In Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, side quests offer players valuable opportunities to explore the rich lore of Erdrea while earning useful rewards. Among these optional tasks, the quest titled Up Where They Walk presents a poignant story centered around a mermaid and a nostalgic melody from the past. Completing this objective requires navigating between underwater realms and coastal settlements.
Starting Location and How to Unlock the Quest
To initiate this side quest, players must first gain access to the underwater city of Nautica after progressing through key story events. Once you have concluded your audience with Queen Marina inside the palace, head back outside to locate the quest giver. A mermaid standing near the palace complex will display a purple marker indicating an available quest.
Speaking with the mermaid reveals her desire to hear a specific song that was sung by a young boy on the surface many years ago. Because mermaids have long lifespans, she is unaware that the young singer has since grown into an elderly man. She tasks the Hero with finding this person and retrieving the cherished song.
Finding the Singer in Gondolia
After accepting the quest in Nautica, use the Zoom spell or your ship to travel directly to the port city of Gondolia. Upon arriving in town, make your way toward the northwestern section near the tall lookout tower. Here, you will spot an old man standing in the area who fits the description of the former singer.
Interact with the old man to discuss the mermaid's request and trigger the required dialogue sequence. He will recall the song from his youth and happily teach the Hero the melody so it can be performed once again. Once the conversation finishes, your objective updates, directing you back to the underwater kingdom.
Returning to Nautica for Quest Completion
With the song successfully learned, travel back to Nautica and navigate to the palace plaza where the quest giver resides. Speak with the mermaid once more to sing the nostalgic tune on behalf of the old man. Touched by the familiar music, she will express her gratitude and reward your party for completing the journey.
Completing this short errand not only adds another finished log to your quest tracker but also provides a charming narrative moment within the game's world. Efficient fast-traveling between Gondolia and Nautica ensures that the entire process can be finished in just a few minutes.
