Chapter 1: Grandshelt: Earth Shrine to Siren’s Tower

What should you do before the castle rescue?

Finish Rain’s house in Mitra and equip the first two Visions. The locked room is an investigation prompt inside the house, rather than a town gate that needs a purchased key. Leah supplies recovery and Light options; Tronn supplies elemental spells. Confirm their commands in Equipment & Abilities before returning to the attacked capital.

Belmodar comes earlier, when Rain and Lasswell do not yet have those Visions. Use Rain’s Fire for that fight instead of searching for a mastery or awakening system that the story has not introduced.

Castle, desert and the two Hunger encounters

Bring Poison recovery for Hell’s Rider. His escorts and the Rider have different useful elements, and removing his last skeleton can trigger his stronger lone-enemy behavior. The castle boss guide explains the target choice. The next Umbra battle is scripted; losing there is not a failed rescue.

After Fina joins, visit Kol, rest at the inn and obtain the chocobo. Riding through the desert avoids being forced into the much stronger optional Antlion encounter at the whirlpool. Antlion is not the gate for reaching Felicitas.

Follow Emma into Kolobos Ruins and open the route through its connected floors. The Hunger returns after the first victory. Prepare Ice for the first encounter and Light for the rematch; its renewed escorts mean a revival should trigger a new target and element check. Complete the prisoner-rescue scenes before returning to Grandport.

Why won’t the captain sail?

The port objective requires Siren. Prepare Lightning access and Charm prevention, then follow the tower route to its elevator and summit save point. The Genji Gloves chest introduces a scripted Gilgamesh appearance; it is not the optional endgame Gilgamesh victory.

Enter the summit’s green portal, defeat Siren and return to Grandport. Complete the awakening explanation before speaking to the captain again. Obtaining the Esper and boarding the departing ship are separate checkpoints.

Collection and dialogue checks

The early choice comparisons affect small permanent stat bonuses, not whether the story can continue. The 99-shard checklist separates Earth Shrine, Kolobos Ruins and tower landmarks so you can record the area you actually searched. The first Oblivion Palace visit is optional; completing every chamber is not required to leave Grandshelt.