Chapter 2: Winlan's Dilema
WINLAN
To get to Winlan, retrace your steps to where Nanai once stood and then follow the path NorthEast to find Winlan. Upon entering Winlan, don't bother buying anything right now equipment wise for Ryu. Trust me. Just hold on to all that precious GP for awhile. After talking to the townspeople and nabbing a V.Ptn in the cabinet of the eastmost house, enter Winlan Castle and speak to one of the soldiers to invoke a scene with Winlan's Princess Nina. When they ask you to wait, you accept and take a much needed rest.
ENTER NINA
After the Hero falls asleep, you will take control of Princess Nina. The first thing you should do is visit with the King and obtain a clue about Karma, your next destination. Make sure to explore the Castle to find the treasure chests and then head into the town. Buy Nina the BronzRP and the SuedeGN, then Deposit the rest of your money in Storage. When you are ready to go, Save your game and leave town. Head for the nearby cave just Southwest about one screen from Winlan.
You will find that Nina isn't the greatest character to start out with. She doesn't have much attack power or know much useful magic, yet. However, upon entering the cave, two Winlan soldiers volunteer to escort you. You have to accept to continue the quest, so just say yes. This will give some much needed support as you journey to Karma. While making your way through the cave, be sure to explore it very well. You will find some B.Stn and C.Stn as well as the Iron Ore. Make sure you find this or you will have to do some major backtracking later on. Another thing that will help you for quite a while is to have Nina use the E.Key as an Item during Battle. It will greatly help you out. Upon emerging from the cave, enter the town of Romero.
ROMERO
The forest is full of Spiders, P.Bugs, and Creeps. It is not overly difficult, as long as you use the E.Key in battle to dispose of your enemies, mainly the Spiders. If you do get in a bind, save your Magic for Karma by eating the red mushrooms scattered throughout the Forest. Each one should restore 5-10 HP. The other mushrooms are poisonous and should be ignored. The forest doesn't have much to offer in the way of treasure, but the Bandage does give Nina a tad more protection than the SuedeSH. The other chest contain 2 Herbs and 150GP. The exit is straight West of the entrance from Romero.
KARMA TOWER
Finally, you've made it to Karma! Karma is a set of 2 Towers that must be navigated carefully, as the floors sometimes open and drop you back down a floor or two. From the entrance, go North until you come to an intersection with two Healing Springs on either side. Walk left and follow the path up until you see a stairway going up. Take the stairs and get an M.Drop (You'll want to save these!) Walk back down the steps, and continue on the path going right across the top wall and follow it all the way until to come to a treasure chest with another M.Drop in it. Proceed back to the split and take the narrow hallway down back to the Healing Spring. After restoring at the Spring, head for the floating figure guarding the stairway.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mini-Boss Alert: Morte Morte is a foul character who doesn't seem to like you. He is not that hard to beat, just use the E.Key and heal when necessary. He goes fast and has a very very small second wind. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After beating Morte, go back and heal at the Spring, then continue up the steps. On the second floor, opt to go down the hall to your right, not up. You will come to 2 sets of stairs. Climb/descend each to nab a Charm and a Cure. Next, head back to the other path along the top wall of the tower and take the (only) stairway up at the end. You are now on Floor 3.
Head along the narrow hallway you emerged in and take the path on the left to grab another Charm. Go back and head right along the top wall and take the stairs leading down.
Follow the path North until you come to 2 holes on the floor. Don't bother with the stairs going up unless you want a Herb. Of the 2 holes, fall down the one on the right. Take care not to fall in the hole in the next room and follow the stairs up. Take the next set of stairs down to find a Life2 (Very important this early in the Game!). head back up the stairs and prepare to fight Mortea.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mini-Boss Alert: Mortea Mortea is pissed that you defeated her brother and attacks you. She packs quite the wallop with her scythe, but just keep healing and using the E.Key. She also has quite the short second wind. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After defeating Mortea,head up the stairs. Step on the plaform to make a bridge to the other Tower. Take the stairs up to find a Healing Spring and a Save Point. Nina should now be at least Level 8. Head back down the stairs, and talk to the three girls who are in front of the steps. Step on the plates inside the doorway to free the 3 girls. Proceed down the stairs until you come to the Wizard's Lair. A staged fight scene ensues and the Wizard captures Nina, but one of the Soldiers escapes and flys back to Winlan.
RYU TO THE RESCUE
The soldier barely makes it back to the castle before he dies. The soldiers then find Ryu and ask him to help. Accept, and meet them outside Winlan. Before going, buy and equip Ryu with the ChainML. Once you get outside, talk with the soldier who has the pointy helmet.You will then be flown to the roof Karma's second Tower. Take the stairs down to the Wizard's lair. Once in the Wizard's Lair, take the outer path all the way around the room the a treausre chest. This contains the Rang and has a Spriong in it that will refill your HP/MP to full. Head back to the Center Aisle. Walk up the path. Before the top of the stairs, you should make sure that Ryu has the LongSD equipped, not the Rang. Prepare to take on the Wizard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boss Alert: Wizard Ryu should be at least Level 10 before this fight. Attack him with your Sword at first, healing yourself from his constant barrage of Lightining and Freeze Spells. When he starts casting the Petrify Spell, begin using the E.Key instead of your Sword. You should win this fight with not too bad of a problem. His second will be gone with one attack from the E.Key. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After defeating the Wizard, you will be taken back to Winlan. Go and speak with the King. Nina now joins your quest and the King grants you passage through the tunnel leading eastward across the bridge. Save your game, and head over the bridge to your next adventure!
On to Chapter 3: The Forest Clan