Crystalis/Portoa

After getting through Mt. Sabre, you should arive at the top of a slope. Portoa is just to your left.

Portoa has a few buildings to visit and an armor ship that offers improved equipment, but the most important location is the castle. Enter the castle. The first time she talks, she seems bored. Once you talk to her and leave, you won't be able to go back in. But the fortune teller will be at her shop now. But she will direct you back to the Queen's chamber. To break this back and forth exchange, leave and return to the palace. Before the guard can block the way to the throne room, cast Paralysis on him and pass through the throne room and the door in the back which is now clear. You will see a cave but won't be able to explore much. But after you do this and then see the fortune teller, the Queen direct you to the Waterfall Cave and give you a Flute of Lime to use there.

Sword of Water
The flute is used to depetrify two statues blocking further access to the cave.

Be careful in this area. It's full of Medusae. Not only are they invulnerable to any sword you currently have, the grey spells they cast can turn you to stone. Keep a Fruit of Lyme handy in case you get hit. It might also help to have the Paralysis spell on hand in case you need to stun one so you can get around it.

Continue north to the stairs. It's best to go for the Sword of Water first, which you get by taking the right fork and melting an Ice Wall. This is because the Medusae are vulnerable to water, giving you a chance to actually fight them back; they give good experience for your level, and combined with Paralysis, you can dispatch plenty of them.

If you want the shield ring, return to the fork and go left instead; search along the riverbank for a second Flute of Lyme, then look nearby for another statue (it is Akahana). Once he is released, you will receive the ring, for a further defense bonus.

Ball of Water
If you return to Portoa, the fortune teller will direct you to a lake to the south. Southwest of Portoa is another area with an exit to the north. Here, you will find Rage, guardian of the Sacred Lime Tree. He will not admit you until you find the Sword of Water; then he will give you the Ball of Water and instruct you to freeze the water where he once stood. This creates a bridge to a room inside the tree. The room is a cryo-stasis room like yours. When you enter, a hologram begins to play a message. The woman in the hologram is Mesia, a woman vaguely mentioned previously. Like you, she is from the past and is on a mission. The messsage says she has gone ahead of you and to follow her.

Now would be a good time to return to Portoa. Be sure to have a Medical Herb on hand. This time, when you go to the palace, the Guard will allow you past and into the underground passage. Using the Ball of Water, freeze a bridge in the underground passage. You will emerge in the back of the fortune teller's shop. Proceed through the other door, freeze another bridge, and you will find the hideout of Asina (the true identity of the Queen and the Fortune Teller). She will teach you the magic of Recover, which will let you heal from different conditions. She will also direct you to calm the Angry Sea. On your way out, though, break off to the left and up, creating another ice bridge. You will find a wounded Dolphin there. Offer him your Medical Herb and he will recover. In gratitude, he will give you a Shell Flute to use to call him once you reach the Angry Sea.

Kirisia plants
To the far southeast of Portoa, you should find a narrow river segment that may be frozen. Cross it, and enter the cave. The simple cave only has one branch to the right, which contains an Antidote on the NES version, or a chest mimic on the GBC version. If you continue south, you should reach the a small valley, where you can collect Kirisia plants. This is required if you want to visit the ../Amazones/.

Fog lamp
To the east of Portoa, across the river, is the East Cave. It is a more complex cave, with branches that loop among themselves.

A Lysis plant is found by going straight up at the first branch.

If you're looking for the fog lamp, take the right path on the first branch, south on the second, and right on the third. When you go down the stairs, you may go left or right, but turn south at the next branch. At the end of this long and winding path, you should find the Fog Lamp.

With the fog lamp, head to the boat rental shop on the west end of town. You will now be able to use the Boat, and thus reach ../Joel/.