Quest Explained Wiki

Map questLevel 13

Constant Carvings

Quest giver Mimidoa in Lower La Noscea

Summary and analysis

SummaryAnalysis

Mimidoa is very forgetful: he cannot recall Rostnzeh's name and does not recognize you when you return. He once served on the Cloud Dancer, and was a cannonboy for Captain Mistbeard. He thinks women's company would cure Rostnzeh's loneliness, and plans to send some.

Meet lonely Rostnzeh; his story goes on in Say It with Flowers.

What happens, step by step

  1. Naldiq & Vymelli's veteran shipwright Mimidoa seeks someone to travel to Oschon's Torch in his stead.
  2. Search the nearby hills for wild jackals and slay them for their fangs. Four fangs are required and only curved ones will suffice.
  3. Deliver the four curved jackal fangs to a candlekeep stationed at Oschon's Torch named Rostn...something.
  4. You have completed your delivery of the jackal fangs to Rostnzeh. Now return to Mimidoa at the Moraby Drydocks and inform him you fear for the candlekeep's sanity.
  5. Mimidoa has shown genuine concern for Rostnzeh's mental state, and has already devised a plan to, shall we say, liven his spirits.
Where it leads

Next in the play order: Say It with Flowers. Rostnzeh feels close to madness and loves Ghimthota.

Worth knowing

Lore

Mimidoa once served as a cannonboy in the crew of Captain Mistbeard. A cannonboy is a boy who helps work a ship's cannons.

Easter egg

Neither Mimidoa nor the journal remembers Rostnzeh's name. Later, Mimidoa forgets you too. Mimidoa thinks he knows your name from his Cloud Dancer days, but decides your nose isn't right.

Easter egg

Mimidoa is a veteran of the original 2010 FFXIV, where he trained blacksmiths. Later, Mimidoa turns up again at Aleport. He is in charge of repairs to the Pharos Sirius lighthouse.

In-game text

The lighthouse here is called Oschon's Torch. It is named after Oschon the Wanderer. It stands on the shore of Moraby Bay, across from Llymlaen's Ring.

Title reference

The title changes k.d. lang's 1992 song 'Constant Craving' into constant carving. It is the carving of a lonely candlekeep, who keeps working on jackal fangs.

Characters

Who they are, and what they do in this quest.

Mimidoa

Mimidoa is a veteran shipwright of Naldiq & Vymelli's at the Moraby Drydocks. Gout, a painful illness, keeps him from visiting a friend at a lighthouse.

Mimidoa is very forgetful: he cannot recall Rostnzeh's name and does not recognize you when you return. He once served on the Cloud Dancer, and was a cannonboy for Captain Mistbeard. He thinks women's company would cure Rostnzeh's loneliness, and plans to send some.

Rostnzeh

Rostnzeh is a candlekeep, a lighthouse keeper, living alone at Oschon's Torch. Old Mimidoa calls him a dear friend.

Rostnzeh is very lonely at the lighthouse. He carves jackal fangs to quiet voices calling him back to the sea. He says Mimidoa need not worry about him, and that he means to serve the sailors alone for the rest of his life.

Other languages

The game was written in Japanese and rewritten, not just translated, for each language. Here is what the other versions say, next to the English.

Japanese孤独な灯台守
‘The Lonely Lighthouse Keeper’
FrenchDes crocs contre la solitude
‘Fangs Against Loneliness’
GermanDer einsame Leuchtturmwärter
‘The Lonely Lighthouse Keeper’
English, Mimidoa

What ye say? 'Nother 'nitiate, eh? 'Nitiate, ye say? Gettin' lots of 'nitiates these days. Lots of 'nitiates. What day ye say it was?

Japanese

冒険者か、ちょうどよか、わしの話を聞いてほしいぞい。筆頭造船師を引退してからというもの、わしの楽しみは、オシュオン灯台の灯台守ロストンゼッヘと話すことでねえ。

‘An adventurer, eh? Good timing. I'd like you to hear me out. Ever since I retired as chief shipwright, my great pleasure has been chatting with Rostnzeh, the keeper of Oschon's Torch.’

French

Depuis que j'ai pris ma retraite, je tire un grand plaisir à bavarder avec Rostnzeh, le gardien de la Torche d'Oschon.

‘Since I retired, I take great pleasure in chatting with Rostnzeh, the keeper of Oschon's Torch.’

German

Seit ich nicht mehr so oft zu Oschons Fackel gehen kann, um mit dem alt'n Rostnzeh zu klönen, is' mir manchmal 'n bisschen langweilig.

‘Since I can't go to Oschon's Torch so often anymore to chat with old Rostnzeh, I get a bit bored sometimes.’

Japanese

筆頭造船師を引退してからというもの、わしの楽しみは、オシュオン灯台の灯台守ロストンゼッヘと話すことでねえ。

‘Ever since I retired as chief shipwright, my pleasure has been talking with Rostnzeh, the keeper of Oschon's lighthouse.’

English Mimidoa rambles about initiates and asks what day it is; French clearly says he enjoys chatting with Rostnzeh.

English Mimidoa rambles and asks what day it is; German says he gets bored since he rarely visits Rostnzeh.

English Mimidoa rambles and asks what day it is; Japanese clearly says his pleasure is talking with Rostnzeh.

English, Mimidoa

Used to be that I'd visit the lad once a sennight to see how he was farin', but me legs just ain't the same since the gout gone and grabbed hold of 'em.

French

D'habitude, c'est moi qui lui apporte les matériaux lui servant de support, mais ces derniers temps, mon dos et mes jambes me font atrocement souffrir et je suis incapable d'aller jusqu'au phare.

‘Usually I'm the one who brings him the materials he works on, but lately my back and legs hurt terribly and I can't make it to the lighthouse.’

Japanese

その材料は、わしが届けてやっとるのだが、最近、足腰がガタついて、灯台までの道のりがしんどくての。

‘I'm the one who delivers him those materials, but lately my legs and back have gotten shaky, and the road to the lighthouse is hard on me.’

English visited weekly to see how he was faring; French brings him his carving materials.

English visited weekly to see how he was faring; Japanese says he delivers the carving materials.

English, Rostnzeh

It can get right lonesome up here, all alone, with naught but the wind's chill to keep a man company. Some days, I carve jackal fangs to help clear me head of the voices─the voices callin' me back to the great blue...

Japanese

大丈夫だ……俺はまだ、灯台守を続けられる……「傷のないジャッカルの牙」さえ4本あれば、きっと……。

‘It's all right... I can still keep the lighthouse... if I just have four flawless jackal fangs, surely...’

English, Rostnzeh

It can get right lonesome up here, all alone, with naught but the wind's chill to keep a man company. Some days, I carve jackal fangs to help clear me head of the voices─the voices callin' me back to the great blue...

French

Z'inquiétez pas, tout va bien ici...

‘Don't you worry, everything's fine here...’

German

Wie nett!

‘How nice!’

English admits it gets lonely up there; French insists everything is fine.

German keeper cheerfully welcomes a visitor; English keeper broods on his loneliness.

English, Rostnzeh

It can get right lonesome up here, all alone, with naught but the wind's chill to keep a man company. Some days, I carve jackal fangs to help clear me head of the voices─the voices callin' me back to the great blue...

French

Pour passer le temps, quoi...

‘To pass the time, like...’

English carves fangs to quiet voices calling him back to the sea; French wants the fangs just to pass the time.

English, Rostnzeh

Well, ye tell that old man that he needn't waste his few last suns in this realm worryin' 'bout poor Rostnzeh.

French

Au moins, avec ça, y me manquera pas pour quelque temps...

‘At least, with this, I won't be missing him for a while... Ha ha ha!’

German

Das wird mich darüber hinwegtrösten, dass Mimidoa sich kaum noch blicken lässt.

‘That will console me for Mimidoa hardly ever showing his face anymore.’

Japanese

これだけ牙があれば、しばらくミミドアが来なくても寂しくはないさ……ハ、ハハハ。

‘With this many fangs, I won't be lonely even if Mimidoa doesn't come for a while... Ha, ha ha ha.’

English tells Mimidoa not to waste his last days worrying; French says the fangs will keep him from missing Mimidoa.

English tells Mimidoa not to waste his last days worrying; German says carving will console him for Mimidoa's absence.

English tells Mimidoa not to waste his last days worrying; Japanese says the fangs will keep him from being lonely.

English, Rostnzeh

I'll carry on as I always have, in the service of the sailors...alone till the day I die...

French

Je ne peux pas trop le faire venir ici à son âge.

‘I can't really have him come up here at his age.’

Japanese

アイツもいい歳なんだし、いくら寂しいからって、気安く呼びつけるわけにもいくまいよ……。

‘He's getting on in years too, so however lonely I am, I can't just call him over on a whim...’

English gloomily vows to serve alone till he dies; French says he can't make the old man come up at his age.

English gloomily vows to serve alone till he dies; Japanese says however lonely he is, he can't call the old man over.

English, Mimidoa

Eh? Where'd ye crawl in from? I don't recall sendin' for no 'nitiates. Eh? your name? I once knew a lass/lad named your name back when I served on the Cloud Dancer. She was a buxom young lass with eyes as big an' round as ogre pumpkins/He was a strappin' young lad with teeth as white as a princess's paps. Ye ain't her/him, though. Nose ain't quite right... And who are ye, again? Ah, got somethin' to tell me, has ye?

French

Tu lui as apporté les crocs comme je te l'avais demandé ?

‘Did you bring him the fangs as I asked you to?’

German

Ah, das ging aber schnell!

‘Ah, that was quick!’

Japanese

おお、届けてくれたか、ありがとう。

‘Oh, you delivered them, thank you.’

English Mimidoa doesn't remember sending you; French Mimidoa thanks you for doing as he asked.

English Mimidoa doesn't remember sending you; German Mimidoa remarks how quickly you got back.

English Mimidoa doesn't remember sending you; Japanese Mimidoa thanks you for delivering the fangs.

English, Mimidoa

Eh? Where'd ye crawl in from? I don't recall sendin' for no 'nitiates. Eh? your name? I once knew a lass/lad named your name back when I served on the Cloud Dancer. She was a buxom young lass with eyes as big an' round as ogre pumpkins/He was a strappin' young lad with teeth as white as a princess's paps. Ye ain't her/him, though. Nose ain't quite right... And who are ye, again? Ah, got somethin' to tell me, has ye?

French

Il va falloir que j'aille le voir très bientôt.

‘I'll have to go and see him very soon.’

German

Freut mich, dass der alte Turmhocker vor lauter Langeweile noch nicht ins Meer gehüpft ist.

‘I'm glad that the old tower-squatter hasn't yet jumped into the sea out of sheer boredom.’

Japanese

ここは、早いとこ、アヤツに会いに行ってやらんとな。

‘That being so, I had better go and see him soon.’

French Mimidoa lucidly resolves to visit his friend; English Mimidoa rambles about someone from the Cloud Dancer.

German Mimidoa jokes Rostnzeh hasn't jumped into the sea from boredom; English Mimidoa rambles, forgetting who you are.

Japanese Mimidoa lucidly resolves to visit his friend; English Mimidoa rambles about the Cloud Dancer.

English, Mimidoa

Rostnzeh? What's that mumblin' milksop whinin' about this time? No, let me guess─that he's lonely? Bah! Put a pair of warm women in his arms and 'nother on his lap, and he'll be right as rain!

French

Hmm... Si je demande à une jolie fille de me porter sur son dos, ou encore mieux, dans ses bras, ça me rendra assurément le trajet plus facile... et agréable ! Hé hé hé...

‘Hmm... If I ask a pretty girl to carry me on her back, or better still, in her arms, the trip will surely be easier... and nicer! Heh heh heh...’

Like in Japanese, Mimidoa is sharp and plans the visit himself. The English Mimidoa sends women instead.

English, Mimidoa

Rostnzeh? What's that mumblin' milksop whinin' about this time? No, let me guess─that he's lonely? Bah! Put a pair of warm women in his arms and 'nother on his lap, and he'll be right as rain!

German

Eine nette Freundin, die sich um ihn kümmert ... das ist, was ihm fehlt. So einsam, wie er da oben ist.

‘A nice girlfriend who looks after him... that's what he's missing. Lonely as he is up there.’

Mimidoa's cure for Rostnzeh is gentler here.

English, Mimidoa

Rostnzeh? What's that mumblin' milksop whinin' about this time? No, let me guess─that he's lonely? Bah! Put a pair of warm women in his arms and 'nother on his lap, and he'll be right as rain!

French

Si je demande à une jolie fille de me porter sur son dos, ou encore mieux, dans ses bras, ça me rendra assurément le trajet plus facile... et agréable !

‘Hmm... If I ask a pretty girl to carry me on her back, or even better, in her arms, that'll surely make the trip easier... and pleasant! Heh heh heh...’

German

Eine nette Freundin, die sich um ihn kümmert ... das ist, was ihm fehlt.

‘A nice girlfriend who looks after him... that's what he's missing.’

Japanese

カワイコちゃんに、背負ってもらってな!

‘By having a cutie carry me on her back!’

English prescribes warm women in Rostnzeh's arms; French has Mimidoa wanting a pretty girl to carry him on the trip.

English bawdily prescribes three warm women for Rostnzeh; German suggests one nice girlfriend to look after him.

English prescribes warm women in Rostnzeh's arms; Japanese has Mimidoa wanting a cutie to carry him.

English, Mimidoa

'Tis what I do to help me forget that what ails me...not that ol' Mimidoa needs much help with forgettin', mind ye. Might be that I'll send him up a few saucy strumpets this comin' eve!

Japanese

むむ、ワシがカワイコちゃんにくっつきたくて、アヤツをダシに使ってるわけじゃないぞい?すべては、さびしがり屋のロストンゼッヘのためじゃ!

‘Hmm, don't go thinking I'm using him as an excuse because I want to cosy up to some cutie, eh? It's all for lonely Rostnzeh's sake!’

German

Aber vielleicht schmeißen wir mal eine Party auf dem Leuchtturm.

‘But maybe we'll throw a party at the lighthouse some time.’

Using someone as soup stock is the set phrase for using them as a pretext. Mimidoa would visit Rostnzeh carried by a pretty girl.

English, Mimidoa

'Tis what I do to help me forget that what ails me...not that ol' Mimidoa needs much help with forgettin', mind ye. Might be that I'll send him up a few saucy strumpets this comin' eve!

French

Qu'est-ce qu'il ne faut pas faire pour remonter le moral d'un vieil ami, franchement !?

‘Ah! The things one has to do to cheer up an old friend, honestly!?’

German

Wenn wir zehn Jahr jünger wär'n, würden wir nachts durch die Schenken ziehen, aber die Zeiten sind vorbei.

‘If we were ten years younger, we'd go roaming the taverns at night, but those days are over.’

Japanese

すべては、さびしがり屋のロストンゼッヘのためじゃ!

‘It's all for the sake of lonely Rostnzeh!’

English says he does it to forget his own ailments; French claims it is all to cheer up an old friend.

English says he does it to forget his own ailments; German says ten years younger they would go tavern-crawling at night.

English says he does it to forget his own ailments; Japanese insists it is all for lonely Rostnzeh.

English, Mimidoa

'Tis what I do to help me forget that what ails me...not that ol' Mimidoa needs much help with forgettin', mind ye. Might be that I'll send him up a few saucy strumpets this comin' eve!

Japanese

むむ、ワシがカワイコちゃんにくっつきたくて、アヤツをダシに使ってるわけじゃないぞい?

‘Hm, it's not that I'm using him as a pretext because I want to snuggle up to a cute girl, you know?’

Japanese: he denies using Rostnzeh as a pretext to cuddle a girl; English plans to send strumpets.

Full dialogue

Read all 11 lines, with the notes

Highlighted words have a note: click one to open it under the line.

Accepting the quest

Mimidoa

What ye say? 'Nother 'nitiate, eh? 'Nitiate, ye say? Gettin' lots of 'nitiates these days. Lots of 'nitiates. What day ye say it was?

Mimidoa

Now, I reckon this 'nitiate's here lookin' fer work. Is it work ye seek, eh? Well, ye need not fret, as I just happen to have a task what needs tendin'. A dear friend of mine, Rostn...somethin'-or-such, is holed up in the lighthouse on this side of the Grip.

Mimidoa

Used to be that I'd visit the lad once a sennight to see how he was farin', but me legs just ain't the same since the gout gone and grabbed hold of 'em.

Mimidoa

I'd be grateful if ye could check up on the candlekeep in me stead. Oh, and don't ye be forgettin' to take along four curved jackal fangs. Tell him they's from Mimidoa. He'll understand.

Deliver the jackal fangs to Rostnzeh

Rostnzeh

It can get right lonesome up here, all alone, with naught but the wind's chill to keep a man company. Some days, I carve jackal fangs to help clear me head of the voices─the voices callin' me back to the great blue...

Rostnzeh

What's this? Mimidoa send ye, did he?

Rostnzeh

I'll carry on as I always have, in the service of the sailors...alone till the day I die...

Return to Mimidoa

Mimidoa

Eh? Where'd ye crawl in from? I don't recall sendin' for no 'nitiates. Eh? your name? I once knew a lass/lad named your name back when I served on the Cloud Dancer. She was a buxom young lass with eyes as big an' round as ogre pumpkins/He was a strappin' young lad with teeth as white as a princess's paps. Ye ain't her/him, though. Nose ain't quite right... And who are ye, again? Ah, got somethin' to tell me, has ye?

Mimidoa

Rostnzeh? What's that mumblin' milksop whinin' about this time? No, let me guess─that he's lonely? Bah! Put a pair of warm women in his arms and 'nother on his lap, and he'll be right as rain!

Later in the storyspoilers
Same NPC: Say It with Flowers
Lonely Rostnzeh, the candlekeep: Constant Carvings sets up his own quest, where he sends his feelings to Ghimthota with a flower.

Where it sits in the play order, on Quest Order Wiki