(08-07-2013, 06:12 PM)Merri Wrote: Actually, as far as Gae Bolg is concerned - "There is a custom still observed in Ishgard today which ordains that the Holy See bestow a polearm dubbed Gae Bolg upon any lancer who ascends to the station of dragoon."
That heavily seems to imply that anyone who becomes a Dragoon by Ishgard standards is gifted Gae Bolg. Not just the Azure Dragoon. It's also quite possible that the "Drachen Mail" that you obtain through the quest chain is just a specific set of that type of armor. It's not entirely out of the question that certain Dragoons wear that armor, and the set that you're going after just so happens to be special, having belonged to a past Azure Dragoon.
I mean, we know there's at least two sets of it floating around. There's the possibility that there are more sets, and there is also the possibility that those aspiring to be Dragoons have forged armor of a similar likeness.
I'll have to nitpick and challenge this. Sorry.
Like I mentioned earlier, the case of Gae Bolg is interesting because it simple says 'any lancer who ascends to the station of dragoon'. This is one of the few times (aside from the FFXIV armory page and other flavor text when referencing the dragoon in short) that doesn't make any mention to the Azure. For all we know it could mean two things.
a.) Lancers who ascend to the station of dragoon are given a Gae Bolg as proof of their rank. Perhaps dragoon in this case isn't reference to the job class (although it is heavily implied) and it's more in reference to the holy knights who are dragon slayers.
b.) SE may have simply left the title of Azure out, though they might have meant it to mean the Azure Dragoon. I'm personally more in favor of this theory simply due to the nature of how it's explained in game and what we know to be true of the Azure. For the Holy See to bestow upon someone a weapon of great importance and tradition suggests that it isn't something handed out every single time a lancer becomes a dragon slayer. Rather, I think the tradition is likely tied to when the Eye of Nidhogg chooses a new Azure. This is the ascension - rising from a mere man to one granted with the powers of the dragons in order to slay the beasts. Keep in mind that the Holy See is likely reference to the church of Ishgard, and in turn, the Archbishop. Again, using real world examples - the Holy See is the Roman Catholic Church and the Archbishop is what we call the Pope. Gae Bolg isn't just a fancy weapon handed out to every single dragoon of Ishgard, but only those chosen. This is likely a sacred and time honored tradition, happening only when the next Azure is chosen.Â
We also find out through the Relic Reborn quest that we are crafted a Gae Bolg by Gerolt by retrieving a lance that was once used by Saint Reinette. It goes against how dragoons recieves Gae Bolg in the other text from SE. The Holy See doesn't grant us one, we basically take one that belonged to someone else and reforge it.Â
As a point of reference, here is all the dialogue that Gerolt gives you when going through the Relic Reborn quest line.
Quote:Gerolt: Fancy yerself a dragonslayer, eh? Well, I happen to know jus' the weapon for ye…but wouldn't it be quicker if ye had one of the Holy See's blacksmiths pound one out?
Hm, yer expression tells me there's a reason why ye came to me instead. Well, I ain't one to prey into the affairs of Ishgard. Don't fancy being branded a heretic, see. Also, I don't reckon I'd enjoy the view from the Gates of Judgment half so much if me head was on a pike.
Anyroad, it's a spear named Gae Bolg that ye'll be wantin'.
I've heard tell that it's made of dragon bone, but how it's forged is a jealously guarded secret. Bein' the genius that I am, though, I reckon I can unravel the mystery if I could jus' get me hands on a sample.
Now then, did ye ever hear of Saint Reinette, the legendary dragoon? I only ask 'cause she's s'posed to have wielded the very same weapon, see.
Story goes that a dragon slew her sweetheart, prompting the ol' girl to seek out the beast what did it an' put it down. Havin' exacted her revenge, they say she thrust her spear into the ground where the battle was waged, givin' up the life of a dragoon to become a woman of cloth.
Unlucky for ye, the valley where the spear sleeps is Ixali territory - a stronghold called Natalan, to be precise. But if ye desire's strong, I trust ye already know what must be done.
Ah, but don't go skippin' off jus' yet. Ye also need to bring me an obelisk, an' one with two savage might materia IV melded to it. This'll serve as a vessel for the restored relic.
Remember, that's two savage might materia IV. Aught less, an' ye'll get naught from me, no matter how many slips of paper ye wave in me face.
Bring me that little lot, an' I'll see to it ye'll get yer Gae Bolg.
Quote:Well, bugger me… Never in me wildest, drunkest dreams did I imagine ye'd actually find the bloody thing… Bah, so I'll have to fire up the forge after all.
But don't ye go skippin' off jus' yet, 'cause yer work ain't over. Ye haven't forgot about the base weapon, I trust?
Ah, 'tis a fine spear ye've brought me. Aye, jus' the thing to host a timeworn Gae Bolg.
Oh…bugger. This timeworn Gae Bolg is ripe to crumble!
It ain't like to survive much poundin' in this state. Truth be told, I'd be worried about sneezin' near it. <sigh> This'll take more work than I first thought.
We need to reinforce it usin' some chunks of miser's mythril. About three of 'em should serve, I reckon.
Where to get a hold of 'em, ye ask? Heh, ye're gonna love this: from the belly of a giant Morbol what prowls the depths of the Aurum Vale.
Not familiar with chunks of miser's mythril? It's a substance formed when a beastie drinks water what's been filtered through mythril ore.
Over time, the minerals in that water accumulate an' form a poor man's mythril, which happens to be the ideal repair material for our purposes.
So, slay a giant Morbol an' slice open its belly, an' ye might jus' find what we need. Better yet, ye might end up dead an' plague me no more.
Quote:Gerolt:Â The text ye brought me contains an account of Saint Reinette's painfully pious life. Seems to be part of Ishgard's holy scriptures.
Be true to the Fury, live in virtuous penury, dedicate yer life to the blah-bloody-blah…
The book fair put me to sleep, and not even eleventeen flagons of mead can do that.
Anyroad, one bit touched on ol' Saint Reinette's time as a dragoon. That's where I found a passage describin' the relic spear Gae Bolg.
Turns out the base of the spearhead - that's the bit what looks like wings - ain't jus' for show. Apparently, it helps dragoons get their arc jus' right when they're leapin' on their prey.
As ye can see, I've done me research. I trust ye've also been pullin' yer weight, puttin' the relic to use like I said. Well, go on then, tell me what ye've learned.
Is that so? Aye…I'd wondered about that.
Based on what we've gleaned from the text an' yer firsthand experience, I'll rework the relic so as to improve yer affinity with it. Hand it over for a second, will ye?
There, the deed's done. That leaves us with one last step.
I'll go about makin' ready for the final process. Meanwhile, ye need to get yer arse back out there an' test the latest work I did on the relic.
To be precise, I want you to reenact a heroic deed of Saint Reinette with that there spear in yer hand.
Back in Saint Reinette's day, Ishgard was plagued by an organized band of heretics. An' it jus' so happened they fell upon a hamlet when the ol' girl was passin' through on her quest to find the dragon what had slain her true love.
The heretics struck with a vengeance, summonin' forth nasty fiends to do their biddin'. But despite bein' completely outnumbered, Saint Reinette refused to budge an ilm afore their onslaught.
Owin' to her bravery, the hamlet's residents were able to flee to safety - every last one of 'em.
As luck would have it, I seem to remember Azeyma's Shields issuin' a leve what sounded perfect for stagin' a little reenactment.
Now, at risk of bruisin' yer tender ego, ye couldn't hope to live up to Saint Reinette's legacy on yer own. Best ye take some friends with ye - three of 'em, say.
Now as far as Drachen Mail goes....
The armor itself is forged in the blood of dragons to amplify and resonate with the blood and power of the dragon within the Azure. When an Azure steps down from his role, dies, or otherwise loses his powers, the ancient custom is to have the Azure or someone else seal away the armor.
The final piece, the body, can only be worn by Dragoons who have achieved perfect awakening of the dragon within them. This suggests that in order to even wear the armor and make use of it, one has to have the power of the dragon within them, and in order for that to happen, the Eye of Nidhogg must choose them, thus making them an Azure. Again we take a dragoon piece that belonged to someone else and skip any tradition that would be associated with it if we got it by normal means. i.e. actually making the suit. Estinien likely received his the proper way as he is recognized by Ishgard as an Azure.
Quote:Estinien: Behold the drachen mail, forged in the lifeblood of dragons. As blood calls to blood, so too does the armor call to the dragon within, redoubling the Azure Dragoon's strength thereby. If you would save the people of Ishgard from the great wyrm Nidhogg, you must needs clad yourself in the same.
Estinien: When an Azure Dragoon hangs up his lance, ancient custom decrees that he seal away his drachen mail at the fields of his valor. You must journey to such places and claim the armor for yourself. Your Soul of the Dragoon shall serve as the key to lifting the seals.
Quote:Alberic: So you return bearing four pieces of the drachen mail. That leaves us with the fifth and final item.
Alberic: Aye, there exists one more piece to the set. However it cannot be worn save by those dragoons who have achieved perfect awakening of the dragon within. This is something you must attend to presently.
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Take some bacon and I put it in a pancake.
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