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xiashtra 03d949abaf 7.45 follow-up (#99)
* Update cn

* 7.45 follow-up
2026-03-03 21:04:14 -06:00

12 KiB

10TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_SEQ_00The deputy postmoogle eyes his letter sack, visibly trembling.
21TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_SEQ_01Wings twitching and fur standing on end, the deputy postmoogle hands you a package addressed to a researcher by the name of Marcette. Do your best to put the stench of the package and the moogle's curious behavior out of mind as you make the delivery to Dunstan's Spire, where Marcette is engaged in fieldwork.
32TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_SEQ_02You deliver the package to Marcette, who proceeds to berate her hapless research assistant Hobriaut for misinterpreting her order. Summarily enlisting you as one of her lackeys, she commands you to make for the Royal Plantations in central Thanalan, where you are to procure one live mole pup for use in her next experiment. One of the botanists there should be able to assist you.
43TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_SEQ_03The botanist Gagari furnishes you with the proper tools and educates you in the fundamentals of mole-catching. First, set the bundle of weeds you received atop the mole hole.
54TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_SEQ_04The entrance to the mole's subterranean nest is now covered with weeds. Set them alight using the flint stone furnished to you to flood the tunnels with smoke and lure your quarry to the surface.
65TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_SEQ_05The mole pup has emerged from the hole along with its mother, understandably less than pleased with your incursion into her home. Slay the vicious critter and claim the specimen that Marcette seeks.
76TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_SEQ_06You are now the proud owner of one newborn mole pup─a rather cute little critter, when all is said and done. Deliver it to Marcette at Dunstan's Spire, and hope that she will be gentle.
87TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_SEQ_07No sooner did Marcette take the mole pup in hand than did she rain blows down all around the poor unwitting beast. She proceeds to explain that the point of her experiment was to prove her hypothesis that moles sense danger not with their oversized eyes, but by the vibrations around them. Quick to declare the experiment a success, she gloats at having once again shown up her erstwhile teacher, Atelloune, and mercifully affords you and another one of her test subjects a chance at escape...
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2524TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_TODO_00Deliver the parcel to Marcette at Dunstan's Spire.
2625TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_TODO_01Speak with Gagari at the Royal Plantations.
2726TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_TODO_02Place the bundle of weeds atop the molehill.
2827TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_TODO_03Use the light flint stone to set the weeds alight.
2928TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_TODO_04Retrieve the mole pup.
3029TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_TODO_05Deliver the mole pup to Marcette at Dunstan's Spire.
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4948TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_LETTERMOOGLE_000_000W-Well, if it isn't my most accomplished assistant! You truly could not have come at a b–better time. I have just the p–perfect assignment for you!
5049TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_LETTERMOOGLE_000_001This parcel here must be delivered to one M-Marcette, a naturalist doing research on fauna at Dunstan's Spire in the Central Shroud. Brains, beauty, grace─why, I envy you for being able to bask in her brilliance. Sadly, my supervisory duties demand that I remain in this spot.
5150TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_LETTERMOOGLE_000_002Er, anyhow, you might want to hurry with that package. And try not to mind the smell, kupo!
5251TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_LETTERMOOGLE_000_005The parcel you carry must be delivered to one M-Marcette, a naturalist doing research on fauna at Dunstan's Spire in the Central Shroud. Brains, beauty, grace─why, I envy you for being able to bask in her brilliance. Sadly, my supervisory duties demand that I remain in this spot.
5352TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_LETTERMOOGLE_000_006Er, anyhow, you might want to hurry with that package. And try not to mind the smell, kupo!
5453TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_010You there! Research Assistant Sixty-two! Or was it twenty-six? Bah! Who even *cares* what your number is!? You're late, late, late! Hand over my package at once!
5554TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_011Yesss, come to me, my─what in the seven hells is this!? Apricot! If this is your idea of a joke, my next experiment will be to measure how many lightning sparks can fit up your worthless arse!
5655TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_HOBRIAUT_000_012I-It's...ah...“Hobriaut,” P-Professor. With a silent─
5756TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_013Silence, Halfly-toe! You should fall to your knees and thank the Twelve that I deign to address you by any name at all! Now answer me: what in the name of Nophica's teats am I supposed to do with this rubbish!?
5857TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_HOBRIAUT_000_014But I swear, P-Professor, I placed the order exactly as─
5958TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_015This is *raw mole meat*, Hogglenoe! I asked for a *live* mole─*living*, as in what you *won't* be doing when I'm through with you!
6059TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_016Gahhh! Research Assistant Number Eight Hundred Thirty-two! Time to prove that you're the only one around here worth your weight in goobbue droppings!
6160TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_017My current research project is a study of the behavior of those troublesome talpids─*moles*, to a layman such as yourself.
6261TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_018You need not concern yourself with the specifics of my research, which would be far beyond your feeble mind. You need only know that I require one live mole pup, and I require it *now*!
6362TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_019The blank stare on your face tells me that you lack even the common knowledge that the Royal Plantations of Ul'dah are known to be infested with the filthy creatures, and that any half-wit botanist who works there could educate you as to how to capture one.
6463TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_020Am I not making myself clear, Research Assistant Seven-seventy-seven!? You! The Royal Plantations! A live mole pup! To me! Now!
6564TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_HOBRIAUT_000_025How was I supposed to know the professor required a live specimen? I assumed she was just going to skin it and eat it like she did with the last one...
6665TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_025Am I not making myself clear, Research Assistant Seven-seventy-seven!? You! The Royal Plantations! A live mole pup! To me! Now!
6766TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_026I swear to the gods, if you come back empty-handed, I'll make *you* into mincemeat and feed you to the ziz!
6867TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_GAGARI_000_030Looking to nab yourself a mole, are you? You'll hear no argument from me─cute little buggers, but leave them to their own devices and they're more than happy to eat us out of house and home.
6968TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_GAGARI_000_031Fortunately, they're more belly than brains─simple enough to snag one if you have the right tools. First of all, you're going to want to set this bundle of weeds atop one of their mole holes.
7069TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_GAGARI_000_032Then, take this flint stone and set the weeds aflame. Smoke will flood the tunnel, and the moles'll come bursting to the surface for a breath of fresh air.
7170TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_GAGARI_000_033Mind you, I said *moles*, plural─your little pup won't put up much of a fight, but his mother won't be so keen to part with her young. You'd best brace yourself for a fight.
7271TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_GAGARI_000_035Thankfully, moles are more belly than brains─simple enough to snag with the tools I gave you. First of all, you're going to want to set a bundle of weeds atop one of their mole holes.
7372TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_GAGARI_000_036Then, use that flint stone to set the weeds aflame. Smoke will flood the tunnel, and the moles'll come bursting to the surface for a breath of fresh air.
7473TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_GAGARI_000_037Mind you, I said *moles*, plural─your little pup won't put up much of a fight, but his mother won't be so keen to part with her young. You'd best brace yourself for a fight.
7574TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_POPMESSAGE_000_000With a squeal of fury, the mother mole is upon you!
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7776TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_040Research Assistant Whatever-your-number-was! I swear to the gods, if you've come back empty-handed, I'll use *you* for my next research specimen!
7877TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_041Well, look at this! A mole pup! A scrawny little runt if I ever saw one, but what can I say─my experience with certain research assistants has left me with a soft spot for half-wits, monsters, and ugly things.
7978TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_042Don't worry, my misshapen beauty, I'll be very, verrry gentle. Apricot! You'd best be taking notes!
8079TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_043Die, foul vermin! Die, die, die! Bwahahahahahaha!!!
8180TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_HOBRIAUT_000_044P-Professor, what are you doing to the poor beast!?
8281TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_045To the seventh hell with you, I say! Ahahahahahaha!
8382TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_HOBRIAUT_000_046In Nophica's name, Professor, h-have mercy!
8483TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_047And once again, my hypothesis proves true!
8584TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_048Have you never found it strange that─despite spending the better part of their lives in tunnels beneath the soil─moles possess unusually large eyes?
8685TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_049Of course you haven't, because you possess the mental faculties of a dimmer-than-average dormouse. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that *I* have.
8786TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_050My self-styled teacher Atelloune posited that their eyes grew large that they might better see their prey in the darkness, but I thought─no, I *knew* different!
8887TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_051I theorized that their eyes─regardless of their size─were nigh useless. That they did not see, but rather *felt* the vibrations around them to identify potential prey─and foes.
8988TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_052Did you see how the mole pup─its eyes still shut─squealed and squirmed in abject terror as I rained blows down all around him? Once again it is proven! Atelloune is a fool─the student has surpassed the teacher!
9089TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_MARCETTE_000_053I would retain the pup for further study, but I have another mole that has outgrown its usefulness─consider it yours. What should you do with it? How should *I* know!? Burn it, vivisect it, skin it and eat it for all I care! Just get it─and *yourself*─out of my sight. Research calls!
9190TEXT_SUBPST004_01485_SYSTEM_000_000With your successful delivery, your reputation as a letter carrier has grown!