What's wrong with Rowena?

[LineageRazor]

It's part of the unlock quest for Zhloe,

Ah, I see. It's been years, so not too surprising I didn't remember. But that's why we have Anonymoose!

[godwin]

If i recall Gerolt mentioned that he was once married to rowena somewhere in the relic questlines and said he would remarry her as a threat. It was again mentioned lightly by the npc for the zodiac lights

[Anonymoose]

If i recall Gerolt mentioned that he was once married to rowena somewhere

There was even a PowerPoint about it one LIVE Letter recap, lol.

The History of Gerolt and Rowena

In days past, Gerolt and Remon studied metallurgy under Heidolf, a well-renowned blacksmith. The two were quite gifted, and as word of their takent soon spread, Heidolf’s smithy flourished.

More and more people came seeking their custom. Rowena was one such patron, a confident, quick-witted woman, who had eyes only for her wares… and then young smith, Gerolt, who crafted them. Remon escaped her notice—though she did not escape his.

As Heidolf saw his smithy’s celebrity grow, he realized that so long as a product carried the mark of Gerolt or Remon, it would be sure to sell. And so a plan was hatched: inferior goods made by younger smiths would bear the marks of the masters.

Quality fell by the day, sparking rumors and raising suspicions. Rowena, who knew well Gerolt’s craftsmanship, soon uncovered proof of Heidolf’s plot, and subsequently threatened to cut ties with his smithy if he would not cease his deception.

This would not bode well for Heidolf. Rowena represented an arms dealer with an extensive network of connections in Ul’dah. To lose such a client would be a devastating blow for both him, and the less reputable associates who now profited from his business. Should they be displeased, it could very well cost him his life. Therefore, he decided that Rowena must have an accident—one which would bury her and the truth along with it.

When Gerolt learned of this scheme, he begged and pleaded for Heidolf to reconsider—to return to the way things were. But to Heidolf, Gerolt’s pleas were as insults. How dare he lecture him, his apprentice, with his skill and his fame and his youth, upon whom he had been forced to rely? Who would surely steal his smithy from him, and cast him aside like a hammer no longer fit for the forge… Heidolf knew he had to strike first.

However, his attempt to kill Gerolt was not only unsuccessful, there was also a witness.

Remon had suspected something was amiss with Heidolf, and now he knew for certain. But Gerolt had surpassed him at every turn, and had stolen the heart of his beloved Rowena. And so Remon spoke not a word of what he saw.

Gerolt was cast out. With nowhere else to go, he took to the road.

It was only a matter of time before Rowena learned the truth, after which she resigned her position and left Ul’dah in search of Gerolt. Remon, whose jealousy had driven him to silence, could not bring himself to stop her. With a heavy heart, he abandoned his hammer.

With the loss of Gerolt and Remon, Heidolf’s business soon fell into ruin. Utterly undone, he plunged a dagger into his own heart—the first dagger forged by his finest apprentice long ago.

After no small amount of searching, Rowena was at last reunited with Gerolt. Together they traveled to faraway lands, where at last they exchanged their vows.

And then, one fateful day, a letter came. Remon, who had established himself as a black market dealer through Heidolf’s former connections, had learned that Rowena, upon resigning her position, had stolen a great deal of money from both her clients and her former employer—and that they would hold her to account.

Gerolt devised a plan. Her persuaded Rowena to lend him an exorbitant amount of money under the guise of starting his own smithy. However, he would instead return this money to those she had wronged by way of Remon, and conceal the truth by playing the villain. His former colleague agreed to help him—under one condition, to which Gerolt agreed.

The next day, Rowena was alone, her love nowhere to be found.

Weeks turned to months, turned to years. Rowena, driven by her anger towards the man who had betrayed her, returned to Ul’dah and began trading in antiquities. With focus and determination, she began to build her business. And then, one day, another letter from Remon came. Gerolt had been found.

Alas, the man Rowena found in Hyrstmill was not the man she had married. Gerolt was a shadow of his former self, a man broken from a life spent running. A drunkard mindlessly hammering away at mere kettles.

She thought back to the man with a spirit as fiery as a forge, whose weapons were as works of art—to that day when they had first met. As she squeezed the wedding ring he had crafted for her, Rowena made him an offer. Honest work for honest pay.

…Or so Drake would have us believe,
based on the mumblings of a drunkard abed and his patrons.

Is there truth to this tale?
Only the Twelve know.

[Ramesses]

That was it, the gist of it all from Drake! I was looking for that, Moose... thank you! Finally! Definitely added a +1 as well!

And now to watch Trillionaire Madame Rowena continue with her mystery plan...