Prerequisites: The Guardian of Wind, The Field Trip

   Pay a second visit to the Bone Fortress -- on the first, you're forced to clear The Field Trip -- and be sure to have Larc in tow. There will be a brief scene, then you're free to move. Head east to the Cranium Gate and the quest will begin. One of Deathbringer's soldiers -- a Skeletal Knight -- appears and tries to scare you off. Stay and fight. The knight's flying fist attack is easy to dodge; you shouldn't have any trouble defeating it.

   Examine the Cranium Gate to open it. Walk inside and proceed until you fall into a trap. Your hero will wake up alone in the basement. Grab the Giant's Horn from the chest, then take the south exit. As you continue south, you'll be forced to fight the two Dainslaifs (the floating swords). These enemies tend to drop good weapons, so be sure to pick up any bags they leave behind. Once the Dainslaifs are defeated, continue south into a small room. (Note that the staircase in the background of the previous room is just that -- background. You can't go up it.)

   In this room, examine the skull in the corner to open a doorway on the right. Go through the door and talk to the Deathbringer soldier. He vanishes. Return to the room you fell into and take the northwest exit. Fight your way to the door in the upper-left and go through it. In the Veterbrae Room, examine the skull (it won't be there unless you talked to the soldier earlier) to open another door. Pass through, move the statue's sword to open the next door, and discover your pet or golem within. It rejoins.

   Pick up the Demon Meat from the chest, then return to the main room. Stand below one of the switches and examine it. Your pet will trigger the other one, opening the door to the elevator. Go inside and talk to the floating soul just to your right. Ascend to the third floor and step outside. As soon as you set foot on this floor, Larc's estranged sister Sierra attacks you. Battle her (she's got a lot of HP) and collect the key she drops when defeated. If you want, you can head west and proceed all the way to the throne room, where you can catch Undead Eggs and spirits.

   Descend to the second floor. All but one of the doors here lead to empty rooms; the one you want is the west one. Assuming you have Sierra's key, you can examine the statue here to open the door. Go through and you'll find Larc unconscious on the floor. Talk to him and he rejoins. Grab the Ash from the chest, then return to the third floor. Head northwest from the main room and pick up the Blank Eye in the chest. Pop into the room to your left for a Raven Feather then go north to the bridge room. When you try to across, Deathbringer will confront you. (He won't appear unless you have all three party members, however.)

   Deathbringer can only be harmed by attacking the hanging "tail" of his backbone. If his tail is raised, just back off and dodge his attacks until it drops again. Repeated, rhythmic X button attacks will prevent him from doing just about anything. When he goes down, proceed east (you may want to equip a good vertical weapon like a spear and staff first) to do battle with a second boss: Jajara, the second dragon. Pound on him like you would any other boss, but be warned that he'll shoot a huge beam whenever he moves to the left side of the screen. Just dodge to the bottom of the screen and you should be fine.

   When Jajara is defeated, the screen will glow and he'll disintegrate. But wait! There's one more boss! Jajara soon reforms, grabs the two statues floating on the ground, and refills his life bar. Attack him and move to the bottom-left corner whenever the rubble starts falling, and you'll kill him for good. Larc will claim the Mana Room and give you the AF Green Cane.

Li'l Cactus' quote: "Skelly-snappy."
Cactus Diary:
"Was it fun going up and down in the fort made of bones? Or was it scary? I wouldn't know, because I'm only a cactus in a pot."