Dalmasca Westersand

Ashe

This “come in handy” often?

Balthier

It’s tough being popular. Wouldn’t want admirers dropping in while we’re away.
Well now, that’s as far as she goes.
We’ll be in jagd from here onwards.

Ashe

Across the Sandsea, to the Valley of the Dead.
And to King Raithwall’s tomb below.

Vaan

So, when you’re in Jagd, skystones don’t work at all.
That’s why we gotta hoof it the rest of the way, ya see?

Penelo

Happy you get to teach me something for a change?

Vaan

Well, if you want to be a sky pirate, you got (have) to know your –
Hey! What do you mean, “for a change” ?

Penelo

Come on –

Balthier

At least we thought to bring entertainment.

Ogir – Yensa Sandsea

Penelo

Vaan.
So, where exactly is Raithwall’s tomb?

Basch

Far to the west.
We must first cross the Ogir –Yensa, and beyond that the Nam – Yensa, before we reach the tomb.
An expanse of desert larger still than all of Dalmasca.
We must pace ourselves. If you grow tired, we stop and take rest.

Penelo

You don’t have to worry about me.
I’m tougher than I look.

Basch

You are at that.

Platform 1 - Refinery

Basch

A construct to draw oil from the ground.
Abandoned many years now, it seems.

Vaan

Did Dalmascans build this?
No. The Rozarrians.
Their empire lies far to the west, ever at war with Archadia.
Heedless of the kingdoms caught in their midst.
Dalmasca. Nabradia. Landis.

Vossler

‘Tis the small craft’s fate: to watch the list of the galleons and pray for light winds.

Basch

Vossler!
Why are you here?

Vossler

Imagine my surprise…when upon my return to Bhujerba, I find both you and the Lady Ashe have vanished.
I thought you above consorting with sky pirates.

Basch

Balthier is a man worthy of our trust.
And it was the Lady Ashe’s decision.
I am content to lend my arm.

Vossler

You walk the knight’s path.
The lady Ashe?

Fran

We should leave this place.

Balthier

Let me guess: sandstorm?

Fran

Something far worse.

Vossler

I see…so the Dawn Shard does lie in King Raithwall’s tomb.
The Marquis sympathizes with your plight, yet the Empire (watches his every move) percher as an carry-on bird on his shoulder.
He can keep whispers of your “abduction” silent for only so long.

Ashe

Yes, but tell me, Vossler, what have you accomplished?

Balthier

We leave at once!
This is Urutan – Yensa territory…and they are unfond of visitors.
Looks like we’ve attracted the wrong sort of attention.
Let’s quit this place while we still can.
Move!

Ashe

Vossler!
Have you found the means to restore Dalmasca?

Vossler

First, we must claim the Dawn Shard.
It all begins with that.

Nam – Yensa Sandsea

Sandsea Moogle

Did you see that Urutan – Yensa just now, kupo?
They’re usually a violent lot…but this one wanted help.
Interested?

Vaan

Tell me.

Sandsea Moogle

The Urutan – Yensa are all up in a panic about a creature on the Nam – Yensa Sandsea…their blood enemy, it seems!
One of them was asking for help…an Urutan – Yensa asking for help! Whatever it is, it’s got to be bad, kupo.
You look pretty strong…maybe you could have a swing at the thing, kupo? It’s supposed to be something like a giant tortoise…
He said he’d found some treasure of the Sandsea, too. Why, you might be able to claim that as a reward if you’re successful, kupo.
If you defeat this beast, you could claim the treasure of the Sandsea! Look for the tortoise, kupo!

Sandsea Moogle

You killed the wild scourge of the Sandsea, kupo!? Amaaaaazing!
By the way, that Urutan –Yensa from before…he just went by, kupo. Maybe he was going to look for that “treasure” for you? Unusually kind of him!
He was headed for the Ogir – Yensa Sandsea…

Ogir – Yensa Sandsea

Sandsea Moogle

Were you off looking for a reward, kupo? Did you find the treasure of the Sandsea?
Just where is he going, kupo?

Nam – Yensa Sandsea

Sandsea Moogle

Kupo! A gathering of the Urutan – Yensa!
A truly rare occurrence, kupo!
…Kupo? Kupo-po!?
Wait, what’s happening, kupo!?
Wait! No! They’re going to execute him!
Don’t do this! The creature would still be at large if it weren’t for his plea for help, kupo!

Queen of the
Urutan

You shame us by seeking aid outside the tribe! Urutan – Yensa are lords and masters of the great sea! We seek the aid of none!
Your words are the howling of the sand to my ears! I condemn you to dust!

Sandsea Moogle

(gasp)
Wh – Wh – What have you done, kupo!?
You bring him back!

Queen of the
Urutan

Those who sully our name will be punished, be they foeman or kin. They must pay the honor –price.
There can be no forgiveness!
I would destroy you, too…but I am merciful.
Better you live to tell the world that the Urutan are not to be taken lightly. Now, leave!

Sandsea Moogle

That rogue Urutan…he wouldn’t have been happy back with his clan, I’m sure of it, kupo.

That flower...maybe he was reborn. It's rare
for flowers to bloom in the sand. Maybe that flower was the treasure he found.

The Tomb of Raithwall

Ashe

Long ago, the gods granted their favor to King Raithwall…who would oversee the subjugation of a territory spanning from Ordalia to Valendia.
Here he forged the Galtean Alliance.
Though he is called the Dynast – King…upon establishing the Alliance, he (showed) demonstrated compassion for his people, and disdain for needless war.
A philosophy passed on to his successor.
One that would bring peace and prosperity for hundreds of years to follow.
It was during this time of peace that the city –states of Archadia and Rozarria…each members of Raithwall’s Alliance, took root and flourished.
Raithwall left three relics signifying descent from the Dynast – King.
Of these, the Midlight Shard was given to what would become House Nabradia…and the Dusk Shard to my ancestors, the founders of Dalmasca.
The last of these relics was the Dawn Shard.
It remained hidden here, known only to those of royal blood.

Vossler

As though the Dynast – King foresaw the very plight before us now.

Ashe

(Only his) None say descendants of the king are suffered within.
If we attempt to enter without proof of such lineage –

Balthier

There’s no guarantee we’ll make it out alive.
Vicious beasts.
Fiendish traps.
Something like that?

Ashe

But you must consider the prize.
The Dawn Shard lies within.
And Raithwall’s treasure.

Balthier

And there was I thinking this was going to be hard!

Vaan

What was that thing?

Balthier

A contraption you’d find in all but the most rudimentary ancient ruin. One touch, and off you’re whisked to you know not where.
The finer points of their operation elude me, but they’re handy all the same. What more need a sky pirate know?

Vaan

Fight or run, we better decide fast!

Hall of the Sentinel

Fran

The wall comes. We must be quick!
Together we can bring it down!

Royal Passage

Vossler

Incredible…It wounds me to look on as they pillage so solemn a place.

Ashe

Yet without help, you and I are as nothing.
Is this not so?
He thinks ever and always on his own profit.
Assure him of it, and he shall remain true to our cause.

Vossler

I do not share Your Majesty’s trust.

Ashe

We will continue this later.
Now we should concern ourselves with finding the Dawn Shard.
It sleeps, in waithing.
Somewhere deep within.

Vossler

How can you be certain?

Ashe

I can hear its call.

Cloister of Flame

Penelo

Fog?
Underground?

Fran

Not fog – Mist.

Penelo

You can see the Mist?
With your eyes?

Fran

Where it is thick enough, you may.
The nether runs deep in this place.

Penelo

So, is the Mist dangerous?

Fran

Yes, but it is also an aid.
A dense Mist allows the working of powerful magicks.

Penelo

I’ll keep that in mind.
Can’t count on Vaan to keep track of these things. That’s for sure.

Fran

In vainglory they arose, shouting challenges at the gods.
But prevail they did not.
Their doom it was to walk the Mist until Time’s end.
A legend of the nu mou.

Ashe

My family tells a story of the Dynast – King and an Esper.
The story goes that in his youth, the Dynast – King defeated a mighty gigas…for witch the gods took heed of him.
Thereafter, it was ever bound to him in thralldom.

Balthier

So all this time it’s been here guarding the Dynast – King’s treasure.

Ashe

Not so.
The Esper is the Dynast – King’s treasure.

Balthier

That’s your treasure?

Ashe

In this Esper we now command rests a power whose worth is beyond any measure.

Balthier

Is that so?
Call me old-fashioned, but I was hoping for a treasure whose worth we could measure.

Chamber of First Light

Basch

What’s wrong?

Vossler

Your Majesty, we must go.

Ashe

What?
Rasler…

Dreadnought Leviathan

Ghis

Such a tremendous honor to again be graced with your presence, Majesty.
You left us with such great dispatch upon our last encounter that I must confess…I had begun to worry that we may have given Your Majesty some cause for offense.

Ashe

Such a heartfelt display of remorse.
Now what is it you want?

Ghis

I want you to give me the nethicite.

Penelo

The nethicite?

Ghis

That is a base imitation!
We seek Raithwall’s legacy…the ancient relics of the Dynast – King: deifacted nethicite.
Did you not tell them, Captain Azelas?

Vossler

Majesty, he speaks of the Dawn Shard.
That is the nethicite.

Basch

Are you mad, Vossler?

Vossler

If we are to save Dalmasca, we must accept the truth.
I will fight this profitless battle no more!

Ghis

Captain Azelas has struck a wise bargain.
In return for the Dawn Shard the Empire will…permit Lady Ashe to reclaim her throne, and the Kingdom of Dalmasca will be restored.
Think on it.
An entire kingdom for a stone.
You must admit, ’tis more than a fair exchange.

Balthier

And when all is said and done, your master will have another pet.

Ghis

Lady Ashe, let us take him for the people of Dalmasca.
Your Majesty wallows in indecision on peril of their heads!
And his shall be the first to fall.

Balthier

Well at least your sword is to the point.

Ghis

To think the relics of the Dynast – King were deifacted nethicite.
Doctor Cid will be beside himself.

Balthier

What did you say?

Ghis

Captain Azelas, take them to Shiva.
They should have leave to return to Rabanastre soon.
I want you to assess its power.

Researcher

Did our orders not specify that we return the Stone for testing?

Ghis

I will not chance returning with a Stone that is yet unproven.

The 8th Fleet of the Archadian Imperial Army
Light Cruiser Class Airship SHIVA

Vossler

When we return to Dalmasca, we can announce that you are alive and well.
I will then continue our negotiations with the Empire.
I believe Larsa is the key.
He’ll listen to us.
We should trust him.

Ashe

Who are you, Vossler, to talk of trust?

Vossler

A son of Dalmasca.

Researcher

Our equipment here is limited, so we’ll be using the ship’s drive to make our assessment.
Once we’ve connected the Stone, the reaction should be easily measured-

Ghis

Methods do not interest me.
Only results.

Vaan

Fran?

Fran

Such heat.
The Mist – it’s burning!

Researcher

Sixty–eight hundred, sixty-nine hundred, seven thousand!
This must be deifacted nethicite!
The count still climbs!

Ghis

We’ve found it at last: true deifacted nethicite.
The power of the Dynast – King in my hands.
Blood alone does not an emperor make, Vayne.

Researcher

What is this?
Something’s wrong!

Ghis

What is it?

Imperial

You! Stand!

Vossler

Hold her down!

Penelo

What’s wrong with her?

Balthier

I always knew Fran didn’t take well to being tied up.
I just never knew how much.
How about you?

Ashe

I like Fran’s idea.
Let’s get out of here!

Vossler

No farther!
Sky pirates! The future of Dalmasca will not be stolen!
Why do this, Basch? This struggle is futile.
You must know where it leads!

Basch

I do know.
All too well.

Researcher A

Engine power falling rapidly.
It’s…negative? Impossible!
We cannot maintain hover!

Ghis

I want to know what’s happened!

Researcher B

The nethicite’s draining the ship’s power!

Ghis

Disengage it at once!

Researcher B

We’re trying.
It’s no good!

Researcher C

It’s inflected!

Researcher A

She’ll reach critical in three hundred!
Cascade failure!

Balthier

Ashe, let’s go.

Vossler

All I have done –
I’ve ever thought of Dalmasca first.

Basch

I know you do.
I would ne’er gainsay your loyalty.

Vossler

Look on what my haste has wrought.
Did I act too quick?
Or was your return too late?
I can serve her no more.
You must take up my charge.

Balthier

This might get a little dicey!

Fran

The Mist.
It manifests now.

Vaan

I that what you call this?

Penelo

What’s that?

Ashe

I think it’s the Dawn Shard!

Balthier

Then what are we waiting for?

The Dreadnought Leviathan is sunk. The 8th Fleet of the Archadian Imperial Army, lost.
As Word of the Events in the Jagd sounded throughout the Empire, quit I Bhujerba, citing sudden Malady.
My true Motive: to bring the various counter – Imperial Forces scattered throughout Ivalice together in unified Resistance.
By this time, Lady Ashe had made her Return to Rabanastre. She had not, however, made known her Presence. Rather, she was content with keeping both her own Whereabouts, and those of the Dawn Shard, concealed.
Had she chosen then to go before her People, my Error in announcing her Suicide would be known, to the great Detriment of my Efforts to assemble a Resistance.
In such Circumstance as the Lady Ashe then found herself, even were she to proclaim Dalmasca restored, it would serve only to invite the Empire’s Wrath.
Though Archadia had lost her 8th Fleet, she remained, as ever, a Military Power with which to be reckoned.

Memoirs of Mqs Halim Ondore IV.

Chapter 16: Biding Time