(10-03-2017, 12:58 AM)zaviire Wrote: In the process of poking around the Gamer Escape wiki thing for FFXIV for unrelated lore info, I happened across the names of three organizations that seem pretty interesting: Azeyma's Shields, The Horn and Hand, and the Zer'maat Five. While the former two have blurbs that briefly give a run-down of what they did and the like, the last of those three doesn't seem to have anything other than a note that it's a criminal organization. I'm assuming these organizations were never brought up outside of 1.0... But is there any more information available about them? Particularly about the Zer'maat Five? (Or the alternative: is Gamer Escape pulling my leg here and these organizations never actually existed? I would be sad if that was the case... I loved stuff like the Alacran's role in the GLD quests.)
Don't worry, Gamerescape is quite reliable. These organizations all existed (and the game still gives a few scattered references to them in 2.0 if you know where to look).
You can read up on the Zer'maat Five in my post on them here!
Gamerescape gives a pretty solid overview on the Horn and Hand and Azeyma's Shields (there was also a third organization called the Brotherhood of the Broken Blade), but I'll drop more lore on them below the spoiler tag! In 1.0, these organizations were three factions that occasionally hired adventurers discreetly to handle more sensitive missions. In order to prove your worth, you had to buy these missions with faction points.
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Faction Leve Lore
The Horn and Hand
Horn and Hand 7th Eye, Diego Athral
Azeyma's Shields
Azeyma's Shields Isleguards, W'mhelgo Hena and Lydie Bellveil
The Brotherhood of the Broken Blade
Broken Blade Captain Dyrstan Corwell and Lieutenant War Wolf
The Horn and Hand
Horn and Hand 7th Eye, Diego Athral
A Weighty Problem Wrote:A caravan loaded with goods was traveling along the trade route between Limsa Lominsa and Ishgard until it was decimated in Coerthas by an Ixali raiding party. The caravan's goods were assured by the Triton's Marine Assurance, so naturally the company would prefer to attempt to recover some of the cargo rather than replace it completely. We can assume that the Ixal carried away the majority of the items, but they are known to care little for heavy armor. This is our chance to enter Triton's good graces. Travel to the scene of the attack and see if any of the trunks of armor can be salvaged.
Collecting Sea Shells Wrote:Limsa Lominsa is astir with speculation over the mysterious wooden boxes that recently washed into port. After obtaining one of these tightly sealed crafts for our faction, we opened it to discover a number of large, bullet-shaped hunks of metal packed in sawdust. Upon closer inspection, we deduced that the oversized bullets were actually cannon shells expertly forged from incredibly light mythril - apparently a shipment of foreign ammunition has found its way to our shores. We ask for volunteers to collect as many of these crates as possible so that we might safely dismantle the contents and prevent any accidental explosions from mishandling this unfamiliar ordnance.
Golden Opportunity Wrote:There is a rumor circulating among the miners that the spriggans of Coerthas have struck a sizable vein of gold ore. Should this prove true, and the Horn and Hand is able to capitalize on their good fortune, our faction shall escape the rising waters of debt threatening to drown us. Travel to the indicated location, relieve Seventh Eye Diego Athral from his duty, and follow one of the spriggans without being detected. Our financial freedom hinges on discerning where the monstrous miners stash their precious metal!
Heat of the Moment Wrote:Shortly after departing Millers' Glade in the Coerthas eastern lowlands, an airship carrying supplies to Gridania was attacked by a pair of dragons. Knowing that they did not have the firepower to dispatch the creatures, the pilot chose instead to outrun them. To do so, however, he gave the order to jettison several items in his cargo hold in order to lighten the airship, thus increasing its speed. Cheers of joy filled the vessel when it arrived safely in the Black Shroud, but when the pilot realized which cargo was abandoned, those cheers soon turned to shouts of anger, for the crates that were lost were owned by one of the wealthiest noble families in Ishgard. The Horn and Hand has determined this a most opportune chance to improve our faction's standing in the mountain city-state, and so we seek volunteers to travel to the wreckage and assist in recovering the crates before bandits come across the items and claim them for themselves.
Hook, Line, and Sinker Wrote:After moons of investigation, it has been determined that a ruthless band of poachers known as the Antlions is responsible for the death of hundreds of rare white antelopes─revered by Gridanians as holy messengers of the wood. While several of the bandits have been captured and jailed by the local Holtwatch, it is believed that as long as the band's ringleader, Hooknosed Wylla, is still at large, the rampant poaching will continue. Unfortunately, city-state law will not allow her arrest without conclusive evidence that she was truly involved in the killing of white antelopes. To gather this evidence, the Horn and Hand is seeking brave volunteers to join Seventh Eye Diego Athral in the tracking of Hooknosed Wylla. Those participating in the mission will be rationed a special concoction made from the chitin of rainbow flies. This “prism powder†will render its wearers invisible, allowing them to safely track Wylla until she leaves behind an item that might implicate her in her crimes.
It's the Smell Wrote:Goblin-made "sweetboxes" have been placed around Gridania to repel the voracious insects that feed on the city greenery. Unfortunately the sickly-sweet fumes escaping from the boxes also have the effect of driving away benign bugs necessary for pollination, not to mention inducing nausea and dizziness in small children. We ask for volunteers to quickly and quietly remove these malodorous inventions and help us ensure the well-being of Gridania's citizenry.
Looting the Larder Wrote:For use on a forthcoming mission, the Horn and Hand requires a large quantity of rainbow flies. This elusive vilekin, however, is rarely ever seen by man, due to a combination of a prism-like chitinous body and the mind-boggling speed at which the creature cuts through the air. Currently, the only reliable method known to subdue a rainbow fly is to let the fly's only natural predator─the butcher basilisk─do the work for you. Rather than relying on its underdeveloped eyes to see the nearly invisible vilekin, the butcher basilisk utilizes its highly developed olfactory nerves to track the fly's movement and predict its flight pattern. Once its prey is caught, the basilisk will then carry it to a thorned tree or sharp rock, where it will impale the rainbow fly and leave the twitching carcass to attract female butcher basilisks.
Volunteers are sought to track butcher basilisks until they catch rainbow flies, wait until the fly has been impaled, and then collect the fly before a female basilisk arrives. The same sense of smell that allows the butcher basilisk to detect the scent of rainbow flies will also alert it of a person's presence, causing the beast to run and hide. To ensure the volunteers do not attract the unwanted attention of the scalekin, we will provide a special deodorizing agent made from virgin's veil to mask all unpleasant odors.
Old Money Wrote:Last night, a caravan commissioned by the Lancaster family to deliver a shipment of archaeological artifacts was attacked by a band of highwaymen outside Limsa Lominsa. Among the items stolen were hundreds of samples of rare bronze coins minted in the 3rd Astral Era by the lost Allagan Empire. To the untrained eyes of the brigands, however, the coins must have seemed little more than pieces of rusted rubbish, for there is a trail of discarded items leading away from the site of the assault. To improve our faction's standing with the well-endowed Lancasters, we ask for volunteers to travel to the wreckage and assist in recovering the coins before the highwaymen realize their mistake and return to retrieve the items themselves.
Something in the Air Wrote:An entire shelf-load of flasks was recently stolen from the Frondale's Phrontistery. The culprit, a disreputable Dunesfolk chap, was arrested as he was discovered struggling in mid-air by the city gate, his belly swollen up like an ixali Battle Balloon. The unfortunate thief had mistaken the experimental flotation liquid for growth potions. Although the case is officially closed, there remains a significant problem-the emptied flasks strewn about the city. If even a single drop of the unstable chemical should remain it will gradually react to the oxygen in the air almost certainly explode. It falls to the Horn and Hand to gather these ticking time bombs and rescue fair Ul'dah from imminent catastrophe.
Unlike a Rolling Stone Wrote:For use on a forthcoming mission, the Horn and Hand requires several clumps of a rare moss known as "virgin's veil." Only found in remote locations of the Black Shroud, virgin's veil has a remarkably short lifespan, producing spores mere bells from its sprouting, only to wither and die before the next day's evenfall. Unfortunately, it is this unique characteristic that makes the moss, prized for its deodorizing qualities, extremely difficult to obtain. Our trusted agent, Diego Athral, has been dispatched to a location rumored to recently have seen abundant growth of the moss, and is seeking loyal volunteers to assist him in gathering the fleeting plant. All interested are to report to the Seventh Eye immediately.
While They're Young Wrote:Among the antling hierarchy, there are the worker ants, responsible for gathering food, and the soldier ants, tasked with defending the colony. The ratio of workers to soldiers is strictly controlled by the type of eggs laid by the queen, and all the myriad members of the colony function together as a single organism. Far more cohesive than even the most disciplined army, the antlings are seen by Ul'dah as a looming danger that must be contained. Thus the question was posed: what if we were able to control the type of antling that hatched from an egg? Too few workers, and the colony would starve. Too few soldiers, and the queen would be defenseless. Further research into this idea requires a large number of samples. Travel to the indicated location and assist Seventh Eye Diego Athral in gathering antling eggs.
Azeyma's Shields
Azeyma's Shields Isleguards, W'mhelgo Hena and Lydie Bellveil
Wanted: B'khenna the Phoenixfire Wrote:In an attempt to weaken the Zer'maat Five's grip on the realm, Azeyma's Shields has decided to assassinate the third ranking member of the Ul'dah branch of the underground organization, B'khenna the Phoenixfire. Known for her uncanny ability to survive any wound dealt her, no matter how grievous, B'khenna is a renowned gladiator, having won ten tourneys to date. She is also, however, a cold-blooded killer with strong connections to several high-standing members of Ul'dah's ruling class. Using the guise of one of the Syndicate, Isleguard W'mhelgo Hena has succeeded in luring the swordswoman out to Nophica's Wells for a private meeting. There, in that remote corner of western Thanalan, the mission is to be carried out as discreetly as possible to avoid any unwanted attention. Join the Isleguard immediately and assist her in her operation.
Still Wanted: B'khenna Phoenixfire Wrote:In an attempt to weaken the Zer'maat Five's grip on the realm, Azeyma's Shields has decided to assassinate B'khenna Phoenixfire. B'khenna is notorious for the shrewd manner in which she manipulates people using both her public persona as a popular, retired gladiator, and her private persona as the merciless third-ranking member of the Five's underground organization. Despite having left the gladiatorial world thirty years ago, her appearance remains unaltered since her time in the arena. It is suspected that B'khenna maintains her looks with forbidden necromantic rites involving maggots. Be on guard. Join Isleguard W'mhelgo Hena in Camp Broken Water, follow orders, and douse the Phoenixfire.
Wanted: Alvara Sourkiss Wrote:All who visit the city of Gridania come away with at least one memory in common─the riot of colorful flowers adorning every household. The person maintaining these floral splendors is one Alvara Sourkiss, a dedicated gardener who visits each residence on a daily basis. An informant has accused the ever-smiling lass of growing poisonous herbs for the Zer'maat Five. While it is difficult to believe the sunny Alvara capable of such dastardly deeds, Isleguard W'mhelgo Hena is not one to be deceived by appearances. Join the Isleguard in her interrogation of the gardener, and assist in Sourkiss's demise should she attempt to resist.
Wanted: Coiled Adder Wrote:If you visit the Acorn Orchard, you will find a man beloved by the children for the toys he crafts from wood. They call him the "Toymaker," but his real name is Coiled Adder. He once earned fame as a gifted snake charmer, and is now a known agent of the Zer'maat Five. His identity was revealed when a child accidentally broke open one of his miniature wooden hand carts, and released a sundrake hatchling. The hatchling was stiff as a board, and appeared withered and dead, but on closer inspection, Seventh Eye Diego Athral realized that the drake had deliberately been placed in a death-like coma. If he so chose, Coiled Adder could have awakened the sundrake from outside the child's home with a whistle, and commanded it to steal information or even set fire to the house itself. Isleguard W'mhelgo Hena has been seducing Adder in the guise of a vapid reptile enthusiast, and promised to meet him in an isolated location. Join the Isleguard and assist her in dispatching this slithering criminal.
Wanted: Godwin Goodgoat Wrote:Godwin Goodgoat is known as a hardworking La Noscea shepherd. He raises his charges with grandfatherly attention, and their vibrant fleeces are highly sought after by merchants as a valuable export. Nevertheless, Azeyma's Shields has irrefutable evidence that this unassuming old man actually serves the Zer'maat Five as a frighteningly proficient weaponsmaster. An uncounted number of the Five's smugglers have used Godwin's fighting techniques to battle their way free of the law, and we cannot allow this training to continue. Join Isleguard W'mhelgo Hena and confront Godwin while he is taking his sheep out to pasture. But be warned: it is said the "dog" that helps herd his flock is a vicious and savage beast.
Wanted: Mammoth and Master Wrote:Not long ago, Mathistien of the Cloven Hoof and his traveling grotesquery was one of the realm's most popular exhibitions. People would flock from all around the countryside to see such spectacles as the two-headed nannygoat, the hairless phurble, and the show's main attraction—the colossal Tarbh Uisge. However, it was not until after the giant creature broke loose from its fetters and trampled through Limsa Lominsa, starting a fire that destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed countless innocent citizens, including two high-ranking thalassocratic officials, that it was revealed that Mathistien was actually an assassin for the Zer'maat Five. Needless to say, the mummer was promptly arrested and exiled to a lonely island prison in the Cieldalaes, where he has remained in solitude for the past ten years...or so we thought, for lately there have been rumors that the assassin has fled his island prison and is not only back on Vylbrand, but has brought with him his loyal pet, Tarbh Uisge. Azeyma's Shields is certain that this is the work of the Zer'maat Five, and will stop at nothing to recapture this dangerous criminal and bring him back to justice.
Wanted: Palemoon Parazuzu Wrote:Rumor has that well-known songstress Parazuzu, often seen performing in central Limsa Lominsa's Octant, is actually a lycanthropic asassin hired by the international crime syndicate Zer'maat Five to eliminate a high-ranking official in the Knights of the Barracuda. Azeyma's Shields' W'mhelgo Hena has been tracking Palemoon's movements for the past fortnight and believes she may have discovered a pattern. Join the Isleguard and assist her in capturing the shapeshifter before she can carry out her bloody mission.
Wanted: Rorogun the Tailtamer Wrote:A jolly mummer known around the realm for his traveling galago show, Rorogun the Tailtamer is loved by nobles and smallfolk alike. Newly gathered intelligence, however, suggests that the Lalafell actually is a member of the Zer'maat Five, using his pets in the smuggling and exchange of everything from forbidden artifacts and stolen relics to outlawed poisons and contraband. Azeyma's Shields has tracked Rorogun to Gridania, where he is currently conducting daily shows while practicing his foul trade. Join Isleguard W'mhelgo Hena in Tranquil Paths to ambush the mummer as he passes through the area on his way back to his campsite.
Wanted: Ser Aucheforne of the High Tide Wrote:Recently, several well-guarded plantations privately owned by Gridania's Greatloam Growery were ravaged by an infestation of slugs, resulting in the loss of nearly one half of all this season's rye crop. Normally, such a disaster would be deemed an unfortunate but unavoidable act of nature, and soon forgotten, if not for the report of an Azeyma's Shields informant that claims a known member of the Zer'maat Five--Ser Aucheforne of the High Tide--was seen purchasing nearly all of Limsa Lominsa's remaining supplies of rye flour the same day the Growery's crops were destroyed, most likely intending to sell it back to the city at an inflated price once a flour shortage was imminent. The false knight must pay for his crimes, and has already been tracked to his hideout in Cassiopeia Hollow. Join Isleguard W'mhelgo Hena in the caves immediately and assist her in his capture.
Wanted: Toadsquatter Femomo Wrote:Tales tell of an isle in the Far East where a talented band of spies have mastered the art of riding giant toads and seeing through the eyes of frogs. Recent intelligence states that one of these trained agents, Toadsquatter Femomo, has been hired at great expense by the Zer'maat Five. If the stories are true, Femomo could attempt to sneak a tiny dart frog into Azeyma's Shields headquarters and view all that transpired within. The identity of our members would be exposed, leaving them vulnerable to retaliation from underground elements. In a preemptive action, Toadsquatter has been lured to an unpopulated area where Isleguard W'mhelgo Hena awaits. Join the Isleguard, and assist in removing this threat.
Wanted: Xha Viqqoh the Nibbler Wrote:According to intelligence gathered by agents of The Horn and Hand, international crime syndicate Zer'maat Five has hired the services of one "Xha Viqqoh the Nibbler" to infiltrate the upper levels of The Mizzenmast and assassinate the Admiral where she sleeps. Considering the number of guards on duty at the tower, this would normally be an impossible task. The Nibbler is rumored, however, to be a formidable mage with the ability to change her appearance into that of a tiny rat. Fortunately, the whereabouts of the shape-shifter's hideout have been discovered and the Shields are planning a covert mission to capture the criminal and foil her masters' plans. Join Isleguard W'mhelgo Hena immediately and assist her in her operation.
The Brotherhood of the Broken Blade
Broken Blade Captain Dyrstan Corwell and Lieutenant War Wolf
Operation: Bloody Scales Wrote:The past moons have seen a significant rise in the number of armored caravans being laid to waste by some terrible, unidentified foe. According to intelligence gathered by agents of the Horn and Hand, most of the bodies found among the wreckage have been inflicted with a profuse number of bites, cuts, and burns akin to those found on victims of drake attacks. Some of the victims, however, exhibit bane-sores of a differing variety—these coming from what appear to be swords or spears. This has led the Brotherhood of the Broken Blade to believe that these unfortunate incidents are not merely random attacks by wild creatures, but precisely orchestrated assaults by the Amalj'aa to disrupt the flow of goods into Ul'dah. Brave volunteers are sought to embark on a mission to prove once and for all that the desert tribe is behind the attacks.
Operation: Bloody Side Up Wrote:The Qiqirn goon squad known as the “Deviled Eggs†has snuck into the royal hatcheries and made off with the delectable ovoid offspring of the rare golden dodo. Aside from depriving the sultana of her breakfast omelette, this audacious act of larceny has punctured the pride of her personal guard. Join Lieutenant War Wolf and his Broken Blades in their efforts to track down and silence the Deviled Eggs before the shame of palace security becomes common knowledge.
Operation: Broken Thunder Wrote:After breaking camp in Burnt Lizard Creek, several units of heavily armed Amalj'aa infantry have begun their slow march north to the Royal Sunway. There it is suspected they will turn east and advance to Ul'dah, destroying everything in their path, as is the cold-blooded beasts' wont. The sultanate dispatched a party of Brass Blades immediately upon hearing the news, but the trained guard were little match for the Amalj'aa and were all but eliminated─the few which did survive returning to tell spine-chilling tales of fearless warriors wielding terrible fire-breathing war machines. Rather than stand idly by as the Syndicate and their royal catspaw, the sultana, argue over what steps to take next, the Brotherhood of the Broken Blade has pledged to take the sword to these foul invaders and send them and their unholy machina back to the pit from which they crawled. Join Lieutenant War Wolf at Camp Broken Water and assist his brothers in their planned assault.
Operation: Frame Work Wrote:Over the course of several moons, there have been frequent sightings of Ixali Battle Balloons in the skies of Ul'dah. Though the purpose for their intrusions has yet to be determined, the Syndicate has begun to entertain the unpleasant possibility that the heretofore hostile relations between the Amalj'aa and the Ixal have somehow developed into a military alliance. The Broken Blades have been tasked with locating one of these Battle Balloons, slaughtering the crew, and framing the massacre on the Amalj'aa. Join Lieutenant War Wolf at Camp Nine Ivies and assist his brothers in sowing discord among the enemies of the Syndicate.
Operation: Kobold as Ice Wrote:The once-timid kobolds of O'Ghomoro have grown bold, their excursions taking them far from the mountains which they live, and deep into thalassocratic territory in search of Earth Shards. However, an ancient treaty forged between the indigenous tribes and the first settlers of Vylbrand prevents the Knights of the Barracuda from intervention, even though reports of attacks on farmers living in areas rich in crystals increase with each new day. Rather than stand idly by as more innocent Eorzeans die at the hands of the beast tribes, The Brotherhood of the Broken Blade has resolved to take action. Join Broken Blade Lieutenant War Wolf's unit on a mission to eradicate a kobold party sighted en route to a remote Lominsan settlement.
Operation: Reave-quest Wrote:A savage group of buccaneers believed to be connected with the Sahagin's Serpent Reavers is wreaking havoc on shoreline settlements in southern Vylbrand. Unlike the other Lominsan pirates who follow a loose but somewhat noble code of conduct, these dastards' crimes have included indiscriminate acts of kidnapping, arson, theft, torture, murder...and more. And to further complicate matters, it is highly likely they have a contact within the Knights of the Barracuda who is able to inform them of forthcoming raids, keeping the crew one step ahead of danger. Rather than stand idly by as more innocent Eorzeans die at the hands of the beast tribes' minions, the Brotherhood of the Broken Blade has resolved to take matters into their own hands. Travel to the specified location and join Broken Blade Lieutenant War Wolf's unit in a planned ambush on the buccaneers.
Operation: Reaving Home Wrote:A Barracuda troopship sailing south through the Straits of Merlthor crossed paths with a buccaneer vessel affiliated with the Sahagin's Serpent Reavers. The pirates boarded the troopship and relieved it of its cargo--a shipment of imported flintlocks. Unwilling to compromise naval security by sending an entire squadron in pursuit of a single vessel, the Knights were forced to turn to the Broken Blades for assistance. Lieutenant War Wolf has tracked down the bilge-soaked brigands, and prepares to assault their hideout. Join him and his unit in the attack and retrieve the stolen shipment of flintlocks.
Operation: Sylph Stalkings Wrote:A band of delinquent sylphs calling themselves the "Dewflowers" are causing havoc in The Black Shroud by using their hypnotic lays to lure unsuspecting adventurers deep into the forest. Once the travelers are completely and utterly lost, the sylphs then appear before them and offer to lead them back to the main road...for a price. The Wood Wailers and the Gods' Quiver have both sent units into the forest to capture the rogue beastmen, but to no avail, and now the task of ridding the region of this menace has fallen to the Broken Blades. Join Lieutenant War Wolf at Camp Tranquil and help turn these tricksters to humus!
Operation: Warm Welcome Wrote:According to recent intelligence, an Amalj'aa army of unprecedented numbers has emerged from the south and pitched camp in Burnt Lizard Creek. The Brass Blades, charged with the defense of Ul'dah, have begun bolstering garrisons in the region's hamlets and reinforcing the siege walls in anticipation of an attack on the capital. The coin-grubbing Syndicate, however, has yet to lift sanctions on hiring mercenaries for fear that such warlike preparations will adversely affect trade. Thus it falls to the Brotherhood of the Broken Blade to blunt the advance of the encroaching threat and show the world how true warriors deal with invading curs. Join Lieutenant War Wolf at Camp Broken Water and assist his unit in their ambush of an Amalj'aa scouting party.
Operation: Wolf's Bane Wrote:Deep within the shadows of the Black Shroud lurks a wolf so fearsome, so terrifying, so unnatural, that local villagers have little choice but to cower in their homes, lest they become his next victim. Legends call the beast Deadeyes, and he is unlike any creature the forest has ever seen. As alpha male, he exhibits the cunning and composure of an army general while leading his pack of slavering minions through the region, showing mo mercy to those unfortunate enough to fall in their path. There has been many a proud hunter boast he will be the one to finally capture Deadeyes, but as of yet, none have survived to fulfill that claim…
Recently, there have been numerous reports of a pack of bloodthirsty wolves attacking farmsteads deep within in the Black Shroud. According to eyewitness accounts, the pack is led by a ferocious alpha male with glowing red eyes, and the attacks have been conducted with a military-like precision unlike anything ever seen in the wild. The Brotherhood of the Broken Blade is calling upon its loyal brothers and sisters to join in the patrolling of frequently attacked areas, not only in order to protect the lives of those living there, but also to determine once and for all who is truly behind these assaults.
Lauda Wrote:To the north of La Noscea, deep in the mountains of O'Ghomoro, lives a tribe of beastmen made up of dirty little creatures known as kobolds. It is rumored they worship a terrible primal formed from mud and stone. This primal is thought to live deep beneath the ground, and people say that his frequent fits of rage cause the tremors that plague the region. I can't imagine why the Brotherhood of the Broken Blade doesn't send a party of its best warriors to deal with the creature once and for all. Maybe they are waiting for the Garleans to come and do it themselves. I hear the Empire is planning their own assault on the primals - or 'eikons', I think they call them - because they believe the creatures to be nothing more than lesser demons posing as false gods.
