Ripe For Trouble

Ripe for Trouble is a World Quest in Tequemecan Valley, Natlan.

Starting Location[]

Start the quest by talking to Poca at the entrance of the cave to the Flamegranate Tree Roots, after obtaining a Green-Edged Paper Slip.

Steps[]

Enter the cavern and look for Tisoc, who has gone missing
Explore the roots of the Flamegranate Tree
Break the solidified magma
Continue forward
Break the solidified magma
Go to the lower levels of the Flamegranate's roots
Find a way to increase the Liquid Phlogiston levels
Break the large solidified magma
Flee! Quickly!
Talk to Tisoc

Gameplay Notes[]

Completing this quest awards the Wonders of the World achievement "For the Fairest."
After the quest, the player can talk to Poca to receive an additional 20,000 Mora.

Dialogue[]

(If the player talks to Tisoc before obtaining a Green-Edged Paper Slip)

???: Hey there, you two! Now, I can see the hot blood running in your veins as you rush into yonder cave, but stop there for a minute.

???: Your attire tell me you're not from our tribe, the Scions of the Canopy... Heh, who am I kidding? You aren't from Natlan at all, are you?

Paimon: What's up with that? Are only people from Natlan allowed in?

???: That goes without saying! But even then, not just anyone from our tribe can go in, let alone people from Natlan as a whole...

???: *sigh* Well, you're pretty quick on the uptake for a flying kid with shaggy hair.

Paimon: Hmph, of course, Paimon's a bright spark... Wait are you saying she doesn't look like it?

That's certainly how you strike me, Paimon!

???: Yeah, it's just... exactly that! You get me, don'cha, my outlander friend?

Paimon: What are you two talking about? Are you... complimenting Paimon? Hmm, doesn't quite seem like it...

Tisoc: You can consider it praise, of course! Anyway... Name's Tisoc, and I'm the guard here — and an excellent one, at that.

Paimon: Well, Paimon's Paimon — as good a guide as you are a guard — and this is (Traveler)...

Most excellent of adventurers, at your service!

Tisoc: I see. An adventurer, huh? Makes sense. Doubt any ordinary traveler could find this spot anyway.

Formidable Guard Slayer, at your service!

Tisoc: Really? Are you a "Formidable Guard" Slayer, or a Formidable "Guard Slayer," in that case?

Tisoc: Either way... *sigh* Does that mean I'm facing some sort of dangerous person right now?

Paimon: Nah, he's just talking nonsense! And even if he were to slay any guards, they'd be "Ruin Guards"!

Tisoc: Ah! But anyway, I can't let you in. It is, after all, where our tribe produces our Flamegranates — real important business.

Paimon: Wait, what's so special about that? You find those everywhere here in Natlan!

Tisoc: Ah, see that's where you'd be mistaken. If you pick them using a special technique, not only will they not explode, but they'll produce honey as rich in phlogiston as Quenepa Berries!

Tisoc: Dry the skins, and you can even get bags that our Couriers can carry. *sigh* Though you outlanders wouldn't get the beauty of something like this.

Paimon: Huh, so that's what those round sacks are made from...

Tisoc: That's right. What's more, this cave is home to awesome Mountain King Flamegranates... Which makes me, the one who guards them, just as awesome.

Tisoc: That said, the Mountain King Flamegranates have recently been... Eh, forget it. Whatever the case, unless you've got one of those green passes that rustle when you rub 'em, I'm not letting you through.

Paimon: Can't we even sneak a peek?

Tisoc: Not even that — not even people from our tribe are allowed in without a pass...

Tisoc: And speaking of that, I heard someone lost theirs a few days back. Couldn't find it either... Man did Wayna chew them out.

Tisoc: Oops. Seems I've said more than I should.

Tisoc: Anyway, no entry without a pass, y'hear?

(Talk to Tisoc again, optional): Tisoc: *sigh* Whatever will we do about the Mountain King Flamegranates— Wait, hey! Stop! I told you before — no passage without a pass...; Tisoc: I mean, take the fella in our tribe who lost his pass for example. I've known him a long time, but I can't let him pass either... Rules are rules. That's all there is to it.

(Obtain Green-Edged Paper Slip): Paimon: Huh, what's that you just picked up? A piece of paper with a green border?

(Approach ??? [Poca]): ???: Oh, this is bad. This is bad... Tisoc... Has something happened to him?; ???: Should I go in and take a look? Ugh, but if that guy catches me, I'm going to get another earful... *sigh*; Who might you be?; Your name, please!; ???: I—I—I'm Poca, a Courier here in the tribe. I—I'll have you know I even earned the title of Best Courier the year before last... It's the truth, you can check for yourself!; Poca: ...Wait a minute. I'm supposed to be the one asking these questions. I mean, I'm a Scion of the Canopy, aren't I!? So, who are you then? You're not even from Natlan, are you?; Paimon: Hmph, doesn't matter who you are or where you're from — the skittish types always look more suspicious...; Poca: Yeah, so I've been told... "Chin up and chest out, Poca!" But if you ask me, back-bent and careful-on-your-feet works better for my line of work.; Poca: A—Anyway, who are you two...

You introduce yourselves to Poca...

Poca: Ah, I see. So you're travelers from afar...

Poca: *sigh* I'm likely not supposed to tell you this, but this cave is the site of the Mother Flamegranate Tree's roots, which our tribe's always guarded.

Poca: Special "Mountain King Flamegranates" also grow there, making this a very, very important spot.

Poca: That's why my friend, the serious Tisoc, guards this spot. And while it's not good to speak ill of people behind their backs, I reckon he's almost too serious!

Poca: He bars the way here everyday, and gets super mad if anyone tries to sneak past... That hasn't made him the most popular fella in our tribe.

Poca: Heh, not that I dislike him for it... But either way, he's not here today, and I've been waiting a while... A worrying sign.

Paimon: Why don't you go in and have a look yourself?

Poca: No, I couldn't! You need a pass to get in — you know those green-edges slips of paper? Those are the ones! And I don't have one...

Poca: They aren't easy to get your hands on, and strictly controlled too. I heard that someone lost one a couple of days ago, and Wayna gave them a real earful.

Paimon: (Hmm, that's weird. She seems to be describing the item we found... Why don't we show it to her, (Traveler)?)

Might this be the pass you're talking about...

(Display the green piece of paper...)

Poca: Ah, that is indeed the pass. Hmm... Ugh, you've put me in a tough spot now.

Paimon: Tough spot... Why? We can just give it to you, and then, boom — not only do you have a pass, but you can even go in and check on your friend...

Poca: *sigh* S'not that simple. Having one won't stop Tisoc from lecturing me...

Paimon: And why's that?

Poca: Well, just think, little Paimon! These passes are usually given to those who can do long-term guard duty, but I'm just a tribe Courier...

Who runs to and fro every day...

Poca: Exactly. So if I went in, I'd be exposed right away. In theory, anyone who sees something that belongs to the tribe should have it retrieved... But I can't use it.

Paimon: Ah, so that's it. In that case, we'd have just snuck in without showing you the pass at all!

Poca: Well, that's what makes things tough on me... How about this? I'm just going to pretend you're not here, like a Yumkasaurus with its eyes close...

Poca: And could I trouble you to go in and have a look in my stead? Tisoc's serious, but he's not the brightest. Just say you got a pass from our chief. What do you say?

Poca: Of course, I'll be sure to reward you. In fact, I'd be glad to help someone who helped me and even retrieved one of our passes.

Paimon: Huh, y'know, (Traveler)... If Tisoc's not hurt, we'll get paid just for having a walk down there. Nifty, huh?

Alright, we'll go in and have a look.

Poca: In that case, I'll be up here under the Mother Flamegranate Tree, waiting for you, alright?

Quest Description

Time to look for Tisoc, the missing guard...

(Talk to Poca again, optional): Poca: Why, that Tisoc, worrying me like this... But anyway, I'm quite curious as to what he's been hiding lately...

(Approach roots): Paimon: Ah! Someone's passed out over there. That's Tisoc, isn't it?

(If the player previously met Tisoc)

Paimon: Hey, hey! Wake up! You okay?

Tisoc: Ugh... I... H—Have I been called to the Night Kingdom already? I believe I see a floating person...

Tisoc: Huh? Wait. Let me have a closer look at you... You're Paimon!

Paimon: That's right! It's Paimon, most excellent Paimon!

Tisoc: *sigh* Thank you both so much. I was coming down here to check on things, but I wound up fainting... Perhaps the abnormal environment here has caused a drastic change in temperature...

Tisoc: N—No, wait. First off, how did you get in here without a pass?

Paimon: Oh, we've got one. C'mon, (Traveler), show him. That'll teach him to let passes pass, but not people!

This is what you're looking for, I believe...

(Display the green piece of paper...)

Tisoc: Hmm... Yes, this is one of our passes.

Tisoc: I didn't expect to see it in the hands of an outlander. That's quite novel... But rather strange all the same.

Paimon: Why? Is this the wrong pass?

Tisoc: Right pass, wrong people. In truth, the green patterns on the side of the pass have names hidden in them... and this should be the one that was lost a few days ago.

Tisoc: ...Let me guess. You found the pass and came here. In which case, the most sensible thing to have done in my absence would have been to send this back to our tribe.

Tisoc: But you chose to come down here instead... Did someone instruct you to, then? And since they knew about the passes, but not all the details... A Courier, then?

Paimon: What the... You do know your stuff after all! And Poca told us you were some overly serious, stubborn, thick-headed... Err, oops.

Tisoc: Oh, her, was it? Good. Then I know who to settle the score with once I get back up.

Paimon: Ack, slip of the tongue... But still, she only asked us to come down here because she was concerned about you!

Tisoc: Oh really? I'd say she did it on purpose... *sigh* Didn't she think she'd figure me out despite my efforts to hide it...

Tisoc: Still, she did send me an outlander unrelated to tribal affairs, like delivering a pillow to someone about to doze off.

Tisoc: Well then, brave warriors! Could you hear me out? I've a request I can't tell the rest of the tribe about. I'd preferred [sic] to have solved this myself...

Tisoc: But as you can see, I ended up lying on the ground here.

Paimon: Yeah, you're just a guard. Why do you have to investigate this cave too?

Tisoc: Actually... *sigh* It's the Mountain King Flamegranates. Here's one of them right here - the best of the best, both in terms of size and phlogiston content.

Tisoc: It's just that they were supposed to ripen over the last two days... and yet, as you can see, they're still all green and blue. No signs of maturing at all.

Tisoc: As their names suggest, they are to be offered to the Mountain King, and their importance needs no words to explain.

Tisoc: Also, this isn't just about the Mountain King Flamegranates... Most of the fruit grown on the Mother Tree amidst the cliffs are also "green" as can be.

Tisoc: I've taken care of them for so many years. How could I not tell that something had gone wrong with the roots?

Paimon: You could've just told the others in your tribe!

Tisoc: Pah. No one knows Flamegranate Trees better than I do, that much I can guarantee. In other words, if I can't solve the issue...

Tisoc: ...Forget it. If I can't solve this, I'll simply admit defeat and have people from either the Masters of the Night-Wind or the Collective of Plenty take a look. But before that, I'm the only person who can handle this.

Tisoc: It will, however, be difficult to pull off on my own, so... Well, you are brave outlander warriors, are you not?

(If the player has not met Tisoc)

Paimon: Hey, hey, Tisoc! Wake up! Are you alright?

Tisoc: Ugh... I... H—Have I been called to the Night Kingdom already? I believe I see a floating person...

Tisoc: Huh? Wait, no, these are the roots of the Flamegranate Tree... Bah, and here I thought I'd gone to the Night Kingdom already.

Paimon: Well, you might certainly have ended up in a faraway place, had we not come down to have a look...

Tisoc: Th—Thank you so much. I wanted to come down and check things out, but the temperature changed drastically for some reason... and I collapsed.

Tisoc: N—No, wait, hang on. First off, how did you get in here without a pass?

Paimon: Oh, we've got one. C'mon, (Traveler), show him. That'll teach him to let passes pass, but not people!

This is what you're looking for, I believe...

(Display the green piece of paper...)

Tisoc: Hmm... Yes, this is one of our passes.

Tisoc: Sorry, could I get your names...

You introduce yourselves to Tisoc...

Tisoc: (Traveler) and Paimon, huh. I see...

Tisoc: I didn't expect to see it in the hands of an outlander. That's quite novel... But rather strange all the same.

Paimon: Why? Is this the wrong pass?

Tisoc: Right pass, wrong people. In truth, the green patterns on the side of the pass have names hidden in them... and this should be the one that was lost a few days ago.

Tisoc: ...Let me guess. You found the pass and came here. In which case, the most sensible thing to have done in my absence would have been to send this back to our tribe.

Tisoc: But you chose to come down here instead, and you know my name... Did someone instruct you to, then? Someone who knew about the passes, but not all the details... Hmm. A Courier, then?