The Rise and Fall of Gentlemen

The Rise and Fall of Gentlemen

Quest giver

Wymond

Location

Ul'dah - Steps of Nald (X:9.8, Y:8.7)

Quest line

Hildibrand Adventures

Level

50

Required quest

The Ultimate Weapon

Required items

1   Curious Parchment

Experience

 0

Gil

 658

Next quest

Back in the Saddle

Patch

2.1

Links

EDB GT

“

An old acquaintance of Wymond is at wit's end, and the businessman would have you help her.

— In-game description

Rewards

• 1   Phoenix Down

Steps

• Speak with Nashu Mhakaracca at the lichyard in eastern Thanalan.
• Participate in the FATE “Fallen Corpses Writhe in Style” in southern Thanalan.
• Show the curious parchment to Nashu Mhakaracca.
• Speak with Nashu Mhakaracca in the Sagolii Desert.

Journal

• An old acquaintance of Wymond is at wit's end, and the businessman would have you help her.

• Nashu, former assistant of the late inspector Hildibrand, is investigating rumors regarding unusual zombie behavior. However, she has made little progress thus far, and so Wymond has asked you to seek her out and offer whatever assistance you can. Considering her recent frustrations, Wymond suspects that Nashu can be found praying at the grave of her mentor in Camp Drybone's lichyard.

• After waiting five years for her mentor to return, Nashu was devastated by the revelation that Inspector Hildibrand did not survive his journey to Dalamud. She then swore to carry on his legacy as an inspector herself, but has struggled to live up to his example. Her current investigation into a horde of dapper zombies had reached a standstill; however, with your help, she believes she might finally locate the zombies' leader. Travel to southern Thanalan and attempt to befriend any dapper zombies you encounter, or─failing that─slay and search them for clues.

• Your attempts to befriend the zombie populace met with dismal failure. However, your efforts were not for naught, as a curious parchment found in their possession appears to be a map of some sort. Return to the lichyard in eastern Thanalan and show the parchment to Nashu.

• Nashu confirms your suspicions that the parchment is a map, though she is unable to determine the significance of the phrase, “A gentleman is, rather than does.” In any case, she bids you follow her to the Sagolii Desert in southern Thanalan, to the destination marked on the map.

• Deducing that the phrase is a password, you call out to the dapper zombies, who surround you and Nashu with malicious intent. Fortunately, before you are forced to defend yourselves, a disheveled Inspector Hildibrand appears and commands his loyal minions to spare you and Nashu. The reunion between mentor and assistant nearly ends in tragedy, as Nashu resolves to restore Inspector Hildibrand's lost memories via liberal use of explosives. Inexplicably, her plan works. Afterwards, you use the power of the Echo to delve into Inspector Hildibrand's memories in a vain attempt to learn how he survived his fall, as well as being buried alive. Alas, you soon discover that there are mysteries in this world that defy all reason and explanation.

Dialogue

Accepting the Quest

Wymond: I hear you've been busy as a bee, [Forename]. Seems half the whispers what come my way relate to your comin's an' goin's.
Wymond: Bein' the active type you are, I reckon you'd be interested in investigatin' some queer rumors, am I right? But before that, let me ask: ever heard of a man named Hildibrand?

< Have you heard of Hildebrand before?>
< Yes>
< No>

< Yes>
Wymond: Oi, you don't mean to say you knew the bugger!? I know he thought himself famous, but thinkin' it don't make it true.
Wymond: Shame that he had to go an' get himself killed. All that nonsense about stoppin' Dalamud himself—what in the seven hells was he thinkin'!?
Wymond: Least it was mercifully quick. Still, judgin' from the depth of the crater, he must've fallen from an unfathomable height.
Wymond: Gods only know what was goin' though his mind as he watched the ground rush up to meet him... <shudder>
Wymond: Amazin' how well the body was preserved, though. Hells, it's amazin' there was a body left to bury at all!

< No>
Wymond: To hear him tell it, he was Eorzea's greatest an' most famous inspector. Still, can't say I'm surprised you don't know him.
Wymond: To his credit, Hildibrand an' his assistant had a knack for showin' up when somethin' shady was afoot. As for sussin' out the culprits, well...he had his moments, though I hesitate to give him sole credit. Wymond: Anyroad, five years ago he gets it in his head that he's "cracked the code" of Mezaya's seventh verse. Dalamud, the Calamity—all of it can be stopped, he says, so long as he finds the hero of prophecy. An' wouldn't you know it—the hero was Hildibrand himself!
Wymond: So he flies off towards Dalamud. Aye, that's right: he flew. Launches himself straight into the air somehow, ridiculous as it sounds. 'Course it's only logical that he's got to come back down—though it was only recently that we found his body.

(Both)
Wymond: Hmmmm... I had reason for bringin' this up... Ah, right. So Nashu, Hildibrand's erstwhile assistant, has since become an inspector in her own right. At present, she's investigatin' the queer rumors I mentioned earlier.
Wymond: She's a sweet lass—a bit daft, but sweet nonetheless. So when I hear she's at wit's end, I want to help. Thing is, I prefer to meddle in the affairs of the livin'— zombies are more definitely not my forte.
Wymond: So. if you're willin', I'd be grateful if you lent her a hand. As for where to find her, she's like to visit Hildibrand's grave in the lichyard when she's frustrated. Try lookin' for her there first.

Speaking with Nashu Mhakaracca at the lichyard in eastern Thanalan (Cutscene)

Nashu Mhakaracca: Oh, if only you were still alive, Inspector. You'd know how to stop these zombies...
Nashu Mhakaracca: Ah! You there! Could it be...?
Nashu Mhakaracca: You've come to offer your services to me!?
Nashu Mhakaracca: Oh, but where are my manners! Allow me to introduce myself. Ahem. My name is Nashu, agent of inquiries! Extraordinary inspector!
Nashu Mhakaracca: At least, that's what I'm trying to be. It's not quite as easy as he made it look...
Nashu Mhakaracca: Inspector Hildibrand was a great man—a real Eorzean hero!
Nashu Mhakaracca: We traveled the world, me and him, solving cases and thwarting evil! No matter the mystery, you could always count on the inspector to solve it with grace and style!
Nashu Mhakaracca: But then there was the final case. "The case of the century," he called it—how to stop the red moon from destroying the world.
Nashu Mhakaracca: To save us all, he flew into the sky, and all I could do was watch...
Nashu Mhakaracca: But then...then he came back down, and he...he...

Echo Start

Nashu Mhakaracca: This is all a joke—a big, funny joke. Right, Inspector? Any moment now, you'll burst out of the ground and shout, "Surprise! Had you fooled, eh?" And...and we'll laugh and laugh...

<Hildibrand Manderville
Beloved Son>

Nashu Mhakaracca: <sniffle> <sob> They say...they say no one remembers the Warriors of Light. Their names, their faces...all gone forever.
Nashu Mhakaracca: But I remember you, Inspector—no, Gentleman Hero Hildibrand!
Nashu Mhakaracca: I can never be the hero you were, but I'll do my best to try!
Nashu Mhakaracca: I, Nashu, inspector extraordinaire , will carry on your legacy!

Cutscene End

Nashu Mhakaracca: ...So I told myself, well, Nashu, there must be a leader—a head zombie, who tells the rest what to do! Therefore, all we need to do is kill him—again, that is.
Nashu Mhakaracca: Unfortunately, I don't know where he is, or how to find him. But now that you're here, my faithful assistant, you can try the one good idea I've come up with so far!
Nashu Mhakaracca: If you go to where those dapper zombies were last seen in southern Thanalan, you might find them! And then you could...um... Ah! You could become their friend and ask to meet their leader! Yes, that's sure to work!
(Optional)
Nashu Mhakaracca: I've never tried making friends with a zombie, but I don't see why it would be so hard. Just moan, groan, and pretend to be dead.

Showing the curious parchment to Nashu Mhakaracca

Nashu Mhakaracca: Did you find the zombies? You did!? That's wonderful! I've been busy, too—the head zombie will rue the day he meets me, you'll see. So, tell me: what did you learn?
< Hand over Curious Parchment>'
Nashu Mhakaracca: Oh, so you weren't able to make new friends. That's a shame. But this parchment... This is a map of the Sagolii Desert. There's a spot marked here in the south, and look—there's something written here.
Nashu Mhakaracca: "A gentleman is, rather than does."
Nashu Mhakaracca: That sort of reminds me of...um... Well no matter—let's see where this map takes us, assistant! Onward, to the Sagolii!

Speaking with Nashu Mhakaracca in the Sagoli Desert

Nashu Mhakaracca: I don't think I misread the map... Maybe they're just shy, though. I say we call out to them and let them know we come in peace—and when the leader shows himself, we strike!

< What will you call out?>
< I will go whither the wild rose blooms!>
< A gentleman is, rather than does!>
< Show yourselves, foul fiends!>

< I will go whither the wild rose blooms!>
Nashu Mhakaracca: Hmmm... That didn't seem to work. Maybe you should try shouting something else?

< Show yourselves, foul fiends!>
Nashu Mhakaracca: Hmmm... That didn't seem to work. Maybe you should try shouting something else?

< A gentleman is, rather than does!>

Cutscene Start

Deadpan Zombie: Urrrgggh... Hurrrggghhh...! Who summons the Gentle Dead Men?

Seething Zombie: They live, they live! And we...we hunger...

???: My brothers, lend me your ears! A gentleman does not dine upon his guests!
Well-spoken Zombie: Spare this fine gentleman and fair lady/two fair ladies you mastications. Withdraw, I say, and harass them no more!

Nashu Mhakaracca: Up in the sky, look! It's a bird— No, it's an airship— No! It's the inspector!

Gentle Dead Men: We hear, and we obey!

Nashu Mhakaracca: It is you, it really is you! I knew nothing could kill the great inspector Hildibrand!

Zombibrand: Hildibrand? Who is the Hildibrand of whom you speak? My name is Zombibrand, devourer of brains! Undead overlord extraordinaire.

Nashu Mhakaracca: What are you saying!? You're not an undead overlord—you're a gentleman inspector!

Zombibrand: Urrrgggh... Hurrrggghhh...! Inspector... Overlord... Inspector... Overlord...

Nashu Mhakaracca: Oh, Inspector, you're just confused is all. Don't worry—I'll knock some sense back into that noggin of yours!

Zombibrand: St-Stay you hand, m'lady. You know not what you do...
Zombibrand: Even if I were the esteemed gentleman you purport me to be, the concussive force of the blast is more like to liquify my—

Nashu Mhakaracca: If crashing into the ground made you forget, then an explosion of equal force ought to make you remember! I'll save you, Inspector—or kill you trying!

Zombibrand: See!? Even you acknowledge the possibility that this plan will result in my—
Zombibrand: Death...

Perturbed Gentleman: Normally I would applaud your ingenuity, Nashu, but I would have preferred that you found a more elegant solution!

Nashu Mhakaracca: Ah! He remembers me! Inspector Hildibrand remembers me!

Hildibrand: Yes, yes, I remember you, my faithful assistant. What I do not quite remember is how I came to be here...

Echo Start

Hildibrand: Ahhh! Such a wonderful dream. I slew a dragon, and—
Hildibrand: Hm? What is this place? And for that matter...who am I?

Echo End

Hildibrand: I, Hildibrand, agent of enquiry, Inspector extraordinaire, have awoken at last!

Nashu Mhakaracca: >> I—<sniffle><sob> I always knew you'd come back to us! <<

Hildibrand: Be it red moon or black dragon, no fiend is a match for my legendary might!
Hildibrand: And who might this fine gentleman/lady be? Hmmmm, could he/she perhaps be one of my many admire—
Hildibrand: Oh, but what is this faint tingling sensation in my arm!? This ringing in my ears, this dizziness... Could it be...a case?