Valeria

Valeria

Race

Human

Level

80

Location

Zu Heltzer Historical Site
(The Echovald Wilds)
Mori Village
(The Echovald Wilds)
Arborstone
(Cantha)

Organization

House zu Heltzer
Kurzicks

Image(s)

Valeria in Mori Village. Interactive map

Valeria is a Canthan scholar looking into the fall of House zu Heltzer.

At the end of the Tracing the Tapestry collection, it is revealed that she is herself a Zu Heltzer, and she then adopts their name, showing as Valeria zu Heltzer.

Biography

Early years

Valeria was born in Cantha, unaware of her family's origins. Her father gave her a piece of old fabric which she held on to since although he did not elaborate on its history. Valeria got interested in archeology related to the fallen Kurzicks, especially the once famous House zu Heltzer, and spent her time studying ruins and relics in the Echovald Wilds. According to her own estimates, she spent an "embarrassing amount of time" sulking around the Arborstone library's occult section studying anything related to the Kurzicks, including their sealing rituals, in her youth.

End of Dragons

The Fate of House zu Heltzer

In 1845 CC (1335 AE), Cantha reopened its borders under Empress Ihn's decree, which led to many foreign visitors arriving on the continent and exploring various locations, including the Kurzick ruins. While digging near one of these ruins, Valeria ran into the Pact Commander and recognized them as an associate of Detective Rama. Valeria had overheard Rama talking about how he might be a surviving member of House zu Heltzer, and his statements convinced her that her suspicions of the house not having completely fallen in the Ministry of Purity's purges had merit. As Speakers were patrolling many of the ruins and attacking any trespassers, Valeria asked the Commander to search the ruins for any pristine zu Heltzer relics for further study.

What Lies Within

A few months later, Rama and the Commander visited Valeria in Arborstone. Valeria playfully scolded Rama for not having visited her more often after they had been revealed to be relatives, and Rama apologized for his tardiness. He also revealed his reason for visiting Valeria now, however: he needed information about Kurzick sealing rituals and believed that Valeria could be of use.

Locations

Cantha

• The Echovald Wilds
  • Zu Heltzer Historical Site
    • House zu Heltzer (First location)
  • Mori Village (Second location on south end of ground level with Master Weaver Kubo and Trader Chung-Cha)
• Arborstone (Ground floor mid-room, north side; Final location)

Story involvement

End of Dragons story

• Act V
  • What Lies Within
    • Emotional Release (as Valeria)

Dialogue

The Echovald Wilds

House zu Heltzer

First meeting

Hello—you're an associate of Detective Rama's, right?

Yes, why?

So, I overheard him talking about how he might be a surviving member of House zu Heltzer...

So it would seem.

The zu Heltzers are an interest of mine. Couldn't tell you why. I've always had a feeling they weren't really wiped out—they were too clever for that, and Rama's story's got me convinced.

I see.

Which is why I'm here, digging through ruins, destroying every dress I brought along...hoping to find...something? Anything that might help me figure this out... But I've kind of hit a stopping place.

Why's that?

House ruins are crawling with Speakers, roughing up anyone who comes around. Hmm, you look a little better equipped to deal with them. Maybe you could help a girl out?

Sure, what do I need to do? (Unlocks The Fate of House zu Heltzer)

Just bring me any pristine relics...items of significance to the family...you happen to find.

Sounds simple.

Not now, I'm afraid.

I need to go...

I need to go...

I need to go...

I can't chat right now.

Speaking again (1/2 steps)

We meet again, <Character name>! You find anything?

Tell me what you're doing here again?

Oh, sure... Well, I've got a theory. Everyone thinks the zu Heltzers were wiped out, right? I'm not so sure that's true.

So you're trying to prove that?

Yes, I need solid evidence.

What can I do to help?

I'm looking for items of significance to the zu Heltzer house. Anything that might help me figure out more of their story. If you find any pristine relics, bring them to me.

I'll see what I can find.

Maybe later.

What do you need me to do again? ("Same as "What can I do to help?")

Not yet.

Bringing back the relic (2/2 steps)

So, we meet again, Commander. You find anything?

I found something. Maybe it will shed some light?

Oh, let me see it! Oh, yes, this is in excellent shape... Well done, Commander. Wait a minute, let me take a closer look at this...

What is it?

This belonged to Danika zu Heltzer herself! She was the leader of the house when it fell. This, this is special. Before we do anything else, we need to dedicate it at her resting place.

You mean, at the cemetery?

Yes, she was buried in the cemetery here. The Ministry of Purity would have tossed her straight into the sea, but her body was hidden until it was safe for her to be reinterred with her family.

What a terrible thing.

Yeah, it was a dark time...which makes it all the more important we do this the right way. Her grave is at the highest point in the cemetery. Dedicate it to her memory, then we can get cracking.

I'll do it.

Thank you. You've been so helpful, Commander. You're quite the dashing hero, aren't you?

Um, yes, I suppose. But for now, I'll go to the cemetery.

I'll come back and help later.

I need to go.

I need to go.

I need to go.

Tell me what you're doing here again?

Oh, sure... Well, I've got a theory. Everyone thinks the zu Heltzers were wiped out, right? I'm not so sure that's true.

So you're trying to prove that?

Yes, I need solid evidence.

I found something. Maybe it will shed some light? (Same as above)

Hmm, good luck with that.

Interesting...

Not yet.

Before going to the cemetery

Well! Did you already perform the dedication?

Remind me why we're doing this?

You found a personal possession of the Countess Danika zu Heltzer. We should dedicate it at her grave site before doing anything else.

Where is that again?

There's an ancient Kurzick cemetery to the northeast of here. Various members of all the houses are buried there, including Countess Danika zu Heltzer. She's at the highest point in the cemetery.

What does it mean to dedicate it?

Any common sign of respect should do... A bow, a kneel, that sort of thing.

I'll do it, but why won't you come along?

Me? Go out there? It's crawling with gang members! I'm no good with confrontation.

Okay, I'll be back.

Maybe later.

I'm off.

Tell me what you're doing here again?

Oh, sure... Well, I've got a theory. Everyone thinks the zu Heltzers were wiped out, right? I'm not so sure that's true.

So you're trying to prove that?

Yes, I need solid evidence.

Remind me why we're doing this? (Same as above)

Not yet.

Back from the cemetery

Well? Did you do it?

(Tell her about what happened with Danika.)

Danika herself? And there should be many surviving zu Heltzers? Well that is quite the development.

(Show her the piece of the tapestry.)

Hmm, but she only knows where to find this one?

Yes, she tasked me to find the rest.

You're going to do it, right? I'd go, but there's so much to do here, and besides, there's likely to be danger. And as we established, I don't so much do danger.

Any idea where I should start?

Think like a Kurzick. Apparently they were hidden pretty well, so where would they have gone to be safe?

That doesn't really narrow it down, but I'll do my best. (Unlocks Tracing the Tapestry)

Thank you, <Character name>. In the meantime, I'm going to see about finding someone who can restore the tapestry. We'll need a master weaver to handle it with as much care as possible...

Take care.

I'm too busy right now.

Well, it is your project. Maybe you should take on some danger...

I'm afraid I need to run.

(Hold back for now.)

We'll talk later.

Mori Village

Meeting master weaver (6/8 steps)

<Character name>! You made it! Have you been having any luck finding pieces of the tapestry?

Seven of them, to be precise.

That's good news. Unfortunately, while I located a master weaver, his home, Mori Village, is currently beset with troubles. If you help them, it'll free him to help us.

I'll go help out and come back when I'm finished.

Really? Well, hand them over! This is Master Kubo. He's going to help us get all reassembled without reducing them to tangled strings...

Good to meet you, Master Kubo.

Master Weaver Kubo: Remarkably good condition. Some fraying and thinning, which is to be expected, but not too much patching...

Valeria: So, you think you can put it back together?

Master Weaver Kubo: I can when we have all the pieces. There's still a chunk of the bottom left corner missing. Probably two pieces worth.

Master Weaver Kubo: Valeria, didn't you say this fabric reminded you of something your father had given you?

Valeria: But I'm not... I couldn't be.

Master Weaver Kubo: Oh, yes, this definitely belongs!

Master Weaver Kubo: It wasn't as obvious, because the part if was cut from is still missing.

Master Weaver Kubo: Since I can't do anything with this until we locate the last bit, you may as well hang into it just a little longer.

Valeria: I'll take you up on that.

Not right now.

Still on the hunt.

Speaking again (7/8 steps)

Just one more piece... And I'm apparently a zu Heltzer? Huh...

You have an idea where to find it?

I do. Meet me at Arborstone.

See you there.

See you there.

Arborstone

Finishing the achievement

Valeria: You got my letter?

Detective Rama: I did. You're looking for...old fabric scraps? You making a quilt?

Valeria: Very old fabric scraps. Old and probably precious... Do you have anything like that?

Detective Rama: I, uh, yeah, I do. My grandma gave it to me the day I joined the force. It's kind of my good luck charm...

Valeria: Show him, Kubo.

Master Weaver Kubo: I've stitched together all that you brought me before. Just two missing pieces...

Valeria: Rama, look at mine.

Detective Rama: They're a matching set.

Valeria: Yes, that's because our ancestors were some of the only survivors of House zu Heltzer.

Detective Rama: So Grandma's stories...

Valeria: Weren't just stories.

Detective Rama: And that makes us family.

Valeria: Distant, but yes. Cousins more than a few times removed, but if we go far enough back, we probably share some roots.

Valeria: Roots here. With the people who once lived and breathed and died here.

Detective Rama: That's, um... Yeah, that's...

Valeria: It's a lot to take in.

Detective Rama: Yeah, I think I just need to sit with it for a while.

After the achievement is completed

We meet again, Commander. Thank you for everything you did for us. I would still be hunting around in the dirt without you, destroying every article of clothing I own.

How's everything going now for the zu Heltzers?

Valeria zu Heltzer: We actually had our first little reunion recently.

Valeria zu Heltzer: Only those still local to Cantha, though we're planning something bigger in a few months.

Valeria zu Heltzer: We're all figuring out what it means to be the remains of a house, but some of the conversations have been...enlightening.

Valeria zu Heltzer: As an example, we all have the same freakishly long second toe.

Valeria zu Heltzer: I was voted to act as the head of our house, even though that doesn't mean anything politically.

Valeria zu Heltzer: I'm probably just on the hook to make reservations for future get-togethers, but I'm still honored.

Any time.

Related achievements

• Arborstone: The Fate of House zu Heltzer — Work with Valeria to discover the fate of House zu Heltzer of Echovald. (6)
• Arborstone: Tracing the Tapestry — Find the missing pieces of the zu Heltzer tapestry, spread across Tyria. (4)

Trivia

• Valeria is voiced by Kari Wahlgren.
• According to Captain Hao Luen, he and Valeria are distantly related.