Finding Your Voice

is a Quest in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
==Journal==
* Ardashir is determined to supplement the anima's aetheric energies so that it might relay its thoughts clearly and concisely. To that end, he proposes improving the aetherial conductivity of the weapon not only to give the anima the strength to converse, but to allow those without the Echo to comprehend that which is communicated. Gerolt begrudgingly agrees to assist. To work on the anima weapon, however, he must first insulate his tools with a soulglaze, and for that he requires five pots of aether oil. He bids you seek out Eorzea's traders of ancient antiquities to procure what he requires.
※You may not proceed with a class or job that is different from when you accepted this quest.
* You return with pots of aether oil in hand to find Gerolt in unusually high spirits. He soon reveals the reason for his good mood, namely that he has, in fact, consumed a large volume of spirits. Deaf to Ardashir's plea to lower his hammer, Gerolt begins pounding away with surprising speed and precision. It is not long before his work is complete and you take up a weapon seemingly alive with aether. As you raise it high to bask in its warm glow, the anima suddenly manifests itself to you. It is thankful for its newfound strength, and vows to do what it can to aid you in your coming adventures. Though he cannot yet perceive the anima, Ardashir is glad to see you sharing such a lengthy exchange, and looks forward to seeing how the anima will take shape under your guidance.
==Objectives==
* With (your Anima weapon/shield) in your inventory, deliver the pots of aether oil to Ardashir.
==Script==
script 	script
 	
Ardashir 	We have made remarkable progress, [Player Name], but our work is far from over.
Ardashir 	If we are to create a truly freethinking weapon, we must empower the anima to do more than utter a few unintelligible words to its wielder.
Ardashir 	Moreover, it must be encouraged to recognize you not only as the rightful owner of the weapon, but also as a companion to whom it can turn for guidance.
...A companion who senses its presence where no other can.
Ardashir 	Quite why that should be is a question which confounded me for some time.
Ardashir 	It was only after spending countless days poring over my notes that the answer came to me. In my efforts to predict the anima's rate of growth, I realized that I had overlooked an important variable─you, my friend. Which is why I took the liberty of investigating you and your dealings in Eorzea.
Ardashir 	You are possessed of a rare power known to some as the “Echo,” are you not?
Ardashir 	I have read that it conveys a preternatural sensitivity to the psyches of others. And what is the anima but a nascent psyche?
Gerolt 	Yer sayin' ye've got to have special powers just to see the bloody thing?
Gerolt 	...Special powers what only a handful o' folks've got. Well, that's just great, that is. Even if [Player Name] an' her/his Echo-sportin' mates buy ten weapons each, they ain't like to spend the sums Rowena's got in mind, meanin' me debts are set to go unpaid. Unless, o' course, ye've thought of a solution?
Ardashir 	As a matter of fact, I have!
Ardashir 	Unlike the quasi-souls of golems and other constructs, the anima is unique in that it was created using the pure aetherial energies of astral and umbral nodules. As such, it bears no residual imprint of another psyche, and therefore possesses the potential for cognizance and growth.
Ardashir 	Having no reason or desire to grow, golems can typically subsist almost indefinitely on the energy of their initial aetherial infusion.
Ardashir 	The anima, however, is quite different. Being in a state of constant development, it requires a constant supply of aether. And while it is capable of sustaining itself by drawing upon the naturally occurring aether of its immediate surroundings, I have theorized that the cause of its marked growth to this point is, in fact, its close proximity with you, [Player Name].
Ardashir 	Your weapon serves as a conduit between you and the anima, feeding it energy at a steady, albeit slow, pace. If we could somehow improve the weapon's conductivity, I am certain it would promote faster growth, enhancing the anima's ability to communicate.
Ardashir 	But that is not all. Should we improve the conductivity sufficiently, the resultant strengthening of the connection between anima and wielder could, in theory, facilitate communication even in the absence of the Echo─felling two birds with but a single stone.
Ardashir 	Which is where you come in, Gerolt. Do you think you can improve the aetherial conductivity of our anima's lodgings?
Gerolt 	Hmph. I can't bloody well say no now, can I?
Gerolt 	I reckon I should be able to get the aether flowin' a bit freer between [Player Name] and the anima, but it'll come at a cost.
Gerolt 	By improvin' the weapon's conductivity, it'll become extra sensitive to anyone touchin' it, and that includes me when I'm poundin' on it with me hammer. My energies pourin' into the anima could muddle up whatever relations [Player Name]'s already got with it.
Gerolt 	I mean, if the bloody thing was to take after me instead of old [Player Name] here...
Ardashir 	Yes, yes, I will not deny that taking after a man of your...character could certainly prove problematic. But how would you go about preventing such contamination?
Gerolt 	Contamination!? Cheeky little shite! Any anima'd be lucky to take after me! Just not this one, on account o' how it's [Player Name]'s. Don't go worryin' yer pretty little head, anyway, 'cause unlike you, I think my plans through.
Gerolt 	It's a matter o' makin' me tools impassible to aether, in case yer wonderin'. Luckily, I've done summat similar before. While I was workin' with another annoyin' scholarly type, we developed a little trick called “soulglazin'.” It's used to insulate weapons, but me tools shouldn't be no different.
Gerolt 	...'Course, I didn't actually make the soulglaze meself, but I've got a fair idea what might stand in fer it. Accordin' to a glowin' ball I was talkin' to, the Allagans used summat called “aether oil” in their metalworkin', an' it did pretty much the same job.
Gerolt 	It's sure to be rare, expensive, or a bit o' both, but ye've got experience with this sort o' thing, don't ye lass/lad?
Gerolt 	So run along an' find us five pots of aether oil fer me hammer an' anvil, will ye? We're none of us gettin' any younger.
Ardashir 	...I am, of course, grateful to you for identifying a solution. It is but a pity you did not think to ask this glowing ball of yours where to acquire it. Mayhap next time you could think your plan through a little more, yes?
Ardashir 	I apologize for this gross imposition, but I fear we must have that aether oil if we are to proceed.
Ardashir 	In the meantime, Gerolt and I will continue researching how best to foster the anima's development.
 	
Ardashir 	Greetings, [Player Name]. I take it you are ready for the next step in nurturing yet another young anima.
Ardashir 	Then we must apply another coating of soulglaze to Gerolt's tools that he may safely work on the anima's vessel.
Ardashir 	As you may recall, the process calls for five pots of aether oil. I know not where you acquired them before, but I must ask that you do so again. We will have made the necessary preparations by the time you return.
 	
Ardashir 	We shall set to work as soon as you return with the aether oil. It is five pots we require, don't forget. Oh, and do remember to bring the weapon itself. We shall struggle to proceed without that!
Ardashir 	Was I not clear? If we are to improve the anima weapon's conductivity without exposing the poor thing to Gerolt's...character, we need five pots of aether oil.
Ardashir 	Well done, friend. While you were abroad acquiring these, we saw to the rather less onerous matter of our own preparations.
Ardashir 	In the process, we happened upon an archive with a particularly riveting selection of texts on aetherochemical research that may well prove useful in the future.
Ardashir 	Alas, I was only able to steal a few cursory glances at their contents as Gerolt was intent upon sneaking off to drown himself in ardent spirits. <sigh> Would that he were as keen to immerse himself in his work...
Ardashir 	Well done, friend. Preparations went fairly smoothly in your absence...despite Gerolt's best attempts to lose himself in his cups.
 	
Gerolt 	Pious little prick. A young'un like you wouldn't understand. It's me muse...me inspiration! All me best ideas come after downin' summat strong.
Ardashir 	Is that right? Then what a pity you abstained for as long as you did. Had you only been a little more inebriated, mayhap you would have devised a plan which didn't involve putting [Player Name] to such trouble.
Gerolt 	Shut yer gob an' coat me anvil with that aether oil before I crack one o' them pots over yer head.
Ardashir 	There. Applying the oil was much easier than I expected. How did you fare with your hammer?
Gerolt 	She's oiled up an' ready fer action. There's no tellin' how long the coatin'll last, though. Time to get poundin'!
 	
Ardashir 	Please do be careful, Gerolt. [Player Name] went to great lengths to procure that oil. I would not have her/him go to all that trouble again through any error on our part.
Gerolt 	I think yer forgettin' who yer talkin' to, lad. My only error's makin' weapons what're too good fer their owners─present company excepted o' course. Besides, I downed a bottle o' the good stuff not long ago. Never felt better!
Ardashir 	Well, I am glad to hear─
Ardashir 	Wait, did you say a bottle? A whole bottle!? Seven hells, man! I cannot in good conscience allow you to work in your condition!
Gerolt 	Bah! Don't be so daft. It weren't bad stuff. 'Least I don't think it was. I found it when ye were readin'─hic!─all about them aether-comical wossnames.
Gerolt 	Anyroad, there's only one way to find out how good it really was. It's─hic!─hammerin' time!
Gerolt 	Now stand back, and let the─hic!─master get to work!
Ardashir 	How...how is that possible? Such swift, precise movements. And his eyes─never have I seen them so sharp. Is he quite certain it was alcohol he drank and not some manner of invigorating tonic?
Ardashir 	No matter how many times I see it, I fail to comprehend how alcohol can inspire a man to work with such vigor.
Ardashir 	This is not the drunkard I imagined when Rowena introduced us. Mayhap...mayhap we should keep another bottle on hand. In case he should be required to craft something else, I mean.
Ardashir 	Truly the realm's most peculiar blacksmith.
Gerolt 	There! A taste o' me true talents. Next time, maybe ye'll believe old Gerolt when he tells ye about the redeemin' power of a stiff drink.
Gerolt 	Now then, [Player Name]. Hold her up and see how she feels. Like an extension o' yer arms/arms/arms/arm, I'll bet, what with the aether flowin' so free.
Gerolt 	A genuine, bona fide bleedin' masterpiece fashioned for the realm's greatest adventurer by her greatest livin'─hic!─blacksmith...!
Gerolt 	Genuine, bona fide bleedin' masterpieces fashioned for the realm's greatest adventurer by her greatest livin'─hic!─blacksmith... and !
Ardashir 	Magnificent! Simply magnificent! You can almost feel her/his aetherial energies coursing through them/them/them/it. What effect do you suppose this will have on the anima?
Bukinoseirei 	So warm...
Bukinoseirei 	I feel at peace. I feel...myself. You would share your aether─the very essence of your being─to lend me strength?
Bukinoseirei 	Then I, for my part, shall do all in my power to lend you strength in turn, and together we shall explore the realm as comrades. That is, if you will have me...?
Bukinoseirei 	So warm...
Bukinoseirei 	At last I feel...myself. You would share your aether─the very essence of your being─to support me?
Bukinoseirei 	Then I, in turn, shall do all that I can to support you, going wheresoever you go, even unto the farthest reaches of the realm. If, that is, you will take me as your companion...?
Ardashir 	[Player Name]...? I take it the anima has spoken with you once again?
Ardashir 	That was a comparatively lengthy exchange, was it not? Far longer, certainly, than the scant whispers you described before. This is progress, my friend! Tangible progress! Should our young charge continue to develop at this rate, it may not be long before Gerolt and I can converse with it! At last, our goal of a freethinking weapon is within reach!
Gerolt 	Impressed, are ye? Well, the anima weapon's just the start. Feast yer eyes on this little beauty!
Gerolt 	While [Player Name] was off lookin' fer aether oil, I went fer a little wander and this thing found me─I mean, I found it.
Gerolt 	Anyroad, seein' as there ain't much these Allagan contraptions can't do, I gave it a recipe for makin' spirits. And let me tell ye, the thing's got a real knack for─hic!─followin' instructions.
Gerolt 	With a bit o' work, I reckon we could probably teach it how to make weapons what look like the anima weapon by the bleedin' dozen!
Gerolt 	They won't be real anima weapons, o' course, on account o' there bein' no spirit inside, but ye can be sure they'll still sell. And seein' as how ye helped me get here, I'll even let you have one half-price. Can't say fairer than that, eh?
Ardashir 	Have you no decency!? We did not come here to fashion trinkets. We came here to imbue weapons with life! Life that should be respected!
Gerolt 	Respectin' life don't come into it. I came here to pay off me debts, remember. An' if that means makin' a few trinkets, I'll bloody well make 'em. Like it or not, where there's muck, there's money, an' I mean to─hic!─take it.
Ardashir 	<sigh> Drinking may have served to steady your arm, but I see your moral compass remains as wayward as ever. Plainly, there are limits to even alcohol's miraculous powers.
Ardashir 	But let us set aside Gerolt's scheming for the present. Today marks an important malmstone in our collective journey─and in your journey especially, [Player Name]. The bond you share with the anima is stronger than ever. Teach it well, and one day soon the world will look upon the brilliance of our anima weapon and wonder!
Ardashir 	Today marks an important malmstone in our collective journey─and in your journey especially, [Player Name]. You have successfully strengthened your bond with another anima. Teach it well, and one day soon the world will look upon the brilliance of our anima weapons and wonder!
Quest complete.	Quest complete.
Category:Side Story Quests in Final Fantasy XIV