Salsa Party

What's higher than a chocobo?

Cid's fine that the Fire Ship is gone. Mid seems almost excited at the prospect of building a new one. More importantly, there are rumors that King Tycoon was in the area. We crossed the desert to the west, with many wondering if he went to the Village of Ruin. People also think he was floating. This is because the desert is like a sea, complete with moving currents that push all those who try to cross back to the start. Reina wants to see her dad, so that's where we go.

Heading there ourselves confirms the impossible task. Fortunately, Cid and Mid are stalking us. They know how to cross, and that's by making a bridge out of the back of a Sandworm! Mid rings a bell, and we're attacked.

Sandworm moves between three holes on the battlefield, so don't be hasty with making commands. If you miss, we'll get attacked with Demi, which quarters our HP. Besides that, this battle is pretty simple. Sandworm attacks are weak, and its main way of dealing damage is by using Quicksand. This acts as a bleed spell, and we'll slowly lose HP, so keep Reina spamming Cure 2. Ignore Mid, and feel free to use magic. Apparently, Aqua Rake can one shot him.

The rest of this place is navigating the sand currents and getting south. We have little control, and random encounters happen while we're being pushed around. But we'll make it in an easy enough fashion. For some reason, I decided to spend an hour trying to steal a javelin from the local sandbears. I never got one, so I'm upset.

South of the desert is the Village of Ruins, an aptly named home to nothing but dilapidated houses. The people of Jachol believe this is all that remains of a great civilization. After a look around, we'll notice King Tycoon is here. Faris called him "papa"? We'll chase him around until we have him trapped. Or do we! The party falls into a pit and winds up in an advanced ruin, but Galuf isn't here. Totally ignoring the King and the situation, Reina and Faris have a moment where they realize they're sisters. We try to ignore the missing Galuf, which upsets him from two rooms over. The funny music plays as he climbs across the broken pipes and cogs and joins up again. Not far from here is a strange platform. We step on it, and we're teleported across the ocean to beneath Crescent. But the party doesn't know this. The new room we're in falls apart because it's the first time it's been used in centuries! At the same time, we see Mid and Cid arriviste in the area with the black chocobo. This is a peaceful dungeon, but explore the whole rest room to learn Mini after a hiding frog reveals how to open the switch.

North of this is another switch to open the door. The first time you press it, we see Cid and Mid suddenly drop into a pit in the forest. Adventuring on brings us the Fire Ship! But there's another ship with a propeller on it? Just then, Cid and Mid drop from the sky. Good thing they're dragoons! They know this is an airship, and they fix it up. We all take to the skies, but a boss tries to drag us down. I've forgotten his name, but he hates lightning. If you don't have a coral sword, steal the one he's got. After a scene that doesn't make sense, we return to the Village of Ruins!

It can fly?! A massive advanced military base rises out of the desert. It goes so high that we can't reach it. Returning to the Ids, they suggest coating the airship with adamantium. Galuf knows his meteorite had some. He's correct, but there's a hitch: it's protected. Adamantoise is well defended, hits hard, and can sometimes attack twice. The cheese strat is to use Level 5 Death. Otherwise, use ice spells.

While in the area, return to the castle. That night, Faris and Reina will "recall" an event from their youth. Faris, Princess Salsa, is the oldest of the two. She was being taught by Jeneka one night until Salsa had to put Reina to sleep. She was supposed to return to her teacher but pushed her bed against her sister's to sleep next to her. So cute! Faris blames falling into the sea for giving her amnesia. They both want to keep this a secret.

Returning to the Ids has them quickly coat the ship with the mineral. I don't know how this makes us fly higher, but it does. So I'll climb to the Ronka Ruins...

... tomorrow!

SALSA!!!!