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Rostnsthal is a non-playable character in Final Fantasy XIV. Originally known as Sthalmann Sthalmannsyn, he was the Commodore of the Knights of the Barracudas circa 1562 of the Sixth Astral Era, until his actions led to him being disgraced and changing his name. He reappears in Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward as a marksmanship instructor in the Machinist job quests.

History[]

Final Fantasy XIV (version 1.0)[]

In 1562 of the Sixth Astral Era, a mysterious islet called Seal Rock suddenly appeared in the Rhotano Sea, amid a flurry of speculation in the thallocracy that it was the mythical Swallowtail Roam. Sthalmann was the Commodore of the Knights of the Barracudas with ambitions of taking the admiral's seat. He had recruited allies promising them power when he becomes admiral of the city-state.

One of them was Emerick of the Kraken's Arms, who had ties to the Serpent Reavers. Another was Merodaulyn, one of the few male members of the Sanguine Sirens, who was placed in the 5th Levy Seal Rock Provisional Unit. The plan was to have Emerick hand a navy sailing chart to the Serpent Reaver Travanchet, who would pass it to the Sahagin. Merodaulyn would ensure the 5th Levy would fail in the inevitable attack, allowing Carvallain and his Kraken's Arms to land on the isle itself. Under Sthalmann's orders, Emerick procured a curious horn-shaped artifact.

Carvallain turned in Emerick to Sthalmann after learning his role in the Sahagin attack, who took him in his protection. With other pirates seeking blood, Sthalmann tricked the Sanguine Sirens into attacking Mealvaan's Gate, and used the fallout to confiscate another artifact from the Seal Rock: a stone tablet with inscriptions in Rhotano Bloodcant.

Merodaulyn later freed Emerick, and the two planned an escape. Just as Y'shtola warned them that "the shadoweaters" were after the artifacts and respected they turn them over, Travanchet revealed his true nature as one of the aforementioned shadoweaters by attacking their ship. Two other Barracuda warships, themselves keeping tabs on Y'shtola as per Sthalmann's orders, tried to attack Travanchet's vessels. The standoff was interrupted by a sea serpent that emerged from the water, damaging the ships with a wave.

The tablet was lost at sea, and with Emerick and Merodaulyn escaping Sthalmann lost an opportunity to dismantle two of the largest pirate gangs in Limsa Lominsa. He later orchestrated a plan to to assassinate the then admiral, and went to Gods' Grip in hopes of activating the power of the horn. Y'shtola confronted him, demanding he hand it over to Sharlayan. Undeterred, he threatened to kill her if she didn't tell him how to use the horn. The Warrior of Light would witness this scene in an Echo vision ten years later as part of Emerick's memories. The horn began glowing and a starshower erupted in the sky, with Travanchet appearing from a nearby meteorite impact. He appeared behind Sthalmann and seized the horn, declaring that "power as this does not belong in the hands of your kind".

Since then, Sthalmann was disgraced for his plot, and became a drunken pirate captain of a crew of one, and changed his name to Rostnsthal. His new named reflected his tarnished reputation, as in the Roegadyn language, his former name of Sthalmann meant "Steel Man" while Rostnsthal translates to "Rusty Steel". His former second-in-command, Reyner, became the new Commodore, a position he retained to present day.[1]

When the Trident, a race to decide the next admiral, approached, Rostnsthal watched the adventurer try to join the Bloody Executioners and once they were rejected, Rostnsthal proposed for them to join his crew of one. After the adventurer accepted (and made him a crew of two), Rostnsthal asked them to help him break into the Kraken's Arms' lair and steal some of his loot to procure funds to rebuild his damaged ship.[2] Rostnsthal stole a Kraken register and tried to sell it to Commodore Reyner who rejected the offer. In search of the register, Hyllfyr Faezmoensyn ordered his men to search for Rostnsthal. With no further purpose in keeping the register, Rostnsthal handed it over to the adventurer and asked to turn it over to the captain of the Bloody Executioners.[3]

The chair of admiral would eventually pass to Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn.

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward[]

Five years after the Umbral Calamity, Rostnsthal was hired by Stephanivien as a marksmanship instructor at Skysteel Manufactory. He trained House Haillenarte's maidservant Joye and other volunteers in firearms. Just as the Warrior of Light arrived to sign-up as a machinist, Rostnsthal resigned his post and left for Camp Overlook. After some pleading by Stephanivien, Rostnsthal reluctantly agreed to test the adventurer's worth, and set up an impromptu training course in Outer La Noscea. Satisfied with the Warrior of Light's potential, he agreed to return to the manufactory.

He discovered suspicious individuals attempting to harass or sabotage the manufactory. He suspected his own past reputation could be to blame, though Tedalgrinche showed to be mostly focused on discrediting Stephanivien. Rostnsthal otherwise did not participate in the manufactory's battles, just giving advice as per his contract.

Rostnsthal tried to turn himself in on the insurrection charges levied against the manufactory, against Stephanivien's wishes.[4] After getting an essential weapon upgrade ready, he and the Warrior of Light tried to talk Rostnsthal out of it.[5]. He calmed down, and confessed to his treacherous past deeds and his regret over betraying his subordinates. He asked to aid his students in the upcoming trial by combat against Veri Seren to atone for his actions as commodore.

Once Veri Seren was slain and the Skysteel Manufactory was exonerated from Tedalgrinche's charges, Rostnsthal took his leave, nominating Joye as master marksman.

Characteristics[]

FFXIV Rostnsthal MCH

Rostnsthal in Heavensward.

Appearance[]

Rostnsthal is a seawolf Roegadyn with greenish skin brown hair and brown eyes. He wears a buccaneer's tricorne with an eyepatch and wears an open red shirt and longboots.

Personality[]

Gameplay[]

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Etymology[]

In the Roegadyn language, Rostnsthal translates to "Rusty Steel". Sthalmann Sthalmannsyn translates to "Steel Man, son of Steel Man".

Citations[]

  1. http://gamerescape.com/2015/07/17/the-lore-train-seal-rock-pt-i/
  2. Final Fantasy XIV version 1.0, Marauder quest "Two-man Crew".
  3. Final Fantasy XIV version 1.0, Marauder quest "Captain's Orders".
  4. Final Fantasy XIV, MCH58 quest "Taking the Fall"
  5. Final Fantasy XIV, "Rusted Steel"
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