LogFAQs > #942871780

Got in an hour-plus. There was a lot of pointless meandering. I strapped in Zell and Rinoa and was confused about how to access Balamb, which is where Xu and Quistis have decided I should go. I wander the Balamb Plain but can't figure out how to get into the town, so then I fly around more and visit several other sites, including a Shumi trading post (I leave right away), the remains of the town that Laguna once guarded (now safe to run around in, but seeing ghosts there), Rinoa's town, and more.

Eventually - and I'm talking like an hour later - I return to Balamb and realize you can walk into that town. Galbadian troops seem to have taken over for the time being. I hadn't realized 'til this moment that this is Zell's hometown. The guard accosts us, and Squall quickly BSes that we're here to deliver intel on Ellone. He also takes some time to poke fun at Zell once we're in Zell's house. Anyway, one set of guards wants us to contact the Commander, but then the guards surrounding the Commander tell us to get the Captain first. The Captain... apparently likes napping a lot.

Well, okay then. We search high and low, discovering nooks we hadn't seen before, and spending our last $5000 on a useless hint. But finally, the smell of fish in Zell's own house (!!!) leads us to Raijin! He's poisoned his own dudes with fish.

Raijin is a rather easy battle once I cast Protect on everyone - he doesn't have any surprise moves, and I beat him without having to heal thanks to the newly junctioned HP boosts. I take him down extremely patiently with Squall attacking, Rinoa using Ice magic, and Zell attacking since I haven't equipped Magic to him. After I get tired of it, I hit Raijin with Leviathan via Zell - awesome animation - which finishes him.

It's a bit more of a surprise when he runs inside to rejoin Fujin for a dual boss battle, with no break. I haphazardly cast Protect on everyone and then go about healing during the battle with Cure2, then go to work with Ice3 spells from Squall and Rinoa and constant Leviathan barrages from Zell. Once Raijin goes down a second time, we focus on Fujin. Rinoa hits her with magic of various strengths, and Zell's focus goes from Leviathan to Diablos. Down goes Fujin.

When we return, Selphie almost immediately reappears and suggests we go to her home Garden. She mentions it's icy there; I'm certain it's the mountainous/snowy area to the north where I'd previously found the Shumi. But that's to come.

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* "Flowers bloom over and over. I wonder if people do the same?"

* I've upgraded Squall's sword. It's now red and fiery. Cooool. I've also attached 96-100 Curaga to everyone's HP. It cost pretty much all my money. But yeah, it's nice. I've also given Rinoa HP+40% which is crazy.

* I also finally got the Card ability in battle to work. I've just learned Mug, so looking forward to giving that skill to someone over Attack. Possibly Squall - he's got the best attack by far. And then I can un-junction Card from Squall and give it to someone less useful.

* I really like Fujin's character design.

* The awesome Fisherman's Horizon theme plays in Laguna/Raine's town. It's a shame the music in Balamb Garden and the world map kinda suck.
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yet all azuarc of all sorts are more or less capricious and unreliable - they live in the varying outer weather, and they inhale its fickleness