Fish Time Forgot

2026-05-01T11:37:39Z

NorseE: The fish has two exclamation marks, not one. This is also described on the Fishing log page for the Lethe fishing hole.

{{Quest infobox
| title = Fish Time Forgot
| description = [[T'laqa Tia]] is pondering the past.
| image =
| quest-giver = T'laqa Tia
| related-npcs = Nele
| location = Old Sharlayan
| location-x = 4.3
| location-y = 9.6
| type = side
| quest-line = Faculty of Aetherology
| journal-section = Class & Job Quests
| journal-category = Studium Quests
| journal-genre = Faculty of Aetherology Quests
| organization =
| class = Fisher
| job =
| level = 88
| req-quest = Thou Must Live, Die, and Know
| req-items = 6 Smaragdos
| requirements =
| exp = 125400
| gil =
| reward1 = 2 Sideritis Cookie
| unlocks =
| prev-quest = The Wandering Whale
| next-quest = Pastures New
| release = Endwalker
| patch = 6.0
| id-gt = 69701
| id-edb = 82cc62a0d3b
}}

==Walkthrough==
*Head to [[Elpis]] and fish in [[Fishing Log: Lethe|Lethe fishing hole]] located on the eastern section of the northeastern island.

Recommended using {{item icon|Sky Spoon Lure}} or {{item icon|Versatile Lure}}, {{action icon|Patience II}} active, and hook with {{action icon|Powerful Hookset}} to catch the {{item icon|Smaragdos}}.

See [[Studium Deliveries#Faculty of Aetherology|Faculty of Aetherology]] for collectability requirements and rewards. These deliveries give maximum rewards at 1183+ collectability.

==Steps==
*Catch [[smaragdos]] {{collectable}} from Lethe in Elpis and deliver them to [[T'laqa Tia]]. 0/6

==Journal==
*T'laqa Tia is pondering the past.
*T'laqa Tia has asked that you supply him with smaragdos for data collection purposes.
*※Smaragdos can be fished from Lethe in Elpis using a sky spoon lure as bait.
*※Minimum collectability rating for this delivery is 503. Delivering items with a rating of 1183 or more will earn greater rewards.
*You deliver the smaragdos to T'laqa Tia. It seems the associate professor has some soul-searching to do before he will be ready to submit his thesis.

==Dialogue==
{{Dialogue|<nowiki>
===Accepting the quest===
T'laqa Tia: Oh, hello there. I've been racking my brains trying to come up with new ideas. Alas, nothing has come to me thus far.
-cutscene start
T'laqa Tia: No matter how much I ponder, I keep coming back to the same thought. I have to get my hands on some specimens from a time before Zodiark came to be.
T'laqa Tia: I simply can't accept that all the work I have put─we have put─into confirming my theory might amount to naught in the end!
T'laqa Tia: You know what? Give me any idea you've got, no matter how outlandish it may seem. Please, [Forename]! I am in dire need of inspiration!
Question: What will you say?
> So all you need is an ancient fish, right?
> You'd be surprised at what I can do...
---
T'laqa Tia: Oh, but you─ Wait... Do you truly mean it?
T'laqa Tia: As a scholar, I would love to probe deeper into the details of exactly how you mean to do this, but this is hardly the time for idle chatter. If you can indeed procure this sample for me, I beg of you, please do it!
T'laqa Tia: Why, this could very well be the solution to what I thought an insurmountable problem!
T'laqa Tia: Ideally, I would examine an ancient specimen that shares some common traits with creatures that still exist today. Reading through Professor Nele's tomes, I remember thinking that a species called the smaragdos would be perfect.
T'laqa Tia: I know not where you mean to find them, but I wish you safety and good fortune in your journey, [Forename].
System: Use a sky spoon lure to fish some smaragdos from Lethe in Elpis, and deliver them to T'laqa Tia.
-cutscene end
===Delivering smaragdos to T'laqa Tia===
T'laqa Tia: Someday, when I am done with my thesis, you will have to tell me all about how you seemingly can do the impossible.
System: Use a sky spoon lure to fish some smaragdos from Lethe in Elpis, and deliver them to T'laqa Tia.
If collectability is 503-1182:
Are my eyes to be believed? An actual smaragdos! I never imagined I'd see one outside of a book! I know not how you accomplished this, [Forename], but you have my eternal gratitude.
If collectability is 1183+:
T'laqa Tia: Are my eyes to be believed? An actual smaragdos─and it's even more impressive than anything I saw in my books! I know not how you accomplished this, [Forename], but you have my eternal gratitude.
-cutscene start
T'laqa Tia: Ah, [Forename]! I've just finished my preliminary analysis of the smaragdos, and─needless to say─it has proved truly fascinating!
T'laqa Tia: Incidentally, I recently overheard some of the senior members of the faculty discussing the days before the world was sundered. This led to me wondering just how far back you traveled.
T'laqa Tia: I have long heard rumors of a collective of goblin scientists who were attempting to traverse the fabric of time itself. To be honest, I always thought it a mere jest. But is it possible you used such a method to journey into the past yourself...?
T'laqa Tia: But I will not ask you to reveal your secrets─not now. You have provided me with exactly what I need to break this impasse in my research, and I must seize the opportunity!
T'laqa Tia: At any rate, examining the relative states of the smaragdos' scales, it appears quite evident that the levels of aether in the underwater currents fluctuated regularly even in those pre-Zodiark days.
T'laqa Tia: That said, the shifts in concentration appear much gentler compared to the present day. I suspect that the inflated aether levels of the moon caused by the presence of Zodiark are the key to explaining this change.
T'laqa Tia: Put simply, these recent incidents have a manifestation of aether levels returning to how they once were so very long ago.
T'laqa Tia: Frankly, I should be elated─this effectively proves my hypothesis correct. However, something does not sit right with me...
T'laqa Tia: I feel like I must do more than just identify what is happening. How can I sit around here in my office poring over specimens and tomes while these poor sea creatures are suffering? The next whale might very well come ashore to its doom like the fish in Thavnair!
T'laqa Tia: Oh, thank you for coming, Professor Nele! I am most pleased to say that with [Forename]'s help, I believe I'll finally be able to finish my thesis!
Nele: Is this to say that you truly were able to obtain a specimen from ancient times? Impressive. Yes, most impressive indeed...
Nele: ...Truth be told, the senior faculty of the Studium have been aware of this form of travel for some time now. Sadly, as much as I argued your case, I was strictly forbidden from granting you access to it.
Nele: Fortunate you are to have [Forename] at your side. With your diligence and aptitude, and {{alternatives|his|her}} unparalleled gleaning skills, I am expecting greater and greater things from your thesis.
T'laqa Tia: I knew it! So if I am promoted to full professorship, I might gain access to that knowledge as well? Then I must work even harder toward that goal!
T'laqa Tia: And yet, at the same time, I find myself with a dilemma. Is it not selfish of me to focus entirely on my own research at a time like this? Is it not my duty as a scholar to help in a more concrete manner?
Nele: Very astute questions, those. And questions for which you must find your own answer.
Nele: Of course, none would object if you were to publish your findings. You've done more than enough to support up-and-coming researchers at the Studium, and your work will doubtless prove a fine starting point for any who wish to explore the subject further.
Nele: There are plenty of academics who are driven wholly by their own curiosity. Who devote their entire lives to their studies, and research for its own sake.
Nele: However, there is also demand for another type of researcher: one who uses their findings to seek out tangible solutions to the problems of our world.
Nele: Your research has brought you face-to-face with innocent creatures in peril, and united you with a brave companion who has traveled to the edge of the world─and beyond─for you. It is little surprise that you might find new motivation from their presence.
Nele: Yet at the end of the day, it is your choice to make. You must decide what inspires you most as a scholar. That is all I can say.
T'laqa Tia: As always, Professor Nele has given me much to ponder. Up until now, I'd simply enjoyed solving the mysteries of the world through my research. Only now have I begun to realize there may be more to it than that.
T'laqa Tia: Forgive me, but I would like to consider the matter further. Might I be able to count on your aid again once my mind is made up?
T'laqa Tia: I swear, I feel there are no limits to what I might achieve as long as you're by my side!
System: T'laqa Tia is thrilled with your efforts. He now considers you a Fantastic Fisher!
-cutscene end
-quest complete
</nowiki>}}

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Fish Time Forgot