Final Fantasy IX - Cleyra Settlement

Enemies in this area:
Alexandrian Soldier
Antlion (boss)
Beatrix (boss)
Black Mage

As you enter the village, you will be greeted by a forest oracle, and Freya will leave the group. Accept the offer of a tour, though Quina will go off on her own. After the tour ends, go right for 970 gil hidden at the bottom of the screen. Return to where Vivi stands and go explore Cleyra on your own. There are several ATE's that will become available as you do so.

ATE: No Yummy-Yummies
Quina laments the lack of food in the settlement.

ATE: Don't Hate Me
Vivi encounters Dan and his family again, and they are still hostile.

ATE: I - I Haven't Hurt Anyone
Vivi protests his innocence.

ATE: There a Mushroom!
Quina finds something that makes her happy.

There is a Phoenix Pinion on the first landing as you go up the stairs. Continue up to the right, and find the Ore in the bushes on the right. Head left and get the Thunder Gloves in the Water Mill area. Go up the stairs to the place where the Star Maiden Nina has an item shop where you can stock up on basic necessities. Go down across the bridge beside Nina after getting the Phoenix Pinion between the bridges. Speak to Dan in front of the inn. He has a weapon shop. Enter the inn, and look in the corner above Vivi for an Echo Screen. Speak to Vivi, who is too upset to talk. Go right, and find 1250 gil at the foot of the stairs. Go upstairs and get the Ether from the nightstand. Speak to Mopli the moogle and check Mognet. There is a letter for Zidane from Ruby. Save the game, then go back outside and head up the stairs.

About three or four steps up, search the bushes on the right for a Remedy. Speak to the ladies in the observatory, then continue up the stairs to the very top of Cleyra, where the cathedral is located. Get the Gysahl Greens in the grass across from the two men. There is also an Echo Screen in the grass to the right of the cathedral entrance.

Enter the cathedral, and look just to the left for a Yellow Scarf. Speak to the Tree Oracle. There is a message from Freya that Zidane is to wait at the inn, so go back there to wait.

Dan will rush up with the news that a child is being attacked by the Antlion. Run into the inn to save, then go back down to where you entered the village. Go right to the sand pit, where you will find that the Antlion has indeed got a child in its clutches. That child is Puck . . . Vivi's friend from Alexandria. Apparently he is a person of some importance.

In the battle against the Antlion, use Reis's Wind, and attack the creature with Blizzara. Try to steal the Annoyntment, Mythril Vest, and Gold Helm before you defeat it. It has a Sandstorm attack which can nearly wipe your party out, so make sure to heal quickly when it uses it. After the battle, Puck runs off, and Vivi follows him.

Freya will take part in a lovely ceremony to strengthen the sandstorm protecting Cleyra, but after it has concluded, the strings on the harp snap. This is viewed as a bad omen, and rightly so. The sandstorm disappears, and the inhabitants of Cleyra fear that someone is trying to invade.

It is time to see what Dagger, Steiner, and Marcus are doing. Steiner and Marcus have been imprisoned, and Steiner still doesn't believe the queen is up to anything nefarious. It must be a mistake . . .

Dagger is in her room, planning to confront her mother. Zorn and Thorn rudely summon her, and she tries out a little of the slang Zidane taught her on the evil twins. She is escorted to the queen's chamber, and, after a conversation about the attack on Burmecia, Kuja shows up and puts Dagger to sleep. (It doesn't matter whether you choose to believe Brahne or not, but it will affect a letter from Kupo to Mosh that you'll read a little later.) Zorn and Thorn begin a ceremony to extract Dagger's eidolons from her, which is as bad as it sounds.

Back in Cleyra, you will have control of Freya after a short scene. Return to the cathedral and speak to the high priest to receive an Emerald. Equip it to teach Freya the White Draw skill. Return to the inn and speak to Stiltzkin, buying what he has to offer for 444 gil. Then talk to Mopli and check Mognet. There is a letter from Monev. Save the game.

Go back down and meet Zidane at the town entrance. Head back down the trunk. In the room with the whirlpools, which are now dormant, you will have to fight Alexandrian soldiers. Make your way back down the trunk, fighting pairs of Alexandrian soldiers as you go. Eventually, your party will suspect a trap, and Puck will come running after you with a message that the village is under attack.

Back at the top of the tree, you must fight black mages and Alexandrian soldiers. At the town entrance, go right into the sand pit and talk to Stiltzkin and Mopli. Get a letter from Mopli to Serino, rest, and save the game.

You will be responsible for directing the residents of Cleyra to safety, and the number you save will determine your rewards later. In the water mill area, advise the oracles to go right. In front of the inn, tell Dan's family to go left, and then by the bridges, tell them to go right. By the observatory, tell the villagers it isn't safe yet. In front of the cathedral, the party and survivors will be surrounded. A stranger appears and eliminates the enemies, and surprisingly, that stranger is Fratley. Freya's lost love has reappeared. Apparently he has lost his memory, but not his sense of honor. Puck found him in his travels, and brought him back. Fratley doesn't even remember Freya, however.

After he leaves, turn to see Beatrix, who takes the jewel from the harp and runs. Before pursuing her, speak to all the survivors, who will give you gifts. If you chose the right directions for everyone, there should be seven people here. The rewards they will give you are as follows:

Burmecian Kid Jack: Nymph Card
Burmecian Refugee Learie: Elixir
Burmecian Kid Adam: Zuu Card
Tree Oracle Wylan: Ether
Sand Oracle Satrea: Phoenix Pinion
Flower Maiden Sharon: Remedy
Water Maiden Shannon: Phoenix Down

Mopli the moogle is here, so save the game, then go outside and fight Beatrix. Again.

This battle will end prematurely, also, so try to steal the Phoenix Down, Thunder Gloves, and Ice Brand before it ends. Use Slow on Beatrix if you can, though it doesn't always work. Also use Reis's Wind and Mighty Guard.

After the battle ends, Beatrix and the black mages will jump in bubbles and float away. Zidane decides your party should follow them, so they jump in the bubbles with the black mages. Only Quina refuses to use this unorthodox form of transportation.

Brahne summons Odin from her airship, and he destroys Cleyra from the sky in an awesome display of power. Zidane and the others find themselves on the airship, and overhear Beatrix talking to herself. Apparently the general is starting to have her own doubts about the queen's plans.

Follow Beatrix, and you will overhear what the queen has been plotting. You must get back to Alexandria immediately. As you retrace your path, Serino the moogle will appear. Check Mognet, and deliver the letter from Mopli. Check Mognet again, and get a letter for Moodon. Save the game.

Go back to where you entered the ship, and talk to Freya and Vivi. The little black mage has a plan to get back to Alexandria, so agree to try it. There you go!

Continue to Trouble in Alexandria