We left off after Evil Forest and Blank got petrified and now we're headed for the Ice Cavern. But first, being good RPG players, we will explore and find another area! There's not much to do here but we get some extra scenes.
(SPOILER)
Surely nothing can be amiss here! No siree!
Beginner tip: If you go examine the gate and persist with it, you'll be able to talk to someone.
After checking around, we head for our destination!
After that awkward mood killer (thanks Vivi) we head inside the cavern, which a few of them are not dressed appropriately for.
Upon entering, Garnet is already excite about seeing everything, while Steiner fusses at her for not being cautious enough or whatever.
He would be. Look at him, he has no sleeves.
Beginner tip: There will be areas where the mist is thicker in the Cavern and then it will fade away. Stepping in to the mist will almost guarantee a battle whereas waiting for it to clear will usually save you from one. Use this to your advantage whether you want to fight or avoid doing so.
Along the way we find some ice walls, which Vivi can helpfully burn down with his magic.
There's quite a few of these areas so pay attention!
It's actually a rather short dungeon and before long we arrive at a fork in the road, with one path looking clear while the other one has a raging blizzard coming from it. We go to the safe one first to find a moogle friend trapped in the ice.
After being freed by Vivi, he calls us bastards before thanking us and giving us another letter to deliver. Afterwards we head to the obviously ominous path.
Unfortunately, it's super cold and our party starts dropping like flies.
The screen goes black before the sound of a bell can be heard. Zidane wakes up.
Beginner tip: You're probably going to want to make sure you're fully healed right about now.
Going to the next area, Zidane finds this pleasant looking fellow who admits to causing the blizzard:
This leads to one of my least favourite boss fights in the whole game. Our Black Waltz friend here summons a Sealion:
And the only character you get to use is Zidane:
Unfortunately, if you're trying to steal from them both, this will be a long fight. Not only because you have two bosses to steal from but because you'll probably have to stop and heal a few times. If you get Trance, like I did, the fight can be ended in a few moves. Unfortunately I didn't get to steal but that's okay, I know I can get the items later.
Beginner tip: Defeat the Black Waltz first or he'll just summon more Sealions. Also, the gem in the middle of the Sealion changes colours depending on how much damage you've done, and when it's in the red he'll start using more powerful moves.
After finishing this annoying boss fight, we hear voices.
Zidane's a bit freaked at first but then just leaves like it's nothing.
It's THOSE two.
After returning to the previous area, Zidane finds his friends (and Steiner) awake and confused.
Aside from the terrible accusations, Zidane does stupidly decide to say that nothing really happened, no big deal, let's move on. Like maybe, just MAYBE, the Black Waltz and the comments about there being more on the way to come get the Princess might be worth mentioning. Just a thought.
Anyways, we finally get to leave the Ice Cavern even though that little waterfall area was pretty!
I don't know what Vivi is doing there. They spot a village in the distance.
Garnet is excited to get going but Zidane tells her to hold her horses, being a wanted Princess and all.
Steiner, however, disagrees with this. Because of course he does.
The Princess fusses at him and he looks temporarily ashamed.
Zidane and Steiner of course get in to a fight and Zidane's dagger falls to Garnet's feet. Vivi's also visibly on the sidelines like "dese jackasses"
So anyway, Garnet picks up the dagger and asks Zidane what it is.
Before interrupting him and deciding on her new name.
Yup, Dagger. I've played this game so many times that I don't even remember if it's weird or not.
After more fussing from Steiner, the group heads out.
As usual, be sure to explore a bit first! You can find South Gate although you can't go through without a border pass.
Beginner tip: You can call for a girl named Mary and wait a little bit and she'll let you rest and buy items!
Also, if you head to the observatory you can activate a sidequest by looking at the old man's theater ship model.
We also run in to our first friendly monster who wants some ore in exchange for AP!
He also sends his regard to the next friendly monster you meet. Keep your ore's, they'll come in handy. AP are the points needed to learn skills and abilities. You get very good amounts from these monsters.
After all of that is done, we finally head to the next town.
Vivi is immediately smitten with the windmills but Zidane urges them to go rest first.
Despite his attempt at assertiveness, Zidane brings them to the Inn. The Innkeeper is asleep so Zidane wakes him up.
Dagger is a bit uncomfortable with everyone sharing a room, but that's country living for ya! So they head inside and Zidane asks Dagger why she wanted to be kidnapped.
She says she wants to go to Lindblum. This unfortunately means border crossing, which isn't something one can do all willy-nilly on the Mist Continent.
Dagger won't give us the exact reason she wishes to depart, but asks that we trust her.
This of course leads to an argument between Steiner and Zidane before Zidane gets struck with Chronic Hero Syndrome, an unfortunate disease that affects hundreds of protagonists everywhere.
After seeing Vivi dozed off, because he ain't got time for dat, they all decide to get some sleep.
Zidane wakes up the next morning to the sound of a singing voice and everyone has already left the Inn.
He guesses Dagger is doing the singing. We get to explore the Inn a bit, learn our lucky colour for today (green) and see some Easy Money type books. We also get a few scenes of our friends. Dagger is pondering to herself about her situation:
Dagger takes this opportunity to converse with the farmer when an oglop hops her way.
After remembering his advice, Dagger throws the oglop in to the air and screams.
Vivi, meanwhile, is having his own troubles.
The kids in town start to run away from him when he gets too close.
Aww, why is poor, sweet Vivi being bullied
FIND OUT NEXT TIME!!!
But first, a word from our moogles:
Tune in next time to learn the ugly truth behind a peaceful village~