| Ancient letters are carved here, but you are unable to read them.
Zeid: This...this mural softly whispers the history of Altepa.
Zeid: This may appear to be ancient ruins, but these buildings were used up until a mere three generations ago.
Zeid: One force battles another...a situation necessary in any country's history. And, as you may have already guessed, there were two forces in Altepa as well.
Zeid: The Galka mistakenly disturbed the Antica, who lived deep beneath Vana'diel. In the early stages of their battles, the Galka used their strength to gain the upper hand.
Zeid: However, it was not strength that decided the outcome of this conflict. The Antica, with their amazing reproductive ability, simply outnumbered the Galka.
Zeid: When a Galka senses his death, he sets out on a journey to climb a high mountain and await his final moments. There, guided by a magnificent light, he gains a new body, and with that body climbs down from the mountain.
Zeid: However no one has ever seen this miracle take place. It may just be simple folklore.
Zeid: All we Galka see is one of our brothers setting off on a journey. Then, less than a year later, a new Galka child arrives in our camps.
Zeid: If they carry something with them from their previous life, they may be given their old name, but other than that, no reborn Galka have any recollection of their former selves.
Zeid: That is, all except one--one every generation.
Zeid: That one we call the Talekeeper.
After proving he truly holds two hundred years of memories, he is then appointed new leader of the Galka.
Zeid: Tradition binds this keeper of memories to his new position, and it is this tradition that the Galka have blindly followed for generations.
Zeid: This tradition is a great burden for those who must bear it. As you may already know, not one Talekeeper has ever lived long enough to set out on his journey of rebirth.
Zeid: One suffered from the fear that one day, he would lose hundreds of years of memories... Another could not handle the responsibility heaped upon him, and disappeared...never to be seen again.
Zeid: And one...one felt the anger of our race multiply within his heart until he could no longer control it, and finally became the Shadow Lord.
Zeid: The Galka need not be chained to this destiny. However, I feel the only one that can break these chains is the Talekeeper.
Zeid: The new Talekeeper will soon come forth of his own will. He will know when the time is right.
Zeid: Tell Iron Eater to look after him when that time comes.
Zeid: Only at that time will I finally be released from the responsibilities that bind me.
Zeid: And at that time, we Galka must swallow our pride and face the Humes, as I must face my old comrade, Volker...
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SPOILER WARNING: Details about a quest, mission or other Final Fantasy XI in-game storyline follow.
