Chapter 10 The Sandy Tree House

The first thing we want to do is to take that Kupo Nut back to the grotto. The second thing is to head back to Qu’s Marsh for some more frog catching. You should be able to catch up to four, hopefully getting your total up to 9. When it reaches 9, Quale will give you a silk robe. And if for some strange reason you didn’t get Quina before, get him/her now. Quina is your key to obtaining two treasures that you would otherwise be unable to get.

Now that’s done head back through the grotto and from the grotto (on the Burmecia side) head west into Vube Desert. In the very center you’ll see a swirling sandstorm. This is Cleyra, your destination. The treasures in the checklist are what is found on your way up the trunk.  You might not get them all on your first trip on but rather on a trip down. I will list the rest of the treasures when we reach the Settlement.

Pass through the few couple of areas until you actually reach the trunk of the tree. Go up the stairs beside the little door and pull the lever to open the door. Enter and go around the right path to find a Phoenix Down. Proceed onto the next screen. As you enter this room directly down from the entrance, hidden in the wood is a chest with a pair of Magician Shoes. Up from the entrance, near the top of the room is another chest with an Ice Staff inside. Exit the room stage right. Ignore the vine out here and walk right and up. On this next screen, grab the Ether and then notice the little notch in the tree at the end of the path. Have Zidane put his hand inside. Now go back one screen and NOW go up the vines and into another room. Just go straight out of this room and into the next area. Directly left of where you came in is another chest with a Needle Fork (A little late but hey, if for some reason you don’t have it or the Mythril Fork, here ya go). Proceed up and take the next left to talk to Monev and give him his letter. Camp in a tent, save the game and go back right and continue up the trunk, grabbing the chest on the way. Head up the path and take the diverging path to find another chest. Now follow the sign that says To Cleyra in the foreground. At the next screen just head straight across the bridge. In this little cave, hidden by the root directly in front of you is a chest with a pair of Desert Boots. A little Northwest of this chest is another with a Mythril Vest. Now run straight into the background. Taking the path on the right will lead to the same place and you’ll pass another chest with a Remedy. Pick up the Mythril Gloves and keep running up. At the end of the path trigger the lever and head back the way you came. Take the left path this time. Grab the Potion and take the right fork to another chest. In this next section you will see two chests guarded by a trio of quicksand. You can try and get them now but I recommend you wait until later. Trust me. Instead head towards the left. When the quicksand pulls you in, hold the left directional button and mash the X button and hope that you get it. Follow the path and on the screen with a ladder, there’s a chest just beyond it. Go up the ladder. We’re almost there. Just head up the stairs and welcome to the Cleyra Settlement.

Cleyra Settlement

Upon entering the settlement, you’ll get the offer of a tour. It is long and boring but it’s useful. I suggest taking it. When it’s done, you should be back at the entrance and in control of Zidane . Everyone will have split off and it’ll be time to do some treasure hunting before we move on with the plot.

When you return to the settlement after this fun excursion with just Zidane and Quina (picking up Blue Magic on the way if you can) back at the garbage pit, behind the sign is a chest with some gil in it. Go back to the pond and locate the ! near the far right wall to pick up a pair of Thunder Gloves which we will equip on Freya at the first possible moment. In the town screen by the right bottom bridge, in a little flowery dead-end is some Ore. In the inn, the middle building, near the bottom of the stairs is a stash of 1250 gil and an Ether by the nightstand. Talk to Mopli and see if he has a letter (always ask about Mognet at every moogle, always always always. Even if you’ve already asked him in an area).  Go up the stairs on the right side of the inn. On the right well is a Remedy.

By the windmill-platform, where the bridges meet, there’s a Phoenix Pinion. Head North to the Cathedral and search the lawn for some Gysahl Greens. In the yellow flowers on the right side of the entrance, you’ll find an Echo Screen. In the church lobby is a Yellow Scarf for the taking.

Now talk to the guards here and they will direct you to the inn. Make sure Zidane has Bandit and that everyone has Bright Eyes and Insomniac at this point because the game will soon take over and take you back to the Garbage Pits for a mini-boss.

Once you’ve kicked its rear, we are taken to the sanctuary of the church (the place where sermons would be held). A great event is about to take place, a dance to power the sandstone to help keep the sandstorm blowing and protecting Cleyra. The Cleyrans invite Freya to participate. This is one of my favorite sequences so I included a video.

Oh no! The harp strings snapped. This can’t be good friends. Remember, standard rule of role-playing games, all omens, myths, legends, rumors, et cetera are 100% accurate.

After realizing how much doo-doo we’re in, the scene switches over to the Alexandrian Party. Dagger is taken to see her mother at last. Dagger asks her about Burmecia and Queen Brahne feeds her some BS and you can choose whether or not to believe her. No matter which you choose the game goes the same way (makes you wonder why they even give you the choice).

We end up in control Freya at the end of more conversation where once again your choice makes no difference in the game. Take Freya to the inn and talk to Soldier Dan. It’s shopping time.

Shopping
Partisan
Mythril Armlets x5
Thunder Gloves
Mage’s Hat x4
Mythril Helm x2
Mythril Vest x4
Mythril Armor x2

After shopping go up the stairs and find Stiltskin and buy his stuff. Talk again to Mopli about mail and save. Now head down to the entrance of Cleyra to rejoin the others. Equip everyone properly, taking into account abilities not yet learned before putting on the best equipment.

Start heading down the trunk. When you reach the quicksand room you will notice that NOW you can get those two chests. Do so. You will fight Alexandrian soldiers all the way down. They are easy. Just have Freya and Zidane equipped with Man Eater and have Vivi use Bio. You may also have to fight Black Mages (for sure later) and Black Mages, according to the game mechanics are Humans, so Man Eater and Bio will get them too.

When you get down to the bridge section of the Cleyran trunk, the party begins to think that these enemies are excessively easy, suspiciously easy. Zidane valiantly runs into the town to save the citizens. You are presented with a little bit of a challenge. You must choose the correct prompt to save as many people as possible. The answers are as follows

“Let’s head right!”
“Let’s go left!” You will battle with 2 soldiers and a Type B
“Cross the bridge to the right!” Now you battle 3 more soldiers.\
"We're not safe yet!"

After several scenes, everyone is ready for the final battle. Beatriz appears and steals the sandstone and she runs off. Zidane and Co. run off after her into the lobby. Save at Mopli, now he will have a letter for you to deliver. Talk to everyone in the room to get the following treasures; Phoenix Down, Remedy, Nymph Card, Elixir, Zuu Card, Ether, Phoenix Pinion.

Put on equipment reduces thunder damage. Coral Ring priority is Freya, Zidane, Vivi, Quina. You can probably guess who the next boss is. After we’re ready, run out of the church to face General Beatrix a second time.

After the battle is over, Beatrix escapes and we follow after her. We also get this incredible cinematic.

After a short scene, run up the stairs of the Red Rose and to the Queen’s Cabin to witness the Queen sentencing Dagger to death. We also get this incredible cinematic.

Oh, no we have to get back to Alexandria on the double. When you have control again go back towards the Queen’s cabin and talk to the moogle about Mognet. Then follow Vivi back to the teleporters to trigger the end of this area and this chapter.

Coming Tomorrow: Chapter 11 Alexandria Castle Revisited

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