Gathering Clues (Optional)

Dwarf Cave

You will hear of the Dwarf Cave while in ElfLand. You'll find the entrance to the northwest, with an available dock just past the mountains northwest of Coneria. The encounters in this area are the same as the ones Near ElfLand. This trip is optional at this point in the game, but you will find an easy 1,025 G that will help with equipment and spell upgrades.

Your main purpose here is to gather information about what you need to do. You'll learn that Nerrick needs TNT to complete construction of his canal, and that ASTOS stole the CRYSTAL from Matoya. You'll also receive a hint about the use for the ADAMANT you'll find toward the end of the game, and hear about the FLOATER for the first time.

Northwest Castle

The Northwest Castle is an eerie, abandoned place found by venturing west and north from ElfLand. You will want to be prepared with plenty of PURE Potions for this trip, and sufficient healing to make it back in one piece.

The only occupant of the Northwest Castle is a King who tells you that ASTOS betrayed him. As you learned in the Dwarf Cave, ASTOS also has Matoya's CRYSTAL. The King requests that you bring him the CROWN from the Marsh Cave. Given his connection to ASTOS (and the inevitability of JRPG plotting), this becomes your next quest.