Prologue
Before you start the game with Ragnar, you are introduced to the hero of your journey. Either a male or female, you choose. The prologue lasts about 15 minutes, does not explain to much but it is clear said hero has quite the potential. Search around the village for some small items but they are really of no significance. Seed of Strength, Medicinal Herb, 3 Gold, Antidotal Herb, Medicinal Herb, . Look for Eliza your friend, who was the transformed frog. Return to your home to eat to end the Prologue and save.
Note that when you play Dragon Warrior IV on the NES the game just goes straight to Ragnar’s chapter instead of having this prologue.
Chapter 1 : Ragnar McRyan and the Case of the Missing Children
You start off in Burland, as Ragnar McRyan, a soldier under King Burnard’s army. It is now where you notice the interesting dialects this game offers – it seems Burland is the home of the Scottish! Try your best to figure out what is going on – basically, the kids in nearby Straithbaile have been abducted by some evil force and you must find them.
When you gain control, check the southeast part for a Medicinal Herb. In the town area is 3 gold, 5 gold, and a Seed of Strength in the southwest house. Talk to Aigneas outside of this house as she tells you about Angus.
Cave to Straithbaile
West of Burland is a cave to Straithbaile. Might want to level up a few times before entering, but it is not long. Chest the east chest for Medicinal Herb, then northwest for 40 Gold. Take the north stairs to head out, then look northeast for Straithbaile.
Straithbaile
Used to be Izmit in Dragon Warrior IV Chapter 1 , but we now have Straithbaile. The kids are missing here so ask around. 3 Gold lies to the left, 25 Gold in the northwest wall on the ground, Plain Clothes in the Inn, then check the school for a Medicinal Herb. One more Medicinal Herb behind the church, and a set of stairs going down here. This is the jail, where Agnus is. Another Medicinal Herb here and then after you talk with Agnus, you will want to return to Burland to get his lady Aigneas.
You get a hint about something southeast of town, probably in the foresty-area. Grab a Hardwood Headwear before you go. Sure enough, you find some ruins with a well.
Well ruins southeast of Straithbaile
Take the northwest stairs first for Seed of Life, 15 Gold, Medicinal Herb, and Seed of Agility. You will hear a voice by the well so go down it. Watch out for the enemies inside. The Mad Moles can build up their strength for a big attack and a Winkster can use magic to harm you bad.
On this first floor, head to the southwest corner, then go straight east through this next path to a Medicinal Herb. Take the southmost path for the stairs.
In this new area, head all the way east until you reach a healslime. His name is Healie and he likes to <slurp>. You have your first ally, and one that is useful to pair with Ragnar. Back to the intersection on this floor, and head all the way north to another T. This time go east for 580 Gold, then west for a Pair of Talaria. Evidently the kids must have found a pair of these and flew off.
Leave this cave from the beginning (on the first floor, go to the northwest area to fall down and leave). With the 580 gold and the enemies you fought, you should have a good chunk of change. If you can purchase the Iron Armour that would be best, or the Iron Shield. Don’t buy a weapon if you can help it, you will find something soon that will blow any of those weapons away. Use the Talaria after you have rested.
Talaria Tower
The Talaria will bring you to that tower blocked off by water. The kids are here as you can see, an eyeball enemy is taking them away. Follow them down the stairs.
Take the north path for Chimaera Wing. Head south for a soldier who evidently passed up on Healie for some reason. Ignore him and take the stairs to the east. Head north and take the big doors you find to the west for 640 Gold. Back out and north for stairs up and a Seed of Strength. Back down and now take the southern door of that center area for Scale Shield. Go north for the stairs down.
Immediately head south to rest up HP / MP for your party. You can continue to use this for a free heal up as you build up and explore here. Burst through the north door for Cautery Sword, which is terrific weapon for this point in the game. If you still had the Copper Sword, you will be amazed at the damage difference. The enemies in this tower are a big upgrade from what you have fought before, but with the Cautery Sword you should have no issues mowing them down. Anyway, east of the Cautery Sword chest is the Resilience Seed.
It is now probably a good idea to rest up, and go south out of the tower. Use the Talaria, then go south again to jump off the tower. You are now on the other side of the river, so go to Straithbaile. With the 640 gold you got in the tower and everything else you have accumulated, buy Ragnar his best defensive equipment (Iron Shield, Iron Armour, Hardwood Headwear). Ragnar is suddenly very formidable.
Back to the tower by using the Talaria shoes. Be sure to rest at the heal-up spot, then go southeast to talk to a guy about the future of the world. Take the stairs and you will find the kids and that eyeball enemy. It seems like you have a strong evil presence here with Psaro’s Pawn. He has that Winky enemy with him as well. Take out that Winky right away – after one hit from Ragnar, it’s complexion will change to red. It now will either critical attack you or miss. Psaro’s Pawn will take a lot of hits, upwards of 200 hit points. 108 EXP is your reward.
Psaro’s Pawn then mumbles about the hero being destroyed before he grows. That is why the enemies are after children. You will need to take the kids out and use the Talaria, then jump off the tower. To Straithbaile you go, to drop them off. Then Burland to a hero’s welcome.
Ragnar tells the king he needs to go on a journey to protect the young hero. “Och, if that’s whit ye want, then who am I tae stop ye!? Here’s a wee gaein’ away pressie for ye, then!” The king gives you a ton of EXP, likely to boost Ragnar up to level 13-15. Ragnar and the healslime Healie then head off, concluding Ragnar’s quest, Chapter 1. Save your game and Alena’s chapter is up next.