A Common Thread

A Common Thread

Quest giver

Archive

Location

South Horn (X:37.9, Y:7.9)

Quest line

Records of Unusual Endeavors Quests
┗ The Occult Crescent Quests

Level

100

Required items

1   Aether-imbued Stone
1   Aether-imbued Stone
1   Aether-imbued Stone

Requirements

Occult Record: The Vanishing Slope (#9)
Occult Record: The Fell Warren (#13)
Occult Record: The Shadowed City (#15)

Experience

 0

Gil

 737

Knowledge

 7,500

Previous quest

A Ruined Land

Next quest

Past and Crescent

Patch

7.25

Links

EDB GT TC

“

The Archive awaits your report on the island's myriad architectural remnants.

— In-game description

Requirements

Players must first unlock relevant Occult Record entries by exploring the Occult Crescent before accepting this quest.

• Occult Record: The Vanishing Slope (#9) - Survey Point, South Horn (X:20.2, Y:12.2)
• Occult Record: The Fell Warren (#13) - Survey Point, South Horn (X:10.2, Y:22.5)
• Occult Record: The Shadowed City (#15) - Survey Point, South Horn (X:24.2, Y:32.8)

Walkthrough

• Aether-imbued Stone is at (marked on map):
  • (X:15.4, Y:5.9)
  • (X:29.7, Y:37.2)
  • (X:5.2, Y:25.1)

Steps

• Obtain a sample of aether-imbued stone from the Wanderer's Haven.
• Obtain a sample of aether-imbued stone from the crystallized caverns.
• Obtain a sample of aether-imbued stone from the shadowed city.
• Deliver the samples of aether-imbued stone to the Archive.

Journal

• The Archive is keen to hear your depiction of the southern ruins.

Dialogue

Accepting the Quest

Archive: There's no mistaking that sparkle in your eyes─you've seen an architectural marvel or three! Pray share your findings.
Archive: Intriguing... The coastal structures you describe are without doubt Nymian in origin. I'd recognize the rounded architecture of my birthplace anywhere.
Archive: The colossal pyramid overrun by voidsent sounds like a creation of Mhachi engineering─you might recall that the ancient city of Mhach was the birthplace of black magic. As for the cavernous chambers hewn out of the rock itself, your description is consistent with Skallic design.
Archive: Nym, Mhach, and Skalla were all city-states that flourished during the Fifth Astral Era.

Ketenramm: How's this for a workin' theory? Once they discovered the isle and its abundant aether, the city-states started vyin' for control, erectin' monuments and such to stake their claim.

Archive: I was snoozing here long before anyone else arrived, my claim is the strongest of the lot! 
Archive: Ahem... Joking aside, I think it was Iris's master and their familiars who built these monuments─much like the first structure you explored.
Archive: With that in mind, I'd have you return to the ruins and bring me back a chunk of aether-imbued stone from each.

Optional Dialogue

Ketenramm: The isle's strewn with ruins from the Fifth Astral Era. We've plenty of whats and whens, but no whys... Ye'd better keep up the search.

Returning with the Quest Items

Archive: I should know why this island is home to such an array of architectural styles... Alas, that accursed seal means I am reliant on you to explore further and help unchain my imprisoned know-how!

Archive: So reliable and efficient! Let me see these fine specimens you've collected...
Archive: Hohoh, I can feel the seal weaken and crumble!
Archive: As I posited, each and every ruin you explored was built at the behest of a single individual.
Archive: There is also a fitting explanation for the diverse cultural styles on display, but I wish to hear your thoughts first. What were your impressions of the isle as you roamed about the wilds?

What will you say?
> It's like a vast, inaccessible, incredibly dangerous museum!
> If nothing else, the experience has been educational.

< It's like a vast, inaccessible, incredibly dangerous museum! >
Ketenramm: You could be on to something. Mayhap the isle's purpose is to preserve Fifth Astral Era heritage for generations to come.

< If nothing else, the experience has been educational. >
Ketenramm: Methinks that might be the crux of it all. By replicatin' the architecture of the Fifth Astral Era, whoever built all this might've been tryin' to curate an educational experience of sorts.

Ketenramm: Though the question remains: why go to the trouble on a tiny isle malms away from the nearest port? Ye'd get more visitors on the mainland...

Archive: That's precisely the point. Our mystery architect didn't want visitors, and the reason is, er...

Ketenramm: Sealed away? For a self-proclaimed wise old man, you ain't half lackin' in wisdom.

Archive: Forename, I'm afraid I have need of your eyes...and seemingly endless appetite for exploration once again. Venture ever further and seek out hitherto unexplored ruins. Together we shall restore my font of knowledge to its gushing glory!

System: In order to undertake the subsequent quest, you must unlock relevant entries in the Occult Record.

Optional Dialogue

Ketenramm: All told, we've seen Amdapori, Nymian, Mhachi, and Skallic ruins. Let's see if we can't find some altogether different ruins?