Well, howdy there, y’all! Let me tell ya ’bout this here… thing… called “carved in stone” in that there Final Fantasy 16 game, or whatever they call it. Don’t rightly know much ’bout these fancy video games, but my grandkid, bless his heart, he keeps yammerin’ on ’bout it.

So, from what I gather, this “carved in stone” ain’t just some rocks in the ground. It’s somethin’ important in the game, a “side quest” they call it. Sounds like a chore to me, but these young’uns, they love chasin’ after these things.

Now, how you get started on this “carved in stone” business? Well, you gotta find some fella, an “NPC” they say. He’s the one who gets you goin’. Think of it like findin’ the right person to ask for directions, only instead of directions, you get a task to do. And this task, it’s all tied to somethin’ called the “Arete Stone.” Sounds fancy, huh? Reckon it is, for a game thing anyway.

This “Arete Stone,” it ain’t just sittin’ around anywhere. You gotta wait for the story to move along a bit, then it shows up in this place called the “Hideaway.” Sounds like a secret hideout to me, kinda like where the kids would hide when they were playin’ hide-and-seek, remember those days? Anyhoo, this stone is down on the “Main Deck,” near where you go to the “Boarding Deck.” All these decks and names, makes my head spin, I tell ya.

What’s this Stone Do?

• Well, it’s got different “modes,” like settings on a fancy washing machine.
• You get some of these modes early on, after you beat some bird called “Midnight Raven.” Sounds like a mean one. This happens durin’ a quest called “Fanning Embers.” All these names, I swear…
• And there’s some writin’ on the stone, they call it an “inscription.” This one’s up north and says somethin’ ’bout wanderers and roots and rocks. Confusin’ stuff, if you ask me.

Then there’s this fella, Milos, he comes along and explains things. Seems like there’s some old-timey customs in a place called Tabor that folks didn’t know about. Imagine that! Even in a game, they got history and secrets.

Now, this whole game, this Final Fantasy 16, it’s set in a place called Valisthea. Sounds foreign, don’t it? It’s got two big ol’ pieces of land, “continents” they call ’em. And there’s six nations, each one powerful ’cause they got these magic rocks, “Crystals,” and special folks, “Dominants.” Sounds like a whole lotta trouble to me. But I guess that’s what makes it excitin’ for the young’uns.

So, this “carved in stone” thing, it’s all part of this bigger story. You do the quest, you learn ’bout the stone, you figure out some secrets. It’s like piecin’ together a quilt, each piece tellin’ part of the story. And seems like this “Arete Stone” is a pretty important piece. It helps ya learn more ’bout the world, the folks in it, and maybe even ’bout yourself, or whoever you’re playin’ in the game.

My grandkid, he keeps talkin’ ‘bout unlockin’ things and gettin’ rewards. Says it helps him get stronger in the game. I tell ya, these games, they’re a whole other world. But if it keeps him outta trouble, well, I reckon it can’t be all bad. And this “carved in stone” part, it sounds like it’s somethin’ you gotta do if you wanna get anywhere in this Final Fantasy 16 world.

Anyways, that’s the gist of it, as best as I can understand. It’s a quest, you follow the steps, you learn some stuff, you get stronger. Sounds like hard work to me, but these kids, they love it. Maybe one day I’ll sit down and watch him play, see what all the fuss is about. But for now, I’ll stick to my knittin’ and leave the “carved in stone” adventures to the young’uns.

Final Words, Ya Hear?

So, if you’re playin’ this game and you hear ’bout “carved in stone,” don’t go lookin’ for rocks in your backyard. It’s in the game! And it sounds important, so pay attention. Now, go on and have fun, and don’t forget to eat your vegetables!

Tags: Final Fantasy XVI, FF16, Carved in Stone, Side Quest, Walkthrough, Guide, Arete Stone, Hideaway, Valisthea