WILD ARMS 2

Author: David Blake
Alias: iamnothing
E-Mail: iamnothing@inconnu.isu.edu
Version: 0.1

Copyright (c) 2000 by David Blake. This document is for personal, not-for-
profit use only. It may not be modified or sold without the express permission
of David Blake. To use this FAQ/WT on your site, contact me at: 
iamnothing@inconnu.isu.edu for the most current version of the FAQ and to be 
added to my updates list.

Section 1 : Version Information
Section 2 : Controls
Section 3 : Adventuring Explained
Section 4 : Story
Section 5 : Characters
Section 6 : Battle System
Section 7 : Magic System
Section 8 : Walkthrough
Section 9 : Personal Skills
Section 10: Bestiary
Section 11: Bosses
Section 12: Monster Abilities / Attacks
Section 13: ARM Upgrades
Section 14: Medium List
Section 15: Crest Locations
Section 16: Item List
Section 17: Books
Section 18: Cool Things to Do
Section 19: Secrets/Codes
Section 20: Acknowledgments

===============================================================================
Section 1 : Version Information

This is the first RPG that I've made a FAQ for and am still finding my 
bearings. Please forgive as I change and modify this a million times to make it
presentable.

     0.1 - Began documenting the game and generated information from the 
           manual. Tried to come up with an overall structure for the document.

===============================================================================
Section 2 : Controls

D-Pad
  Moves the character / moves the cursor in menus
Start
  Start Game / TOOLs menu / Changes the lead character
Select
  Displays the World Map
R1 / L1
  Rotates Camera
R2 / L2 
  Scrolls pages up/down in menu/combat screens
Triangle
  Display menu / help message inside menus
Circle
  Activate encounter cancel system / Cancel a menu selection
Square 
  Use TOOL / Search (on main map)
X
  Talks to people or investigates objects / used in dungeons to solve various
  puzzles / hold down to perform a dash

===============================================================================
Section 3 : Adventuring Explained

The search system is kind cool. By pushing the SQUARE button while in the 
field, you can often find Gella or items. You also have to utilize the search
system to find locations and signposts, so use it often. Right now I'm kind of
obsessive about using it since I've found several scattered Gella around the
different locations I've been to.

When you encounter an enemy, an exclamation point will appear over your 
character's head. If the exclamation is white, then you can escape the battle 
by pushing the CIRCLE button (or the SQUARE in the field). This allows you to 
avoid weak enemies that will slow you down and give you shallow returns later 
in the game. It's good to see RPG makers catching on that this is a good thing.
If the exclamation point is red, then you have to fight (usually at a 
disadvantage, like being surprised or ambushed).

As is the usual fare for RPG's, talk to everyone you encounter. Sometimes they
have relevant stuff to tell you, and other times...well, it's just fun (though
not as fun as some of the minor characters in Thousand Arms; "Ah, I'm destined 
to stay in this room forever, but what do you care? I'm only a minor 
character...").

Targeting took me a second until I realized the camera was my best friend 
(unlike in Excitebike 64 or Alundra 2). When lining up a diagonal shot, rotate 
the camera so that it is lined up with the object you are targeting. Then push 
forward and you'll automatically face the object. I guess reading the manual is 
good.

===============================================================================
Section 4 : Story

(from Sony Interactive)
Once there was a Blaze of Disaster that stained Filgaia with its crimson 
flames...The flames from the earth scorched the heavens. The blazing whirlwinds 
threatened to consume the very future of the planet. Mankind clung to its only 
hope of surviving this life-or- death crisis: the Sword Magess. Born as the 
daughter of a nameless petty noblemen, she was drawn to the call of the 
Guardian Blade named "Argetlahm." With no way to fight, the people cast their 
hopes on the Magess' sword and believed in the future.

The night of the seventh day after obtaining the sword--wrapped in a torrent of 
light, the Magess vanished from Filgaia together with the Blaze of Disaster, 
leaving behind Argetlahm plunged deep in the earth

Time passed. The Guardian Blade Argetlahm began to be treated as a symbol of 
power. The battle of the Sword Magess remained in the hearts of the people as a 
familiar, ubiquitous legend. But legends of the past would have meaning in the 
present--and in the future.

===============================================================================
Section 5 : Characters

(from Sony Interactive)
First of all, I'll cover the main playable characters and their different 
abilities. Then I'll hit up the supporting cast.
 _____________________________________________________________________________
| NAME: Ashley Winchester                                                     |
| CLASS: Gun Warrior                                                          |
| AGE: 19                                                                     |
| HEIGHT: 5'8"                                                                |
| BIRTHPLACE: Town of Meria                                                   |
| FAVORITE HERO: Anything Crimson                                             |
| TOOLS: Hurl Knife, Booty Call, Flare Gun                                    |
|                                                                             |
| Ashley is a young man belonging to a Musketeer brigade in the seaside Town  |
| of Meria. Strong willed with a fierce sense of righteousness, Ashley set    |
| out to battle the crisis facing Filgaia after being chosen as a member of   |
| the Agile Remote Mission Squad (ARMS). Contrary to his gentle demeanor, he  |
| has become quite skilled at wielding a huge bayonet.                        |
|                                                                             |
| Bayonet Ability                                                             |
|   - Shotweapon  : attacks a single enemy                                    |
|   - MultiBlast  : attacks a group of enemies                                |
|   - BoltAction  : dual shot/slash attack on 1 enemy                         |
|   - DeadorAlive : probability of sudden death                               |
| Force Abilities (and level)                                                 |
|   1 Accelerator : Boosts the response speed to be sure to attack first.     |
|                   Happens on the next turn.                                 |
|   2 Combine     : Summons the Guardian in the Medium worn by the character  |
|   3 Full Clip   : Fires all the ammo loaded in the ARM for a heavy attack   |
|   4 Access      : Releases Ashley's hidden powers                           |
|_____________________________________________________________________________|

 _____________________________________________________________________________
| NAME: Brad Evans                                                            |
| CLASS: Prisoner No. 666                                                     |
| AGE: 32                                                                     |
| HEIGHT: 6'6"                                                                |
| BIRTHPLACE: Slayheim                                                        |
| FAVORITE INSECT: Beetle                                                     |
| TOOLS: Kick Boots, Bombs, Earthquake                                        |
|                                                                             |
| Brad was a hero, a soldier in the Slayheim Liberation Army. Certain         |
| circumstances drove him out of the army until he was arrested and locked up |
| in a high-security prison filled with the hardest of criminals. An expert   |
| in firearms, he also has much experience in handling explosives. He is a    |
| brilliant warrior who faces difficulties with cold, calculating judgment.   |                              
|                                                                             |
|                                                                             |
| Heavy ARM                                                                   |
|   - Bazooka     : attacks single enemy with mini- grenades                  |
|   - AM Cluster  : randomly attacks all enemies with an anti-monster missile |
|                   unit                                                      |
|   - Mini Scud   : attacks a single enemy with a portable missile launcher   |
|   - Sky eye     : Attacks a group of enemies with a satellite based anti-   |
|                   ground beam weapon                                        |
| Force Abilities (and level)                                                 |
|   1 Lock on     : Hit probability of Heavy ARM 100%                         |
|   2 Combine     : Summons the Guardian in the Medium worn by the character  |
|   3 ARM x2      : Use two Heavy ARM attacks at once                         |
|   4 Boost       : triples attack power of Heavy ARM                         |
|_____________________________________________________________________________|
		  
 _____________________________________________________________________________
| NAME: Lilka Eleniak                                                         |
| CLASS: Crest Sorceress                                                      |
| AGE: 14                                                                     |
| HEIGHT: 5'                                                                  |
| BIRTHPLACE: Sielje Region                                                   |
| FAVORITE FOOD: Jelly Rolls                                                  |
| TOOLS: Fire Rod, Freeze Rod, Change Rod                                     |
|                                                                             |
| Lilka is a sorceress just starting out. Though clumsy and scatterbrained    |
| with a terrible sense of direction, she still has a boundlessly cheery and  |
| forward-looking disposition, so she dictates the mood of the party. Ever    |
| since she was young, she has had an inferiority complex when compared to    |
| her older sister who was better at everything. She is now constantly        |
| struggling to become a greater sorceress than her older sister.             |
|                                                                             |
| Crest Sorcery                                                               |
|   - See the Magic section for more information                              |
| Force Abilities (and level)                                                 |
|   1 Mystic      : Brings out hidden effects of items.                       |
|   2 Combine     : Summons the Guardian in the Medium worn by the character  |
|   3 Extend      : Extends the range of spells.                              |
|   4 DualCast    : Cast two spells at once.                                  |
|_____________________________________________________________________________|

Tim Rhymeless
  Tim is a boy with gentle features. He has the amazing power of being able to
  communicate with the Guardians.

Kanon
  Kanon is a female warrior with her eye on Ashley. Known as a "Merc," she is a
  bounty hunter who wanders the land.

Anastasia
  Anastasia is the legendary heroine known as the "Sword Magess." She vanished
  together with the "Blaze of Disaster" who had attacked the land of Filgaia.

Lucied
  Lucied is the Guardian of Desire. He is said to have cooperated with the 
  "Sword of the Magess" in the battle against the "Blaze of Disaster."
  
Irving Vold Valeria
  Irving is a nobleman who lives near the Town of Meria. He bought the rights 
  to ARMS on the verge of its collapse and built it into a private, independent
  guerrilla squad. He is a dependable leader for Ashley & Co.
  
Altaecia Rune Valeria
  Altaecia is Irving's twin sister. A woman with a gentle mind and a mild
  disposition, she has taken it upon herself to pull cafeteria duty for ARMS.
  
Marina Irington
  Marina is a childhood friend of Ashley's. She and Ashley have become aware of
  their feelings for each other but they have not been able to express 
  themselves truthfully.

Vinsfeld Rhadamanthus
  Leader of the terrorist organization named Odessa. He is aiming to use his
  powerful charisma and overwhelming military power as weapons to establish a
  dictatorship over Filgaia.

Caina
  Officer of Odessa and member of Cocytus. Although, the youngest member, she
  is a powerful summoner who manipulates Randolph the Magic Key.
  
Antenora
  Officer of Odessa. She excels at assassination and as a front-line 
  strategist.

Ptolomea
  Officer of Odessa and member of Cocytus. He excels at warfare with modern
  weapons. He is popular with his subordinates.
  
Judecca
  Officer of Odessa and member of Cocytus. The owner of an obstinate 
  personality, he is an expert on guns.

===============================================================================
Section 6 : Battle System

The battle system is rather simple to understand, though the manual devotes
multiple pages to it. Basically, you select icon choices and confirm your 
selection like in most RPG's.

  Battle Icons Level 1                Battle Icons Level 2
         EQUIP                              POWERS
  AUTO  ATTACK   RUN                 ITEM   ATTACK   DEFEND
         FORM                               CUSTOM

Battle Icons Level 1 Explained:
EQUIP  - Allows you to equip armor and weapons.
AUTO   - The computer takes over according to the settings you set up in the
         options screen (default is attack only w/o magic).
ATTACK - Opens Battle Icons Level 2 Screen
RUN    - Attempt to escape battle
FORM   - Change your party's formation in battle for a strategic advantage.

Battle Icons Level 2 Explained
POWERS - Access the character's special powers (ie. magic, force attacks, etc.)
ITEM   - Use an item.
ATTACK - Swing or shoot the enemy.
DEFEND - Reduce the damage to yourself by hiding behind a shield.
CUSTOM - Used to utilize the abilities for the Medium you have equipped.

===============================================================================
Section 7 : Magic System

The create a spell at the Magic shops located around the world of Filgaia, you
need to have a Magic Crest. Each Crest can hold a single spell, and can be 
wiped clean and used for another spell if you need to change your magical 
lineup. Here is a basic list of the Level 1 spells available in Meria.

        +------------+------------+------------+--------+
  Lv. 1 |     GEO    |    FLAME   |    WING    |  MUSE  |
+-------+------------+------------+------------+--------+
|  GEO  |    Break   |   Shield   | Air Screen |  Heal  |
+-------+------------+------------+------------+--------+
| FLAME |   Protect  |   Flame    |    Spark   | Dispel |
+-------+------------+------------+------------+--------|
| WING  | Rise&Shine | MageWeapon |   Vortex   | Freeze |
+-------+------------+------------+------------+--------+
| MUSE  |   Revive   |   Reflect  |    Quick   |  Aqua  |
+-------+------------+------------+------------+--------+

I'm going to recheck these when I get home.
 _________________________________________________________
| Spell Name  | Description                         | FP |
|_____________|______________________________________|____|
| Air Screen  | attacks a single enemy (Wind)        | 12 |
| Aqua        | attacks a single enemy (Water)       | 12 |    
| Break       | attacks a single enemy (Earth)       | 12 |
| Dispel      | cancels magical attacks from enemies | ?? |
| Flame       | attacks a single enemy (Fire)        | 12 |
| Freeze      | attacks a single enemy (Ice)         | 12 |
| Heal        | Restores a little HP to an ally      |  5 |
| MageWeapon  | Raises the physical attack power     | 25 |
|             | of an ally                           | -- |
| Protect     | raises the magical defense power     |  8 |
|             | of an ally                           | -- |
| Quick       | Raises single ally's speed           | ?? |
| Reflect     | Reverse spell effects back to enemy  | ?? |
| Revive      | Revives a single fallen friend       | 10 |
| Rise&Shine  | awakens a single sleeping ally       | 10 |
| Shield      | protects a single ally               | ?? |
| Spark       | attacks a single enemy (lightning)   | 12 |
| Vortex      | Whirlwind attack                     | ?? |
|_____________|______________________________________|____|

===============================================================================
Section 8 : Walkthrough

All directions are according to the compass pointer. If you are unsure of your 
direction, rotate the camera until it is pointing north and follow the 
directions.

I have included story elements in *** STORY *** tags to enable players who 
leave the game for a while (like all summer when you should be outside having
fun) to know what has commenced. Do NOT read ahead in the walkthrough or much
of the game will be ruined.

*********************************** AS ASHLEY *********************************

   *** STORY ***
You are on your way to where a kidnapper has a child hostage. Name your 
character (which I will refer to as Ashley) and enter the Withered Ruins.
   *** STORY ***

+---------------------------+ The Withered Ruins +----------------------------+
| Items: Gimel Coin, Mini Carrot, Hurl Knife TOOL, Heal Berry (x3), Bullet    |
|        Load, STR Apple                                                      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Talk to the other soldiers in the main room. Enter the southwest door and talk 
to the musketeer to learn more about the Mercs. Exit and go in the southeast 
door and talk to the soldier. He will tell you about the Continue system. Get 
the Gimel Coin from the chest and enter the southeastern door. Climb the stairs 
and go north. Navigate the walkway and talk to the Musketeer. The kidnappers 
are three laborers from Meria. Continue along the walkway and enter the 
southwest door. Get the Mini Carrot from the chest. Go back down and to the 
main room. Enter the southern door near the medic. Talk to the Musketeers. When 
the one near the hole moves, jump in the hole. Talk to the wounded man. He'll 
give you the Hurl Knife TOOL and open the door. 

Enter the doorway and get the Heal Berry from the Chest. Exit and head back 
along the hall past the guy who gave you the Hurl Knife and through the door. 
Climb the stairs and get the Heal Berry from the chest. Enter the eastern door. 
Throw a knife at the switch behind the hole. Enter the eastern door. Go down 
the hall and through the door. Climb the stairs and enter the northeastern 
door. Cross the blocks quickly in this room and look for stable flooring. Get 
the Heal Berries from the chests (don't jump down). Enter the northern door.

Head west and pick up the gems to revive Hit Points. Exit the southwest door. 
Talk to the Musketeer.

Here is the first mini-puzzle. Follow the map:

   2        1   -'s are stable walkways.
   -  --X-- -   X's are break-away blocks.
   -  -   - -
  -----  ----
  -   ----  X
  -      -  -
  -----  -X--
  -   -    -
  -   -  ----
  ---X----  -
  X-    -   -
  --    X   -
  --    -----
   3       -
           X
           4 <- Throw your knife at the switch.

Enter door 2 and open the chest for a Bullet Load. Hurl your knife at the 
switch (4) and enter door number 3. Jump down and talk to the health official. 
Continue north and save. Cross the walkway, getting the gems and enter the 
southwest door. Get the gems and continue south. Take the souththern walkway 
down and around the pillar. Hit the pillar with your knife so that it will fall 
on the switch. Enter the southern door. Jump down to the next highest level to 
get all of the gems and the STR Apple from the chest. Exit the western door. 
Follow the hall to listen in on the kidnappers. 

   *** STORY ***
It seems they've stolen an orhpan names Tony. After a comical staging, you 
realize that Kalivos has been awakened by your plan. The soldiers order the 
ruins destroyed. You decide to fight Kalivos.
   *** STORY ***

    BOSS FIGHT - Kalivos
Kalivos
Right Claw - HP: 200
Left Claw  - HP: 200
Kalivos    - HP: 400
Attacks: L Claw, R Claw, Dual Claw, Laser Beam
XP: ???
Gella: ???

Take out each claw and then hit the body for the maximum experience points. 
Heal when necessary.

After the battle, Ashley is put on house arrest. It is time to select another 
character.

SAVE POINT

************************************ AS BRAD **********************************

+-------------------------------------- Forest -------------------------------+
| Items: Heal Berry (x6), STR Apple, VIT Apple, Kick Boots TOOL, Big Berry,   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Five years ago...

Brad is on the run. Name him and head north (the south path is barracaded). Get
the Heal Berry from the northwestern chest. Save the gems until you need them.
Get another Heal Berry from the eastern chest. Continue north. Take the 
northwest path for some more gems and STR Apple. Head back around and take the 
northeast path. Jump down and continue north. Get the gems and keep going north 
until you come to five crates crates. Pick them up and break them. Inside the 
one behind the tree is a Heal Berry. Go north. Go to the edge of the cliff. 
There isno turning back from here.

Jump down the eastern side of the cliff and get the VIT Apple from the chest. 
Jump down to the next one to get the gems. There are five boxes. The middle one 
has a Heal Berry in it. Continue north.

   *** STORY ***
A puppy will jump out and run to the guards to the north. Brad jumps behind a 
tree. The guards are fooled by the puppy and continue their search elsewhere.
The puppy comes back and somehow gives Brad a Heal Berry. It also joins you.
   *** STORY ***
 
Continue north. Head east. Enter the double doors and go into the small room to 
the east. Get the Kick Boots TOOL. Save your game.

Exit the building and kick the south eastern gate. Enter the shed behind the 
building. Get the Big Berry. Exit and continue around behind the shed. Get the 
Bullet Load from the chest. Go back around the building and exit to the west. 
Break the boxes and head north. Break the boxes and continue north. Break the 
single box for a Heal Berry. Kick the pillar. You will shake loose the rope 
slide and jump on board. Continue north.

Get the gems and continue. Two recruits will see you duck back into the cliffs.
They're from T'Bok village and  want to capture you for credit to end their 
mercenary work. Suddenly, a monster chimes in. The villagers don't know what to 
do. Brad runs to the rescue.

     BOSS FIGHT - Gremalkin
Belly     - HP : 450
Gremalkin - HP : 540
XP : 100
Gella : 500
Special Attacks: Parasite Battalian (20), Roaring Busrt (30), Chest Buster (<5)

Kill the belly first and then the beast for full experience. You should be 
about Level 3 by now.

+--------------------------------- World Map ---------------------------------+
| Items: RES Apple, Gella (5)                                                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The soldiers decide to wait, and Brad get's out of the forest. Just east of the 
forest's exit, there is five Gella if you use the search function (SQUARE). 
Just south of there in the forest is a RES Apple. Head northwest and you'll 
find T'Bok village. Enter the village.

   *** STORY ***
Brad passes out and is nursed back to health by Merril. If you tell her that 
the puppy is yours, you can name it. From now on, I'll call it Rassyu. There is 
a commotion outside. Merril runs out to see what is going on. The army is 
there. Brad makes a grand entrace when the army threatens the village. They 
take Brad into custody because you want to spare the lives of the village.
   *** STORY ***

SAVE POINT.

************************************ AS LILKA *********************************

   *** STORY ***
Lilka accidentally appears on the table during a town meeting. It seems her
teleportation gem has run amuck again on her way to the Valeria household. She
decides to spend the night. During dinner, she explains about the use of magic
and how the teleport gem has it in for her. The scene disolves to the Millenium
Puzzle.
   *** STORY ***

+---------------------------+ The Millenium Puzzle +--------------------------+
| Items: none                                                                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The trick to noticing the moving blocks, is to notice that the sides are 
different than the rest of the blocks. They have a solid color while the other 
blocks are patterned.

You need to trigger the remaining three switchboxes like your sister showed 
you with the first one. Head south to the teleportation gem. Save your game.
Continue south to the next teleportation gem. Stand on the discolored block and 
shoot the central switchbox with your Fire Rod. Climb the grade and shoot the 
east switchbox. Then shoot the western switchbox.

Take the western walkway and enter the teleportation gem (the southern and 
eastern gems lead back to each other and a lot of life gems if you need them; 
it also helps out a lot with your experience points and levels). Continue west 
to the switchbox. Stand on the block next to the higher block and shoot the 
switchbox. Continue south, jumping down the blocks, and through the 
teleportation gem. Walk up to the switchbox and activate it. Shoot it again 
when you are on a normal block. This will move the next block into place. Stand 
on the block and rotate the camera to line yourself up with the switchblock. 
Shoot it. Go through the eastern teleport gem. Continue east and south, getting 
the gems. Jump down and shoot the switchbox under the path you just jumped down 
from. This lowers the obstructing blocks and allows you to continue south. Go 
to the south side of the pillar and stand on the discolored block. Shoot the 
switchbox. Enter the teleporter. Shoot the switchbox. This will open a new area
and take the remaining switchboxes left to open at two.

Save your game to the south and then enter the new teleport gem. Cross over the
central blocks and shoot the eastern switchbox. Now shoot the western switchbox
(closest to you). Climb the ramp and cross the boxes.

Take the southern route and enter the teleportation gem (the northern route is 
a dead end with a few gems). Go down the ramp and head west. Get the life gems 
and enter the next teleporter gem. Jump down and stand on the discolored block 
to the far west. Shoot the switchbox. Enter the northern teleport gem. Continue 
around the pillar, getting the life gems, and enter the northern teleport gem 
if you need more life gems. Otherwise jump down to the path below. Walk to the 
discolored block to the west and shoot the switchbox. Take the western 
teleporter. Stand on the block behind the pillar and activate the switchbox. 
Enter the teleport gem. 

Shoot the switchbox. There's only one left. Head south to save and then enter 
the new eastern teleport gem. There are several paths from this room. It looks
like:

   1   2                The numbers (1-5) are the teleportation gems.
   -   -                The -'s are normal blocks.
 --E---E---------       The O's are the switchboxes.
-----O-------O--E---5   The E's are elevator blocks stand on them and rotate
 --E---E---------         the camera to shoot the switchboxes
   -   -
   3   4

1 leads to some life gems and a pillar three blocks high.
2 leads to some life gems and a pillar two blocks high.
3 leads to some life gems and a pillar one block high.
4 leads to some life gems and a pillar three blocks high.

in 5, raise the blocks to the following heights according to the previous 
rooms:

  3  2
  1  3

This will open up the pathway. Head along it to the east and enter the teleport 
gem. Stand on the block east of the pillar and shoot the switchbox. Enter the 
teleport gem.

   *** STORY ***
The main gate will open and your sister's cries will become muffled and 
distant. The scene cuts back to the table where Lilka was eating before the 
Millenium Puzzle. It seems that the village is having a monster problem. And
the dialogue uses emoticons
   *** STORY ***

+------------------------------+ Palace Village +-----------------------------+
| Items: ??                                                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Talk to the mother about Mercs and then go upstairs to talk to to the child and 
read the Trail of the Comet from the bookcase. Exit the house.

The general setup of Palace Village is as follows (the numbers are doorways):

       3  4       7   
  1      S      5     
 2                6   
                            
     8 9   10       

1.  Beginning house
2.  Shed next to the beginning house
3.  ???
4.  ???
5.  Personal Skills
6.  Item Store
7.  Granary
8.  Tool Shop
9.  Magic Shop
10. Inn

Talk to everyone in town. When you've talked to the everyone, the monster 
attacks the granary.

    BOSS FIGHT - Olivier
HP: Leg (200), Olivier (400)
Abilities: Bufoooooh (30), Olivier Juice (17), 
XP: 60
Gella: 250 
Items: 
Weaknesses: Flame
Strengths: Freeze (gives HP)
Locations: Palace Village

   *** STORY ***
The town is happy, as is Lilka. "V is for Victory, sucka!" They give her a 
teleport gem, which whe uses to spirit her away She only hopes to get the 
Valeria home.
   *** STORY ***

SAVE POINT.

*********************************** AS ASHLEY *********************************

   *** STORY ***
A commet dirupts the heavens and a mysterious girl runs to town. Marina, the 
bakers's daughter opens the window and wakes Ashley up. He has visitors.
   *** STORY ***

+--------------------------------+ Town of Meria +----------------------------+
| Items: RES Apple, Bullet Load, Kitten, Crest Cap, Heal Berry (x2), 10-Gal   |
| Hat, Gimel Coin, Full Revive                                                |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Get the RES Apple and Bullet Load from the barrels near the door. Leave the 
room and head downstairs. Go out the front door. It's Tony. He introduces you 
to his two friends, Scott and Tim. Tell them that you'll help them and they ask 
you to catch a kitten who is on the roof othe bakery. 

The town is set up like:
          13
      12      11
    9            8
    10           7
      4       1
    5     S      2
      6       3

1. Bakery
2. Magic Shop
3. ARMS Shop
4. Inn
5. Item Shop/Personal Skills Shop
6. Personal Skills Shop
7. Private residence (explains the counter cancel feature). Search barrels for
   a Heal Berry.
8. Private Residence. Tells you that you can reach the roof from the 2nd story
   of the bakery. Search the barrels for a 10-Gal Hat. Read the ARM 
   Modifications book in the bookcase.
9. Private residence. Search the barrel for a Heal Berry. Search the counter
   a bad King Arthur reference. The resident is a perceptice old geezer. 
10. A pathway onto the roof.
11. Room with cats. Search the barrels for a Gimel Coin. Search the bookshelves
    and read "They who are known as Mercs."
12. Private residence. Find information on the Valeria Chateau later.
13. Castle Entrace. There is a Full Revive in the carrier. There is a Big Berry
    in a barrel in the soldier's quarters.

Enter the bakery and climb onto the roof. The cat will run away. Follow it 
around the rooftops. Talk to the guy who's fixing the hole in the Inn's roof. 
Head east. The cat will jump back to the bakery's roof. Talk to the guy again 
and ask him to help you catch the cat. Jump down in the hole and make the trek 
back up to the bakery's roof. Follow the cat again and the guy will chase it 
into the hole. Jump in the hole and get the kitten from the corner. Tony will 
give you the Crest Cap you got from the kitten as a gift. Tim will give you the 
Medium Grudiev. 

   *** STORY ***
Marina delivers a message to Ashley. It seems he's been assigned to a special 
squad. Marina is not happy about it, and Ashley is confused since he was 
confined to quarters for insubordination. Ashley wonders what kind of 
relationship he has with Marina. The next morning everyone in town shows up to
see him off except for Marina. His Knighthood is to take place at the Sword 
Cathedral at the foot of the mountain far to the northwest. As he is about to 
leave, Marina makes her entrance. He promisses to come back after the ceremony 
and takes his leave.
   *** STORY ***

+----------------------------+ Outside Meria +--------------------------------+
| Items: Gella (6)                                                            |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
There are two sections of forest where Ashley can find Gella (5 and 1). Since
he gets more for attacking monsters, just forget finding these. Head west along 
the coast. Approach the mountain near the sandy beach and search. The Sword 
Cathedral will appear. Enter it.

+---------------------------+ Sword Cathedral +-------------------------------+
| Items: ??                                                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   *** STORY ***
Agile Remote Mission Squad (ARMS) is being formed to aid in the increasing 
frequency of monster attacks. Those just Knighted will be blessed by the Sword
Magess. Ashley must attempt to draw the Guardian Blade, Argetlalm, though those
around him believe it cannot be done. After a cool cut-scene describing the
history of the Sword Magess, Ashley is chatting up the other knights in the 
dining hall. It seems he didn't do any better than the rest of them.
   *** STORY ***

Talk to all of the Knights. 

   *** STORY ***
After a conversation with the commander, the earth shakes and huge vortex opens 
in the middle of the Cathedral. The Knights begin to mutate. Ashley and the 
remaining unchanged knights run for the front gate. It's locked. They all begin 
to change. Ashley hears an inner voice telling him to destroy all the rest of 
them. Ashley changes into a more powerful demon.
   *** STORY ***

Head north. Ashley sees himself in the mirror and is horrified. Enter the east 
room next to the mirror. Save. Now enter all the rooms and systematically
slaughter your former ARMS. Kill them all and get the experience (30 each).
Head up the northern hallways and enter the last door. Pull the sword from the
stone.

   *** STORY ***
Ashley meets the Woman of the Light who asks him what he wishes. He just wants
to go home. She offers him Argetlahm. Ashley changes back and a mysterious Man
on Crutches enters. You can name him (I'll stick to Irving in the walkthrough).
When you go to take his hand, Ashley faints. From above the Sword Cathedral, a
Large Magestic Warrior (Sir Vinsfeld) and a Silver-Haired Key User (Caina) 
recant their demon summoning. They are trying to change history, but do not
trust the one who gave them the power. Ashley is evolving into something else.
The voice taunts him while he is unconcious. It wants "it" destroyed. Ashley
wakes up in bed. Marina was worried because the army told everyone there was an
attack rather than a demon summoning (imagine that). The baker and Marina want
you to thank Sir Valeria.
   *** STORY ***

+--------------------------------+ Town of Meria +----------------------------+
          13
      12      11
    9            8
    10           7
      4       1
    5     S      2
      6       3

Go outside to meet Lilka. After a fun moment with Jelly Rolls, she joins Ashley
to head to the Valeria household. Use the map key from before. Enter the 
private residence to the west of the castle steps (12) and talk to the girl.
She'll tell you about a girl obsessed with the Valeria Chateau. Exit and head 
down to the town gates to the south and talk to the girl there. She tells you
that it's at the top of a cliff. Leave town and go south to the cliff and 
search. Climb up the cliff and enter the Valeria Chateau.

+------------------------------+ Valeria Chateau +----------------------------+
| Items: Schturdark Medium, Moor Galt Medium
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   *** STORY ***
The butler shows you to the third floor parlor. Lilka has a letter of 
invitation, but forgot to mention it. He lets you in on the secret that the
ceremony was an experiment in demon summoning. He is now in control of ARMS and
wants to make it an autonomous organization. His sister, Altaecia comes in. 
Both Ashley and Lilka are now members of ARMS. He asks them to wait for their
mission.
   *** STORY ***

Where I'm at...and I have a Linear Algebra/Calculus/C++ final to study for...

===============================================================================
Section 9 : Personal Skills

Personal Skills are a cool idea, though not as relevant to the game as in Star
Ocean, Second Story. Here's a list of the Personal Skills available in Meria. I
will fill in the Levels when I get back home (prolly while watching Buffy and
Angel or Drew Carey--man, my life's sad).

 _____________________________________________________________________
| Personal Skill | PS |              Description                | LV. |
|________________|____|_________________________________________|_____|
| Cut FP Use     | 2  | Cuts special ability FP use by -1       |     |
| Restore HP     | 4  | Restores HP when Force Level goes up    |     |
| Critical       | 2  | Ups the critical attack probability     |     |
| Counter        | 2  | Ups the counter attack probability      |     |
| Convert HP     | 3  | Converts remaining FP into HP           |     |
| FP Up          | 2  | Ups FP when near death                  |     |
| Down Guard     | 2  | Ups sudden death attack resistance      |     |
| Up M Attack    | 3  | Ups damage from magical attacks         |     |
| Up M Defend    | 3  | Cuts damage from magical attacks        |     |
| Disease        | 1  | Ups resitance to disease                |     |
| Blocking       | 1  | Ups resistance to ability blocking      |     |
| Confusion      | 1  | Ups resitance to confusion              |     |
| Paralysis      | 1  | Ups resistance to paralysis             |     |
| Up HP          | 3  | Ups HP added for going up levels        |     |
| Up Param.      | 4  | Ups param. when Force Level goes up     |     |
| Adv. Guard     | 2  | Ups the advanced guard probablility     |     |
| Restore HP2    | 1  | Restores HP when going up levels        |     |
| RES Up         | 2  | ups RES when near death                 |     |
| Auto Guard     | 1  | Defends when near death                 |     |
| Up P Attack    | 4  | Ups damage from physical attacks        |     |
| Up P defend    | 4  | Cuts damage from physical attacks       |     |
| Poison         | 1  | Ups resitance to Poison/Vile Poison     |     |
| Forgetful      | 1  | Ups resitance to forgetfulness          |     |
| Downhearted    | 1  | Ups resistance to downhearted state     |     |
| Sleep          | 1  | Ups resistance to Nightmares/Sleep      |     |
| Petrify        | 1  | Ups resistance to petrify               |     |
|________________|____|_________________________________________|_____|

===============================================================================
Section 10 : Bestiary

These are the different creatures that I've fought in my early adventures. I'll
revise this to a table when I feel that I've documented it okay. Right now I
have it this way so that I can make notes and have a template for documenting
them.

Balloon
  HP: 90 
  Abilities: Asexual Repro 
  XP: 6 
  Gella: 12
  Items: Stone
  Weaknesses: ??
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Outside map neat T'Bok.

Barghest
  HP: 65 
  Abilities: Hunting Time, Howl 
  XP: 4 
  Gella: 16 
  Items: Heal Berry
  Weaknesses: ??
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Forest (Brad's intro)
  
Blue Book
  HP: 130 
  Abilities: Aqua (15), Break (15), Vortex (12), Spark (15)
  XP: 5 
  Gella: 30 
  Items: Heal Berry
  Weaknesses: Flame (critical)
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Millenium Puzzle

Bogey 
  HP: 50 
  Abilities: Drift
  XP: 3 
  Gella: 12 
  Items: ?? 
  Weaknesses: ?? 
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Millenium Puzzle

Gagison
  HP: 80
  Abilities: ?? 
  XP: 16 - Kobold
  Gella: 66
  Items: ??
  Weaknesses: ??
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Withered Ruins

Golm
  HP: 80 
  Abilities: Shock Beam (20) 
  XP: 4 
  Gella: 16 
  Items: Heal Berry
  Weaknesses: Freeze (critical) 
  Strengths: Flame (gives HP)
  Locations: Millenium Puzzle

Kobold
  HP: 40 
  Abilities: ?? 
  XP : ??
  Gella: 16
  Items: ??
  Weaknesses: ??
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Withered Ruins, Outside map near T'Bok

Photoblazer
  HP: 70
  Abilities: Rejection, Uncontrollable, Critical 
  XP: 30
  Gella: None 
  Items: Heal Berry
  Weaknesses: Any attack (I never got hit and killed them with one hit at Lv 4)
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Sword Cathedral

Pill Bug
  HP: 130
  Abilities: Heavy Armor
  XP: ??
  Gella: ?? 
  Items: Heal Berry
  Weaknesses: ??
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Outside Withered Ruins
  
Spawn
  HP: 100 
  Abilities: Undead Howl 
  XP: 5 
  Gella: 20 
  Items: Revive Fruit
  Weaknesses: ??
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Forest (Brad's beginning), Millenium Puzzle
  Note: Can sometimes attack 2x

Stirge
  HP: 60
  Abilities: Strength Thief 
  XP: 4
  Gella: 16 
  Items: Heal Berry
  Weaknesses: ??
  Strengths: ??
  Locations: Ruins

===============================================================================
Section 11 : Bosses

I have my own notation for documenting the monsters in this game, and the 
bosses are no different. Just like with the bestiary, the strengths are things
that heal the bosses and the weaknesses are things that hurt them badly. I also
added a difficulty rating to the different bosses so that you could see how 
hard they seemed to me.

Gremalkin
Belly     - HP : 450
Gremalkin - HP : 540
XP : 100
Gella : 500
Special Attacks: Parasite Battalian (20), Roaring Busrt (30), Chest Buster (>5)
Difficulty : I

Kill the belly first to stop the Parasite Battalion attack and then the beast 
for full experience. You should be about Level 3 or 4 by now.

Kalivos
Right Claw - HP: 200
Left Claw  - HP: 200
Kalivos    - HP: 400
XP : ???
Gella : ???
Special Attacks : L Claw, R Claw, Dual Claw, Laser Beam
Difficulty : I

Take out each claw and then hit the body for the maximum experience points. 
Heal when necessary.

Olivier
HP: Leg (200), Olivier (400)
Abilities: Bufoooooh (30), Olivier Juice (17)
XP: 60
Gella: 250 
Items: 
Weaknesses: Flame
Strengths: Freeze (gives HP)
Difficulty: I

Like most newbies, just Flame him and he'll die.

===============================================================================
Section 12 : Monster Abilities / Attacks

Aqua               - Drown in a watery cylinder.
Asexual Repro      - Spawn another of what has this ability.
Break              - Earth based attack from hurling rocks.
Bufooooooh         - The Cone of Stench attack
Chest Buster       - A lame attack
Drift              - ???
Dual Claw          - Justice and Honor chat with Ashley
Heavy Armor        - Ups defense.
Hunting Time       - Dual attack.
Howl               - ???
L Claw             - The Left Claw of Justice
Laser Beam         - Thin "Laser"
Olivier Juice      - Bug Spit
Parasite Battalion - Basic bombardment by bees
R Claw             - The Right Claw of Honor
Rejection          - ???
Roaring Burst      - Uh...it's a big road...
Shock Beam         - Electrical attack.
Spark              - A fiery ball to make Mario jealous.
Strength Thief     - Steals HP.
Uncontrollable     - Beserker rage.
Undead Howl        - Increase Attack Power for next round
Vortex             - A whirlwind attack

===============================================================================
Section 13 : ARM Upgrades

Meria has an ARM upgrade shop. When I get home, I'll look up the prices for the 
shotweapon that I have.

===============================================================================
Section 14 : Medium List

Grudiev - Tim gives you this when you catch the kitten in Meria.
Schturdark - Inside the Valeria Chateau on the first floor.
Moor Galt - Inside the Valeria Chateau on the first floor.

===============================================================================
Section 15 : Crest Locations

Balaradak     - A crest cap lets you (one-time I think) use a spell as an item. 
                A crest graph lets you cast the spell. 
Crest Graph E - lets you cast the inscribed spell at half the normal cost.

===============================================================================
Section 16 : Item List

There's lots more than this, but I'm working on everything else. When I finish
a large chunk of the walkthrough, I'll fill this in.

Gimel Coin
Heal Berry
Big Berry
STR Apple
RES Apple
Full Revive

===============================================================================
Section 17 : Books

Trail of the Comet
  Cleaving through the stars is a comet with its long tail. But do you know the
  difference between a comet and a meteor? A meteor is a meteroid that is drawn
  by gravity into the atmosphere. A comet, unlike a star, travels in a fixed
  orbit and appears at regular intervals. Steeped in mystery, comets have
  inspired many folk tales. Some superstitions claim comets to be bad omens,
  but no one knows why.
  
What the Heck Is PS - Part 3
  Acquiring a Personal Skill requires at least 1 PS point. Some skills require 
  more than 1 PS point. You can acquire many simple Personal Skills, or save up 
  to acquire a single powerful one. Which strategy you use is entirely up to 
  you.

ARM Modifications
  ARM performance is affected by how and what part of your ARM you choose to
  modify. You can enhance your attack power, your hit probability, or your ammo
  count. Decide what ARM you want, then modify efficiently. Trying to enhance
  every aspect can result in an ARM that is awkward to use. You can't undo an 
  upgrade, so upgrade according to a plan.

They Who are Known as Mercs
  In Filgaia, there are many young adventurers who call themselves "Mercs." 
  Mercs can broadly be divided into two types. One type hunts for treasures in 
  the ruins. The other does freelance work, fighting monsters or acting as 
  bodyguard for money. Remember that the public considers both types to be 
  scoundrels. That means our behavior affects our reputation. That is a heavy
  responsibility.

Spirit of Sacrifice
  Into a world plagued with "Despair," light shined. That's the <Sword Magess>.
  Alone, the <Sword Magess> confronted the Demon. She alone shouldered the 
  burden. But the <Sword Magess> wasn't able to destroy the Blazing Demon, only
  contain it. In exchange for world peace, the <Sword Magess> was offered as a
  "sacrifice."

Blazing Demon & the <Sword Magess>
  Before her appearance, many knights and heroes were destroyed by the Blazing
  Demon. Even the weapons developed with the lost technology were a cool breeze
  on the Blazing Demon. The <Sword Magess>, armed with Argetlahm, was the
  entire resistance. It is still a mystery why only the <Sword Magess> was able
  to battle the Blazing Demon on equal footing.

Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary
  The Sword Cathedral is located in the <Sword Magess>' Sanctuary. This is land
  the <Sword Magess> acquired under the direction of Argetlahm. To exorcise the
  disasters covering the earth, a ray of hope was directed toward us. Many
  worshippers visit here, where the hero who saved Earth was born. The 
  Argetlahm is publicly displayed a few times a year for worshippers.

The <Sword Magess>' Power
  The <Sword Magess>' power is the Guardian Blade Argetlahm and the Black Wolf
  Lucied. The Argetlahm diverts all possible disasters. The Black Wolf Lucied
  shields the <Sword Magess> from all possible disasters. To watch the <Sword
  Magess> fight is to watch the queen of war. She gives the people a glimmer of
  hope.

The Red World
  The "blaze" is the power of ruin. After the Demon wraps itself in the blaze,
  only destruction remains. Nothing lives in the dying earth. The earth is
  colored red by blood. Flames of the red lotus will burn everything into a
  world dyed red. Not one ray of hope left in the world. What waits is "death,"
  the journey to the other side. Without "hope," it is a dark world. People's
  cries echo, dark clouds circle. Souls are locked in grief.

The Chosen One
  Before the <Sword Magess> was chosen by Argetlahm, she was only a girl who
  had never held a sword. She wasn't a prominent soldier, nor a knight who'd
  sworn loyalty to her country. She was just a girl. That the Argetlahm 
  couldn't be retrieved only deepens the mystery. When someone who can hold the
  Argetlahm appears again, the mystery will be solved.
  
Origin of the Disaster
  "Disasters" use volumes of negativity to bring on "Disasters." The spreading
  negativity knows no limits. "Disasters" continue to spread without end. When
  a ray of light doesn't shine, beyond negativity is only a road to 
  "destruction." Know that what strangles you in the end is your negativity.

Demon Trapped in the Event Horizon
  There's something one must never forget about the Blazing Demon. He wasn't
  "destroyed" but was only "contained." The seal will eventually be broken. The
  Blazing Demon will crush the <Sword Magess>, then Filgaia. No one knows when
  the seal will be broken. Whether it will be 100 years or 1000 years or 
  tomorrow, we have no magic to resist.  

The Filgaia Theory
  This theory holds that Filgaia itself is a single, living organism. In this 
  view, the world is a living mass, and the planet is its vessel.

The Heroine of Salvation
  A nameless maiden is led to a hilltop by a sword's voice. On the hilltop, she
  receives the sword, and a name. She is now the <Sword Magess>, with sword in
  hand, and a werewolf by her side. The people call out and she is drawn to a
  bloody battlefield. The blood-drenched battlefield is where she belongs: at
  the graves of life extinguished.

Guardian Blade
  Named "Argetlahm," the sword called the Guardian Blade was wielded by the
  <Sword Magess>. Wielded to vanquish countless demons, this sword is our last
  ray of hope in a dark time. Argetlahm...the name means...(The rest is 
  illegible)

The Sword Cathedral
  This sacred ground is where the <Sword Magess> first heard the voice of 
  "Argetlahm." A cathedral was built here to preserve Mother Filgaia so the
  great deeds of the <Sword Magess> wouldn't be forgotten. The "Sword 
  Cathedral" is the pride of Meria Boule and the guiding light of Filgaia.
  
The 4 Proctor States
  Meria Boule, in the eastern part of the broad Filgaia, protects the trade
  routes. Sylvaland, in the south, is blessed with fertile soil, and protects
  agriculture. Guild Galad, in the north, uses "fossils" to protects its unique
  industrial technology. To the west is Slayheim, the protector of military 
  might. But power that grows too strong leads a nation down the path to its
  own destruction.
  
Tale of Slayheim's Liberation
  Slayheim's military seized power, but a resistance movement took form. Weak
  at first, the rebels were united into a powerful resistance by a "hero."
  Driven by a fierce desire for peace, they overthrew the king and won a
  stunning victory. But the "hero" in war became unwanted in peacetime. The
  "hero" was charged as a war criminal, and erased from the annals of history.

The Filgaia Summit
  The Filgaia Summit is a conference of the nations' highest-ranking leaders.
  The Summit is held every two years and during a crisis. During Slayheim's
  collapse, an emergency summit was held to discuss the world situation. The
  Treaty of Iscariot, a peace treaty, was also discussed again at this time. At
  the Summit, nations meet to discuss world peace, not their own national
  interests.

The Road to World Unity
  What can unite the world so that all the nations can live as one? Absolute
  terror? Overpowering force? Common ideals? Everyone has different ideas and
  opinions. Will the world ever unite? In the past, others strove for unity,
  only to see their achievements vanish like a dream. Is it even possible for
  one ruler to unify the world? Perhaps the world will unite only when all the
  people of the world desire unity.
  
The Coming Threat
  The threat of the Blazing Demon is past, but who knows when another threat
  may appear? The next disaster to strike could be a monster - or it could be a
  natural disaster. We are not prepared to deal with such disasters. A threat
  global in scale could overwhelm us. We must unite! But can we? Are our
  beliefs and ideas too different?  

===============================================================================
Section 18 : Cool Things to Do

When you choose the option not to continue after saving, it will show 
watercolor images of the character you have selected while playing a short 
character theme. It's just a nice touch.
  
===============================================================================
Section 19 : Secrets / Codes

The GameShark Code Creator's Club has some GS codes at:
http://www.cmgsccc.com/psx/wa2/

===============================================================================
Section 20 : Acknowledgments

Thanks to Morpheus on the Wild Arms 2 board on gamefaqs for crest information.

Any and all information you can give me is appreciated.

