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freshfeelingI did a bit more side questing on August 17th. This time, I was joined for most of the play session by FlamingXP, who is one of my kids and also the author of many of the newest quests. It didn't feel like I got that many quests done, really, but it was... productive.
The plan was to get through the Citadel of Trials (aka Castle of Ordeals) with only Cecil. I did have a couple of nasty deaths in the relatively early going, and ended up using the Pixel Remaster's quick saves.
The Nightmares wear beautiful blue robes.
Although we can't make use of most of the treasure here, we do qualify for the Ice Brand sword, which is a very nice upgrade before the Dragon Zombies. I actually encountered some random Dragon Zombies before the ones guarding the way out!
There were three quests I was trying to complete, including one that had Cecil wasting four turns at the start of the battle and one with Cecil wasting ten turns at the start of the battle. Let's just say the first one I got done is this:
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The plan was to get through the Citadel of Trials (aka Castle of Ordeals) with only Cecil. I did have a couple of nasty deaths in the relatively early going, and ended up using the Pixel Remaster's quick saves.
The Nightmares wear beautiful blue robes.
Although we can't make use of most of the treasure here, we do qualify for the Ice Brand sword, which is a very nice upgrade before the Dragon Zombies. I actually encountered some random Dragon Zombies before the ones guarding the way out!
There were three quests I was trying to complete, including one that had Cecil wasting four turns at the start of the battle and one with Cecil wasting ten turns at the start of the battle. Let's just say the first one I got done is this:
Title: The Darkness Within
Author: FreshFeeling (2019)
Story: In another universe (or timeline or something), the party's fighter was a dark knight who overcame his trained power of darkness to become a paladin by going through an intense trial, culminating in facing the darkness within himself. Ultimately this allowed him to wield great powers of light.
Requirement: Defeat at least one Dragon Zombie in the Citadel of Trials with a solo fighter or knight. You must start the battle by taking four ineffective actions or actions that only affect your own character.
Unlocks: (e)Sun Blade
It became apparent pretty quickly that 10 turns wasn't happening! Even squandering four turns was pretty hard. Thankfully, the game's innate quicksaves were in play and I was able to roll through roughly 10 attempts pretty quickly. I tried variations of defending and using potions and eventually got it. This was actually pretty hard! Cecil doesn't have any mythril armor pieces, so he is taking more damage than a casual player might at this point. Any paralysis that landed would usually herald a losing attempt. However, after roughly ten minutes of attempts aided by autobattle and quicksaves, Cecil did it!
Next, I went and got my class change! Now most of the team was face-down with exciting new graphics.
FlamingXP encouraged me to buy a Bottle at this point, so I did that, too.
I thought some things Cecil or others might want to do soon might benefit from the knights' and ninjas' access to low-level magic, so I wandered from town to town buying up spells. I hadn't considered that Cecil and Locke won't have spell charges for a while. I wanted Cecil to get spell charges so I tried to grind for a bit. In the course of this, I noticed I could get this IKEA-themed quest done.
It became apparent pretty quickly that 10 turns wasn't happening! Even squandering four turns was pretty hard. Thankfully, the game's innate quicksaves were in play and I was able to roll through roughly 10 attempts pretty quickly. I tried variations of defending and using potions and eventually got it. This was actually pretty hard! Cecil doesn't have any mythril armor pieces, so he is taking more damage than a casual player might at this point. Any paralysis that landed would usually herald a losing attempt. However, after roughly ten minutes of attempts aided by autobattle and quicksaves, Cecil did it!
Next, I went and got my class change! Now most of the team was face-down with exciting new graphics.
FlamingXP encouraged me to buy a Bottle at this point, so I did that, too.
I thought some things Cecil or others might want to do soon might benefit from the knights' and ninjas' access to low-level magic, so I wandered from town to town buying up spells. I hadn't considered that Cecil and Locke won't have spell charges for a while. I wanted Cecil to get spell charges so I tried to grind for a bit. In the course of this, I noticed I could get this IKEA-themed quest done.
Title: You Feel Bad For That Lamp?
Author: FreshFeeling (2019)
Story: Sarda is an old dude who lives alone in a cave. Despite his odd life situation, he has some of the finest furniture in the world. He has a bed, a fireplace, two tables, a chair, and lots of jars. Where does he get this all? Not Ikea. If it breaks, he's not sure how to replace it. We will need go around the world asking people, "Where did you buy that?". Sarda will go shopping, and y'know, you always come back with something extra.
Requirement: After getting Sarda's Rod, find a bed, a fireplace, a table, a wooden chair, and a jar. Finally, talk to Sarda again.
Unlocks: (w)Blindna
With the new shop interiors, it wasn't hard to find most of this furniture. We found the fireplace in Cornelia Castle.
Next, we stepped briefly into the Ice Cave to get this done:
Next, I wanted to do the thing where Cecil solos a dragon for ten turns. I thought the White Dragons in the Cavern of Ice would be the easiest candidate for this as well, and I wanted to be able to use his spells. This had a few problems: for one, I died while attempting to grind him two levels to gain some MP/spell charges. For another, this was stupid in the first place since knights can't use NulFrost. This was a misguided idea and eventually I gave up and just attempted this challenge near the entrance of the Cavern of Ice anyway.
I had some stunlocks, but I was (legitimately) saving very frequently at the Cavern of Ice entrance anyway, basically after nearly every battle. When I eventually met a single White Dragon, I just had Cecil use a potion every turn for 10 turns and survived easily. I accidentally left auto-battle on while I took screenshots so it was actually quite a bit more than 10 turns.
FlamingXP encouraged me to do a Fashionista quest that required my team to use no equipment with an evade penalty greater than 2, so I went around and made sure I could equip the knight and ninja with lighter gear. We put that on pause for a little bit because I read the description for Intermediate Studies in Elemental Physics: I knew this would be easy to do at the start of the volcano, so I wanted to go to the bottom of the Cavern of Earth to fight Earth Elementals for that. Even before that, I realized there was a quest available that I was basically done that would make my life easier!
Title: Appreciating... a Swamp?
With the new shop interiors, it wasn't hard to find most of this furniture. We found the fireplace in Cornelia Castle.
Next, we stepped briefly into the Ice Cave to get this done:
Title: An Old Dragon and His Ore
Author: FlamingXP (2025)
Story: There's a White Dragon named Fred who has collected lots of mythril over the years, even filling an entire room of the Cavern of Ice with mythril. Fred has a Dragon Zombie cousin named Zack. Fred is mad at Zack for stealing his precious mythril ores. If you can defeat Zack, Fred may be willing to share.
Requirement: After encountering a White Dragon, defeat a Dragon Zombie, and return to the Cavern of Ice.
Unlocks: (a)Mythril Gloves
Next, I wanted to do the thing where Cecil solos a dragon for ten turns. I thought the White Dragons in the Cavern of Ice would be the easiest candidate for this as well, and I wanted to be able to use his spells. This had a few problems: for one, I died while attempting to grind him two levels to gain some MP/spell charges. For another, this was stupid in the first place since knights can't use NulFrost. This was a misguided idea and eventually I gave up and just attempted this challenge near the entrance of the Cavern of Ice anyway.
Title: Blessing of the Dragons
Author: gameenjoyer (2019)
Story: There exists a powerful armor made out of dragon scales that can mitigate both physical and magical damage. Only by proving your ability to take a beating as well as dragons can will you ever be allowed to wear it.
Requirement: A character who can use Dragon Mail must enter a battle alone with at least one dragon in it and last ten rounds without being killed, then defeat the dragon. The character may not take any battle actions against the dragon or to buff for those ten rounds, but may heal himself.
Unlocks: (a)Dragon Mail
I had some stunlocks, but I was (legitimately) saving very frequently at the Cavern of Ice entrance anyway, basically after nearly every battle. When I eventually met a single White Dragon, I just had Cecil use a potion every turn for 10 turns and survived easily. I accidentally left auto-battle on while I took screenshots so it was actually quite a bit more than 10 turns.
FlamingXP encouraged me to do a Fashionista quest that required my team to use no equipment with an evade penalty greater than 2, so I went around and made sure I could equip the knight and ninja with lighter gear. We put that on pause for a little bit because I read the description for Intermediate Studies in Elemental Physics: I knew this would be easy to do at the start of the volcano, so I wanted to go to the bottom of the Cavern of Earth to fight Earth Elementals for that. Even before that, I realized there was a quest available that I was basically done that would make my life easier!
Title: Honoring Erdrick II
Author: FreshFeeling (2019)
Story: As the stories go, Erdrick adventured around his world and was able to purchase or procure more impressive items. Perhaps he can be further honored by offering up some of the stronger equipment that this hero once used. The stories say he once used a Flame Sword and carried an impressive Silver Shield.
Requirement: Having completed Honoring Erdrick, bring a Flame Sword and a Silver/Mythril Shield to Erdrick's grave in Elfheim. Carrying these, but not using them, is allowed at any time for the purpose of fulfilling this quest.
Unlocks: (e)Flame Sword, (a)Mythril Shield
This is one of a few quests that was re-numbered when the quests were compiled. Not only would we benefit from these shields, but Locke could start using the Flame Sword. We already had the gear, so completing this now was trivial! I went to grab a bit of mythril gear and Crescent Lake made me realize I had a lot of gaps in my magic list, so I quickly banged out this one:
This is one of a few quests that was re-numbered when the quests were compiled. Not only would we benefit from these shields, but Locke could start using the Flame Sword. We already had the gear, so completing this now was trivial! I went to grab a bit of mythril gear and Crescent Lake made me realize I had a lot of gaps in my magic list, so I quickly banged out this one:
Title: Appreciating... a Swamp?
Author: beege_man (2019)
Story: Elvish legends tell of a giant swamp east of Elfheim over the mountains. No one knows what lies in the swamp and due to its remote location blocked off by mountains, almost no one has set foot there in ages. Explore the swamp to see if you can find its secrets.
Requirement: Walk on every square of the swamp east of Elfheim.
Unlocks: (w)Protera
This is a very large swamp. I've truly never had a reason to walk through it, so good on beege_man for making this happen. It happens that I entered from the right-hand side and then gradually worked my way left, so the line between Crescent Lake-area enemies and Elfland-area enemies was pretty stark.
Now, the plan was to go through the Cavern of Earth and fight three Earth Elementals, and without resting, go to Mount Gulg and defeat three Fire Elementals. Doing this would unlock a few things, and set us up to wander through Mount Gulg anyway.
This is a very large swamp. I've truly never had a reason to walk through it, so good on beege_man for making this happen. It happens that I entered from the right-hand side and then gradually worked my way left, so the line between Crescent Lake-area enemies and Elfland-area enemies was pretty stark.
Now, the plan was to go through the Cavern of Earth and fight three Earth Elementals, and without resting, go to Mount Gulg and defeat three Fire Elementals. Doing this would unlock a few things, and set us up to wander through Mount Gulg anyway.
Title: Let's do the Time Warp Again
Author: beege_man (2025)
Story: You can learn basic teleportation spells through repeated observation of teleportation circles.
Requirement: Use the teleporter at the end of the Earth Cavern, Mount Gulg, Sunken Shrine or Flying Fortress a second time.
Unlocks: (b)Teleport
It took a very long time to encounter three Earth Elementals, and that was the biggest barrier to getting this done.
There was a bit of a shopping trip and we went back to the land of lava. I skipped the Mount Gulg B2 treasure.It took a very long time to encounter three Earth Elementals, and that was the biggest barrier to getting this done.
Title: Intermediate Studies in Elemental Physics
Author: KingRamz (2019)
Story: Jeff the Sage (you know, the one standing right next to Lukahn. Wow, do you really not remember him? Savage.) has been impressed by the way you handle yourself in battle. But if you want to unleash greater power of the elements, you must demonstrate that you know how to use it. Speak to Jeff while all of your training is fresh in your mind, and he will know you are ready.
Requirement: Without resting (inn/sleeping bag/tent/cabin/house), defeat 3 Earth Elementals and 3 Fire Elementals by damaging them only with fire, ice or lightning elemental attacks, and then return to Crescent Lake and talk to Jeff. (Elemental weapons and spells cast from items are ok.)
Unlocks: (b)Firaga
Once we got into Mount Gulg, the Fire Elementals basically wouldn't leave me alone! Within just a couple of battles I had beaten three of them and defeated them appropriately.
We went back to Jeff reasonably promptly to finish off this quest before delving deeper.
Once we got into Mount Gulg, the Fire Elementals basically wouldn't leave me alone! Within just a couple of battles I had beaten three of them and defeated them appropriately.
We went back to Jeff reasonably promptly to finish off this quest before delving deeper.
Title: Giant Power
Author: FreshFeeling (2019)
Story: Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Gloves of Giant Strength, Power Gauntlets... whatever they're called, to be able to find and utilize these magnificent creations you need to know what you're getting into, by observing the strength of giants firsthand.
Requirement: Defeat at least one of each of the following enemies: Ogre, Ogre Chief, Ogre Mage, Hill Gigas, Fire Gigas, Ice Gigas. Observe any of these creatures doing 90 or more damage at least once.
Unlocks: (a)Giant's Gloves
I had been keeping track of the giant enemies I'd beaten all along, but finally ran into a Fire Gigas here. I had also noted a 90+ damage hit from a Hill Gigas a while ago. Anyway, it's done!
After B2, I got most of the treasures, including a second Ice Brand sword that Locke could use.
At the bottom of the volcano, with my characters in good shape, I ran into a Red Dragon. There's a quest about enduring a Red Dragon's Blaze attack, so I tried that. I also tried to tie it into the quest to walk a lap in the lava, but I left my party too weak and actually did wipe once.
Although I did this successfully, I ended up un-completing it since my party died. We'll come back to this.
I had been keeping track of the giant enemies I'd beaten all along, but finally ran into a Fire Gigas here. I had also noted a 90+ damage hit from a Hill Gigas a while ago. Anyway, it's done!
After B2, I got most of the treasures, including a second Ice Brand sword that Locke could use.
At the bottom of the volcano, with my characters in good shape, I ran into a Red Dragon. There's a quest about enduring a Red Dragon's Blaze attack, so I tried that. I also tried to tie it into the quest to walk a lap in the lava, but I left my party too weak and actually did wipe once.
Although I did this successfully, I ended up un-completing it since my party died. We'll come back to this.
Title: Hyperthermastery
Author: FlamingXP & FreshFeeling (2025)
Story: To gain a shield of flame, you need to forge your spirit in the fires of a volcano!
Requirement: Go to Mount Gulg B5 (the lowest level) and do a full lap around the staircase without leaving the lava. Without accessing an out-of-battle menu, defeat a Red Dragon.
Unlocks: (a)Flame Shield
After loading my save, I immediately did a lap and used the Flame Armor chest Red Dragon to do this. The first time I did it, I had endured three Blaze attacks; it turns out the lap of the floor in lava did a lot less damage than I expected and this left my team much better able to survive the Red Dragon.
After loading my save, I immediately did a lap and used the Flame Armor chest Red Dragon to do this. The first time I did it, I had endured three Blaze attacks; it turns out the lap of the floor in lava did a lot less damage than I expected and this left my team much better able to survive the Red Dragon.
Title: To Hell and Back... and Back to Hell
Author: beege_man (2025)
Story: If you can weather the flames of hell, you can learn a spell that will help you mitigate their fury.
Requirement: Have a character who can cast Healaga survive Blaze from a Red Dragon or Tiamat 3 times in a single fight.
Unlocks: (w)Healaga
Now that I was able to do some out-of-battle healing without ruining another quest, I lingered hoping for a Red Dragon before Marilith. Healing afterward took my Potion stock down to 1! With this finished, I changed equipment such that nothing had a weight/evasion penalty over 2 and went to the boss.
I had a feeling that some of Marilith's vulnerabilities to status effects might've been modified in this version of the game... but it was spotty. Dark didn't work in one attempt, and Silence didn't work at all. Hold worked briefly and Slow worked well, and with NulBlaze we reduced her offense considerably.
Vivi used Temper on Locke and Cecil once each, and then they attacked. Lenna was still trying to get status spells to stick when I won.
Now that I was able to do some out-of-battle healing without ruining another quest, I lingered hoping for a Red Dragon before Marilith. Healing afterward took my Potion stock down to 1! With this finished, I changed equipment such that nothing had a weight/evasion penalty over 2 and went to the boss.
I had a feeling that some of Marilith's vulnerabilities to status effects might've been modified in this version of the game... but it was spotty. Dark didn't work in one attempt, and Silence didn't work at all. Hold worked briefly and Slow worked well, and with NulBlaze we reduced her offense considerably.
Vivi used Temper on Locke and Cecil once each, and then they attacked. Lenna was still trying to get status spells to stick when I won.
Title: Fashionista Jeff
Author: FreshFeeling (2019)
Story: Perhaps the only person in the world who knows fashion better than Arylon is Jeff. Just like Arylon, he knows how to reward someone who can fight while looking good.
Requirement: Defeat any version of Kary/Marilith, Kraken, Tiamat or WarMech while only wearing equipment each with an evade penalty of -2 or less, then talk to Jeff.
Unlocks: (a)Ruby Armlet
FlamingXP very much encouraged me to get this done. I even went up to Gaia promptly to buy all four of these!
I may have forgotten to speak to Jeff again. Only after making that purchase, I realized it was easy to get some other armor.
I don't know what we'll do when we play next time! A lot of quests are in play, but it might also be nice to hastily open up the Mirage Tower since there are a few goodies inside that we can immediately make use of.
FlamingXP very much encouraged me to get this done. I even went up to Gaia promptly to buy all four of these!
I may have forgotten to speak to Jeff again. Only after making that purchase, I realized it was easy to get some other armor.
Title: Thirty Pieces of Silver, with Discount!
Author: FreshFeeling (2019)
Story: They say that the pink-clad pirate in Gaia once sold out his crew for thirty pieces of silver, and we can only imagine that smug bastard would do it again. Carrying 30 pieces of silver equipment could probably convince him to do just about anything. He could even steal some heat-resistant gear from the desert-dwelling caravan he's been dealing with! Also, there's a sale because 30 is excessive so it's 50% off.
Requirement: Visit the pink pirate in western Gaia carrying 15 silver or mythril equips of any kind, where duplicates are allowed. Drop all of them in his presence. This can be done over multiple trips.
Unlocks: (a)Ice Armor, (a)Ice Shield
Since dropping doesn't exist, I can't effectively waste as much money as was intended by this quest. Thus, instead of using very cheap Mythril Daggers, I used Mythril Helmets. I put the Flame Shield and Ice Armor on Cecil and the Ice Shield on Locke. Amid these trips to Gaia, I also got Oxyale and bought Vivi the Kill spell that I unlocked much earlier. He already has 1 level 8 spell charge.
Since dropping doesn't exist, I can't effectively waste as much money as was intended by this quest. Thus, instead of using very cheap Mythril Daggers, I used Mythril Helmets. I put the Flame Shield and Ice Armor on Cecil and the Ice Shield on Locke. Amid these trips to Gaia, I also got Oxyale and bought Vivi the Kill spell that I unlocked much earlier. He already has 1 level 8 spell charge.
I don't know what we'll do when we play next time! A lot of quests are in play, but it might also be nice to hastily open up the Mirage Tower since there are a few goodies inside that we can immediately make use of.
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