Landing in Albrook

After leaving the Solitary Island, you'll wash up in the Albrook Area. If you look at your minimap, you will realize that you already have access to a good portion of the world. From here you can reach Albrook, Tzen, Mobliz, and Nikeah. Technically the only place you must go is Nikeah, but it's worth exploring thoroughly. Albrook is within sight, so head there first.

Encounters near Albrook

The World of Ruin has a fourth terrain type besides plains, forests, and deserts: wastelands. This is the most common terrain type in most of the world. Near Albrook you'll find a wide variety of Monsters in the wastelands, and a different grouping on the plains.

Every wasteland encounter includes an Osprey. They will attack for moderate damage and can Petrify Characters on every third turn. This is obviously a problem for Celes while she is alone, so make sure you're protected against Petrify or you take the Osprey out quickly. They can counter Magic with Shimsham, though with only 850 HP and a weakness to Ice, you should be able to take them out in one shot of Ice 2 and avoid the counterattack.

Ospreys are usually paired with a Lunaris, relatively fragile monsters that can inflict Dark with Face Bite. They have no weaknesses but only 582 HP. The other Osprey grouping is with a Chitonid and a Gigan Toad. Chitonids are similar to Baskervors in that they use mostly standard attacks but can Sneeze as a counter when left alone. This will deny Celes her hard-earned rewards, so don't leave them for last. Gigan Toads share the Osprey's vulnerability to Ice and are only notable because they may Slow a Character with Slimer.

On the plains you will instead encounter Mesosaurs, which are either accompanied by another Mesosaur or a Gilomantis. Mesosaurs are odd creatures that will run away unless they are the only Monster on the battlefield. At that point they start attacking or using T. Lash, a Seizure-inducing special they also use to counter Fight. They have 1,112 HP and a vulnerability to Ice. Gilomantises only use normal attacks offensively, but counter Fight with Sickle for a bit of extra damage. They have even more HP, with 1,412, and are vulnerable to Fire.

Albrook

The citizens of Albrook will give you your first insight into how the world has adapted to Kefka's rule. In short: not well. There are a few interesting tidbits to be found here, though. Two people mention that someone who you reminded them of came through town, and headed toward Tzen. You'll also find the Cafe proprietor getting nostalgic for the time when Albrook was occupied by the Empire.

The shops in town have updated their goods, but most of these items have been for sale previously. The Item Shop is selling Sleeping Bags, which are just as good as Tents right now at a fraction of the price. You'll find all three Elemental swords for sale for 7,000 GP apiece in the Weapon Shop. There is no new Armor for sale in the Armor Shop, though everything available here is among the best currently available Armor for Celes.

The Relic Shop is interesting because it's actually offering many lesser Relics than it used to. This is presumably to make sure they're available somewhere in the World of Ruin. This is the first time you can buy Atlas Armlets, though.

With nothing else to find in Albrook, it's time to follow up on your only lead so far and travel north to Tzen.