Final Fantasy 16 features a wide array of side quests for Clive to undertake while he attempts to liberate Bearers and create a better world. Some side quests offer unique rewards that alter gameplay, like increased capacity and potency for consumable items, while others simply serve to expand on the game's lore.
The Final Fantasy 16 side quest "An Inconvenient Truth" falls into the latter category, offering a curio and some interesting lore as a reward for the player's time. This quest is given by Vivian Ninetales at the Hideaway after completing the main quest "Brotherhood" and has players tracking down a banned book that contains the lost history of Bearers.
An Inconvenient Truth Side Quest Guide in Final Fantasy 16
This quest begins with a letter from Vivian which can be read in Clive's quarters at the Hideaway. This letter should show up after the main quest, "Brotherhood," has been completed. Vivian requires assistance retrieving a book named "From a Distance" that inspired her to become a scholar and whose contents are considered heretical and forbidden. Naturally, Clive is only too happy to assist, and Vivian tells him to ask Harpocrates for information on the book's location.
Harpocrates explains that the reason the book is so hard to acquire is due to a secret society known as the "Executors," who are avid collectors, hoarders, and concealers of knowledge deemed forbidden or otherwise unsuitable for the public.
It is likely that, due to their machinations, not a single copy remains on all of Storm. Luckily, it seems the same may not be true of Ash, and Harpocrates had an associate there with a vast and comprehensive library. While said associate has likely joined the ranks of the Akashic due to Ultima's machinations it is likely that his library remains, and it is possible that a copy of "From a Distance" remains there.
Players will need to head for Ash to retrieve the book, with a good waypoint to begin from being Vidargraes in northeastern Waloed. The town of Garnick is abandoned, and Harpocrates's associate once lived there. Within his house, a number of valuable and interesting documents can be found, though the focus of this quest is "From a Distance," which can be found tucked away on the left side of the house towards the back. The book reveals a great deal about the lost history of Bearers, including their treatment as chosen ones bearing gifts from the Gods at one point in the past.
On attempting to leave Garnick with the book, Clive will be assailed by a representative from the aforementioned "Executors" who wishes to see the information held within the book lost. Clive must then fight some ruffians working for the Executors in order to prevent them from taking the book.
The enemies fought here are fairly simple to take down, with the Inquisitor wielding an axe being the biggest threat. Perfect Dodge or parry the Inquisitor and burn them down, and the rest should fall easily. Alternatively, players may wish to clear out the weaklings with an AOE attack before engaging the Inquisitor, so they can focus on the big guy.
After taking them all down, the Executor returns and explains that their goal is to control the truth by limiting the perspectives with which the public view history and eliminating information that could lead to contradictory views. He then says Clive can keep the book for now and vanishes without a trace.
Returning to Vivian has her explain that, while it is true that the "Truth" is dependent on mass belief, this also means that the "Truth" is not immutable and may be changed. This gives her hope that the plight of the Bearers can be changed and a better future built. She rewards Clive with her Scholar's Cap as a sign of her faith in him.
Final Fantasy 16 is available for PS5.
