Draco: There are a lot of things about my Champion concept that I will defend on grounds of precedent. The end of the HW questline and this beginning of the StB questline... isn't quite one of them.

Now, I do technically have precedent for a job tutor being relocated in between quests, and even for ending one expansion's questline in a different region than they started, which ends up being the starting point of the next expansion's questline. X'rhun and Radovan both jump all over the place as events demand and end up in Mor Dhona, despite starting in Thanalan and the Shroud, respectively. All that being said... I've been writing Champion as an ARR job, and I do have to concede that all of the ARR job questlines start with the same NPCs in the same place in every expansion, including when the questline itself shifts focus back to the base class' guild for StB and post-ShB.

So... yeah, I'm not gonna deny that the way the previous chapter ended, in relation to how this one starts, is a bit gratuitous.

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Lv. 60: A Young Girl Walks Through the Forest

When Ayleth did decide to pay Zyaire a visit at Fallgourd Float, she found the champion outside the Bobbing Cork.

"We meet again," Zyaire greeted. "I hear you achieved a great deal in Ishgard after that incident with M'inwa Tia." He crossed his arms, looking Ayleth up and down. "I can tell just looking at you - you've gotten stronger and stronger. If we were to face off on the bloodsands again... you'd make short work of me."

He shook his head. "I know I offered to train with you again, but today isn't a good day for it. Panha and I were planning to meet up at Bentbranch Meadows. You want to stop by and say hello, before you leave?"

Ayleth offered a smile, nodding in agreement.

QUEST ACCEPTED

+x+x+x+

The two champions were both concerned when they arrived at Bentbranch Meadows, and found Panha nowhere to be seen.

"She's late," Zyaire mused. "Or maybe I'm early?"

"Pardon me." The voice from nearby drew their attention to an older-looking man. "You two wouldn't happen to be lookin' for a Miqo'te lass, would you?"

Zyaire started. "We would," he confirmed.

The man nodded. "Saw her taking off southerly, I did, not a minute before you arrived," he explained. "Seemed she was in a bit of a fright."

"Oh, no," Zyaire muttered. "Thank you, sir." Then, to Ayleth; "Come on. I hope it's nothing... but I've been wrong before."

The two started south towards Galvanth's Spire; one of the Wood Wailers on watch quickly informed them that Panha had been seen going in the direction of the Hedgetree. As they approached the towering tree for themselves, they did indeed find Panha there - and she was kneeling before a prone figure.

"Panha!"

Zyaire's call drew the Miqo'te's attention. "Zyaire! Ayleth!"

The two champions slowed to a stop before her. "What happened?" he asked. Then, noticing the other; "Who is this?"

"I don't know," Panha confessed. "I saw her wandering this way and came after her. She collapsed shortly before I arrived."

Ayleth turned her gaze to the figure; it was a very young-looking Auri girl, with black hair that extended to her shoulder blades. A pair of short, bright horns curled forward from the sides of her head, and a smaller pair of silvery horns rested atop; her skin was a dark slate hue, contrasting with her bright scales.

"What was she doing wandering the Twelveswood on her own?" Zyaire wondered. "Is she wounded?"

"No," Panha admitted, "not as far as I can see." She shook her head. "Even so, we can't leave her out in the woods like this; let's bring her back to Gridania. Maybe get a room at the Roost."

+x+x+x+

By the time Ayleth made to join them at the Carline Canopy, the girl had awoken - and was seated at one of the tables with Panha, eating a hearty meal.

"Ah, Ayleth," Zyaire greeted. "As you can see, she's awake. Seems her collapse in the forest was more hunger than harm."

Panha spoke up. "So, little one... Can I ask your name?"

The Raen girl paused. "I'm... Kiyomi." Her eyes were a deep purple, and lacked limbal rings.

"Kiyomi?" Panha smiled. "It's a lovely name. Kiyomi, can you tell me why you were out in the woods on your own?"

"I... I don't know," Kiyomi murmured. "I don't remember being there."

Everyone started. "You don't remember?" Zyaire echoed. "How? What's the last thing you do remember?"

Kiyomi's gaze fell. "The last thing...? I remember being in a big city... with lots of people. There were lots of boats. Someone grabbed me and took me to a big boat..." She shook her head. "Then I woke up here."

"A big city with lots of boats," Zyaire echoed. "Limsa Lominsa, maybe?"

"We'll have to pay a visit and see," Panha mused. "But later. For now, let's make sure you're okay."

"Okay," Kiyomi agreed.

Panha raised her gaze to Ayleth. "We'd better not keep you," she observed. "I want to learn as much as we can before we go looking for answers. I'll let you know if something changes."

QUEST COMPLETE

The next champion quest will be available from Zyaire upon reaching level 63.


Draco: Role quests in Shadowbringers are divided into four - Tank, Healer, Physical DPS (encompassing Melee and Physical Ranged), Magical DPS. Role quests in Endwalker are divided into five - Tank, Healer, Melee DPS, Physical Ranged DPS, Magical Ranged DPS. The only other format that could really be justified is dividing into three - Tank, Healer, DPS (encompassing Melee, Physical Ranged, and Magical Ranged).

But some small part of me fears that Dawntrail is going to have role quests divided into seven - Tank, Healer, Maiming Melee DPS, Striking Melee DPS, Scouting Melee DPS, Physical Ranged DPS, Magical Ranged DPS. And if we get that, and there's a quest after we've cleared all the role quests, I'm probably going to pitch my controller through my TV.