Shad4k's Spoiler-Free SUIKODEN Walkthrough


Contents

1. Basic Info
2. Introduction
3. Walkthrough
4. Quick Guide
5. Credits


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1. BASIC INFO

This guide is copyright 2003 Nathan Oravetz.  That's me, and if you take it you
are a lying stealing thieving pedophile.  ...  Well I wrote this for GameFAQs
(www.gamefaqs.com) and the SuikoGurus (www.suikogurus.com) branch of The Gurus
Network (www.thegurusnetwork.com), but if you want to use it somewhere else
it's probably fine.  Just give me proper credit and contact me through email or
AIM or something.
The SuikoGurus site is not up yet, and The Gurus Network is still under
construction, but you can check out its mother site, Final Fantasy Gurus, at
www.ffgurus.net.

I started this on 7/1/03 and finished it on 7/18/03.  My finishing time was
about 71 hours, at least 10 of which were spent sleeping, so I'll say the guide
took me 60 hours.

Email: bobafett207@yahoo.com
AIM: Shad4k


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2. INTRODUCTION

This is only my second attempt at a walkthrough, so bear with me.  My intent
here, as always, is to provide means for a player to accomplish everything the
game has to offer without spoiling the plot in any way.  Unless a dialogue
choice actually makes a real difference, I'm not going to mention it.  Choose
whichever suits you.  Furthermore, there's a nice bonus at the end if you
recruit every character, so if you're given the option to kill one of them you
obviously shouldn't.  I'm not going to bother mentioning it throughout the
guide, because obviously Soandso can't join you after you've lobbed off his
head.  I'm also including no armor guide, no character recruitment list, no
bestiary... those things are a dime a dozen.  This is just a straight guide
meant to be used from start to finish.  If you follow it, you won't miss out on
any armor or characters or whatnot, so you won't need that other stuff. :)

An important note on major battles: If an attacking character says anything
after a round it probably means he was wounded or killed.  This will happen
most commonly in a losing situation, such as the enemy casting magic as you
attempt to charge.  If it does, reset and try again.  If any characters are
hurt in battle you won't get the 108 star bonus at the end of the game.  If
you're not sure about it, check the stone tablet at Toran before you save your
game, and reset if the character's name is darkened.

I'm also creating a Quick Guide made strictly for character recruitment and key
items.  It won't tell you where to go, what to do, or how to get every single
treasure.  Its purpose is to make sure you don't miss anything important, but
it lets you actually play the game however you want.  It appears at the end of
this walkthrough right before the credits.


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3. WALKTHROUGH

Contents
(the stars are how many you should have by the END of the section.  They don't
really start to matter until Part E.)

a) Getting Started
	Intro
	* 1

b) How I Made My Millions
	Infinite Bits and the Prosperity Rune
	* 1

c) Bandits, Stars, and Astral...Dragons
	Magic Island, Rockland, Mt. Seifu
	* 3

d) The Liberation Army
	Ted's Rune through Sarady
	* 4

e) A New Hero
	Kwaba through Toran
	* 13

f) Building an Empire
	Kouan through Forest Village
	* 30

g) Foreign Affairs
	Forest Path through Pannu Yakuta
	* 43

h) What Lies West
	Teien through Scarleticia
	* 59

i) Family Feud
	Scarleticia through Secret Factory
	* 78

j) Vampires and Such
	Lorimar through Neclord's Castle
	* 90

k) Dragons.  Rawr.
	Dragon's Den through Seek Valley
	* 99

l) Prisoners of War
	Fortress of Rakan (Northern Checkpoint) through Moravia
	* 107

m) A Traitor in the Midst
	Shasarazade
	* 108

n) An Empire Fallen
	Gregminster
	* 108


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4. WALKTHROUGH


Look at the main introduction before you read any of this.


a) GETTING STARTED

Right from the start you're asked to choose the hero's name.  Though no default
is given, his standard recognized name is Tir.  I have no idea where it comes
from and I think it's rather stupid so I don't use it myself, but for the sake
of convenience I'll refer to him as such throughout the guide.

After you put in the name the game starts out abruptly, giving you immediate
control of Tir.  I highly recommend you go to the menu (square button) and in
Setup change the Message Speed to Fast.  After that, take a second to learn the
controls.  The Suikoden series features the greatest control setup I've ever
seen in a game - you can play the entire thing with one hand.  Alternate keys
allow you to access the menu with Select, accept with L2, and cancel with L1. 
To advance the story just talk to the guy right beside you.


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b) HOW I MADE MY MILLIONS

After you're told to introduce yourself to Kraze, walk right instead and check
the furthest statue.  You'll find 100 bits.  When you get back to your house,
don't go upstairs just yet.  You're free to explore the town, and even leave it
if you want to.

There are two opportunities here to get a big head start on the game.  The
first will land you a Fortune Rune, and the second a Prosperity Rune.  You can
only get one or the other though, not both.  Fortune runes grant the bearer
double experience points and Prosperity runes give the party double bits after
each battle.  I personally think the Prosperity rune is more useful, so I've
designed the guide for that.  If you'd rather the Fortune rune though, just
skip the next paragraph.  It's the exact same process, it's just a matter of
whether Ted's with you or not.

Go upstairs to advance the story.  Ted will join your party and you'll be free
to roam once again.  As long as you don't walk into the room to your left
you'll be fine.

First of all go to the inn.  Marie will tell you not to stay there, and then
she'll proceed to ask you if you want to stay.  Save your game and head to the
item shop.  Buy an antitoxin and two medicine.  Get Ted a headband and two
wooden shoes, he'll need it.  Don't worry about money too much, you'll have
more than enough pretty soon.

Leave the town and walk around until you get into a fight with BonBons. 
(Anything else will probably crush you.)  Another nice feature is the Free Will
system.  Instead of telling each individual character to fight, clicking Free
Will will set the whole lot to attack.  I use this all the time.  After your
first battle you'll have leveled up, so it's probably safe to fight anything
except Wild Boars.  Ted can die in two or three hits, but Tir is a tank.  It's
cheaper to heal with your medicine than to rest at the inn for now, so just go
back to Maria periodically to save your game.

By level 7 you'll be good to go.  Leave Gregminster and go directly east.  When
you get to Rockland, go in, save, and talk to the grey haired kid near the
entrance.  His game is rigged.  There a distinct pattern, so you can win every
time.  The problem is the pattern seems to be different in each game.  It's the
same regardless of difficulty though, so it's easy to map out.  Start betting
100 bits.  At this speed it's easy, so you'll win every time.  Write down where
it ends up every time until you think you have enough.  If you lose I think it
messes up the pattern, so just stick to 100 bit bets for now.  I went out to
10, but it doesn't matter.  Leave the town, come back in, and it will have
reset to the beginning of the pattern.  Bet the highest amount you can and just
follow the pattern you wrote down.  You'll never lose.  When you get to the end
of your recorded pattern just leave the town and return to reset it again.  I
quit once I had about 300,000 bits, but it's up to you.

When you're done go buy an Escape Scroll.  This is one of the most useful
regular items in the game, so always keep at least one in reserve.  Head back
towards Gregminster and when you get there go south.  The town here is
Lenankamp.  The second building down in the top left corner is a blacksmith,
and she'll sharpen your weapons up to level 5 for you.  Definitely max out
Tir's.  You can do the same for Ted if you want.  I didn't, but you have plenty
of money.  The armor shop has some new stuff too.  Once you've finished that,
save your game.  It's time to go after the Prosperity rune.

Leave Lenankamp, go about half way to Gregminster, and then cut left.  You'll
go across a bridge.  Immediately north on the other side is Mt. Tigerwolf, and
that's where you want to be.  Don't open any of the treasures there.  They'll
serve you better later on.  Just walk straight through it, the path isn't
confusing at all.  You may have noticed that the Run command changed to Let Go.
 This is another nice feature, making it significantly easier to get away from
those pesky Bonbons, which at this point won't even be giving you a fraction of
a level.  What's really nice is it works on some tougher guys too.  Even though
the Slasher Rabbits could easily kick your ass, you can just let them go every
time.  By level 9 pretty much everything will run from you, so there's no point
in training past that.  Killer Slimes drop Water Rune Pieces occasionally, so
if you're going to fight anything aim for them.

When you get to Sarady go to the top right house and talk to its inhabitant. 
You now have a Prosperity rune.  Head back to Gregminster.  To advance the
story enter your house, go upstairs, and go in the room to the left.


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c) BANDITS, STARS, AND ASTRAL...DRAGONS

The next day, head back to the castle and talk to Kraze to advance the story. 
The barn is to the right of the font entrance.  Talk to Futch and you'll be on
your way to Magician's Island.  The battles here aren't much, but you can fight
them if you want to.  There's a Medicine on the second screen.  When the road
splits into two paths, take the right one to get a Leather Coat.  Head up the
other pass for a really easy boss battle.  With Tir so powered up you can
probably just Free-Will it and win in a round or two easily.  You might need to
heal Gremio, but everyone else will be fine.  Now you get to meet Luc, my
favorite character in the series!  Everything's linear from here.

When you get back to Gregminster talk to Kraze for your next assignment. 
Before leaving the town go to the rune shop.  It's just right of the items and
armor building.  Attach the Fire Crystal to Cleo, and the Prosperity Crystal to
Gremio.  It doesn't matter if you don't like the characters, because you can
remove these at any time.

Head to Lenankamp to upgrade weapons for everyone, and then go to Rockland.  If
you talk to Marco, the pattern should still be the same.  Get some money if you
want.  I did because I was bored, but it's certainly not necessary.  To advance
enter the big building in the top right.

Before you go to Mt Seifu it doesn't hurt to suit up at the armor shop.  The
mountain's directly east, like the guy said.  When you get to where the path
splits, keep heading north for Boots and a Medicine.  Go back and into the next
room, and you'll see five different paths.  Take the one in the bottom left
first for an Antique.  The far right path is a dead end.  The path next to it
has a Defense rune piece.  Use it on Pahn or Cleo.  Go down the far left path
for 1000 bits.  The last path, second from the left, lets you progress.  You'll
find Leggings, an Escape Talisman, and I think Medicine in this room.  Nothing
great.

A boss of sorts is coming up, and you'll see it in the middle of the path, but
don't worry too much.  You can't win this fight, and it automatically ends
after three rounds, so just defend until then.  Heal everyone when you regain
control, and keep going.  You'll pass a Thunder Rune piece on the way.  When
you get outside save your game if you want and go to the bandit hut.  Another
battle will ensue.  When you fight Varkas and Sydonia, just Free-Will it.  You
should be able to knock out both of them by the second round.

Back in Rockland, if you go right you'll find some guards beating up a little
kid for sport.  You can laugh at him or fight them off, whichever you prefer. 
If you do save them the kid doesn't even thank you.  Ungrateful brat....  Go
back up to the mansion to turn over the bandits.  I read on www.suikosource.com
that if you check the well now you'll get a hidden scene, but I forgot to try
it.  Before you leave Rockland take any important items off of Ted and Pahn,
and save your game.  Now go back to Gregminster.


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d) THE LIBERATION ARMY

Go to your house and let things play out.  The choices you make, just like all
the others in the game, have absolutely no effect whatsoever, so don't worry
about that.  Once you're outside go to the inn.  Gremio tells you not to wander
around, but you have to to advance the story.  Try to leave the inn, even
though that's a completely illogical and stupid thing to do.  Once again, it
doesn't matter which options you pick.  When you gain control again follow
Viktor.  Ask him to help you out, and head to the front gate.

Once outside, bring up the menu and go to Formation.  You'll notice each
character has either S, M, or L.  This is their attack range.  S characters can
only attack from the front row, M characters have a better range from the front
but can attack in the back as well, and L characters have equal range
everywhere.  With that in mind, adjust your party accordingly.  Now head to
Lenankamp.

To advance the story, stay at the inn.  The rest is fairly linear.  Make sure
your weapons are upgraded and head to Rockland.

Save your game and then go up to the mansion.  After a bit of fun, go in to the
house and loot everything on your way to the exit.  You'll find Medicine in the
first room.  In the second hallway, the one with three doors, go in to the top
room to face five soldiers and get Brass Armor.  The room below it has an
Antique and no guards.  Don't enter the room to your left.  You'll face four
guards and get nothing for it.  In the next hallway the door to the right has
1700 bits and no guards.  After that your only choice is to go left.  You'll
face six guards at once, but it's not hard.  After you cut down Varkas Sydonia
will prove that he doesn't need your help.  He only stuck around before because
he didn't want to escape alone.  You know, because he was skilled enough to
free himself from the ropes, but there's no way he could have untied them for
Varkas.

Anyway, head back the way you came and return to the hideout in Lenankamp. 
Once you've received your next mission, don't bother upgrading weapons or
equipment.  Don't give Odessa anything overly important, either.  She leaves
again pretty soon.  You're just going over Mt. Tigerwolf anyway, and that was
hardly any trouble with two people on much lower levels.  Fight the Killer
Slimes.  They can drop Water Rune Pieces.  Just let everything else go.  Pick
up the treasures along the way.  There's nothing that great except a Wind Rune
Piece and a Clone Rune.  When you get to the point where the path splits into a
flat road and stairs, go down the flat road first to get the Clone Rune. 
Everything else is en route.  In Sarady buy a Water Crystal and then go to the
building in the center of town.  Stay to advance the story.  The next day save
your game and head back to Lenankamp.

Take anything important off of Odessa and head to the inn.  Pass up the first
two rooms, they'll just land you in random battles you don't need to fight. 
You still end up fighting five guards when you get to the bottom, but it's
nothing really.  The choices you make here have little effect on the game, so
just choose whatever you feel more comfortable with.


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e) A NEW HERO

This is your last chance to get loads of money through the coin game in
Rockland, so you might want to do that before you press on.  I had about
400,000 bits when I left, but that much isn't really necessary...  You won't be
able to return to any of these towns for a while, so if there's anything else
you want to clear up, do so now.  When you want to move the story along, go
south of Lenankamp.  You'll come to a big gate.  When you come out the other
side, Seika is right in front of you.

When you get there head to the rune shop (mid left) first and get organized a
little.  Take the Prosperity Rune off of Gremio and give it to Viktor.  Then
give Gremio the water rune.  To move things along, go up to the building in the
top right, talk to the kids there, go back where you came from, and talk to
Mathiu.  Follow him up, and then leave again.  Now go back up a third time. 
After a short scenario you'll get control of Tir.  Go back to Mathiu AGAIN and
things will finally move along.  You have to accept his offer or you'll just be
stuck there.

To get to Kaku go west until you reach the coast and then head south.  The
blacksmith here can't up your weapons any more than the girl in Lenankamp, but
you can attach those rune fragments if you want.  I'm not entirely sure what
they do, I just pile them up on people with matching runes.  In this case I
gave three waters to Gremio and held on to my wind and thunder pieces.  Now go
to the bar in the lower right end of town and talk to the red head.  Then go
downstairs to meet my favorite character in this game, Tai Ho.

This game is based entirely on luck, so the directions don't matter much. 
Neither does money, as you should have more than enough to cover numerous
losses.  Just play until you win.  I lost 6000 bits in the process, but it's no
big deal.  Talk to them at the docks to get to the coolest place in the game,
and then talk to Yam Koo immediately after to head back.  At the blacksmith get
everyone's weapons to level five.  At the armor shop invest in Pointed Hats and
Shoulder Pads for the whole lot.  This next bit is really important.  Go to the
Item Shop and buy a Holy crystal.  Go back to Seika and attach it to either Tai
Ho or Camille, whoever you think you'll use more.  (I gave mine to Tai Ho.) 
Now you can run by holding down O or L1, and the game will move infinitely
faster.  I try to always keep someone in my party with this rune on.

Return to Kaku.  Stay, save, and talk to Yam Koo gain to go back to the island.
 Fight all the battles here until everyone's at least at level 15.  Don't waste
any magic though, you'll need that for later.  On the first screen in the
bottom right there's a Mega Medicine.  In the next room, when you come to a big
whole in the ground, walk below it instead of around it.  You'll find Toe
Shoes.  Never get rid of these!  You'll need them to recruit a character later.
 For now just equip them on Tir and leave them there.  The next room has an
antitoxin and 2000 bits.  The room after that has a Pointed Hat, a Power Rune
piece (give it to whoever), and Medicine.  The rather odd exit is in the bottom
right.  When you get to a save crystal, make good use of it.  When you come to
a treasure on the right surrounded by rock, just walk straight through the wall
and you'll pick up a wind crystal.  There's another one in the bottom left
corner that's a bit trickier to get to.  Go towards where you entered the room
and walk straight down into the wall in that first little dip you see.  The
hidden path isn't straight in the slightest.  Keep trying to cut down and right
until you can't go any further, then go left and you'll walk out to the right
of a Hazy Crystal.  Work your way back out of it and go heal up/save again. 
Make sure everyone's holding at least one medicine, and give two to Gremio,
Cleo, and Camille.  Climb your way down the stairs.  There are no random
encounters here, but after you go down the second flight you're greeted by a
pretty tough boss.

Have Cleo use firestorm and let everyone else attack.  By the second round I
was already hurting thanks to his Poison Breath.  Camille and Gremio are your
weakest fighters, so let them heal with medicines.  Save Gremio's Kindess Drop
for Viktor, since a medicine isn't nearly enough to heal him up.  Once Cleo's
fire magic runs out, add her to the healing crew.  Keep in mind that Cleo and
Camille can use items before Zombie Dragon's attack, but Gremio can't.  Also,
don't heal TOO much.  I ended up losing Viktor early on, so I had to make
Gremio attack when I could or else the battle would have lasted forever.

Now you get to name the place.  I kept it Toran for tradition's sake, but you
don't have to.  At any rate that's what I'll refer to it as throughout the
guide.  Now you can go explore the place, and you're free to recruit new
characters.  Since I overlooked this for ages my first time through the game, I
must point out that to your immediate left on the first floor there's a hole in
the rock wall leading to a platform outside.  If you intend to watch your
castle expand, it doesn't help much to not notice things like this!

Talking to Mathiu will send you on your next mission.  I took Tai Ho and Luc
with me because they're awesome, but really it makes little difference.  Hop in
the boat and return to Kaku.  (If you try sailing anywhere else you won't get
in.)  At the bar talk to Sergei for a nice addition to the castle, and then go
to the blacksmith.  You can sharpen up Luc and Yam Koo if you want.  Since you
rarely use Luc for physical combat it's probably a complete waste, but I did
anyway.  Return to Seika and talk to the blue chick in the house below Mathiu's
to get a completely useless character.  Now go to the inn and talk to Marie to
get a very useful character.  The last new recruit for the time being is up at
Kwaba.  Talk to the guy who looks like a clown and your castle will gain an
item shop.

An important note on item and armor shops - Chandler and Chapman only sell what
you've found for sell elsewhere.  This means if you stopped at the item shop in
Kaku Chandler will carry Holy crystals, and if you didn't he won't.  With this
in mind, make sure you stop at EVERY armor and item shop you come by regardless
of your lack of interest in buying anything.  The greater the inventory at
Toran, the less running around you have to do.

There are a few other characters you can get now too, but it's much more
convenient later on.  To advance you must go to Kouan.  It can be a pain in the
ass to find... return to Kaku and keep following the coastline until a patch of
the darker grass cuts down away from the coast.  Walk down a few steps and
you'll find Kouan.


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f) BUILDING AN EMPIRE

The Kouan armor shop has some really nice leather armor, and emblems are great
for Luc and Gremio.  The appraiser in the top left will take care of all those
? items you gathered.  Try to enter Lepant's mansion and then talk to Krin at
the inn.  Agree to his plan, save, and talk to him beside the mansion.

The enemies here are tough and yield very little, so avoid fighting when you
can.  If you run in to 6 robots and you don't want to retreat, just use Luc or
Cleo's magic.  Don't waste your time with the first item, it's just Shoulder
Pads, and your inventory's probably getting pretty packed by now.  The plank in
the bottom right takes you to the next area.  When you get to the room with
four exits, talk to the guy by the treasures to recruit Rock, the most useful
character in the game.  It's a shame you can't use him on the spot...  He
wasn't guarding much, considering you're in a mansion.  The chests only yield
Medicine and 700 bits.

The top right room is empty, so just follow Rock.  In the next room if you pass
in front of a robot you get shipped back to the start, but I'll not insult your
intelligence with a map of how to get through it.  The chest has a Counter
crystal.  The chest in the next room holds a Speed Rune Piece.  The room after
that is loaded - you'll find a Fire Rune Piece, Leather Armor, Medicine, White
Paint, and the man that I despise for creating the contraption you're about to
face - Juppo.

The wheel in the next room is a huge pain in the ass, because it's entirely
based on luck.  None of the bonus items are worth having, so just keep doing it
until the arrow lands on the other path.  Whatever you do when you reach the
other side, don't step on the spinning thing again until you get the sword. 
Once you do have Kirinji, just go back the way you came.  Juppo will have
disabled the motion sensing robots.

When you get control of Tir, go to the building in the upper right end of
Kouan.  Instead of following Lepant into the room in the top left, go in the
bottom left for a Water Rune Piece.  Now follow Lepant and face the horrible
task of kicking out one of the two best guys in the game. :(

After the battle restructure so Lepant's in the front row, and continue on. 
Upstairs, go into the left room first for an antique.  In the next room you'll
find some familiar faces.  Kraze, in his infinite wisdom, thought it possible
to rape the wife of the richest and strongest man in town without any
consequences.  Maybe it was going to be a gangbang deal, since six more guys
run in just in time to slow you down...  But anyway, the choice you make here
is great, because if you kill him you won't miss out on any stars.  Talk to
everyone in the room, heal, and then head back to Toran via Kaku.

When you go to the first floor some scenes will play out.  If you want to talk
to everyone at the table, do so before you leave the room.  When you regain
control, talk to Mathiu and add whoever you took with you through Lepant's
mansion.  Go to the first floor again.  Talk to Maria three times.  Then go
down a bit to find Rock.  Drop off all your extra crap, and head to the docks. 
After a short scene, talk to Mathiu and add Lepant, Juppo, and Tai Ho.  It's
time for a major recruiting spree.

Sail to Kaku and talk to the girl by the inn to recruit Meg.  Pick up a Holy
Crystal for Kirkis.  Travel past Kouan and follow the shore until you reach a
bridge.  Here you'll get Kai.  Go all the way up to Seika and enter the inn. 
Talk to the boy in the bottom left.  (Yes, it's a boy despite name and face...)
 Now talk to the cook up above the inn keeper.  You'll get Sheena and Antonio. 
Go to the rune shop and give Kirkis the Holy Crystal.  Back in Kaku, go to the
bar where you found Tai Ho and win 5000 bits to get Gaspar.  Now you can return
to Toran and form your real party.  You'll notice that the castle has expanded.
 Woo!  This time around I took Tai Ho, Cleo, and Luc, but it doesn't matter.

Go back to Kaku and from there head east.  When you start to see trees drop
south.  You'll eventually come to Great Forest village.  In the forging hut you
can add Maas to the team, but you still can't sharpen past level 5...  The
house to the left is Sasuke's and he'll sign up as your bath man.  Yep, he
builds baths.  ...It's actually pretty cool, and it gives you a chance to put
those antiques to good use.  Talk to the item seller to add Needle and Counter
Crystal to your home inventory, stay, and save.  You're good to go.


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g) FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Now you can cut through to the elf village.  Don't be afraid to make good use
of Cleo and Luc's magic if you brought them.  Head down the forest path for an
interesting encounter.  At the stairs keep going right and you'll reveal a
Gauntlet.  Down the stairs go right again for an Escape Talisman.  The next
path hosts Needles and a slightly hidden Water Rune Piece.  The next one you
come to houses a Fortune Rune Piece.  Exit through Kobold village and travel
south southeast until you see a goliath Christmas tree.  Welcome to the village
of Santa's Special Helpers.  erm...

Go to the inn, stay to replenish your magic, check out the armor shop, and head
to the back.  After a short scene inside, talk to Valeria and Stallion and then
investigate the bars on the right.  Now just leave the place.  What's funny is
if you go back in you can now roam free in the elven village.  Just go back to
the entrance to save your game, and then move out.

Head directly east until a line of trees splits the path.  Take the upper one. 
You'll eventually come to the Dwarf Trail.  To get to the first treasure you
see just go left right behind the first pine tree.  It's a feather.  On the
next screen you'll find another chest.  Once again just walk through the tree
right beside it.  You'll get a Karate Uniform.  When the path splits go left
first for a Sacrificial Buddha.

On the screen with ladders, go up the first for a Guard Robe and then go to the
far right.  You'll see the corner of a chest containing a Killer crystal.  Now
take the remaining ladder.  Save when you get to the crystal, and once you're
outside the city is north.

You'll enter to many a warm welcome.  All the dwarves are nice and all the
elves are douchebags.  I think Konami's got things a little mixed up.  Oh
well...  There's a lot to explore in the dwarf village, so take your time and
just stay away from the large building in the top right corner of town.  The
bottom right building allows you to finally advance your weapons above level 5,
and Meese joins up to help out at the castle.  This place can raise you all the
way to level 9, so I recommend you take advantage of it.  Money can become an
issue really fast now, so I advise you only upgrade the characters you plan to
use after this specific quest.  (I didn't bother with Valeria or Kirkis.)  The
item shop sells mega medicine, and the armor shop is loaded, so it's really
worth your while to look around.

When you're ready to progress, go to the hut in the top right.  Save, leave
town, and go north to the vault.  Make sure you conserve your magic there. 
Once you're in the first "puzzle" room just flip all three levers in any order.
 Take the right path for the Sunbeam crystal.  The next puzzle room is a maze. 
At the fork go up and right as far as you can and then follow the path around
to get a Magic Robe.  Return to where it split and aim for the bottom right. 
You'll get a Blue Ribbon.  From there just take the path hugging the right wall
and you're out.

In the third puzzle, to get the Thunder Rune Piece take the far right platform,
the left, and then the bottom.  Now just backtrack twice and take the bottom
platform.  Puzzle number four is even easier than the last three combined...
pass up the first path to get a Pointed Hat and a Skill Rune Piece.  Go down
the proper path now, and the next room's switches are just a matter of trial
and error.  To save some time, the sequence is LRRLLLRR.

At the four-way in the next room go left for a Mega Medicine and right for 5000
bits.  Down in the next room don't bother with either right paths - they're
dead ends.  Before you go downstairs take the left path if you want an escape
talisman.  Once downstairs, heal before you go anywhere.

Gigantes can be a bitch, especially when you go in to it with your characters
half dead. >_<  Have Valeria use her Falcon Rune, designate Kirkis to heal, and
stick to physical attacks.  He's completely immune to magic, so just have those
characters heal as well.  Valeria's Falcon Rune is the key to winning the
battle, so whatever you do don't let her die.

In the next room take the left path for a Defense Rune Piece and then head down
the center to pick up the Running Water Root.  Now's where you can make use of
one of those Escape Talismans I told you to bring along.  Warp back to the
entrance and head to the chief of the dwarves.  Do as Kirkis says and head back
to the elf village.

When you leave the village, turn around and go right back in to recruit
Templeton.  Maps are great because now I don't have to tell you where to go. :)
 Heal, save, and head towards the Kobold village.

This is the first major battle, and it's basically a glorified rock, paper,
scissors.  The only addition is the Others option.  It's always good to use
your Thieves.  If you're lucky they'll reveal the enemy's next move.  Bow beats
magic.  Magic beats charge.  Charge beats bow.  That's all there is to it.  If
you know the enemy's going to use Bow, use the Strategist ability in Others to
boost your attack and use your strongest one.  You'll deal massive damage.

An important note on major battles: If an attacking character says anything
after a round it probably means he was wounded or killed.  This will happen
most commonly in a losing situation, such as the enemy casting magic as you
attempt to charge.  If it does, reset and try again.  If any characters are
hurt in battle you won't get the 108 star bonus at the end of the game.  If
you're not sure about it, check the stone tablet at Toran before you save your
game, and reset if the character's name is darkened.

Also, I found this great tip in A. Nickerson's Suikoden walkthrough on
www.gamefaqs.com.  If you're like me you'll make good use of it:
"Unfortunately, the computer does not follow a pre-defined set of attacks, it
seems to change with each game. It does stay the same in your own game, so if
you save it
before a battle, write down what they do and then reload, you'll be able to win
easily."

After the battle go instead and enter the room to the right.  You'll get a full
recovery.  The enemies here are really tough, so you'll need to use this place
a lot.  Go back to the elf village if you want to save.  I plan to loot the
place first and then do that.
From the room with the nurse go out and walk straight across to the door on the
opposite side.  You'll find a Steel Shield.  Go up the stairs and walk north to
find a Thunder rune piece.  Go through that door.  Walk around the stairs to
the same door on the opposite side, but instead of going through it walk into
the wall to the right of it.  Grab a Gale crystal and return.  The door right
below you leads back to the nurse, by the way.  Walk up a little bit and go
through the door you see there for an Old Book Vol. 1.  Cut across the hall for
the similar room on the other side to get Medicine.  Now take the down
staircase.  The left door you see leads to Half Armor.  There's nothing in the
right room, but another hidden area is right below the door, and in there you
can pick up a Gauntlet.  Back in the main room go straight down to get into the
courtyard.  Heal again and leave for the elf village.  Once you've saved and
returned, go straight up both flights of stairs.

Valeria's Falcon Rune and straight attacks should be enough to handle this guy.
 He's not very strong, but he certainly lasts a while.  Just have patience and
he'll die eventually.  If you need to heal use Kuromimi, because he sucks at
everything else.  After the battle make sure Tir is fully healed and go out the
door behind the throne.

One on one battles are also sort of like rock paper scissors, but the enemy's
words usually hint at his next move.  Attack beats defense, defense beats
desperate attack, and desperate attack beats attack.  There's nothing to this
battle.  I had him out in three hits.  It is important to note though that your
life gauge reflects your actual life, so if you go in there with 5 HP there's a
pretty good chance you're going to die.  Afterwards, as tempting as it might be
to do the guy in, you have to spare him if you plan on getting all the bonuses
in this game and Suikoden 2.

When Mathiu says its time to go home, tell him you have some unfinished
business and walk to the Kobold village.  In the inn Fu Su Lu will join you for
10,000 bits.  Go to the item shop to expand you castle inventory, and then go
into the bottom house to add Gon to your list of completely useless recruits. 
Now walk through the forest and from there to Kouan.  Lorelai in the inn will
join you now.  Go to Mathiu's house in Seika for yet another star of destiny. 
Once you've managed all this, head to Toran via Kaku.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


h) WHAT LIES WEST

Go to the meeting hall on the 3rd floor.  Now go to Kaku and enter the guarded
house in the bottom left.  If you want you can use Viki to teleport you now. 
She's in the castle basement.  This is a really great way to get places, but
remember that you still have to walk back...  Anyway, after a short scene go
back to the castle, save your game, and go to the meeting hall again.

After the battle Flik pisses you off, and then adds to it by making you drag
his ass along.  Oh well...  Talk to Mathiu to add the last two members of your
party.  Stick Tai Ho and Yam Koo in for the moment, and cross the bridge.  In
order to recruit another character you need a Nameless Urn, an item randomly
dropped by Holly Fairies.  If you encounter one while walking around, fight it
out.  Go to the closest town above you and talk to the lady in the right corner
of the inn.  You'll recruit her and get the most useful item in the game. 
ALWAYS keep the blinking mirror on Tir.  Check the item shop and then go to the
blacksmith to the right of the inn.  He'll take you all the way up to level 12.
 Since it costs so much, just upgrade Tir and Viktor for now.  If you're going
to do a third character, go with Flik or someone optional that you like to
bring along.  I upgraded Tai Ho.

Go west until you reach Antei.  Enter the inn, and Mina will join you as long
as you kept those Toe Shoes equipped on Tir like I told you to.  (If you don't,
they're sold at the armory.)  If you happened to pick up an Opal from a random
encounter somewhere you can recruit another characters upstairs, but odds are
you don't have one yet.  Go to the armor shop and Chapman will join up.  The
item store has nothing new, but if you go in the Rune place you'll get Jeane.

Go further west to Scarleticia, then south to Lorimar, east from there to
Soniere, and finally further east to Rikon.  This will add all those locations
to Viki's teleportation list.  If you don't have a Nameless Urn yet leave there
and go up to Northern Checkpoint, the bridge in the far north.  From there head
directly west until you reach Dragon's Den.  Use the blinking mirror and have
Viki send you back to Rikon.  If you still don't have a Nameless Urn, leave
town and roam the area between Rikon and Teien.  Holly Spirits seem to be more
common there.

Once you have the urn enter Rikon and go to the appraiser's shop in the bottom
left.  Jabba will sign up, then check the item store to increase your
inventory.  Go to the second floor of the inn and talk to Lotte.  Blink back
and have Viki send you off to Kaku.  You'll notice a cat in the top right end
of town.  This is the one you want to catch.  It will constantly run from you,
so do your best to corner it in the bottom right corner between the bar and the
stone wall.  Once you have it warp back to Lotte to recruit her.  (Tell me
though, why on earth would your army WANT her?)

Go to Teien, buy ninja suits for Flik and Viktor, and spend whatever money you
have left sharpening up Yam Koo's weapon.  I got it to level 10 before I ran
out.  Stay, save, and snag the boat at the far end of town.  Sail north and
slightly west to reach the dotted island.  Make sure Tir's in your front row
and talk to the middle guy to start a fight.

Knock them out one at a time.  Use the Fisherman attack and Flik's strongest
lightening magic.  Your time is limited here, so don't waste it healing.  Just
let Tai Ho and Yam Koo use medicines while they're unbalanced.  When Tir's
health gets low Gremio will defend him, and Viktor and Flik should have enough
to fend for themselves.

That's it for new recruits at the moment.  When you're ready to move on go to
Rikon and check out the boat in the bottom right.  Sail down the river clear to
the dot you see between the mountains.  When your path's blocked, sail back. 
Walk up to Teien and go into the house in the top left.  Next go to the house
right beside it.  After everyone's ready to go you'll probably notice you have
more S attack characters than can line your front row.  Leave Kamandol in the
back.  He's useless anyway.  Go to Rikon.  Now sail to that dot down the river
again and talk to Liukan.  Pick up the black paint inside and then blink back
to the castle.

Talk to Mathiu for your next objective.  Sanchez will change your party, so get
Gen and Kamandol out of there.  For the next job I like to take Pahn and Cleo
because they work into the story a bit.  If you do and you still want to run
around, take the Water Rune off of Gremio and give him a Holy Rune for the
moment.  Pahn will probably need his weapons upgraded, so do that if you have
the money.  If you don't it's not that important.

Go to Antei and talk to Kimberly in the smallest house on the right, then go to
the house above hers to find Tesla.  Return to the castle.  Mathiu will give
you the go ahead to enter Soniere, and if you explored earlier like I said Viki
will be able to send you there.

As you go through Soniere make sure you fight all the Nightmare monsters.  They
drop Opals, an item you'll need to recruit someone later.  Once I got one I
just let all the enemies go.  At the T go right.  Here you can save and there's
a Silver Necklace.  Go left, make sure you pick up the Old Book Vol. 6 along
your way, and head downstairs.  You'll eventually come to four sets of guards. 
You can pass them up if you want, but you'll miss out on a Half Helmet and
Sound Setting 0.  Just hit both groups with Cleo's Dancing Flames and they
won't last long enough to attack you.  If you don't have an Opal yet, keep
fighting random battles until you do.  Once you have Liukan and an Opal, take
anything important (Blinking Mirror, Old Book, Sound Setting) off of Gremio,
and if you gave him any top of the line equipment you might as well switch it
with someone else.  Now head back outside.

Back in the castle, go save before you enter the meeting room.  When Mathiu
asks you to choose a party, be sure to take Pahn.  If his weapon level is still
low, fight until you have a good bit of money and then go to Teien and max it. 
Inside, go right for a Magic Robe and left for Red Paint.  In the next room go
left, examine the portrait, and choose the first option.  You'll get Window
Setting 1 and a Magic Rune Piece.  Move along, and upstairs on the left you'll
find a Spark crystal.  This item can be rather useful.  As I recall it causes
everyone in your party to attack right after the person it's equipped on.  That
means if you give it to someone fast everyone will get their attacks in before
any of the enemies get a shot.  Go over to the right side now, where the ugly
chick is standing.  There's a door at the bottom of the room.  You have to
spare this guy too, as tempting as the alternative may be....


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


i) FAMILY FEUD

At the castle make sure Pahn is fully healed and then go to the meeting room. 
Another one of my favorite characters joins up.  The following battle is
impossible to win, but second one is not.  Pahn can die in two hits, so there's
no room for error.  These are what he'll say before each action:

Attack:
	All you can do is defend yourself, Pahn? No mercy!
	Did you see me coming?
	Is that all you've got? Now it's my turn!
	My sword's not rusty yet.
	That was a good one, Pahn. Now it's my turn.
	
 Defend:
	Come on, Pahn. See if you can kill me.
	Good work, Pahn. I'll have to be more careful.
	I'll see that coming next time!
	I'm losing my cool. Better be careful.
	Strike me, Pahn!

Desperate Attack:
	My killer blade...
	Finish me with a single blow!
	Hmmm. Here I come again.
	Impossible! Take that!
	That's...no good.

If you lose the game will go on, but it's very important that you don't if you
want all 108 stars, so just reset the game.  Back in Toran, go to your room to
move things along.  Next, talk to Flik.  For some reason you have to exit the
room and return before Sanchez will let you change your party.  Do so, and make
sure you bring Tai Ho, Milich, and whoever has the Opal.  Go to the docks and
you'll get a boat upgrade, then head back in and warp to Antei.  Qlon, the kid
at the entrance, will join you, as well as Esmeralda on the top floor of the
inn.  From there walk to Scarleticia (it's faster than teleporting).  Head
straight back and in the last room on the right you'll find Ivanov.  Continue
upstairs.  In the room to the right here Kasios will sign up.  Now go back to
your castle and make a decent party.  Bring Tai Ho, Kirkis, Cleo (or any other
decent mage), and whoever else you want.

Oh, an interesting note on Kasumi: Her shrike rune significantly amplifies her
damage at no additional cost.  You can use it every turn and not run out or
have anything to worry about.  The only inconvenience is you can't use
Free-Will in those instances.

That's all the recruits available at the moment, so hop in your boat and sail
up to the northwest corner of the minimap.  You'll be able to cross over the
previously impassable rapids and enter the town of Kirov.  Enter the inn
towards the back and talk to the blue and white guy there to enter a card game.
 Beat his record (it's not hard) and he'll join you.  If you're having trouble,
always go with the least amount of pairs.  You have less time, but if you're
lucky 80% of the board will clear itself on your first match.  Go down a bit
and you'll see a woman washing clothes.  Ignore her for the moment and go into
both houses beside her.  Investigate the stove in both buildings, and then go
to the big house at the entrance to town.  For being the most horrifically rude
person to ever set foot in the town, Lester agrees to join you and give your
team a hand.

Now talk to the girl washing clothes.  She'll agree to join if you get her some
soap.  Sarah is completely useless... probably the most useless character in
the game in fact, so get ready to spend a good 10-15 minutes recruiting her. 
After she asks for soap, go to the guy directly above you.  He'll offer you
soap, but ask you for soy sauce first.  Now go to the guy to the left of Sarah.
 He'll offer you soy sauce, but ask you for salt first.  Go to the girl in the
bottom right corner of town.  She'll off you salt, but ask you for a yardstick
first.  Go to the guy in the top right corner of the inn.  He'll offer you a
yardstick, but ask you for sugar first.  Go to the item shop and buy Sugar.  Go
in reverse order to all the people you just talked to, and you'll eventually
have some soap.  Give it to Sarah, and you'll have successfully accomplished
nothing.  It's such a pity you have to get all 108 stars for the bonuses.  It
should make exceptions for Sarah and Milich. :(

Finally check the armor shop to increase your inventory, and head out the back
of town.  North a ways you'll reach Kalekka.  You can't do a thing in the first
house you come to yet, but you'll encounter Leon Silverberg, a really badass
character.  The house to the right hides an Earth Rune Piece.  When you
encounter groups of four or more just blast them with Cleo's magic.  The path's
pretty straight forward.  Along the way you'll pick up Old Book Vol. 8, and
you'll pass another house with an Antique.  Further up, when you start to see a
clear patch of dirt with a farmer hovering over it, keep your distance.  Go
right first and pick a Sound Crystal out of the chest there, then head back
towards the farmer.  If you step on his flowers he won't join you, so make sure
you avoid the mound of dirt as you approach him.  Once Blackman's in your army
there's nothing more to do here, so go further north.

After a scene outside the Secret Factory, talk to the guys to recruit them. 
Once inside, talk to Kage in the top left corner.  He'll join you for 20,000
bits.  Grab Window Setting 0 in the bottom right and then talk to Mose.  You'll
have to make a REALLY TOUGH dialogue choice here, but I think you'll manage. 
When that's over make sure Kirkis is up to level 35 and warp to the Burnt Elf
Village.  Walk from there to Kobold Village and talk to Rubi, the elf in the
inn.  Go back to Kirov via Viki.  You might want to unload at Rock's first,
since you're probably carrying a bunch of items that are useless at the moment.
 Hang on to the Sound Crystal though.

Back in Kirov, talk to Melodye in the bottom left first and give her the sound
rune.  Now enter the big house by the dock to pick up your fire spears and some
new allies.  Save the game and take the boat back to Toran.  (Don't warp
there.)  Go to the meeting room and talk to Mathiu for a second shot at Teo's
army.

There's no strategy involved here.  Teo uses the same attack each time.  Make
sure you use Strategists to boost your attack power, and send off your best
group.  You'll lose a bit, but they'll be slaughtered.

"Viktor, cut off that man's head!" made me laugh for quite some time.  Anyway,
the next battle is really easy, considering he has half health and one critical
hit is more than enough to finish him.  You'll have no trouble.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


j) VAMPIRES AND SUCH

In the meeting room Lepant will propose another strike, and soon after you'll
get to choose your party.  For the moment take Maas, Meese, and Mose.  As soon
as you exit Lorimar, go right back in to recruit Kirke.

Now go to Warriors' Village, right below you.  When you regain control go to
the item shop and buy Red Flower Seeds, then check the armor shop to expand
your inventory.  Enter the house in the top right corner of town to pick up
Moose.  Outside of it you'll see Marco wondering around.  When I played him the
pattern hadn't changed, but he cuts you off at 10,000 anyway.  Once he's back
at the castle the results become random, so don't count on him to pay for your
new upgrades and such.

Go to the castle and fix your party.  I always bring Flik because it's his home
town.  I brought Tai Ho and Kasumi too, but that's up to you.  On your way out
stop at the item shop for yellow and blue Flower Seeds, then go back to the
Warriors' Village.  Now you're good to follow Zorak into the house in the
northwest corner of town.  When you enter a battle just keep trying to run
until you're dead.  The next day, talk to Zorak, save your game, and travel
west.

In Qlon talk to the guy inside the temple first.  Now walk into the temple
again and talk to the guy in the back right corner.  Go left a bit and check
the book bases beside Hugo for Old Book Vol. 3.  Go outside and talk to the
farmer by the cave entrance.  He'll take them and sign up.  Head inside the
cave.

A short distance up the first screen you'll find a path leading right to a save
field.  Fight around here until Tir is over level 40.  It should only take a
battle or two.  Warp back to your castle and from there go to Teien.  Eikei,
the massive guy by the docks in the top right, will join you.  Now warp to
Garan and talk to the girl there to recruit Quincy.  Now you'll have to do a
little rune reformation.  Assuming you followed my lead, Viktor currently has
the Prosperity Rune and Tai Ho the Holy Rune.  You can now add a third nice one
to that collection.  Eikei's Double-Beat rune is removable, so take it.  Either
save it in your warehouse or stick it on someone right now.  It works best on
moderate characters who've both decent speed and decent strength.  It's a shame
Kasumi can't change runes...  You can put it on Tai Ho, but if you do bring
Stallion along to make up for the loss of Holy.  Upgrade your weapons a bit
too, I know mine were way out of shape.  Obviously go by priority.  Your key
fighters ought to be upgraded before magicians like Cleo and Flik.  Oh, and on
that note, at this point I kicked out Flik and brought along Luc.  His magic
growth is amazing.  By the time I finished up in Qlon his spells were 8/7/6/4,
and oddly enough you can remove his Wind crystal, so you can give him something
more useful.  Luc + Cleo with Fire Runes = Win.

Now you can head back to Qlon and actually progress the game.  Continue past
the save sphere detour and continue until the path splits into a few
directions.  Walk up the stairs to the left first to get a Crimson Cape.  When
you come to the T part, head north first for Medicine and a very nice Flowing
Crystal, then go south into the next room.  Just keep walking south, and when
you hit the wall you'll go straight through it and acquire the Window crystal. 
Get back onto the path and go up the nearby stairs for Head Gear, then keep
going down the path until you reach another T.  Go north first for Old Book
Vol. 2, then back down.  Right past the stairs you'll find 5000 bits.  Then go
up through the opening and down the stairs, grabbing the Escape Talisman on
your way.  In the next area you can go straight down through the wall again to
meet Crowley, but he won't join you yet.  Where the path splits take the
northern exit first again and you'll come upon the War Scroll.

Go the other way now, and when you get to an exit cutting off slightly to the
right of the path, take it for a Medicine and Silverlet.  Go downstairs, and
the first room you pass will house a Mega Medicine and a Skill Rune Piece. 
Continue east and go down more steps.  When the path turns left, you're close
to the 'treasure'.

Some interesting scenes play out, and after everyone leaves you're free to
return.  DON'T approach the stairs yet.  As soon as you get anywhere near them
you leave the town.  First go into the chief's house, out the back, and around
to the bottom to pick up a Boar Crystal.  Go back inside and grab the Mega
Medicine on the floor.  Now most importantly, go in to the house in the bottom
right.  Beside the second bed you'll pick up a very very nice Champion's
Crystal.  Now walk back towards the portal you fell out of to move things
along.  Use that Escape Talisman to save yourself 15 minutes travel time. 
Before you actually leave Qlon though go back inside the house and recruit the
librarian with your War Scroll.  Warp to Warriors' Village, and before you do
anything else grab Window from the item shop.  Talking to Zorak will move
things along.

Neclord's castle is the southern dot, and you'll have to walk it.  You'll
definitely want a Holy Rune inside of this place, so make sure you bring
Stallion or Tai Ho or whoever.

A note on the monsters there: Fight everything, and make sure you come with the
Prosperity Rune attached.  There's loads of bits to be made by all. 
Furthermore, don't be reluctant to cast some spells.  If you follow my lead
you'll be fully recovered by the end anyway, but even if you take a shortcut
and don't heal it won't be a problem.  You obviously have a boss battle
awaiting you, but most of Tir's magic doesn't work on them anyway.  Save his
Hell spells for when you encounter three Larvae, a Demon Sorcerer, and a Hell
Unicorn.  You'll finish them off before they get a single hit in and walk away
with 29,000 bits!  Hell Unicorns are the toughest monsters here, so any time
you encounter them pared with other monsters don't hesitate to use Deadly
Fingertips.  If you want you can just level up around the entrance for a while
and pile up bits, then head back to Moose to max all your weapons.  It's
certainly not necessary though.  I recommend you just level up as you climb the
tower.

When you get to Neclord's Castle a rather useless fellow insists on joining
you, so I kicked out Kasumi.  When you try to enter (or exit) the castle, the
game sometimes freezes, but give it a chance before you start punching your TV
to punish it for its insubordination.  It's still loaded for me after a good 20
second pause before.  Inside the castle, enter the right wooden door first. 
You'll pick up a Full Helmet and run into a rather uncharacteristic zombie who
repeats the same quote you heard in the village: "Even in the forest, not just
at night, during your work, praise the King."  Don't waste your money on him. 
Go down the left side to save, then continue up the central path.  After you
walk across outside you'll come to a room with a lot of smaller rooms in it. 
Walk down and around the stairs first to find Sound Setting 1.  The room
closest to the stairs holds a measly Antitoxin and the one further right an
equally worthless Medicine.

The puzzle in the next room up is interesting.  You have to look at the
pictures in the proper order for the door to open.  Remember "Even in the
forest, not just at night, during your work, praise the King"?  Well, I think
you can figure it out.

In case you can't or you really are that lazy, the order is 3, 2, 4, 1.  In the
next section, the room in the bottom right yields Earth Boots, and the one
furthest left grants you Green Paint.  On the next floor the first room you
come by has Antitoxin.  The room down below it holds an Earth Rune Piece. 
Continue outside to the next level.  Enter the upper room for a Magic Rune
Piece, and then the lower one for a Cape of Darkness.  Now leave.  Yep, walk
back out of the castle.  You should be able to Let Go in every battle except
single Hell Unicorns, which aren't hard anyway, so it won't take long. 
Originally I wrote this with the intent of using an Escape Talisman, but by
some odd stroke of The Gay it was disabled in his castle.  (Apparently it
doesn't work in most castles.)  That makes this far less convenient than I'd
intended, but the trip back will still be a lot faster.  Talk to Zorak to get
him out of your way, and warp to Toran.


I'd like to take a moment to note that videogames do in fact pertain to the
rest of the world.  This malfunctioning Escape Talisman saved my life.  Yes, my
real life - That place outside of my room that I tap in to once a week or so. 
One of my friends called me up to go off-roading in a junk car we bought a few
days prior, and I'd just reached the top of Neclord's castle.  Well, the
blasted Escape Talisman didn't work, so I had to spend 10 minutes climbing back
down, making myself 10 minutes late. ... I got there about two minutes after
they'd been busted by the cops. <_<


So yeah, heal and upgrade your weapons. :)  Don't bother upgrading Hix, because
you'll hopefully never use him again after this scenario.  Make sure most of
your characters have two Mega Medicine.  You'll probably only need one for Tir
and Viktor, and none for Luc, but give everyone else two.  Grab your Champion's
Crystal from Rock or whoever has it, and stick it on Hix.  You've successfully
eliminated 90% of the fighting.  Now just save, warp to Neclord's castle, and
run on up to the top.  It took me less than a minute to climb the whole thing.

You can't deal any damage in the battle until Viktor gets a hit in with the
Star Dragon Sword, so just make everyone else defend the first round.  Now that
things are underway, this battle can be very tough.  Use all your high level
magic.  Luc should have 4 level 4 spells by now, and Cleo 2, so put them to
good use.  Also, Tir's Black Shadow is more effective than his regular physical
attack.  Even with all that I nearly ran out of magic by the end, and I lost
Tai Ho, but just keep it up long enough and don't let anyone's health stay
below 150 and you'll be fine.

Take anything important off Viktor and head out.  Go back to the castle, take
the Champion's Rune off of Hix, and talk to Mathiu.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


k) DRAGONS.  RAWR.

You're off to meet the Dragon Knights, and you have to take Humphrey and Flik
along.  Not too bad.  Sanchez won't let you add people until you leave the
room, so go down to Jeane and hook Humphrey up with the Champion's Rune, then
go back.  Take whoever else you feel like using.  Tai Ho, Luc, Cleo, Kasumi,
whatever.  Warp to Kirov and walk up to Kalekka.  Leon is in the first house
there, and he'll send you back to Mathiu with a message.  Play errand boy back
and forth and you'll have him soon enough.

Warp to Rikon and enter the inn.  Clive appears here at random, and he'll be
standing to the left of the inn keeper in the upper right corner.  If he's not
there, leave the town and go back in.  Just keep this up until he appears.  I
was lucky this time and found him on my first shot, but I remember it taking a
good 20 or so tries in the past.

Now go to Neclord's Castle and scale it.  Right now Humphrey probably sucks, so
you won't avoid any battles.  Pretty soon though he'll build up enough to get
you out of the smaller fights.  Just use the Soul Eater to take care of
everything.  At the top you'll run into one of the best characters in the game.

Heal when you get back and then kick someone out and put in Pesmerga, because
he's awesome.  (You really don't have to, it doesn't effect the game at all.)
But either way, make sure you have an Escape Talisman and warp to Qlon next. 
In case you don't remember where Crowley is, head into the cave and down the
stairs.  When the path splits left and right go right, and then go down at the
T right after that.  The next time the path splits two ways, go down again. 
Keep going until you travel down the stairs with a treasure chest right beside
them.  Walk straight down into the next screen and the wall at the bottom.  The
flat part a few steps to the right of you is the entrance to Crowley's
dwelling.  Make your way through the relatively simple maze and pick him up. 
Use that Escape Talisman and you'll be done recruiting for the moment.  Now go
back to the castle and put Luc and Crowley in your party.  If you've been
following my advice you probably have at least one good magician in your party.
 Well, Crowley's the best mage in the game, but Luc's almost as powerful, so
the difference is insignificant.  If you want to start using Crowley, go ahead.
 If you don't, take him down to Jeane and remove his Cyclone Rune.  This is one
of the higher level elemental runes, and it's very powerful.  Stick it on Luc.

So now that the runes are straightened out, go fix your party.  Add Liukan and
whichever other two characters you want.  The Champion's Rune won't be very
useful now, so take it off of Humphrey and give him a Killer Rune or some other
combat enhancer like that.  Make sure you have at least one Escape Talisman. 
Now warp to Dragon's Den.  If it's not available, warp to Scarleticia and walk
to the dot in the far upper left.  After a conversation with the guard, go to
Antei and talk to the two guys at the entrance, then go back to Dragon's Den.

The enemies are tough inside here.  Go all out with your magic, you'll have an
opportunity to recover.  If you're the type that tends to run away as soon as
you stop gaining significant experience, at least stay to fight out battles
with Sunshine Kings.  They drop a very useful item that will serve you well
later on.  This cave is painfully linear.  The first chest holds a Goldlet, and
the second Old Book Vol. 5.  At one point the path does come to a T.  Go right
first and pick up a pair of Power Gloves, then left to reach the exit.

As soon as you enter Dragon Knights' Fortress, go to the back right corner
behind the castle and you'll see a read hat sticking out.  Talk to it to
recruit Fuma.  Go inside and in the back left corner you'll find another easy
recruit.  Go upstairs to progress things.  When you regain control, head to the
castle and go back to Joshua's room.  You'll find Window Setting 2 on the left.
 Check the bookcase on the right to pick up Old Book Vol. 4.  Now go downstairs
and talk to the nurse in the back right to rest and save.  Go outside and
investigate the red dragon.

You'll find yourself trekking across Seek Valley.  If you encounter any Queen
Ants, use Deadly Fingertips as soon as you can.  Their attacks deal massive
damage.  When the path juts off in three different directions, ignore the first
and take the farthest one first.  You'll find Sound Setting 2.  Go back, take
the middle path up far enough to get the Mega Medicine, and then heal up.  This
next battle is really hard.  If Luc's with you healing won't be too much of a
problem, but still make sure at least Milia and one of your optional characters
have Mega Medicine.  When you're ready head left.

Blast this guy with everything you've got.  Flik's Raging Blow, Tir's Black
Shadow, whatever's available.  Use Luc's Storm attack at first, not Shining
Wind.  Shining Wind does the same as Storm AND heals your party, so save it for
when you need it.  I actually had no trouble at all beating him this time, but
I remember having quite a struggle in the past.  When it's over grab the
Cyclone Crystal and save.

After you have the Moonlight Weed, use an Escape Talisman and present the
ingredient to Joshua in his room.  Go back up and talk to him a second time to
conclude this scenario.  Accept Milia's offer and head into Toran.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


l) PRISONERS OF WAR

After a scene in the basement, go up to the top floor.  When you regain control
talk to Sanchez and add Mose, Maas, Meese, and Moose to your party, along with
anyone who has a Holy Rune.  Get another Escape Talisman and warp to Dragon
Knights' Fortress.  Hop on Thrash to take off for Seek Valley, and go until you
come to that area with three paths again.  If you run into any battles just use
Hell and Deadly Fingertips.  This time take the lowest one, the one you passed
up last time.  You'll now have Mace, which means you can raise your weapons to
their highest level.  Use an Escape Talisman to get back.

Talk to Sanchez again and form a decent party consisting of Kasumi, Krin, and
whoever else you want.  I took Tai Ho, Luc, and Pesmerga.  You should have a
good bit of money by now, so upgrade your weapons, beef up everyone's armor if
you want (I didn't),  save, and go to your room.  Talk to Mathiu in his room
the next day to move things along.

Griffith is really cool.

When you're asked to form a party, take the same one you built up earlier, then
head to Moravia.  Directly to your right you'll pick up Pink Paint.  The
monsters here are insane, but on the plus side the guard in the top right will
heal you and let you save.  With that in mind, go all out with your magic.  Use
Hell any time you're up against a large group of them.  Just level a bit around
the save guy for a bit.  You ought to need it - Krin was on level 7 for me.... 
The castle itself is painfully linear, so you'll need no help navigating it.

As soon as you exit Moravia, walk right back in.  Climb all the way to the top,
and there you'll encounter Vincent and pick up a very nice Mother Earth
Crystal.  To get Vincent out just talk to him through the gate...  Escape
Talismans don't work here because Konami is gay, so walk back out.  Don't
teleport back to Toran though.  Instead, walk back down to the Northern
Checkpoint to pick up Maximilian, Sancho, and Old Book Vol. 7.  Warp back to
the castle.

If you haven't yet, now is a good opportunity to distribute the various items
you've gathered throughout the game.  Go to Rock and pick up Sound and Window
Settings 0, 1, and 2, red, green, white, black, and pink paint, and Old Book
Vol 1-8.  If one of those is missing, look through everyone's inventory via the
Detach option.  You may find that you left it on a character you're not using
anymore.  Go down to the first floor and out the exit to the left.  Go all the
way over to the room that Alen and Grenseal are guarding, and go to the top
floor in there.  Talk to Melodye to lose your Sound Settings, and Window
(obviously) to unload the Window Settings.  All of the other sounds suck, but
the window options are cool since you can change the colors.  Back inside, talk
to Chandler and buy blue and yellow paint.

Go up to the third floor.  Hugo in the bottom left will take your Old Books,
which you can then read.  The second book recounts a rather interesting study
conducted by Crowley.  Though I've never had the opportunity to try it myself,
I've heard that if two characters cast the Level 4 or 5 spells of any of the
paired elements listed there during the same round, the effects are combined
into an incredibly powerful attack.  You should have enough Cyclone, Mother
Earth, Flowing, Thunder, and Rage Runes to benefit from it.  I think the only
eligible combinations are the ones listed there, Fire and Earth, Earth and
Wind, Wind and Water, Water and Lightning, and Lightning and Fire.  Books 1, 4,
and 8 are also particularly interesting.

Over on the right side of the room, Ivanov will collect your paint and give you
binoculars in return.  This item is very cool.  Plug in a second controller,
warp to Moravia, and get in a battle.  With the second controller you can now
switch the camera angle all around.

That's it for special stuff at the moment.  If you plan to use the same group
as me in the mission coming up and you'd like to try out those higher level
magic combos, put Crowley in your party and give him a Mother Earth Rune. 
Stick the Flowing Rune in his inventory too.  Save your game and go talk to
Mathiu.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


m) A TRAITOR IN THE MIDST

After a series of cool scenes, go down to the docks.  Tell Mathiu you're ready
to move forward and the battle will ensue.  (Tai Ho is awesome.)  Just use your
Ninjas and Thieves, and always attack with the best unit available.  You'll win
eventually.

Shasarazade can be rather difficult, and your best bet is probably with a
magic-dominant group.  I took Luc, Crowley, Cleo, and Tai Ho.  Note that even
though Crowley and Luc are S range fighters, they should be in your back row. 
They're only good for magic anyway.

So, the enemies.  Every time you run in to Sirens, fight it out.  They drop
Sound Setting 3 and Flowing Crystals, not to mention four of them will land you
48,000 bits.  Needless to say, it's well worth the battle.  Hit them with Luc's
magic, as wind seems to be their weakness.  When you're up against a Kerberos,
just free will it.  They're nothing.  Since you can make hordes of money really
fast here, I advice you just wander around on the first screen fighting random
battles for a bit.  Cleo and Luc can both combine their spells with Crowley. 
If you set all three of them to the highest spell, Luc and Crowley will combine
and Cleo will cast solo.  Since Luc's L5 spell heals your party, this can
actually do more harm than good at times.  Furthermore, the Cleo/Crowley combo
seems to do more damage.  With this in mind, if your average level is 56 or
lower you probably should switch Crowley to the Flowing rune.  Cleo can't
combine with him, but water L5, Mother Ocean, allows you to revive all of your
fallen comrades AND fully heal.  Even if you've leveled up a good bit it can't
hurt to switch him.

By the time I was done experimenting with the magic I had acquired the
significant sum of 650,000 bits.  Upgrade all of your current fighters and save
the leftovers for later.  Head back to Shasarazade and get things moving.  Just
Let Go for all the battles if you can.  Everything's pretty simple.  The first
chest you come across holds a Chaos Shield.  Make sure you grab the Master Garb
on the way.  When the path splits left and down, go left first for a Mega
Medicine, then heal up and take the bottom route.

DON'T go all out in this battle.  Make sure Crowley stays alive, and if anyone
else dies use Mother Ocean.  Save Tir's Judgment spells and just hit it with
Cleo and Luc's L4 attacks.  Don't waste Luc or Crowley's L5 spells healing,
just let Crowley do it with a lower level casting.  When Luc's L4 spells run
out use The Shredding.  Once Cleo's down to L2 just have her attack.  It takes
a while, but I had little trouble beating him.  Of course I was also on a
higher level than you'll probably be...  With the Prosperity Rune I got 200,000
bits out of this one.  Grab the Thunder Crystal and heal before you leave.

This next battle can be significantly harder, but it will be a piece of cake if
you saved your two Judgment spells.  Heal with Shining Wind so you can keep
dealing damage.  It won't take too long.  This fight nets you a measly 3000
bits.

As soon as you get back to the castle go to the basement and talk to Sonya in
the prison.  I missed this once and had to replay the entire game because of
it. >_<  Next talk to Marie, heal, and save save save.  You're getting close to
the end, and if you don't have 108 stars soon you'll lose out on a lot.  Go
look at the stone plate and check for two things.  EVERY slot should be full,
and only Gremio's name should be darkened.  If you're missing people, grab a
recruiting guide and go get them while you still can.  If names other than
Gremio are darkened, you didn't listen to me about characters dying or getting
wounded in major battles, and you're pretty well screwed.  Assuming you have
everything you need, leave the stone plate, stick the Thunder Crystal on Flik,
make sure you've saved, and go talk to Mathiu.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


n) AN EMPIRE FALLEN
	(The Final Battle)

There will be a big rally in the meeting room, and if something incredibly
awesome doesn't happen before it's over you've either messed up or really hate
a certain character.  When it's over, save again, and DON'T WRITE OVER THIS. 
This is your last chance to explore freely with whatever party you want.  Go
explore your castle.  Talk to everyone.  Enjoy it while you can.  Whenever you
want to move along, talk to Mathiu.

This is the biggest battle of the game, but you'll win it just like any other. 
Even though you got the 108 star bonus, DON'T let anyone die in this fight. 
There are additional bonuses that carry over to Suikoden 2, and you won't get
them if anyone is injured or killed.  When this is all over, Viktor and Flik
will join you permanently.  Yes, it sucks. :(  When you're asked to form the
rest of your party, if you'd like to see some hidden scenes take Clive and Meg.
 There's still a little bit more to do before finishing this.

Go back to Toran and save in a NEW file.  Unless you have no interest
whatsoever in exploring freely, it's nice to have an open party.  As much as I
like Viktor and Flik, forcing them to be in your group outside of Gregminster
was idiotic on Konami's part.  So yeah, warp back to Gregminster, leave, and
walk to Rockland.  Go up to the graveyard and investigate the headstone in the
top left corner.  You can walk to Mt. Seifu as well if you want, just to get it
on Viki's list.  You might as well, because it's good to wander about here to
build up levels and make money.  Orcs drop some great treasure, and a group of
three of them nets you 42,000 bits.  Three ninja masters and two orcs earn
61,000 bits!  Quit whenever you feel like it and go into Lenankamp.  Enter the
first house on the left, then head back to Toran.

If you don't plan to play Suikoden 2 after this, ignore most of the next
paragraph.  If you are moving on with the series and you like Clive or Meg, go
ahead and max their weapons.  I'm sure you made more than enough bits to do so.
 Now kick those two out and form a decent party.  I recommend taking Cleo and
Gremio because the upcoming sequence mildly involves them.  Upgrade whatever
you can afford to, save, and warp to Gregminster.  Fight a few battles outside
if you want, but it's not necessary.  When you're ready, head towards the
castle.

This battle makes me sad, but it's not overly hard.  You ought to have three
Judgment spells by now, and the third should finish him.  Now you can head in a
bit if you want, but you're not ready to go the whole way yet.  I just had you
get that out of the way because the monsters inside are significantly better
than those out.  These guys are seriously loaded.  One Phantom will give you
13,000 bits, and that's the smallest fight you can get in.  By the time I ran
out of Hell spells I had 530,000 bits.  Go back to Toran, heal, and put
Humphrey, Futch, and Stallion in your group.  Max their weapons in the order I
listed them, then save, go back to Gregminster, and fight until they're at
least above level 55 and you have enough money to fully upgrade Humphrey and
Futch.  If they're all upgraded and the entire party you plan to use for the
final battle is upgraded and you still have some cash left over, either buy
better armor or upgrade Kasumi and Valeria.  Before you toss Humphrey and Futch
out of your party though, grab your Double Beat and Spark runes from Rock and
put them on these two.  It doesn't matter who gets which, this is just so that
they carry over to the next game.  Most runes don't, but Double Beat, Spark,
Resurrection, and Counter are among the proud few that do.  ... Yeah, if that's
all done, make your final party.  It's time to role.

I'm not going to tell you who to take, because with that many characters to
chose from you ought to just bring whoever you like most.  I took the ones I
thought would end this the quickest, because quite frankly I'm tired of playing
it, but this is also my fifth run through the game, and this time around I
wasn't overly concerned with the plot aspect.  (he's lying he's lying, he took
Tai Ho.)  The truth is by the time you get there everyone's going to be around
level 60 at least, and odds are you won't lose.  Sure it will be easier with
certain characters, but you can win with anybody.  If you don't bring anyone
with healing magic just load up on Mega Medicine.  Even if you did bring a
healer or two, some MMs would be nice so that you can conserve your magic for
the end, Sacrificial Buddhas are always nice, and... yeah, just make the
logical preparations, save, and head off to Gregminster.

Use Hell and Deadly Fingertips when you need to.  It won't be long before Let
Go becomes the standard option.  Make use of it, and from that point save Hell
and whatnot for the unavoidable battles.  When that runs out use Flik's Thunder
God, and when you're out of that, unless you feel like fighting by hand or you
have some other magicians with you, walk out and rest up.  Don't do so until
it's necessary though.  You can usually get away with only leaving once.  After
your 6th mandatory battle you'll come to a T.  Go left.  After the 11th,
whenever the path branches up and continues to go right, go right first for a
horned helmet.  When you go up the proper path you'll come to another T.  Go
left first, grab the Power Ring, and save your game.  This is the final save
point, and if you want to load data for Suikoden 2 you have to be saved at this
precise spot.  At this point you'll probably want to leave and replenish all
your magic, then return to the same spot fighting as little as possible.  I
managed to max my bits on the way in.  If you did the same, give everyone the
best armor around.  If you still have some left over, upgrade Kasumi, Valeria,
Pesmerga, Loralai... anyone you want to really.  Unless you're taking someone
with a Flowing Rune give everyone at least one Sacrificial Buddha.  It can't
hurt.  When you're ready go back to Gregminster, save when you get to the
sphere, and head for the gardens.

Pummel this guy's right head (left side of the screen) first, or it will heal
and revive the others.  Use Judgment, use Thunder God, go all out.  The left
head's attack hits everybody at once for decent damage, and the middle head
hits single individuals for... more than decent damage.  Group attacks are
still harder to recover from than singles though, so aim for the left head
next.  This guy takes forever to kill off.  I hit his right head with Judgment
three times and it was still kicking for the next round and a half.  Until it's
down to one head let Tir keep using Black Shadow.  Things will continue to get
easier as you work it down, until eventually he'll be simple to finish off.

Oh, and that's it.  You won.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Now go play Suikoden 2!














-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


4. QUICK GUIDE

Look at the main introduction before you read any of this.

(This is only three pages front and back if you want to print it.)


INTRO

The hero doesn't have a default name, but I'll refer to him as Tir throughout,
because other people do. ... I highly recommend you go to the menu (square
button) and in Setup change the Message Speed to Fast.  After that, take a
second to learn the controls.  The Suikoden series features the greatest
control setup I've ever seen in a game - you can play the entire thing with one
hand.  Alternate keys allow you to access the menu with Select, accept with L2,
and cancel with L1.  While I'm at it, during battle don't overlook the
Free-Will function.  It's quite useful.
After you talk to the king you have an opportunity to use an infinite cash
supply and get a Fortune/Prosperity Rune.
Fortune runes grant their wearer double experience.  Prosperity runes grant the
party double bits.
If you want a Fortune rune, do the following BEFORE you go upstairs in your
house.
If you want a Prosperity rune instead, do this AFTER you go upstairs but BEFORE
you enter the room to your right.

Exit your house, save at the inn, and go level up for a while.  When you can
withstand most battles go east to Rockland.  Talk to the grey haired kid near
the entrance and play his game at the 100 bit level.  Write down which place
the coin ends up each time, and make sure you WIN every time or you'll mess it
up.  Do this about 10 times and then quit, leave town, come back, and play for
the highest you can afford.  It will follow the same pattern every time, so you
can't lose.
Southwest of Gregminster you'll find a bridge.  Go north on the other side of
it and cross the mountain path.  Don't loot the treasures just yet.  In Sarady
talk to the man in the top right hut.  You'll either get a Prosperity crystal
or a Fortune crystal, depending on whether you brought Ted or not.



MT. SEIFU

After the bandit thing is taken care of, get all of your important items off of
Ted and Pahn.



MT. TIGERWOLF

Killer Slimes drop Water Rune Pieces.  Also, on your way back from Sarady
unequip Odessa.



KWABA

Once you pass here you can't go back for a while.  This includes your infinite
bit supply in Rockland.



KAKU

The item shop has Holy Crystals.  This lets you run by holding L1 or O.  Give
one to someone you plan to keep with you for a while, it will speed things up
tremendously.



TORAN
(optional characters: Sergei, Onil, Marie, Chandler)

You'll find Toe Shoes.  You need these later.  Don't get rid of them.  After
you're done at Toran, go to Kaku and recruit Sergei from the bar.  Go to Seika
and get Onil from the house below Mathiu's.  Go to the inn here to get Marie. 
Go up to Kwaba and recruit Chandler.  This guy and Chapman, the armor guy you
get later, only sell what you've seen for sell elsewhere.  Stop in every item
and armor store you come across to expand their selection.



KOUAN
(optional characters: Meg, Kai, Sheena, Antonio, Gaspar)

Don't bother trying to get items in the wheel room, it carries nothing worth
while.  When you're given a certain option for a most unlikable character in a
scene coming up, keep in mind that he's not needed for the 108 star bonus. ;-)

Back at Toran talk to Marie three times.  After Kirkis joins add Juppo, Lepant,
and Tai Ho.  In Kaku get Meg by the inn.  Walk to the bridge past Kouan and get
Kai.  Go to the Seika inn and get Sheena and Antonio.  In Kaku get Gaspar from
the bar basement.  You can change your party now.



GREAT FOREST
(optional characters: Sansuke, Maas)

Maas is at the blacksmith's.  Sansuke is in the house to the left.  It's
impossible to reach the top floor of the item shop.



DWARF VILLAGE
(optional character: Meese)

Meese is at the blacksmith's.



DWARVES' VAULT

When you come to a room with a path leading right to a dead end staircase, and
another staircase down the center, wait a moment.  Go left of the real stairs
and you'll find a chest with an Escape Talisman.  Hang on to it.  Heal your
party and keep them that way before going downstairs to proceed.  Once you have
the Running Water Root use your Escape Talisman.



ELF VILLAGE and KOBOLD VILLAGE
(optional character: Templeton)

As soon as you leave the elf village, go right back in.  He'll be there.

An important note on major battles: If an attacking character says anything
after a round it probably means he was wounded or killed.  This will happen
most commonly in a losing situation, such as the enemy casting magic as you
attempt to charge.  If it does, reset and try again.  If any characters are
hurt in battle you won't get the 108 star bonus at the end of the game.  If
you're not sure about it, check the stone tablet at Toran before you save your
game, and reset if the character's name is darkened.



TEIEN, RIKON, and ANTEI
(optional characters: Hellion, Mina, Chapman, Jeane, Jabba, Lotte, Gon, Fu Su
Lu, Lorelai, Apple, Anji, Kanak, Leonardo)

Go to the inn in Teien to get Hellion and the Blinking Mirror.  NEVER EVER take
this item off of Tir.  Go to the inn and get Mina.  You can now remove your Toe
Shoes if you want.  Get Chapman from the Armory and Jeane from the Rune shop. 
Leave town and fight Holly Fairies until you get a Nameless Urn, then go to
Rikon and recruit Jabba, the appraiser.  Go to the second floor of the inn and
talk to Lotte, then blink/warp to Kaku, corner and grab the cat on the right
side, and take it back to her.  Warp to the Elf Village with 10,000 bits and
Kuromimi in your party and walk to Kobold Village.  In the bottom house you'll
get Gon, and in the inn you can buy Fu Su Lu's services.  Warp to Kouan and
grab Lorelai from the inn, then to Seika to get Apple from Mathiu's home.  Put
Tai Ho and Yam Koo in your party, save, and sail up to the island northwest of
Teien.  If you can beat Anji, Kanak, and Leonardo in the time limit they'll
join you.  Otherwise try again or come back later.  Don't miss the black paint
at Liukan's when you go there.



SONIERE

Take any important items or runes off of Gremio before you go to Soniere. 
Fight the Nightmares inside until one of them drops an Opal.



SCARLETICIA
(optional characters: Qlon, Esmerelda, Ivanov, Kasios)

Level up and heal Pahn before you go here, and if you take him with you make
sure he's fully healed when you get back.  Don't miss the Spark crystal, this
is the only one in the game.  In Pahn's duel soon after DON'T LOSE.
When you're sent on your next mission bring Milich, Tai Ho, and whoever has the
Opal.  Grab Qlon at the entrance to Antei, then give the Opal to Esmerelda in
the inn.  Take Milich back to Scarleticia and talk to Ivanov and Kasios.  Keep
Tai Ho in your party when you move along.



KIROV, KALEKKA, and SECRET FACTORY
(optional characters: Georges, Lester, Sarah, Blackman, Kage, Melodye, Rubi)

Beat Georges in the Kirov inn to recruit him.  Investigate the stoves in the
houses on either side of Sarah, the clothes lady, then go to the big house by
the docks and pick up Lester.  Talk to Sarah, then talk to people in this
order: The guy above Sarah, the guy left of Sarah, the girl in the bottom right
corner of town, the guy in the right side of the inn, and finally the item
shop.  Now run back through them all in reverse order until you have Soap for
Sarah.  Towards the back of Kalekka, whatever you do don't step on the patch of
dirt in front of Blackman.  Walk around it and talk to him to recruit him.  In
the house to the right pick up the Sound Crystal.  In the Secret Factory
recruit Kage for 20,000 bits.  Back in Kirov give Melodye the Sound Crystal and
she'll join.  You should be able to get Kirkis above level 35 by now, so do so,
warp to the elf village, walk to Kobold, and get Rubi from the inn.



LORIMAR, WARRIORS' VILLAGE, and QLON
(optional characters: Kirke, Moose, Marco, Morgan, Zen,  Eikei, Quincy, Hugo,
Window)

Get yellow and blue flowers from the Toran item shop, and take Maas, Meese, and
Mose with you initially.  When you exit Lorimar go back in and recruit Kirke. 
Get Moose in the top right house of Warriors' Village, and Marco right below
it.  Her patterns don't work in the castle.  Buy red flower seeds in Warriors'
Village.  When you get to Qlon, talk to Morgan inside to recruit him.  There's
an Old Book on the shelves behind Hugo.  Give Zen the flower seeds outside and
he'll join you.  Fight until Tir is level 40, warp to Teien, and recruit Eikei
by the docks.  Warp to Garan next and add Quincy.  When you go through Qlon
make sure you don't miss the Flowing Crystal, Window Crystal, or War Scroll. 
After the scenes with the sword have played out and you're free to return,
don't go near the stairs you came out from yet.  First go to the bottom right
house and pick up the Champion's Crystal.  There's also Mega Medicine and a
Boar Rune to be found if you want them.  When you're done use an Escape
Talisman to get out fast.  Give the War Scroll to Hugo and the Window Crystal
to Window in Warriors' Village.



NECLORD'S CASTLE
(optional characters: Leon, Clive, Pesmerga, Crowley)

Make sure there's nothing important on Viktor before you leave.  After you're
done and you've talked to Mathiu, give someone in your party the Champion's
Rune and walk to Kalekka from Kirov.  Talk to Leon in the first house, talk to
Mathiu, then talk to Leon again to recruit him.  Go to the inn in Rikon, and if
Clive isn't standing there leave town and reenter repeatedly until he is. 
He'll join you.  With the Champion's Rune still attached climb up Neclord's
Castle and get Pesmerga from the top floor.  Go back to Qlon with an Escape
Talisman.  Head into the cave and down the stairs.  When the path splits left
and right go right, and then go down at the T right after that.  The next time
the path splits two ways, go down again.  Keep going until you travel down the
stairs with a treasure chest right beside them.  Walk straight down into the
next screen and the wall at the bottom.  The flat part a few steps to the right
of you is the entrance to Crowley's dwelling.  Make your way through the
relatively simple maze and pick him up, then use the Escape Talisman to get
out.  You can remove this guy's Cyclone Rune if you want.



DRAGON KNIGHTS' FORTRESS and SEEK VALLEY
(optional characters: Fuma, Kreutz, Mace)

Grab Fuma outside of the castle in the upper right corner (look for a red hat)
and then Kreutz in the back left corner of the first floor, inside.  There's an
Old Book on the shelves behind Joshua.  Take two Escape Talismans with you to
Seek Valley, and don't pass up the Cyclone Crystal.  Use one Talisman after you
have the Moonlight Weed.  After Milia takes you to Toran return with Maas,
Meese, Mose, and Moose to get Mace.  Where the path goes three ways take the
bottom right one and you'll find him.  Use the other Talisman to get out.



MORAVIA, SHASARAZADE, and GREGMINSTER
(optional characters: Vincent, Max, Sancho)

When you're done in the castle, go back in and clear to the top to recruit
Vincent and pick up a Mother Earth Crystal.  Walk down to the Northern
Checkpoint and Max and Sancho will jump aboard.  The Sirens in Shasarazade drop
Sound Setting 3 and Flowing Crystals.  You have to fight two bosses with no
time to save or rest in between, so don't go all out on the first one, and
reserve Tir's Judgment spells if you can.  Don't miss the Master Garb or
Thunder Crystal.  When you're out of here talk to Sonya in the basement
immediately.  She won't be an official star until then.  When you've done that,
check the stone plate and make sure you have all 108 characters.  Furthermore,
make sure that only Gremio's name is darkened.  If you're missing people, grab
a recruiting guide and go get them while you still can.  If names other than
Gremio are darkened, you didn't listen to me about characters dying or getting
wounded in major battles, and you're pretty well screwed.  Save your game, then
talk to Mathiu.  There will be a big rally in the meeting room, and if
something incredibly awesome doesn't happen before it's over you've either
messed up or really hate a certain character.  Save your game again when you
have the chance, and I advise you not save over it, as from this point on
you'll be required to drag Flik and Viktor around wherever you go.  Don't let
anyone die in the next battle even though you got the S1 bonus, because you'll
miss out on the extra stuff in S2.  For some cool extra scenes take Clive to
examine the graveyard in Rockland and take Meg into the house in the front left
side of Lenankamp.  (Thank SuikoSource for those two.)  Head to Gregminster,
but before you go on to finish the game, note that a few runes carry over, as
do weapon upgrades.  Put Humphrey and Futch in your party, get both of their
levels above 55 and their weapons up to L16, give Futch the Spark Rune, and
hook Humphrey up with Double Beat.  Now you can go ahead and finish things. 
When you reach the save field in Gregminster, this is where S2 loads your data.
 Save your game here in another slot, and when you start S2 and it asks you if
you want to load previous data, load that one.

That's all.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


5. CREDITS

This guide was written by:
Nathan (Shad4k) Oravetz

I bugged the following people to proof read it for me:
Aaron (Rocky) Crespo

The following sites served as my reference guides:
www.suikosource.com
www.gamefaqs.com

The following sites are permitted to display this guide:
www.suikogurus.com  (currently unavailable)
www.gamefaqs.com


Also, for providing my ears with warmth and comfort while I wrote this:

City of Caterpillar
Dargaard
Dimmu Borgir
Ensiferum
James Galway
Opeth
Portishead
Queen
Sigur Rs



And that's it.  Go away.
