Draco: You may be wondering why I had an Ala Mhigan involved in the Heavensward questline instead of the Stormblood one. If you think it's because I feel Champion should've been the 'tournament at the Gladiators' Guild' quests, you're mistaken; I already said that Paladins and Gladiators cooperating in post-Shadowbringers is WAY more satisfying than anything I could come up with for Champions.

My actual reason is because I had plans for the Far East. This one would require completion of the Main Scenario Quest... I think "Where the Streets Are Paved with Koban" would be far enough.

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Lv. 63: A Tale of Distant Tides

Zyaire was alone at the Carline Canopy when next Ayleth stopped by.

"Ayleth," he greeted. "You have the Twelve's own timing, I swear." He crossed his arms. "We've been trying to give Kiyomi enough time to remember anything more that's happened to her, but to no avail. Panha said she was going to take her to the Conjurer's Guild and see if there's anything wrong with her that a more experienced healer can help with... but failing that, we'll be leaving for Limsa shortly." Something caught his attention. "Ah, and speaking of which..."

Panha and Kiyomi were stepping into the Canopy; the Au Ra had a surprising spring in her step, considering Panha's less-than-pleasant expression. "Oh, Ayleth," she greeted. "How do you always manage to show up at the perfect time?"

"Any luck?" Zyaire asked.

"Well, Brother E-Sumi wasn't able to do anything to improve her condition," Panha admitted. "The good news is, he's found no trace of anything that might have deliberately caused this. The bad news is, that most likely means whatever got her to the Twelveswood was fairly traumatic."

Zyaire sighed. "I see. Then we'd best make sure it doesn't happen again." He knelt down. "Are you ready to go?"

Kiyomi nodded. "Uh-huh! Let's go, Papa!"

Ayleth started at that.

"Okay," Panha assured her. "We'll meet you at Limsa, shall we?" She and Kiyomi started out of Gridania, leaving Ayleth to turn to Zyaire in surprise.

→"...Papa?"
→"I hope that wasn't your idea."

Zyaire chuckled awkwardly. "I was kind of hoping you wouldn't hear that," he confessed. "When we were talking to her earlier, she had some trouble with saying my name. I told her she could call us whatever she wanted, and... Well, that's what she settled on." His gaze fell. "Which makes it kind of concerning that she's never mentioned parents of her own..."

He shook his head. "Sorry. I'd better catch up with them. Let's meet up at the aetheryte plaza."

QUEST ACCEPTED

+x+x+x+

When Ayleth arrived at Limsa's aetheryte plaza, she found Kiyomi looking rather concerned.

"Here we are," Panha mused. "Is this the place you remember?"

Kiyomi shook her head. "I... don't think so," she replied. "This place is... too tall."

Zyaire seemed confused at that. "Too... tall?"

"Uh-huh," Kiyomi confirmed. "The place I remember didn't go up like this. It went sideways. And the people at stalls weren't inside like they are here. They were all outside."

"Merchant stalls outside?" Zyaire mused. "That sounds kind of like Ul'dah... but you said there were boats, right? It had to be on a shore..." He turned to Ayleth. "Do you have any ideas, Ayleth?"

After a moment's contemplation, the adventurer reckoned she did indeed.

"Kugane?" Panha echoed. "In Hingashi?" She set her hands on her hips. "That's a long and pricey journey, all the way to the Far East..."

"Let me cover the cost of the ride," Zyaire assured her. "In the meantime, why don't you and Kiyomi get a bite to eat." He smiled down at Kiyomi. "You must be hungry after that long trip."

Kiyomi gave a nervous giggle. "Maybe a little bit."

Panha nodded. "Sounds like a plan," she conceded. "Come on, Kiyomi."

"Okay, Mama."

The two took off towards the Drowning Wench as Zyaire turned to Ayleth. "If you've been to the Far East, maybe you could help me find a ship?"

+x+x+x+

They ran into trouble at the gates by the ferry docks.

Zyaire and Ayleth were negotiating with a sailor from the East Aldenard Trading Company when a voice spoke to them from behind. "Oi, two-swords. Want a word with you." The champions traded glances before turning to face the speaker - a towering Elezen man with a sinister axe on his back.

"...Can I help you?" Zyaire asked.

"I reckon you can," the axeman accused. "I saw you and that lass in the plaza."

A groan escaped from Zyaire's lips. "Not more of this," he muttered. "Look, if you take issue with her choice of company, why don't you take it up with her. She's not some thing that belongs to people; she can make her own decisions."

The Elezen drew his weapon in a rapid motion. "A wise guy, eh? Sod it, we can do this the hard way!"

He charged at Zyaire... who simply stepped aside, leaving him tripping over the arrivals gate and tumbling down the steps onto the ferry docks. Zyaire and Ayleth glanced at each other and shrugged, and the sailor quickly took off to get the authorities as the two champions pursued their attacker out into the open, drawing their swords as the axeman got to his feet.

"Alright, then," Zyaire proclaimed. "I reckon we got a few minutes before our friend fetches the Yellowjackets. Bring it on."

"Damn you!" The axeman raised a hand to his mouth and whistled, prompting a few more strangers to emerge onto the deck to join them; a Lalafell brandishing a barbed polearm, and a Hyur carrying a grimoire.

Zyaire smirked. "Tend to those two, would you, Ayleth?" he called. "I'll keep this would-be headsman busy."

The lancer charged at Ayleth as the arcanist hurled a blast of Ruin in her direction. The adventurer brought one sword out to meet the spell and leave it imploding on nothing, then brought her sword up to deflect the lancer's thrust over his own head; while he was still reeling, she twisted into a spin and raked her blade across his armour, throwing him backwards. As the arcanist made to heal him, she lunged forward to close the distance, and no sooner had his Physick started to wash over his comrade than she was up in his face, knocking the book out of his hands with a cross-thrust and then bringing her swords up in a leaping blow to throw him backwards up the stairs.

As she was landing, the pikebearer came at her from behind, prompting Ayleth to twist into a descending blow that sent the polearm tumbling out of his grip. A swift kick to the back of the head left him collapsing next to his comrade, and she charged down towards the axeman that Zyaire was fighting with. The champion seemed to be toying with his opponent, and on seeing the battlefield otherwise empty, he quickly knocked the axe into the deck, giving Ayleth the chance to finish him off from behind with a whirling blow.

The Yellowjackets arrived shortly thereafter, and the attackers found themselves tied up on the docks. Once the formalities were dealt with, Zyaire turned to Ayleth. "Let's go check on Panha and Kiyomi," he insisted. "I wouldn't put it past guys like this to be attacking on two fronts."

+x+x+x+

Their worries were unfounded; Kiyomi was blissfully eating a meal at the Drowning Wench, and Panha confirmed that they'd had no one accosting them while they were there. Once the Auri girl had finished eating, the group made their way back down and departed for Hingashi.

One long journey later, the quartet emerged onto Pier #2 at Kugane. Zyaire and Panha were briefly awestuck at the sight before them as the passed through Shiokaze Hostelry and emerged into the aetheryte plaza, and after a moment the champion spoke up. "Wow... When I heard that Hingashi only had one open port, I was expecting it to be something thrown together, but they really decided to impress their vistors."

Panha turned to Kiyomi. "You okay?" she asked. "Is this place you remember?"

"I... think so," Kiyomi confirmed. "Yes, this is the place I remember." She reached for her head. "I was here... and then someone..."

"You don't need to make yourself remember just yet," Panha assured her. "Take your time, okay?"

"...Okay, Mama," Kiyomi conceded.

Zyaire turned to Ayleth. "We're gonna spend some time going around this place," he proclaimed. "Anything might bring back the memories. Don't wait up for us; we'll let you know when things change." He crossed his arms with a smile. "Or maybe you'll just show up right as they do."

Ayleth grinned in return.

QUEST COMPLETE

Draco: Solo instance for the battle on the deck. I wrote Ayleth travelling to Kugane with the group, but in gameplay, I think they'd part ways at the Drowning Wench and you meet up with them on the port in Hingashi.