Taben's Peak
When you arrive at Taben's Peak, Lemina comments for everyone to be extra careful since most of the current robberies take place here...and she yells at Ronfar. Ronfar then explains himself... and Jean gets a good laugh (and so will you if you have a sick mind like me ^^). So continue on to find a barricade on the path leading to Vane. Sucky. When you head up the North path, the party spots something that looks like Ruby, only it's white! Ruby flies off into the bushes to find her white look alike, but gets caught by a rather rude teenager named Nall. He tell you leave Taben's Peak and then vanishes. Once he leaves, Jean mentions that she doesn't remember Nall from the Cult. Follow after him and head up Taben's Peak, but not before getting the Life Jewel in the chest off to the right of the main path.
Taben's Peak is rather simple
to traverse and not very confusing, but you'll fight plenty of baddies
along the way. If you get into trouble, walk back down and use the Goddess
Statue. The enemies won't reappear unless you walk into the overworld
map.
First, follow the wooden plank path. When
the path splits continuing left and going south, continue going left.
You'll eventually come to a T intersection. Again, go left. You'll shortly
come to another split. Take the left path to nab a Herb and then continue
North. About this point you'll upon a vine ladder going up. You'll get
bombarded with pinecones by a bunch of brats calling themselves the "Taben's
Peak Defense Squad". How rude. Once they quit their assault of pinecones,
continue after them. You'll shortly come to the stairs going up to Floor
3. However, before going up to Floor 3, keep going right to find the Legendary
Lid, and then take the stairs up.
On Floor 3, simply follow the path, which
does wind around a tad, and grab the chest along the way for a Thunder
Staff. Continue on to Floor 4 once you have that.
When you get to Floor 4, walk Northeast
towards the door, and you'll get bombed with pepper by those annoying
brats again. Bah! Continue out onto Floor 5.
On Floor 5, grab the two chests for a Luck
Ring and the Spirit Mace before climbing the stairs to Floor 6.
Emerging on Floor 6, you'll find that Nall is waiting for you. During a screaming match, he dismisses your claim of him leading the Shadow Dragon Cult, and accuses YOU of being IN the Cult. A few moments later, you get captured and tossed into the Peak's Jail. Once in the Jail, talk to all of the party members in any order. After you do, everyone goes to sleep.
When morning comes, Hiro and Ruby are woken by one of the Dragon Kids (as Nall called them). You're now free to explore the rest of the Peak. Find and chat with Ronfar, Jean and Lemina. As you near the stairs going to Floor 9, you overhear a conversation between Lucia and Nall. Go up the stairs and join in the conversation. Before you can answer Nall's questions, a HUGE scream rocks the Peak from the Playground area above. Nall rushes out to find out what's wrong, and you meet up with the rest of the party. Head up to find out what the hell is going on.
Once you get up to the Playground area, Nall is confronting 4 freaks from the Cult, each holding a child. When Jean is about to attack, their leader recognizes her and flees. Nall drags you back to his chamber and demands an explanation. After all is said and done, Nall holds Lucia as a hostage until you return with the children who were just taken. Just great.
Leave the Peak and head for Meribia, but do be sure to grab the Herb from the Playground, the Cute Ribbon from Floor 8, and sure to catch the touching moment in which the kids promise to teach Lucia how to sing Lullabyes and gives Hugs. Awwwww. ^^