Portmith’s Pirate Problem

After entering the city for the first time, the guards will be asking for your permit. Your party will show their permits and from hereon, you can explore the city as you want.

First, head over to the skill guild and buy Skill 2 Skill Set. This contains the Determination skill. Spend all your skill points on that skill to lower the SP requirements of all Skills, including the ones you haven’t learned yet. Prioritize maxing out this skill first before anything else. You’re still allowed to level up the skills and Combat skills that only cost 1 SP so you can take advantage of their effects as early as possible.

If you have talked to Ruddle back in Haute and given him correct direction, he should be walking around the plaza. Talk to him to get a Faerie Elixir.

To continue with the story, go upstairs north, then go to the right to find the weapons shop. Talk to the shopkeeper to receive a large bunny doll to deliver back to Badam in Haute.

At this point, you’ll need to make a decision to keep Cyuss in your party forever or not. Since SO is all about decisions, whatever you do will affect some events in the future, including the characters that will join your party.

[Recruiting Cyuss

]If you recruit Cyuss, you’ll encounter the following limitations or game changes.

- Can’t Recruit Erys and Ashlay

- Can’t get Mavelle if Ioshua is not in your party.

- Phia won’t join temporarily in Autanim but can recruit her later on

Cyuss is a solid frontline fighter with great offense and high HP but low defense since he can’t equip shields. Normally, he’s a solid pick for first time players since he’s the earliest ally you can recruit. To recruit him, head back to Haute and deliver the large doll to Badam to complete the job. You’ll get 600F as payment and the chance to recruit him permanently. You can also do a Private Action upon leaving Haute and after getting Cyuss.

To ditch him permanently, head to the left side of town to reach the port, and talk to the sailor in the upper left path to learn that the pirates’ threat are preventing ships from Portmith from sailing. Choose not to deliver the doll to Haute. As he’s about to leave, you’ll have one last chance to stop him from leaving or not to make him leave permanently. If you decided not to keep him, make sure to strip his Equipment before talking to the sailing.

If you ditched Cyuss, make sure to train with Ilia and get good Equipment for both you. It’s a good idea to train outside the town to get a few levels or at least when you can afford to have a full equipment set for Roddick and Ilia, before tackling the pirate hideout. Don’t forget to stock up with healing items since you don’t have a healer in the party yet. To continue with the story, talk to the sailor on the upper-left side of the docks. After talking to him, approach the small boat to head to the Pirate’s Hideout.