2. balflear and fran

// trudge your way through the aqueducts. nothing too fancy here.
// once you get into the palace, keep going. you won't fight anything
// (or anyone) in the palace. make sure to grab the map, though.

one of the guys near the stairs will help you get by the guards.

// as the screen prompts, call the soldiers over (with the button)
// and sneak by them upstairs.
// guards upstairs block intersections. get too close to them, and the
// floor will reset. when you call over to guards, they will move one
// intersection towards you. move the guards around and find the lion mark.
// use the stone on it, then continue to move the guards to head due north.
// check the dimly lit wall, and go to the next room.
// the door in the next room is locked - check the wall on the other side
// to unlock it. enter the warehouse, meet balflair and fran.
// you'll get the manastone of the goddess. walk up the stairs.

a series of events will lead you back to the aqueducts.

[balflear and fran join the party / gunbits menu unlocked]

// trudge forward in the aqueducts. get used to party battles.
// in the [east water level controls] sector there is a save crystal.
// save, and head forward to find 4 soldiers to kill - but you will gain
// "amalia" as a guest character (un-controllable party member).
// after the soldiers are dead, move onto a boss battle with the puddings.

// BOSS: pudding x4 (hp: 360-420)
// melee isn't too effective against amorphs. since they're weak against
// fire, it's best to nuke 'em with fire (didn't i say black magic 1
// would be a good thing to learn before you left rabanastre?)

// keep going forward, and save at the crystal in th e[central controls]
// sector. open the door, and you'll encounter your second boss.

// BOSS: bushfire (hp: 3600?)
// if you get hit with the special attack, you may get poisoned.
// it's a rather nasty poison, so cure it as soon as you can.
// blizzard will come in handy if you brought it with you.

the next series of events lands you in the nalbina dungeons.

[nalbina dungeons]

// go to the coliseum, where you'll enter a battle. since you have no
// weapons, if you have magic to use, nuke 'em.

after the cutscene, you'll get your party members and items back.

// grab the map, save, and trudge on.
// at the end of the dungeons, you'll reach a cutscene.

[basch joins the party as a guest character]

// check the old device near the save crystal, then talk to the bunga
// downstairs (brohho), who will give you a fuse. put the fuse into
// the device, and use the fence release switch to enter the passageway.

[valheim underground passageway]

// battery mimics drain energy. lower energy = tougher monsters, so
// put priority in killing the battery mimics first to regain energy.
// trudge forward, and slightly past the save crystal is your next boss.

// BOSS: mimic queen
// ignore the little mimics that spawn - it's rather endless to fight them.
// (though, you can keep fighting the little ones for experience if you like)
// blizzard works wonders here.

mimic queen goes down, you get spat out into [dalmasca estersands].

// go back to rabanastre.

[all your party members leave the party / the mog taxis are now live]

// go to miguel's shop, then to daran's place.
// go to [downtown/north], and talk to the guy that the navi-map shows.

[basch officially joins party]

// go up to [east sector], and into the tavern.

[balflair and fran re-join the party.]

// go to the airship terminal, and talk to balflair.

now off to vuerba we go...