All Saints' Wake – Riddles and Lore

[Onizuka]

Hello, adventurers and LOC team!

Yesterday I've completed my last lore journal post, so I've finally some time to write this. I'm opening the thread here, so when we're finished the voidsents might correct us in case (or add more tidbits if they feel like ).

In the past days I've been participating in the All Saints' Wake event, and I had hells of a time. It was a very nice surprise to see that the Imps' riddles were actually lore-related!

So, instead of scaring Lalafells and Miqo'tes with my Ultimate Combo, Ripened Pumpkin Head + Yellow Dodoskin Subligar + Leatherworker Head Knife OR Ripened Pumpkin Head + Star-Spangled Subligar + Carpenter Saw, during night I kept on finding Suspicious characters.

Indeed, the Suspicious Spouse looked quite suspicious... but nothing if compared to the Suspicious Songstress: a really suspicious fella, considering he's an Elezen Male!

Anyroad, as I tried to read and answer correctly to every riddle – I thought there could have also been a Special Achievement on The Lodestone for doing so, but nothing happened – I got a bunch of cookies. Really, I've cookies everywhere, and I mean everywhere!


So, I've been having this little idea: writing here all the riddles with the following form (example):

Riddle 1

Hues of madness now cloud his visage,
Once loyal companion, in heaven at large.

Answer: Dalamud

Explanation: This clearly refers to the now reddish hue of Dalamud, the lesser moon of Eorzea.
Legend says that the big moon is an embodiment of the goddess Menphina, while the small one is her loyal hound Dalamud.

Source: Moonstruck sidequest, Grand Company quests (Ceruleum Shock, Know Your Enemy, Appetite for Destruction).

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In the “Explanation” field there's, well, the explanation of what the riddle refers to (a detailed explanation, that is), while in “Source” it's written where you can verify the information in Eorzea.

Any adventurer would like to cooperate? There're a few riddles I'm not sure I understand, probably quests I've yet to do or the usual temporary memory loss, so if anyone would like to share their thoughts, we can discuss it and I'll later round it up in the first post.

For instance, there's a riddle about the spirits of the trees and the answer is Treespeak. But this was a new revelation to me and actually answers to one of the mysteries I had yet to discover, about those glowing trees I always wondered about. Maybe this is mentioned in a quest I've yet to do, but it was new to me.

Let me know if you're interested! I don't use Windowed Mode, so I took screenshots of every riddle with the right answer, but I've to transcript all the dialogues first, letter by letter, so it will take me some time. ...Oh wait, I forgot about the Internet and just found them all in Eorzeapedia!
This saves me some time.

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Riddles & Theories

All right, writing what I think might be the explanation (or possible explanation) to certain riddles. I left a few blank spots as I'm out of time, feel free to fill them up or I'll do it in the next days after rounding up and verify the informations in my lore folders.


Riddle 2

Full many men hath it consigned to heaven,
Brandished aloft by the white hand of seven.

Answer: Gunhalberd

Explanation: The Gunhalberd id the arm of Legatus Nael van Darnus; he's also known as the White Raven.
I'm not sure about the first sentence “consigned to heaven”, while for the “seven” mention, I had a thought: maybe the Gunhalberd is one of the seven valiant blades mentioned in the Divine Chronicles, like the Daybreak the Allseer is looking for? To Be Confirmed.

Source: Grand Company quests (To Be Determined which one exactly).

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Riddle 3

And from ashes of pain and ruin shall rise
An undying Flame to drive dark from men's eyes.

Answer: Ala Mhigo

Explanation: This refers to the fallen city-state of Ala Mhigo, 15 years ago attacked by the Garlean Empire and now besieged.
Flame is in capitals, might it refer to Flame General Raubahn Aldynn, the Bull of Ala Mhigo? I'm uncertain on this one.

Source: Initial storyline and To Be Determined for the second sentence.

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Riddle 4

One of three and one for all,
With horns to heed the forest's call.

Answer: Kan-E-Senna

Explanation: Kan-E-Senna, the Elder Seedseer of Gridania (one for all), has two younger brothers (one of three), and they're from the Padjal race.
The second sentence might mean that it's thanks to her horns that she can hear better than any normal citizen the whispers of the elementals (To Be Confirmed).

Source: Various quests, like Imperial Devices and Their Finest Hour.

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Riddle 5

'Neath boughs intertwined, when day melts to night,
A beckoning flame offers the weary respite.

Answer: The Roost

Explanation: The Roost is the inn in the Carline Canopy of Gridania. To Be Completed.

Source: To Be Determined.

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Riddle 6

Riddles of blue doth this lone flower solve,
Atop her bright spire 'midst a wan sea of wolves.

Answer: Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn

Explanation: Hmmm... “Blue” might refer to the sea of Limsa Lominsa. I've to study the rest of the sentence. To Be Completed.

Source: To Be Determined.

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Riddle 7

She teaches of that to which Man is a thrall.
She hath one condition and yet none at all.

Answer: Menphina

Explanation: Menphina is the Lover, so men are at her thrall. I've to study the rest of the sentence. To Be Completed.

Source: Menphina's decription on character creation, To Be Determined.

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Riddle 8

Fire rains from the sky as a proud people fall,
Leaving nary a scream from behind the dark wall.

Answer: 15 summers past

Explanation: This most likely refers to the war between the dragons and the Garlean Empire in Mor Dhona, 15 years ago. The “dark wall”, hmm... Maybe they're referring to the Keeper?

Source: CG Intro Movie.

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Riddle 9

Knowledge is gold and gold is not free.
One must part with his coin to see it increase.

Answer: The Mythril Eye

Explanation: .

Source: .

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Riddle 10

“Show me my path!” pled the beggared man, crying.
Quoth the Man at the Gates, “Get rich or die trying!”

Answer: The Coffer & Coffin

Explanation: .

Source: .

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Riddle 11

They cast off the shroud, for its dew can perish
The burden of metal and rock they cherish.

Answer: Coblyns

Explanation: I've to study this one. Ahh, no good not being a native English speaker!

Source: To Be Determined.

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Riddle 12

As waters recede, five voices ring out.
A new vision of life from the seed doth sprout.

Answer: The Sixth Astral Era

Explanation: The Sixth Astral Era is the one we're currently in and followed the Sixth Umbral Era, where a great flood hit Eorzea. I've to verify about the five voices that ring out. To Be Completed.

Source: Dusty Tomes, To Be Determined.

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Riddle 13

Fifty score cries yet nary a sound.
A demon awaits but cannot be found.

Answer: Toto-Rak

Explanation: Fifty score means 1000, so it refers to the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak. The demon awaiting... possibly one of the 3 bosses?

Source: Toto-Rak instanced raid.

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Riddle 14

A rift in the realm swallows dragons and men,
While metal doth march unto its own end.

Answer: Dzemael Darkhold

Explanation: Well, the Darkhold was originally created to protect against the assaults of the Wyrmking's horde, but an incident caused the area to be filled with toxic aetheric fumes, thus luring monsters from the void.
Not sure if this is the explanation to the first sentence, though, while no clue on the second one (maybe “metal” refers to the Empire and their magitek devices installed there?). To Be Completed.

Source: Dyrstweitz NPC.

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Riddle 15

Never so loud is the proud cutters' song
As to drown out the whispers of spirits scarred long.

Answer: Treespeak

Explanation: Maybe “proud cutters” refers to Botanists? Because there's a glowing tree in Treespeak, apparently referring to spirits held inside. To Be Completed.

Source: To Be Determined.

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Riddle 16

North of the knoll and south of the steel,
The land wakens to life at his thunder's peal.

Answer: Great Buffalo

Explanation: North of Camp Bald Knoll there's Great Bullalo, but I'm not sure what that “south of the steel” refers to. To Be Completed.
The second sentence might refer to Great Buffalo's steps, pealing like a thunder.

Source: Notorious Monster Great Buffalo roaming north of Camp Bald Knoll.

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Riddle 17

From across white waves they defy holy fury,
With sword and shield to serve as their jury.

Answer: The Dragons of Dravania

Explanation: Have to verify the lore material on the second sentence, but the first one possibly refers the dragons attacking Ishgard from the sky's clouds (white waves), going against Halone, the Fury, guardian deity of Ishgard. To Be Completed.

Source: To Be Determined (I don't remember the NPC, I've to verify).

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Riddle 18

Full rueful of heart, their faces they hide,
Lest the Land should espy the sin held inside.

Answer: Wood Wailers

Explanation: The Wood Wailers are known to wear a mask, but at the moment I don't remember what is their sin (although I think I remember I read something about it in the past, will have to check out old data...). To Be Completed.

Source: To Be Determined.

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Riddle 19

From the break of the strait to the stones of the wise,
From the reds oh-so-sour to the oh-so-sweet whites.

Answer: Bloodshore

Explanation: The strait might refer to the Strait of Merlthor that connects Vylbrand to Aldenard. Have to study (and understand) the rest. To Be Completed.

Source: To Be Determined.

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Riddle 20

In bellies of iron, quiet suffering breeds,
Blind to all mercy, though they've three eyes to see.

Answer: Garleans

Explanation: The imperials wear metal armor, but why “suffering breeds”?
They're known to have no mercy, particularly the Hellhounds, but I don't what their “third eye” might be... To Be Completed.

Source: To Be Determined.

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All right, that's it for now. Understanding a few riddles is not that easy, but it's surely a nice challenge! Unfortunately, it takes a lot of time and I've yet to round-up at least 7 of the new Yoshi-P interviews for a future review I'm writing, but I'll try and do more riddles in the next few days.
In the meantime, we can all theorize and play together, so I don't do it all by myself.

Cloudio Onizuka, lore-eager adventurer and Suspicious Songstress fan

[Anonymoose]

Whoa, go go Claudio. I'm gonna read over that more in-depth later as I've only been over the basics on GamerEscape - but I just wanted to say thanks to the Development Team team for throwing out some free lore candies for All Hallowes! I really liked this event, and the pumpkin heads are quite the upgrade from XI's version. I can't wait to see the non-bell versions of the holiday season, lol.

[Keres]

Just some additions/thoughts for your list:

#8 - I assumed that this was referring to Ala Mhigo ("a proud people fall," "fire rains from the sky" could be the Garlean attack, "behind the wall" would be the walls of the city).
#10 - "Get rich or die trying" ties into the lore behind how the Coffer & Coffin got its name. Don't know if there's more significance beyond that.
#11 - I interpreted this as something like "they choose not to live in the forest [Shroud] because dew can damage their metal/mineral shells."
#18 - "Sin" just referring to Woodsin, perhaps? If they didn't wear their masks, they would enrage the elementals, etc.
#19 - The second line refers to wine; Camp Bloodshore is located near the town of Wineport, famous for its vineyards.

[Viridiana]

Riddle 2: "Consigned to heaven" means killed. "White hand of seven" refers to Nael van Darnus, Legatus of the VIIth Legion, who wears white armor.

Riddle 4: I suspect the reference to horns refers to the horns of war. I.e., she will lead the war effort ("the forest's call"). . .

Riddle 9: Well, knowledge isn't free, and neither is the newspaper that bears it. You'd have to spend your money on the newspaper in order to see your knowledge increase, no?

Riddle 16: "South of the steel" would refer to the fact that the Buffalo roams south of Iron Lake (iron and steel being the same element).

I could probably come up with responses to a few more, but I'm tired. >_>

[Catapult]

I couldn't bring myself to not comment and try to fill gaps.

1: You'd have to be living under a rock to have not figured this one out.

2: Viridiana is on the money!

3: Definitely. It's asking where the Flame General came from, as he is the man who despite joining the syndicate actually sticks to morals and seeks to destroy corruption, the "dark in one's eyes" - at least that is how I interpret it.

4: It's not that the horns help her hear better, but they are symptomatic of her connection to the forest. The Padjal are the most attuned of conjurers. If I recall correctly, their horns sprout and they stop ageing when touched by the elementals.

5: There is no specific reference for this, but anyone who has played the Gridania home-city quests will have attained a feeling that this place is your port of call. And the roost is the inn within it.

6: Riddles of blue doth this lone flower solve, - Merlwyb is credited with numerous seafaring discoveries, including find a route of safe passage to the newly discovered western continent. She also has to tactfully manage the seafaring folk of Limsa, which can be quite the mental challenge.
Atop her bright spire 'midst a wan sea of wolves. - Merlwyb's quarters are at the top of the white tower that plays host to the adventurer's guild, airship landing and the "bridge" of Limsa, her ceremonial location. A sea of wolves quite clearly refers to pirates.

7: Indeed, goddess of love. As to what her so called condition is, I cannot say, other than suspect it involves utter devotion, which is no problem to a man in love.

8: The proud people falling is indeed Ala Mhigo. If I recall correctly, it is described in the main scenario quests as having a reputably high and impenetrable wall as imposing as, if not more than, Ul'dah's. Also in a figurative sense, getting information in or out of Ala Mhigo is nigh impossible since the Garleans have blockaded it off ruthlessly, thus making it dark to our knowledge.

9: I read paying for financial advice, which is what the Mythril Eye offers.

10: Bingo, Keres.

11: Again, Keres has it. The Coblyns would be fearful of their bodies oxidizing (rusting) in a humid environment such as the shroud where rain storms are most common. Heaven knows how they would survive on Limsa...

12: I want to know about those "five voices" too. O_o

13: I believe the demon awaiting is more a reference that the cause of the corruption, be it the Garleans or something else, remains elusive, even though we know it is there.

14: Metal marching to it's end? Plenty of soldiers (wearing metal armour) have entered the hold and not been seen again. I believe that is simply the reference. The Garleans meanwhile are doing fine. >_>

15: Your guess is as good as mine. And your guess is good.

16: I'm pulling a longbow here, but north of Bald Knoll is Mt O'Ghomoro where the Kobolds live, who are the most skilled metalworkers in Eorzea. Maybe a reference along those lines?

17: I smell future lore in this one. I only conclude the correct answer due to the known conflict between Ishgard, who's patron deity is Halone the Fury, and the Dragons. Dravania is West of Coerthas on the main map.

18: In the Gridania home-city quests you go through a ceremony to purge yourself (and others) of woodsin, transferring it into a worn mask. In Gridanian lore, such a mask seems to take the woodsin to its identity as opposed to your own, thus earning the forgiveness of the Elementals.

19: The Straight of Metlthor is located on the map in the SE corner, almost due south of Bloodshore. Agelyss Wise is an aetherial gate to the north of Bloodshore, thus these two locations bound the region. As said, it also encompasses Wineport, who are famous for their wines, including the sour red and presumably a sweet white that I am yet to hear of.

20: I interpret this as raised Garlean children, who are taught (or brainwashed, perhaps even bred) to dispise the Eikons (Primals) and become merciless in their approach. Go play the final main scenario quest if you haven't to see what I mean. As for three eyes? Speculating here, but the iron airships could be considered a bird's-eye perspective.


Lore-bug is still humming...