Lowtown - Dalan's Place & South Sprawl

Old Dalan’s Place

Rabanastran (woman at left): Something’s happened in the west… Dalan’s been behaving oddly ever since.

Rabanastran (kid at right): You ever hear of the garif? I heard that after they’re born, they put on a mask, and they don’t never take it off till they die… Wonder what they do if they get an itch?

Dalan: The garif? Let me think… Yes, I have seen the garif here in Rabanastre, though it was long ago. Hm. I can’t remember when the last time was. They live in the southwest of Ozmone Plain, to the south of Giza.

South Sprawl

Rabanastran (woman in green, pink, and blue walking around talking to various people): When I heard Vayne had returned to Archadia, it seemed there must have been some reason for it, but even Dalan doesn’t know what’s happening.

Resigned Boy: The Empire will protect us and keep us safe, I know it. But who will protect us from the Empire if they change their minds?

Frustrated Man: Door back here hasn’t worked since… since I don’t know when. But those blasted Imperials won’t give the word to have it fixed.

Somber Woman: When the children born since the war are older, and my daughter sees other kids with parents, I wonder if she’ll feel more comfortable with me.

Guileful Boy: You know why they sent Vayne back to Archadia? I bet it’s because he wasn’t treatin’ us mean enough. He ain’t done nothin’ mean, really.

Guileless Girl: Sometimes I play down in the alley what leads up to Southgate. Yep. But I don’t go up there. And I definitely don’t go down to Giza. Nope.

Awestruck Girl: See that man squattin’ down talkin’ over there? They say he used to be a sky pirate! It’s kinda exciting, havin’ someone mysterious around.

Samal: People think being a sky pirate is all riches and adventure, but the reality is far different. Your life is always at risk, you never know peace. You are free, I suppose. But it comes at a steep price. Your fate, succeed or fail, is entirely up to you. So what does it mean to be free? That’s the real question. Running to escape your troubles won’t make you free. It never can.

Traveling Merchant: Ain’t hardly sold nothin’ today. You lookin’ for somethin’, kid? [shop menu]

Well-spoken Girl: I wonder if this is how I’m going to grow up, here in the dark passages of Lowtown. Rather depressing, don’t you think? Sometimes I just want to run far, far away from it all… but that’s not easy when you’re just a child.

Friendly Boy: I don’t feel so good. There’s somethin’ funny been comin’ up from under the courtyard. I’ve always been real sensitive to that kinda thing.

South Sprawl

Well-spoken Girl: Vayne’s manner disgusts me. Laying a trap for the anti-Imperials as he did. Who knows who’ll be the next person to fall into one of his traps. I know there are many in Lowtown who would like nothing more than to see Rabanastre rid of the Empire. Hope they have an eye for traps…

Resolute Boy: I remember when you could get up to Westgate through that door, but it’s broken now… Bet the Imperials did that, too.

Samal: I can’t believe he’s still alive… Sorry, just talking to myself. Promise me something, would you? No matter how hard things might get, never give up. So long as you don’t give up, there’s still hope.

Awestruck Girl: See that man squattin’ down talkin’ over there? They say he used to be a sky pirate! He always seems so calm and in control. But there was this one time he seen someone, and his face went white as a sheet. You’d think he seen a ghost.

Traveling Merchant: One of my regulars had an unexpected guest drop in. Weird fellow, couldn’t quite place him… Anyway, you here to buy somethin’, kid? [shop menu]

Guileless Girl: Sometimes I play down in the alley what leads up to Southgate. Yep.

Layabout: So there was this weird man, and this group a tough-lookin’ guys came up and took him off somewhere. Smells pretty funny to me.

Fidget: Vaan, is that you? It’s been so long I hardly reco’nized ya! Did something happen?

Filo: Arr, Vaan! Haven’t spied you ‘round the city in a long time. Kytes and me were startin’ to wonder what happened to ya! You seem the same as ever. You here to see Old Dalan? We’re tryin’ to solve a mystery. There was this suspicious guy – er, bloke – before. We wanna work out who it is.

Guileful Boy: I saw some people pushin’ this scruffy-looking man around a little while ago. Looked like they didn’t want to be seen. What’s that all about? I just hope everything’s all right… Maybe Old Dalan knows somethin’.

Resigned Boy: If the Empire’s protecting us, it must mean they think we’re important enough to protect, right? Otherwise why would they bother?

Frustrated Man: I barely make enough to get by, but I should count myself lucky. Some of my friends, they can’t even find work.

Rabanastran (man in green shorts): After seeing the Imperials capture those thieves, it hit home how easily any of us in Lowtown could be rounded up and taken off, if they wanted to.

Rabanastran (woman in pink, blue and green traversing corridor): If you ever need to hear a kindly word, Old Dalan is always willing to give advice to those who ask.

North & South Sprawls

South Sprawl

Layabout: Filo’s always fussin’ at me to be more like Kytes… Hmph. I say everybody oughta be himself.

Fidget: Kytes loves helpin’ ya out, Vaan. It’s like the closer you are to a sky pirate, the closer he feels to being one too… or something.

Filo: Arr, Vaan! That door what Kytes could never open? He finally figured it out! He come lookin’ for ya to let ya know, but since he couldn’t find ya, he went back up to the storehouse to wait for ya there.

North Sprawl

Fussbudget: Hey, Kytes finally got that other door in the storehouse open. I think he’s waitin’ inside for ya, Vaan.

[When you open the door to Storehouse 5 you see…]

Kytes: Hey, Vaan! I finally worked out how to get the door on the left side open! I hope there’s somethin’ in there besides rats… I wanted you to go in first, so I waited for you to come before openin’ it. Well, that’s one of the reasons I waited… Thing is, I’m gonna need some special tools to open the door… Gonna need you to go fetch ‘em for me. I know, I know. Not the most exciting thing to do, is it? Heh, heh. I’m just messin’ with ya. I’ve got everything I need ready to go! Hang on while I open it…

(Fade to black.) 

Hmm, let’s see… Yeah, that should do it… Huh? 

Ungh. Urgh. Angh! Hrooph! 

(Fade back in on the same scene.) 

It’s open! Now we’ve got a whole ‘nother place to explore! Oh, and I almost forgot. Take these with ya before you go. No tellin’ what’s down there… might come in handy. 

[You obtain 2 Potions!] 

[You obtain 4 phials of Eye Drops!]

Kytes (x2): Don’t know what kind of monsters are down there, but nothin’ you can’t handle, I bet. Let me know what ya find!

Fussbudget: So Kytes finally got that door open, huh?

Previous: South Sprawl & Dalan's Place

Next: The Garamsythe Waterway & The Royal Palace

South Sprawl & Dalan's Place

South Sprawl

[Approaching Dalan’s place triggers a brief scene…]

Penelo: Hey Vaan?

(Vaan turns to Penelo behind him.)

Penelo: It’s been a long time since we did anything together. Too long. I had a really good time. Well, I should probably get back to the store. Actually, I was kind of supposed to be watching the place for Migelo. And, Vaan – Try to stay out of trouble. For me? I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t here. If something happened to you.

Vaan: I’m not going anywhere. Okay?

Penelo: That’s what I wanted to hear. See ya later.

(Penelo runs off, and Vaan watches her go.)

Vaan: Sorry, Penelo.

[Penelo leaves the party.]

Dalan’s Place

Rabanastran (woman at left): You get the sunstone for Dalan? I imagine that wasn’t easy to come by. Sunstones, gate crystals, skystones… there’s magicite all around us, if you stop to think about it.

Rabanastran (boy sitting at right): Dalan found that rock he was lookin’ for. For some old rock, he sure was happy about it.

Dalan: Oh ho! So you’ve got a sunstone, have you? Hand it over, m’boy, and I’ll use it to give the Crescent Stone back its magicks like I promised.

Dalan: Now you’ll be wanting to know how to sneak into the palace, eh? First you go to Storehouse 5. You know the one. Two doors she has. Now the right takes Vaan Ratsbane to his territorial hunting grounds in the sewerbottom… But that’s not the way you’ll go. No, you’ll take the left door, down into the Garamsythe Waterway. The waterway leads to a stair, the stair to the palace cellars. That’s your way in. But don’t go counting your gil just yet, m’boy. Getting into the palace was the easy part. The way into the treasury is carefully hidden. That’s where this Crescent Stone comes in. The magicks it bears can open the hidden door to the treasury, you see. Listen, Vaan, for the words I shall speak are most important, and not to be forgotten. Do you understand? “The signet yearns for sunstone’s strength, to light the clouded way.” Once in the palace, you’ll find the signet tile. Very important. Give to it the sun’s power, and it will light your path. Very well. Oh, a warning: be aware that if you’re caught… you’ll spend the rest of your short life rotting in the Nalbina dungeons. So, look sharp, m’boy. And don’t go running off before you’re ready. Plans freshly hatched have a habit of tumbling from the nest… straight into the hunter’s stewpot.

[You obtain the Crescent Stone!]

Dalan: Need to hear the way in once more, do you?

Yeah, that would help.

>Dalan: First you go to Storehouse 5 – you know the one. Two doors she has. The right takes you to your territorial hunting grounds in the sewerbottom, but you’ll take the left door, down into the Garamsythe Waterway. The waterway leads to a stair, the stair to the palace cellars. That’s your way in. But don’t go counting your gil just yet, m’boy. Getting into the palace was the easy part. The way into the treasury is carefully hidden. That’s where the Crescent Stone comes in. The magicks it bears can open the hidden door to the treasury, you see. Listen, Vaan, for the words I shall speak are most important: “The signet yearns for sunstone’s strength, to light the clouded way.” Once in the palace, you’ll find the signet tile. Give to it the sun’s power, and it will light your path.

No, I think I’ve got it.

>Dalan: Be careful, m’boy. Go getting yourself in trouble, and the ones who care about you also suffer. Think of that before you do anything rash.

Rabanastran (boy sitting at right): Don’t tell me you don’t know where Storehouse 5 is? Over in the North Sprawl? Kytes is always up to something in there.

[Leaving Dalan’s place triggers another brief cutscene…]

(Beneath Rabanastre – The Garamsythe Waterway)

(An armored man is approached by other, more crudely armed men.)

Man: Squads 3 through 6 are in place. They stand ready. So far the Imperials haven’t noticed a thing.

????: Then go now and hurry the others. By nightfall, we must ensure all our men are in place.

(The men give a “sir” and depart, leaving the armored man to turn around to face a young lady in a pink skirt who now emerges from behind a pillar. We don’t see her face.)

Previous: The Crystal Glade & Nomad Village: Returning Jinn, and a Sunstone

Next: South Sprawl & North Sprawl

South Sprawl

Filo: Arr, Vaan! Welcome to the Buccaneer’s Brigade! Come to tell us more stories about bein’ sky pirates? This scurvy bunch would rather hear about bein’ sky pirates than train for it. Maybe they need some trainin’ on walkin’ the plank…

Fidget: Filo’s had us trainin’ real hard. Bein’ a sky pirate’s a lot more work than I thought.

Layabout: Bein’ a sky pirate? Nothin’ to it! You just fly all over the place in your airship. So how come there aren’t as many real sky pirates anymore? These days, most of them what say they’re sky pirates are just a buncha thieves. Not me. I’m gonna be a real sky pirate! Yarr!

Dalan's Place

Dalan: Ahh, if it isn’t Vaan Ratsbane. Come for a tip on how to skewer something bigger and in armor? By the east gate?

Vaan: What, you already heard about that?

Dalan: Wise I may not be, but well-informed I am.

Vaan: They’ll get what’s coming to them someday, believe me. But that’s not why I’m here.

Dalan: Do tell!

Vaan: I want to know how to sneak into the palace. They’ve got to have some great stuff in there! Thought I’d partake.

Dalan: Not one to mince words, are you, boy. The Empire protects what’s hers. That means the palace and all the treasures inside.

Vaan: That’s why I’m gonna do it! To take back what’s ours!

Dalan: So our champion of the sewers aspires to noble action. Admirable. Perhaps I can help you. Ah, now that I think on it, there was a rumor, yes. A secret passageway into the palace vaults, a door, and a magicked stone to open the way.

Vaan: That’s it! This is exactly why I came to talk to you first, Dalan. So… where’s this, uh, magicked stone?

Dalan: Eh? Oh, I’ve had it for years. If I can remember where I’ve tucked it away…

Vaan: I’ve heard all I need. So this, uh, Crescent Stone. Can I have it? Then I can find that secret passage into the palace, right?

Dalan: Not much of a listener, are you… The Crescent Stone has lost its magicks. Without the power of a sunstone, it will be of little use.

Vaan: Right. So where can I get one of these sunstones?

Dalan: You seek Giza Plains. Speak with the nomads there. You will find your sunstone. Leave by Southgate and continue south. Their village is not far. There are like to be beasts on the plains, so be careful, m’boy.

Vaan: You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be back before you know it.

Dalan: I need that sunstone, Vaan. You should start by talking to the nomads on the Giza Plains. If you leave by Southgate, their village is not far.

Rabanastran (woman in pink, blue and red standing at left of room): You may want to talk with the moogle from the Cartographers’ Guild in the Southern Plaza before you leave for Giza. It can’t hurt to have a map.

Rabanastran (boy in blue sitting at right): You goin’ to Giza Plains? Be careful!

[After walking out the door...]

Vaan: Let’s see, Giza Plains… Hang a right here, and I’m practically at Southgate. This’ll be easy.

South Sprawl

Filo: Arr, Vaan! Welcome to the Buccaneer’s Brigade! Come to tell us more stories about bein’ sky pirates? This scurvy bunch would rather hear about bein’ sky pirates than train for it. Maybe they need some trainin’ on walkin’ the plank…

Fidget: Filo’s had us trainin’ real hard. Bein’ a sky pirate’s a lot more work than I thought.

Layabout: Bein’ a sky pirate? Nothin’ to it! You just fly all over the place in your airship. So how come there aren’t as many real sky pirates anymore? These days, most of them what say they’re sky pirates are just a buncha thieves. Not me. I’m gonna be a real sky pirate! Yarr!

Previous: South Sprawl

Next: Nomad Village & Masyua's Conditions

South Sprawl

Layabout: Yeah, I’m takin’ my time, but I’m almost there anyway. Filo’s just up ahead. I’ll win easy.

Layabout (x2): I’m tired of training. I hate lettin’ Filo down, but I don’t really care about winning anyway. So I’ll just wait here until I lose… But what if everyone decides to give up?

Guileless Girl: Sometimes I play down in the alley in front of Old Dalan’s, but I ain’t supposed to go up to Southgate. Nope.

Guileful Boy: I don’t care how great they say this new consul is. They can’t fool me. I ain’t gonna sit back while they turn us into the Empire!

Resigned Boy: If the Empire’s protecting us now, how come we had to fight them before? It doesn’t make any sense to me.

Frustrated Man: Been thinkin’ of headin’ up to Nalbina, try and find a new job with the reconstruction. The pay’s good, but it’s hard work.

Somber Woman: My daughter won’t talk to me ‘less we come to some out-of-the-way place like this. Says it’s not right to the kids what lost their moms. Did the Empire invade so we would be forced to live like this?

Rabanastran (man in green and brown shorts): The shops around here have had trouble keeping goods stocked since the war. These days, the only merchant with much of anything is over in the courtyard.

Rabanastran (woman in pink, blue, and green walking from person to person): The children just love listening to Old Dalan’s stories. You can practically follow the sound of their laughter to his doorstep.

Rabanastran (man in blue and green sitting in courtyard holding his shoulder): (sigh) No money, no job… I’m bored to tears.

Traveling Merchant: Ain’t hardly sold nothin’ today. Can’t expect the likes of these to put up hard gil, though. Ah well, go on, have a look. [shop menu]

Rabanastran/Samal: Fighting against the Empire is all well and good, but it’s not enough. You’ve got to find something more to live for. A dream to follow. I don’t know what kind of world he’ll grow up in, but so long as there are people who follow their dreams, it can’t be all that bad.

Awestruck Girl: See that man squattin’ down talkin’ over there? They say he used to be a sky pirate! Don’t know if he was a for-real one or a for-fake one, though.

Fidget: Yo ho ho! I win! I beat everybody else to the courtyard! I even beat Filo here! Filo did say to meet in the courtyard... right?

Friendly Boy: I feel sorry for that guy sellin’ stuff in the courtyard. No one ever buys from him. I won’t let that happen to me. I’m gonna be rich!

Ex-Adventurer: You ever find yourself down in the sewers, watch yourself, boy. They’re crawlin’ with creatures. You especially want to watch out for elementals. Don’t linger in any one place too long and you should be able to avoid ‘em.

Resolute Boy: Who do these Imperials think they are, keepin’ us from goin’ where we wanna? Ya know whose fault all this is? That Basch, that’s who! Dirty traitor…

Well-spoken Girl: Do you think dreams really can come true? Or are they just a way for us to escape our troubles? The other day this scary-looking man told me we’d be taking our kingdom back soon. If that’s really true, then maybe it’s okay for me to dream, too.

Rabanastran (man in green, red, and blue): You ever wish there were more ways to get up to the city? Sometimes I feel claustrophobic down here.

Patient Boy: Vaan, is that you? Can’t remember the last time I saw you down here to visit Old Dalan.

Filo: Arr, Vaan! Here to see Old Dalan? I’m just waitin’ for my friends – er, mates – to show up. What’s takin’ them so long?

Jolly Seeq: Old Dalan was tellin’ me how this place was once a great storehouse. That explains the passage up to Southgate. Back when they were movin’ freight and caravans from Giza Plains through Southgate they must have needed doors this large to pass through. Pity this is the only one that still works.

Previous: North Sprawl pt. 2

Next: Old Dalan's Place & Dalan's Quest