Diaspola

Size: 3x3 (Medium) Overall Terrain: Grassland with Tributaries 24 Hour Speed: Normal Stage Music: Thunder Overall Difficulty: 5 Stage Boss: Norn

City & Roshian Temple Information Cities (9) Hidden Cities (2) Roshian Temples (4) Buried Treasure (2) Poache / Me’ Mak Ajan RT #1: W of Me’ Mak 1) NW of R. T. #4; Rebel Base In the gap in the two RT #2: S of Rimorge & directly on the other Diaspola different colored N of Alkyshon side of mountain Boss Castle mountains S of Alkyshon RT #3: SE of Diaspola 2) W of R. T. #2; Alkyshon Anglem RT #4 (H): Slightly NE of Right nearby those tiny S of Rimorge At the end of the road in Pelegue; right below the individual trees Me’ Mak / Poache the NE corner of the map dark mountain on the     Slightly NE of Poache   river   Pelegue       Far W of Poache; along         road the in the SW corner       Raloshel (Shop)         W of Somyul       Rimorge         NW of Romorantan       Romorantan       N of Poache         Somyul         E of Alkyshon

Stage Shop Wares

Raloshel “CURE” (Cure Potion) 400 Goth “HEAL” (Cure Stone) 700 Goth “BOOTS” (7 League Boots) 3,000 Goth “BOUGH” (Golden Bough) 50,000 Goth “BEEHIVE” (Golden Beehive) 70,000 Goth

Okay, I lied last stage! You can get some “BOOTS” (7 League Boots) pretty soon after that stage! But not after this stage, I swear! You will notice a bunch of strange items for sale, unique only to this stage. They are quest items that you only need to buy if you are specifically in need of them.  Otherwise, don’t waste the Goth.  The “BOUGH” (Golden Bough) is for Deneb, if you forgave her back on Deneb’s Garden.  As for the “BEEHIVE” (Golden Beehive)...  Well, keep reading!

Neutral Encounters

LV: 11 Angel LV: 10 Ice Giant LV: 9 Silver Dragon Ocean Snowy mountains Snowy mountains

The ‘snowy mountains’ referred to are the darker mountains on the map, and not the normal type that you have been sued to seeing on the previous stages. This is maybe a hint that a snow stage might be just around the corner, so here’s your chance to pick up some very durable character classes for the cold weather.  The Silver Dragon especially is good, with Ice Giants being only marginally effective.  At least they aren’t terrible like the Fire Giant!  Hopefully, you should have a decent number of Angels by now, but a few more couldn’t hurt.

Enemy Units

Different Types of Units: 8 Total Enemy Unit Deployed: 23 Enemy Level Threshold: 11 - 12 Unit# 10-1

There's a decent mix of enemy units on this stage. Some suck, some are annoying, and some are tough. You should have some pretty capable fighting units by now, and maybe even your city liberators can hold their own for a round or two.  There may not be anything for you to worry about if that’s the case. Just use similar tactics that you have been using.

Beat The Stage!

Prologue:  The former Empress Norn fell out of favor with the Empire for opposing its control of the people.  She’s now in charge of the prison at Diaspola, home to scores of innocent citizens whose only crime is to criticize the Empire.  Norn has a strong sense of justice - her ideology is close to that of the rebellion. If it weren’t for the fact that she believes her lover Debonair to be dead, she might change sides...

This stage is big time in a major way! There’s a special character to recruit, multiple Zodiac Stones after completing the stage, more special items, and even a reliable source for class promotion items!  Some of the things will only open up to you if you do things right, so pay attention.  This is quite a large stage in addition to the added pressure of trying to get everything right the first time through.  If you are going for the “World” ending, follow things below to the letter.

Deployment Time!
The only type of units that you don't really need for this stage at all are Water terrain units.  Some would argue that you never need them, but hey, that’s a different topic! A nice mix of unit types will be very helpful here.  The shop town of Raloshel is in a most heinous spot, because it is clear on the other side of the stage. You will have to tough it out until Canopus or some other fast liberating unit can get there. However, there is town that is more important to liberate first. It is the town of Somyul.  Someone who lives here needs your help!  Send Mountain units, like Lyon, to the area around the hidden town of Ajan.  They can expand northwest from here.  You can let fighting High Sky units, like Gilbert, kinda roam around and move where you need them.  All of your city liberation units that don't fly can move along the main roads, liberating towns as you go. A sneaky thing to do is liberate the hidden town of Ajan quickly, and then use some “BOOTS” (7 League Boots) to get the rest of your ground based units further into enemy territory.  The same can be done once you eventually liberate the town of Raloshel.  As for your Opinion Leader, as long as he/she has 100 Charisma & 100 Alignment, don't fight. Otherwise, use your discretion...

Step 1:  You do not want to rush through this stage what so ever! One of the most important ‘on the stage’ events takes place on this stage, and it occurs at the town of Somyul.  The trip to Somyul, however, will be no easy task. The main enemy forces come SE from the boss castle of Diaspola, and will go right through the mountain pass that runs along the road from Alkyshon to Somyul.  The fighting will be fiercest along this road, so be ready for it!  Before you do liberate this town, make sure that you have a fairly high Reputation, and your Opinion Leader has a decent enough Alignment.  Otherwise, the following events will not transpire!  So, upon freeing Somyul from enemy control, you will meet up with a little girl named Posha.  The poor girl has been dealt a double whammy!  NowhammyNowhammySTOP! First, her mother gets very sick, and then her father, who has left her all alone to find the cure, has not returned!  So, she’s wondering if a nice & upstanding hero like yourself could help her. You really really should, because besides being such a nice guy and all, there is a very good reason why you should do this! All will be explained later...  Agree to help her, and she reveals that the “BEEHIVE” (Golden Beehive) is the item needed for the cure.

Step 2:  There are two different ways to get this item. The first is the most obvious. Take a trip to the shop town of Raloshel, and buy one for 70,000 Goth. The second method is a sneaky way to save this big hit of Goth. When you liberate R. T. #4 after meeting with Posha, (or simply revisiting here if it’s been already liberated) which is NE of the town of Pelegue, the people here will give you one for free!  How ‘bout that, huh? Actually, it turns out this particular “BEEHIVE” (Golden Beehive) was one that Posha's father had found, but he didn't quite make it back to her...

Step 3:  Once you’ve snagged the “BEEHIVE” (Golden Beehive), return to Somyul.  You will find a happy ending, of sorts.  She seems completely unfazed that her father has just kicked it; maybe one parent is good enough? Anyway, as gratitude, you will get the ever useful “DEMON” (Sentoul Demon)!  The chances are good that this is your first one, unless you had a real low Reputation when you did the Pogrom Forest.  Or, you could be a lucky bastard and have gotten one from a fight...  So what good is this item, you say? You will be able to swap it for something much more useful after this stage is complete.

Step 4:  It is not a good idea to have any of your city liberating units advance past the town of Somyul, except maybe to the city of Raloshel.  There are no more towns between here and the boss castle, so they won’t be of much use. Canopus should be able to zip in and liberate R. T. #3 without to much trouble, and you can use this temple as a staging ground for your assault upon the boss castle of Diaspola.  Obviously, you should have some token units guarding the towns of Alkyshon & Rimorge.  The hidden town of Anglem may need a watchman as well, but you should have a pretty good view of where the enemy units are moving by this point.  As for attacking the main enemy base, there are a few options that you can use.  The good thing is that it doesn't matter who you use for this boss fight, so you have no worries in that way. Just use a type of ”Y Pattern” to take this place out.  A flying unit coming in from the east is a nice distraction. As Norn prepares for battle, she is having some doubts about her position.  A little late for that now, don’t you think?! She looks so sad...  But she won't give up without a fight, so...

Fight It Out!!

Boss Time!

Norn Ally? Shaman HP 149 LV 12 STR 97 CHA 63 AGI 123 ALI 53 INT 134 LUK 53   LV: 11 Titan LV: 12 Shaman     LV: 11 Titan     6 Direct & 3 Heal

The Titans are new enemies to fight, and they're tough!  And doubly hard with Norn standing back there them healing them! Lucky for you, they and Norn are weak against Black attacks.  So, because most of your fighting units are composed of, well, evil characters, they should be more than able to dish out Black attacks than any of your “goodly” units.  Becuase Titans have a large amount of Hit Points, you could equip some Black elemental weapons on your Front row characters for added effect.  Still, you want to work on Norn, not the Titans.  The best Tarot Cards to use would have to be the ”Devil” & “Tower” cards for damage purposes, and a ”Fool” or ”Moon” card if you can get them to work...  Look on the bright side...  You will get some Titans after this!

In order for this to happen, you’ve got to have a pretty good Reputation and an Opinion Leader with high ‘feel good’ stats.  If you were able to encounter Posha, they should be high enough.  Once Norn is defeated, she will mourn the apparent death of Debonair, thinking that  you killed him.  She then wants you to “finish her off,” as the phrase is. Well, set this broad straight!  Say ‘No’, and a dialogue will begin with her and your Opinion Leader, relaying back to her that Debonair is indeed still alive.  At first, she is reluctant, but the she is overjoyed. She realizes that the best way for her to find him would be to join your rebellion, so let her!  Now you’ve got another powerful female character (who looks good in a regal gown if you know what I mean!) and her two Titans!

Ally!

Available Items

Many many great items to find on this stage! Not just one, but two Zodiac Stones!  Not to mention some awesome class promotion items! Get ‘em while they’re hot!

SNES Name: AQUA Selling Price: 5 Goth PSX / Full Name: Aquamarine Buying Price: - - Description: “The third stone of the Zodiac.  Signifies peace.”

SNES Name: DEMON Selling Price: 230 Goth PSX / Full Name: Sentoul Demon Buying Price: - - Description: “A statue of the demon Sentoul.”

SNES Name: DRAGOS Selling Price: 10,000 Goth PSX / Full Name: Stone of Dragos Buying Price: - - Description: “Use this item on a Beast Master and...”

SNES Name: PEAL Selling Price: 5 Goth PSX / Full Name: Pearl Buying Price: - - Description: “The sixth stone of the Zodiac.  Signifies glory.”

SNES Name: STAFF Selling Price: 8,400 Goth PSX / Full Name: Undead Staff Buying Price: - - Description: ”Staff of the undead.  Use it on a Mage and...”

Aftermath

There are many many many things that you can do after you have cleared out all of the enemies.   This stage will be quite the hub of activity throughout the game, so come back here often.

1) If you forgave Deneb way back on Deneb’s Garden, buy a “BOUGH” (Golden Bough) at the town of Raloshel for the steep price of 50,000 Goth. This is the item that she wanted, so you had better comply!  If you kicked her to the curb, don't even bother to buy one. It does nothing else for you in this case.

2) When you visit the hidden town of Anglem, you will encounter the so called “Stupendous Wizard” Borgnine.  You may scoff at the name initially, but you will be calling him that after you’ve seen what he can do! Remember all of those “DEMON” (Sentoul Demon) statues that you have been collecting throughout the game? This guy is crazy for them!  Every time you find one, come back here, and he will want to trade your statues for one of these elite items.  He will ask you sequentially if you want:

1) “STAFF” (Undead Staff)

2) “DRAGOS” (Stone of Dragos)

3) 10,000 Goth

Never ever take the Goth option! You really can’t go wrong with a “STAFF” (Undead Staff), but if you would like Gilbert or Lyon to eventually become Dragon Masters, take a “DRAGOS” (Stone of Dragos).  Come back here every time you find a new “DEMON” (Sentoul Demon)!

3) Visit the hidden town of Ajan, and if you have the “TABLET” (Tablet of Yaru), the messenger of the Gods will present you with the “AQUA” (Aquamarine), which is the third stone of the Zodiac.

4) This will not, repeat, NOT happen if you didn’t help the little girl Posha cure her mother’s illness with the “BEEHIVE” (Golden Beehive) while you were beating the stage.  This is the hardest Zodiac Stone to get. First off, you must have revisited the Sky Island Organa, and received the “CAKE” (Ginger Cake) from the culinary cleric that resides in one of the Roshian Temples on the stage. Once you have this item, visit Somyul, and you will run into the ever energetic Posha.  She will see that you have the “CAKE” (Ginger Cake), and asks if she can have it. Say no for a huge loss in Reputation, and lose the chance forever to get this Zodiac Stone!  Besides, what are you?  Teasing cute little girls with candy & cakes?!  Anyway, give her the “CAKE” (Ginger Cake), and she will chow down on the thing. In the process of gorging herself, however, Posha will notice something hard and shiny inside the half eaten item.  It turns out that that old priest did have the Zodiac Stone, only that he baked it into one of his pastries!  Posha will get creeped out by the discovery, and give you the sixth stone of the Zodiac, “PEAL” (Pearl).  Just for clarification, this is a different item from the “PEARL” (Black Pearl) item that you can buy on Island Avalon or get from Deneb.

5) Make sure that your supply of “BOOTS” (7 League Boots) is nice and healthy, because you won’t find any more in shops for quite some time! The town of Raloshel has your fix...