The party has tracked down the latest anomaly, but what happens when they are pinned down in a sandstorm in the middle of the middle ages? And can a small act of kindness bloom in the desert of a multi-millennial feud? T, G, Robo, and Lucca will have to depend on new allies to face off against old foes… or will they?

In our world, T and G revisit one of the most eclectic, inspiring, challenging, and surprising sections of the game: the Sunken Desert / Fiona’s sidequest. There’s certainly a lot to cover, but we ‘dig’ into…



* Its difficulty! After beating the game probably more than a hundred times collectively, why is it that this section is so much harder than any of the others?
* What they remember about this influential moment in the game… and if they managed to save HER
* The strangeness of this point in the game! Why is the iconic fireside chat optional, and why is it so easy to miss this sidequest entirely? Whose sidequest is it, anyway?!

Editing, scripting, and podcast visual design by [Nick Terwoord](https://nt3rp.io). Special thanks to Square Enix for making that game that we love, Chrono Trigger ...and for not suing us.


## Episode Cast

Alphabetically, by actor:



* Manda Whitney in the role of Azala and Fiona
* Nick G in the role of his fictional self, and discussion host
* Nick T in the role of his fictional self, Robo, and discussion host
* Patrick "TrickyLove" Moylan in the role of Nizbel III
* SMZeldaRules in the role of Lucca Ashtear


## Musical Credits



* [00:00 ] It doesn’t make any sense! - [Inception](https://www.jamendo.com/track/1208449/inception) by [The ARTISANS Beats](https://www.jamendo.com/artist/464776/the-artisans-beats) used under [Jamendo’s standard license](https://help-licensing.jamendo.com/hc/en-us/articles/211293289-What-can-I-do-with-a-Standard-License-)
* [01:39 ] A long time ago... [ReMix: Chrono Trigger "The Dark Before the Dawn"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01314) by [Will Buck](https://ocremix.org/artist/4601/will-buck) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)
* [02:56 ] We’re getting close! [Chrono Symphonic: Frog’s Intervention](https://ocremix.org/album/7/chrono-trigger-chrono-symphonic) by [ellywu2](https://ocremix.org/artist/4776/ellywu2) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)
* [04:32 ] These dust storms have gotten a lot worse... [ReMix: Secret of Mana "Cry from the Forest"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00444) by [Kassi](https://ocremix.org/artist/4425/kassi), [Mustin](https://ocremix.org/artist/4304/mustin) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)
* [05:40 ] The last time we visited Zeal... [ReMix: Chrono Trigger "Tears of Contention"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01446) by [Bladiator](https://ocremix.org/artist/4640/bladiator), [The Orichalcon](https://ocremix.org/artist/4619/the-orichalcon) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)
* [07:34 ] Wait, Fiona’s right, isn’t she? [ReMix: Chrono Trigger "Sunrise"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02777) by [Ivan Hakštok](https://ocremix.org/artist/13045/ivan-hakstok) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)
* [27:35 ] Look at all the foliage! [ReMix: Chrono Trigger "Gale of Ages"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01635) by [BogusRed](https://ocremix.org/artist/4620/bogusred) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)
* [29:13 ] Is that Nizbel?! [ReMix: Chrono Trigger "Coming Darkness"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03255) by [Chris Bess](https://ocremix.org/artist/14595/chris-bess), [FFmusic Dj](https://ocremix.org/artist/4324/ffmusic-dj), [Geoffrey Taucer](https://ocremix.org/artist/4694/geoffrey-taucer) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)
* [31:37 ] You’ve been acting weirder than normal... [ReMix: Chrono Cross "Who Stole My Stars"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01641) by [Diggi Dis](https://ocremix.org/artist/4595/diggi-dis) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)
* [33:51 ] [Race Against Time Promo - ReMix: Chrono Trigger "Punk Hairdo Kid"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03338) by [HyperDuck SoundWorks](https://ocremix.org/artist/11143/hyperduck-soundworks) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)


## Special Announcement: The Race Against Time

The Race Against Time is a twenty-four hour marathon to do two things: raise money for charity, and beat all the endings of the greatest game ever made: Chrono Trigger.

On August 14 and 15, 2021, we’re raising money for [Trans Lifeline](https://translifeline.org/)—a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis. Join the Nickscast family and friends as we embark on a magical journey to save the world of Chrono Trigger and our own _all_ while giving away fabulous prizes.

Learn more at [raceagainsttime.io](https://raceagainsttime.io/) or donate at [raceagainsttime.io/donate](https://raceagainsttime.io/donate)

...or follow us on [Twitch](https://twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime), [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) for more details!


## Special Announcement: Livestream for the Cure

> “My name is Nicholas Haskins, and I care deeply about fighting for a world and a future without cancer. Over fifteen years ago I lost a very good friend in his early twenties to a rare form of cancer, and since then I have wanted to do anything I can to raise money and fight against this terrible disease. Since then I've lost other loved ones to cancer, something I am sure anyone reading this can relate to. Cancer affects us all--no matter our race, gender, age, orientation, or what have you. The event began during my time on the Epic Film Guys, a weekly film podcast, as it gave me a platform on which I felt that I could host an event and give something back.”

[The 5th Annual Livestream for the Cure](http://livestreamforthecure.com/) takes place May 19th - 23rd, 2021 over 50 hours. For more information about the event and for information about partners taking part in it, please follow it on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/livestreamforthecure), [Twitter](https://www.twitter.com/livestream4cure), and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/livestreamforthecure).


## Additional Notes

**Why is the Sunken Desert so hard?**

* Not obvious how to start
* Gaspar says: “In the Middle Ages, a woman's sheer determination brings a forest back to life…”
* Either before the Ocean Palace incident, or after, talk to the Zeal plant woman and tell her to plant the plant
* In 600 AD, go into the (now, revealed) Sunken Desert—this is not obvious
* Fiona’s Villa has been available before this... but the hole in the desert was not
* Note: Some detail was left out in the North American version about Fiona being related to the Zeal plant woman… which may obscure the connection further
* Which is unfortunate because supposedly the seed from Zeal is the same as Fiona’s seed, is the same as the seed in 2300 AD! Or a descendant at least
* Also, the seed has concept art!?
* Enemies are so hard!
* Hexapod / Vilepillar has an attack that reduces you to 1 hp; resists fire and lightning
* Mohavor / Sandrago can inflict Lock as a counter; also resists fire and lightning
* Boss: Retinite / Melphyx just the WORST
* WHO MADE THIS MONSTER?! More on this next episode (possibly)
* In our opinion: toughest boss in the game? Yes.
* This is a combination boss: three pieces, attrition / spike damage, and a triggered vulnerability! Retinite is a sort of spot-check to determine if you’re ready to face the challenges of the rest of the game!
* Two of Retinite’s attacks are shadow, one is fire: Get your colour-coded plates on (or Ruby Armor / Taban vest)
* IMMUNE to all magic damage
* If the core is last alive, it will run away, robbing you of XP, TP, and Gold. Also, core damages self to heal a part for 200 HP
* ...But water will lower its physical defense. NEED someone to cast water techs
* BUT when you attack, attack powers goes up!
* BUT once the core is dead, physical defense ratchets up with each attack! HAVE to keep casting water.
* Strategy: Have one person heal / water, then take out the top half (which deals more damage). Take out core first, probably.
* Just an absolutely NIGHTMARE, honestly.
* One shot dungeon: If you miss any of the items, you can’t come back
* Some pretty sweet loot, especially if you do this earlier in the game.
* From th