On Thin Ice

is a Quest in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
==Journal==
* The emergence of the dark force within Gaia has provided few answers to the questions that remain concerning its origin and true purpose. With the mysterious entity nowhere to be seen and its host having regained her senses, the rest of the group resume the plan to revitalize the element of ice, this time using Shiva as a basis for the summoning. Upon hearing of the manner in which Ysayle made herself a vessel for the primal's power, Ryne states her desire to use a similar approach. As ice naturally tends towards stasis and stillness, it is the element most closely aligned with Light, and would require far more effort to draw forth and rebalance. She claims this difficulty could be greatly alleviated by directly influencing the flow of aether by using her own body as a conduit, rather than relying solely on Eden. Your role, as ever, is to defeat the primal, although considerable care must be taken to disperse the aether without harming Ryne. As one might expect, Thancred vehemently opposes the plan at first, though he is forced to concede when met with the steely determination in her eyes. You and Ryne focus your thoughts on Shiva, and commence the summoning. With an even greater sense of trepidation than usual, you prepare for a climactic battle with the goddess of ice.
※Eden's Verse: Refulgence can be accessed via the Duty Finder.
* Despite Ryne's not-so-carefully laid plans going awry almost immediately, the battle reaches a largely satisfactory conclusion, thanks in no small part to the unexpected intervention of Gaia. Her much improved control of her dark powers is instrumental in freeing Ryne from Shiva's possession, and after the ice-aspected aether dissipates, Gaia rushes to aid the Oracle of Light. As Ryne returns to her senses, she and her unlikely savior engage in some light-hearted banter and make various plans for when they return to civilization, including making necklaces from a shard of ice left by Shiva.
* Having overcome various obstacles and hardships, you and your companions return to Eden's core. Ryne, in particular, is somewhat worse for wear, although she is also the most eager to see what change has come as a result of the extraordinary events that have unfolded.
* With balance restored to the last of the six elements, you return to the camp. For the first time since the Flood of Light, verdant green has returned to the Empty, with tufts of foliage peeking through the now fertile soil. It remains to be seen, however, if the work of rebalancing the ambient aether is truly complete, or if further challenges lie ahead.
==Objectives==
* Use the Duty Finder to enter Eden's Verse: Refulgence.
* Speak with Ryne.
==Script==
script 	script
 	
Ryne 	We still don't know exactly what happened, but at least the danger's passed for now.
Thancred 	Whatever that thing was, it was able to control a vast swarm of sin eaters, much like Vauthry. Then again, it's clearly nothing like a Lightwarden... In any case, it's gone now. I just hope it stays gone.
Urianger 	Though Gaia hath regained consciousness, I surmise that it shall be some time before she is fully recovered from her ordeal.
 	
Gaia 	You've all gone through a lot of trouble on my part. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. Anyway, I've delayed you for long enough. Please, carry on with what you came to do.
Ryne 	I'm glad you're back to your usual self, but how are you feeling?
Gaia 	Much better now, but something is still bothering me. The faerie spoke to me in a dream, and a stream of memories rushed through my mind. I don't recall anything like this happening before, and I'm not sure what it all means.
Ryne 	What sort of memories?
Gaia 	I can't make any sense of them. They were only brief flashes, seen through someone else's eyes. At least, that's what it felt like.
Thancred 	Minfilia─that is, the first Oracle of Light─once served Hydaelyn as the Word of the Mother.
Thancred 	If the Oracle of Darkness is her counterpart under Zodiark, then we had best prepare ourselves for the worst.
Urianger 	Aye, the night's return did tip the aetherial balance towards activity, which may have served to awaken the fragment of His power in the First.
Urianger 	Having thus roused, He did then fix His gaze upon she who had been marked by Darkness─Gaia.
Ryne 	Marked or no, Gaia's still her own person.
Ryne 	Hmm? Everything all right?
Gaia 	I-It's nothing.
Gaia 	Anyway, let's forget about all that for now. There'll be plenty of time to think it through once the last element's restored.
Urianger 	If thou believest thyself well enough, then I see no reason for delay. Let us forthwith attend to the revitalization of ice.
Thancred 	Shiva, then. [Player Name], as the only one here to have actually seen the primal, perhaps you could describe her for us?
Ryne 	So, she summoned into her body the imagined essence of someone who lived over a thousand years ago? That such a thing should be possible...
Ryne 	To find a kindred spirit in such an ancient and fearsome creature... I can hardly imagine what sort of a person she must've been.
Urianger 	The long since departed Shiva was a source of great inspiration to Ysayle, whose method of summoning differed greatly from any we had previously encountered.
Urianger 	By the Echo did she bear witness to the deeds of the noble Shiva, and thus was she moved to dedicate her being to that selfsame cause. 'Twas this devotion that granted her the power of a primal.
Ryne 	So, she was able to control it herself...?
Gaia 	Not getting any funny ideas, are you?
Ryne 	Ah, just thinking aloud, that's all! Anyway, we'd better get going.
Urianger 	Our journey leadeth to a great glacier situated in the northernmost region of the Empty.
Ryne 	I'll get us there as quickly as I can!
Ryne 	It's time to draw out the aether.
Ryne 	Umm... I was thinking...
Ryne 	...That I should go with you this time. I want to be the vessel for Shiva!
Ryne 	Being still and passive by nature, ice is the element that is the most strongly aligned to Light. I'll need to get close and use my own abilities as well as Eden's to draw it out.
Urianger 	So that the Oracle of Light becometh the Oracle of Ice...
Urianger 	I cannot claim to be in favor of this stratagem, and yet... The primal we encountered in the Source was summoned in much the same manner. The inherent advantages are undeniable─
Thancred 	Absolutely out of the question!
Thancred 	Have you forgotten what [Player Name] does to the primals we summon!? I'm not about to stand by and watch as s/he and Ryne beat the tar out of each other.
Thancred 	In any case, the aether only returns to the Empty once the creature's been slain, although it seems you haven't taken that into consideration yet. Presumably, there's a safe way to disperse it, but it's still far too risky.
Thancred 	...I thought you had more sense, Ryne.
Ryne 	But it's not as bad as it sounds!
Urianger 	Were the deiform entity as volatile as the primals we have previously summoned, 'twould be logical to assume that, in her role as conduit, Ryne would be hard-pressed to retain control.
Urianger 	[Player Name] would have no recourse but to defend herself/himself by any means necessary, else her/his life be forfeit.
Ryne 	I know it's dangerous, but I can't let that hold me back. Please, I've got to try!
Thancred 	But I don't see why this is even necessary in the first place. You never had to take risks like this for the other elements.
Ryne 	Eden possesses almost infinite power, but what would happen if it began acting without my intervention?
Ryne 	If it started to feed on the aether, just like other sin eaters, it would undo all of our hard work!
Urianger 	'Tis a disconcerting eventuality, and one which cannot be dismissed.
Ryne 	I'm worried that even if we realign the elements, things will eventually return to how they were following the Flood.
Ryne 	But if I train Eden how to nurture the environment rather than drain the life from it, we can leave it to take care of the Empty in our place. I'll channel the aether through myself, and show Eden how it's done!
Gaia 	This isn't some house pet we're dealing with! If it all goes wrong, then what?
Ryne 	I know this all sounds like I'm taking a leap of faith, but it has been a gamble every step of the way.
Ryne 	We've managed to come this far because of faith─in ourselves and in each other.
Thancred 	<sigh> I've made my feelings on the matter perfectly clear, but what say you, [Player Name]?
 	
Thancred 	Ryne, I suppose that if you've got your heart set on this, there's no point trying to dissuade you. Just don't do anything reckless, is that clear?
Ryne 	As crystal!
Ryne 	This is going to work, I promise. I'll make sure of it.
Gaia 	Well, for all our sakes, I certainly hope so. Because if the primal takes over...
Ryne 	It'll be fine. With all of you by my side, I know that whatever happens, it'll work out in the end.
Gaia 	All of us? I hope you're not including me. I can't even deal with my own problems, never mind yours.
Ryne 	It's enough just knowing you're here. Anyway, I've decided to take a leaf out of your book. “I do what I want, when I want.” I've made my decision, so now I have to see it through.
Gaia 	Yes, but this is a different kettle of fish altogether!
Ryne 	Well, the point is that this is what I want, and I'll do whatever it takes to make it work!
Gaia 	So, this is how much it means to you...
 	
Ryne 	I don't know how...but I can see her too! This might actually work!
 	
Ryne 	I think Eden is sending your thoughts to me! I see Ysayle... And Shiva... They only wanted peace, a land where dragon and mankind could live side by side.
Thancred 	With so many things left to chance, all I can do is wait...and pray. Do you think the Twelve can hear me here in the First?
Urianger 	Both Ysayle and Archbishop Thordan offered their corporeal forms as vessels, unto which the likenesses of preeminent figures from Ishgardian history were projected. However, the nature in which each met their demise is perhaps best not dwelled upon...
Gaia 	So, she's not just waiting for the future to arrive, but actually trying to change it?
 	
Gaia 	Ryne!
Ryne 	You were there... I heard you...
Gaia 	What happened to Shiva? Is she still in control?
Ryne 	No, she's gone... But, Gaia...
Gaia 	What?
Ryne 	That hammer... It matches your dress...
Gaia 	Hmph. I see you're back to your normal idiotic self.
Ryne 	Look... Isn't it pretty? Maybe we could take it with us?
Gaia 	Erm... Ice tends to melt, you know.
Ryne 	Not this sort.
Gaia 	Well, if you say so.
Gaia 	Anyway, it might even make a nice necklace.
Ryne 	That's a brilliant idea!
Urianger 	Wilt thou not rush to her aid?
Thancred 	Perhaps I'm getting slow in my old age, because it would seem Gaia's beaten me to it.
Thancred 	To think that she would be the one to break the ice. Ahem.
Thancred 	They may have gotten off to a rocky start, but I think they'll make quite the pair.
Urianger 	Is that a hint of melancholy I detect in thy voice? Something akin to a pining mother bird whose chicks have flown the nest...
Thancred 	Father bird, if you don't mind. But aye, you're not entirely wrong.
Thancred 	Still, when the day finally comes to say good-bye, it heartens me to know she won't be alone.
Ryne 	After that, we can go to the Second Serving for coffee biscuits!
Gaia 	Fine. You win. And if they're anything less than perfection itself, I'll never let you live it down!
Ryne 	If they're not to your liking...there are plenty of other things to try!
Gaia 	I suppose we both deserve a little treat after all that hard work. Hehe!
Ryne 	We certainly do! Hehehe!
Gaia 	There we were, laughing as if we had not a care in the world. Fleeting though it was, in that moment, I was content.
Gaia 	But my life was never meant to be so simple.
 	
Thancred 	I've had my share of close shaves, but that was...terrifying, to put it mildly. I can only hope the end justifies the means.
Urianger 	Ice, being most naturally aligned to Light among all elements, did interact with Ryne's innate gifts in ways unforeseen.
Urianger 	Were we not graced with the timely appearance of the Oracle of Darkness, I fear that this tale would have ended somewhat prematurely...
Gaia 	I let myself get a little carried away there, but I was definitely the one controlling my powers, not the other way around. Even so, I hope I never have to use them again.
 	
Ryne 	I'm so sorry, everyone. I clearly have a long way to go before I can handle that kind of power.
Ryne 	But we achieved what we set out to do, as I had faith we would. So without further ado, let's return to camp and admire our work.
 	
Ryne 	It's...life!
Quest complete.	Quest complete.
Category:Chronicles of a New Era - Eden in Final Fantasy XIV