A Sea of Blood

“

I'toca is eager to continue the hunt.

— In-game description

Steps

• Gather information at the Ruby Price.
• Gather information in Sakazuki.
• Speak with I'toca.
• Speak with I'toca in Kugane.

Journal

• I'toca is eager to continue the hunt.
• With no news of further incidents in Kugane, I'toca believes the Dreamweave Cocoon's thief has found new soil in which to sow discord. The closest settlements outside of the city are found in the Ruby Sea, and who better to inquire about the recent state of affairs in the area than the bakufu soldiers who stand guard over its waters?
• According to Ikaruga, a Confederate vessel recently approached the Ruby Price without authorization, almost sparking a fatal conflict. While the vessel eventually withdrew, the situation is tense and the soldiers fear it will escalate should a similar incident occur again. I'toca is keen to hear the Confederacy's side of the story, and so you set your sights on Sakazuki.
• The Confederates are alarmed to hear Ikaruga's claims, and assert that it is actually the bakufu soldiers who have recently stepped beyond their boundaries. I'toca will undoubtedly wish to hear your findings.
• The Confederate veteran reports that Captain Rasho has been acting strangely of late, voicing intentions to besiege the Ruby Price. The sudden change in his behavior leads I'toca to believe the thief may have assumed his form. You hasten towards the Isle of Bekko in the hopes of arriving there before any blood is spilled.
• Knowing Rasho personally, you are quickly able to see through the thief's facade, prompting I'toca to once more use her remedy to expose him. After a heated exchange, he reveals his intent to use the Dreamweave Cocoon to unveil the truth of the world─that people are cruel at heart. As he flees, I'toca attempts to shoot him down but misses yet again. Nevertheless, the Confederates thank you for intervening, and swear to remain vigilant for any further unusual activity in the Ruby Sea. With the thief again out of reach, I'toca suggests you both return to Kugane to plan your next steps.
• I'toca is more incensed by the thief's motive than you initially realized. Though regretful that he was able to evade capture once again, she resolves to work with the Confederacy to find his next likely target─and simultaneously tune her bow to peak condition.
  • ※The next role quest will be available from I'toca upon reaching level 94 in any melee DPS class.

Dialogue

Accepting the Quest

I'toca: Good to see you, Forename. For better or worse, I haven't heard about any unusual incidents in Kugane since our last altercation with the thief.
I'toca: There may be a reason for that. Do you remember when he claimed he was moving on to “bigger and better things”? If we're to catch him, we may have to expand the scope of our search beyond Kugane.
I'toca: Yet he traveled all the way from Tural to this eastern land for a reason, and I can't imagine he'd go too far. Do you know of any other settlements nearby?

What will you say?
> Look to the Ruby Sea.
> The Ruby Sea is dotted with settlements.

I'toca: People live out in those waters? But they're so vast...where would we even begin?
I'toca: Ah, so the bakufu has an outpost at the Ruby Price? That sounds like the perfect place to start. Let's make our way there and avail ourselves of the soldiers' intel.
I'toca: If anything out of the ordinary has occurred, no doubt they'll be aware of it. Shall we?

Gather information at the Ruby Price (cutscene)

Ikaruga: Well, this is unexpected. What brings you to the Ruby Price?
Ikaruga: Disputes? Strange you should ask... Not even a moon ago, the waters of the Ruby Sea were poised to turn a sanguinary shade.

I'toca: Please, tell us everything.

Ikaruga: A Confederate skiff approached the Ruby Price without authorization, and its occupant began hurling insult after insult in an obvious attempt to provoke us.
Ikaruga: We did not succumb to their provocations, however. After warning the vessel we'd fire if they drew an ilm closer, they withdrew without a word.
Ikaruga: However, should they attempt to provoke us again, we will not display the same level of restraint. And the roar of our cannon shall signal their comrades to rally in full force. The waters will flow red. Of that, there can be no doubt.
Ikaruga: Tensions run high─naught like this has ever occurred.

I'toca: I see... Thank you for the information.
I'toca: Might we speak privately?
I'toca: Based on the testimony just now, I gather there's an agreement in these waters that the Confederates are not to draw near the Ruby Price, guarded as it is by bakufu sentries.
I'toca: If that's the case, then as the soldier stated, I can only conclude that the vessel earlier was attempting to incite a dispute between the two factions.
I'toca: Which fits the modus operandi of our quarry, wouldn't you say? Perhaps it was he who sailed here under the banner of the Confederates.
I'toca: Whatever the case may be, we have nothing but conjecture. We'll need solid evidence before we can alert the soldiers here to this threat─I doubt they'll heed our warnings otherwise.
I'toca: First, we need to verify if any members of the Confederacy actually approached the Ruby Price. Do you know where their base of operations can be found?
I'toca: Sakazuki... Looks like it would be fastest for us to swim there.

Optional Dialogue

I'toca: Any of your comrades sail to the Ruby Price recently?

Gather information in Sakazuki

Hiun

Hiun: The soldiers at the Ruby Price said that, did they? Pardon my language, but that's a load of shite. We have no interest in Hingan waters.
Hiun: If anything, I've seen their skiffs encroaching on our territory of late. If you ask me, they're the ones thirsty for blood...

Optional Dialogue

Hiun: We have no interest in Hingan waters, but I can tell you I've seen a bakufu vessel encroaching on our territory in recent days. If they mean to provoke us, they're doing a good job of it.

Shihoji

Shihoji: What? Absolutely not! Not a one of my Confederate brothers and sisters would approach the Ruby Price without authorization.
Shihoji: Those cowardly bakufu dogs must have concocted this baseless rumor to get a rise out of us!

Optional Dialogue

Shihoji: No Confederate would approach the Ruby Price without authorization. What are those bakufu dogs playing at?

Speak with I'toca (cutscene)

I'toca: There you are, Forename. Listen to what this person has to say. The situation is more grave than we thought.

Confederate Veteran: I'm thankful you came─and not a moment too soon.
Confederate Veteran: Captain Rasho ain't been actin' himself, you see. Normally where he goes, Tansui goes. But not today.
Confederate Veteran: He showed up just earlier by his lonesome, and ordered us to gather as many heads as able to join him on the Isle o' Bekko to attend to some pressin' business.
Confederate Veteran: Normally I'd oblige the captain without a moment's hesitation, but I had a feelin' somethin' weren't right, so I asked him what manner o' business. “We're gonna set the Ruby Price ablaze!” he says. The bloody Ruby Price!
Confederate Veteran: Tried speakin' some sense into him, but he weren't o' a mind to listen. Walked off sayin' he has no need o' “craven bastards” like me.
Confederate Veteran: Look, I dunno what's gotten into the captain, but it can't be anythin' good. Please, go to the Isle o' Bekko and stop him and me comrades before it's too late!

I'toca: This “Rasho” acting strangely can't be a coincidence. We need to get to that island, and quickly! Do you know the way?
I'toca: Got it. We've not a moment to waste!

Optional Dialogue

I'toca: I hear voices. Seems they've gathered up ahead...

Cutscene

Rasho: Those scum think they can encroach on our territory and get away with it? I'll be damned if we let 'em! Tonight, we lay siege to the Ruby Price and seize it for ourselves!

Nervous Confederate: B-But are you sure? If we do this, we won't just be starting a battle─we'll be starting a war!
Nervous Confederate: You've been acting strange, Captain... What's gotten into you?

Rasho: Silence! I didn't ask for your bloody opinion!

Hot-tempered Confederate: Those lyin' dogs claimed it was us breachin' the agreement! I say we give the bastards what they deserve!

Rasho: Y-You are not welcome here! Begone if you value your lives!

What will you say?
> You're a terrible actor!
> You're not Rasho!

Insidious Individual: You saw through my disguise once again... Don't tell me you count even a pirate captain among your acquaintances?

I'toca: What are you trying to accomplish!? Why incite such conflict wherever you go!?

Insidious Individual: Why? Sorry to disappoint you, but contrary to the Passage of the Unbound's prattling about freeing the world from the tyranny of government, I have no grand designs.
Insidious Individual: I wish merely for everyone to show their true faces. Folk love to put on airs of sophistication and virtue, but push them towards the edge, and their masks slip off to reveal the monsters underneath.
Insidious Individual: They'll go for their neighbor's jugular to save their own skin─you've seen it for yourselves! It's quite the spectacle.

I'toca: D-Damn it, the winds are too strong!

Nervous Confederate: A man of a thousand faces is a true menace indeed. We'll return to Onokoro forthwith to alert the captain. Rest assured the Confederacy will be keeping a close watch over the Ruby Sea.

Hot-tempered Confederate: I didn't think for a moment he was an impostor, and the lies he spouted about the bakufu soldiers were enough to make my blood boil. To think what would've happened had you not been here to stop us...kami bless you.

I'toca: All he wants is to expose people's so-called “true faces”? That he would use the cocoon for such a petty cause...unthinkable.
I'toca: Let's return to Kugane for the time being.

Speak with I'toca in Kugane

I'toca: Damn it all... I can't believe a bastard like that...
I'toca: Ah, forgive me. I find myself more disgusted with that villain each time we see him...and to think all of this is driven by small-minded spite.
I'toca: From what I could gauge, he didn't fly towards Kugane during his escape. I believe he seeks a new settlement to terrorize.
I'toca: Now that the Confederacy and I are acquainted, I'll see if they can't help me sniff out his roost. No doubt where there's smoke, he'll be there stoking the fire.
I'toca: And...I suppose I'll use this period to tend to my bow. Next time, my arrow will fly true.