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Final Fantasy XVI

FF16 - Self Determination Side Quest Walkthrough

By
Scott Peers

The Self Determination side quest in Final Fantasy 16 can be acquired once you reach the Across the Narrow main quest. At this point you should be back at "The Hideaway" iconThe Hideaway, where you can return to Clive’s Chambers and use the Reading Table to check for the letter named Captain Dorys from "Cole" iconCole. The letter requests that you speak with "Dorys" iconDorys, but you’ll soon find that you need to travel to "Martha's Rest" iconMartha’s Rest first. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to find Dorys there and how to beat the Imperial troops on this page.

Self Determination Side Quest, Final Fantasy 16.

How to Start the Self Determination Side Quest in FF16

As mentioned above, before you can start this quest you first need to reach the Across the Narrow main quest. You can check your progress towards this on our page detailing a List of All Main Quests in Final Fantasy XVI. Once you’re back at The Hideaway, go to Clive’s Chambers and use the Reading Table to check the letter from Cole, which states the following:

“Sir, I and the other Cursebreakers have grown concerned regarding the wellbeing of our captain. Despite the apparent unrest her recent investigations have visited upon her, Lady Dorys refuses all offers of assistance. If it is not too much trouble, I would ask that you please speak with the captain and learn what troubles her so deeply.”

After accepting Cole’s request, you can head to The Mess area of The Hideaway, which is in its southern part, to the west of The Pier. When you walk into this area a cutscene will begin, during which a Cursebreaker named Cherin approaches Clive. You’ll soon learn that Dorys is away at the moment, on a job at Martha’s Rest, so you’ll need to go there to find her first. If you’ve forgotten where Martha’s Rest is, it’s just northwest of The Hideaway on the main map, so you can fast travel there easily.

(1 of 2) The location of Clive’s Chambers at !The Hideaway where you can find the Reading Table.

The location of Clive’s Chambers at !The Hideaway where you can find the Reading Table. (left), After speaking with Cherin, fast travel to !Martha’s Rest, just northwest of !The Hideaway. (right)

Where to Find Captain Dorys at Martha’s Rest

Now that you’re at Martha’s Rest, you’ll find yourself just outside the inn. From here you can open the local map to see an area highlighted just west of the inn. You need to search this area for Dorys, but in truth the area marked is unnecessarily large. All you need to do is go down the alley to the left of the inn’s entrance, then make the first left turn. Here you’ll find Dorys speaking with a woman known only as “Elegant Lady” for now.

The woman will soon leave as Clive greets Dorys, who reveals that she has been tracking a slaver in the area. The slaver just so happens to be this “Elegant Lady” that you’ve just seen. Turns out she’s an old acquaintance of Dorys, and she has been trying to recruit the captain. Dorys is leading her on for now, hopeful to catch her off guard and put an end to her business in the slave trade. But she can’t do it alone, which is where Clive comes in.

Location of The Baum Arches Camp

Dorys mentions that she has arranged to meet her old acquaintance at a place known as The Baum Arches, an area south of Martha’s Rest, just northeast of Auldhyl, as shown on the map below. You can fast travel to The "Auldhyl Docks" iconAuldhyl Docks which is just west of The Baum Arches, then make your way to it over the bridge from there.

Defeat the Imperial Astrologers and Legionnaires

When you reach the area you’ll find the slave trader with some guards, and the slaves tied up. A cutscene will play, and at the end of it you’ll need to fight the guards. Start with the Imperial Astrologers to ensure that they don’t have time to cast protection spells on the Legionnaires. You can then finish off the others with ease. A powerful AoE (area of effect) attack should eat through most of their HP, so you’re unlikely to have any trouble with this fight.

(1 of 3) Look for !Dorys in the alleyway just to the left of the inn at !Martha’s Rest.

After killing all of the guards you’ll earn a decent amount of Level XP, Ability Points, and "Gil" iconGil. You’ll also get 40 "Wyrrite" iconWyrrite and 5 "Magicked Ash" iconMagicked Ash, both of which can be used in crafting. A long cutscene will play from here during which Dorys confronts the slaver, and the scene will then transition back to The Hideaway, where Clive speaks with Cole to finish the quest. You’ll get even more Level XP at this point, alongside 35 Renown, 100 Wyrrite, 25 "Sharp Fang" iconSharp Fangs, and 1 "Meteorite" iconMeteorite. The last item is especially useful for crafting and upgrading gear.

Other Side Quests in The Hideaway

There are more side quests that you can unlock at The Hideaway as you progress through the main story, so be sure to keep checking for green icons on the map whenever you get the chance. We’ve included a few that you might have missed in the table below!

Name Location
A Bone to Pick The Reading Table
Weird Science The Hunt Board
The Weight of Command The Boarding Deck
The Root of the Problem The Back Yard
A Culinary Pilgrimage The Ale Hall
Do No Harm The Infirmary

More Final Fantasy XVI Guides

There’s a lot to learn about the basics of gameplay mechanics in Final Fantasy XVI, which is why we’ve covered all the details both in and out of combat. Be sure to check the links below for some examples.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Square Enix
  • Platforms,
    PS5
  • Genre
    Action RPG
  • Guide Release
    21 June 2023
  • Last Updated
    2 August 2023
    Version History
  • Guide Author

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This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. This guide for Final Fantasy XVI contains the following:

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