brickroadbrickroad and SovanJedi play Secret of Evermore - Part 9 of 88

We has an axe.

All maps by Grizzly.

Bugmuck

Map

When you beat Thraxx, you'll get the Spider's Claw. Attack the cocoon that is standing where Thraxx once was, and you'll rescue Strong Heart. He'll give you 10 Wax and 10 Oil for saving him, then he'll head back home.

Walk through the hole where Strong Heart walks out of and follow the path. Be sure to go south before you reach the exit, and you'll find a Mammoth Guard in one of the two gourds. Equip it, since it's a step up from the Vine Bracelet. When you reach the northeastern corner of the path at the Quick Sand Field, go east through the wall. You'll find four gourds. Loot those and continue east. You'll find another alchemist who gives you Acid Rain.

Acid Rain

1 Ash, 3 Water

This alchemist also gives you the chance to buy ingredients as well as to save your game. If you need Clay to power up Hard Ball a little more, buy it, because he's got it. Be sure to look in the gourds near him, you'll find Water and Ash to give your leveling up of Acid Rain a head-start.

When you head west, you'll appear at the big field with the Skelesnails. Chop the underbrush down with the axe and you're out of there. Now go and head back to the village. If you chop up more of the underbrush here and go north, you'll just go to a useless (for now) area. It's possible to find some alchemy ingredients here if you cut the plant life down around here, so it wouldn't hurt to go here at the moment.

Fire Eyes's Village

Map

Head back to Fire Eyes's hut. She'll tell you that the village is facing a new crisis: the volcano north of the village is cooling down, and she wants you to find out what's causing this. She'll also tell you about her uncle, who lived on the mansion on the hill back in Podunk, where she is also originally from. She'll also tell you about his machine which took people to a world of their own design. Not surprisingly, since she liked all things prehistoric, she was taken here. Something obviously went wrong, as the few hours she spent here has now become a few decades.

That's not all. She'll also give you a few Call Beads, which allow you to cast some powerful spells. Hold on to these for much later. You may never know when you'll need them. Then she'll give you a demonstration of her powers which explains why they call her "Fire Eyes."

Also, remember the gourds I told you not to touch? Go to them now. One of the gourds will have a Call Bead instead of a Biscuit. Also, some guy will show up that you can talk to. He'll give you the Defend formula.

Defend

1 Clay, 1 Ash

This will temporarily increase your defense, so level it up!

Jungle

Map

Go back through the jungle area south of the village. Cut down the underbrush whenever you see it. Not only will you find some more monsters and alchemy ingredients (as well as a free Shell Hat in a gourd), you'll also find Strong Heart's hut. Go in and he'll give you another spell: Cure. Equip this, it acts as a Alchemy version of the Essence item.

Cure

2 Roots, 1 Oil

You can also purchase some ingredients from him, too.

If you talk to Strong Heart as The Dog, you'll get a free Leather Collar.