		========================================================
			     FINAL FANTASY IX U.S. VERSION
		    	     ALEXANDRIA BOOK SURVIVAL GUIDE
					v. 2.3

				     by Ruk Chan
				 kraiders@yahoo.com
			        http://www.disc13.com
		========================================================


============================
INTRODUCTION
============================

[v. 2.3 January 15, 2001] - Okay, a few people have added their suggestions on beating
		this boss so I'm listing their methods here, which I think would be
		highly useful to most of you out there.

		I also have to change some minor typo errors which I always do a lot...
		Remember when I said "Kyaro" instead of "Harmonia" in my Suikoden 2 
		guide?  Well, I did it again by saying "Treno" instead of "Alexandria"
		in some parts of this guide.  Thanks to the many people who pointed this 
		out to me.  *Sigh* It's really hard when you're both working 8 to 5 and 
		going through post-graduate studies at the same time.  Wait till I get 
		my doctorate... you'd all be complaining about the characters' names by
		that time, I'm sure. ^_-


[v. 2.0 January 08, 2001] - He he, I obviously had a lot of spare time in my hands
		at the office so I had updated 3 other FAQs (Suikoden II, FFVIII and
		Lunar 2).  Anyways, I finally got the name of the book, it's
		Tantarian (a month and a half of doing nothing but re-playing FF9
		makes you go crazy).

		I also added a few notes about Vivi.


[v. 1.0 November 23, 2000] - Hmmm...  I just can't find the English name of this book.
		(I idiotically overwrote my saved file so I can't check >_< )
		Maybe I'll just keep it that way in case we get Portugese and French
		translations, or even Mandarin!  At least everybody knows it by its
		solitary distinction of being one of the most annoying bosses in the 
		history of FFIX.  OH!  And that it's found in Alexandria Castle's
		Library.


A lot of my friends have complained about the difficulty of this boss inside
the Alexandria Castle Library.  Is this thing the Omega Weapon of Final Fantasy IX?
Many people have asked this.

It actually took me 4-5 resets (I can't exactly remember 'cause I think I 
literally got dazed and confused) before I finally realized how stupid I was and 
saw the pattern.

Anyway, here is how I survived this battle with all my characters alive...



============================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
============================================

I.  Basic Information

II. Useful Abilities, Items and Equipment

III. The Battle

IV.  Winning

V. Credits


============================================
I.  BASIC INFORMATION
============================================

You can begin battling this horrid creature in disc 1.  I battled it in Disc 3, though, 
and I'm thankful because I already have learned great abilities.  If you want to learn
auto-haste earlier in the game, however, perhaps you can try your luck in disc 1.

Anyways, on with the directions...
In Treno Castle's main hall, before you go up the stairs to Garnet's bedroom, 
there are two main libraries. Go to the left-hand side door and then go to the very back 
of this library.

There is a strange book on the last shelf on the bottom area of the left-hand side corner.
If you go near the corner of the shelf, a question mark (?) will appear on top of Zidane's
head.  When this happens, press X.

It will ask you if you would like to listen or not.  Choose the first option.

Then it will ask again if you would like to challenge it or not.  Choose to challenge it.

Now, your battle begins.


============================================
II.  USEFUL ABILITIES, ITEMS & EQUIPMENT
============================================

NOTE: It isn't necessary to have all of these.  They just kind of kept my
characters alive.

Also, not all the items where the abilities can be learned from are listed here.
The equipment listed are the ones available before the battle.


A.  Abilities
	1.  Freya's Reis Wind
		LEARNED FROM: Mythril Spear
		USE: Regen on all party members

	2.  Auto-potion
		LEARNED FROM: Gold Choker, Survival Vest, Magician Robe
		USE:  D-uh!  Doesn't the name already speak for itself?  It heals
		automatically everytime a character gets hit.

		NOTE: Just remember that it's important that Vivi has this ability
		equipped.  If you don't have this, it's ok, but it would
		be easier if you do.

	3.  Amarant's Chakra
		LEARNED FROM: Cat's Claws
		USE: Minimal restoration of HP and MP

	4.  Gamble Defense
		LEARNED FROM: Barette, Twisted Headband
		USE: Strengthens defense at random occasions

	5.  Antibody
		LEARNED FROM: Glass Armlet, Survival Vest
		USE: This item guards against poison.

		NOTE: This is also recommended for Vivi, and at least 2 other party
		members.

	6.  Counterattack
		LEARNED FROM: Power Belt, Ritual Hat
		USE: Character attacks automatically when being attacked.

	7.  Steal 
		LEARNED FROM: Zidane's default skill
		USE: You will not believe the number of great items you can
		get from this thing!  Now, if you have Steal, it would
		probably be great if you can also equip Bandit.

		IMPORTANT NOTE: When stealing, make sure you DON'T have Mug
			equipped.  Mug will most definitely ruin your chances
			of having a relaxed battle.

	8.  Bandit
		LEARNED FROM: Mythril Dagger
		USE: Increases your chances of successful stealing.


B.  Items - Its recommended to save lots of items when you go through different
	quests.  That way, those items that can't be bought can be used for
	emergency purposes.

	Zidane's greatest ability, in my opinion, is Steal, since I
	was able to get all those rare items through using this method throughout
	the entire game.  As in, if you keep stealing since Disc 1, you'd probably
	have a decent rare medicines collection.

	1.  Ether (just in case Vivi runs out of MP, but I doubt it would)
	2.  Hi-Potion
	3.  Phoenix Down
	4.  Potion - Having 99 of these would probably keep you at ease
		throughout the battle if you have Auto-Potion equipped (heh)


C.  Equipment - Actually you can use anything for everybody else, just give Vivi at 
	least the Oak Staff and Fire-Elem Atk booster accessories.

	What I did was equip everybody (except Vivi) with the weapons that have abilities 
	they have not learned yet.  It doesn't really matter if the weapons are weak
	since you won't be using physical attacks as your main method of killing
	the boss.




============================================
III.  THE BATTLE
============================================

If you battled this annoying little critter in Disc 3, then you probably don't have a 
choice but to use Zidane, Freya, Vivi, and Amarant.  That also means you have no
white mages.  Tough luck ^_^  he he.  Actually it's easy, so don't fret.

At least you won't have to reset several times like I did.

Anyways...




There are two phases that you must watch out for:


A.  WHEN THE BOOK IS CLOSED...

Okay to start off, pray that the book doesn't do the Paper Storm attack because
if your Freya has only 800+ HP, she'd be killed instantly.  If it does do the Paper
Storm attack and kills your Freya, feed her with a Phoenix Down, and then when it's
her turn, have her cast Reis Wind.  This will cause your party to have Regen
abilities.

Now, I had been informed by Ben Wommack <opuelas@napanet.net> that the Paper Storm 
attack is actually a physical attack.  Isn't that great!  Now, all you have to do is
put everybody else at the back.  This way no one gets killed (yes even Freya stays 
alive).

Let Vivi focus on his first turn, then have him on standby, in case somebody gets
killed when you need that character, so you'd have a healer besides Freya.  
Just press triangle to skip him without restarting his ATB.  You don't want to have 
all your characters' hands full in case you need to use one of them for emergency 
purposes.

Have Zidane attack the book when it's closed.  Physical attacks will open the book.
Never mind that you are only doing so little damage to it.  It has been my experience
that Jump closed the book.

Amarant should either attack the book or use Chakra to keep him alive.  Be careful with
Zidane and Amarant's turns.  Attack only when Zidane has finished his move or vice-versa 
and attack only when the book is closed.  If you can trance, then there's no stopping you,
just go unleash it out on the book.  Kevin Teoh <kteoh85@yahoo.com> says his Grand Lethal
does massive damage even when the book is closed.

Sorry, I don't recommend Amarant's Spare Change.  I guess it's because I'm a stingy person 
when it comes to money matters.  You go use it if you don't really care much about money.

Most players just attack without thinking as soon as their ATBs are full.  Please avoid
doing this.  One of your characters might accidentally end up attacking when the book is 
exposing the real villain.

If somebody dies, just let him or her die.  It's important to have Vivi and one other
character alive, in case the book casts Doom on Vivi.  If the Doom takes effect on Vivi,
revive him (only when he dies) and quickly give him Hi-Potion.



B.  WHEN THE BOOK OPENS AND...

When the book opens and a blue creature comes out and says, "I've been found!" or 
something to that effect, DO NOT ATTACK IT PHYSICALLY.

Have Vivi revive one dead character, and then on his next turn, just let him cast Fira.
Fira seems to be the most powerful basic elemental spell here.  But if you already have 
higher level spells, by all means, use them ^_^

In my sister's game Blizzara was her most powerful spell, while in SlimShany@aol.com's
it was Bio.  I guess it just depends on the player's game.

The revived characters should, in turn, revive more characters and start healing each other,
 while Vivi is doing major butt-kicking.  Freya should be casting Reis Wind again because
it would have already worn off (that's if your characters died previously).

Zidane's main ability here, which is Steal, should be put into action.  I think I got around
3 items from this book, and I can only remember the last one, which is a Silver Fork for one
of my favorite characters (Quina).  I dunno if it's just me or it was easier to steal from the
book when it is opened.

"Jon" <wolfviking@qwest.net> told me that the 3 items you can get from the book are Ether,
 Elixir, Silver Fork and Demon's Mail.  No wonder I've had that Demon's mail in my inventory
while some of my friends don't.  Oh, well! ^_^

The book creature will only lay vulnerable for a LONG LONG time IF Vivi is casting black
magic spells on it.  Physical attacks will close the book and you'd have to go through all
the trouble of exposing the blue critter again.

The book will eventually close though, but only after Vivi has done some considerable damage
to it.

If this happens, you can now go back to your old pattern of trying to open the book and 
keeping Vivi alive.



============================================
IV.  WINNING THE BATTLE
============================================

If you win this battle, you'll get lots of AP (30, I believe), and Running Shoes.  Running
shoes will let your characters learn Auto-Haste -- a very useful item indeed!

This battle is really worth all the trouble, now all you gotta do now is find Quina and
equip your new (stolen) fork on him!  Yeah!

And that Demon Mail works best if you wanna defeat Ozma and Hades in the end of the game...
Whoops, that probably answers your question of whether Tantarian (the book) is the Omega 
Weapon of FFIX.  There are still Hades (who was a wuss) and Ozma (who was another wuss) in 
the 4th disc.


============================================
V.  CREDITS
============================================

To my annoying brother Pau, who kept heckling me throughout the battle and saying I don't
have the brains of a tactician.  I finished the battle nevertheless  ;p   ;p   ;p

To my dear sister Jov, who kept her mouth shut during the battle, even though she already
defeated the book and knew what to do.

For the additional tips and tricks:
- Kevin Teoh <kteoh85@yahoo.com>
- Jon <wolfviking@qwest.net> for providing info about the stolen items
- Ben Wommack <opuelas@napanet.net> for telling me that Paper Storm is a physical attack
- SlimShany@aol.com for the additional input about Bio


============================
DISCLAIMER
============================

Under no circumstances can the content of this FAQ sheet be copied.  If
you want this on your page, please give me and my sources proper credit,
and this FAQ must remain intact, without any alterations whatsoever.

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FINAL FANTASY IX is copyright 2000 by Square Soft Ltd.  FINAL FANTASY and 
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