Tell Shu that you are ready to advance and he will call everyone to the war room. Shu will lay out his plan to retake Matilda and after some speeches from your fellow party members, Leknaat will appear. If you have gathered all 108 Stars of Destiny she will unlock Riou's Bright Shield Rune's final spell, Forgiver Sign, and you are on your way, partly, to the best ending. Forgiver Sign starts as a single-target 2000 damage spell, but the damage inflicted decreases by the amount your party needs healed. The next morning, Kiba's unit will depart for the Mercenary Fortress. Before you return to the war room, this is your last chance to do Richmond investigations on Nanami. If you haven't done them, you need to do them now.
The army battle is, yet another, one that is decided by a passing of turns rather than engaging the enemy. Do your best to play defense and avoid casualties. Once Culgan's unit appears to surround you and then your own reinforcements arrive, the battle will end.
The party will be at Greenhill after the battle. Shu will ask you to form a party for Riou's invasion of Rockaxe Castle;
Nanami will be a required character. Don't worry, this isn't set in
stone, and you can return to the Castle and change these, if you'd like.
At the entrance to Rockaxe, Riou will set off for Rockaxe Castle to burn the Highland flag, while a soldier will come in to deliver the news that Kiba has fallen in battle. You'll automatically enter an underground path, but you can exit out to the Rockaxe Castle town. You can't enter any shops/houses at the moment, but some things have changed outside the area, so let's take a look at that now. Note: You can return to your Castle, but you'll have to hike through the Path to Matilda to reach the Rockaxe area again.
On the world map, new enemies have appeared. Watch out for this trio who's sisters you encountered back at the Banner Pass. They are quick, and if they get a turn before you take one of them out, they may unite for a ridiculously powerful attack that will likely kill any character that isn't heavily armored or defending.
Shiu Lin of this group will extremely rarely drop a Flowing Rune. This is not recommended as you will have a better chance trying to farm these from the rare finds back in Gregminster. There are also new monsters on Mt. Rakutei, but if you recall, you will need both Futch and Humphrey in your party to enter the dungeon.
The assassin-type enemies are still wandering the paths of Mt. Rakutei. As mentioned in the previous Mt. Rakutei portion, you need to take them out quickly as their basic physical attack has a chance to instantly kill a character.
The Iron Claw's can also drop a Medicine item that comes in a bundle of 8; the highest bundle of this item you can obtain. You can get this from the rope-climbing mini-game back at the Castle as well, but only these two places.
If you didn't get it from the Hawk Men here earlier, their counterparts, Sky Knights, can also drop Turtle Plans #3.
You probably remember trying to get a frustrating Black Urn from the Spikers at Mt.Rakutei during your previous trip here. They've been replaced by Leather Cuts, whom have a new rare antique to drop: Fine Bone China. This is the only place in the entire game you can get it, so be patient and return to the Highway Village frequently to appraise and see if you picked one up. That's all for what is new in the Rockaxe area. We are now ready to infiltrate Rockaxe Castle.
Lots of good things to be found in this dungeon, starting with the drops. The White Matilda Knights will be your source of Master Robes in the game. Covered earlier, for some characters, this is the best robe/martial arts-type armor in the game. While defense is rather lacking, it also provides +10 HP regen per turn, protection from status effects, and a bonus +10% chance to repel magic.
Said Matilda Knights also hold the rare Knight Rune; you may have seen already permanently attached to Miklotov. Not really a serious option for characters, honestly, but when you attach this rune, if a character drops to critical condition, the character with the Knight Rune will attempt to defend the critical character from physical damage. Healing is abundant in this game, so a better rune than this one is advised, but pick one up for its rarity.
Cockatrices will drop your first, and source for the game, Thunder Rune. This is the higher grade of the Lightning Rune. It replaces the useless, at this point in the game, Angry Blow spell, with the single-target Thunder Storm that is slightly stronger than Thor Shot. Like the other higher grade runes, it also provides more MP for the lesser spells contained in it. Like the Rage Rune, you can attach this to a character's weapon for large, lightning-based damage to a character's attack. Also of note: the Hippogriff monster will drop the Wind Amulet accessory, which will be covered in the next chapter on a more-accessible enemy, but this is your first chance to farm for it, if you are interested.
Last, but not least, is the final bugged recipe in the game: Recipe #36, held by the Highlands bowmen.
Unite this Recipe in your inventory along with the other four bugged recipes you, hopefully, have stored in your warehouse and gift them over to Hai Yo all at once to avoid the dreaded recipe bug.
With the drops out of the way, let's focus on the dungeon's treasure chests. The first one to note is the Stone of Speed. Like some of the other stat-stones, this is the single only one in the game, so tuck it away safely in your warehouse.
Your third of four Stone of Defense stat-stone is also in a chest in Rockaxe Castle.
You'll find the Earth Shield here, as well. This is the best shield in the game, and the only one you will find. It provides excellent defense, resists the earth element, and provides protection from status effects. Choose your bearer wisely.
If you didn't pick up a pair from the Zombies back at the Tinto Mine, you will find your first set of Power Gloves here. +16 defense and +15 strength make this an undeniable force as an accessory. Low magic defense, high physical defense, male characters may prefer to stick with the Fire Emblem due to its fire resistance, though.
Although a little bit further in, you will find the Flame Helmet, which also provides excellence defense against fire attacks. It is arguably, for most helmet-wearers, the best helmet in the game. You will find one soon that has a +5 defense advantage over the Flamet Helmet, but due to its fire resistance and a marginal bonus of +4 strength, the Flame Helmet is my preferred helmet for most characters.
Around the same area as the Flame Helmet, you will find a chest containing the only Gold Necklace accessory in the game. While only Gengen, Gabocha, Sid, and Chaco can equip it; it provides the highest defense of any accessory in the game with a modest +5 to magic defense as well. The wingers tend to have higher magic defense than the kobolds, as well as having their own unique defense-based accessory, the Wing Ornament, so it is best served on one of the kobold characters.
Near the last section of the Castle, you will pick up your last guardian deity plans: Dragon Plans #4 and Unicorn Plans #4. We are now ready to complete this side-event, but I will cover it in the very next chapter.
On the floor above the one where you find the last set of deity plans, you will find a Journeyman Crystal. Make absolutely sure you save your game; you may need to reset if something goes wrong up ahead. Also, make sure you remove any equipment or runes on Nanami that you would like to keep; but keep some kind of helmet and armor equipped on her, she will be leaving the party for good but also needs a set level of defense for the next section.
At the next flight of stairs, your party will split up as Riou and Nanami head off to burn the Highland flag while the others stay behind to hold off the Matilda Knights. However, Jowy will be standing in your way.
A conflict between Riou and Jowy is destined, but Gorudo will show up with bowmen to assassinate both army leaders. Nanami will jump out in front in an attempt to defend them. Hammer the "X" button down after this to select a lightning-quick option that flashes to help defend with Nanami. You MUST help her defend or else you will not obtain the good ending. If you did not catch the prompt fast enough, reset your game. Unfortunately, Nanami will be struck with an arrow...While an enraged Riou and Jowy confront Gorudo.
An easy boss, but refreshing to be able to extract revenge and to use a new sword-wielding Jowy during battle. This is more-than-likely your first chance to see Jowy's Black Sword Rune's level four spell, Hungry Friend. This will wipe out all of Gorudo's fellow Matilda Knights.
Nanami is badly wounded afterwards...The old Jowy will finally show himself again, afterwards. He will ask for Riou to take care of Nanami and then leaves to order his army to retreat from both the Matilda and Muse areas so help can arrive for Nanami...Shu will call for Huan and for soldiers to hurry to burn the Highland flag and replace it with the States' signaling to the Matilda Knights that are joined with Highland that Rockaxe has fallen.
Back at the Castle, everyone is grieving for Nanami. Huan will eventually give the news that he did everything he could, but she has been lost...Watch closely for the above dialogue where Huan will ask for Shu to speak with him inside of his infirmary. Seeing this scene is the last requirement to fulfill the good ending. If you do not get it: You either failed to recruit all 108 Stars of Destiny and acquire the Forgiver Sign spell, you did not react quick enough to help Nanami defend against Gorudo's bowmen, or Nanami did not have enough defense when she took the arrow. Whatever the case, Nanami is gone, but the battle must continue...
