The Mosphortan Highwaste
(1)Going through Nalbina is the shortest
way through the Mosphoran HighwasteAs was the case after the events following your trip to Raithwall's Tomb, your last boss' fight reveals itself to be a major turning point in the game as many new spells, equipment, mob hunts and other sidequests become available at this point of the game. Since the journey that ultimately leads you to Archades is long, making several new areas available to you, but relatively event-free (except for one major scene later on), now is a good time to do all the things you have left aside so far in a bid to make the story progress faster. Check the Extra Hints parts in the previous chapters and the sidequests section of this site to brush up on what you can do at this point. Make sure you visit the shops wherever you stop by for the new items up for grabs. Whenever you feel ready, you can begin your treck to the Mosphoran Highwaste, which is your immediate destination. There are several ways which might or not be open to you depending on the sidequests you've cleared until now. The direct, quickest route takes you to the Eastersand, then exit for Nalbina from the Yardang Labyrinth. The path heading north from the save crystal leads you directly into the Mosphoran Highwaste. Another option is the Dalmasca Westersand, going all the way NE - you'll eventually end up in the Dalmasca Eastesand, north of the Nebra; only a couple screens seperate you from the Mosphoran Highwaste from there. However, this access is open only once you've cleared the Earth Tyrant's sidequest. Finally, the long way around includes going all the way through the Dalmasca Eastersand up to the village by the Nebra, cross the river by boat, and continue all the way north until you reach your destination, and that too is subject to you clearing yet another sidequest, this time the Cactuar Family (which you will have completed if you've embarked on the Patient in the Desert sidequest). Of course, if you've actually already vistied the Mosphoran Highwaste before, you could just as well teleport there from whatever place you wish (you could even teleport all the way to Salikawood if you've already touched the yellow crystal there and skip this bit altogether)....be aware that the monsters here are definitely a step up compared to what you've battled so far if you've stuck to the main story. There's notably a fire elemental flying around in two areas which, as usual, become aggressive when magick is cast near them. However, you may just have the right level to take it down now. Just make sure you take it on when no other foe is around as it may become a bit much. Also beware of the Humbaba which have powerful physical attacks and like to gang up on you in packs of two or three. Whatever the way, you'll end up going through the Babbling Vale, a foeless area. See all the shrines around? They don't function at this stage but, if you come back after having made it to the Phon Coast, they will be key in unlocking areas that are as of yet unreachable. Make sure you visit the merchant who is resting there for some good pieces of equipment, most notably in terms of accessories. When you're done head north through the Trail of Sky-Flung Stone and the Northern Skirt to reach the Halny Crossing, a transitional area that leads you to the Salikawood
The Salikawood
(2) Visit the Deadlands or the Necrohol from
the Salikawood for an extra sceneThe Salikawood is actually almost as peaceful as it looks: you'll certainly find the region a lot less troublesome on the whole than the Mosphoran Highwaste as foes are few and far between and not that powerful. There's one exception to the rule though, in the form of an extra boss, the King Bomb, that lurks NW, in the area directly after the yellow save crystal, which reveals two areas with more powerful monsters, as well as entrances to the Nabreus Deadlands and the Necrohol of Nabudis (if you haven't cleared all this already in a previous visit to the Salikawood - see previous chapters' Extra Hints sections). Note that all this is facultative, but many mob hunts and sidequests take place over there. Moreover, entering either the Deadlands or the Necrohol at this very point of your journey (after defeating the boss in Bur-Omisace and before reaching Archades) gives you a bit of an extra scene. The scene only occurs once and is the same whichever area you enter first, except for the environment. The only difference is that the scene triggers immediately upon entering the Necrohol from the Corridor of Ages, whereas in the Deadlands you'll have to fight three Baknamy that are much more dangerous than the ones rooming the Salikawood to reach the next area and trigger the same scene
(3)Gather all the moogles on break to get
them working on the gate to the Phon CoastOk, back to the main storyline now. Go all the way east to the Living Chasm (make a detour south of the Trunkwall Road for the map to the Salikawood). You end up just a couple steps away from the Phon Coast. Talk to the moogle: it turns out the gate needs repairs but his team has been missing for a while now. And of course, it's up to you to take care of nanny duties and gather them all. Go back into the Salikawood and bring up the map. Thankfully their locations are indicated on the map. All you have to do is meet them and talk to them; you'll find them in four seperate bungalows across the place. A counter appears in the right top corner of you screen to let you know how many you've rounded up so far. The last set of moogles you send back to work will invite you to go back to the get with them. Accept their offer and you are transported back in from of the gate, which, after a small scene, finally opens. You can talk to the moogles who will give you various hints at a few sidequests; at any rate, talk to their boss for a thank you gift in the form of a pair of Quasimodo boots before continuing on your merry way, finally setting foot on Archadian Empire soil and the Phon Coast then
Coming next: The Phon Coast - The Tshita Uplands - The Sochen Cave Palace
