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[R^2]

North of Tzen, there's a pentagram-shaped mountain range with a tiny valley in the middle. There are hints throughout the game of what you find there, but rather than go get them I'm just going to do this the way I did my first playthrough: land in the middle and see what happens!




This sort of thing is why I say Molulu's Charm prevents all the encounters "for the party Mog is in". The game's quite fond of splitting everyone up, and all parties not including Mog are going to get bogged down by random encounters normally.

Music: Esper World


This is the Phoenix Cave, where the two teams have to work together to ensure progress. In this case, one party steps on a switch that retracts spikes from a passage.


...allowing the second party to do likewise for them. Having Mog in (or in this case, as) one party makes the whole trip a lot faster. Random encounters with strong monsters are extremely common in here, so having half your exploration team skip that part of the dungeon is a big relief.


One party reveals the stones, the other hops across.




Most of the chests are empty! What a gyp! It's like some greedy thief has already been through here!


Here's a fun little game bug for multiple-party dungeons. Stand one party on a save point...


...then switch and use a Tent. The player isn't even supposed to know about the dungeon at this point in the game, so we're a bit underpowered. Random battles here are hard. Being able to Tent my fighting party when I need to is a welcome respite.

[R^2]

Sabin levels up to 30, learning his next Blitz attack: Razor Gale is a wind-elemental attack to the entire enemy party.


Argh! I had to hop across lava for this! How disappointing!




I'm pretty sure draining water onto lava is a pretty lousy way to accomplish anything outside of video game logic. By any reasonable standard the whole dungeon would be filled with steam and everyone inside would be severely scalded.


Anyway, Razor Gale definitely makes things easier overall. Those Face enemies counter attacks with 1000 Needles, which isn't the instantly-fatal attack it was on the Floating Continent, but it's still 2/3 of anyone's maximum HP. And those Necromancers counter attacks with Gravija in addition to their favorite zombie-inflicting move. Setzer there is still standing at zero HP, but looks a bit ill. He's a zombie. That's bad.


Hullo, what's this?


Yikes!


The Red Dragon, as you may assume, is fond of fire-elemental or fire-themed attacks. Fireball, Fira, Level 4 Flare, regular Flare...


...Flare Star...


...Southern Cross...


Maybe more, but Southern Cross deals about 2000 damage to the entire party, so that's that.

I really am doing this the way I did on my first playthrough! Land in the mountains, see what happens, split up, explore the cave, and go OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT before dying. Of course, I didn't die at the Red Dragon back then, it was a regular encounter that did me in. Stupid Face and their stupid 1000 Needles counter...

[R^2]

This actually turned out to be a major roadblock, because like an idiot I saved state in the middle of this fight. Well, it's not like I'd want to ever come back through the cave just to fight this guy anyway.




I am willing to admit I cheesed my way to victory.


The Red Dragon was the first of the Eight Dragons mentioned in Albrook, see. You don't miss following up on a clue like that.

Oh, and inside that tempting-looking chest was a Dragon Horn. It's a Relic that makes Jump attacks consecutive -- after landing once, the character immediately leaps and lands again, for up to four hits. I'm not about to take Molulu's Charm off of Mog, but with the Dragoon Boots/Dragon Horn combo, he will deal death to all who stand before him.


With the lava cooled (but still... bubbly...), Mog can walk on it. THIS MAKES SENSE OKAY SHUT UP. Inside that chest is a Ribbon. Guess one thing in here was too tough for whoever came here first to snatch!


You know you're getting to the end when the two parties meet up.


They have to, because opening the way to dungeon's end requires two switches to be pressed simultaneously, and you can't split a party of four into two parties of two to make that happen. THIS MAKES SENSE OKAY SHUT UP

[R^2]

Aha! So you must be the dirty thief who looted this dungeon before I could!




"All who? There's just me, kupo."

Locke: Behold, the legendary treasure that can undo death itself...


Locke: It is. Legend has it that the Phoenix turned itself to stone ages ago... It seems the story was true. But now it's filled with cracks. I don't know if it still has the strength to perform miracles... Rachel... I failed her. I broke my promise and lost the only thing that was real to me... So until I do what I said I'd do... Until I restore my honor... ...I'm nothing but a no-good liar.
Party/Mog: So, you're headed to Kohlingen...?


Yes, apparently.






Old Man: Don't think it's gonna be calling back any wayward spirits like that! Nope, nuh-uh! Too bad, really... Too bad...




Do your best, Phoenix!


FUCK

[R^2]

Music: Forever Rachel


Locke: Rachel...
Rachel: The Phoenix used the last of its power to give me some time... But I must leave again soon... Before my time is gone... There's something I must tell you... Something I never had a chance to say...
Locke: ...
Rachel: Locke...... You made me so happy... In my last moments, my memory returned... I drifted off thinking of you, and I was truly, truly happy... So let me now say the words I never had the chance to say... Locke... Thank you.


Rachel: I have to go now... But thank you so much for all the happiness you've given me... Please, let go of the chains that bind your heart... I release you... Give your love to the one who now dwells within your heart... Love her... as you loved me... Phoenix... Be reborn! And give your power to Locke!




Rachel dissolves into three sparkling lights...


...which drift to the head and wings of the Phoenix.


The Phoenix then becomes more vivid, turning from a dull, translucent red to a bright, fiery hue.


Locke: I'm all right. Rachel put my heart at ease... From here on out... everything'll be okay. Let's go! We've got a job to do!

[R^2]

Music: Locke's Theme. It's a brief interlude, but the music shifts to something rather more upbeat and hopeful to reflect Locke's state of mind.




Locke runs back inside the herbalist's house.


...and comes back out with an X-Potion, a Phoenix Down, an X-Ether, an Elixir, a Flame Shield, and a Valiant Knife.

[R^2]

Next stop: the Veldt, why not?


Because after the end of the world, Gau went back to doing what he's good at: living with monsters. Thankfully, he recognizes the party as soon as they arrive, and...


NO MOG NO


Well, it'll be a few more battles before he shows up again. No more overzealous dragooning from you, little moogle!


Recruiting Gau is as simple as that.

[R^2]

A magicite washes up on the shore of Solitary Island, waiting to be collected by anyone who thinks to return. Let this forever disprove the rumor Quetzalli is the reward for saving Cid! Because that guy is still dead, dead, dead, and I'm learning Hastega and Slowga anyway.

Oh, right, the new-esper rundown. Quetzalli teaches Haste and Slow at x20, Hastega and Slowga at x2, and Float at x5. It doesn't have a level-up bonus, and when summoned, all party members hop on its back as it flies into the air, initiating a Jump attack from the whole party. As Roger pointed out, the esper you get on Solitary Island is the one that makes everyone do a big, dramatic leap from a great height. 


What's next? Mobliz is next.


When you enter the house that used to have the wounded Imperial soldier resting inside, a dog follows you in...


...and vanishes behind the bookcase.


Mobliz was controlled by a conservative leadership who believe strongly in abstinence-only education for teenagers.


Duck behind the bookcase to find another cellar with Terra inside.


Katarin: I'm so happy that I'm going to have a child... But when I told that to Duane, he turned cold all of a sudden...


Duane: I acted like an idiot. But everything's okay now! So, please... come back home with me.


This teary reconciliation is interrupted by thundering noises from outside.


Of fucking course he is.


Fine, fine.

[R^2]

I'll get you this time.


Humbaba is still weak to poison attacks. Locke and Celes blast him with Bio, Gau Rages as Magna Roader to... also blast him with Bio, and Mog does his Dragon Horn jump. Even with everyone else exploiting an elemental weakness, the biggest damage-dealer here is Mog. That's how great spear/Dragoon Boots/Dragon Horn combo is.




Eventually Humbaba gets sick of the beatdown and starts using his Humbaba Breath to say ba-ba to Locke and Mog.


Which in turn prompts Terra to come outside...




Terra! Best karate skill still inside you! Time let out!


Terra joins the battle against Humbaba. This time she remembered to root through the party's backpack and auto-optimize her equipment, so she doesn't die in one punch to the solar plexus from Humbaba this time.


This is the result of a Bio from Celes.


...and here's one from Terra.

[R^2]

Needless to say, Humbaba does not last long under the dedicated toxic assault of an esper, a feral child, and a Magitek knight. This is how the battle ended without me using a single healing move.




Hooray! Yay! You won! Hooray! SKRRRREEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH








Terra you can be sad if you need to and everything but seriously, these small children being afraid of you?


TOTALLY FUCKING JUSTIFIED

[R^2]

Terra: I think... I finally understand. The feeling that's been growing inside me...


The entire game does a head-fake on Terra's character development. We knew all along she'd discover the emotion humans call "love" at some point, but... When she's rescued from Narshe there's a tease for her and Locke, then Locke meets Celes and that gets mostly dropped. Then Terra meets Leo and there's a hint of closeness between them... and then Leo gets murdered. Cut to the World of Ruin, where Terra discovers maternal love rather than romantic love, and leaves the shipping to Locke and Celes.




Terra: Children, Mama has to go away for a while to make the world a safer place for you to live! But I promise I'll be back as soon as I can!
Children, collectively: "Mama... I'm not gonna cry!" "Me either!" "I'll be good, so come back soon!" "Don't forget, you promised!"


Terra: I'll fight! I'll make this world a place where life can flourish, and children can grow up in peace!

Terra rejoins the party, hooray! And thanks to her clearing up her emotional turmoil, the duration of her Trace ability is doubled.

[R^2]

Let's see, who's next?




...was that a dog barking?


Sure was.




Almost every fight in this cave is with a Twinscythe, called "Toe Cutter" in the SNES version. The Japanese name is "Tuu Kattaa", or "Two Cutters". Good effort, guys.


The hunters who make camp inside the cave give a few hints on how to recruit Gau. Namely, have a place in the party for him when you fight on the Veldt.


They also tell you a good spot to level up later.


Oh, balls. Gorgimera are only non-Twinscythe random encounter in the Cave. They're rare, but...


They're not nice. They use a Rampage move that gives them four attacks at once -- and those attacks can be any combination of physical hits, Fireball, Snowstorm, Megavolt, Magnitude8, and Flare Star. And if that wasn't enough, they counter incoming attacks, too.


Whew!

[R^2]

The Death Warden ambushes the party here...


...so Celes casts Raise on it and we all move on with our lives.


The two Dragon Claws trick sure was helpful, but now I have a claw that's arguably better. Tigerfang has higher attack power, but Dragon Claws boost Sabin's magic attacks, making his Blitzes better. I might still Genji Glove 2x Dragon Claws anyway.


What, am I sayin' it wrong?


Oh, hey, that explains the dog. Interceptor is trying to find someone to help Shadow, who is clearly not doing well.


And when we reach Shadow to rescue him, a monster ambushes the party!

[R^2]

Hello, fellow living creature! What a nice day to have a functioning metabolism, huh?


I'm going to attack you with clouds of toxic slime, which is effective against living creatures!


Well, that wasn't too bad, although Mog looks a little worse for wear. Somebody grab Shadow, we're outta here.


But as the party turns to walk away, the King Behemoth gets back up and attacks again!


This time it's an undead creature, and it has different attacks.


Celes casts Raise on it...


...and we all move on with our lives.


We're taking the Behemoth hides with us as a trophy, though.




"Back to" Thamasa? Huh?

Shadow is only here if you waited for him to catch up before fleeing the Floating Contient. If you didn't wait, he's left behind when the airship tries to escape, and dies in the cataclysm. In that case, the person you find here is Relm. Shadow can justify his presence here because the Ichigeki he's looking for is in the next room over, but why Relm would ever be in this cave is a mystery for the ages.

[R^2]

[R^2]

Shadow: It's only a scratch. I've had worse.

This is no time to be quoting Monty Python, sir.

Shadow: And I've got this guy watching over me.


Bark bark!


There's nothing more that can be done for Shadow, so might as well have a look around Thamasa.








Leo: still dead.

[R^2]

Hey, looks like that old guy north of Kohlingen finally got the funding and labor to build his Coliseum.





Oh, right! Johnny C. Badd is now stuck in your head.




This guy reports that he told "your friend with the bandana", who is currently in the party, to talk to the Emperor twice, because that hint will lead to another clue where to find where the Emperor hid some legendary treasure. What could it mean?


It's possible to fight Siegfried in the Coliseum, and he's a hell of a lot more competent than the boob you met on the Phantom Train.


Coliseum Owner: I figure it'll take him about a hundred years to work it all off...

Oh, so before you opened your Coliseum you did student loans?

[R^2]

So here's the deal. To fight in the Coliseum, you bet an item. You then choose a single member of your party to do battle, which is done automatically under a randomized AI script. If you win, you get a different item to replace the one you wagered away. If you lose, your item is just plain gone.

The autobattle is fantastically stupid, though. Chances are good characters with self-destruct moves, like Gau or Strago, will use those attacks for an instant loss. You can't Transfusion yourself, idiot! Even characters with good attacks will use spells and abilities at random, such as Celes using Runic on monsters that don't use traditional magic or anyone casting Scan or Dispel instead of doing something useful. So it's a crapshoot, and savescumming is expected.

Oh, and as Ultros warned: if you bet a common item, or nearly anything store-bought, or something like that, your opponent is Typhon. He opens the battle with Snort, forcing you out for a forfeit.


Anyway, we're betting this much-coveted Ichigeki.


...so the fight is against Shadow, who's been looking for it.


Go, Moogle death from above!




Wow, Shadow actually survived. I'm impressed.


He does not remain standing after the second Jump attack. I get my Ichigeki back, because of course my first illustration for how the Coliseum works is a special event that breaks some of the rules.

[R^2]

If you think about it, this is really a depressing thing to say.


Shadow: Perhaps I should... All right! It's time to put my skills to the ultimate test!

Shadow rejoins the party... permanently this time! No more "I've earned my pay" and vanishing after a battle, no more scripted points where he runs off to make room for the next recruit. He's with us for good.


Hmm... next stop...

Music: Magic House. Apparently this theme was originally slated to appear as an alternate dungeon theme in Final Fantasy 2, but was unintentionally dummied out when Nasir just plum forgot to link it to any dungeons in the game. From what I've read, it showed up in an orchestral remastering of early Final Fantasy music before this game was released.


Signpost man: Of course, the world map's a lot different now...


As in real life, being adequately wealthy lets you ignore the problems the rest of the world struggles with. Jidoor is a town that sees the cataclysm that rent the entire world apart as... something to keep an open mind about. A good subject for art.




Serves him right for leaving it out in the open.


Too rich for my blood at the moment.


No telling why the guy doesn't get a name until the World of Ruin, since his mansion is a place you have to go to advance the plot in the World of Balance.

[R^2]

Dark in here, though.


And if you try to climb the stairs into the gallery, you're shoved away by an unseen force.


...was... was this always here?


Diary: Just spent an absolute fortune on a new painting. It's quite a large one, so I won't be able to put it on the first floor with the others. I'll have to think about where to display it later.
Next page: An artist came from Zozo today. Showed me his "work". What a waste of time.
Next page: Lamp on the stairwell was broken, so I bought a new one at the item shop. 'Twas a tad pricey, but now everything's all bright and cheery with just a flip of the switch.
Next page: I invited an artist here from Kohlingen. Skills weren't quite up to par... I guess it's asking too much to expect a painter to have more talent than a wet sponge.
Next page: I've been feeling strange lately. Ever since I had that picture painted... I've been hearing things, too -- strange sounds. They seem to be coming from the cellar.




2spooky4me. But at least it mentioned where the lightswitch is.


Which opens the way to the gallery.