Endwalker content

In from the Cold

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In from the Cold

Quest giver
Lucia
Location
Garlemald (X:14.4, Y:29.8)
Quest line
Endwalker Main Scenario Quests
Level
83
Experience
Experience 468,600
Gil
Gil 2,000
Previous quest
Main Scenario Quest Strange Bedfellows
Next quest
Main Scenario Quest Gateway of the Gods
Patch
6.0
Links
EDB GT TC

Main Scenario Progress: 736 / 978 (75.3%)

   

Endwalker Progress: 38 / 155 (24.5%)

   

Lucia has further news for you.

— In-game description

Walkthrough

This is a long quest with a Solo Duty involving stealth mechanics - allocate up to 45 minutes starting from the point you trigger the cutscene.
※ Upon speaking with Y'shtola several cutscenes and a Solo Duty will commence in sequence.

  • You will be controlling an Unknown Imperial soldier with limited capabilities similar to a low-level Gladiator.
  • While you can fight, you have no passive health regeneration, and active healing options are limited. Magitek units in particular are nearly impossible to kill.
  • The goal is to avoid attention as much as possible. Walk behind hostiles to avoid attracting attention. Remember that the target ring indicator shows which direction a hostile is facing.
  • If you do manage to attract the attention of a hostile, even a Magitek unit, you can get them to de-aggro and reset by running far enough away, provided you can avoid aggroing other hostiles while you flee.
  • There are a number of clickable objects, corpses, and magitek wrecks around the area. The majority of them contain medkits, buffs, or nothing at all. Medkits can be used from the duty actions interface, restoring 35% of the soldier's max HP. Rarely you will find a Salutaris buff that grants a 5 minute regen, or a Fortis buff that increases damage dealt.
  • First, you must defeat the soldier that walked to the left (east) from where you jump down off the bridge. This shouldn't be difficult.
    • Remember to use Fight or Flight (second hotbar slot) and Rampart (third hotbar slot) to increase your damage done and reduce your damage taken, respectively.
    • This fight will leave you relatively low on health, but you should easily survive it, as long as you dodge the attack telegraphs from the imperial soldier.
    • Interact with the soldier's corpse, then inspect it to receive a medkit, which you can use to restore some of the HP you lost.
    • Interact with the soldier's corpse again and pay your respects before moving on, while you're warned that you need to avoid attracting attention to survive.
  • Your next task is to find a way to exit the large initial area you are confined within.
    • Look for and interact with an Immobilized Magitek Reaper south of the start point, at (23.6, 16.9). You must click this Magitek Reaper wreck to proceed with the other two tasks.
    • The building immediately north of and slightly to the west of the Immobilized Magitek Reaper contains an injured imperial soldier, who gives you keys to the Magitek Reaper outside.
    • On the east side of the area, at (27.4, 13.4), you'll find a Fuel-concealing Wreckage. Interacting with it (only after having interacted with the Immobilized Magitek Reaper) will give you a Ceruleum Tank, which you must then carry back to the Immobilized Magitek Reaper. Note that your hands will be full while doing so, and you will not be able to use any of your abilities. If you are damaged while carrying the tank, you will drop it there and have to pick it back up when the threat is handled.
  • Once you have the keys and the fuel for the Reaper, board it.
    • The reaper has 3 abilities:
      • Slot 1 is Magitek Cannon, a ground-target AoE with a short cast time and no cooldown. The cast time means you generally have to lead moving targets a bit to hit them.
      • Slot 2 is Diffractive Magitek Cannon, a line-attack AoE with a short cast time and a short cooldown.
      • Slot 3 is High-power Magitek Cannon, an instant ground-target AoE with a much larger radius than the Slot 1 ability, but with a short cooldown.
      • All 3 abilities do 5000 damage, which one-shots all of the Magitek units involved in this combat sequence.
    • There will be a large pack of Magitek units to the west, in front of the shimmering curtain of light blocking your way. Use the Reaper's abilities to defeat them. After the first wave is down, several more waves will spawn.
    • From the center will spawn packs of 5-7 small Magitek Slasher units. The reaper's first ability is sufficient for these, though you can also use the other two
    • Occasionally on the right, a larger Magitek Vanguard will spawn and start using Drill Cannons, a telegraphed line attack on the Reaper's location. This can be taken out easily using the first or third ability.
    • From the left, directly next to the curtain, will spawn Magitek Death Claws, who will slowly walk towards you in a line. Use the second Reaper's ability, as the line attack will clear out the entire line all of the Death Claws in a single shot.
  • After the waves have been defeated, dismount the Reaper using the last ability in the hotbar, then make your way towards where the shimmering curtain used to be. Two tempered imperial soldiers will spawn and begin patrolling north-and-south in the area. Avoid then by walking behind them and make your way south, then west under the broken bridge segments.
  • You'll be instructed to kill a number of creatures that are attacking armed imperial citizens in the area as you make your way northwest. Most will focus on their imperial citizen targets, so it's a simple matter of using your first-slot ability repeatedly until they're all dead.
  • Continue north until you enter a circular area. Tempered imperial soldiers will spawn and attack, while several mechanics go out. Remember to use your medkits if your health gets low.
    • Each allied imperial citizen will have a circle placed on them, in several waves. Simply don't stand in any other circles.
    • A line stack marker will appear on you. All of the NPC citizens will beeline it to your location, so you don't have to move anywhere for it.
    • A room-wide AoE with a small circular safe-zone in the middle will appear. It takes a while to go off (10-15s), but be in the middle safe zone when it does.
    • The explosion will ignite the ceruleum tanks near the center, which will then explode, leaving you very low on health (regardless of how much HP you had) and toss you a distance before you black out.
  • A quick-time event will start, where you need to repeatedly press your keyboard/controller buttons to "retain consciousness". As long as the meter does not empty before the time runs out, you succeed.
  • You spawn laying on the ground, heavily injured, and are instructed to crawl halfway across the zone to Camp Broken Glass. You move very slowly, but accelerate a bit as stacks of your debuff fall off. Fortunately, you do not need to crawl the entire way there, just down to the end of the street (until your debuff counts down to zero) before the duty is considered complete and a cutscene plays.

Steps

Journal

  • Lucia has further news for you.
  • Lucia tells you that the contingent has made excellent progress in their plans to provide heat and sustenance for the remaining Garleans. As there is nothing so dire as to require your expertise, she asks that you check on Y'shtola.
  • After speaking with Y'shtola, you settle in for a restful supper with comrades old and new. Alas, the moment of peace is shattered by a great wave of aether from the Tower of Babil. Though members of the contingent are protected by their warding scales, the imperials are not so fortunate, and wail as the tempering force begins to twist and torment their minds. You move to help, but are caught off guard by the sudden appearance of Fandaniel, who puts you to sleep and whisks you away...
When you awaken, you find yourself seated at a table set for dinner across from Zenos, as a smirking Fandaniel looks on. It is then you realize that your body is not your own, your soul having been extracted and placed within borrowed flesh. Your hosts then proceed to wax poetic about the primal Anima─summoned with the corpse of Varis himself, Fandaniel reveals─and Zenos's unflagging desire to cross swords with you once again.
  • To spur you to accept his demand for a rematch, Zenos takes control of your true body, and you are forced to pursue him through half of Regio Urbanissima to prevent him from deceiving and harming your comrades. You catch up to him in the nick of time, but it appears there will be no celebrating this small victory, as Fandaniel gleefully announces that the Final Days are soon to begin. Having at last returned to Camp Broken Glass─and yourself─you take a moment to settle back into your body before reassuring your comrades that all is well.
  • Alisaie, like the others, is less than pleased with recent events, and more motivated than ever to put a stop to the cruel machinations of the Telophoroi. The time to defeat Fandaniel and Zenos once and for all draws nigh!

Dialogue

Lucia: I assume you're curious about how matters have progressed here in your absence. Quite well, as it happens.
Lucia: Now that we've procured ceruleum from Tapper's Den, the recently repaired heaters can provide much-needed warmth.
Lucia: Furthermore, we've prepared sufficient food for everyone. Those from Tertium shall find a hot meal waiting upon their arrival.
Lucia: There's one for you, so go ahead and get some well-earned rest. I believe that we're capable of wielding a ladle or two without your assistance.
Lucia: On your way, might I ask you to seek out Y'shtola? She was but recently attending to the wounded, but she's meant to be taking a rest herself. See that she is.

Optional dialogue

Lucia: Were it not for you, Alphinaud, and Alisaie, the people of Tertium may well have perished. Though they may not realize it yet, they owe you their lives.
Emmanellain: It's no use taking in all these Garleans if we're going to let them freeze to death. We need heat, for goodness' sake! I knew I should've brought more warming tinctures!
Stephanivien: We shall have the heaters ready before long. With the problem of this dreadful cold addressed, I imagine demeanors may change for the better.
Stephanivien: I plan to make heaters enough for not only the camp, but for those who have chosen to remain in the station as well.
Sicard: More people at the camp means more bodies to keep warm.
Sicard: The smiths've been scramblin' to get enough heatin' for everyone, and we've got people searchin' for firewood, in case it comes to that.

Speak with Y'shtola. (Cutscene)

Y'shtola: Yes, yes, I have been taking proper breaks and imbibing sufficient water. But what of the Warrior of Light? You and the twins have an established history of reckless disregard for your own well-being.
Y'shtola: We're all fortunate that none of you landed yourselves in my care. I've already quite enough to deal with, between the tempered and the Ist's wounded.
Y'shtola: Alas, though I can mend their bodies, the toll their experiences have taken on their hearts and minds is another matter altogether.
Y'shtola: For their sakes, we mustn't waver ─ but nor must we rush ahead in eagerness to see the day won, and in so doing invite disaster...

Upon settling down for supper, several cutscenes will play in sequence. It is recommended that you set aside sufficient time to view these scenes in their entirety.

| Voiced cutscene |
Alisaie: Is that all of them?
Alphinaud: The last of those who agreed to join us, yes.
Thancred: We left heaters and provisions for those who wished to stay behind. They won't last forever, but hopefully they'll last long enough.
Alisaie: For now, I think everyone's earned a rest.
Alisaie: We'll see to those in need of medical attention, so take the others with you and get yourselves some hot soup.
Jullus: Warmth, at last...
Emmanellain: Marvelous, isn't it?
Emmanellain: All thanks to the resourceful machinists of Ishgard, I might add. On their behalf, I bid you warm yourself to your heart's content!
Sicard: Hold on. Your people might've scribbled a few things on a piece of parchment, but it was our Lominsan smiths that put the bloody things together.
Emmanellain: Well, be that as it may...we single-handedly got the interior heating up and running again, didn't we?
Sicard: The hells you did! We were there every step of the way!
Emmanellain: “We”!? You barely raised a finger to help, you ale-sodden reprobate!
Sicard: I did a damn sight more than you, you lily-livered bilge rat!

(Offscreen)
Emmanellain: Take that back!
Sicard: Make me.
Emmanellain: I will not stoop to your level! 
Jullus watches silently at the exchange.

Resistance Delegate: Here.
Resistance Delegate: At ease, man. There's nothing funny in it.
Resistance Delegate: I'm from Ala Mhigo, but was a conscript until recently. Used to eat this with the officers.
Immortal Flames Delegate: Apparently, it's adapted from a Steppe recipe. This is my first time trying it, and I have to say it's not half bad.
Twin Adders Delegate: Hmm... It's a bit too flavorful for my liking...
Immortal Flames Delegate: Perhaps compared to what you're used to.
Resistance Delegate: It's the little things that make life worth living, don't you think?

Lucia: I know this is not a dream, and yet...
Lucia: I felt the same way at the Dragonsong War's end. Every morning I would step outside and need to be reminded that it wasn't my imagination. That my world had been forever changed.
Lucia: And just as I had grown accustomed to the idea, again you change my world in ways I never thought possible.
Lucia: Were it not for you and your fellow Scions, the rifts between man and dragon and myriad tribes might never have been bridged.
Lucia: The Grand Company of Eorzea, the Ilsabard contingent... We owe it all to you.
Lucia: We've shed many tears in recent days. Of pain and sorrow. Triumph and joy. I much prefer the latter.

 What will you say?
> As do I. 
   Lucia: I am honoured to fight by your side. As an Eorzean and Garlean both, I shall do all in my power to bring my peoples together.
> We often don't have the luxury of choice. 
   Lucia: Indeed. We can but do our utmost to unite these disparate peoples and lead them to victory.

Maxima: It is a remarkable achievement ─ everything that I and the Populares had hoped for and more.
Lucia: Would that it had come sooner.
Maxima: Indeed. Too many are not here to see it. And yet...there is a warmth in my breast. As if they still share in this moment.
Lucia: Yes. I know what you mean.
Lucia: On a night like tonight, the wind and cold seem to pass me by.
The flower blooms in WOL's pocket.
 Radio: We...have gained the power...take back...rightfully ours.
Jullus: What? Emperor Varis?

Urianger: They are being tempered! The talismans ─ quickly!

???: Save me, brave hero!
Fandaniel: Ahem! My lord has requested your presence, and I would hate to disappoint him...
Fandaniel: The experiment was a success, but I fear our time is short.
Fandaniel: I shall begin the preparations.
Fandaniel: Now...it is time for you to awaken.
You awaken in the body of am Imperal soldier. 
Fandaniel: Oh, but be sure to remove your helmet. Take a moment, too, to familiarize yourself with that borrowed flesh.
Fandaniel: So? How does it feel? I, for one, find those first moments within a new body to be most refreshing!
Fandaniel: We had a magitek engineer by the name of Aulus to thank for this method of soul extraction and implantation. I believe the two of you met briefly in Ala Mhigo?
Fandaniel: His was a rather sticky end, wasn't it? Thankfully, he was thoughtful enough to leave behind his mindjack technology. I took the liberty of making some improvements ─ and selecting you as my esteemed test subject.

 What will you say?
> Give me back my body!
   Fandaniel: And permit you to go on a righteous rampage instead of partaking in this delicious meal? I think not.
> This is such a pain in the arse.
   Fandaniel: Come now, to us Ascians, it is no different from trying on new clothes. Why not make the most of it by partaking in this fine cuisine?

Fandaniel: I must say, I have gone to great lengths to reunite you with my lord.
Fandaniel: When I discovered that his “friend” was in this neck of the woods, I suggested inviting you over for dinner.
Fandaniel: He never deigned to respond, but I took his silence as a resounding yes!
A rumbling roar sounds through the door.
Fandaniel: Oh my! Daddy is pleased his grumpy little boy has finally found his playmate!
Fandaniel: Ah. Exposition is in order.
Fandaniel: The Garlean Empire has long outlawed all forms of religion. No gods to worship, no risk of summoning. Brilliantly simple.
Fandaniel: But people, being people, must turn to something or someone in their hour of need. Who, then?
Fandaniel: Why, His Radiance the Emperor, of course.
Fandaniel: As you have observed firsthand, Garlemald has seen better days. The legendary Solus zos Galvus ─ dead. Provinces near and far ─ in open rebellion. Our bold new Emperor ─ assassinated! And that last one even sparked a civil war! What rotten luck.
Fandaniel: The people cried out for salvation, their earnest pleas ─ one might even call them prayers ─ a supplication united for the Empire to reclaim her former glory.
Fandaniel: And so their will did manifest, channeled through the corpse of none other than Emperor Varis himself!
Fandaniel: And lo, the savior was born! The embodiment of the Garlean spirit, their Anima!
Fandaniel: It calls to its subjects, compelling them to take up arms and fight.
Fandaniel: And just as the wealth and power gravitate towards the Empire's capital, so too does aether, from every corner of the globe!
Fandaniel: The towers with which you and your allies have been so preoccupied were created as an extension of Anima itself. An ingenious design...
Fandaniel: Would you not agree, my lord?
Zenos yae Galvus: Does the pursuit of prey you have bested before excite you?
Zenos yae Galvus: Of course not. Absent the challenge, the thrill, your prize is a hollow victory. Butchery.
Zenos yae Galvus: Perhaps you think that to be the extent of my promise. I have no doubt fallen in your estimation since Ala Mhigo.
Zenos yae Galvus: Fair enough. But do not let your disdain deprive you ─ deprive us ─ of an opportunity to craft an even more majestic moment of euphoria.
Zenos yae Galvus: I have been honing my craft as I set the stage for our reunion.
Zenos yae Galvus: Wheresoever there is suffering and despair, you appear, to fulfill your duty as defender of this star.
Zenos yae Galvus: The chaos and destruction that my hordes have wrought...are my gifts to you alone.
Flashes of Arenvald, Nidhana and Jullus cross through. 
Zenos yae Galvus: At a loss for words? No matter. As you will learn, I have only just begun.
Fandaniel: Oh? Will you not finish your meal?
Zenos yae Galvus: There is only one thing that can sate my hunger, and it would seem my friend has lost his appetite.
Zenos yae Galvus: I hoped this display of civility might prove an entertaining diversion, but clearly we are above such pretensions.
Zenos yae Galvus: While my lifeless body was in the possession of the Ascian, I too claimed another's as my own.
Zenos yae Galvus: It was an enlightening experience, to fight in an unfamiliar form. Flaws and failings in my technique were plain to see.
Zenos yae Galvus: Whence rises one's true strength? The flesh? The soul? Perhaps you should like to discover the answer for yourself.
Zenos pauses at a throne. There lays WOL's body.
Zenos yae Galvus: Or...together.
Fandaniel: Oh dear! Whatever would happen if my lord were to greet your friends as you? I shudder to imagine what carnage he would wreak!
Fandaniel: We'd better hurry if we want to avert the bloodbath. You can thank me later for my generosity.
Fandaniel: Ah, there it is. Your camp, I believe.
Fandaniel: If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that you ─ the other you ─ is making his way there as we speak.
Fandaniel: Alas, this you will have to walk from here. Or run, if you can manage it. My lord would be cross if I made it too easy.
Fandaniel: Such ingratitude. I'd not squander this fighting chance. After all, you've obstacles enough to overcome ─ right on cue!
Fandaniel: Tempered soldiers, with standing orders to kill those not sworn to Anima.
Fandaniel: Under normal circumstances you would make short work of them. But on this occasion, the odds are not so heavily stacked in your favor.

After Duty: In From the Cold

Y'shtola: It is a miracle we were able to restrain the tempered without suffering casualties.
Lucia: A welcome one. A-Ruhn-Senna and the others have their hands full as it is. Thankfully, there are enough scales for everyone.
Alphinaud: And what of Jullus? His symptoms were particularly severe.
Lucia: They were, but others fared still worse, including some brought back from the Magna Glacies.
Lucia: As those in most desperate need take priority, it may be a while before he receives treatment.
Lucia: But rest assured that he will. In the meantime, we must find our missing friend. May the Fury guide you.
Estinien: Of all the bloody times for a disappearing act...
Thancred: Right when the first wave struck. We'd be fools to think it a coincidence.
Thancred: But where even to begin the search? No one saw him leave in the chaos, and we've no trail to follow.
Alphinaud: While I know full well he can handle himself, I worry all the same.
G'raha Tia: Ah. Speak of the devil...
Alisaie: Well! Time to call off the search!
Thancred: Hmph. Case closed.
Y'shtola: That's him? Over there?
Urianger: Aye, 'twould appear so. Thou art struggling to perceive his presence?
Y'shtola: I am. Perhaps, in the aftermath of the wave, there is some residual effect interfering with my faculties, but...
Alisaie: Where have you been? We've been worried sick!
G'raha Tia: Now, now, all's well that ends well. Are you all right?
Alisaie: Are you all right?
G'raha Tia: ...Who are you?
 
 What will you say?
> Enough, Zenos!
> Get away from them, you bastard!

Fandaniel: Sadly, that is all we have time for today. The effect has run its course, and back to your own bodies you must go.
Fandaniel: But where are my manners? You have all traveled so very far, and I have yet to pay my respects.
Fandaniel: Though in my defense, I was ill prepared to receive so many uninvited guests. As such, preliminary entertainments were in order.
Fandaniel: A handful of tempered soldiers to hamper your progress. Refugees to command your attention while I siphoned their ceruleum from the shadows ─ particularly effective, that.
Fandaniel: Charitable souls that you are, you bent over backwards to aid them, heedless of the delay. Predictable to a fault! And so my plan approaches completion unhindered.
Fandaniel: Anima will soon have absorbed the requisite amount of aether, and then shall come the spectacle to end all spectacles!
Fandaniel: The eldest and most powerful of primals will awaken, and all shall bear witness to the Final Days!
Zenos yae Galvus: The gods themselves will be my meal. Your dear companions my dessert. Upon this world I'll feast, and death shall follow in my wake.
Zenos yae Galvus: All your hate, all your rage, you will render unto me.
Vrtra: For upon thy life's reel wind too many threads. Of fate. Power. Weal, enmeshed with woe.
Vrtra: More terrible still is the attrition wrought upon thy companions, as they are swept up in the storm of thine existence.
Vrtra: Take heart and protect them well. They will be your strength and your salvation.
Alphinaud: Thank goodness. He's awake!

 What will you say?
> Is everyone all right?
   G'raha Tia: Perfectly fine, yes. I hope the same can be said of you.
> So I'm not dead yet?
   G'raha Tia: I am pleased to report you are very much alive.

Alisaie: Everything in working order?
WOL nods.
Alisaie: That's a relief. Oh, and before I forget: thanks for coming to our rescue.
Y'shtola: Given recent events, I would be surprised if you weren't feeling a bit poorly.
Y'shtola: A hearty meal and a long rest would be my recommendation under normal circumstances, but these are anything but. If Fandaniel's boasts are to be believed, we must act quickly.
Y'shtola: Once you've blown away the cobwebs, we can discuss preparations for our assault on the Tower of Babil.

Optional dialogue

Lucia: I will require a detailed report on what occurred whilst you were...not yourself. For the contingent, of course.
Lucia: It can wait until later, however. For now, it's enough that you've returned.
Maxima: The body that you were forced to inhabit turned cold and stiff the moment you were returned to your own. Perhaps the soul it belonged to is long gone...
Maxima: Let us pray it is so, for I doubt it would be better off in the care of Zenos or Fandaniel.
G'raha Tia: Thank heavens you're you again. Gave me quite a fright.
Estinien: Whatever that was, let's not do it again, eh?
Urianger: Full glad am I to see thee awake and restored to thine own flesh once more.
Thancred: No apologies necessary, least of all to me. If anything, there's a strange comfort in knowing I'm no longer the only one to have been used as a villain's puppet. Though I pray you'll be the last...
Y'shtola: Hm, yes...'tis still you...
Y'shtola: My apologies ─ I realized too late that the aether emanating from the tower was distorting my perception. 'Twas likely a temporary effect, but I remain wary.
Alphinaud: Are you certain that you've recovered? You mustn't push yourself, especially after an experience like that.

Speak with Alisaie.

Alisaie: You're certain you're well? Nothing out of place? No missing bits?
Alisaie: Good. Though I won't promise the same for Fandaniel and Zenos after I'm through with them...
Alisaie: How much must these people suffer before they're satisfied?
Alisaie: How many cruel, pointless tricks must they play?
Alisaie: Prelude to the Final Days or no, this ends now!

Trivia

The magitek engineer named by Fandaniel is Aulus_mal_Asina.