Chapter 17 A Coronation, a Tournament, and Foreshadowing

Welcome back. Today we begin our chapter on a bittersweet note as we open on disc 3. Fair warning, this beginning drags. It is mainly exposition, treasure hunting and doing a meaningless sidequest or three. But once you get through the beginning, the wait will be well worth it.

Once we finally get control of Vivi, exit to the right. We are headed to Ilia’s Grandmother’s House. If you’ll recall, that was the house with the old woman at the spinning wheel. Watch ATEs on the way of course. We like ATEs. In Grandma’s house, if you didn’t get it earlier you can still get that 9 gil. Just outside of 

Grandma’s House is Hippaul and his mother. Hippaul’s mother is very concerned about her son playing too many cards and not exercising enough (oh great, now a VIDEO GAME is going to give us the healthy lifestyle lecture). She wants our help. Mini-Game time. To play, just mash the square and circle keys alternately. Every time you beat Hippaul he gains levels. When he reaches certain levels you win little prizes (sort of like the jump rope mini game from the beginning of the game). You can do this any much as you like. HOWEVER this only applies to right at this part of the game. Once you advance the plot, you can never do it again. Return back to the pub and this time take the path to the left. The Item Shop is now upgraded to the best stuff that can be bought. However, why buy items, we can basically get them for nothing playing the Chocobo game (which we’ll get to do more of soon, I promise, it’s  coming). Head instead to the square (remember the Ticket Booth) and go to the second shop on the right to enter the Weapon Shop. The shop directly to the right of this shop (follow the arrow) is the Synth Shop.

Shopping List:
Twist Headband
Ice Lance
Gold Helm (or two)
Plate Mail (or two)

Synth List
Angel Bless
Anklet x2
Reflect Ring
Black Belt (if you missed it in the Black Mage Village)

Since we already have enough Pearl Rouges, don’t waste a Moonstone on anymore. There’s a limited supply of Moonstones and we can get plenty of Pearl Rouges at Treno’s Auction House.

Now leave the shops and go north to the docks. On the blind sides of each of the guards you can find a Phoenix Pinion and a big paycheck of 3927 gil (whoo hoo, we’re in the money, we’re in the money...).  

Next get thee to the church wherest Kupo doth lie in wait for his letter that we hath received long back in Disc 2. You’ll receive a Kupo Nut for your efforts. Stiltskin also sits here chatting it up with a purple moogle? Whatever, buy his stuff. Climb the church ladder and ring that bell to score a Shiva Card and a Ramuh Card. Soon we’ll be putting those cards to use. Finally, return to the alley where we met Alleyway Jack and speak to Blank and Marcus to find out that Blank is in a bit of hot water with Ruby and advance the plot. Eventually we get control of Eiko (for about thirty seconds), just go like you were leaving the castle.

After about 5 more minutes of talking we get to control Zidane. Go back to the Mini-Theater and search the tables in the foreground for 2680 gil. Now that we have Zidane we can go back to the Weapon Shop to play a new Mini-Game that is basically the Shell Game + Double or Nothing. Talk to the three bros to play. If you’re good at those games then this is a great way to rack up some gil.

When you’re ready go back to the dock to find Freya and Amarant. After more banter, we want to take the gondola to the castle. Search the bells by the fountain to get an Ether and a Phoenix Pinion. Behind the fountain you can find a Lapis Lazuli. Go to the left to the tower here where we climbed all those stairs at the beginning. By the portcullis you can find another Phoenix Pinion. Entering the tower you’ll see a door on the left. Enter this room. You’ll know you’re in the right place if there’s a statue of Neptune. In the corner by the door you can find the next Stellazzio coin, Leo. After all of this go into the Castle-Proper for an audience with the Queen-to-Be. Everyone is stunned by how beautiful she is dressed but Zidane is rendered speechless and can’t even bring himself to say a farewell. Of course after this sweet scene we also get the sort-of conclusion of that comedic scene from earlier. Okay, it serves no real purpose to the game but it’s funny. Discouraged from his endeavors to win her heart, Zidane decides he wants to go to Treno for the Card Tournament.

As we leave, we get a glimpse of the two jesters, Zorn and Thorn. What could they be up to?

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Upon entering Treno, as usual everyone splits up and we get a series of ATEs. This time it matters which ones you choose and in which order you choose them. Follow this order.

1. Eiko Talks Life

2.  How He Ended up Here (after you can choose to have Vivi stop by his home or stay in Treno)

3.   If you stayed in Treno, you can watch Hippo’s Prize. If not, watch Memories by the Water

4.   Memories by the Water (if you watched Hippo’s Prize), City People (if you sent Vivi to his home)
After this ATE, it really doesn’t matter which order you watch them in.

While watching these ATE’s, stop by the Weapon Shop. Have Zidane equipped with the Angel Bless and the Coral Ring and the Abilities: Beast Killer and Jelly. Now you’ve got the Angel Bless which teaches Thievery. Folks, Thievery is why we have been stealing at least once per battle thus far. This skill’s damage is depended on how many times you have successfully stolen from an enemy. Go ahead and try out Thievery on this Catoblepas and see the effect our stealing has had.

The Treno Auction House has new stuff, most importantly is the Dark Matter (teaches Odin Eidolon). The next item of priority is the Rat Tail. Buy both. They also sell the Anklet and the Feather Boots. You can buy them here or save money and synthesize them.

Finally we can also get the third Rare Coffee that we need to give the old man at the observatory. Go  all the way back to Dali. Go into the Mayor’s House (the house between the windmill and the weapon shop). First, check the Desk to get a Mini-Brahne. Check the shelf next. You will be thrown out, just come back in. Check the shelf again and check it repeatedly until the boy falls asleep (Zzz). Check the heater to get the Mayor’s Key. Leave and go to the windmill. Use the key on the door at the back. By the Chocobo you can find 30000 gil. Check the same spot to find the Burman Coffee. Congratulations, you have all three Rare Coffees  to complete the side quest. Take those coffees to the structure on the cliff by Dali and go into Morrid’s house. Talk to him to give him the coffee. He will mail the Prima Vista model later to Tantalus’ Hideout.

In the Windmill you can also find a Cachusha and an Elixir on the second floor. Another thing to note as well is that the Ragtime Mouse’s last 7 questions are now unlocked.

Return to Treno. Before you face the card tournament, take your Stellazzio coins to the queen. Finally go to the Card Stadium (if you go down a screen from the Synth Shop you’ll reach it, the building with the bird in front of it). Now it’s time to play cards. For details on how to play go to http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Tetra_Master

Talk to the guy at the desk to begin. Play the first two rounds then leave Treno. Head to Quan’s Dwelling to find Vivi. After round 1 you can view Home Sweet Home. After round two, go to the moogle in front of the Weapon Shop (viewing Good Old Days along the way). Save, save, save! I cannot stress this enough! Save! You want to win round 3 of the tournament to win the crucial Rebirth Ring (Auto-Life) and you don’t want to have to just move forward if you lose. You want to be able to reset and reload the game in that case. So SAVE! After saving take the stairs on this screen and head towards the Inn from earlier to unlock another more ATE’s (just go from screen to screen as long as it’s not the Card Stadium Screen). Once all the ATE’s are done, return to the Card Stadium and enter for round 3. It’s all Oglop Cards but that doesn’t mean this guy (gal) is a push-over. Stay on your toes and reload if you lose (until you win because you WANT the Rebirth Ring).

Once we’re through winning that Rebirth Ring, we get some playful banter between Zidane, Erin, and Cid just before Eiko runs in in a panic. Alexandria is in trouble, she claims.

We cut back to Alexandria. It’s the middle of the night and Kuja is plotting as usual. What’s going on? Will Steiner and Beatrix be enough to keep the Queen safe? Will we get back in time to save Alexandria from whatever Kuja is doing? Wait and see NEXT TIME!