Fragments of Truth

is a Quest in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
==Journal==
* You have scarcely exchanged two sentences with Urianger when Alisaie appears seeking the Archon's counsel on how to gain entry to the remaining internment hulks. Urianger suggests that she return to the connecting fragments of Dalamud in your company, in hopes that your presence will set events in motion, as it has so often in the past. In the meantime, the Archon promises to seek answers of his own. Make your way to the fragment situated at the Burning Wall in eastern Thanalan, and speak with Alisaie's assistant who has been reconnoitering the site.
* To your disappointment, Alisaie's assistant reports that he has been unable to identify a viable path to the fragment's exterior, let alone a means to access its interior. Just as you are about to leave for Mor Dhona, where the next fragment lies, he adds that he has lost contact with his brother there. Make haste to the Singing Shards, and ensure that the man does not come to harm.
* You arrive at the Singing Shards just in time to prevent Alisaie's second assistant from coming to a sticky end. Unfortunately, the news he has for you is not good. If the fellow is to be believed, there will be no entering the fragment of Dalamud in Mor Dhona. Moments later, however, Urianger contacts you via linkpearl to notify you that he may have found a way to breach the remaining fragments. Make haste to the Ceruleum Processing Plant in northern Thanalan, where the Archon will furnish you with the details.
* Urianger explains to you the method which he and certain other nameless individuals have conceived to reach the remaining internment hulks. Requiring that the laws of aetherial travel be bent to breaking point, the process entails considerable danger, but Alisaie is willing to take the risk. Meet her at the crystal formation known as Dalamud's Talons situated to the north of the plant.
* Alphinaud arrives at Dalamud's Talons shortly after you do, revealing himself to be Urianger's mysterious collaborator. Having questioned his twin on the origin of her resolve, he declares that he will be joining your party on this descent into the Binding Coil. Speak with Erkenrad at the Ceruleum Processing Plant when you are ready to embark upon your mission.
* Erkenrad acknowledges your readiness. At your word, you and your comrades will be transported directly inside the first of the two remaining internment hulks. Upon arrival, you must make your way to the main bridge and disable the coil responsible for Bahamut's regeneration. Spare no preparation and expect fierce resistance.
※The Final Coil of Bahamut can be accessed via the Duty Finder.
==Objectives==
* Speak with Alisaie's assistant at the Burning Wall.
* Rescue Alisaie's assistant at the Singing Shards.
* Speak with Urianger at the Ceruleum Processing Plant.
* Speak with Alisaie.
* Speak with Erkenrad.
==Script==
script 	script
 	
Urianger 	Man is wont to cast light wheresoever secrets lie hid in darkness─though that which he illuminateth seldom bringeth him joy. So it is with such unhappy truths as Bahamut's immense shadow doth conceal.
Urianger 	Yet ever onward forgeth Mistress Alisaie, undeterred by the burden of knowledge that weigheth heavy on her heart. 'Tis a perilous path she hath chosen, and a painful one. I prithee, [Player Name], remain by her side as her valiant blade, that she might see her quest to its conclusion.
Alisaie 	[Player Name]─it is well that you are here.
Urianger 	My lady. How might I serve you this day?
Alisaie 	I have met with some difficulty in my mission, Urianger, and I should be grateful for your counsel.
Alisaie 	As you know, Bahamut's physical form is regenerating beneath the Carteneau Flats even as we speak.
Alisaie 	If we are to prevent his return, we must needs disable the two remaining internment hulks that sustain him.
Alisaie 	Every moment our mission is delayed, the realm is pushed closer to the brink of destruction.
Alisaie 	Alas, though I have determined the locations of the fragments of Dalamud leading to the hulks, I have been unable to find a way to enter them.
Urianger 	...And gaining admittance is but the first step in your perilous undertaking.
Urianger 	When last thou descended into Bahamut's subterranean fastness, thou didst discover, didst thou not, that the dread primal had bound the shade of Nael van Darnus unto his will.
Urianger 	And though thou didst consign the fallen legatus to blessed oblivion, thou mayest recall that the piteous wretch was not alone. Doubt not but that Bahamut's other thralls shall seek to hinder thy passage.
Alisaie 	...You can say his name, Urianger. I have not forgotten that my grandfather is waiting for us.
Urianger 	My lady. I would remind you, as I must oft remind myself, that the man whom we both loved and revered is no more. What remaineth is but a shade which defileth his memory.
Urianger 	The vile verbiage that spilleth from his lips must not be heeded, for it cometh not from your grandsire, but from Bahamut himself.
Alisaie 	You need not worry, Urianger. Come what may, I will not stray from the course.
Alisaie 	I will not let Grandfather's sacrifice be in vain!
Alisaie 	<sigh> But mere words will not take us whither we must go. As I said, I have been unable to find a way to enter the fragments of Dalamud...
Urianger 	My lady, might I suggest that you visit the fragments again in [Player Name]'s company? Full oft hath the Warrior of Light set events in motion by virtue of her/his presence alone. 'Tis possible that s/he may do so again.
Urianger 	I, the while, shall search for answers of mine own. By our efforts combined, full sure am I that the path shall be revealed to us ere long.
Alisaie 	...Were it anyone else, I should question the wisdom of such advice. Yet I cannot deny that what you say about [Player Name] is true... Very well, I shall do as you suggest.
Alisaie 	...Assuming you have no objections, of course? Good. Now, we seek entry to two fragments of Dalamud. One lies at the Burning Wall in eastern Thanalan, and the other at the Singing Shards in Mor Dhona.
Alisaie 	I left an assistant at each location with instructions to continue searching for a means of ingress. It is not impossible that they could since have found something useful to us. Let us begin by visiting my man at the Burning Wall. Deks, I think it was.
 	
Alisaie's Assistant	I say, are you not Mistress/Master [Player Name], my lady's most faithful companion? Sinis, madam/sir, at your service! And may I say what an honor it is to meet you!
Alisaie 	How goes the survey, Deks?
Alisaie's Assistant	Ahem. My lady! It shames me to say that I have found no viable path to the fragment.
Alisaie's Assistant	Though it stands there, before our very eyes, the way thither has thus far proven impassable.
Alisaie's Assistant	When the fragment fell and pierced the land, it caused a prodigious amount of aether to spew forth.
Alisaie's Assistant	'Twas this that gave rise to the land's twisted lay, which seems destined to thwart our efforts.
Alisaie's Assistant	Even were an opening to exist, I fear that we would struggle to reach it.
Alisaie 	We cannot give up. Keep trying.
Alisaie 	So near and yet so far... Well, it avails us naught to stand here and stare at the thing. Let us away to Mor Dhona, and try the other fragment. Perhaps Sinis has fared better.
Alisaie's Assistant	Ah! U-Upon that note, my lady, there is something I must tell you. I am sorry to report that I lost contact with my brother just over a bell ago...
Investigatora00043 	A-As you know, the Singing Shards are home to many fell creatures, ogres among them... While I do not wish to cause you undue alarm, I fear something unspeakable may have happened to Deks.
Alisaie 	What!? Why didn't you─!? Give me strength!
Alisaie 	We must hurry to my assistant's aid, [Player Name].
 	
Alisaie's Assistant	The Singing Shards are home to a host of fell creatures, ogres among them... If it would not be too much trouble, I should be most grateful if you would find my brother and keep my lady safe.
 	
Alisaie's Assistant	Thank you, adventurer! For a moment there, I feared that my bones were to be ground up and used to bake bread!
Alisaie 	I am relieved to see that you are unharmed. It was wrong of me to press such a dangerous task upon you.
Alisaie's Assistant	M-M-My lady! Your worries are wasted on me! 'Twas nothing at all, I assure you!
Alisaie's Assistant	Ahem! If it please you, I shall report on my findings.
Alisaie's Assistant	As you can see, though the tip of the fragment is exposed, the rest is encased in rock and crystal, rendering it impossible to enter the structure.
Alisaie's Assistant	We might try excavating the area around the fragment, but that is like to take time─and there really is no telling how deep we may need to dig before we find a suitable point of ingress.
Alisaie's Assistant	As such, I am forced to conclude that gaining entry to this fragment is unrealistic. Forgive me, my lady.
Alisaie 	Confound it... We are losing precious time. What are we to do now?
Urianger 	'Tis I, Urianger. Glad tidings have I for thee and my lady.
Urianger 	For a blessing, a way hath been found by which thou mayest enter the remaining fragments of Dalamud.
Urianger 	Pray escort Mistress Alisaie to the Ceruleum Processing Plant in northern Thanalan. There, all shall be made clear.
Alisaie 	Urianger has found a way!?
Alisaie 	Then we must go to him at once!
 	
Alisaie's Assistant	You needn't linger on my account. Should Master Urianger's method prove viable, rest assured I shall put many malms between myself and this place.
 	
Urianger 	Mine apologies for summoning you thus from afar, my lady, but 'tis here that your journey may finally begin.
Alisaie 	I did wonder. To my knowledge, there are no fragments in northern Thanalan.
Urianger 	Nor are you mistaken, my lady. Yet a pathway doth exist─one which you yourself have made use of in the past.
Urianger 	At the conclusion of your several forays into the Binding Coil, 'twas at the crystal formation which lieth to the north of this place that you did emerge, was it not?
Alisaie 	Yes. An aetherial stream bore us back to the surface─that much I had surmised. Are you suggesting that we can use it to return underground?
Alisaie 	And even if that were possible, would it not simply bear us back to those places which we have already explored?
Urianger 	It need not, my lady. Pray allow me to explain. Upon the evidence of your experience, it seemeth plain that two internment hulks may share the selfsame aetherial egress. From this, we did infer that others may be connected in like wise. Thus did we labor long to verify the existence of further tributaries to the selfsame stream─in which task we were at length successful. 'Twas then but a matter of arriving at a solution to the problem of traveling to an unattuned destination...
Urianger 	That one might reach what we may call the headwater, we propose to employ a modified aetheryte which serveth to amplify such ripples as do originate from said source. By focusing one's essence upon these ripples, it should be possible to make the journey. Yet be fairly warned, my lady: as with all untried modes of aetherial travel, this method entaileth considerable danger. Merely to attempt the voyage could cost you your life.
Alisaie 	That is a risk I am willing to take! You are brilliant, Urianger!
Alisaie 	But I am curious... Did you have assistance in forming this plan? I could not help noticing your repeated use of the word “we”─unless you have taken to using the majestic plural in our absence?
Urianger 	...Ah. Ahem. Nay, my lady. As you have correctly surmised...I was not alone in this endeavor.
Alisaie 	...Meaning there are others who are aware of our mission.
Alisaie 	Well, it cannot be helped now. Preventing Bahamut's return is what matters. If some secrecy must be sacrificed to achieve our goal, then so be it.
 	
Urianger 	Verily, 'twas not my wish to withhold knowledge of the aid I received... I pray that Mistress Alisaie will forgive me when she learneth of its source...
 	
Alisaie 	So that must be the modified aetheryte. But what are the Immortal Flames doing here...?
Alphinaud 	Those men may be sworn Flames of Ul'dah, but they are first and foremost faithful retainers of House Leveilleur.
Alisaie 	Alphinaud!? So it was you who was helping Urianger!
Alphinaud 	Who else could it have been, dear sister?
Alphinaud 	Lest you worry, I have no intention of making the details of your venture public. Like you, I would prefer to avoid causing a panic.
Alphinaud 	But given that which is at stake─namely, the survival of the realm─one must be willing to accept help when it is offered. Would you not agree?
Alphinaud 	At the very least, do not be cross with Urianger─'twas at my behest that he kept silent.
Alisaie 	Hmph! We will speak later!
Urianger 	Pray forgive me, my lady, but knowing full well your intent, I judged it meet that Master Alphinaud be informed.
Urianger 	Though your grandsire hath become Bahamut's thrall, his noble blood courseth yet through both your veins, and if he must needs be struck down─
Alisaie 	Do you hear that, Alphinaud? I mean to strike down Grandfather! And when I have done so, I shall banish Bahamut to the aether!
Alisaie 	Nothing you say will sway me from my course! I will protect Eorzea, and I will uphold Grandfather's legacy!
Alphinaud 	Grandfather's legacy...? So you still do not know what you yourself desire. Your actions are still driven by borrowed resolve.
Alisaie 	Borrowed resolve!? What does that have to do with anything!?
Alisaie 	Protecting Eorzea was Grandfather's goal, and we made it ours─both of us! That is why we came here, unless you have forgotten!
Alphinaud 	Gods forbid I should ever forget, Alisaie. But you misunderstand. I do not question your resolve, only whence it came. If it were your own, you would be able to tell me precisely why you desire so fervently to protect Eorzea.
Alphinaud 	Yet you cannot, for it is not your resolve, but Grandfather's. You may struggle to see the difference, but borrowed resolve shall never be as strong as that which springs from within.
Alphinaud 	...But let us speak of this another time. For now, preventing Bahamut's return is all that matters.
Alphinaud 	To be plain, I have no objection to striking down whatever is left of Grandfather. Know, however, that I will be accompanying you this time. As a son of House Leveilleur, I would be present for his final moments.
Alisaie 	...Very well. You may join us...on one condition: I make the decisions.
Erkenrad 	If it please milady, the name's Erkenrad. Our preparations are just about complete.
Erkenrad 	When you're ready to embark on your mission, just give me the word. I'll be waiting for you at the Ceruleum Processing Plant.
Alisaie 	Pay no heed to my brother. You can rely on me. We have come far together, you and I, and together we shall see our journey to its end.
 	
Erkenrad 	I've been waiting for you, Mistress/Master [Player Name]. I'm pleased to say that the aetheryte's primed and ready.
Erkenrad 	As you know, the remaining internment hulks are connected to the fragments in eastern Thanalan and Mor Dhona. It's to the former that we'll be sending you first.
Erkenrad 	Now, you'll be starting inside the hulk, meaning you won't have to cover so much ground─the drawback being that you'll be fighting for your life from the moment you get there. Best be prepared for anything, for milady's sake if not your own.
Erkenrad 	And that's about all I can tell you. When your preparations are in order, just give me the word, and I'll send you on your way. I may even throw in a prayer for your speedy return just to be on the safe side.
 	
Alphinaud 	So this is how it looks on the inside...
Alisaie 	This internment hulk still functions...
Alisaie 	The teleportation was a success─we are come to the right place.
Alisaie 	There is no telling how much further Bahamut has regenerated since we last beheld him.
Alisaie 	Let us make haste to the main bridge and deactivate the coil.
Alisaie 	There were receptacles similar to these in the previous hulk.
Alisaie 	Those held chimerical beasts, but only the Allagans know what other abominations may be sleeping within.
Alisaie 	They may well be part of Dalamud's internal defenses. We must stay on our guard at all times.
 	
Alisaie 	By the Twelve... Dragons...and so many...
Alisaie 	We were aware that the Allagans possessed the means to control the creatures, but to imprison them thus is...barbaric. I would not wish such a fate upon my worst enemy.
Alisaie 	'Tis plain that no love was lost between the Allagans and the dragons, but was it truly necessary to keep so great a number here?
Alisaie 	Dalamud did not want for defenses, this we have experienced firsthand. Such guardians as the Allagans created─both living and unliving─were surely no less capable of repelling intruders than these poor creatures...
Alphinaud 	Tell me something, Alisaie.
Alphinaud 	Have you not managed to determine by whose will Bahamut exists?
Alisaie 	No, I have not. At first, I assumed that Bahamut had no people of his own─that the Allagans had perhaps discovered a way to simulate prayer itself.
Alisaie 	However, Nael's words gave me cause to reconsider─specifically, the shade's mention of Bahamut's “beloved children.”
Alisaie 	From that, I inferred that the primal is given form by the will of worshipers whom we have yet to─
Alisaie 	Oh.
Alisaie 	Gods strike me down for a blind fool!
Alisaie 	Bahamut's beloved children, right there before my very eyes... How could I be so stupid?
Alisaie 	Who else but the dragons of eld would summon Bahamut? Who else but they could sustain him? And to think I wondered why the Allagans kept them imprisoned here!
Alphinaud 	Even should the flame of Bahamut's life go out, his faithful children would summon him back.
Alphinaud 	For this reason, the Allagan Empire kept an army of dragons here in a perpetual state of duress, that they might sustain the primal's existence.
Alphinaud 	Truly, the Allagans' ingenuity knew no bounds...and neither did their cruelty.
Alisaie 	Small wonder that Bahamut was so enraged! Let no one deny that it was man who sowed the seeds of the Calamity!
Alphinaud 	Will you now turn your hatred towards our own kind, dear sister?
Alisaie 	Do not patronize me, Alphinaud. I merely acknowledge our guilt.
Alisaie 	Lest you be in any doubt, I have no intention of allowing Bahamut to lay the world to waste, regardless of the atrocities the Allagans committed against his kind. We have no choice but to eliminate all who worship him, be they his children or his thralls.
Alisaie 	It seems reasonable to assume that the system responsible for the primal's regeneration is also responsible for sustaining the captive dragons. If we disable it, all should perish. Let us press on.
 	
Alphinaud 	Why, this looks like...
Alisaie 	A model of Dalamud, yes.
Alisaie 	For millennia, Bahamut must have gazed at this unchanging view.
Alisaie 	Trapped inside a prison that was scarcely large enough to contain him, unable to move, denied the release of death... How his hatred for man must have burned.
Alisaie 	And that hatred found an ideal vessel in Nael van Darnus.
Alisaie 	In many ways, Bahamut is to be pitied, not loathed. But knowing the true extent of his fury, I am more convinced than ever of the necessity of our endeavor.
Alisaie 	Besides...his is not the only soul that cries out for vengeance!
Quest complete. 	Quest complete.
Category:Chronicles of a New Era - Bahamut in Final Fantasy XIV