-240208-183837.png "Screenshots copyright Square Enix.")
Narshe - Weapon Shop
Narshe - Armor Shop
Narshe - Item Shop
Narshe - Relic Shop
After the Battle of Narshe you’ll wind up in Arvis’s house. You’ll now have to go looking for Terra in the wide world, and to do that you’ll require a party of explorers. Normally you would bring four along, though if you want to recruit a familiar (though unreliable) face you should only put three members in your party. Here are your options:
- Locke is a good choice, as he has some extra dialogue in a new village if you bring him along. He's also going to be a compulsary member for the section of game after this, and it can't hurt to level him up.
- Celes is always useful, and provides healing without the need for items. She's also involved in the section of game after this one, and could use the levels. She'll add a bit to Locke's cut scenes if you bring her to Kohlingen.
- Edgar's Tools are at their best in these early sections of the game, and you'll face enough crowds of enemies coming up that he remains a good choice. If you bring both him and Sabin along you can also catch an optional cut scene in Figaro Castle, your next destination.
- Sabin remains as beefy as ever, and if you get him to level 15 he'll learn Rising Phoenix, a good Fire attack against crowds of enemies.
- Cyan fills a similar niche to Sabin, though he's slower. Get him to level 15 to learn the Flurry Bushido, which is good against crowds and single targets.
- Depending on how many Rages you taught him, Gau can be very helpful in this next section. Few characters hit as hard as Gau if you taught him the Stray Cat Rage. If not, well... you won't get another chance to visit the Veldt for a while, so maybe leave him behind if he's lacking Rage options.
You can't really go wrong with your choices, so go with whatever characters you like most. You can return to Narshe and check Arvis's home to swap party members, if you'd like a change.
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You can now explore Narshe without being booted out. This includes purchasing items, weapons, and armor. You probably have a bunch of gil after the Battle of Narshe, so consider upgrading the armaments of your chosen party. Don’t bother sleeping at the inn, as there’s a free bed in the weapon shop’s basement.
Check the elder’s house (far west side of town) for a clock / Elixir combo, then look in the small shack on the east side of town, atop the cliffs. Inside you’ll find a slew of chests containing 5,000 gil, a Thief’s Knife, an Earring, a Reflect Ring, a Thief’s Bracer, and a Hyper Wrist. There’s a locked chest in here that figures into a future sidequest, during your next stay in Narshe.
That’s all for Narshe. Leave town and head to Figaro Castle, which has since resurfaced. If you have Edgar and Sabin in your party and spend a night here you’ll see a cut scene regarding their past. Check with the merchants in the castle and you’ll find three two new Tools for sale: Flash and Drill. Drill at least is worth the price, as it inflicts heavy damage to a single target, making it a great choice for boss battles.
Speak to the man in the basement of Figaro Castle. He’ll grant you passage to Kohlingen, a village to the west. Agree and he'll shuttle you to a new section of the world map.
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Kohlingen / Jidoor Region - Enemies
You're now in unfamiliar territory, and the area surrounding Kohlingen is full of state-of-the-art beasties. The only ones that really require much detail are Fossil Dragons, found in the desert surrounding Kohlingen. Not only are they hideously strong, they can Zombify your team members. You won't get much for defeating one, so consider avoiding deserts.
Before entering Kohlingen, the town near Figaro Castle, head north. There’s a small house up here, owned by a warmongering fellow who will feature into an important side area late in the game. Check the pots in his house for a Hero’s Ring before leaving for Kohlingen. This accessory is good for any fighters in your party, though someone who uses magic and steel - Celes, Sabin, and Gau, for example - will benefit most.
Kohlingen - Weapon Shop
Kohlingen - Armor Shop
Kohlingen - Item Shop
Small time life. There are signs of Terra visiting this area, so you're on the right track. Kohlingen offers the usual range of merchant services, including some slightly stronger arms and armor than what you found in Narshe. You can stock up here, or wait for the next town, which is a lengthy - but straightforward - trip to the south.
Visit the top left and top right homes in Kohlingen if Locke is in the party. Both offer snippets of his back story. The northwest house contains a clock with an Elixir inside (noticing the pattern?), while you can find a Green Beret in the top right house if you go in through the back door.
Last, have a look at the inn / pub, near the entrance of Kohlingen. Shadow's sitting at a table in the pub. He’ll ask for 3,000 gil for his services, though he won’t even offer if you have four people in the party. Shadow may leave during combat at any point, and he will automatically leave if you approach Narshe, so he’s not the best hire in the world. Still, if you can get him to stick around Shadow is pretty useful for the next dungeon.
All done? Leave Kohlingen and head south. After a long walk through grassy fields and forests you'll find a new, decidedly cosmopolitan town.
Jidoor - Weapon Shop
Jidoor - Armor Shop
Jidoor - Item Shop
Jidoor - Relic Shop
More of a big-city experience than Kohlingen, Jidoor nevertheless doesn’t give you a heck of a lot to do. There's a Chocobo Stable, weapon and armor shops, and an Auction House that isn't operating just yet. In the north you'll find a huge building called Owzer’s Mansion, which, later on, is quite important. Check the yellow pot near the man inside the mansion for an Ether.
That’s all for Jidoor for now. Your next destination is far to the northeast of Jidoor, along the mountain range that cuts this continent in half. If you want to preserve your health - not a bad idea - you can hire a Chocobo to ease your trip. Next stop, Zozo.