Flik has arrived at your headquarters and is meeting with Mathiu in the war room when you return from defeating Kwanda. He's distraught over the news that Odessa has died and runs off to Kaku; unwilling to join under Tir's leadership. Your next stop is Kaku to talk with Flik again, but before that...
Stop by Seika and return to Mathiu's school. Apple is here and will join your army after questioning you about your motivations for having Mathiu join the Liberation Army. Pick any response you like when prompted, she will join regardless of your choice. In Kaku, Flik is waiting inside the house on the left-side of town. Speak with him and select to join forces and he will join your party. Return to the war room in the castle and Flik will tell you the current situation and you will face-off with the Empire at the Garan Fortress.
Easy, easy. You have the number advantage. Victorious, Flik will get cocky and want to take Milich's Scarleticia Castle and you will be thrown into another army battle in which you will be horribly defeated...Upon retreat, Viktor and Flik will be forced into your party and then Gremio will force his way in as well; leaving you with only room for two characters. Your goal now is to find a way to destroy the flowers at Scarleticia. The destination is the town of Rikon, but before that, let's check out the rest of the area that is now open to us. Just a small note before you head out, the character Stallion that has recently joined, comes equipped with the same kind of Escape Talisman that Krin possesses. His True Holy Rune also allows you to dash on the world map and move quicker in the field than a normal Holy Rune does.
North of the Garan Fortress is the town of Teien. Visit the inn here and talk to the mage Hellion who will join your party. Hellion is an exceptional mage character; much like Luc, who has a Mother Earth Rune permanently attached to her. You won't be seeing another one of those for a long time. Make sure to grab the treasure chests here as well: one of them contains the Blinking Mirror. Put this in Tir's inventory as it will be indispensable for the entirety of the game; allowing you to instantly warp back to your castle when on the world map.
Next, let's stop by the town of Antei, which is the center-most dot on your Suiko Map. Inside, you will find the dancer, Mina. She will join your party, but only if Tir has the Toe Shoes accessory equipped. This was in a chest earlier in the game, but if you discarded it, you can buy another pair at the armor shop here in town. After dancing with the Toe Shoes equipped, she will join you.
Speaking of the armor shop, talk to Chapman here and he will join up and add an armor shop at your castle. His shop will contain all armor you have viewed in shops up until this point as well as shops in the future.
At the rune shop, Jeane will join you as well and add a rune shop to your castle.
Before moving on to Rikon, look for the Holly Fairy enemy on the world map; we need a rare drop from them to recruit a character. The Nameless Urn they carry is the only rare drop the enemies in this area have. Once you acquire one, head over to Rikon which is on the shore to the southeast of the Garan Fortress.
Show Jabba the Nameless Urn in the appraisal shop and he will join your army and leave the item for you to stash in your vault. Obviously, he will open an appraisal service in your castle.
Lotte is on the second floor of the Rikon inn, but we gotta do a bit of work to get her to join up. Talk to her and she will tell you that if you find her cat, Mina (Not THAT Mina), she will join. The cat is actually, somehow, back in Kaku. Chase it around until you can corner it and mash X on it (I always try to get it between Tir and a house). Take it back to Lotte and she will join your party. Lotte is an interesting character. She appears to be a mage much like Hellion and Luc, but she is actually fairly gifted in physical attacking and can wear heavier armor than mages can. Still, she is at risk being placed in the front row. With your new recruits, take the boat from the Rikon docks and sail it downward till you reach a whirlpool that says "Rapids". Guess we need something a little more than this rickety boat.
Work your way back to the town of Teien and talk with Gen who is the left-most house to the north. Ask him about boats and he will introduce you to his "friend" Kamandol next door who just so happens to have been building an engine for a boat...but you're gonna have to lug it all the way down to Rikon. At this point, even though you never told them anything about yourself or your army, they join your ranks at the castle and never leave (That's some SaGa series type recruiting there...). Go back to Rikon and watch the scenes.
Past the rapids, we find Liukan's Hermitage. Unfortunately, Milich arrives on a dragon (Elephant?) and takes Liukan away to the Soniere Prison. Nice of him to tell you that part. Return to your castle (You can take Gen and Kamandol out of your party now if you'd like.) and speak to Mathiu. He will give a letter addressed to a woman named Kimberly in Antei.
Back in Antei, Kimberly is inside the house to the upper-right of the inn. Unfortunately, she isn't helping without a night of drinking with Flik...Taking one for the team, Kimberly joins your party and tells you about Tesla who is also in town. The large house in the north of Antei is where you will find Tesla. After a bit of manipulation, Tesla joins your army as well. Use the Blinking Mirror to return home and meet up with Mathiu who will have Kimberly and Tesla make you up some Fake Orders allowing you to enter Soniere Prison. The prison is located to the south of Antei.
As expected, the guards let you right into Soniere with the Fake Orders. When inside, your first order of business is to look for the Nightmare enemies. They will drop an Opal item that is used to recruit another character. When one finally drops...
Make your way back to the inn in Antei and deliver the Opal to Esmeralda and she will join your party. What purpose does she serve at your castle? None! Anyway, she will take your Opal, so if you want to have a vault full of the rare items you will need to get another one to drop.
Resuming your search of the prison, the Red Slimes here can drop the Chinese Dish antique. This monster is the only way in the game to acquire one. Navigating your way through the prison is simple. When you reach the bottom where Liukan is imprisoned, make sure to take out the guards and search the door of the cells they were in front of to go inside and raid the chests there. When you have Liukan, you can make your way out, but first...
Gremio is about to leave us for a while (And for good unless you trigger the requirements to save him later on). Make sure to empty his inventory of anything that you want to keep.
Watch the scenes near the entrance to the prison. Gremio passes away; saving Tir in the process. I think I speak for most players, while sad, it is with great joy that we no longer have to be stuck with Gremio in our party! Tir also has gained his first attack spell for the Soul Eater at this point. Back at the castle, no time to mourn, as now that Liukan has joined your party, we can attack Scarleticia Castle and avenge Gremio. Before that though, now that Tir has the extremely useful Black Shadow spell, let's get three more characters to join our party.
Put Tai Ho and Yam Koo into your party and make sure you sharpen their weapons and give them upgraded equipment; also spend a bit of time in Soniere to raise their level. Have Viki warp you to Teien and take the boat from here. Sail to the east to find the Pirate's Fortress. The guys inside have some beef with Tai Ho, so we'll end up in a fight. This is not an easy battle and is actually timed. You only have five rounds to defeat the trio or the battle will end; this is why Tir's Black Shadow is very important. Have Tir cast it every round and focus any magic on Leonardo to take him out quickly. Tai Ho and Yam Koo can use their unite on either Anji or Kanak. They will hit your party hard, but with Black Shadow you should take them out in just a few turns. Afterwards, all three will join your party. When you are ready, return to the castle and talk with Mathiu to attack Scarleticia. Another simple army battle, and then we invade Scarleticia to destroy the flowers (Viktor and Flik required).
Generally, you don't have much to worry about with random encounters, but watch out closely for this group; they can put a hurt on your party quickly. Since there is no boss fight here, don't hesitate to use your magic to wipe them out before they can attack.
At the back of the castle, you will see a dresser with a painting above it. Search it and have Tir select "Milich, too, is a victim..." to open a stairway down where you can find some chests.
In the left-hand bedroom on the second floor, you will find the one-of-a-kind Spark Rune. Some players really like this rune, but it's not for me. Basically, when attached to a character, the whole party gains the speed stat of that character (Assuming the bearer's speed is higher). Like with the Gale Rune earlier, I personally don't find speed useful unless your character is a healer and they need to act before a monster. Most of the time, if your characters are of an average level, they will act before most enemies anyway. Decide for yourself if this rune fits your place style.
Finally, we confront Milich out on the castle terrace. This is just like Kwanda earlier. Absolutely do not kill Milich! Select "This man is not at fault!' and then "I understand" and he will join your party. If you choose to kill him, you will be unable to save Gremio later on in the game. Milich, himself, is an excellent character to use as well. With Milich forgiven, we return to the castle and on to the next chapter.
