The Ishgardian Duke Strikes Again

[Anonymoose]

-= MINOR HILDIBRAND 3.3 SPOILERS =-

I don't know how many of you remember when we tried to figure out Ishgard's power structure before the launch of 3.0 and the team had to do a bit of deadpan damage control, so first some history:

House Dzemael is said to be lorded over by a count; since Dzemael is about as high as it gets, this may be about as high as you can go before entering Holy ranks. In 1.0, a levequst referred to a Duke - how that guy fit into it, I have no idea. Isn't Duke higher than Count?

Before this speculation continues further, I must share with you certain developments regarding the man once known as "Duke Brett V."

The structure of Ishgardian nobility is not widely known, especially in lands so distant as Limsa Lominsa. Moreover, given the nature of Lominsan society, even well-to-do merchants may know little of such things. So it was that a lowborn Ishgardian, who through a series of events fortuitous and fantastic had built a profitable import and export concern, affected the trappings of nobility and convinced his peers in Limsa Lominsa that he was the esteemed "Duke Brett V."

Why he felt the need to adopt such a guise is anyone's guess, as his numerous eccentricities were met with widespread bemusement. Indeed, it was his penchant for ordering the same unusual dish every moon at the Bismarck that proved his undoing, as during one such visit he was confronted by traveling scholar, who declared with authority, "There's no such thing as an Ishgardian duke!"

The "Duke" has since grown rather reclusive, as one might expect, and his tale is now largely forgotten. Yet on occasion, in certain corners of Limsa Lominsa, in response to a dubious claim, some locals are heard to exclaim, "Hah! And I'm an Ishgardian duke!"

Since then, this has been a big joke to me and a few friends. I put "Ishgardian Duke" on my FFXIV credentials. My chocobo's name is Ishgardian Duchess. Anyroad, right after patch, Rocl nudged me to go do the Hildibrand quests and keep an eye out.

For anybody who missed it, this line is a gem, lol.

'Twas over seven hundred years old and graced the homes of a dozen archbishops, eight counts, two lord commanders and one duke.

Is this modest stall merchant trying to swindle Hildibrand by exaggerating the losses suffered by his clumsiness!? Why, I never...

Just letting you know we noticed your jokes, Dev. Team. /highfive

[Grayve]

Ha. I totally missed that, though I do remember the dev post. Those cunning devs.