Xenoblade Chronicles/Colony 9/Geography

Colony 9 is the first major area of the game. The colony is Shulk, Reyn, Fiora and Dunban's hometown and is quite populated. The surrounding wilderness consist mainly of weak enemies, making this a safe training spot at the beginning of the game, provided you don't wander too far east.

Landmarks

 * 1) Gem Man's Stall: Found in the northern end of the Commercial District is the stall where Gem Man and the gem crafting furnace is located. This is a convenient skip travel point when you need to make gems, at least until you gain the ability to craft gems on the go.
 * 2) Mechon Wreckage Site: The area you first control Shulk and Reyn in. It is an isolated path to a dead end with nothing of interest except some low-levelled enemies. There is no reason to return here after leaving the first time.
 * 3) Main Entrance: A bridge that connects the Commercial District to the plain where the paths from the Mechon Wreckage Site and Tephra Hill converge.
 * 4) Ether Light: A large light fixture powered by Ether, located at the center of the Commercial District's plaza.
 * 5) Central Plaza: A platform that connects the three districts of Colony 9 together. Not only can you take the bridges to each of the districts, you can also find gaps in the bridge railings that let you drop into the lake below, making it the closest skip travel point to the eastern coast.
 * 6) Fortress Entrance: The entrance to the fortified Military District.
 * 7) Tranquil Square: A square at the center of the Residential District. The best skip travel point if you have business in said district.
 * 8) Outlook Park: A park on top of a cliff. It's a good spot to reach Cliff Lake from.
 * 9) Tephra Cave Entrance: Takes you right outside Tephra Cave. Tephra Hill is just below in case your quests objectives are located there.
 * 10) Cylinder Hangar: The exit from Mag Mell Ruins takes you to this high ledge where cylinders can be found.

Collectables
Completing the Colony 9 page of the Collectopaedia nets you a Carbon Driver.

Vegetables
Completing this category nets you a Quick Step III gem.
 * Sweet Wasabi: A strange spicy-sweet green wasabi. It looks quite normal otherwise. 180G.
 * Cool Potato: A cooling green root that is particularly valued in the summer. 270G.
 * Red Lettuce: A particularly spicy lettuce that kids are keen to avoid. 300G.
 * Chewy Radish: Red and sour, thus difficult to cook. Used medicinally as a restorative. 450G.

Fruits
Completing this category nets you an Agility Up II gem.
 * Dance Apple: A red apple that's perfect for parties. Really gets things moving. 270G.
 * Black Kiwi: A tremendously bitter kiwi fruit with a tremendously addictive taste. 240G.

Flowers
Completing this category nets you a Poison Defence III gem.
 * Strong Dandelion: Known for its small black petals. The roots make a throat medicine. 210G.
 * Moon Flower: A large round lofty blue flower. All other blooms fade when it opens. 270G.
 * Dawn Hydrangea: A yellow flower that brings good luck to the finder. Good for pressing. 150G.

Bugs
Completing this category nets you the Regnas Gauntlets.
 * Prairie Dragonfly: A dragonfly that hides in the plains. Intimidating when disturbed. 270G.
 * Giant Hornet: A giant white hornet so heavy that is squashes any flower it alights on. 180G.
 * White Beetle: A beetle with white stripes. Beats its smooth wings to call. 210G.
 * Sorrow Beetle: A frustrated looking beetle mostly found near water for some reason. 450G.

Parts
Completing this category nets you an Ether Up II gem.
 * Blue Chain: Some kind of machine part or other. Looks old but should be usable. 300G.
 * Rabbit Diode: A cute pink machine part reminiscent of a bunny's tail. 300G.

Strange
Completing this category nets you a Strength Up II gem.
 * Plate Snow: A horrible white thing that Fiora named when she was little. 450G.
 * Rainbow Zirconia: Reyn did his best to name this. Reflects light like a pretty rainbow. 390G.