Lacuer City

To start off, there is a lot of stuff that can be done here. We'll start by heading into the castle's throne room and making a right, taking more stairs. The first room on the right has a chest with a STAR RUBY. Now head to the receptionist's that you passed on your way, talk to the bottom one and then the top one and join the Armory Contest. You now have to choose between one of four shop sponsors. The importance of your choice lies in that you keep the gear you are sponsored with, knowing that it's best to choose Counterpunch to get gear that will actually benefit you. Knockout has the Farcutter but you may have better and if not we'll upgrade that soon.

After choosing your sponsor you obtain the ARMORY CONTEST BADGE. Return to the town central for a scene. When this ends you are free to do anything you want right now (to include Pickpocketing everyone in town) but when you are ready head to the Inn.

*Price is equal to 100 + (250 x minutes played)

Rena decides to head out on her own. Head to the far west side of town and go up towards the hut. Speak with Sophia, the little girl, and take her with you to the tavern. Speak with the man on the right to make Sophia follow you, then speak with the men in the top left of the tavern to make her follow you once more. Try to leave the bar to trigger a scene with Dias. Return to the inn and rest the night when you are done.

In the morning proceed through the castle to the arena by going left from the main hall and following the hall. Speak to the person at the front desk to begin a scene with Dias again. Head to Gamgee's hut to discover what has happened then proceed to the tavern to battle the thieves. Return to the front desk at the arena to enter Dias in the contest. Enter the spectators area on the right and run around till you find Claude. Talk with him and watch Dias' match. After Dias wins his match run to the south side of the arena and speak with Gamgee, then return to your seat.

It is important that Claude wins his way to the finals because if he doesn't then you will miss out on arguably the best weapon in the game. The best way to guarantee this is to give Claude the Helmetbreak special art only. After every battle speak with Gamgee then return to your seat. After the finals return to the weapon shop that sponsored you to get all the items you used plus a sum of 6500 FOL. Head over to Gamgee's hut if Claude made it to the finals to get the DEADLY EDGE.

At this point in the game you can either head to Linga or opt to recruit Opera if you have not recruited Ashton. You may also partake in a sidequest at this time. For more details on it check out section 05.01.

PRIVATE ACTION: Between RENA and WELCH

Requirement: After the Lacuer Armory Contest but before you complete Bowman's quest. Must have 4 or more party members.

What to do: Head towards the castle to have Welch land on the protagonist. After some conversing you have the option to recruit Welch.

Mountain Palace

First off, you cannot do this if you did not do the Private Action in Krosse where Rena runs into the Three-Eyed Man. If you did then head to the bar in Hilton to start a scene involving a Three-Eyed woman, her name is Opera. Head to Krosse and request an audience with the king to get permission to enter the Mountain Palace - he also throws in 10,000 FOL for the trip. To get to this place head towards Kurik but don't cross the bridge, instead follow the path left.

Open the chests for a LUNAR CHARM and CRYSTAL. Talk to the guard to make him move. Talk to him again to rest for free, which is highly suggested.

At the first junction make a left and follow it around until you reach a four way intersection. Go northwest till you reach an area where you can go through a tunnel. Follow this tunnel to it's end to find ?HERB/ARTEMIS LEAF in the chest. Make your way back out of the tunnel and follow the path to find another tunnel at the top of the screen. Follow this till it dead ends with two chests containing a RESURRECTION ELIXIR and ?JEWELRY/GLITTERING EARRING. Go into the next room and use the save point. Open the two chests in the next room for CESTUS and ?MINERAL/ORICHALCUM. Now you need to return to the entrance.

From the main entrance go straight at the junction and when you reach another fork continue straight. Rena runs into Opera here and after some conversing Rena agrees to help out. Go down the stairs and go up at the junction. Heal up and use the save point, then proceed into the next room.

The attack that's really going to get you in this one is the Fire Lizard's fiery breath. It can hit multiple times and is just bad news all around. You can wear some Ruby's if you feel necessary to reduce the damage. The best strategy here is to just follow Opera's lead and stick to one boss at a time. Should go down fairly quickly especially if you have Claude equipped with an overpowered weapon at this point in the game.

After the battle leave via the door at right and enter the first room you come across. Inside are three chests containing a CRESTED ROD, AMBER ROBE, and ?MINERAL/DAMASCUS. Leave this room and head right following the path until you reach a laboratory; Opera joins the party. The chests here contain DAMASCUS, FAERIE COLOGNE, and WOLFSBANE. Return to hallway before the boss room and go right then head down the stairs when you see a double door. The room at the end here has two chests with a FAERIE STATUETTE and EMERALD RING.

Leave the Mountain Palace and make your way to the Sacred Forest. Upon finding Opera's ship you have successfully completed all optional events in order to permanently recruit Opera and Ernest. The events that occur later in the game will be automatic and will be discussed then, for now you have Opera.