The path to Ortego Village
For more stuff to open up, we first have to travel to a new area. Head east from the castle and cross the bridge across the river. Follow the path around to the east (a chest containing a Sleeping Bag is along the way), until you reach sand. We want to go east here, but first make a quick detour north. You will soon see a chest near the water, behind a formation of 4 rocks on the grass. Open it for a free Magic Up. Then backtrack to the sandy area and head east into area F3.
When you enter the desert, you can explore the two staircases to the north to find 100 gol and a Small Block. Then head all the way east and around the path, following it north and then west until you reach grass again. Go north until the music changes for area F2 and then blow up the rocks blocking your path east with a bomb and continue. Follow the path east into G2, detouring for the staircase to the north if you want the Small Block in the chest, until you come to a sign saying Nuntra Desert is to the south. Go down the steps right next to it and traverse the small maze until you can head south into area G3.
You are now at Ortego Village. As usual, there are a number of available things before rushing straight to the next temple:
* Talk to the old lady near the entrance and she'll ask you to bring dancers from Raejack. Return to Raejack and talk to the two girls, Mina and Mary, who are standing north of the town square. They'll head over to Ortego. Note that if it's your first time talking to them, you need to go in a house and come back and talk to them a second time for the event to trigger. Afterwards, return to Ortego and talk to the lady near the weapon shop for a Life Shard.
* Open the chest in the northwest house for a Life Shard (approach the chest from the left).
* Buy another Empty Bottle from the salesman in the northeast corner of the village for 100 gol.
* Talk to the three people lined up below the northeast salesman for a little event. This is time-sensitive. It must be done before clearing the Desert Temple.
* The man in the house right above the entrance will ask you for 100 gol. Stay at an inn (there isn't one directly in this village) and then talk to him again, and he'll ask for another 100. Repeat the process 2 more times and he'll give you a Life Shard.
* Talk to the girl in the southeast house and accept for an interesting event...
* The girl in the potion shop will let you play Blockout. Beat all 5 levels for a Life Shard, and get a no-miss clear to earn a sword, the Luck Mallet. The game is significantly easier with a maxed out Wing Sword. See the Blockout section for details.
* The man in the central house will give you a Water Jar. Talk to the woman near the cat at the very south end of Colneria Village (which is just south of the castle) to receive Water. Return to the man in the house for a Life Shard.
* There is a Small Block in a chest just northwest of the village (go around it clockwise).
Tip
If you want to do these sidequests without backtracking, buy some Wind Wings from the shop and just warp. They are cheapest at the Ortego shop out of everywhere in the game.
To the Desert Temple
When you're ready, head to the southeast area below the town and enter the desert. The quicksand here seems tricky at first, but there is a simple method to always go the right way, which is to enter it from between two markers. On the first screen it is two cacti, sometimes it's rocks, but there's always a landmark telling you which way to go. Head south past the quicksand, down the stairs and then east, where you'll find Candata Inn. This is the only inn in the area. Simply refuse to pay the outrageous fees three times in a row and you'll be able to stay there for 5 gol a night. There is also a short sub-event here:
1. Talk to the old lady on the upper left.
2. Talk to the guy in the upper left corner.
3. Talk to the girl next to the counter.
4. Talk to the old man.
5. Talk to the boy by the bookshelf.
6. Talk to the old lady again to get 100 gol.
Also talk to the kid in the corner before or after and he'll tell you he wants to eat fresh fish, which is relevant for a later side mission. When you're done, exit and head south. Travel between cacti until you reach the southwest end of the area, and go south again. Continue until you reach more quicksand. You should be in area G5 by now. Enter the middle of the three center strips of it, and walk straight through the reddish patch onto the next strip. Then head east along the bottom of the area. If you continue all the way east, you'll find a bombable wall leading to a fairy fountain. Use it to heal if you wish, then backtrack a few paces and head up the stairs.
When you reach the quicksand on the plateau, take the west strip to reach the chest with another free Magic Up. After grabbing it you'll have to drop down from the ledge and retrace your steps. Take the east strip of quicksand this time to cross, and then follow the path all the way to the Desert Temple. You'll have to bomb the two rocks in your way just before reaching it. Enter the Temple.
ing temple cuz of those dumb blue/red switches.
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