Black and the White

Black and the White

Quest giver

Alphinaud

Location

The Sea of Clouds (X:11, Y:14)

Quest line

Heavensward Main Scenario

Level

57

Experience

 52,260

Gil

 502

Previous quest

Devourer of Worlds

Next quest

Bolt, Chain, and Island
Nutritious and Delicious
The Feast Must Go On
Sleepless in Ok' Zundu
Flying the Nest
Growing Pains
Ok' Zundu's Got Talent
Lazing Saddles
The Black Storm

Patch

3.0

---

Main Scenario Progress: 312 / 853 (36.6%)

   

Heavensward Progress: 71 / 138 (51.4%)

   

“

Alphinaud has that familiar look in his eye, which can mean only one thing...

— In-game description

Steps

• Speak with Lonu Vanu.
• Greet Kunu Vali with a /bow.
• Speak with Alphinaud.

Journal

• Alphinaud asserts that the Heavens' Ward, wielding primal powers, are more than capable of slaying Bismarck. Therefore, the only way to ensure that the archbishop does not obtain the key to Azys Lla is to do so first. Before confronting the Vanu Vanu's patron deity, of course, it would only be prudent to learn more of its nature. Perhaps Lonu Vanu can furnish you with the information you require.

• Lonu Vanu suggests that you speak with Kunu Vali, keeper of tales. He cautions you, however, that the keeper is the traditional sort -- the kind of Vanu who is not given to speaking with those who neglect to greet him with a /bow.

• Heeding your request, Kunu Vali recounts the tale of Bismarck's death at the hands of his brothers and of his heavenly rebirth. The keeper further explains that Bismarck is a merciful, loving being, who guided the Vanu to the islands in the Sea of Clouds -- a depiction wholly at odds with his recent behavior. Seek out Alphinaud and share your findings with him and Cid.

• Inspired by a comment of Alphinaud's on the subject of skyfishing, Cid conceives a plan to slay Bismarck. By towing a small island through the Sea of Clouds, he hopes to lure the ravenous primal out of hiding, and drag the beast in close with chains fired from dragonkillers. Should the plan succeed, you would be able to engage Bismarck directly -- but should it fail, you and your allies would be at the creature's mercy. For want of a better idea, Alphinaud endorses the plan. Now all you need is an island...

Dialogue

Optional Dialogue

Cid: Could we not just leave the key to the forbidden land in the island-eating whale's belly? I mean, I can think of worse places to keep it. ...No? I thought not.

Sonu Vanu: As saplings bask in the warmth of the sun, so too may netherlings partake of our hospitality.

Lonu Vanu: With every dawn, fewer and fewer remain, so great is the White's hunger...

Accepting the Quest

Alphinaud: So Azys Lla is home to forbidden secrets, accessible only to the bearer of a key which the archbishop covets... Much as I would like to believe it is safe within the belly of Bismarck, the knights of the Heaven's Ward wield primal powers. If we do not slay the whale and claim the key first, they surely will. 
Alphinaud: Quite how we will go about it is another matter. As was the case in our battle with Leviathan, we are out of our element, and this time, we have far fewer allies to call upon... Be that as it may, our customary approach still holds true. We must begin by learning more about the White. Let us each question the residents of the village, then regroup and share are findings anon.

Optional Dialogue

Sonu Vanu: Seek not the birthplace of sin, netherlings. They who do find only death and ruin.

Alphinaud: ...Then the quantity of crystals needed to sustain Bismarck would exceed that consumed by Leviathan...

Speaking with Lonu Vanu

Lonu Vanu: If netherlings seek knowledge of the White, then speak with Kunu Vali, foremost keeper of tales. 
Lonu Vanu: But neglect not to present self with humility and respect. As sun yields to moon and moon to sun, netherlings must greet Kunu Vali with a bow.

Greeting Kunu Vali with a /bow

Without a Bow:
Kunu Vali: What ill-mannered beast comes before Kunu Vali and begs to hear tales? None who deserve aught, that much she knows! 

</bow>
Kunu Valli: Zephyr winds at your back and sunshine to warm your brow, traveler from below. Kunu Vali, keeper of tales, hears your words, and she remembers. 
Kunu Valli: In times long ago, in lands elsewhere, before even the cloud sea, the White is one among many. Newborn, He swims beside His many brothers, in seas of endless water. 
Kunu Valli: But hated, the White is, for His brothers are purest black. So great is their contempt, their loathing, that they turn upon Him and rend His flesh asunder. And so He falls, only to rise again, for merciful gods raise Him to the heavens, and there He is reborn. 
Kunu Valli: The White still longs for the sea to which He cannot return. But in rebirth, a splinter of the divine is shared, and so He opens His maw, from whence come the clouds, and a new sea is born, home to Him alone. 
Kunu Valli: Content, He gazes below, and sees others who are as He - hated and hunted.  He weeps, and in His benevolence, He raises up isles of earth and guides these people to the cloud sea. Such is the tale of His rebirth, and the salvation of the Vanu. May it never be forgot.  
Kunu Valli: But this demon which menaces the cloud sea... His rage is that of the Vundu, His hunger that of a wild beast. The isles are His gift to us - yet now he must consume them? Kunu Vali knows no tales like this.

Optional Dialogue

Kunu Valli: The Lord of the Mists is merciful and kind—not so this demon...

Cid: Personally, I've seen enough of that flying feathered whale already...

Speaking with Alphinaud (Cutscene)

Alphinaud: So according to the Vanu Vanu, the Sea of Clouds and the floating isles were gifts from Bismarck to his people...

Cid: Gifts which he has taken to eating, yes. Technically within his rights, I suppose, if perhaps a little ungenerous. Gods, eh!? But what of you, Alphinaud? Did you learn aught of value? 

Alphinaud: Alas, no. That is, unless you have an interest in the intricacies of Vanu skyfishing...

Cid: Skyfishing...? 
My gods, that's it! Alphinaud, my boy, I could kiss you! 
Cid: From what we have observed, Bismarck is a creature of pure instinct, driven primarily by hunger. When wounded by the imperials, it fled - not before devouring another island to restore its strength. 
Cid: What I propose is this: we tow a suitably appetizing island through the sea of clouds, in essence "fishing" for our flying whale. 
Cid: Once we draw Bismarck out of hiding, we shall use dragonkillers to fire grapnels into the beast's hide, and then reel it in close, enabling our resident eikon-slayer to engage it directly. 

Alphinaud: A bold plan, Master Garlond - but an exceedingly dangerous one. Should [Forename] fail to subdue the creature, she/he would almost certainly be eaten, along with the rest of your "appetizing island".

Cid: Oh, she/he won't fail. And if anything does go wrong, I'll be at the helm of the Enterprise, ready to tow her/him out of trouble. I wouldn't entrust a task like this to anyone else. 

Alphinaud: Nor I. I trust you have no objections to my joining you as well?

Cid: Not at all, the more the merrier! 
Cid: Right then - it seems the boys and I have a lot of work to do if the Enterprise is to be ready for our fishing trip, while you two need to find me some bait! And not just any island, mind - I want a mouthful at most!