17. A Place of Defeat

After the scene talk to Genma to rest and/or buy provisions, then save your game at nearby SPN. Continue following the other party (watch for rocks) into third open area and start killing stuff. When the area is clear, go W, Balbagan Connect and use Gigatackle on the rock, then nail BSCH for MEMOIRS OF A THIEF. That third area is a good spot for level-grinding - after you kill all stuff, go away some and return to mop up the respawned enemies. Beef your levels to lv20 here then move on by following the other party. You'll reach Vesplume Tower, and are offered a chance to save.

VESPLUME TOWER - ONE-TIME-ONLY-AREA!

You need to make three parties.
Party A: Capell and Sigmund are mandatory, add Rucha and Rico.
Party B: Aya is mandatory, add whoever you like.
Party C: Edward is mandatory, add whoever you like.

One party member will need to sit this one out, though. Are you ready for Vesplume Tower Assault? Directions will be liberal, so pay attention.

1ST FLOOR

Change tactics to 'Save MP', then move N and take out few enemies. Take N door, W round the corner, N round the corner, W by going upstairs, a bit S on top of stairs, E by going downstairs, then take path going W inbetween the two staircases.

S round the corner, E round the corner, and go upstairs to find Dais of Chaos. Examine it for a scene - whenever you find a Dais, you'll need to power it up with an orb to unlock relevant door. Go back downstairs and try to leave W - a scene shows Edward finding some orb.

Keep heading back, and a pigeon appears with message from Edward - he found an orb, but it's of no use to him. Meeting point is back where you first met - also, the door at bottom of twin staircase is now unlocked, so it can act as a shortcut.

You'll find Edward and other chrs on his team waiting on other side of the railing. Sheathe your sword and talk to Ed to get ORB OF CHAOS KI. Return to Dais of Chaos and insert the orb to unlock the door beneath. Back downstairs and continue E into the teleport. Save your game at SPN, and hop into next teleport.

2ND FLOOR

Follow your nose until you enter a room with strange ball. Smack it to unlock next door, then follow the path into a room with a projector and five mirrors. They are (if facing N): W, NW, N, NE, and E mirrors. Projector is in SW corner. The aim of this room is to rotate the mirrors so that they can reflect the light beam into the door in order to unlock it. The concept is pretty simple, so flip E and N mirrors, then fire the projector.

Go thru unlocked door to find a cross - take E path into a big room with MCH and some enemies. Kill them, then take care of Jeweled Cabinet Mimic. Back to cross, top your HP, and hike N.

It's an event battle against Fire Gigas on ground, and some Order Rangers on the balcony. Take care of Fire Gigas quickly, and then one of your other teams arrives to kill Rangers.

With all enemies gone, follow the path to a room with two strange balls. Strike them both within short amount of time to unlock next door, then step into teleporter. Save at SPN, and into next teleporter.

3RD FLOOR

Follow your nose, than talk to Aya to get 3x RED BERRY POTION, 2x BLACK BERRY POTION, and carry on to exit on one of tower's balconies. Check left end for WCH with BLACK BERRY POTION. Go to other end of the balcony and open two WCH for 5000 FOL (Silence trap) and MIRACULOUS MEDICINE.

Now I strongly advise you go back to previous SPN and save your progress, as you're about to face a hard battle. Return to the balcony and walk to other end again - before you enter the door, top your HP and MP and walk in...

You'll be facing your shadow clones, with exactly the same stats as your chrs. I strongly advise getting rid of Capell and Sigmund clones first, as they strike the hardest. One of your parties will eventually take care of Rangers on upper floor.

Ext S into another projector room. Facing N, you have NW, N, NE, W, center, SW and S mirrors. Flip NW mirror, then fire the projector to unseal E door. Inside you'll find BSCH with ORB OF ORDER KI. Back to projector room.

Flip NW, center, W, and SW mirrors, then fire the projector to unseal S door. You'll find Dais of Patience, and get sealed in - Aya will bring you ORB OF PATIENCE KI, while handing ORB OF ORDER to Aya. Insert Orb of Patience, then hike S to another balcony.

Go left to find two BSCH - upper one if empty and has poison trap, while lower yields ORB OF REBIRTH FRAGMENT KI. Go right all the way and loot another BSCH for ORB OF REBIRTH KI, then walk inside and follow your nose into another trap.

Soldiers will keep pouring down, and you just keep bashing them for more. Eventually one of other parties will unseal the door for you. Exit E into a room with four strange balls. Stand in middle of them and use Spinning Waltz to activate them at same time. Exit N into teleporter, then use SPN ahead, and talk to Genma to rest or buy provisions. Hop into next teleport.

4TH FLOOR

Follow your nose into a room with projector. Before doing anything, check for the source of familiar noise - there is an empty pedestal in front of locked door. Play Percipere to uncover the mirror. I'll need a crappy ASCII art for this puzzle.

Flip M5, M2, M3 and M1 mirrors, then fire the projector to unseal E door. Enter the room and kick BSCH for ORB OF REBIRTH FRAGMENT KI. Enter camp and go to IC, then choose Sigmund. You'll see Orb of Rebirth at top of his list - you have three fragments, so use them to craft ORB OF REBIRTH KI.

Now flip M6, M4 and M1 mirrors, then fire the projector to unseal S door. Exit to yet another balcony - go left and nail WCH with Panacea. Walk right into another trap. Do not move from your position, and try to dodge magic missiles coming your way. Eventually one of your other parties will arrive and kill everyone blocking your way.

When path is free, continue to the right and open WCH for 1 FOL (Curse trap), then enter the door for a scene. Aya needs Orb of Rebirth - talk to her to fork it over, thus unsealing N door. Continue on into a room with two strange balls. Sigmund Connect, then target one of the balls and command Sig to use Levantine Slash on it, while you strike the other ball at roughly the same time. This will unseal W door, leading to teleporter. Save your game and hop into next teleporter.

5TH FLOOR

Follow your nose into room with four strange balls. Sigmund Connect, then target one of the balls and command Sig to use Levantine Slash on it, while you strike the second ball at roughly the same time. Repeat the same for remaining two balls, and N door is unsealed. Top your HP and MP, then waltz into N room.

SITUATION BONUS [Defeated Kron within 1 minute.], which yields you a reward of BLUE BERRY POWDER, GIANT EYE.

Before going further, return to last SPN and save your game, then return to Kron's room and continue N.