Visiting the Underworld, Part I

23 Spring:

This guide is in the form of a journal, published as a series of posts.  The aim in this game was to complete the main narrative as quickly as possible, a timeline I always documented in my Harvest Moon guides.

This is my site for Guardians of Azuma.  Some of the posts are my notes.  The Walkthrough is divided into separate posts as well.

Always know there actually are no deadlines for any of it.  You do not lose your chance by taking your time.  In my first  undocumented game, I blundered through most of it.

Still ended up in the same place ultimately!

At 5 in the evening I went to Yachiyo's to participate in the Second Meeting of the Gods.

At the meeting Yachiyo acted as hostess and revealed Kai's true identity.

Kai then demanded I restore his full power as a condition of lending his aid.

With the other gods, power is restored gradually as Village Levels increase.  Kai forced me to use the Dance of Bonds on him again and again, until he was 100% fighting fit.

It was Ikaruga who attached a curse to Kai's tab to persuade him.  Should he refuse, his male organ might wither.  Harsh!

Ikaruga has been innthe Villages firmally only one day.  He loves Tempura Udon.  In fact, he is wgat is known as a 'Foodie' in some parts.

Kau's attitude towards me changed radically as soon as we could interact.

When the Meeting ended, I found him seated on the veranda of the Spring Shrine.

When I spoke to him, he shouted:

'Wahaha!  You and I are pals now.  Anything you need help with, just ask!'

Then:

'Just in case you forgot, the name's Kai, Valiant Herald of Rebellion and leader of the Oni!  Thanks again for all your help!

I then gave him the Azuma Sake I had been carrying round for days awaiting this moment.

'Haha, I can tell you put a ton of thought into this!  Thanks a bunch.'

Immeduately Level 2 and says: who says humans and oni can't get along, huh?  I mean, just look at us!'

We now must go to the Gate of the Underworld.

Meanwhile I lost Fubuki from my Party a couple of days ago, but had done notbing.  I was supposed to go to the Winter Villagrme.  I found an event with Watarase when I walked into the marker.  He had noticed Fubuki was missing, told me to wait, but I needed to investigate.  

At this point there were quest markers on every map but I wanted to forge ahead with the Main Narrative.

I did go then to the Winter Shrine when I realised I would need Fubuki in my Party when we went to the Underworld.  He appeared and told me he had been performing good deeds secretly.  I told him I would help in future.

Kurama when I returned to Azuma after what he calls a IRL hour: There you are.  Every one's excited to see you... but take your time.

To move towards the Underworld gate, I first looked for Fubuki.  He was sandwiched between Matsuri and Murasame, all seated at the Frozrn Izakaya.

I gave him his favourite Grilled Salmon:

Wow, and you made it yourself?!  How thoughtful of you.

It waz 10.00 p.m. now, but I wanted to reach the Underworld.

I flew to one of the Kagura Shrines, then saw the gold pin on Oni Island.

As we travel, Kai is unusually helpful.

'Shoukd be coming up soon!'

Then: 'This is it!  Set us down here.'

After all that, as soon as we set foot on the Island:

Kai: Tine to relax abd have a drink! ... Huh?  No?  Damn!'

We scramnle uowards ilover rocjs to find a Save Poubt to the kedt.  I activate and save.  Moving forward, Kai wotks some magiv to cause thw gate to rise from the ground and appear to us.

He then gives me hus Sacred Mask and tells me to equip and use it to punch tgroufh the Gate.

Kai now tells me to dispatch the monstrous twin Gatekeepers who are Level 55.

Afterwards, he minimises the battle:

'That's what passes for a gatekeeper these days!  Tch.  Making us look bad!

Kai walks with great dignity towards his old domain.

Okay!  Let's keep it moving.  Follow me!

The Underworld:

It is very beautiful, bathed in a perpetual sunset glow.

Woolby says it is not what he expected.

Kai tells us:

In ancient times, it was created as a safe haven.  A place where humans who lived topside could escape.

Me: Escape...what?  

Kai: Something a lot like what's going on now.  Wind died, plants withered.  The surface couldn't support human life anymore.

It is after 11 now.  There is no point doing more today.

On the Request Board now:

Go Learn the Mask Dance!

Learn Sumo Slam

Yellowtail x 5

3000 Gold

24 Spring:

I need to organise a festival.  I may as well do that now.

I also want to tame a Wooly from Forgotten Grove that gives Large Fur... have to go alone to do that.

Kau is in Hisui's Shop.  Niw he has reawajwned an interest in life, hw shows up everywhere

He says

I give him the Veggie Croquettes he requested..hisymui gies to Kevel 2 hust by sleajibg yo her.

Hisui: If only I were a few decades younger... Hohoho.  Just a little elder hunour.  I do consider you a goid friend though.

I had time before Kai's tab event at 5 so I went to Autumn Wilds to find Frogs.  Headed to the right and saved at the Lighthouse.  I found three trees that needed revival.  I got a Chestnut seedling from one.

A tengu in this area near the high tower.

A big circle of red blight with the blightbloom  inside this was next.  I clinb a house, glide to a windmill and jump inside the circle.  I run to the blifhtblom and use my parasol to destroy it.

A Frog on a pedestal gives Chestnut Mochi Recipe, Chestnut Jelly Recipe

Sticky Chrstnut Rice Recipe

Monf Blanc Recipe

Behind the Frog a tall tower and a wind vent.  I ride it upwards and go to the platform for a jar containing Preserved Bonito and to sweep a Jizo Shrine.

I can see a Frog on a high rock from here.  From this high tower pkatform, I glide over and find: 

Shrimp al Ajillo Recipe,

Octopus ak Ajillo Recipe

Char al Ajillo Recipe

From this high bantage point, I see another Frog on a long grassy hill across the field.  I glide to it and actually reach it.

It gives me:

Sweet Potato Jelly Recipe

Glaxed Sweet Potato Recipe

It is now 3.00.

There is a Frog on the Map near the long entrance to the courtyard of the Maze.  It is actually lower, almost at river level.  Go down to a Mining Rock and you will see it after defeating two Samurai Toads.

It has Carpenter's Hammer Recipe.

It is 5.  I went to Ichiyo's and walked towards the servibg area to trigger an event with Kai

  Yachiyo is nowhere to be seen and Kai wants to leave.  When she appears, he is embarassed, but finally asks for more time to pay his tab.  I invite him to dinner and he declines but Yachiyo lectures him about being too proud.  She tells me Kai has better manners since meeting me and serves us both dinner 'on the house'.

I experience Fubuki's Event where Watarase gives us a huge bucket of fish 

I finally go to the Underworld. I use the Nask to snash. Rock revealing a Ftog tgat gives Garlic Cutlet and Worker's Udon Recipes

Circle of Fire with Cannon and Black Oni.

The Drawbridgr is shut so go left.

Break rocks using Mask Dance.  Another circle of Fire with Oni and Archers.

Go downa narrow alley on the left to find a Frog.

It gives Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe, Ratatouille Recipe.

Here is where I had an epiphany that sent me hone.

My first contest is tomorrow to make Quick Meals.

I could not understand why making hundreds of Steamed rice and Onigiri changed nothing in terms of quality.  Then I thought I needed to rid myself of the Level 1 Rice.  To place it in the Shipoing Bin, however, did not rid me of anything.  This is what prompted me to go home to sell all the Level 1 Rice, whether raw or Steamed that was in the Shipping Bin to Yachiyo.  With only Level 3 Rice left, my rice dishes became Level 3.  Whether it is enough to win the Contest is another matter.

With gold in my pockets, I nipped over to Takumi a few moments before 10 to make a few items for the dev zones.  As I hoped, placing those made the Village eligible for Level 6.  He was gracuous enough to answer when I knocked him up and happy to gain more divinity.

I learned the first sumo Drum Dance for rewards and a new request to learn the Demon Within appeared.  It transpired that I had mastered that as well and was given the rewards of 5 Mystery Potion, 5 Restorative Elixir and 5000 Gold.

Time for bed... almost midnight.

25 Spring:

Three new Villagers in the Winter Village.

Tge Qyick Meal Contest was announced at 8 at the Summer Village by Hisui.  I submitted Level 3 Tempura Onigiri and won.

I gave Kai Sake and he told me he had been cheeribg for me.

I forged a Platinum Sword and Rinf of Relose, squipoed them and went to the Oni Iskand.

Tbis time I loojed for Froga.  One is to the left of the Save point outside and gices Ring of the Underworld Recipe.

Anothrr going down, very close to the torii Gate dragon mount gives Marinated Mushrooms Recipe.

I enter and gobti the kwft, smashing rhe rocks with the Mask, activating ring of fire again with labterns, cannon and oni.  I open a chest that contains Light boost maga II

There is a large purple blight ahead.  I use tge sword on a bloomblight bur there us more.  Anothef bloomblught is concealed behinf a mining sgone.  Attacked here by oni.

There is still another bloomblight sonewhere but I smash a rock eith tge Mask to find a Frog at the end og s littlr alkey.

It gives Platinum Bracelet Recipe.

The orher bloomblight id behibf a rock that requires Kai's Mask.

That is all for this area.  Mount a wooden structure for a chest vobtsining Dark Crystal and Tiger Scroll x 3.

A new ring of fire in a square with cable cars.  Alk the ebemies are above shooting arrows 

More puepke blight ahead

Use your fab ti activare a yelliw fan that creates a wind vent on a platform.  Use your parasol to ascend and destroy the bloomblifht with thr Sword 

Another Frog in a narroe alley behinf tge ywllow fan I activated gives Oni Lantern of Fury and Oni Lantern of Sorrow.

Continue ahead and open a chest containing STR maga II

I smash a rock with tghe Mask  and find plots containing Pink Melons.  I clean a Jizo Shrine nearby.

We move foreard to one of the worst areas.  A circle of fire filled with Oni but what is really bad are the blights throwing flame.  I have a difficilt time seeing through the flanes but finally use the parasol to get on top of a cable care and then use it twive in different directions with the most powerful water attack I have to destroy the blightblooms of fire.

It is after 11 now.  I run forward as fast as posdible to find a Save point.

To the left of the Save point is a Wayside Shrine that gives

Platinum Bow

Arcane Light Talismans

Celestial Crown Recipe

26 Spring:

I work a liitle so that Autumn Village is raised to Level 7 by adding fields, rice paddies, so I find Kurama and he performs the increase

I give Kai Sake and his level is raised to 4.  He gives me the Kai's Mask Recipe.

I walk ibto a marker at the agod plaza in Autumn and experiwnce an event with Ikaruga and Kotaro.  Yachiyo has asked him to gunt down a monster.  To cobtinue, go to Yachiyo's after 5.

Simply speaking to Cuilang raises him to Level 2.

I give him a favourite, Iron.

For me?  I wasn't aware yiu knew I liked tgese.  You're always full of surprises.

He goes to Level 3.

Kotaro and Kurama are in rge little hut in the zen garden.

Simpky speaking to Kotaro raises his level to 3.

There arw too many pibs on the map now.

I go to Hiba's house and she invites me and Mauro to eat at Iroha's but when I go there, I ask Ulalaka and Iroha about strange noises at night.

All the gods collect and it us decided to patrol at nught.  Matsuri falls asleep anf Kurama rudly awakebs her.

This rvent instsbtly is folliwed by Mauro, Hina and I eating dango there.

Woolby:  so good foid reminds you of home?

What reminds you of home, Woolby?

Mauro:  Grass?

Hina:  Or like... fodder?

Woolby:  I don't eat grass!  I ain't no Wooly!

No, he always hangs over my shoulder when I am cooking, petulently demanding my food!

End of Hina's First Bondibg Event.

I still am attempting to fibd Kurana playing with thr chikdren.

So far this morning:

Ikaruga Mystic Case File I

Hina's Nothing Beats Sweets

Getting to Know Hina I

When I simply warped to the Autumn God Shrine, I experienced the event with Kurana: Want to Play with the Kids.

It is one of my favourites as it involves Kai as well.  Kai rocks up to the shrine, shouting that he is bored, wants to play a game.  Kurama hudes until he leaves.  He then telks me about the game of shogi Kai lost.  In a fit of rage, he ate the king!

After showing me the box of various game pieces Kai ruined, Kurama confesses he destroyed the village when he conjured a typhoon to end the drought.

In fact, going back to a point earlier in the morning,I discovered that one MUST experience Hina's event at the archaeology site near the 3rd Dev area before one can trigger the event with Kurama.  After all, it is Cuilang who declares a typhoon occurred long ago when Hina speaks about her study of the soil and how it tells a history of the region.

The event with Kurama is both entertaining and sad.  It shows his complicated relationship with Kai, who actually is both his best friend and worst enemy, and then he confesses his part in the typhoon and why he became a recluse.

Most of the events now in the Bonding Quests board occur at night.

Ikaruga: go to Yachiyo's from 5 to 11

Ulalaka: go to Sakaki's house 8 to midnight

Matsuri: go to Summer God Shrine 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

There are two I can exoerience now: 

Cuilang: go to Yachiyos 9 to 5

There is one more to exoeriwnce now with Fubuki

Going to Yachiyo introduces Cuilang formally with the Profile Icon.  He offers to fix her stove.  Kotaro is a nuisance, but Cuilang sufgedfs that one allow him his pranks.  He demonstrates compassion and wmpathy and physical strength when he carries the brojen parts away after effecting the repair for Yachiyo.

Getting to Know Cuilang Quest now appears.

I go to the Entrqnce of the Winter Village for Fubuki's event.  The marker is in front of the little bench where they all come to sit from time to time, down the hill from the Entrance 

Fubuki: I'm sorry for taking so long.  I was ambushed by children as soon as I left my  Shrine.

Woolby remarks he must be popular with children with his flugfy tail and Fubuki retorts that Woolby is far more popular.  The children cry out:  a wooly!  And it's flying!

Woolby races away with the children in pursuit.  I rwnark how very cild it is.  Fubuki wants to explain in private.  I need to jkin him at his shrine if I wish to know more.

Ikaruga is seated on the bench bowever so I give him Temours udon.

Many thanks.  I'm rather fond of these.

He then says: Congratulations.  I knew you'd energe victorious.

The Sake I give to Kai daily costs over 1500 G.  I really need the Recipe.

Before I interact with any one else, I see I have cleaned 28 Jizo Statues.  Two more for another visitation and reward.

They all are linked to Rice so perhaps the Azuma Sake Recioe will be a reward.

I find a Jiso Statue very clise to the Forest Depths Save point.  Attacked instantly by wolves while sweeping, but we brush them off easily.

I warp to the Undergrouns Wayside Shrine and boessedly it is to the right on the surface.  I clean it and accept the Onigiri 

Woolby says something like:

I imagine you have earned plenty of karma cleaning so many statues.'

So he acknowledges there will be a reward for doing 30.

As I am engaged in thia sort of quest apparently, I decide ro visit the Prof to get rid of all the unexplainex mushrooms now taking root in my backpack.  I find the Frog I missed in the shallow water.

It gibes Mushroim Hit Pot Recipe..

A note of caution:  if gou have knly one mushriom of any unappraused variety, do not try tk appraise it.  Wait until you have two because, if it is toxic, he will say so but tell you he needs to try more before he can identify it.  Thus, wasted!

I went round on a Mushroom Hunt on hid islabd and did find I had an Oni Toppler.  No Bear Toppler yet.  Both feature in recipes.

On my way to Onu Iskand, I saw on rhe map there was an unblessed Wayside Shrime on the Winter Kagura Iskanf so made a wuick stoo there for

Stoic Earring Recipe, Awakening Earring Recipe.

I finalky reach the Unserworld at 4 

Although I activated a Save Point at the Underworld Crossroads, I cannot use it until I actually enter from the gate.  

Ibam pressed for time so ho there 

Ironically, there is a griyo of three Jizk Statues ro the right of it. 

Kai remarks:  'you know, you're really getting the hang of fighting like an oni.  Could swear you were the real deal.'

That warms the cockles of my heart as I actually have a son with Kai in another life.  How I miss my little family now but I promised the world I would document Azuma step by step.

As we battle assorted onis cvnow, kai ceies:  Piece of cake!

Kurana unkindly remarks:

Well you could have fooled me.  To be honest I lost count zof the times you nearly met your demise.

Kai: HEY!  No commentary outta you!

Kurama:  Kai!  Don't rush in without a plan!"

Kai: How's this?  I punch 'em, you slash 'em.  Perfect plan, right?

Kurama: ...Why do I even ³22nd 22nd 22nd 3 yumbother?

Green blightbloom with blight on the road ahead.  I use the Fan.

Use the Mask on a huge rock behind which is a chest containing Fire Crystsl x 5, Tiger Scroll x 3.

Assorted onis atracking including Vicious Vlack Onis.  " There is a huge Ancient  artillery.  We can deal with these but there still is green blight and I cannoy even investigate until we put theze enemirs down.

The bkightbloom is high on a riof.  I run into another aJiso Shrine and sweep.  I need not have bunted for rgem in thr Winter Snow to reach 30!

Ztupidly I became stuck again in the effory to clesr the masdibe amoubts of green blight in this area.  I went across roiftops only to siscover the bloom was in a grewn net.  You cannot clear it here!

Find snother roiftop with a lantern that restores  the mafival energy used in Sacred Treasures.  From there, cross rooftops until you see a blightbloom and use your fan.  This, hoqwver, does NOT clear ALL the green blight in the area.  The blightbloom in the net remains and further progress is barred by a net aceoss the road.

There is a Frog right on the roadside that gives Exotic Cart Recipe.

By going home at half past ten, it is too lste to visit Takumi but I am able to go to Sakaki's House to see that the flowers are causing the monsters to retreat.  Ulalaka is happy.

I then go to the Summer Beach where I meet Matsuri.  Despite her terror of ggosrs, I insist we patrol. She faints abd I twll Woolby to watch her while I investigate alone.  

Y

The cries of 'Neck...' and 'Lost' came from Mauro who had lost his good luck necklace.  Now he has foubd it.  I caution him to look for items during the day in future to avoud terrifying the villagers.

I visir Crokie while ai am here.

I have foubd 96 Frogs and he gives me two groups of Recipe rewards:

Bird Statue 

Boiled Pumpkin

Boiled Greens

Chilled Tofu

Miso Soup

Wooly Doll

Marinated Turnips

Marinated Sardines

Cutlet

Tuna Roll

I think the totals were 70 and 90.  Now he wants 110.

A chest was left for us during the night.  It contains a letter of graitude, 

Level 4 Rice, 

Azuma Sake Recipe

Spring Kuchikamizake Recipe

Peach Sapling

Peach Nectar Recipe.

4 new villagers arrived in the night, now requiring more homes.  I have half a mind to place the Humble Homes again!

Just discoverwd something.  When Woolby compkained about tge new villagers needing homes, I accessed the Village Menu again afterwards and he remarked that some jobs had no villagers assigned to then.  So here is the situation.   You need one Miner, one Logger, obe Herder, and so on even if your Villagers are not really suited to those jobs.  Either move one of those who are suited from another village or evict some one and hope for the best or simply force a generic farmer to switch jobs.

It is Ulalaka's Birthday.  I go to see her and experiwnce the event where she decides to hold a big banquet for the villagers. I give her the Spring drink to celevrate hwr birtbday.

I want to grow Gold Crops so I warp to Dawnbreak Island and use my parasol to go to the little island to the left with a hut with a Frog inside it.  I befriend a Cassidoodle with Quality Fletch, bless a Frog to obtain Gold Juice and harvest 4 gold turnips with seeds.

I use my parasol to glide down to a long island bekow with a Frog who gibes Meat Croquettes Recipe.

At the end of this iskabd I use my fan to clear fog to display a chest containing HP Magatama I

I will return here to explore more another day.  Time to return to the Underworld.

The folliwing is the best account I could give of how I destroyex the various blights.  I and my party suffered mote than once from status ailments.  We had to battle while I tried to see where the blightblooms were located.

Rhe whoke busibess was a terribld nightmare the first time round.  I have saved a file at the Save Point to try to go through it all again and make certain my account is accurate.

I acrivate the three yellow fans, use the Parasol to float up to the green blightbloom where I use the Sacred fan.

Wind crystal in a chest wurh Tiger Scroll x 3

Now I return ro the other green blight on the roof.  No longer is there a net so I simply use the fan to be rid of it.

I find the new save Point and save.

I use my fan for the blight on the ground then shoot with a flame arrow the purple blight with the blue centre.

I activate a yellow fan, rise up and use the Parasol on red blight.  From that height, I can glide with the Parasol to the last bloomblight to use the sacred fan.

I move forward and use the parasol on more red blight on the ground.

I find an alley with a mining rock, then break a rock with the mask to use the sword on putple blight with blue centre.

I find a Frog in an alley that gives Midern Streetlamp Recipe. 

Ring of flame with giant oni.

Lonh alley to the right on the way to the drawbridge has a Frog that gives Samurai's Proof Recipe.

There is a Jizo Shrine to clean.

Go up the steps and activate the Save point to the left.

Now the Gate refuses to open. Kai will tell you the tale of the two faced god.  To break the curse, you need a monkey, a bird and a dog.  He tells me I can be the Monkey. 

('Wonderful', I respond.)  

He tells me to go get them.  Kai will not go back with you.  He will stand at the gate until you return.  Curiously enough, Kurama the Bird and Fubuki the Dog actually were in my Party but I had to return to Azuma, rearrange my Party to put Kurama and Fubuki in the first two slots before it worked.  Return and talk to Kai and he will break the gate after both Kurama and Fubuki complain about their roles..

28 Spring:

It was almost midnight when Kai broke down the gate so I turned and went home.

I suppose he will be happuer if we defeat Lord Ura as soon as possible, so I will have a go.

I thinm I need to focus more on Bonding Events as well.

I went to the Sumner Village abd founfmd a pin in the little zen garden.  An event with Marsurj and Nauro.  She was angry with him but when he tokd us he dis not rummage through cabinets like a common burgler... then who was it opening and shutting doors in the night?