meet you. I've not much experience with the forge, but it is my hope that I might improve working under Master Gerolt.
Zlatan	The first step in my training appears to be getting him to remember my name...
Wanderingwriter	[Player Name]! My, my, that I should find you here of all places. Though I suppose that's only right, considering I followed you. My well of inspiration has run dry, you see, and it is my hope that a change of scenery might offer the impetus my work requires.
Wanderingwriter	And time and again you have proven a knack for finding fascinating locales, with equally fascinating stories unfolding soon thereafter.
Wanderingwriter	When such a tantalizing tale finally does unfold, I should very much like to hear it.
Marshak	Everything is at last in place to begin work on the weapons of Queen Gunnhildr's guard. Master Gerolt will be able to apprise you of any further progress in their forging.
Marshak	In the meantime, we will begin preparations for battle. I look forward to seeing you on the front lines.
Menenius	Our spies at the Gangos encampment have confirmed work on the blades of Gunnhildr is underway.
Gabranth	Hmph. They are welcome to them. Who has need of such trinkets when the lady of blades will soon be in play?
Gabranth	We will proceed as planned. When their forces reach Bozja, you know what must be done.
Menenius	Understood.
Gabranth	The Empire is fated to fall. But in its place a new nation shall rise, grander and mightier than anything the Garleans could ever have dreamed.
Gabranth	And it shall be made possible by the very power they abhor.
Baishaen	I do not imagine he sympathizes with our plight, but from what I gather, he has no love for the Empire, either. If that will suffice in persuading him to aid us, then so be it.
Baishaen	I hear there are engineers stationed at Rhalgr's Reach. Perhaps you can begin your search for Garlond there.
Baishaen	Unless...there is something else you wish to discuss?
Baishaen	I would be lying if I said I understand what it is you must do, but I will pray for your safety all the same.
Baishaen	Is there aught you wish to discuss before you begin?
Baishaen	On behalf of the Resistance, I thank you again for lending your strength to our cause. Reforging the blades of Gunnhildr is certain to stir the fire in our men's hearts.
Baishaen	When the battle begins in earnest, I should hope we can count on your continued assistance.
Baishaen	Now then, is there aught you wish to discuss?
Baishaen	Our home rests in the southern reaches of Ilsabard, to the west of Dalmasca.
Baishaen	Our earliest records─or at least those we have been able to recover─suggest Bozja was founded at some point during the Third Astral Era. The Allagan Empire had reached the height of its power, and several tribes of the Hrothgar came here seeking refuge from their supremacy.
Baishaen	It was Queen Gunnhildr who would keep the Allagans at bay. Her radiance would light our path to prosperity, and by her grace was the nation of Bozja founded.
Baishaen	Alas, the Fourth Umbral Calamity would see the end of her kingdom. But those who survived slowly rebuilt, and Bozja was reborn as a city-state that would coexist with neighboring nations for centuries to come.
Baishaen	The Garlean Empire's rise to power changed everything. None could oppose the sheer strength and versatility of their military.
Baishaen	Their campaign began some fifty years ago, and now an entire generation of our people has been raised knowing only oppression. But now they would know freedom.
Baishaen	When word reached us that Ala Mhigo and Doma had risen up to defy the Empire, we seized the opportunity to flee and form pockets of resistance.
Baishaen	With Lord Hien's assistance, the several groups that had formed were merged into a single, cohesive force, and I was chosen as its leader.
Baishaen	If the IVth Imperial Legion is able to consolidate its forces in Bozja, however, our efforts will be for naught. We have to strike back, and soon.
Baishaen	For the present, this is our base of operations, to the southeast of what remains of Bozja Citadel. When the fighting begins, we will hold the line here.
Baishaen	For a blessing, the surrounding wetlands and the fog that persists year-round have served to conceal our operation. That is not to say, of course, we have not taken additional measures to remain hidden.
Baishaen	In the unlikely event that their scouts should approach the perimeter, our mages have cast a cloaking spell around the area to keep us from sight.
Baishaen	Havens such as this are plentiful along the southern coast of Ilsabard. Our facilities are rather modest, I confess, but I would like to think we have made great strides in providing for our soldiers here.
Baishaen	Thanks to the generosity of our allies here in the East, as well as the Eorzean Alliance, we do not want for provisions or arms. All that remains is to secure the blades of Gunnhildr.
Baishaen	It was roughly twenty years ago, if I'm not mistaken. The Empire, fearful of the threat posed by primals and the tribes who summoned them, devised a plan to wipe them out.
Baishaen	The Meteor project. Through the use of magitek, they intended to recreate ancient sorcery capable of calling down meteors.
Baishaen	At the helm of the project was their chief engineer, Midas nan Garlond. In time, every last one of their research facilities was involved in its development.
Baishaen	The project would take a perilous turn when it was discovered that the lesser moon Dalamud was, in fact, a satellite of Allagan design. They were determined to make it part of their plans.
Baishaen	And so they erected a colossal transmission tower, designed to control Dalamud. Its first test would also prove to be its last...
Baishaen	For lack of eyewitnesses, what happened next is difficult to describe. It is often described as an explosion, but the ruins showed no signs of gunpowder or magick. We only know that a terrible light shone from the heavens that night.
Baishaen	In an instant, the citadel was gone. Its citizens and soldiers...my family...
Baishaen	No one is certain why Dalamud responded with such destructive force, but all work on the Meteor project was halted immediately.
Baishaen	Five years later, however, Nael van Darnus set the wheels of the project back into motion. His devotion was rewarded with the coming of the Seventh Umbral Calamity.
Baishaen	The world has already paid too great a cost for the Garleans' ambition... They must be stopped.
Baishaen	I was born in Bozja, though I have never known a life free from the Empire's rule.
Baishaen	Following in my late father's footsteps, I studied to become a doctor. Much to my surprise, and dismay, my academic accomplishments did not go unnoticed. I was taken to the capital, where I received a formal education in medicinal sciences. Deployment as a medic in their military soon followed.
Baishaen	My service was ultimately rewarded with citizenship, after which I met my wife, and we started a family together. If their goal was for me to grow content and complacent, it failed, for not a day went by that I did not think about the liberation of my homeland.
Baishaen	But I would need to bide my time a while longer, for I was assigned to the IVth Imperial Legion. There was an uprising in Nagxia, and it fell to us to quell their insurrection. It was not until after our mission was complete that I learned of what happened to Bozja. To my family...
Baishaen	We returned as fast as we were able, but there was nothing left of the citadel.
Baishaen	I was ordered to return to the capital, but I had to find my wife and children. I covered every ilm of that barren wasteland...and nothing.
Baishaen	Chains and a prison cell greeted me back in Garlemald, but in spite of my confinement, whispers of what happened in Bozja eventually reached me. Of their failed experiments to control Dalamud.
Baishaen	Stripped of my citizenship, I expected to remain under lock and key until the end of my days. Fortunately for me, they had need of more medics for their next campaign.
Baishaen	But I would never reach the battlefield, for I escaped with a number of other soldiers to join the Resistance.
Baishaen	Many years of service to the Resistance then molded me into the man who now stands before you. And I will continue to serve for as long as it takes to see our homeland safe from the Empire.
Marshak	That you should know Cid Garlond is hardly surprising. I only hope he is not so engrossed in his work that he cannot find time to assist us.
Marshak	I will not keep you. Unless, of course, there is something you wish to ask me?
Marshak	We are quite fortunate that Mikoto was available to assist us. Never did I think she would devise such a unique solution to our problem.
Marshak	I'm sure the two of you have much to discuss, so I will leave you to your work. Unless there is something else you wish to ask me?
Marshak	The initial invasion of Bozja was led by Basch van Gabranth. There would be a change of commander not long after, however.
Marshak	Thirty years ago, during the invasion of Dalmasca, his health took an unexpected turn for the worse, and his son, Noah van Gabranth, oversaw the conquest to its completion. He was a mere twenty years old when he assumed full command.
Marshak	The IVth Imperial Legion itself is rather unique compared to most, for the bulk of their forces are not native Garleans, their present leader included.
Marshak	Both Noah and his father were quite quick to bend the knee to Emperor Solus, from what I have been told. Perhaps it was that ardent loyalty that helped them rise to such prominence.
Marshak	But not all were such fervent followers of the Empire. Quite the contrary, I would hazard the greater part of their soldiers were like us, seeing little recourse but to serve lest they be put to the sword.
Marshak	Though I suppose the unwavering loyalty of the IVth Imperial Legion is what serves to set it apart from the rest. Or to be more precise, its loyalty to Noah van Gabranth.
Marshak	What's more, you will come to find they are not wont to rely on magitek armaments like most imperial soldiers.
Marshak	Indeed, they seem to prefer fighting the old-fashioned way, employing arcane magicks, techniques akin to summoning, and all manner of feral beasts rather than depending on heavy artillery.
Marshak	Though if recent reports are to be believed, these will be the least of our concerns. The battalions en route to Bozja are said to be led by Lyon sas Helsos.
Marshak	He is a strategist whose cunning is matched only by his renown as a tamer of beasts, and it is rumored that he alone is worth more than a thousand rank-and-file troops. One might say he has history with the Resistance.
Marshak	Ah yes, the leader of the IVth Imperial Legion, one of the youngest to ever take such a position. His father, Basch van Gabranth, served as legatus before him, claiming many a victory in the name of the Empire.
Marshak	Basch was a knight of the Republic of Landis which, like so many other nations, was fast to fall at the hands of the Empire. Rather than die with dignity, he was quite quick to bend the knee to their conquerors, ingratiating himself with the Emperor and earning his place as a legatus.
Marshak	This was quite a feat, given that he was not of Garlean blood. One can but imagine the lengths to which he went to earn their trust, but it is clear he labored hard to keep it.
Marshak	His health took an unexpected turn for the worse during the invasion of Dalmasca, which afforded Noah the opportunity he needed to rise to prominence. And it was under Noah's leadership that Rabanastre would fall.
Marshak	Then, when his father passed two years later, he was named the next legatus of the IVth Imperial Legion.
Marshak	Many believe it was the conquest of Dalmasca that earned him the position, but some argue he was appointed on the recommendation of the Emperor, perhaps in recognition of his father's service to the Empire.
Marshak	Regardless of the reason, Noah would continue in his father's footsteps. The IVth Imperial Legion would continue to be comprised primarily of foreign soldiers, and their loyalty to the newly appointed legatus was unfaltering.
Marshak	One might expect such a legion to remain within the Emperor's good graces, but it would not be so when Varis took the throne. For several years he appointed them to the quelling of uprisings in remote provinces, as if to keep them at arm's length.
Marshak	Perhaps he suspected an ulterior motive to the Gabranths seeking to gain such fervent adoration from the IVth Imperial Legion. I have no proof, of course, but one cannot help but wonder...
Marshak	It was once known as Alermuc Fortress, erected in the hopes of deterring the Garleans. After the Bozja incident, it would be rebuilt and given a new name─Castrum Lacus Litore.
Marshak	Its position to the north of Bozja will make it a critical strategic point in the battles to come. If we are to have any hope of reclaiming Bozja, we must first gain control of the castrum.
Marshak	The location was originally chosen for its natural defenses. Being surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs made Alermuc Fortress all but impregnable. Assuming, of course, one had the wherewithal to defend it.
Marshak	When the Garleans came, their magitek weaponry was unlike anything we had ever seen. A great many lives were lost in our struggle to hold the fortress, and in the end we were simply outmatched.
Marshak	At present, the castrum is held by Legatus Gabranth's second-in-command, Menenius rem Lanatus. An interesting choice, to say the least.
Marshak	Lanatus is a well-known family with a long and august lineage. That is, until they incurred the ire of the Emperor, tarnishing their name and robbing them of their position in Garlean society.
Marshak	And yet Basch van Gabranth would choose members of their family to serve under him. Mayhap he sensed their desperation to redeem their honor. If that is the case, the road to redemption is long indeed, for two generations of Lanatus have served under the Gabranths.
Marshak	Imagine the recognition they would receive for thwarting our attempts to take the fortress. You can be sure he will do all in his power to stop us.
Marshak	I serve primarily as liaison 'twixt the Bozjan Resistance and our allies. I'll not deny there is still much for me to learn, but I will do everything within my power to see Bozja free of the Empire. If that should mean my life, then so be it.
Marshak	You...wish to know of my past? It is no different than most, I would imagine─conscription by the Empire, which is the only reason I was not present in the citadel to die alongside my kin in the Bozja incident.
Marshak	Some would call it a massacre planned by the Empire, but I am not ready to believe they would willingly kill so many of their own soldiers and engineers.
Marshak	Having been raised under the Garlean doctrine, I realize that not all of them are the bloodthirsty monsters many of us would paint them to be. Though the Empire would seek to oppress us, I do not share the same animosity towards its citizens as my Resistance comrades.
Marshak	But these are musings better left between the two of us, yes? I would not have the others think me a coward or a traitor to our cause.
Meesiya	The son of Midas nan Garlond. An imperial deserter... My, what curious company we keep.
Meesiya	Ahem. Forgive me. Is there aught you need?
Meesiya	Would that I could do more to assist you and Mikoto, but I know when I am out of my depth.
Meesiya	If there is aught else I can do to assist, you need only ask.
Meesiya	Our people yet want for the courage to fight, and I am confident the blades of Gunnhildr will afford them just that.
Meesiya	There is still much we must do to prepare, but if there is aught else you wish to discuss...?
Q30	What will you say?
A30	Tell me about Queen Gunnhildr.
A30	Tell me about Gunnhildr's Blades.
A30	Tell me about the weapons you plan to forge.
A30	Tell me about yourself.
A30	Nothing.
Meesiya	During the Third Astral Era, Queen Gunnhildr united the fragmented tribes of the Hrothgar to rise up and drove off the Allagans, eventually going on to found the nation of Bozja.
Meesiya	It should be noted that Gunnhildr was not her name, but rather a title bestowed to the current monarch of any given age. The common thread connecting all rulers of Bozja is their ability to read the stars. There were others who shared in this ability, but they were said to be the greatest seers of their respective ages.
Meesiya	They were also said to be great warriors. When doing battle with the Allagans or any other would-be invaders, the queen could always be found commanding from the front lines.
Meesiya	Alas, Bozja would fall in the wake of the Fourth Umbral Calamity. By some miracle, some few survived and were able to build what we knew as the city-state of Bozja.
Meesiya	They were the elite guard of the queen, masters of myriad arms and magicks, said to be the greatest warriors of their age.
Meesiya	Their combat prowess was matched only by their devotion to Queen Gunnhildr. They would not hesitate to give their lives in her service. And, should one of these warriors fall in battle, their holy blade would be passed on to a suitable successor.
Meesiya	Over time, their title as Gunnhildr's Blades would become synonymous with the gunblade, which gained great renown during the war against the Allagans.
Meesiya	There is not a Bozjan alive who does not know the tales of their heroism. I have no doubt reforging these weapons will lend us both the strength and resolve we need to succeed.
Meesiya	With Master Gerolt's help, we have nearly all that is required to reforge the weapons of Queen Gunnhildr's guard.
Meesiya	While it is true the legends of their might are duly inspiring, to simply call them the blades of Gunnhildr would do little to differentiate these new armaments from the weapons of eld. After all, we do not wish to give the impression that the originals have been recovered.
Meesiya	After much thought, Master Gerolt offered a simple and surprisingly satisfactory suggestion of “Resistance weapons.”
Meesiya	He also went on to make a rather curious remark about the steps to be taken in their forging: that these weapons can be enhanced further in accordance with the enemies one faces.
Meesiya	By the sounds of it, these weapons are never truly complete until their purpose is fulfilled.
Meesiya	It has been two years since I joined the Resistance. Before then I lived as all Bozjans did─under the harsh rule of the Empire.
Meesiya	It is the only life I have ever known, though my parents often spoke to me of what they remembered from the days of Bozja's independence.
Meesiya	Though it was under the auspices of our Garlean oppressors, I was educated in prehistoric archaeology.
Meesiya	While I am thankful for the opportunities afforded me, I could not turn a blind eye to the suffering of my people. And so I left to join the Resistance.
Meesiya	It was I who proposed to reforge the fabled weapons of Queen Gunnhildr's guard, and Bajsaljen has chosen to place his faith in my plan. I take heart in knowing all I learned from the Empire will be put to good use.
Mikoto	Our exploration of Master Gerolt's memories was a success. Largely in part to his trust in you, I suspect.
Mikoto	How fortunate for us that you should be a good acquaintance of Cid's. I'm sure there is much you must do to prepare, so I will not keep you.
Mikoto	...Was there something else?
Mikoto	I am afraid the crystal focus has fallen dormant.
Mikoto	It will take time, but I am confident its reserves of energy can be replenished.
Mikoto	You will be the first to know when the crystal focus is ready.
Mikoto	If there is nothing else, I will leave you to your duties.
Q40	What will you say?
A40	Tell me about the seers.
A40	Tell me about the crystal focus.
A40	Tell me about memory exploration.
A40	Tell me about your gift.
A40	Tell me about yourself.
A40	Nothing.
Mikoto	Scant though they are, the records we have uncovered thus far suggest the practices of seers date back as far as the Fourth Astral Era.
Mikoto	The region was plagued with all manner of natural disasters in those days, inciting great unrest not only amongst the Bozjans, but neighboring nations as well.
Mikoto	It was during these tumultuous times seers first appeared. In fact, I have reason to believe they possessed the Echo.
Mikoto	Using a crystal focus, they were able to delve into the minds of the downcast and the heartsick, seeking out their darkest memories and altering them to ease the peoples' burdens.
Mikoto	Perhaps they saw the altering of minds as a necessity for their survival, but we must consider the ethical implications of such methods in this day and age. I have no doubt my betters in Sharlayan would consider it to be reprehensible.
Mikoto	My initial analysis of the crystals suggests they are man-made. Nothing in my data can prove the materials are unique to this region, which leads me to believe the Bozjans─or rather, the seers─created them.
Mikoto	However, given the intricate lattices found in these crystals, it seems highly improbable that the Bozjans could have produced them, considering the methods available to them in the Fourth Astral Era.
Mikoto	In fact, on closer inspection, it became clear that its structure is quite similar to that found in Allagan constructs.
Mikoto	Which then begs the question: who were the seers, and whence did they come? This is but a working theory, but I suspect their roots can be traced back to the Allagans themselves─perhaps survivors of the Fourth Umbral Calamity who wished to atone for the sins of their forebears.
Mikoto	They came to these lands seeking a means to help the Bozjans, and in doing so created these crystal foci.
Mikoto	...Ahem. As I said, 'tis but a working theory. Though I understand if it sounds more like a flight of fancy.
Mikoto	Perhaps I should start with a simple explanation, as I did before. Let us consider the composition of a person's aether, shall we? There is corporeal aether of the flesh, incorporeal aether of the soul, and the aetherial residue of an individual's memories.
Mikoto	Were one to be possessed of only corporeal aether, they would be but a walking corpse. Conversely, entities comprised of only incorporeal aether are referred to in layman's terms as ghosts. Of course, a ghost that possesses residual memories could likely recall its past and retain self-awareness.
Mikoto	Using a crystal focus, we can isolate the aetherial signature of memories, much in the same way the seers did. We can then delve into and explore specific memories conjured by the subject.
Mikoto	We must be careful of what we observe, however, for while the information stored in a person's memories can be quite comprehensive, it is not always true to fact. They can be distorted due to the passage of time, or even when first committed to the mind as a result of personal bias.
Mikoto	That is why it is important to mark the distinction between explicit and implicit memories.
Mikoto	Explicit memories are those consciously stored and recalled, while implicit memories are more passively accumulated by our subconscious.
Mikoto	When meeting someone for the first time, their appearance will be kept as part of our explicit memory, though this may fade with the passing of time. Should a great deal of time pass without meeting, however, such recollection can prove difficult.
Mikoto	Yet in that moment, your mind also takes record of everything experienced by your sensory nervous system.
Mikoto	Unfortunately, information called from explicit memory is quite sensitive to misrepresentations of events. After all, if an individual is actively choosing to recall an event, who is to say they will not make alterations to better suit their liking?
Mikoto	That is why we seek information from implicit memory, which is more likely to be preserved free of the bias of an individual's worldview.
Mikoto	The Echo can manifest itself in myriad ways dependent on the individual. I was gifted with the ability to peer into the future.
Mikoto	It is a power much like prophetic dreams and divinations, and yet quite different, for such visions only tell of the future's potential.
Mikoto	The Echo does not show me what may happen, but what will happen.
Mikoto	Scholars speculate Mezaya Thousand Eyes too shared this gift, hence the alarming accuracy of the passages writ in her Divine Chronicles.
Mikoto	These visions are a decidedly rare occurrence, usually containing some crucial insight into matters presently unfolding before me. For better or worse, I have never had visions of an impending threat on my life or those around me.
Mikoto	Not that I would want to see such things, of course. Could you imagine, knowing of certain doom that cannot be avoided?
Mikoto	I once spoke of my visions to an acquaintance─a relatively harmless glimpse of the future─and it resulted in a terrible argument. I fear I could not bear the weight of grimmer tidings...
Mikoto	But that is neither here nor there. My gift is but a trivial thing. Nothing you should think to rely upon.
Mikoto	About me!? Oh, there really isn't much to tell, I assure you!
Mikoto	Well, if you must know... Due to advanced placement I found myself attending the Studium much earlier than most. My research in the field of aetherology would eventually earn me the title of Archon. When I am not conducting research in the field, I conduct lectures at the Studium.
Mikoto	Moenbryda is, er...was...my mentor. I would not be the scholar I am today if not for her. I have fond memories of the many nights we toiled together working on her original plans for the aetheric siphon. She was like a sister to me.
Mikoto	Speaking of which, I do have a sister, actually. An identical twin, in fact. Though we have not spoken since she too was named an Archon.
Mikoto	She was my better in all aspects of academia, but she often disagreed with the views of the Forum. I can but assume that is why she took her leave of the Studium.
Mikoto	She was always so strong-willed and quite critical of those around her. Sadly, we never got along very well growing up. I often wonder if that is why Moenbryda was so quick to take me under her wing.
Mikoto	I still see her, in my dreams. Always offering a warm smile and words of encouragement.
Mikoto	If we were to use the crystal focus, perhaps there would be a way to speak with her again. A tempting prospect, but in the end, I know it would not truly be her...
Quest complete.