The Vanishing Act

The Vanishing Act

Quest giver

Alka Zolka

Location

Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks (X:11.1, Y:6.2)

Job

Scholar

Level

60

Required quest

The Far Edge of Fate

Experience

 100,000

Gil

 1,873

Previous quest

Forward, Royal Marines

Next quest

A Safe Place to Hide

Patch

4.0

Links

EDB GT

“

Alka Zolka is pleasantly surprised to see you.

— In-game description

Steps

• Speak with Surito Carito near the Wanderer's Palace.
• Speak with the Maelstrom Command Hunt billmaster.
• Rendezvous with Alka Zolka in Vesper Bay.
• Report to Surito Carito near the Wanderer's Palace.

Journal

• Alka Zolka is pleasantly surprised to see you.

• Alka Zolka has received a missive from Surito Carito, asking that you come see him straightaway. While he has not expounded upon why, it seems extremely urgent. Make your way to upper La Noscea to learn what is amiss at the Wanderer's Palace.

• Surito Carito reveals that his study of the invisible voidsent's corpse has yielded a quasi-cure capable of impeding the spread of the Nymian plague. A miraculous discovery though it may be, he goes on to say that the reason he summoned you is because one of his research assistants, Setoto, has vanished. Worried that harm will befall his friend should they wander too far, he asks that you find and escort the tonberry back. Alka believes there is a chance Setoto has been registered to the Hunt, and suggests you begin your search at the Maelstrom Command.

• The Hunt billmaster informs you that the only tonberry currently registered to the Hunt is one by the name of Marberry. Not too long after, R'ashaht appears bearing some interesting news. The Miqo'te commander tells you that Vesper Bay has been awash with rumors of an odd-looking stowaway who scurried off a ferry as it pulled ashore. Whoever─or whatever─it was, has been described as being small of stature like a Lalafell but with exotic features. Perhaps this mysterious passenger is your missing tonberry, and it would benefit you to investigate this matter further.

• You and Alka approach a sailor who looks to be a crew member of the boat R'ashaht mentioned. The man confirms having seen the stowaway, which he describes as some manner of rare beast of a gobbie without a mask. He assures you that whatever it was, the Brass Blades are looking for it. While Alka makes a detour to Ul'dah to see what more he can uncover though his contacts regarding this incident, he asks that you inform Surito Carito of all that has happened.

• Surito Carito is of the opinion that, if in Aldenard, Setoto will be near impossible to find. He believes it would be best to wait until you come across any additional news on where the missing tonberry might have gone before making a move. Rest while you can because as soon as word of Setoto's possible whereabouts reaches you and Alka Zolka, the two of you must rush to find, and possibly rescue, the tonberry.
  • ※The next scholar quest will be available from Surito Carito upon reaching level 63.

Dialogue

Alka Zolka: [Forename], that you should arrive at this very instant─it is as though the gods themselves have sent you.
Alka Zolka: Not a quarter bell ago I received a missive from Surito Carito. An emergency has arisen at the Wanderer's Palace, and he has requested our immediate presence.
Alka Zolka: While the exact nature of this trouble remains unclear, we can scarce ignore his call.
Alka Zolka: He awaits us at his usual place. Come, my friend, we haven't a moment to waste!

Surito Carito: Alka Zolka, [Forename]. Thank you both for responding so swiftly to my summons.
Surito Carito: Forgive my brusqueness, but I believe it best if we cut straight to business. I presume the both of you remember the invisible voidsent we defeated not too long ago?

Alka Zolka: We could scarce forget such a vile creature.

Surito Carito: Well, you'll be pleased to hear that I have finished studying its remains and believe a cure may be within my grasp.
Surito Carito: Ah, but mayhap “cure” is a slight exaggeration. What I speak of will only halt the spread of the sickness, not reverse all of the effects it has had on our bodies.

Alka Zolka: Surito Carito, you are far too modest a man! Truly, what you speak of is incredible─a miracle, even.

Surito Carito: Alas, it is not to be praised for the progress I've made that I asked you here today. You see, Setoto, one of my comrades who has been assisting me in my experiments, has mysteriously vanished.
Surito Carito: I am terribly worried. While the rancor has subsided from most of our hearts, we still retain our tonberry forms. Were we to wander too far from our home here, any number of organizations would be more than happy to have us hunted down.
Surito Carito: That is why I would ask that you─my two most trusted associates─locate and escort Setoto back to the Wanderer's Palace before it's too late.

Alka Zolka: Of course we'll do it. We can hardly ignore the pleas of one of Nym's foremost scholars!
Alka Zolka: [Forename], I have an idea of where we can start. Let us check with the Grand Companies to see if a bounty has been placed on Setoto's head.

Surito Carito: Bounty? <sigh> Let us hope it has not yet come to that...

Alka Zolka: The Maelstrom Command is in Limsa Lominsa. There, we should be able to ask the Hunt billmaster if any tonberries have recently been registered.
Alka Zolka: We've done this a million times, and yet something about today has me feeling incredibly restless. Please, let us hurry and see what Surito Carito has to say.

Maelstrom Command Hunt billmaster: Good evening to you, sir. How might I be of service to you today?

Alka Zolka: We're looking to save─er─slay a tonberry.

Maelstrom Command Hunt billmaster: A tonberry, eh? We currently have only one tonberry marked for the Hunt by the name of Marberry.

Alka Zolka: Marberry? If I recall correctly, he was marked for the Hunt from even before Setoto disappeared. The possibility of there being a mix-up between the two is slim. It seems we must continue our search elsewhere.

R'ashaht Rhiki: [Forename] of the Scions/[Surname]/[GC Rank], Alka. I wasn't aware the two of you knew each other.

Alka Zolka: R'ashaht! Good to see you again. I think I may have forgotten to say so the other day, but I greatly appreciated your help with my training.

R'ashaht Rhiki: You know I'm always happy to help. I don't suppose you've come all this way to thank me, however. What brings the two of you here?

Alka Zolka: We're searching for an escaped tonberry and thought it might have been marked for the Hunt.

R'ashaht Rhiki: A tonberry, you say?
R'ashaht Rhiki: While I can't promise this is in any way related, a few days back a disturbance broke out in Vesper Bay. They discovered a stowaway hiding in one of the ferries.

Alka Zolka: Indeed?

R'ashaht Rhiki: Witnesses say that a small green blur leapt from between the crates and dashed out of sight as soon as the ship pulled into port.
R'ashaht Rhiki: While of a similar size and build to a Lalafell or Qiqirn, they claim it looked far too alien to be either.

Alka Zolka: Hm... Thank you, R'ashaht. It sounds like you may have just given us our first lead!
Alka Zolka: [Forename], after me! We make for Vesper Bay with all haste.

Surito Carito: I fear for our friend's safety. Please, [Forename], do whatever it takes find and escort Setoto back to the Wanderer's Palace before it's too late.

Alka Zolka: Oh, good. For a moment I thought I had lost you. Let us begin by questioning this man here─he appears to be one of the men from the ferry R'ashaht told us about.

Sunbaked Sailor: Yer askin' if I saw the stowaway? Aye. Ye bet I did.
Sunbaked Sailor: Now it wasn't just any stowaway what boarded our ship. Nay. I suspect it was a one o' 'em fellas─a gob─without his mask. Either that, or it's a rare beastie ye can't find around these here parts. Not that it matter, mind ye.
Sunbaked Sailor: Whatever it was, the Brass Blades are after it, and ye best be sure they'll catch it.

Alka Zolka: Indeed. Thank you for all your help, sir.
Alka Zolka: If an organization that large has yet to find the stowaway, we've little chance of succeeding in such an endeavor ourselves.
Alka Zolka: Rather than blindly rushing about, our time would be better spent gathering what information we can regarding this incident. I shall go and speak with my acquaintances in Ul'dah. In the meantime, I ask that you return to Surito Carito and inform him of all that we learned.

Sunbaked Sailor: What in the gods' name was that thing? I ain't never seen anythin' like it.

Surito Carito: [Forename], I can only hope your swift return means you come bearing good news.
Surito Carito: ...Has crossed the sea and is likely now in Thanalan, you say!? What could possibly have spurred our friend to do such a thing?

Alka Zolka: Surito Carito, forgive my tardiness.
Alka Zolka: I made a small detour to Ul'dah to speak with my associates. Unfortunately, they could tell me nothing aside from the fact that the Brass Blades are looking into who the stowaway might be. I've, nevertheless, asked that they keep an ear to the ground and report to me should they learn more.

Surito Carito: Thank you, Alka Zolka. <sigh> If, as you suspect, our friend has fled to the vast continent of Aldenard, there is little sense in us conducting any more searches.
Surito Carito: Judging by the Brass Blades' inability to find their quarry, we should have no need to worry about the Hunt or any other institution capturing Setoto for now. Our best option is to wait until we know more.

Alka Zolka: I am inclined to agree. Should I come across any new information, I will send word to you right away.

Surito Carito: There's a good chance this search will turn into something of a long-term effort. [Forename], I suggest you rest while you still can.

System: The next scholar quest will be available from Surito Carito upon reaching level 63.
System: The requirements for undertaking subsequent quests can be reviewed in your journal.