A Minstrel in Despair  

When I tried to do this, I kept trading the parchment to the song runes in Buburimu peninsula, and it didn't do anything, so I went back to Jueno, talked to all of the people in the inn 3 times, then went back out there, it still didn't work... Then accidentally double clicked the runes... zomg cutscene and then tried trading, worked fine, need to include the song runes' cutscene in the walkthrough, so much wasted time XD

Ugh so confusing >.< lol

Shhhh {secret}

You can make Parchments by using a lightning crystal and a flute. If you are from or in bastok, you can buy a flute from the music shop for less than 100g.

Face SW, do it on watersday, bring a few lightning crystals and desynthesis may result in a number of failures.

Typically, i can get 3 or 4 parchments per stack of crystals, crystals on Remora cost about the same for a stack as a single parchment.

Of course, this may or may not be worth it depending on whether you have a mule in bastok, or are going there for some other reason anyway.

(lvl 2 woodworking)

Hope this helps.

Due to the fact that something is wacky with these three quests and how they are worded all ways I am going to give the COMPLETE bard quest.

Path Of The Bard (Flag Quest):

Find Mertaire, the bard in (I-8) of Lower Jeuno. He should be in the Merry Minstrel. He will ramble on about love and the one he has lost...

After, talk to Bki Tbujhja behind the counter. She will inform you of ancient bard lyrics written on a stone somewhere in Buburimu. Knowing this info, head off to Bubu! BUT, buy a sheet of 'Parchment' before you go! NOT bast parchment. (It is found in /Materials/Woodworking)

Once in Buburimu, head down to the western shore of the Khoonta Dunes, and through the shallows to find song ruins. Click on the ruins, and after the cut scene, click on them again. You should get a hint about parchment. Once you do, trade the parchment to the ruins, and then go back to Lower Jeuno, with your "Poetic parchment".

Talk to Mertaire again, and after the cutscene, go to the Valkrun Dunes (you do NOT need a parchment for this trip).

Travel to the secret beach, and click on the 2nd set of ruins, after the cutscene...you will be awarded with gil, and the ability to become a Bard.

Edited, Fri Jul 1 00:11:47 2005

Just so everyone knows, this is the Bard Flag Quest. Even though it doesn't say there's a reward, there is. Being a Bard.