Tales of Symphonia - Chapter 16: The Link Between Worlds

Upon exiting the Temple of Ice, the party hears an ominous rumble from the sky, followed by a large burst of lightning striking Ozette! Automatically, the group leaves for Ozette, only to find it engulfed in flames, with a suspiciously-familiar-looking boy wounded outside of Presea's home; ironically named Mithos AND a half-elf! He says Ozette was suddenly attacked by angels; Cruxis, no doubt. Altessa and Tabatha run in, having seen the "lightning of judgment" fall on the poor village. He's shocked to see the state of Ozette and that Presea has regained her emotions. He's certain Ozette was punished because they failed at their experiments on creating a Cruxis Crystal inside Presea. Altessa quickly exits, with Tabatha and Presea wanting you to follow him. The party invites Mithos to accompany them, but despite Genis' insistence that everyone here is friends, regardless of race, Mithos is still hesitant, but ultimately agrees.

With Mithos following the party, for the moment, it opens up a plethora of new skits to view. They include: "Two Who Can't Return", "Ozette's Secret", "Kendama and Mithos", "Let's Be Friends", "Mithos the Hero", "Noishe and Mithos", and "Old Friend of Noishe". The latter ones being particularly mysterious considering Kratos' closeness with Noishe, too. In regards to the Kendama one, I doubt it is available unless you saw the "Kendama Competition" skit earlier on.

Meeting Altessa and Tabatha at the entrance of their home, he spills the beans about his association with Cruxis and his participation in Presea's experiments. Ashamed, he ran from Cruxis and took refuge in Ozette, but was coerced by Rodyle and the Pope into creating a Cruxis Crystal, with Presea as the vessel, to use in his Mana Cannon and subsequent rebellion against Yggdrasill. Most likely, this brought about Yggdrasill's "lightning of judgment" on the now destroyed Ozette.

 

Inside the house, Altessa talks more about Cruxis' plans in using the Church of Martel as a front to find a host body for the soul of the Goddess Martel by using "Chosens" and how the constant threat from Desians are a decoy to stimulate the Chosen's emotions and thus to create the Cruxis Crystal, itself. Altessa also warns of Rodyle's construction of the Mana Cannon back in Sylvarant. Regal speculates about a place called the Otherworldly Gate, that the hero, Mithos, may have used to travel between the two worlds. The next morning, Raine has suddenly disappeared!

 

Raine, apparently, went to investigate something in the direction of Altamira. Mithos wants to tag along with us and Lloyd will be given a choice: "All right, come on." boosts affection with Colette slightly, Genis, Raine, and Regal, but lowers it for Sheena, Zelos, and Presea. Saying: "No, it's just too dangerous." largely boosts affection for Colette, Sheena, Zelos, and Presea, but drops it for Genis, Raine, and Regal. Either way, he's coming with us. Afterward, look for the new skit "Automatic Doll Tabatha" to become available and fly to the small island Altamira is located on; just to the north of the large southeastern continent, to begin the search for Raine.

 

Regal does his usual departure from the group upon entering Altamira. Take a quick stay at the inn to view the skit "Older Sister" between Genis and Mithos. You can go around Altamira and ask the workers and vacationers about Raine, but ultimately need to see George, who is standing before the grave on the upper-right peninsula of the entrance. The older man cries out the name of "Alicia" upon laying eyes on Presea. Alicia is the name of Presea's younger sister, too. George breaks the unfortunate news that Alicia passed away tragically while in the service of the Bryant family of nobles. He gives the party the Employee ID item and asks that you visit Alicia's grave at the Sky Terrace of the Lezareno Company building here in Altamira.

Use the elemental railway on the western-end of Altamira and select the Lezareno Company destination. Approach one of the elevators and Lloyd will show the Employee ID and be granted access to the upper levels. There's nothing to do, currently, on any of the other floors, so you can go straight to the Sky Terrace. There's an Exsphere embedded in the headstone that produces a visage of Alicia when the party approaches it. Her consciousness still exists within the Exsphere, having become a victim of them, as well. She pleads with Presea to find her former master, Bryant, but fades away upon mentioning that he was responsible for her death. Lloyd then agrees to help Presea find Alicia's "killer". Back on the ground floor, Lloyd and Mithos overhear two people talking about the Otherworldly Gate and they reveal its location to the east. Afterward, the skit "Otherworldly Gate"will become available.

 

After viewing the scene with Alicia at the Sky Terrance, visit any inn (If you want to save Gald, rest by talking to Tiga in Mizuho) and stay the night to start a series of skits between Genis and the other members of the party. There's one for each party member, sans Presea. The skits are: "What Zelos Wants", "What Sheena Gave", "What Colette Wants", "Lloyd's Suggestion", and "Regal's Suggestion". Once Raine rejoins our group, we can then get her skit and the conclusion.

On the world map, look for another skit to activate called "Past Wounds" with Zelos and Regal. We're about to depart from Tethe'alla for a bit, so take care of any business you need to. The Otherworldly Gate is on a tiny island, covered with Stonehenge-like structures, just off the northeastern tip of the southeastern continent.

 

Raine's here, of course, but not doing her usual "Archeological Mania". She drops the bombshell that this is the location that she and Genis were abandoned by their mother! They were originally from Tethe'alla, and their mother sent them through the Otherworldly Gate to Sylvarant in hopes that they could escape the racism against half-elves in this world. Suddenly, Kuchinawa and the Cardinal Knights surround the area! Still harboring hatred for Sheena causing the death of his parents, he's joined the Pope's side and wants her dead. Gee, I wonder if he's been using that Charm he gave Sheena to track our movements? You'll then have to battle the usual group of two Cardinal and one Commander Knight. Sheena tries to give herself over to save the group, but a moonbeam strikes the ruins and opens the pathway to Sylvarant, with Zelos forcefully pulling Sheena through with the rest of the party.

The Otherworldly Gate spits everyone out in Sylvarant, on the outskirts of Palmacosta. Sheena is angry at Zelos' actions, but Colette manages to help her understand how pointless sacrificing yourself is, and she thanks him, but not enough to give a kiss! Everyone will agree that we need to leave Mithos somewhere safe while we investigate the Desians; and with Neil in Palmacosta is suggested. Out on the world map now, enter Nova's Caravan that is nearby in the forest. Ask Nova to reiterate your findings about Aska, the glowing bird. This will produce a scene with the group that reveals the only thing we're missing to revive the Linkite Tree is something to produce the needed melody (If you have a pact with Sylph and the Exsphere Shard). Back outside, look for new skits "Aska...Fascinating...", "Traitors", and "Again on a Journey of Regeneration".

 

Did you enjoy the previous trip around Tethe'alla with the Rheairds? Well, we've got to give Sylvarant the same treatment. To start, fly to the continent we've yet to explore: the small, solitary one to the northwest. In the kind of "hook" the island has extending to the corner of the map, look for Sylvarant, and the game's, final Guidepost Monument to activate. Noishe can now run free like the wind!

 

New Monsters in the Katz' Village area: Penguiner

Most of the monsters on this continent are carryovers from near the Toize Valley Mine, but there is one unique enemy to be found: the Penuiner; a rainbow'd pallete-swap of the Penguinist. As we'll talk about more soon, Palmacosta is on the verge of destruction before much longer. Once this happens, Penguiners will be your only source for obtaining the Palma Potion item, which they regularly drop.

 

To the far, western tip of the continent, look for a ring of light for Regal on the beach. Lloyd can ask: "What's on your mind" to boost his affection with our kicking friend or "I'll leave him alone" to not change any values.

 

Travel to the eastern-end of the continent, just before you enter the mountain pass that takes you to Katz' Village, and look for a lone chest with Energy Tablets inside.

Enter the tiny Katz' Village on the northeastern-tip of the continent next. Just to the left of the entrance is a Katz shop with a few unique items. The Katz Mittens only provides a +1 Defense bonus over the Mythril Bracelet, and are very costly, so don't feel like you need to get them for each of Colette, Raine, and Sheena unless you have the Gald to spend. This is also the only place in the game, besides Zelos' "hunny" hunting, you can find the Purple Satay spice used with later recipes.

At the first landing off the spiral stairs, put Sheena in the lead of your party and talk with the sleeping Katz. He'll provide your current percentage of treasure chests opened. We're over halfway there! Also, use the cheap inn to stay and view the next Genis skit, involving Raine, called "What Raine Wants". Once you've seen all of Genis' skits with the rest of the party, look for the final one with Presea to activate, while walking around, called "...I...I...I...I...I...". There's no skit later for Kratos being in the party, unfortunately, if you were curious about that.

 

Lastly in Katz' Village, climb to the very top of the spiraling path. If you're on a new game+, there's an elderly, spinning Katz there that lets you view all of the skits in the game; regardless of whether you have seen them before or not. As far as I know, there are a few here that are impossible to activate, such as "It Just Got Hotter!".

 

Note: There are no "hunnies" for Zelos in Katz' Village. They're either all male, or cosplay isn't his thing, I guess.

Let's turn south, now, to the continent we began the game on. Make your first stop at Dirk's House. If you didn't get the Exsphere Shard item from him earlier in the game, you need to do so now in order to progress the storyline soon. There's also a wooden bird, weather vane?, thing, that is now next to Lloyd's bed on the second floor. It's the Wonder Chef, of course, and he teaches the group the incredible Miso Stew recipe that restores a large amount of HP and TP to everyone!

 

For Monster List purposes, drop by the Martel Temple southeast of Dirk's House. Remember this guy we made blocks out of at the beginning of the game? Since Raine joined our party so long ago, we've not been able to make it back here to use a Magic Lens on him. The rest of the monsters in the Temple are encountered elsewhere, however, Zombies are more frequent here than on the world map, making it the ideal place to farm the Black Quartz that they drop.

 

We're still barred from entering Iselia, so let's continue south to the House of Salvation to collect "hunnies" for Zelos. Then, further into the desert to do the same in Triet.

Zelos' "Hunny" Count at the Iselia Area House of Salvation: 1

 

Enter Triet and talk to the man in the above screenshot, next to the item shop. You can also speak to the guy near the oasis who talks about a cursed sword which was, supposedly, swallowed by a giant worm. This activates a unique battle near Triet.
 

Zelos' "Hunny" Count in Triet: 5

 

On the world map, put both Colette and Raine into your party for the next battle. Northwest of Triet, around the side of the mountain, you will spot what appears to be a ring of light typically used for special skits. Approaching it, however, throws you into a battle with a gigantic Sand Worm! It you fought the Sliver near Flaonir, this is basically the same thing, but slightly tougher. It's a one-time battle, so make sure Raine uses a Magic Lens and Colette pilfers the extremely rare All-Divide item from it, which it will also drop upon defeat. Lloyd then scoops up the Devil's Arm, Soul Eater, that is the sword-type for Kratos/Zelos, from the Worm's remains.

From where you fought the Sand Worm, fly north, over the mountain, and look in the forests for a ring of light for Presea. Lloyd can respond: "Oh, I see." to increase his affection with her or "I doubt it." for no change.

 

Northeast of Triet, in the center of a mountain range, you'll notice a small, withered tree sticking out from amongst the grassy plain. This is the location of the Linkite Tree we've been searching for. Enter and examine the tree for a small scene with Lloyd and Raine, and keep its location noted for the near-future.

Southeast down to Izoold, now. There's nothing going on here, currently, but we can go ahead and collect the "hunnies". As seen in the above screenshot, there is one hiding behind the crates in the warehouse on the docks; not from Zelos, incidentally.

Zelos' "Hunny" Count in Izoold: 7

 

Next, let's continue to the next continent; southeast to Hima. There's only one "hunny" here for Zelos and she's on the lower floor of the inn.

Zelos' "Hunny" Count in Hima: 1

Southeast of Hima is the Tower of Salvation. You can enter, but the bridge to get inside is gone. Instead, look for a chest to its west to pick up a Red Sage (HP+10%).

 

Head south from the Tower of Salvation and look for an extended sandbar. There's a skit ring for Genis out on it. Ask: "What're you doing?" to boost affection with him or "I'll leave him alone" to leave things.

 

From the Genis skit, fly northeast a little ways, looking for the boot-shaped peninsula from the sky; there's a Sheena ring of light upon it. Lloyd can respond: "Yeah." to boost her affection or "So what?" for no change. From there, north to Asgard.

 

There's nothing new to do in Asgard, either, but it's a large city, so search thoroughly for Zelos' "hunnies". Make sure to talk to the ones from behind the counters, too. 

 

Zelos' "Hunny" Count in Asgard: 22

 

Stop next door at the House of Salvation and pick up the lone "hunny" on the top floor.

Zelos' "Hunny" Count at the Asgard Area House of Salvation: 1

For a quick, humorous scene, try to enter the Tower of Mana, but otherwise, let's stop by Luin and do a little reconstruction. There are five new increments of donations we can make now; assuming that you already donated the first seven. For those, jump back to Chapter 9. Remember: These need to be the exact amount, and anything donated over that amount is wasted. After making a donation, exit town and return to make the next. Here are the next five donation amounts:

• 40,000
• 45,000
• 50,000
• 75,000
• 100,000
  

After the 50,000 Gald donation, the weapon/armor shops return. If you want to purchase the Rabbit's Foot accessory, this is your last chance to do so. Once you make the next donation, the inventory will change. Also, after this donation, if you go to the plaza outside the item shop, you'll run into the fake Chosen group again. After all this time, they're still up to their old tricks, but maybe they'll turn over a new leaf soon.

 

Lastly, from the 75,000 donation, the weapon shop upgrades to the above, mostly "joke" weapons, but they are among the most powerful in the game! If you're going to purchase some, I suggest the Money Bag for Sheena, which works like a Blue Sephira and doubles your Gald after battle, but does NOT stack with the Sephira accessories; so use one or the other. It's also Sheena's second-best weapon in the game. The Power Hammer DX for Presea, which is one of her very best weapons, and the Glory Arts for Regal which is incredible and could, potentially, rival his best weapon. I, personally, think the Phantasmagoria for Genis is a gorgeous weapon, but it's +20 Defense instead of any Intelligence bonus is a toss-up. The Tambourine, for Colette, while strong, offers a +50 increase in Luck and can be combined with two Rabbit's Foot accessories, Lunar Guard armor, and Bridal Gloves for a huge boost in her Luck and successfully steal attempts. The rest are good, except the Deck Brush, but you will, eventually, find equal or better before the end of the game.

The 100,000 Gald donation actually finishes the city, for the most part, but there are still some minor donations to make later in the game where we will reap our true rewards (Besides the powerful weapons for sale).

Next on the agenda is the Balacruf Mausoleum. There's a single "hunny" here for Zelos to flirt with. This is extremely important because, not too far into the future, this "hunny" will cease to be! Charm her ASAP!

 

Zelos' "Hunny" Count at the Balacruf Mausoleum: 1

 

Still at the Mausoleum, fly directly north, over the dungeon, and land on the first, small patch of grass you see. Zelos has a ring of light skit here. Lloyd can reply: "I'll pay you when I get rich." to boost affection with Zelos, or the former to change nothing.

From the Zelos skit, turn directly southeast and, again, land on the first patch of grass across from you. There's a treasure here with a Red Savory (TP+10%).

 

On to the last continent now, stop by Hakonesia Peak. There are no "hunnies" here for Zelos, but you can get a scene with Koton where he challenges Genis to complete the Collector's Book. If you already have, you'll receive a title for it. I'll cover that later, though. You can skip by the Palmacosta area's House of Salvation since there are no "hunnies" there, either, and head for the Thoda Dock on the eastern coast.

Like the Balacruf Mausoleum, the Thoda Geyser will soon no longer exist, so it's imperative that you collect Zelos' "hunnies" there as well as name the stray dog.

Zelos' "Hunny" Count at the Thoda Dock: 1

Zelos' "Hunny" Count at the Thoda Geyser: 3

Back on the Rheairds, actually land on the island that the Thoda Geyser is built into, to the southeast. Regal has a ring of light skit there. Lloyd can respond: "You really are mature." for increased affection or "You really are prude." for no change at all.

 

West of the House of Salvation is a solitary island off the coast. It has both a treasure and skit ring. Open the treasure for a precious All-Divide and activate the ring of light for a Zelos skit. Lloyd can reply: "What?! Are you serious?" to increase Zelos' affection or "Sure, go ahead." for no value change.

The final ring of light in the game is for Presea and on another lone island, just west of Palmacosta. Have Lloyd reply: "Sure." to boost affection or "No." to leave things the same. We're finally done with the world tour and can enter Palmacosta to continue.

 

Enter the Palmacosta Governmental Building and Neil will agree to shelter Mithos. He asks if you're going to the Palmacosta Ranch as there has been some suspicious activity around that area. Neil also notes that there have been attacks between the sea routes of Palmacosta and Izoold. Raine mentions this is the location of the Remote Island Human Ranch and possible site of Rodyle's Mana Cannon being built. Regardless, the group decides to investigate the Palmacosta Ranch first. Mithos then gives Genis the Mithos' Panpipe item to use in case of danger.

 

Zelos' "Hunny" Count in Palmacosta: 23

Okay, so, as mentioned a few times in the guide, Palmacosta becomes inaccessible in the near future. I'm going to provide a quick checklist of things that will become missable, or you should do here, before its destruction.

1. Colette has the Turbo Waitress title from the cafeteria mini-game.
2. Colette's named the two stray dogs: Teddy and Pepe.
3. Zelos has collected all 23 of Palmacosta's "hunnies".
4. Bought 20/30 Palma Potions (Not missable, just easier).
5. The Omelet recipe from the Academy.
6. The Rapier, Battle Staff, Chain Mail, Leather Helm, Circlet, Bracelet, and Leather Boots from the shops all become missable items! Make sure you have them. The Leather Boots are needed to customize an accessory near the end of the game if you want more than one of that item. For that purpose, you may stock your inventory with them.
   

When you've checked all the boxes, we can leave northeast for the Palmacosta Ranch. Look for new skits "Human Ranch Rebuilt" and "She's a Walking Bomb!" on the world map. Regarding the latter, I had to enter Palmacosta, then exit again, for it to pop-up.

Botta and Yuan both are waiting for Lloyd's party at the Ranch; Neil, like us before, not being able to distinguish between the Desian and Renegade groups. Yuan asks to join forces with Lloyd in order to awaken the Giant Kharlan Tree; not only to destroy Martel, but supply a limitless amount of mana to both worlds. If this is not done, and Martel revives, she will absorb the Great Seed instead, and bring about the destruction of both worlds. Lloyd is suspicious of their objectives, but Yuan's admission that he is a traitor to Yggdrasill sways the group to trust him. The objective is to infiltrate Rodyle's Remote Island Ranch and take control of his Mana Cannon, which will be used to germinate the Great Seed, that has long been protected by the seals of the Summon Spirits, and bring forth the Giant Kharlan Tree's revival. This can't be done without the help of a summoner like Sheena and pacts with both world's Summon Spirits. The sides in agreement, Botta awaits Lloyd's confirmation. Before agreeing to leave for Rodyle's Ranch, go back out to the world map and look for two new skits: "Better to be Deceived" and "A Ruin in the Sea". The former which is quite cryptic...