Check out the new weapons and armor. (No new items, Magicks, or Technicks, though.)
Cross the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea
When you are ready to advance the plot, go west, young man (that’s left on the main map.) Watch the cut scenes. If you haven’t already, equip the “Self -> Libra” Gambit as the very last Gambit for at least one of your characters - preferably two. There are a decent number of Field MechanicA floor hazard revealed by Libra and crossed safely while Float is active. here that you’ll want to avoid.
Go up the stairs to the top of a bunch of towers, connected by old bridges. You’ll move from area to area along these bridges. Keep an eye on your Select-button map and go to the next area. More cut scenes. Vossler will join your party as a guest. If you really need him, you have my sympathies.
I rarely come through here with characters below level 24ish, so I kinda just waltz through this section. YMMV.
Platform 1 - Refinery
After Vossler joins your party, continue west, using the Select-button map. Note that you are on “Ogir-Yensa Sandsea/Platform 1 - Refinery.” Soon, you’ll head down the rig to the ground, so you can switch towers. Take the LEFT tower and wander around until you find an Urn to find a map of this area. After that, head back down and take the stairs leading to the north.
A good Gambit here is: Find someone who rarely uses Magick. Place “Gambit Target: AllySelects an ally whose current HP is below 80%. -> White Magick32 MP. Restores HP to all allies in range and damages undead targets.” at the bottom of their Gambits. They’ll cure up the whole party to max HP when you are not under attack. Since Vossler is, essentially, a tank, I set my other Gambits up to have two people try to TechnickAttempts to take an item from the target; Thief's Cuffs improve the success rates and allow multiple items. when enemy HP = 100%, and to attack otherwise. I racked up items like ItemRestores 100 HP before Potion Lore and item-effect bonuses., ItemRestores 50 MP before Ether Lore and item-effect bonuses., etc. this way.
But the better Loot is the LootAlraune Loot; sell four to unlock Tinctures & Tonics, which contains five Potions, three Handkerchiefs, and three Gold Needles. that you get from the EnemyA Wind-weak enemy in the Westersand and Sandseas; Steal Succulent Fruit for Tinctures & Tonics or try for the rare Mace. enemies here. You can sell four of those to unlock Bazaar GoodSell Succulent Fruit ×4 to unlock Potion ×5 and Handkerchief ×3 and Gold Needle ×3 for 700 gil. Buying it resets the counters for every listed ingredient. (five ItemRestores 100 HP before Potion Lore and item-effect bonuses., three ItemRemoves Oil from one target., three ItemRemoves Stone or Petrify from one target.) in the Shop SystemSelling Loot increments hidden ingredient counters and unlocks packages; buying a package resets every ingredient counter it used.. If you also sell five LootCommon Skeleton-family Loot; sell it for gil and Bazaar progress unless a later recipe plan calls for it. and four LootEarly Loot shared by Unassuming Surcoat and Iron-forged Blade; unlock both before buying either if Barheim Loot makes that practical., you can unlock the Bazaar GoodSell Bone Fragment ×5, Earth Stone ×4 to unlock Cypress Pole for 480 gil. Buying it resets the counters for every listed ingredient. (Weapon: PoleThe 480-gil Wooden Pole Bazaar package yields this early pole after selling five Bone Fragments and four Earth Stones; learn the matching Pole License before buying it.) as well.
Optional Zertinan Caverns Detours
From East Junction, you can find your way into one section of the Zertinan Caverns. Don’t expect to get very far there, though. If you head to the northwestern edge, you might see some large, glowing balls. RUN AWAY!!! Those things have around 50K HP, and they’ll kill your whole party in one shot.
You can also get to the Caverns from the Central Junction. Just FYI: Vossler makes fighting the slimes somewhat more possible than it might otherwise be. You can get through this set of caves, but it takes you to what, for now, appears to be a dead end.
From the Platform 2 - Refinery area, you can make your way to a Save Crystal. Save your game, then talk to the Moogle there. You’re in the Nam-Yensa Sandsea/The Sandscale Bank. This starts a sidequest.
Optional Urutan Eater Sidequest
This sidequest involves helping the EnemyA Wind-weak Sandsea enemy found in bare-handed, katana, and crossbow variants; it may begin under Haste, and its rare Steal is Yensa Fin. kill off something that looks like a large tortoise. Leave The Sandscale Bank via the west exit. Continue on through The Urutan-Yensa Sea (there’s a chest on this screen with a Mystic ArmorMystic Armor found in a possible The Urutan-Yensa Sea treasure; compare its Magick Resist and License with the intended caster’s current headgear.), and take the southwestern exit across the bridge. You should immediately see a bunch of EnemyA Wind-weak Sandsea enemy found in bare-handed, katana, and crossbow variants; it may begin under Haste, and its rare Steal is Yensa Fin. running off to the southwest. Follow them and kill off the EnemyThe optional level 16 tortoise in Withering Shores; nearby Urutan-Yensa help, Blind and Slow can work, and its Steal can yield an Ancient Sword. there.
I was able to steal an Weapon: Sword35 Attack, has a 15% chance to inflict Petrify, and requires Swords 2. A hidden Sub-control Room treasure can provide it during the Leviathan infiltration.. He is immune to Silence, Poison, and Sleep, but not Blind or Slow. You’ll get 8 LP for this battle.
Once he’s dead, head back to the Moogle at the Save Crystal. Talk to him, then continue one screen past him into the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea and go up the ramp. Watch the cutscene, then head back to the Save Crystal screen. Watch the other cutscene here, then examine the Rogue Urutan Flower to get a bunch of Quest ItemQuest Item collected after the Urutan Eater event; use it during the Garuda battle to weaken the boss substantially.. When you are finished, head back to the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea.
Optional Urutan-Yensa Chain
You can Battle SystemDefeating consecutive enemies of the same family improves their normal drops; a different family, town, or touched Save Crystal breaks it. the EnemyA Wind-weak Sandsea enemy found in bare-handed, katana, and crossbow variants; it may begin under Haste, and its rare Steal is Yensa Fin. easily enough, so you could do a little leveling up here, if you want. In my opinion, though, it’s not one of the best places to do so.
From the front of this level, you had an option to go northwest, west, or southwest. If you want to explore all the Zertinan Caverns, go everywhere. Otherwise, head southwest. On Platform 1 - South Tanks, you’ll find some treasure chests. If you are “fleeing” when you go there, you can avoid killing EnemyA Wind-weak enemy in the Westersand and Sandseas; Steal Succulent Fruit for Tinctures & Tonics or try for the rare Mace. and keep from losing a long-term Battle SystemDefeating consecutive enemies of the same family improves their normal drops; a different family, town, or touched Save Crystal breaks it., but if you are going to explore the caves, it’s kind of a moot point.
When you’re done here, head to the lower-left corner of the screen to find a teleport/save/buy. Character / MerchantThe Sandsea merchant at Yensa Border Tunnel and the Tomb of Raithwall approach; compare his stock before crossing Nam-Yensa and again after defeating Garuda. can sell you stuff before you head to the Nam-Yensa Sandsea. Right in the center of Augur Hill, the first screen to the left, you can get an Urn with a map of the Nam-Yensa Sandsea.
Cross the Nam-Yensa Sandsea
The next map left of the Ogir-Yensa has a bit more diverse wildlife.
If you steal a LootSandsea Loot stolen from Yensa or Bull Yensa; sell one with three Green Liquids and four Water Stones to unlock Rain of Tears., not a LootSandsea Loot distinct from Yensa Scale; it is used in later Bazaar recipes and does not satisfy Rain of Tears., from the large EnemyA Flying Sandsea enemy weak to Wind; Steal a Yensa Scale for Rain of Tears rather than relying on the separate Yensa Fin drop. fish, you can sell that along with three LootLoot from Flans and Tallows. Sell two with three Dark Stones and two Fish Scales for Marksman’s Delight, or three with four Water Stones and one Yensa Scale for Rain of Tears. Because both recipes use Green Liquid, unlock both before buying either package if you want both. and four LootCommon early Water-element Loot with no immediate route use; selling it preserves its hidden Bazaar count. to unlock Bazaar GoodSell Green Liquid ×3, Water Stone ×4, Yensa Scale ×1 to unlock Vega and Aqua Shot for 2,980 gil. Buying it resets the counters for every listed ingredient. (Weapon: GunA gun that can rarely drop from Axebeaks and is also sold through the Rain of Tears Bazaar package; pair it with the shot whose element or status best fits the target., Ammunition: ShotWater-elemental gun ammunition available only through the Rain of Tears Bazaar package; pair it with Vega or a stronger gun against Water-vulnerable targets.) in the Shop SystemSelling Loot increments hidden ingredient counters and unlocks packages; buying a package resets every ingredient counter it used.. You can also sell three LootBagoly Monograph Loot; sell three to unlock Large Gloves, which contains Blazer Gloves. that drop from the EnemyA Flying Earth-weak enemy found in Nam-Yensa and Phon Coast. Nam-Yensa Bagolies can supply Bent Staves for Large Gloves; the stronger Phon variant instead carries Bundle of Feathers and a rare Multiscale. enemies here. That unlocks Bazaar GoodSell Bent Staff ×3 to unlock Blazer Gloves for 4,500 gil. Buying it resets the counters for every listed ingredient. (AccessoryRaises normal attack damage by 20% while the wearer is at full HP.) in the Shop SystemSelling Loot increments hidden ingredient counters and unlocks packages; buying a package resets every ingredient counter it used..
EnemyA Wind-weak Nam-Yensa enemy whose rare drop is Vega and whose Monograph drop is a Rainbow Egg for the repeatable Hi-Potion Pack. enemies may drop a LootThe Cluckatrice bounty ingredient for the repeatable Hi-Potion Pack; sell one Egg, buy the ten Hi-Potions, then repeat only after obtaining another Egg.. Sell one of those to unlock ten ItemRestores 400 HP before Potion Lore and item-effect bonuses.. If you have more than one, be sure to only sell the one, exit from the sell screen, buy the Bazaar GoodSell Rainbow Egg ×1 to unlock Hi-Potion ×10 for 1,111 gil. Buying it resets the counters for every listed ingredient., then repeat. You’ll get 538 Gil for the Egg, then pay 1,111 for the ItemRestores 400 HP before Potion Lore and item-effect bonuses.. You can then either keep them all, or sell them all, or sell six ItemRestores 400 HP before Potion Lore and item-effect bonuses. for 105 Gil each. That way you’ll have spent 1,111 but made 1,168 and got four free ItemRestores 400 HP before Potion Lore and item-effect bonuses..
Optional Hunts and Rabanastre Errands
You can fight several more Hunt SystemA contracted hunt accepted from its petitioner after reading the notice board. at this time. Just teleport back to Rabanastre and review the message board. Wyvern Lord is the new hunt covered by this route page. While you’re there, you can shop for new weapons and armor, if you want. If you take down at least ten Hunt SystemA contracted hunt accepted from its petitioner after reading the notice board., you’ll be able to purchase the AccessoryReverses restorative item effects, allowing Remedies and recovery items to inflict statuses or damage. from the Clan Provisioner. While you’re there, don’t forget to talk to Ktjn in A Viera in Rabanastre. When you’re finished with the optional stuff, return to the Teleport Crystal here.
Garuda and the Tomb Approach
When you get to the upper-left corner of the Nam-Yensa map, buy stuff from Dyce if you want, then continue west. You’ll be given an option to save your game. I recommend a new slot. ;) You can get access to another entry point into the Zertinan Caverns, but again, there isn’t a lot you can do there yet.
When you leave the area, you’ll watch a bunch of cut scenes. Pay close attention. Heh. Now head into the open area there. About halfway through, you’ll be given more cut scenes, then a fight.
When fighting the Garuda, you’ll be able to throw your Quest ItemQuest Item collected after the Urutan Eater event; use it during the Garuda battle to weaken the boss substantially. at it, and you can steal a ItemRemoves Stone or Petrify from one target.. You can Silence it, too. I recommend having Balthier use Ammunition: ShotGun ammunition packaged with Capella by Marksman’s Delight; it adds a chance to inflict Silence.. He’s a Flying enemy, so use bows and guns. Or you can cast Water at him. That did a pretty decent amount of damage. This battle was actually very easy for my guys, so I cannot really say if there’s a strategy to it or not.
After fighting the Garuda, you’ll see the ancient device stir. Whee.
When you have control again, head down the stairs and talk to Dyce to buy his new weapons, armor, and Magicks. Go up the stairs and save at the Teleport Crystal. If you opted to wait for the Save Crystal before going after the Wyvern Lord, you can do it now.
There are also three new Hunt SystemA contracted hunt accepted from its petitioner after reading the notice board., but they’re going to be tough with the equipment you have right now. If you wait until after finishing the Tomb of Raithwall, you’ll have a much higher probability of success. Head up the stairs and save, then touch the device.