Etrian Odyssey Part #29 - Three Floor Wonder

Part 29: Three Floor Wonder

Part 28: Three Floor Wonder

We've got a new stratum to explore, though since we ended off after beating Ren and Tlachtga, this is what the Hex Chain unlocks. Surprisingly, the worst class in the game gets the worst ultimate armour. The Rune Tunic is 5040en for DEF+36 and TP+15. This is 69,960en more expensive and offers 2 less DEF, no TP bonus, TEC, which Hexers never use and LUC, a garbage stat. Cheese is not getting this, despite how nice the price difference is.

two-fifths nice

Surprise! Ultimate equipment kind of sucks ass in EO1!

The Capital of Shinjuku

Ah, off to another grand adventure!

Let's have a trip with more exploring and less battling our fellow explorers.

Well I have just the song for such a mood~

Your earlier compatriots may have wounded me many times, but I will never back down!

Ugh, sour apple, my least favourite flavour.

What's an apple?

Burstgel

Level: 47
HP: 476
STR: 171
VIT: 102
AGI: 102
LUC: 102
TEC: 51

EXP: 1301

Skills
Nitro: Uses the Arms. A Bash attack that deals 120% damage to the entire party. Has a 90% accuracy modifier and has a 10% speed modifier.

Damage Vulnerabilities

75%

200%

200%

Disable Vulnerabilities

100%

100%

Drops
Normal: Gem Core. 28% chance. Sells for 96en.
1 required for Circlet (Headgear, DEF+5, TP+20)
1 required for Rune Glove (Gloves, DEF+5, TEC+2)
2 required for Mystic Rod (Staff, ATK+109, TEC+10)
2 required for Jewel Eye (Accessory, DEF+2, Instant Death Resist Up 20%)

Rare: None

Conditional: None

Oh hey, there's more than spiders on this floor. Burstgels aren't very exciting, they just smack you kinda hard until they get under half health, then have a good chance to explode. This team will have little difficulty erasing that HP, so since we only need 2 drops from them, they're just annoyances after this.

In later games, they would actually explode and end up killing themselves. They don't do that in this game, because it's impossible for enemies to instantly commit suicide like that in the engine used for EO1 and 2.

Ah man, it really stings.

That's a nasty attack they dealt, I'll get something from the pack. _{Want me to kiss it better?}

What?

Ah, must be careful it doesn't maul us. Hmm, that's actually quite clever, let me write that down...

We are NOT calling them that!

Maul

Level: 47
HP: 572
STR: 223
VIT: 107
AGI: 41
LUC: 46
TEC: 36

EXP: 1320

Skills
Clawing: Uses the Arms. A Stab attack that deals 150% damage to the entire party. Has a 50% accuracy modifier and has a 10% speed modifier.

Damage Vulnerabilities

100%

50%

150%

Disable Vulnerabilities

100%

50%

Drops
Normal: Space Nail. 32% chance. Sells for 90en.
1 required for Last Estoc (Sword, ATK+151)
5 required for Flamberge (Sword, ATK+182, STR+14, AGI+9)
5 required for Francisca (Axe, ATK+179)

Rare: None

Conditional: None

While a pretty terrible enemy, it probably has the best name in the series. Mauls only use Clawing under 25% health and even then at a 50% chance, so we'll never see it. Wonder why they resist leg binds?

Probably a remnant of an old gimmick. You'd be surprised how many remnants of nerfs/buffs to enemies stick around in internal data.

I think you're giving this game too much credit. Enemies barely have design behind them at this point.

While it's not maxed out just yet, Thor basically one shots any Volt weak enemy.

Since the floor is symmetrical, map drawing becomes an obligation rather than an experience.

That's cute. Everybody duck.

A duck? Where? I hate ducks!

Two Mauls are pretty scary, we're back in 2HKO territory since Sapping has a 50% speed modifier. And since we don't have a Medic, we're limited by how many Nectars we bring. Use a Medic.

...right. We've finished Evil Eye, having a 70% infliction chance at max level, so we should be able to use, uh, this skill soon enough. Then I'll focus on the binds like I should've done like two stratums ago.

B21F A6 Chop Point

Death Stem. 50% chance. Sells to 100en.
5 required for Arbalest (Bow, ATK+161)
5 required for Dead Whip (Whip, ATK+157)
10 required for Fasces Axe (Axe, ATK+207, STR+11)

Narcissus. 30% chance. Sells for 170en.
1 required for Fire Mist (Item, reduces Fire damage by 40% for 1 turn, must be restocked)
1 required for Ice Mist (Item, reduces Ice damage by 40% for 1 turn, must be restocked)
1 required for Volt Mist (Item, reduces Volt damage by 40% for 1 turn, must be restocked)

Shiny Seed. 15% chance. Sells for 550en.
1 required for Medica V (Medicine, restores the target by 1000HP, must be restocked)
1 required for Hamaoprime (Medicine, restores the target by 1000HP and 1000TP, must be restocked)
2 required for Axcela III (Item, increases Boost by 100 points, must be restocked)
3 required for Angel Harp (Troubadour Instrument, TP+50, must be restocked)

Man imagine if this point had Shiny Vines instead of Narcissus so I could complete the quest much earlier, ahahahaha

Just need some apple-bottom jeans.

What's a, uh, genes?~

Maybe this will make Cheese fast enough to cast Sapping before the enemy. It won't, but I can dream. This is also why I haven't been using Torpor, same speed modifier and regular encounters usually don't last past turn 2 anyway.

Hmm, no stairs. How curious.

Well at least it's something different to put on the map. Might as well just put auto-map on for how interesting this half has been...

Only a savage would do that.

The enemy sizes are getting slightly out of hand, this frog is the size of a dining table!

Has the accuracy of one too.

Kingfrog

Level: 52
HP: 429
STR: 195
VIT: 118
AGI: 51
LUC: 51
TEC: 84

EXP: 1456

Skills
Venom: Uses the Head. Attempts to inflict Poison on the entire party. Has a 45% infliction chance, deals 73 Poison damage and has a 100% speed modifier

Damage Vulnerabilities

100%

150%

100%

150%

Disable Vulnerabilities

100%

100%

Drops
Normal: Rex Throat. 35% chance. Sells for 88en.
1 required for Knout (Whip, ATK+136)
2 required for Last Estoc (Sword, ATK+151)
5 required for War Bow (Bow, ATK+140)

Rare: None

Conditional: None

Man there's a lot of enemies on this floor and this is just the beginning. Kingfrogs have ineffective Poison, since 73 damage is nothing these days, but it might pick off weakened party members that got clobbered by a Maul. Otherwise, not that interesting. Their drop might be a typo, but perhaps it is indeed the throat of a rex.

(it's probably meant to be Hex Throat, though I have no idea how that typo happened since R and H are nowhere near each other on a QWERTY keyboard)

I'm running out of things to say about these enemies. They're just not interesting! And what does it matter anyway when you can just use Bravery + Allslash against everything?

Well we know there's another building to the south, I could barely see it through the mist when we crossed the bridge. But this will do.

Onto the next floor!~

And onto the next floor!~

At the immediate end of the corridor is a wall obstructing your path. Before you turn to head back, you notice a paper, yellowed with age, lying on the floor. You can vaguely make out words on the paper, which seems to be on the verge of disintegrating.

Same language, so allow me.

Solitude... person... It's... ...st... cruel...

Before you can make out the entire message, the paper turns to dust in your hand... it must have been an extremely old letter. As nothing else here catches your eye, you decide to leave this place.

Visil has a husband?!

Well the previous one mentioned a wife, so maybe they're connected. I'd rather not associate him with us.

One group has to take him!~

Well wasn't that just a-maze-ing. Alright, onto the new enemy before I'm permabanned.

You also fight with fire? I have found a new senpai!

Now this is a colour palette I can get behind.

Direwolf

Level: 51
HP: 464
STR: 189
VIT: 116
AGI: 50
LUC: 50
TEC: 83

EXP: 1420

Skills
Blazer: Uses the Head. A Fire attack that deals 120% damage to the entire party. Has a 90% accuracy modifier and has a 10% speed modifier.

Damage Vulnerabilities

100%

150%

100%

Disable Vulnerabilities

100%

100%

Drops
Normal: Red Fur. 25% chance. Sells for 94en.
1 required for Dyed Boot (Footwear, DEF+8, AGI+15)
2 required for Rune Glove (Gloves, DEF+5, TEC+5)
2 required for Rune Tunic (Light Armor, DEF+36, TP+15)
3 required for Rune Tweed (Clothing, DEF+24, AGI+4, TP+10)

Rare: Red Blood. 10% chance. Sells for 100en.
1 required for Blood Gage (Gloves, DEF+8, STR+3)
1 required for Rune Tweed (Clothing, DEF+24, AGI+4, TP+10)
3 required for Knout (Whip, ATK+136)
3 required for Blood Helm (Headgear, DEF+8)
4 required for Dyed Boot (Footwear, DEF+8, AGI+15)
10 required for Blood Coat (Clothing, DEF+36)
1 required for I refuse thee, Death

Conditional: None

Just your standard elemental wolf. Don't you have one? Like all the various elemental enemies, it has pretty low TEC so it's not as deadly as it could be (the Kingfrog has higher TEC!), but if you don't have Fire Wall, then it's still gonna hurt. Still, when it goes for Blazer, we'll be faster than it and hopefully knock it out with Freeze. Still in danger of being 2HKOed, that won't change for a while.

Or hell, you could even use Immunize or even the myriad of other AOEs and crowd control skills in this game to deal with the monsters.

Ice cold!

Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright.

B22F C5 Chop Point

Death Stem. 50% chance. Sells to 100en.
5 required for Fasces Axe (Axe, ATK+297, STR+11)
5 required for Arbalest (Bow, ATK+161)
5 required for Dead Whip (Whip, ATK+157)

Shiny Vine. 25% chance.
1 required for Circlet (Headwear, DEF+5, TP+20)
1 required for Angel Ring (Accessory, DEF+2, TP+35)
1 required for Jewel Eye (Accessory, DEF+2, Instant Death Resist Up 20%)
5 required for Angel Harp (Troubadour Instrument, TP+50, must be restocked)
3 required for The Crystal Maiden

Shiny Seed. 15% chance. Sells for 550en.
1 required for Medica V (Medicine, restores the target by 1000HP, must be restocked)
1 required for Hamaoprime (Medicine, restores the target by 1000HP and 1000TP, must be restocked)
2 required for Axcela III (Item, increases Boost by 100 points, must be restocked)
3 required for Angel Harp (Troubadour Instrument, TP+50, must be restocked)

Oh there's some Shiny Vines. Guess we'll get those soon enough.

At least we can end some fights without taking any damage, very useful when we're limited by Medicas! Use a Medic.

Or don't if you feel like living dangerously!

Ahh. It is nice not being in that stuffy desert anymore~

Almost makes you forget about the genocide. Almost. Visil is going to pay for this.

Ooh, being boiled alive in its shell. Magic is scary.

It's what they get for having a large gold target on their face.

Clawlord

Level: 53
HP: 618
STR: 289
VIT: 120
AGI: 46
LUC: 52
TEC: 40

EXP: 1756

Skills
Wither: Uses the Head. Removes up to 2 buffs from the entire party. Has a 10% speed modifier.

Damage Vulnerabilities

50%

200%

150%

Disable Vulnerabilities

100%

100%

Drops
Normal: Gold Shell. 30% chance. Sells for 109en.
1 required for Circlet (Headgear, DEF+5, TP+20)
1 required for Dyed Boot (Footwear, DEF+8, AGI+15)
10 required for King Aspis (Shield, ATK+175, STR+10)

Rare: Blue Blood. 16% chance. Sells for 102en.
10 required for Azure Coat (Light Armor, DEF+38, AGI+5)
1 required for I refuse thee, Death

Conditional: None

Well these guys are making their triumphant return and remind you just how useful Alchemists are. You gotta get rid of them quick, especially in a large group, since they hit really hard and you'll be seeing a lot of them since you need a LOT of their low drops. Overall, just a bloody pain in the neck for parties without quick damage mitigation. ...oh yeah, their attack. Use a buff, they get rid of it. Whatever.

Oh, so that's why they're so weird in EOU. They were like that from the beginning.

...Why do they only remove 2 buffs?

So this is fun...

When did everything get so fast?!

Hyah! I think that enemy got the point! Hyah! I think that enemy got the point! Hyah! I think that enemy got the- owowow, my ear!

C'mon you cute, cocky bastard, everyone else is already moving on.

I can hear the low growl of a dinosaur. We must fight one!

Well if you want to wait for it, you can stay right here.

This is why you don't let Blazer go off, our party cannot handle elemental attacks.

A Dinolich prowls along this massive loop, so I'm glad the way out isn't on the other side.

Ah, finally. Crush deals 210% damage in a single blow, which is higher than most skills, but that's all it really does and pales compared to Allslash. Still, with a strong axe and War Cry, this is an excellent attack for single targets.

I admire the view across the way since I don't fancy looking down...

Dooooooorrrrrsssss

Alright, just one shot my backliner, fine by me.

Strangest game of tag I ever saw.

I wonder why it's ignoring us~

What would you idiots ever do without me?

When my Hexer dies turn 1, you can see how that quickly becomes a big problem.

We'll unlock this later in the update, so getting a free copy is always nice.

That's it for this side, so let's head back across the bridge.

Normally I'd berate her for not dodging, but we are on a bridge...

We need Thor at level 10 to fry anything in one turn, with 200% damage at level 6.

Let's go deeper in and discover...

Another floor... okay then.

Please tell me this goddamn place is nearly over.

Well it'll be another dead end with another letter. This place is so predictable.

This doesn't seem like a small section~

How big is this building?!

While we're very close to a healing spring, B24F is completely optional, we never have to explore any of it if we don't want to, which is just crazy to think about. We could keep going, but finding two new floors is a good stopping point. Hope you like terrible quests!

Yeah it's bizarre, but this game does have a completely optional floor outside of post-game. If you're wondering how that's possible, you'll see later.

The Lounge Where We Speak of Tomorrow

Ah, glad to see you're back. You missed a fair few requests being posted.

How was B22F?

We reached B24F!

...I feel like I'm missing a step here.

These days, though, she doesn't get out much... turns out she's been having terrible nightmares, and hasn't slept in days. Her father told me all this, and wished that his daughter could get some rest again. You kids know any good way to put her in dreamland? There must be some spell... well, it's up to you to figure it out. Good luck with that.

Hm, my masters will allow it.

Ooh, ooh, do me next! I was up all night studying!

In that case, let's hurry to the client's manor. ... Now that was impressive... that girl was asleep before she her head hit the pillow! She'll finally be able to get some good rest tonight. I just hope that in putting her to sleep, we're not subjecting her to more nightmares... anyway, well done, kids. Our sleeping beauty would thank you too, if she was awake.

Torpor is peaceful, since it makes you less likely to wake to the suffering you're having in the real world.

Hoping to never use a Hexer? Too bad, get one up to level 5 to unlock Torpor and complete this quest. When this game says jump, you say how high, you piece of shit!

And since the Hexer is an unlockable class (a very late unlock too!), you were expected to change someone out to grind them up for at least a bit for this quest instead of happening to have one from the get go.

While I wouldn't particularly go for something like this, you're very adamant about it, Aryll.

Tis only the honourable thing to do!

He grabbed onto my dress and said, "Please help my mommy!" So I asked around... the guys at Ceft tell me she's in there often about a serious disease. They say Dr. Hoffman can only treat her with special materials from deep within the forest. This kid's been taking care of his mom during the day, and raising money at night. He wasn't able to make much, so he can only offer a reward of 50 ental... but I think you should do it anyway... Not for the money, but for the boy and his mom. No other explorers would accept something like this, but I know you're better than that. Dr. Hoffman at Ceft's will give you the specifics of what he needs to treat her.

Oh, even you're going to help with this, despite the little reward?

Dammit man, I'm a doctor, not a heartless cretin!

Have we, uh, fought any angels yet?

Considering what we've faced so far, it wouldn't surprise me.

The client wants someone to get her ten Angel Wings. Her brother's leaving on a long journey soon, so she's making a charm as a farewell gift. Thoughtful kid, huh? Come back as soon as you can with the materials, for both of them.

We'll face the enemy that drops Angel Wings soon enough. We'll also need another 10 to unlock a whip we'll never use. Yaaaaaaaaaaaay.

It's been five goddamn minutes, what's her problem?

Guess your sleep wasn't as peaceful as you hoped~

It worked, but her sleep is still haunted by terrible nightmares. The same one every night... about monsters coming from the forest and attacking Etria. I'm hoping it's nothing, but her dad says she's had the gift of foresight since she was a kid. At least, her predictions have always been correct before... so we can't chance it. Her father's getting anxious, and requested I find someone to investigate the Labyrinth. If it's all a dream, then thank the gods. If not, he wants you to take care of the monsters. He's willing to pay any price to ease her daughter's anxiety. So go to the 1st floor and have a look around. It could be nothing... but be careful, just in case.

Since we've reached the 24th floor, the game is giving us quests of that calibre, even though we're not properly ready for it yet, but hey, if it's gonna offer them to us, might as well take them.

Ooh, everything is tingling, I love a good puzzle, mmmmmmmm.

And he's getting excited about geomagnetic influences. Of course.

Heh, poles.

It's a bizarre one... people are complaining of being warped randomly back to the stairs on the 18th floor. No one knows why it's happening, so the Radha needs someone to investigate. Good luck, and watch your step.

The Roadside Trees Outside the Window

Ehhhh, what's up, doc?

I'll need some Gum Thread, Red Blood, Blue Blood, and four pieces of Drywall. Bring them to me, and I'll quickly prepare a batch of medicine. If you can... hurry.

Sounds simple enough. I'll get your Drywall.

Don't take too long now, I need to work my magic.

...since when did those two become good friends? Am I missing something?

You? Miss something? Never.

Alright, I got it for her! Uh, not that I care or anything...

What is this guy muttering about? Am I missing something?

We'll get these since we're here, but they don't unlock anything just yet.

This shouldn't take long.

You don't really notice in the heat of battle, but Karin knows her stuff.

Yeah she does!

Hm.

Sorry for the wait. Here's the medicine. I wouldn't drag my heels taking it to that family if I were you.

As always with fetch quests, if you know they're coming and get the items ahead of time, then they're much easier. Though getting 10 Angel Wings and 10 Gold Furs isn't feasible before the quests... also, the game lies to you, you only need 1 Drywall, not 4.

lmfao, oh EO1.

Excellent work team, a most honourable thing we did.

Good to see you can step up when it's needed most.

It looks like the medicine is already taking effect. Thank the gods... that boy and his mother... their father was lost a few years ago. If something had happened to his mother, that would've been left all alone.

Darn, I missed out on an agent of darkness. Oh well, I guess the end result ain't all bad...

It's a terrible thing not to have anyone in the world... I'm glad you spared him from that. I can't thank you enough for what you did. Here's a little something extra from me.

Hey, maybe now you'll stop dying so easily~

It will barely help.

Well that's a chunk of the update devoted to new quests, I guess we should go do some more of them to clear out that list.

1 Gem Core and 1 Gold Shell are required for Circlet (Headgear, DEF+5, TP+20), sells for 1820en

2 Gem Cores are required for Mystic Rod (Staff, ATK+109, TEC+10), sells for 5600en

This is the best staff for your Alchemist, since while it has 5 less TEC than the Arcana Rod from Cernunos' rare drop, it's also 52,000en cheaper. It has 9 more ATK than the Arcana Rod, but Alchemists don't give a shit about that and I guess the only reason the Arcana Rod is so ludicrous is being able to obtain it so much earlier, but it's still mental. Let's not even get into the final staff of the game...

Why is ultimate equipment so terrible for their price?

5 Gum Thread and 2 Red Fur are required for Rune Tunic (Light Armour, DEF+36, TP+15), sells for 5040en

Best armour for your Medic, Alchemist and Hexer, giving them the best DEF option combined with TP. As we saw with the Hexer's ultimate armour, you can probably guess why I won't be picking most of the others up either...

Seriously, there are so many better cost efficient options.

2 Red Fur and 1 Gem Core are required for Rune Glove (Gloves, DEF+5, TEC+5), sells for 1260en

3 Red Fur and 1 Red Blood are required for Rune Tweed (Clothing, DEF+24, AGI+4, TP+10), sells for 3640en

...why would you ever use this over the Rune Tunic?

Goddamn, when you're familiar with the later games, the jank in this one really sticks out. (Suddenly that EO1 remake seems a little less out of nowhere. If you're wondering what I mean, the reception to its reveal wasn't too hot, especially since they didn't announce that Classic Mode existed at the time and Story Mode was all that we knew about it. Which isn't what players play EO games for.)

5 Space Nails are required for Flamberge (Sword, ATK+182, STR+14, AGI+9), sells for 12,000en

The best regular sword in the game. This is what Lavin, Gerson and Simone will all eventually get. Man, we're reaching a lot of final equipment here in the early 5th stratum. Ah well, probably doesn't mean anything.

Yay for odd equipment pacing.

5 Space Nails are required for Francisca (Axe, ATK+179), sells for 6400en

3 Demon Fur are required for Demon Coat (Light Armor, DEF+37), sells for 3920en

2 Shiny Seeds and 1 Oleander are required for Axcela III (Item, increases Boost by 100 points, must be restocked), sells for 1500en

While Axcela IIIs are better, since they're tied to Shiny Seeds, which are needed for a lot of other important things, it's best to use Axcela IIs instead, since you'll never run out.

It really says something about Boost in this game that Axcela IIIs are considered a mediocre item, where in other games they would be considered good or outright broken.

The Green, Green Woodlands

Hmm, it's just a mere mortal.

I'm surprised he can even look at us, considering how strong and dazzling we've become.

It's definitely a weird feeling coming back here.

You relate the details of the request you accepted at the pub to the soldier.

I see... well, her fears are groundless. As you can see, the forest is as still as ever. Hmm... perhaps too still. I can't heat the usual birds chirping...

As you and the soldier listen carefully, a monster's roar shatters the calm atmosphere!

Was that-?! No, not a dinosaur.

Don't look so disappointed!~

What was that!? I'm always on duty on this floor, but I've never heard anything like it...

Bears! I knew it was them! Even when it was the immigrants, I knew it was them!

Alright, time for some fun.

A Sudden Gust of Wind Before Your Eyes

How did you know it was gonna attack you?

It's the way they look at ya, they usually go for me~

Alright so I didn't fancy my buffer dying first turn to a regular attack, sue me. Anyway, time for a boss rush! These are FOEs we haven't faced yet, but unlike in the secret area from earlier, we can definitely take them down, with a little struggle. Still, since this isn't when we're expected to first face them due to the way quests unlock, we'll save the overviews for later. Just know they hit hard.

This quest also has a bit of a failure condition. If you let any FOE reach the entrance, the soldier will get mauled, and you'll have to start the rush over again. I forget if you had to cancel the request and retake it, or if you could just go straight back into the forest to get another shot. (The latter is what you do in the EOU version of this quest. But the older games were less merciful about that sort of thing.)

We also don't want this attack going off.

Still, considering our front line, we'll slice through them like hot butta!

At least let me revel in my accomplishments.

But it's really hard not to slice them up!

Hehehe, up until now, I was only using a fraction of my real power. SO THIS... IS TO GO... EVEN FURTHER... BEYOND! HHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

He's just super!

HHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

GAAAAAAAAHHHHH! I can't hear myself think! End this damn battle already!

See, if I didn't have Sapping, the Desouler would've wiped everyone out. Anyway, onto the next reference that popped into my head.

One of these things is not like the others~

One of these things doesn't belong~

Can you tell which thing is not like the other~

By the time we finish this song~

I'm in hell.

Eh, that place is overrated, really.

Why are Sickwoods here anyway? Regardless, just stand in the corridor before town and you'll finish this quest no problem.

Alright, good start...

Kingdiles are a lot tougher to get through due to physical resistances, but we can still burn through its HP easily enough.

Alright... not bad... I'm working up a sweat here.

Really? H-Hadn't noticed myself. Let me just wipe that off for you. Mmmmmmmmmmm.

Ah, so focused on helping a teammate. How honourable!

Second verse, similar to the first.

Oh right, if he was fully healed, he would've barely survived that. Still, once Bravery goes down, I don't give a shit what happens to Wagner, such is the Troubadour life.

Hm? Oh, right. I'm dead. Hate when it just creeps up on you like that. It should be the other way around!

Even at full health, Cheese wouldn't survive that, so technically the text is correct...

Hey, wait your turn!

I don't think it works like that~

Fucking fantastic. I was worried the other FOEs would join in other battles and make this quest a little trickier, but they all patiently waited and let me heal up before battle. Not this last one though, as soon as the last battle ended it immediately walked into me, which I'm pretty sure is ILLEGAL! At least this is the last fight...

FOE behavior is a little weird in the first two games. If they can't join in on a fight, they'll instantly run into you when the battle is over if you took too long to finish it.

No matter what, we shall prevail! Wake Cheese up so we can all survive!

...well I did what you asked.

Uh, why is Aryll screaming louder than usual?

GAAAAAAHHHHHH!

It's a good thing I restocked on Nectars.

But apparently NOT ENOUGH!

Now is really not the time for that.

GAAAAAAHHHHHH!

There we go... as easy as that...

The Lounge Where We Speak of Tomorrow

Hell yeah it has! Come over here with those wounds, phwoar!

Now I'm annoyed I missed it.

But you beat the monsters that were going to attack, right? She'll be glad to hear that. That should put an end to the poor girl's nightmares. I don't know if you realize how grateful everyone is to you... you're all heroes here. Radha Hall kicked in an extra something to boost the reward on this one, as thanks. I don't know what we'd do without you kids.

Hmm, cool, still don't like them.

1 Space Claw is required for Pattisa (Sword, ATK+167), sells for 8500en

1 Royal Hide and 1 Space Claw are required for Failnaught (Bow, ATK+181, STR+7, TEC+6), sells for 13,200en

The best regular bow in the game. The next one after this is super annoying to unlock and after that is the Arc Drawer, which is +32 ATK and +2 TEC for another 100,800en! It's a good thing Liana is really fucking strong, or I probably wouldn't even consider this, especially since TEC is basically worthless on 8 classes.

On the other hand, unlike armor, you should be looking to upgrade weapons as much as possible. Especially in this case, where the Survivalists have a passive that boosts weapon attack by 50% instead of the normal 30%. So that +32 ATK boost would really become +48.

The Withered Forest

You'll get to the bottom of this, won't you? Well, I'll be cheering for you from Etria. Ah, one more thing. We do know if you keep walking straight from here, you'll be safe. As for the rest... good luck.

With that, the soldier leaves.

Well they're as useful as always.

Ah, yeah, you're right. So got any ide-

SHH, I can feel the weird field. This way!

There's a specific path you need to follow to finish this quest, which first involves looping around this pillar.

Then straight down and to the right. How would you figure this out? I dunno, if the game gives you any hints aside from endless trial and error, especially with no indication of your destination, then I've never seen them. Just use online maps.

There aren't any hints about this. Yeah, you like trial and error gameplay, don't you? EOU at least attempted to add in an actual puzzle for this version of the quest.