Final Fantasy IX - Strategy Guide
Part II
By: Matthew Leuthy
Legal Stuff:
I don't own Final Fantasy, it's characters, or
anything affiliated with it, so PLEASE don't sue me.
Now that that's taken care of, on to the continuation
of the Walkthrough.
The Alexandria/Lindblum Globetrotters
After
the CG of the escape from Evil Forest, some brief scenes occur and everyone is
brought back up to full strength. Garnet laments over Blank and the the moogle
that was near the healing stump appears. Teach Me Mogster: Lesson 1, an ATE,
pops up and Mogster the Moogle teaches you some basics before your first foray
out into the world. Be sure to pay attention. After this you recieve the
Moogle's Flute, with which you can call on a moogle, Moguo, from anywhere on
the world map with the options of using a tent and saving your game. Everyone
leaves the Evil Forest behind, for now. The basic controls for the World Map
show up, and after reviewing this you are given free reign on where you want to
go, though two places in particular are worth going to.
As
you trek around be sure to have Garnet learn her first slew of abilities: Cure,
Panacea, Protect, and Shell (from the Moonstone.) Equipping her with the Silk
Shirt Blank had will give her double growth on Cure. Also be sure to have
Steiner learn Bright Eyes and Level Up from the Iron Helmet. From your starting
point head west past the small ridge to the arch-like struture (North Gate)
and enter it. A scene ensues. After this go through the gap in the fence to
find a chest with a bottle of Eye Drops. Then go to the Arch's doorway, listen
close, and call out. A woman here is selling Potions. Stock up, if need be,
then exit.
Go
east from North Gate, following the ridge, and you'll come across a small patch
of forest and the Ice Cavern. Continuing east from here will
lead to a river, another patch of forest, and an eventual dead end. Be sure to
have all you new abilities learned before entering the Ice Cavern. Call up
Moguo, Tent, Save, then procede.
Jingle Bells
Two
brief scenes occur, then you are left to control Zidane and company. Random
battles occur here but there is also another way to engage a fight. Certain
paths will be crossed by a stream of wind at random. Walking into this stream
engages a battle with the Weyrds. You can wait for the wind to pass to try and
avoid a fight. They have a nasty attack called HP Switching that does just what
it sounds like. You can probably get into more battles this way than running
around for random battles, but you usually gain less experience per battle.
Jump
up to the ledge and grab the Tent from the chest. Get back down and continue
north. Go up the right-most stairs and inspect the icy wall. Vivi will blast it
with his magic and reveal a chest with an Ether. Continue around the path just
to your left to find a Potion. Return to the stairs on the left and go north
again. Go right from the entrance of this screen up what looks to be a frozen
log to grab another potion in a chest. Walk back down and inspect it. Vivi
blasts it and you are free to get the Mage Masher from the chest below. Another
wall can be broken in the back of this room where the two paths converge. An
Elixir is inside. Resume your journey to the next screen.
A
Pheonix Down is in a chest just to the right of the entrance. Then take the
left-most path to what looks to be a dead end. Vivi blasts this wall as well,
revealing a tunnel to the chest on the small ledge you saw at the start of this
screen. It contains a Leather Wrist which has the Blizzard spell for Vivi if
you didn't get the one back in Evil Forest. Continue north and into the western
tunnel. A moogle is frozen in ice, but with a little magic from Vivi he is set
free and we are treated to a second lesson from Mogster. Pay special attention
to what he says about Elemental Properties. After this Mognet and Mois will
give you a letter for Gumo. Now is the time to level up some more, so remember
to come back here to Save and Tent if need be. Just don't go through the windy
right tunnel near Mois' dwelling for now. Just make sure Garnet is at least
at Level 10 and your other
characters will be very strong.
When
you are done leveling up equip Zidane with his optimum (Mage Masher, Leather
Hat, Leather Wrist, Silk Shirt, and Moonstone if you like,) Tent, Save and
procede to the windy eastern tunnel. A scene occurs where everyone falls asleep
until Zidane wakes to the sound of a bell. Proceed to where the wind is coming
from. You'll find a strange frozen waterfall and the source of the wind, Black
Waltz #1. At the beginning of the battle BW1 uses the Blizzaga spell
(thankfully not on you) to summon Sea Lion, an ice beast. No doubt you'll
Trance during this battle since you're the only target. Tidal Flame can take
out BW1 in one hit and seriously damage Sea Lion, but be sure to Steal all you
can before killing them. A Mythril Dagger, Ether, and Pheonix Down are found on
Sea Lion, and a Remedy and a Silk Shirt are on BW1. What I did is just take out
BW1 with Free Energy then be sure to Steal the Mythril Dagger off of Sea Lion
before whupping him with Tidal Flame or physical attacks. If Tidal Flame does
not kill Sea Lion outright it will retaliate with a water attack, Tsunami, so
be sure to keep your health up with potions (you should have lots now.)
After
the battle Zorn and Thorn give Zidane an eerie warning, then everyone wakes up.
Procede up the path near the now thawed-out waterfall, across the gaps and out
the opening. Once outside a scene ensues and you get to rename Princess Garnet
anything you like or the default, Dagger. It's not my fault the defaults are
good, but we will stick to calling Princess Orange Spandex "Dagger."
All exit and you are now on one of the many high plateus on the Mist Continent.
It's above the Mist but there are still monsters to contend with.
Extras! Extras!
Once again, kiddies, it's time to
EXPLORE! Procede south from your starting point and you'll encounter another
Gate. This is part of South Gate. Tell the attendant you want to
rest and tell him you can wait. Talk with him and a girl will run up to sell
you items and let you rest for 100 Gil. Rest and stock up, then exit. Back
outside battle around the giant tree root near the exit of the Ice Cavern. In
here you will find the first of the Land Spirits, a friendly brown Mu. Give him
the Ore he wants and he'll reward you with 10 AP, which will give you an added
boost towards getting the Bandit Support Ability off the Mythril Dagger. Be
sure to learn it while you're out here and equip it.
The
Ragtimer Quiz Game can be found in the large section of forest near South Gate.
Your first question is "Chocobo's Forest it Located Between Lindblum and -
South Gate." This is True. You get 1000 Gil for getting the question
right. After this your next destination is the small mountain on the cliff near
the village. This is Observatory Mountain. In the foreground a
Hi-Potion is in a chest and in the back at the end of the fence is 135 Gil.
Enter the small house and speak with Morrid, then examine his Theater Ship
figurine on the left. This initiates the Coffe Sidequest. Morrid wants Burman,
Kirman, and Moccha Coffee. I'll be sure to tell you where these are along the
rest of your journey. There's nothing up the long flight of stairs so exit
Observatory Mountain and enter the Village of Dali.
The Truth is Under There...
A
couple scenes start up, one outside and one inside the inn, then you
automatically rest. During the night Zidane hears someone singing. He wakes up
and you are left to control him alone. A slew of ATEs pop up in Dali so have
some time on your hands and be sure to see each one. After seeing one of the
two initial ATEs open the chest on the right for an Antidote. Another chest is
hidden behind a plant on the left side of the screen. Open it for a Potion,
then examine the machine on the left which tells you your fortune for 10 Gil.
The bookshelf on th upper right side of the screen contain books that,
according to Zidane, suck. Exit the bedroom and view the ATE you didn't see
inside the bedroom.
Give
the letter to Gumo, the moogle in the inn, and Save. Exit the inn and an ATE of
Hal the Inkeeper plotting something pops up. After viewing it go to the
building on the left into Eve's Weapon Shop. A pamplet in the foreground
contains info on equiping new weapons and the Card Game. First buy a Dagger, 2
Mage Mashers, an Iron Sword, a Rod, a Mage Staff, 3 Leather Wrists, and 4
Feather Hats, 1 set of Bronze Gloves, and 1 Bronze Armor. You should have
plenty of money from battling. My philosiphy is "It always pays to keep an
extra on hand." You'll see why in a minute. Play a card game with Eve if
you like, then exit. Inspect the large wheel near Mayor Kapu's Home (sun
picture above door.) If yoou try and enter the Mayor's house you'll always get
kicked out, for now. This includes the entrance from the Windmill. Walk up to
Vivi. A scene ensues and Vivi is kidnapped.
Two
more ATEs pop up, another with Hal and another with Dagger. In the Dagger ATE
either choice will end in the same result. Enter the Windmill and talk to the
man sitting down. Search the back of the room behind the turning stone for the
first of the Zodiac Coins, the Aries, then examine the door on the right.
The hall in the lower left leads to Mayor Kapu's house. Up the ladder are two
treasure chests you can't get to, yet. Talking to the girl near the well will
initiate a quick scene where you hear a Chocobo. Enter the house to the right
of the windmill. Talk to the girl and you can buy items from her. After you buy
something Zidane asks the girl about Dagger. Speak to her again and chose not
to buy something and a brief conversation starts. Exit and go east. Speak with
the Old Lady then go around to the last section of crops and examine the
markings in the field.
Return
to the weapon shop to find Dagger. A funny scene ensues, then compliment her on
her speach, and tell her you thought she was Ruby. Dagger goes back to the inn.
Exit and go across the small bridge to the window of the inn. Look inside and
you'll see Dagger working on her speech. Return to the inn and speak with
Dagger in the guest room. After their conversation a Steiner ATE pops up. When
this concludes you control both
Zidane and Dagger while they search for Vivi. Equip them with their optimum
now, save, and go to the windmill. A scene occurs and we find that Vivi is
somewhere underground. Enter the windmill and pop open the hatch the man was
guarding. Go down.
Climb
down the ladder and ride the small lift. 156 Gil is waiting for you at the
bottom in a chest. Go north for a scene with some of the village's adults.
After the scene continue north again and grab the Potion in the hut Vivi was in
and the bottle of Eye Drops in the foreground. Continue east. Inspect the boxes
and the barrel to find Kumop who has a letter for Mogki. Save, then grab the
Ether on top of the stack of boxes and the hanging Potion by kicking the rusted
wheel. On the next screen run up the nearby stairs and jump up to the top of
the crates. An Iron Helmet is just across a wooden board. Back down, grab the
Leather Wrist from inbetween the stacks of supplies and continue northeast. A
scene occurs where you find Vivi and he joins your party. Optimize him and go
inspect the machinery. After this grab the 95 gil from the chest and open the
doors. The little Ghost enemies are undead, so Dagger's Cure spell is a quick
way to destroy them. Ghosts have a lot of good stuff that can be stolen off
them as well. Outside you'll find a Pheonix Down, a Potion, and a Pheonix
Pinion near or behind the machinery. Random battles now occur all over this
area, but it's a good way to learn some of your new abilities and level up some
so spend some quality time here. Remeber Kumop if you need to heal or restore
MP.
After
you have pumped (clap) yourselves up continue past the machinery making
"eggs." On the next screen you'll see a Chocobo powering the conveyor
belt and the eggs disappearing into the bowels of another machine. Continue
down the hall and Zidane will hear a sound like eggs hatching. Go on to the
next screen and prepare to be shocked.
Black
Mages by the dozen being hauled around like giant dolls and packed into boxes
like the one Vivi was in. To coin a phraze from the GIA.com, "Soylent
Green is BLACK MAGES!"(it's in QUOTES so again, PLEASE DON'T SUE ME! thank
you) We see that this business is why the adults have been away from town.
Zidane, Dagger, and Vivi end up being shut up into the strange boxes as well.
Not So Endless Waltzes
We
rejoin Steiner at Observatory Mountain. Let Morrid past you then follow him
into his house. Speak with Morrid and some funny antics will commence. After
this exit his house and off Observatory Mountain. Steiner spies the cargo ship
from afar and runs up to see what is going on. Noticing that a large barrel is
moving he runs around to inspect it. Chose either option and the outcome is the
same: Zidane and company are freed from the barrel and Black Waltz #2 shows up.
A
Leather Plate and a Steepled Hat can be stolen from BW2. When you use Vivi's
magic BW2 will retaliate with the same magic. Since your Silk Shirts are weak
against fire have Vivi use either Thunder or Blizzard. BW2 only attacks Zidane,
Vivi, and Steiner so always have Dagger heal. BW2 isn't too hard to take down.
After the battle I suggest you chose to rest at the inn. Equip the Leather
Plate on Zidane and the Steepled Hat on Vivi (Dagger should already have
Protect.) Enter the inn and you automatically rest. Be sure to save and, if you
can, save this "Memory File" to an empty block to keep there. Stock
up on items if you need to then return to where the Cargo Ship is and chose to
board it. Answer Vivi's question however you like.
Zidane
now makes a bit of a grab-ass out of himself as he, Dagger, and Vivi rush to
board the departing Cargo Ship. After some funny conversation Zidane rushes
inside the cargo ship. Inside, Vivi is habing considerable trouble
communicating with the Black Mages. You are then left to control Zidane. The
thing that looks like a treasure chest in the foreground isn't really a chest.
You can examine the engine and look out a window then climb up the ladder to the
deck of the Cargo Ship. There, Steiner is lamenting over how the ship took off
before he believes Dagger boarded it. Zidane brings him to his senses, though.
Examine the pilots from the outside then enter the cockpit. Steiner talks to
himself then Black Waltz #3 attacks.
A
very emotional CG plays then our heroes minus Dagger are left to fight the
final Black Waltz. A Steepled Hat, Silver Gloves, and a Linen Curiass can be
stolen from BW3. Vivi Trances at the beginning of the battle. Just have him use
Blizzard or Thunder like with BW2. After you have won the battle some
action-packed CG plays and our heroes eventually arive in the giant castle-city
of Lindblum.
That's all for now, folks. Keep in touch for the next
installment.
Matthew Leuthy
This guide is copywright August 22, 2001 by Matthew
Leuthy.
