Beneath the Surface
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Beneath the Surface
- Quest giver
- Urianger
- Location
- Lakeland (X:26.1, Y:32.5)
- Quest line
Post-Shadowbringers Main Scenario Quests
┗ The Voyage Home Quests- Level
- 80
- Experience
22,440- Gil
4,000- Previous quest
A Whale's Tale- Next quest
- Echoes of a Fallen Star
- Patch
- 5.2
- Links
- EDB GT TC
Main Scenario Progress: 666 / 987 (67.5%)
Shadowbringers Progress: 125 / 157 (79.6%)
Thus reminded of the urgency of your investigation, Urianger would press on.
— In-game description
Rewards
- Unlocks
Steps
- Speak with Urianger at the Split Hull.
- Enter Anamnesis Anyder.
- Speak with Y'shtola.
Journal
- Thus reminded of the urgency of your investigation, Urianger would press on.
- Urianger suggests that you cut short your rest that the investigation into the undersea ruins might commence without further delay. This proposal meets with no resistance from Thancred or yourself, so the three of you depart forthwith for the Split Hull, where the remainder of your party awaits.
- You join your companions at the Split Hull, and it is thankfully only a short while before your ancient guide appears overhead. All that remains now is to leap from the cliffs to Bismarck's back, and allow him to take you deep into the illuminated land, where secrets of the past yet slumber.
- ※To enlist your companion NPCs for this duty, speak with them near the entrance or access Duty Support via the main menu. Use the Duty Finder if you wish to complete the instance alongside fellow players.
- Fighting your way past a horde of hostile benthos, you cannot help but notice the astonishing number of forms stored within Anamnesis Anyder. Perhaps still more secrets of the ancients lie within the central chamber of Noesis-and with Rukshs Deem vanquished, they are yours for the taking.
- As you explore Noesis with your fellow Scions, an odd device activates of its own accord, conjuring the lifelike echoes of several ancient beings. This marvelous record of long-forgotten affairs shows them deep in conversation regarding the summoning of Hydaelyn, of all things, which was apparently spearheaded by a personage named Venat. Further prodding causes the device to divulge a single additional memory that reveals this Venat became Hydaelyn's heart... and Elidibus, Zodiark's.
- An astonished Y'shtola attempts to reactivate the device that you might view further records, but unfortunately meets with no success. For want of further revelations, you are left confounded as to the true identity of Elidibus, who by rights should have long since ceased to be. The group trusts to Y'shtola to remain in Anamnesis Anyder and coax out more from the facility, while the rest of you return to keeping an eye on the wider world-or worlds, in your case.
Dialogue
Optional dialogue
It pains me to think that men with such pure intent are being made to serve Ascian ends, however directly. But they're right. The people need heroes.
Accepting the quest
Though our respite was cut short, I daresay we are all eager to avail ourselves of such knowledge as the ruins may hold.
Aye, and I doubt further contemplation of Elidibus's machinations will be conducive to relaxation. We may as well make for the Split Hull now.
Optional dialogue
Perhaps we ought to have clarified what Bismarck meant by “a short while.” To his mind, our whole lives might be as the blink of an eye...
You arrived rather early. Are you certain you did as you were told?
We rested! Didn't we, Forename?
What's keeping Bismarck? Surely it doesn't take this long to shake off a few loose stones.
So, how much of a respite did you actually enjoy? Half a moment's?
Speaking with Urianger at the Split Hull
All are present. Now we need but await Bismarck's coming.
Optional dialogue
Unlike Amaurot, the ruins which we now seek are no illusion. There is no knowing what awaiteth below.
I like to think my skills have improved in some small way since the last time we fought together. I won't let you down.
We must hope that whatever slumbers in the depths will help to shed some light upon Elidibus's recent activities.
What are we waiting for?
We can't be certain that the benthos are all we'll find down there. Stay alert.
Whether or not we find the knowledge we seek, we have a duty to stem the benthos' aggression. Eulmore has only just begun to rebuild.
Entering Anamnesis Anyder
Duty dialogue
[To the depths!]
[These are poor neighbors indeed...]
[The time has come to part with these interlopers.]
[The walls fall-we must hurry.]
[We were fortunate...But what is all of this?]
[Tiresome creatures.]
[There it lies. I give you my breath...]
[Hah!]
[Your wish is granted. Go, little wanderers.]
Visions of eld, attend to us now...
Your kind has never given of its treasures willingly─your lives will be no different.
You know nothing of the depths! Nothing!
Duty Support dialogue
Entering the dungeon
I see we're not to have a peaceful journey.
We're getting close.
Mayhaps 'twas Bismarck with whom I ought have bargained.
For heavens' sake...
Entering trench 1
This lot are nothing compared to the barnacles.
Look! A trench!
Such ease of motion despite his size-it's truly a wonder.
I'm certainly glad for Bismarck's preparation now.
Entering trench 2
Oof!
What a landing!
The force of it... 'twas nigh overwhelming.
Just...stay on your feet this time, please.
Arriving at sunken structures
Incredible!
Come along. Disturbing secrets await, and all that.
Our deepest gratitude, great one.
Thank you, Bismarck!
Before first boss
What is that?
What in the world...?
We are fated to happen upon strange abominations, apparently.
Never have I see the like.
After first boss
And it stinks. Lovely.
Do... Do you think there are more of them?
Some manner of harrowing, perhaps...?
Might similar creatures dwell beneath the seas of the Source?
Entering the next area
Look at this architecture...
this is precisely what we were looking for.
The similarities to Amaurot are undeniable.
'Tis unmistakably of the ancients design.
Before second boss
What are they doing with that crystal?
Whatever they're doing, I doubt it's good for us.
In channeling aether through the crystal... Hmm.
I think we have passed the point of theory!
After second boss
This is reconstructed "concept" then?
Looks like the benthos have learned to use this place.
An impressive concept, to be certain.
We might learn much, if more such crystals are to be gound within.
Entering next area
There are so many...
It's beautiful!
Why, this... This could take a lifetime to study...
There may be still more out of sight.
Before third boss
Though I mislike this, we may as well have done with it.
If she wants a fight, I'm happy to oblige!
She plans to fight us herself? How efficient.
Yonder queen standeth as more than symbol to her soldiers. Have caution.
Optional post-duty pop-ups
Optional dialogue
Come now, she was maniacal.
The remaining benthos may struggle, bereft of leader...
That was all of them? Every last one...?
If there were more guards, they would be here by now.
'Tis a boon we find this sanctum intact.
We may at last turn our attention to investigation.
Post-dungeon cutscene
Start of voiced cutscene.This structure must have served an important function. And here are yet more crystals...
I too noted the crystal repository on the way. The benthos seem to employ them in their spellcasting.
In such vessels did the ancients preserve concepts─ideal forms to be drawn upon in the act of creation.
That so great an abundance should reside here lendeth credence to Y'shtola's conclusion. This facility held great significance.
Several Amaurotine holograms appear.
Thank you all for joining us at Anyder in these most perilous of times.
By the summoning of Zodiark have we been granted a reprieve. Yet immutable as the laws He has woven may seem, they will not serve to forestall our doom.
Nay. Should we continue down this path, our fate will be the same.
I said as much to the Convocation, of course, but the stubborn fools turned a deaf ear to my warnings.
I had hoped that the defector, at least, would side with us, but I regret to report our overtures have gone unanswered.
Whither tend your thoughts, Venat? Where you lead, we will follow.
I shall not speak ill of the Convocation─they too seek only to secure the future of our star.
Yet it is plain they will not countenance a permanent solution. That being the case, we must ask ourselves a simple question: are we prepared to pursue our chosen course, even should it mean suffering the eternal condemnation of our brethren?
If so, I see no further reason to demur.
Let us bring forth the Light that shall ever after keep the Darkness in check.
The holograms disappear.
So...it was they who first summoned Hydaelyn.
Their discussion did seem to imply as much, yes. I cannot say I have ever heard of this "Venat" before.
For a certainty, Emet-Selch never uttered the name, speak though he did of the schism which Zodiark's advent wrought upon mankind.
Some were of the viewpoint that His power must needs be restrained, and to that end did they call forth She who would serve as His shackles.
We know now that it was this Venat to whom they looked for leadership.
And that this place, in all likelihood, served as their headquarters. The presence of such intimate records attests to that.
I would hear what else they have to tell us. All of it. Did anyone see the source of the image?
The device there? Then let us see what other secrets it holds.
The device activates and two holograms appear.
Venat, please... Why must it be you?
If I may speak plainly, I would sooner it were another ─ any other. You are our leader. None can take your place.
You know as well as I that but few support our cause. Far fewer than they who place their faith in Zodiark.
If Hydaelyn is to stand a chance of opposing Him, I am the only one who might suffice as Her heart.
Rest assured, however: I shall not vanish from this world. The form I take shall ever remain my choice.
...Then I will press you no more. Only know this...you will be sorely missed.
I wonder...is this how the Convocation felt about Elidibus?
What?
Forgive me, but did that not strongly imply that Elidibus sacrificed himself to become Zodiark's heart?
Seven hells... Then who ─ or what ─ are we dealing with?
End of cutscene.
Optional dialogue
I had always assumed Elidibus to be of the same ilk as Lahabrea and Emet-Selch. But if the real Elidibus sacrificed himself before the sundering...
It makes no sense...
That this facility shared intimate ties with the Akadaemia Anyder may readily be discerned from the common element in their names. Based on mine observations, 'tis like that the forms housed here were conveyed unto the Akadaemia only when required, and thence returned for safekeeping.
Yet...such procedural minutiae are of largely academic interest, I concede. 'Tis unto the parties which did frequent these institutions that our thoughts should rightly turn. Specifically, the followers of Venat, and the Convocation of Fourteen...
...To say naught of the matter of Elidibus.
And there I was thinking “immortal” was bad. Would someone explain to me how we're meant to kill a being who doesn't technically exist?
Do you think we might be able to activate the device again? I should like to hear how those discussions ended.
Speaking with Y'shtola
The device appears to activate via a form of aetherial attunement, not unlike an aetheryte. Beyond that, I can say little for certain, save that we should take this opportunity to see what other records it contains.
Start of cutscene.No response. Confound it.
If I may, milady─the panel did formerly emit a soft-yet-perceptible glow. That it doth so no longer may betoken the depletion of some essential energy within.
Given how long it has lain dormant, I think it fortunate it functioned at all.
That may be, but if we can't get it to work again, we'll be leaving with more questions than we've answered.
The white-robed emissary hath ever named himself “Elidibus.” Yet if the shade spoke true, Elidibus ceased to be ere even the sundering came to pass.
This calleth to mind a truth that Emet-Selch did once reveal in passing ─ that the names by which we know our foes are not those given to Ascians at birth. Rather, they are titles of office, afforded to individuals of merit at such time as the role becometh vacant.
Perchance the Elidibus at Zodiark's heart and the emissary with whom we are acquainted be not one and the same, but predecessor and successor.
It's possible. If the previous Elidibus perished before the Final Days, the one we know could still be a survivor of the sundering.
And yet...something in that explanation rings false.
I will remain for a time. I would not abandon my attempts to revive the device so soon. There is more to learn here ─ I can feel it.
In matters of aetherology, I know of none as capable as thee. If there existeth a means to learn more, thou wilt surely find it.
Whilst thou art thus engaged, we shall attend to matters on the surface.
End of cutscene.
You may now enter Anamnesis Anyder with a party of NPC avatars. To make use of this feature, open the Trust interface located under Duty in the main menu.