Location: The Crystarium. Requires: Endwalker Ultima Thule, The Boutique Always Wins Eulmore.
✓ Speak with Grenoldt.
✓ Speak with Grenoldt again.
Dialogue
CHORAZOI
Excuse me! You’re the Warrior of Darkness, aren’t you!? My name is Chora-Zoi, and I work for the Facet of Forging.
I apologize for interrupting your day, but seeing as you’re said to be a practiced artisan, I thought you might be interested to hear the news!
A craftsman of legendary reputation is coming home to the Crystarium! He’s long been away, living somewhere in the wilds that he might focus on mastering his trade without worldly distractions…
But now that night is returned to the realm, he felt it time to return. As a matter of fact, he’s due to arrive any moment now. Ah, to think that I shall soon meet one of my greatest inspirations!
<gasp> Over there… I think that’s him!
M-M-Master Grenoldt…?
GRENOLDT
Aye, that’d be me. Ye must be the young artisan I was told would be waitin’. Chora-Zoi, was it?
CHORAZOI
Y-Yes, sir! It is such an honor!
GRENOLDT
An’ Forename, wasn’t expectin’ to see ye here! Ye’ve been keepin’ well, I hope?
CHORAZOI
Hold on… The two of you know each other!?
GRENOLDT
Aye, came to visit me workshop in the depths o’ the bloody Tempest, shehe did. Gave herhim a set o’ gear in exchange for helpin’ me out with a job, then shehe was off to save the world, or summat to that effect…
CHORAZOI
Oh my, it’s like seeing storybook heroes come to life! I was set on asking you to be my mentor, but to simply meet you is already a dream come true!
GRENOLDT
Now, now, lass, I ain’t worthy o’ such an earnest young craftswoman’s admiration. I was a sad shadow of a man, hidin’ away in a watery tomb.
‘Twas only when Forename came along that I was forced to realize how much me work relied on the people I tried to leave behind. Then I got to thinkin’ I should pair up with the up-an’-comin’ talent─ye know, get meself a fresh perspective.
I sent a letter sayin’ as much to me ol’ mates in the Mean, an’ they told me of a promisin’ artisan who’d shown an interest in me craft. So I took that as the sign I needed to get me sorry arse back home.
CHORAZOI
You mean me!? I was the sign!? You won’t regret this, Master Grenoldt, I promise!
Shall we make our way straight to the Mean? Katliss and the others are eager to see you.
GRENOLDT
Havin’ ye show up in this moment is some kind o’ fate, I reckon. Why don’t ye come along, an’ we can make it one big reunion?
CHORAZOI
I wholeheartedly agree! Please come with us, Forename!
It’s been nigh on a decade since Master Grenoldt was last in the Crystarium. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling.
GRENOLDT
Well, ain’t this a sight for sore eyes… Those iron girders. Those elegant domes. Gazin’ up at that architecture as a sprat is what got me into the trade in the first place.
CHORAZOI
Ahhh, so the city itself was your original source of inspiration! You must have some wonderful stories─I can hardly wait to hear them all!
Isn’t that Mistress Mowen?
GRENOLDT
Mistress Mowen! Speakin’ of a sight for sore eyes… Surely ye’ve not come into town on account o’ little ol’ me?
MOWEN
But of course I did. Many’s the evening I spent on Eulmore’s terrace, gazing into the distance and thinking fondly of my rough-spoken smith.
GRENOLDT
Uh, ahem… I should explain.
I owe a great debt to Mistress Mowen here. If she hadn’t believed in me─enough to promote me wares all over Norvrandt─then I reckon I’d never have made it as an artisan.
As it turns out, I found me muse in them enchantin’ eyes. The thousands of kettles I forged to capture that captivating gleam was what set me on the smitty’s path!
This one I inscribed with a mark I saw in a dream…an’ it’s become the symbol o’ me good fortune─the embodiment of all me aspirations.
Without ye, Mistress Mowen, I wouldn’t be the craftsman I am today. I hope the fool who spent so many years honin’ his skills under the ocean is still one ye can be proud of…
MOWEN
You great oaf, ’tis I who was enchanted─by your craft, and by your unyielding discipline. In emulating those admirable values was I able to build my commercial empire!
CHORAZOI
Ahem! So! Master Grenoldt, did you have anything in particular you were wanting to forge? Some overarching plan or direction in mind?
GRENOLDT
That was to be me question to ye, Chora-Zoi. Afore we begin, I need to know: what’s the thing ye daydream about craftin’ the most?
CHORAZOI
Well, I… I suppose I’ve always liked the idea of a tool which “attunes” itself to the artisan who holds it. But I could never settle on a design…
GRENOLDT
Forget the finer details for now─the seed o’ yer idea is all we need to get underway. Just hop on the craftin’ cart with me, an’ we’ll see where it takes us!
MOWEN
How wonderful! Being the sort of veteran craftsman who takes on a disciple was something you always wished for, was it not?
GRENOLDT
Ye…remember that? Feels like an age since we spoke of it.
MOWEN
A new era has begun. Norvrandt is emerging from a hundred years of torpor, and the tools you invent will help shape the world it becomes.
As chairwoman of the Boutique of Splendors, I consider it my duty to nurture the artisans of today and tomorrow. Whatever you decide to do, I pledge my full support.
KATLISS
Might I suggest you have Forename lend a hand? I can personally vouch for herhis skill, and I’m certain whatever tool you end up crafting will benefit from herhis involvement.
GRENOLDT
I’ll not say nay to that! With Chora-Zoi’s potential an’ yer proven talent, I’ll be in fine company!
MOWEN
Having the Warrior’s name attached to your project will add more than simple prestige─we could be watching the birth of something truly historical. As a merchant, I can think of no greater honor or opportunity than to be part of this undertaking.
KATLISS
You’ll need a place to work, I assume? We’ve set up a stall just outside the Mean, so feel free to make yourself at home for as long as you decide to stay.
GRENOLDT
Sounds perfect─I do like the idea of bein’ in earshot o’ the hustle an’ bustle. Let’s see about gettin’ me tools unpacked, shall we?
CHORAZOI
Master Grenoldt’s Crystarium workbench! Imagine the wonders that will be made here!
MOWEN
I am reminded of the early days of my boutique─of the trips I would make to collect Grenoldt’s latest creations to take to the market. Those are some of my fondest memories…
QUINNANA
I cannot recall when I last saw Mistress Mowen so full of joy. Even on the road here from Eulmore, she seemed, well, a little giddy, to be honest.
GRENOLDT
I’ve got a Crystarium furnace in my Tempest workshop, so I’m well familiar with the facilities here in town.
Any refinin’ or smeltin’ can be done at the Facet of Forging, an’ this place’ll serve as me workbench.
One thing, Miss Chora-Zoi: do ye have much experience in craftin’ original pieces?
CHORAZOI
Practically none at all, I’m ashamed to say. I have something of a knack for making replicas, but when it comes to new ideas, I find myself being overwhelmed by the possibilities.
GRENOLDT
An’ so ye stick to what ye know, eh? Hrm.
How about we try this, then? Ye take some o’ me old tools as a base, an’ see what improvements ye can add to make ’em yer own.
I have a set right here ye can work on.
CHORAZOI
Y-You mean, the tools you made yourself!? The same tools lauded by master artisans in every corner of Norvrandt!? I must have filled a hundred orders making duplicates of your designs!
GRENOLDT
Aye, they were right popular for a time there. Afore I took up the hermit’s life, I was stuck craftin’ them dawn till dusk─even had a nightmare I was trapped, slavin’ away at me forge until me bloody hair fell out.
CHORAZOI
But…but they’re masterpieces! What could I possibly do to improve upon them?
GRENOLDT
Don’t take it so seriously, for starters. Play around a bit, tweak a few measurements, an’ that’ll soon give ye a feel for what is an’ ain’t possible.
MOWEN
Ah, such fond memories. Grenoldt was buried beneath unfinished tools, I was drowning in purchase receipts, and the orders just kept flooding in…
GRENOLDT
Mistress Mowen, no!
Apologies, I didn’t mean to─ Ye’ll get tool grease all over them clean hands o’ yers, is all.
MOWEN
‘Tis I who should apologize! One careless move, and I might have ruined your project before it even began…
GRENOLDT
It’s fine, everythin’s fine! Yer touch could never ruin anythin’!
Ahem. If I rack the ol’ noggin, it shouldn’t take long to sketch out some plans for evolvin’ the original tool designs. Ye’ll be the one doin’ the actual improvements, so feel free to draw on ’em or make whatever adjustments ye like.
MOWEN
And whatever materials you require, the Boutique will procure it, no matter the rarity!
GRENOLDT
Me dear lady, I’ve not the words to thank ye for yer generous assistance…
CHORAZOI
I’ve just had the most wonderful idea! We’ll need a name for our new creations, and what better way to show our gratitude to the Boutique than to dub them “splendorous tools”!?
MOWEN
‘Tis a lovely gesture, Miss Chora-Zoi! But a merchant’s role is simply to ensure that the artisan has her choice of creative clay. ‘Twould be presumptuous in the extreme to have my establishment take center stage when the genius is all yours.
CHORAZOI
That quiet dignity and dedication is exactly why I’d be proud to have you and your business represent us! If it helps, think of it as commemorating your reunion with Master Grenoldt!
GRENOLDT
Now this is just gettin’ awkward… What do ye think, Forename?
Q2
What will you say?
A2
Dignity and dedication sound like fine virtues to be associated with.
I think it’s just perfect.
MOWEN
In that case, I shall work doubly hard to fulfill my promise of support. May your splendorous tools be instrumental in crafting the marvels of this new age!
You have everything you need to begin, I hope? I have instructed Quinnana to serve you as the Boutique’s representative, but rest assured that I shall return anon to check on your progress.
GRENOLDT
I’ll get to explainin’ me plans in a bit, but for now, we’ll leave the base tool with ye, Forename. Katliss says yer qualified to be our test tradeswomantradesman, an’ that’s good enough for me.
CHORAZOI
Quinnana here will be sharing our stall, and stocks a whole range of other tools should you need them!
I can hardly believe this is actually happening… Me, working under the tutelage of the Warrior of Darkness and Master Grenoldt!
SYSTEM
The splendorous coffer will dispense a primary tool based on your current class at the time that it is opened.
Tools for other classes can be obtained by speaking to Quinnana at Grenoldt’s workbench just outside the Crystalline Mean.