I'm sure I should say something hilarious due to this being Part 42, but you'll be making your own jokes at this point. With the worst of the Great Crystal behind me I'm in a much better writing mood, even though it's quarter to one in the morning. I'll probably leave writing most of this part for tomorrow.
I know I said 'warp wherever the hell you like', but that was before I remembered you actually need to go and talk to Reddas in Balfonheim to unlock most of the new sidequests upon which we're about to embark :P
Balfonheim Port[]
"I said cancel my appointments, Diane."
Head all the way back to Saccio Lane and talk to the guy at the southwesternmost point, the Manse Watch. Reddas is planning something with his fan squad, who head off just as Vaan and co. enter. Props to Vaan for not checking out Elza as she runs past.
Reddas asks how things went in Giruvegan. Horrible, mate. Also, Cid was lying; there was no stone to be found, and you know what I totally forgot that was a thing until just now. I think the legendary, nethicite-destroying god-sword kinda made up for there not being any nethicite to find. The plan is to find the Sun-Cryst, source of the nethicite's power, and have Ashe prod it with the Treaty-Blade. Or just cut a new stone and use it to turn the Empire into a footnote in the history they're so keen to reclaim.
It seems that the Sun-Cryst is in the Ridorana Cataract, atop the Pharos Lighthouse. But since I'm not going anywhere near there with a hundred-foot skyship just yet, it can wait. But thanks for the new skystone, Reddas; I'll be sure to treasure it. At least until I find the Gate Crystal ;P
I'm not sure I want to know what's in that sack.
Reddas joins you as a guest -- I guess he finally decided to make good on the whole "consider me in your employ" line from back in the Draklor Laboratory. Outside, Vaan's kicking it with Reddas' posse. Rikken tells you that since the Pharos is in jagd, you won't be able to fly there. Then a Moogle wanders up and immediately renders everything he just said irrelevant. Mate.
We're free! First up, head to The Whitecap off Quayside Court and take up the six new hunts: Deathgaze, Diabolos, Piscodaemon, Wild Malboro, Catoblepas and Fafnir.
Let's go in order. Head to any Aerodrome (but we're in Balfonheim, so that's convenient). Look for a family of three and talk to the (incredibly precocious) child, who sets you off to hunt Deathgaze. To find it, fly between Aerodrome (not using the Strahl though) until it appears. There's initially a 4% chance of it appearing, but if it doesn't appear look for the kid in the next Aerodrome and it'll double, up to a maximum 64% chance. Choosing "By private cabin" to save yourself time.
When it appears (there'll be some dialogue and a scene), head back to the 'shopping area' you usually start in, then go upstairs and exit to the Air Deck. Go up the central stairs to find the mark.
Hunt 26: Visitor on Deck[]
| Mark: Deathgaze | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Level: 50 Elemental Affinity:
Recommended Level: 55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Strategy: I don't know if he always does it, but he put up a Paling immediately and I had to kind of sit there doing bugger all for two minutes. When it drops, N→R him to inflict Sap and Silence, which will make your job considerably easier. Crushing Fangs' is annoying as ever but only hits one target, which is nice. Silencing him renders his Magicks null and void, although Renew and Restore are treated as Technicks so you might have to fight through two or more lots of his 184,000 HP before you actually finish him off. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Next on the list is Diabolos. Head to Bhujerba.
Bhujerba[]
The client, Miclio, is on Miner's End. He's the kid at the bottom corner of the 'D'-shaped southern area. Accept the hunt. Run back to the Gate Crystal in the Aerodrome and warp into the mines.
Lhusu Mines[]
Head east back to Transitway 1 and rid the minecart to Site 9. Exit north to Site 11. Head west and follow the path into the cave. The mark is located in the western cave with a view of the sky; where Gemhorn was found. If you found him in the first place :P
Hunt 27: The Child Snatcher[]
| Mark: Diabolos | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Level: 46 Elemental Affinity:
Recommended Level: 55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Strategy: Theoretically you can beat him down very quickly, but you have to wade through a sea of statues effects first. Curse is nasty, inflicting Confuse, Poison, Sap and Disease to everyone in range. Shell is kind of a must here. Pyromania is also problematic, so anti-fire equipment is also useful. Force Barrier is basically a paling, so either finish him with Magicks or prepare for a rough two minutes. N→R him to inflict Slow and you might be able to just bum rush him. It's not easy, though. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Return to Miclio to receive your rewards. Did those kids just run through metal railings? Creepy...anyway, return to the Aerodrome. Warp to Mt. Bur-Omisace.
Mt Bur-Omisace[]
Head up to Temple Approach. Talk to the Viera standing against the crate (Relj? What kind of name is that?) -- she's giving you the deets of the Fafnir hunt n place of her friend Ieeha. (...) Also, head to Temple Grounds and locate Ivaness, the small thing outside the building before the temple to begin the Piscodaemon hunt. We're going to save these hunts for next time, but location-wise it's convenient to initiate them now.
Back to the Gate Crystal and warp to Eruyt Village.
Eruyt Village[]
The petitioner is Rena (not Nera), who's hanging out at the very back of The Spiritwood, on the west side of the 'J'-shaped path. It's quickest to walk to the Feywood, as the Golmore Jungle Gate Crystal is slightly further away than Eruyt Village.
Feywood[]
Make your way south to the Save Crystal on Antiquity's End. Remember Rafflesia? Well, your next mark is where it used to be.
Hunt 29: A Wild Stench[]
| Mark: Wild Malboro | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Level: 50 Elemental Affinity:
Recommended Level: 55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Strategy: Well it's no Carrot, that's for sure. Yes, it has the usual clown car of status ailments but you also have Esuna, so impasse. Except its HP is low enough that a good old-fashioned beatdown is a viable strategy, even if it uses Soul Etude to fully heal. If you N→R it, it'll use Purify and Hero's March to remove its ailments and buff itself, to even things up with Dispel. Equip Black Belts to avoid Disable and you're good. The mini-Malboros following it are easy enough to deal with, and one they're gone you can focus on the mark. You shouldn't have much trouble here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Don't head back just yet; you're currently near one of the Mt. Bur-Omisace marks. I'm going to leave this part here and cover the other three hunts in the next section, or this is going to get looooong. See you then.
← Home
← Part 41: "Star Seraph".
→ Part 43: "Bargain Hunters, Part 2".