Shadows of the First

Shadows of the First

Quest giver

Alphinaud

Location

Fortemps Manor (X:6, Y:6)

Quest line

Post-Heavensward

Level

60

Experience

 5,000

Gil

 5,000

Previous quest

Promises Kept

Next quest

Two Sides of a Coin

Patch

3.4

---

Main Scenario Progress: 362 / 853 (42.4%)

   

Heavensward Progress: 121 / 138 (87.7%)

   

“

As Alphinaud and many others know all too well, there is no rest for the righteous.

— In-game description

Rewards

• 1   Grounded Orchestrion Roll

Unlocks

• 
  Xelphatol

Steps

• Speak with Alphinaud at Camp Dragonhead.

• Speak with the steadfast knight.

• Enter Xelphatol.

• Speak with Alphinaud.

Journal

• Regardless of whether or not the Warriors of Darkness intend to kill Garuda, the fact remains that a primal summoning cannot be ignored, and should be prevented if at all possible. After some discussion, it is decided that you and Alphinaud will enter the Ixali homeland of Xelphatol by means of a mountain pass east of Camp Dragonhead. To see you to your destination with all haste, Lord Edmont will order a contingent of knights to secure the entrance and escort you as far as they are able. With the details settled, Alphinaud invites you to accompany him to Camp Dragonhead, where you may procure any additional supplies prior to departing for Xelphatol.

• In Camp Dragonhead, you are informed that the House Fortemps knights took the initiative to launch an attack on the Ixali forces guarding the entrance to the mountain pass, rendering it safe well in advance of your arrival. The enemy's gate lies open, and you and Alphinaud need only walk through.

• The knights salute as you approach and state that their scouts have observed increased activity around the First Mountain. Predicting heavy resistance, Alphinaud proposes that he and the knights feign a frontal assault, thereby drawing the defenders' attention so that you -- and any veteran colleagues you may wish to call upon -- can slip past their defenses and search for the site of the summoning ritual. If the gods are good, you will only have to deal with some few patrols, but if not, you may be forced to do battle with the Warriors of Darkness once more...
  • ※Challenge Xelphatol with other players via the Duty Finder, or with a party of NPCs via Duty Support. Both systems are accessible from the main menu as well as the dungeon's entrance point.

• In the shadow of the First Mountain, you confront the Ixali occultist overseeing the summoning ritual, and in a pitched battle manage to lay him low. Having put an end to the beastmen's ambitions, you prepare to return to Coerthas.

• Alphinaud rushes to your side, ready to fight, unaware that the threat has passed. You duly inform him that your work is done, but before you can make good your escape, you find yourselves face to face with the Warriors of Darkness. Rather than engaging you in battle a second time, their leader proceeds to set out their reason for consorting with the Ascians.

• He claims that he and his comrades hail from another world -- a reflection of the Source -- in which the power of Light is far greater than that of Dark. There, they easily bested their Ascian counterparts, only to discover that they had upset the primordial balance in so doing, triggering a flood of Light which now threatens to consume all that they sought to protect. If nothing is done, their world will soon give way to a void... as did the Thirteenth Reflection, when the Dark rose up unopposed. And so, to prevent this fate, they joined hands with the Ascians and came to the Source. Here, they intend to bring about another Umbral Calamity, for only through such unbridled destruction may the barriers between planes be broken down, and the First Reflection and the Source made one.

• Incredulous, Alphinaud demands further answers, but the Warrior of Darkness will say no more, declaring in parting that he and his comrades will do whatever it takes to see your worlds rejoined.

• To what ends must we labor for the sake of those we love? Is there any cause so noble that it may be used to justify any deed? Though he is shaken by their words, Alphinaud's resolve remains firm. Regardless of their reasons, the Warriors of Darkness cannot be allowed to achieve their goals. The sacrifice, the loss -- it ends here.

Dialogue

Speak with Alphinaud

Alphinaud: So the Warriors of Darkness and the Ascians are conspiring to bring about Garuda's summoning, that they might put her to the sword... Then when we first encountered them in Loth ast Gnath... when they were confronting Ravana... Gods, has this been their aim all along? 
Count Edmont De Fortemps: what do you intend to do, Master Alphinaud? 
Alphinaud: There is much and more I do not understand, but I know this: a primal summoning cannot be ignored. Alisaie risked her life to uncover this plot, and we squander her gift at our peril. Small, will you accompany me to Xelphatol and help me stop the Ixal's ritual?
Aymeric: Given that Ishgard shares a border with the Ixali homeland, we have a vested interest in the outcome of this ritual. We have been willing to suffer the beastmen's intrusions into Coerthan lands to a point, but the summoning of a primal is an escalation we cannot abide. You shall have our fastest airship, Master Alphinaud. The mountains of Xelphatol are not easily traversed, and this endeavor demands all haste. 
Alphinaud: The gesture is most appreciated, Ser Aymeric - but I fear an aerial approach is destined to fail. This is their homeland, after all, and Ixali dirigibles are not to be underestimated. No, experience tells me the only conceivable approach is by land. I believe it would be wiser to cross into Xelphatol by way of the mountain pass east of Camp Dragonhead. 
Count Edmont De Fortemps: In that case, I shall send instructions for a contingent of the camp's knights to be placed at your disposal. They will secure you safe passage through the mountains, and escort you thence to Xelphatol. Though my men are unqualified to confront a primal, they are more than capable of contending with the Ixal. 
Alphinaud: We should be glad of their assistance, Lord Edmont. In the event Mistress Alisaie regains consciousness, we will share with you any additional information she may provide. May the Fury watch over you and keep you safe. Then let us be off. We can procure any additional supplies we require in Camp Dragonhead.

Speak with Alphinaud at Camp Dragonhead

Alphinaud: Have everything you need, then? Excellent. The entrance to the pass is north of Natalan and due east of Camp Dragonhead. Though it is normally guarded by a score of Ixali warriors, I have been informed that House Fortemps knights have already dispatched them. The enemy's gate lies open. We need but walk through. 

Speak with the steadfast knight

Steadfast House Fortemps Knight: (Lord/Mistress) [Forename], Master Alphinaud. As you can see, the gate is ours. Be advised that our scouts are reporting increased activity around the First Mountain. Simply put, they are up to something, and don't want anyone interfering. We stand ready to escort you to Xelphatol and aid you as you see fit. 
Alphinaud: The enemy will be thick on the ground. Upon arriving, let us advance with care as we search for the site of the summoning ritual. IF the gods are good, we should only have to contend with Ixal. But if they are not, we may be forced to do battle with the Warriors of Darkness...

Post-battle

Alphinaud: So they were unable to see the ritual to its completion... The Garuda is no longer a threat, and whatever the Ascians and the Warriors of Darkness were planning has come to naught... But we should not tarry. The knights have secured our path to safety. 
???: Well, well... What do we have here? You'd better not have killed the primal without us! (Warriors of Darkness arrive)
Alphinaud: You!
Ranger of Darkness: Wait, I know you! Still walking, I see. I could have sworn my aim was true...
Knight of Darkness: Just what is your game? Leading us the long way, so these fools could step in and claim our prize? 
Devout of Darkness: Now, now. Let's not make hasty accusations. By the look of things, the ritual was proceeding as planned. We arrived at the appointed hour. 'Twas they who erred. 
Alphinaud: It is hopeless. We cannot face them all...
Ranger of Darkness: Do mine ears deceive? A boy! So that's the way of it. Twins! You had me worried for a moment there. Know that I will happily make it quicker for you...if you just stand still. (Ranger of Darkness takes out weapon).
Warrior of Darkness: Enough, J'rhoomale. We wouldn't want to upset the man in white with any unnecessary bloodshed, now would we? (Ranger of Darkness shrugs and puts away weapon). You've been awfully busy since we were kind enough to spare your lives.
Alphinaud: While you were idly consorting with Ascians, you mean? Seven hells! What could you possibly hope to achieve?  
Warrior of Darkness: Should I explain it to you? Very well. Consider it a reward of sorts for beating us here. You know the tale of Hydaelyn and Zodiark, I take it. Of the great sundering, and the reflections it created? 
Alphinaud: Across ten and three they were divided. Reflections of the Source, each possessed shards of Light and Dark...
Warrior of Darkness: Just so. One of those reflections - the one nearest to the source - is our home. And we were the heroes blessed with Her Light. (Alphinaud and Warrior of Light gasp). But not all worlds hold Light and Dark in equal measure. In ours, the power of Light was greater by far. So the Ascians who once threatened our home were no match, and they fell before us, one after another, till none were left. Victory, we thought... ...And then came the Light - a flood of pure, blinding radiance, annihilating shadow and color and life itself. Ere long, it will consume our world, leaving naught in its wake but blank perfection. 
Alphinaud: That - That cannot be! Do you honestly expect us to believe such a story!? 
Warrior of Darkness: Believe what you like. But it has happened before, on a world far removed from ours. The Thirteenth, which was swallowed by the Dark, and transformed into what you call the void. Unchallenged Light would condemn us to a similar fate. And so we joined hands with our former enemies, and with their aid came here...to the Source. For there is but one way to restore the balance and save our home: the Ardor. Calamitous destruction with the power to break down the barriers between planes, and see our worlds rejoined. 
Alphinaud: You would doom our world to save your own!? What would even become of us? Of you?
Warrior of Darkness: Enough. I tire of talking. (Pulls out weapon). You know our cause. You know what is at stake. We are prepared to do whatever it takes! Are you? (everyone disappears except for one robed person of Darkness).
Alphinaud: If there is aught you would say, say it. Otherwise, begone. You have no friends here. (person leaves).

Speak with Alphinaud

Alphinaud: All things considered, we should be grateful to have survived that encounter. ... Do you think it could be true? That to save their world, they must bring ruin to ours? No. No, it matters not. Such wanton destruction is beyond justification. Whatever their reasons, they must be stopped. The sacrifice, the loss - it ends here.