A Cosmic Homecoming
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A Cosmic Homecoming
- Quest giver
- Namingway (NPC)
- Location
- Old Sharlayan (X:12.6, Y:13.6)
- Quest line
Records of Unusual Endeavors Quests
┗ Cosmic Exploration Main Quests- Level
- 10
“An oddly dressed Loporrit seeks long-eared leads.
— In-game description
Rewards
- Unlocks
Steps
- Wait at the designated location in Mare Lamentorum.
- Speak with Drivingway.
- Speak with Drivingway again.
- Speak with Searchingway.
Journal
- An oddly dressed Loporrit seeks long-eared leads.
- The crimson-garbed Loporrit, Namingway, explains that when he was sent to study Etheirys over a hundred years ago, his survey pod suffered critical damage, leaving him stranded with no way of contacting Bestways Burrow. Only recently did he arrive in Old Sharlayan, pursuing rumors of Loporrit sightings, and he is elated to discover the recent advent of moon travel. After directing him to the Tower of Babil, you agree to meet him in Mare Lamentorum so that he might be greeted by a familiar face upon arrival.
- After quite some time trudging through frozen fields and past defunct magitek, Namingway arrives to meet you in Mare Lamentorum. Together, you enter Bestways Burrow, where is promptly spotted - and interrogated - by Searchingway and the other Loporrits. The revelation that Etheirys no longer be evacuated comes as a massive shock to Namingway, but Searchingway encourages him to repurpose his skills for a different project: the Cosmic Exploration Initiative. Lured by the prospect of uncharted frontiers, both he and you agree to take part.
- Searchingway explains that the Cosmic Exploration Initiative is headquartered some distance away. Fortunately, you may enlist the aid of Drivingway to be shuttled safely to the base.
- You and Namingway ride the moon rover to the Moongate Hub, where you are welcomed by an eager Searchingway. He has much to tell you about the current state of the project and the assistance he hopes each of you will offer.
- ※You can now travel to the Moongate Hub by speaking with Drivingway in Bestways Burrow.
- Searchingway shares that the Cosmic Exploration Initiative is run by a diverse crew of volunteers, from Loporrits to Sharlayan academics. Together, the team must construct a vessel for interplanetary travel, the facilities necessary to house and maintain such a vessel, and other machinery required for the exploration of unknown stars. While Namingway is directed to pursue his passion of assigning appellations, Searchingway gives you an exotablet with which to stay apprised of the latest developments and requisitions, and suggests you find missions to participate in as you explore the base.
Dialogue
Accepting the quest (cutscene)
Namingway: Greetings and salutations, my good <gender noun>. I am called Namingway, and as for you...I suppose we shall see! Namingway: For the moment, I am in need of directions. I have heard tell of other Loporrits roaming this city─long-eared and charmingly fuzzy, like myself. Might you have seen any?
What will you say? > You bet I have! > I met a colony of them on the moon.
< You bet I have! > Namingway: So you have? Where precisely did you see them? And doing what?
< I met a colony of them on the moon. > Namingway: You... You've met the entire fluffle? How ever did you get up there?
Namingway: I see. So the people of Etheirys have but recently secured a reliable means of transit to the moon.
Namingway: Why did I not hear about this sooner? If what you say is true... Namingway: At long last, I can return home to my beloved Mare Lamentorum! Oh, happy day! Namingway: You would not believe what I've endured on this star. It's been one ordeal after another! Namingway: I first set out to study Etheirys over a hundred years ago. Mine was a solitary mission, yet one of tremendous importance, and I had vowed to see it through. Namingway: Alas, my survey pod suffered a bit of a rocky landing. Smashed to smithereens! And thus was I stranded on this star with no method of contacting my compatriots. Namingway: But did I despair? No, I did my duty. I scoured every inch of this world all on my lonesome, trusting that someday, somehow, I would make it home! Namingway: It was not until recently, however, that the rumor of moonfolk descending upon this bastion of scholars reached my ears. Namingway: I immediately stowed away on a vessel bound for Old Sharlayan to investigate their veracity...and here we are. Namingway: For so long, I have yearned to return home to Bestways Burrow and reunite with my comrades. Please, will you tell me how to reach Mare Lamentorum? Namingway: The Tower of Babil, you say? As I myself visited Garlemald some few decades ago, I daresay I'll have no trouble finding my way there again. However... Namingway: After a hundred years away, I'm not sure what manner of welcome awaits me. Given your familiarity with my kin, perhaps you could serve as...moral support? Namingway: Oh, thank you! I'm fortunate indeed to have crossed paths with someone so kind. Then without further ado, I shall meet you in Mare Lamentorum!
Wait at the designated location in Mare Lamentorum (cutscene)
System: Some time later...
Namingway: Phew! That certainly wasn't my idea of a relaxing climb. Your lot should really consider giving that old tower a fresh coat of paint─or at least removing some of its more sinister devices. Nevertheless, here I am. Namingway: A few things may have changed in my absence, but there's no mistaking it: I've come home! Namingway: And it seems the lights are on at the burrow... Shall we?
Loudly Whispering Loporrit: That can't be him. Surely it's not him...is it!?
Openly Staring Loporrit: There's no mistaking that red garb!
Namingway: Yes, it is I, Namingway! I am ever so glad to see you all awake!
???: Namingway!? ???: It is you! Where have you been for the past century!?
Namingway: Searchingway! Namingway: I was surveying Etheirys, as you ordered, but I'm afraid there were complications...
Searchingway: So the survey pod was destroyed? What a catastrophe!
Namingway: It certainly hindered my ability to travel. Regardless, my mission was a success, and I return to you now with a shocking revelation. The people of Etheirys, you see... Namingway: Are tiny! Every last one!
Searchingway: Tragic, isn't it? But we've been aware for some time, what with our regular encounters with <forename> and <his/her> fellows. Searchingway: You may find this hard to believe, but the Final Days have been averted entirely. There's no need to evacuate Etheirys─our job is done!
Namingway: ...Our what is WHAT!? Namingway: You mean to tell me...an entire century of hard work has come to naught?
Searchingway: Don't lose heart, my friend. We Loporrits may no longer have a Hydaelyn-given purpose, but we are free to discover new dreams of our own! Searchingway: And be it through painting, musicking, or broadcasting, we're finding ever more ways to connect with the people of Etheirys!
Namingway: Really? What's your new dream, Searchingway?
Searchingway: My dream? Searchingway: MY dream!? Searchingway: Why, I have the grandest dream of all! I call it... Searchingway: The Cosmic Exploration Initiative! Searchingway: ...Not bad for a novice, eh? Though naming was always your forte, not mine. Searchingway: It was you who suggested “carrots of happiness,” not to mention “Bestways Burrow”─and that was before you got a full century of added insight under your belt! Searchingway: What if we found a new purpose for all that you've learned? Imagine how many discoveries await us on other stars. They'll need names, you know!
Namingway: You want me to name your discoveries? Namingway: Not for duty's sake, but for the simple joy of it? Namingway: Why, I should be glad to! I can think of no nomenclatural prospect more enticing.
Searchingway: What about you, <forename>? Searchingway: Won't you join us at the final frontier? Think of the strange new worlds just waiting to be explored!
What will you say? > We shall go, and go boldly! > Certainly. After all, I'm not the one in a red shirt. > (If Island Sanctuary unlocked) Add some mammets to the cargo list. Oh, and rock salt.
Searchingway: Fantastic! Welcome aboard! Searchingway: I'll have Drivingway take you to our base of operations straightaway!
Optional Dialogue
Namingway: After more than a hundred years on Etheirys, it's hard to believe I'll be exploring the stars next. What could be out there? The possibilities are infinite! I must pack more dictionaries!
Searchingway: This dependable comrade in the dashing sunglasses is none other than the master of vehicular traversal, Drivingway!
Speak with Drivingway again
Drivingway: Looking for a ride on the burrow's best rover?
Searchingway: <forename> and Namingway have joined the project! I'd like you to take them to the hub.
Drivingway: You got it, boss. We'll be cruising across the craters in no time. Drivingway: Listen here: the base is a long way out. No aetheryte on account of the magnetic interference, so it's my way or the highway, got it?
Searchingway: Safety first─we wouldn't want anyone to go flying off into the cosmos just yet! I'll take my own vehicle and meet you there.
Drivingway: Keep your tails in your seats and all of your paws inside the rover, 'cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride. Hop in.
Cutscene
Searchingway: Welcome to the Moongate Hub, home of the Cosmic Exploration Initiative!
Optional Dialogue
Namingway: So much to see! So much to name!
Speak with Searchingway
Searchingway: Now that you're here, allow me to explain the course I've charted for this project!
Cutscene
Searchingway: There's a lot of work to be done, but our first priority is the completion and maintenance of our base here. After that... Searchingway: The sky's the limit! ...Somewhat literally, as I discovered. An entirely new starship is required for our mission, as apparently I'm not authorized to fly the whole moon off to “Mother knows where.” Searchingway: I plan for our ventures to be only moderately death-defying, so it's vital that we have a dock for landing our craft and facilities for its maintenance as well. Searchingway: We also require specialized machinery for surveying and recovering materials...but you needn't worry. The work will be divided amongst all of us!
Namingway: Will it indeed? I wager it would take an army to handle all of that...
Searchingway: Oh, we have plenty of volunteers. Loporrits, Studium faculty, gleaners...none can resist the siren song of the unknown! Searchingway: Our preparations are far from complete, but we're proceeding at a comfortable pace. Searchingway: For your part, you can begin by having a look around and familiarizing yourselves with Sinus Ardorum. Searchingway: Namingway, if you see anything you don't recognize, your task is to think of a fitting name and report back! I'll ensure it's made official.
Namingway: An invigorating assignment if ever there was one! I do so enjoy my carefully considered monikers entering the common parlance.
Searchingway: <forename>, I'd like to make full use of your artisanal skills. Searchingway: Naturally, for an operation of this scale, communication is paramount. Take this exotablet─standard issue for members of our initiative. Searchingway: It displays our team's progress and requisitions, updated in real time! Searchingway: We're also designing proprietary tools for crafting and gathering across the cosmos. I'll provide you with a prototype, but you'll need to speak with Researchingway for the details. Searchingway: And with that, I think I've gone on for long enough. Assisting with missions around the base will help you understand the initiative better than any explanation from me. So I bid you...go forth!
Namingway: Rest assured I'll do my part! No novelty shall go unnamed on my watch!
System: You have been issued an exotablet. You may review the latest project developments at any time within cosmic exploration areas. System: Take part in missions to further exploration of the sea of stars and aid Searchingway and his crew in realizing their dream!
Trivia
The dialogue in this quest has some references to Star Trek: The Original Series:
- The dialogue with Searchingway combined with the player's first dialogue choice, closely resembles the narration in the show's title sequence.
- The "red shirt" remark is likely a reference to the term redshirt, which refers to a character who is killed very soon after they are introduced. The term originates from Star Trek, as red shirts are worn by low-ranking engineering or security officers, and these characters tend to be killed off in the same episode where they are introduced.