11. Final Fantasy XV Chapter 9

This chapter walkthrough was written in August 2019 and my game still crashed twice when in Altissia. Save often. Additionally, this is when the issues with the story meeting the gameplay really start to clash more. According to many critics and reviews, it is at this point that the game takes a turn towards a style similar to Final Fantasy XIII, a game that defines linearity.

Chapter 9: Callings

Ardyn and Ravus are already in Altissia, as you'll see in an early cutscene to start the chapter off.

Altissia, City on the Sea

The chapter starts off with a long boat ride of dialogue. Assuming this is a JRPG and you're at this part, you probably don't want to skip this story info, but pressing might just send you straight to shore. Assuming you have the Royal Pack, Cid'll throw you the keys to the boat and let you drive it, but you won't be able to do that just now. You'll have to pay 3,000 Gil to enter the city, but you should have well over that amount. If you'd like to immediately get your boat back in the water, head to the Leville, just north of where the Royal Vessel is docked, and meet with Gentiana inside. Driving manually will give you a trophy.

• Maiden Voyage

  Captained the royal vessel.

  
  

The quest ends when you reach Maagho; you can take a gondola straight to the Maagho dock if you want. Ask Weskham about the situation at the bar. A woman named Camelia Claustra, an Altissian politician, who will want to talk politics with Noctis.

The Summit

Almost as soon as you have arrived, the game will tell you that starting negotiations will prevent you from coming back to the city. First all of Lucis, now Altissia... What's next to be barred from you?

Negotiating with Camelia ultimately just results in you receiving more or fewer oracle ascension coins. Nevertheless, here are the best options to win her over. It's not like you really have much to offer for the king of a destroyed city and a country full of literally nothing but broken-down cars and injured hunters, so you may as well play the best hand.

• Express gratitude
• Show concern for Accordo
• Tell the truth
• Be truthful

Then:

• Show concern for the city
• Cut to the chase

Then:

• Agree to help evacuate
• Act confident
• Agree amicably

And finally:

• Remain Silent
• Remain Silent

The imperials appear to have four warships, which can easily be a big problem when it comes to keeping Leviathan calm so Noctis can receive its blessing. After Lunafreya gives her speech, the empire will fly in to interrupt, right on time.

Into the Fray

Fight off the weak Magitek soldiers as you approach Lunafreya and Leviathan, then jump off the balcony after Ignis and Prompto tell you to. Leviathan's water heads will chase after you; block them by holding , then parry them with . Jump onto Leviathan to end the quest.

The Trial of the Leviathan

Leviathan will refuse to give you her power, so naturally, that means you must defeat her. Warp strike her and watch as the imperials come in personally to intervene. After receiving the trident from Lunafreya, Noctis will go super as music that sounds like the Elder Scrolls theme plays in the background. All you have to do to defeat this goddess is hold , but it's still a great moment to behold. Well, it is until you blow off a fin - because then Noctis doesn't even have to move to defeat Leviathan.

• Callings

  Completed Chapter 9.

  
  

Side Content (Altissia)

About the Colosseum

Traveling to the colosseum in Altissia starts a betting kind of minigame where you have to bet medals on the right monsters to win in a fight for more medals. This is completely optional gameplay, but there are a few rewards you should take note of before you disregard the colosseum:

• Magitek Generator
  • Eliminates the Regalia's need for fuel, saving yourself a whopping 5-10 Gil per once in a blue moon you run low on gas with previous upgrades. Still might be worth getting if you would prefer to never think about gas ever again.
• Turbocharger
  • Increases the Regalia's top speed. Useful if you have to go to a lot of places that can't be fast traveled to, but if you've been doing all of the side content in every chapter, this won't be extremely useful.
• Exhaust Manifold
  • Upgrade for the Regalia Type-D that causes it to release a fire attack upon jumping.
• Lylmaen
  • The absolute best fishing reel in the game, including all DLC and add-ons. A must-have if you want to finish Navyth's last quest and Gladio's latest tour quest.

If you're more concerned about getting the fishing reel than upgrades that you might not get much use out of, you should be pleased to know that you can buy medals at an exchange rate of 10 Gil per medal. Of course, this still means all prizes are absurdly expensive, but it's technically an option. With a bit of understanding on which enemies are objectively better than others, it shouldn't be too hard to get a winning streak here, so it might not be too painful to get the car upgrades after all.

Side Quest: Photo Op: Park

Prompto will ask for a picture once you reach the general area shown on the map.

Side Quest: Photo Op: Bar

Prompto will ask for a picture once you reach the general area shown on the map. This takes you to Maagho, so if you haven't been there yet, this will finish the first story quest of the chapter.

Side Quest: Photo Op: Dock

Prompto will ask for a picture once you reach the general area shown on the map.

Side Quest: Photo Op: Palace

Prompto will ask for a picture once you reach the general area shown on the map.

Side Quest: Symbol of the Peace

If you make your way north from where the Royal Vessel is parked, you'll overhear two girls talking about Lunafreya's dress. It seems like it's still intact, so it's probably worth checking out. The dress can be found on the yellow dot on the map.

Side Quest: A Second Sea God

After having manually piloted the Royal Vessel at least once and resting at the Leville, check Maagho for a side quest given by checking a newspaper on a table by the bar. Once you hear about Bismarck, a massive fish the sailors believe to bring lots of other fish, look in the waters for flocks of seagulls until he appears. Look in awe of his majesty, Bismarck, until he dives back down into the depths.

• Narwhal Watching

  Encountered Bismarck.

  
  

Hunting Quests

New hunting quests are available from Weskham at Maagho. These enemies can be annoying to reach due to Altissia's complex design until you get used to the layout, but the fights themselves should give you no trouble if you've been staying at a high level. The very last four Altissian hunting quests are unlocked after you finish The Case of the Disappearing Hunters, which comes after the first four quests. If you've done absolutely every single hunting quest in Eos before doing these, you'll finally be able to become a Rank 8 hunter here.

Side Content (Cygillan Ocean)

Side Quest: Photo Op: Restaurant

Prompto will want to take a picture of Galdin Quay once you sail to a certain point in the water.

Side Quest: Photo Op: Island

Prompto will want to take a picture of an island once you sail to a certain point in the water.

Side Quest: Photo Op: Cape

Prompto will want to take a picture of Cape Caem once you sail to a certain point in the water.

Side Quest: Photo Op: Chimney

Prompto will want to take a picture of the Rock of Ravatogh once you sail to a certain point in the water.

Side Quest: Photo Op: Horizon

Prompto will want to take a picture of the horizon once you sail to a certain point in the water.

Side Quest: Photo Op: Gate

Prompto will want to take a picture of Altissia's gate once you sail to a certain point in the water. This one leads to a great picture.

Side Quest: Open-Sea Angling

Once you reach the area shown on the map, Prompto will suggest a certain fishing spot to Noctis. Simply sail to that spot to finish the quest, no fishing necessary.

Side Quest: Monster of the Deep

Once you reach the area shown on the map, Gladio will suggest a certain fishing spot. Just like with the above quest, just sail to the spot to finish this one.

Side Quest: Whopper in the Waves

Once you reach the area shown on the map, Ignis will suggest a certain fishing spot. Just like with the above quest, just sail to the spot to finish this one.

Side Content (Lucis)

Side Quest: Scraps of Mystery XIII

The first scrap is by the witch selling supplies south of the entrance to the Malmalam Thicket. Check around her house for the scrap, and be sure to get the datalog entry here as well (if you haven't already) so you don't have to make two trips. The corresponding piece is at the top of the Cape Caem lighthouse, which you can only access from this chapter onwards. Use the elevator to reach the second floor and pick up the scrap.

Side Quest: X Marks the Spot

After collecting all scraps of Sylvester's map, the location of the treasure will be revealed to be within the Rock of Ravatogh dungeon (but why wouldn't they be able to figure this out after just having the piece of the map with the Rock on it?). The treasure is a bit south of the quest marker once you get to it, and all it is is a mythril ingot, 5,000exp and 50,000 Gil. A message comes with it, which you'll have to see for yourself.

Side Quest: Let Sleeping Mountains Lie

Upon returning to Eos, Cindy will call you to ask you to return to Hammerhead. Apparently, earthquakes have returned to the region. Meet with her at the garage, then talk to Dave at the Longwythe Rest Area for more information. After talking with Dave, you'll see a lot of people you've met throughout the story in the Crow's Nest. Leave after talking with Dino, head over to Monica, who is near the earthquake's source. Right after speaking with her, the fabled adamantoise will burst out of the ground. There's a pretty good chance you can't kill this thing right now, so run away within the time you're given and watch as it sinks back into the ground.

The quest completes after this, and you're able to pick up the hunting quest to kill it at Takka's diner at Hammerhead. This is still not likely possible for you at this time, so you ought to wait until the post-game (Chapter 15) before trying to take it on.

Side Quest: The Cursed Canvas

Vyv is looking into a spirit haunting a painting, and he wants a picture of it if you're going to Altissia. Get information from Weskham at Maagho, and then accept the hunting quest A Lost Painting to kill two birds with one stone.

Side Quest: When You Believe

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous rescue quest, Palpable Pain. This hunter is in the ruins of a building west of the entrance to the Keycatrich Trench. Give him a potion to help him recover.

Side Quest: Down on Your Luck

This hunter is behind a rock right in the middle of the "o" in "Saxham Outpost" on the map, and he needs a potion.

Side Quest: The Verge of Despair

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous rescue quest, In Low Spirits, which is below. The hunter is west of a fenced area and is under a tree, and he needs a potion.

Side Quest: In Low Spirits

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous rescue quest, All By Myself. This hunter is on a higher ledge with his back against a larger rock structure, and he needs a potion.

Side Quest: Weary and Wounded

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous rescue quest, A Hurting Heart. This hunter is behind a rock wall making an upside-down L shape northwest of Costlemark Tower, and she needs a potion.

Side Quest: Injured and Introspective

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous rescue quest, Keeping the Faith, which is below. This hunter is sitting on the white rock area a short ways away, northwest from the entrance to the Rock of Ravatogh. He needs a potion.

Side Quest: Losing Heart

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous rescue quest, Alas, Poor Hunter... The hunter here is at ground level behind a lot of rocks to the north. He needs a potion.

Side Quest: Keeping the Faith

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous rescue quest, Losing Heart, which is above. Tragically, you can't jump off the road to reach this hunter unless you make a small trek south so the high railing isn't in your way. The hunter is behind a rock near the road's right wall and he needs an antidote.

Side Quest: Not So Easy Anymore

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous rescue quest, Blame the Beasts! The marker for the entrance to Steyliff Grove has a wall on it that runs from north to south, and this hunter is along the south side of this wall on a small bit of land sticking out of the shallow water. He needs a potion.

Side Quest: Careless in a Car

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous car quest, Highway Helper. The car is visibly by just visiting the area shown on the map.

Side Quest: Automotive Agitation

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous car quest, Stranded on the Sand. The car is at the Abandoned Barn parking lot.

Side Quest: Through a Rose-Tinted Windshield

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous car quest, The Perpetual Passenger, which is below. The car is visible by just visiting the area shown on the map.

Side Quest: Hurrying Home

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous car quest, Through a Rose-Tinted Windshield, which is above. The car is in the grass south of the intersection marked on the map.

Side Quest: Tune-Up, Schmune-Up

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous car quest, Shoulda Been Serviced. The car is visible from the intersection marked on the map.

Side Quest: The Perpetual Passenger

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous car quest, The Jolly Joyrider. The car should be visible from the intersection south of the Old Holty Ranch parking spot.

Side Quest: Pedal to the Metal

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous car quest, A Manic Motorist, which is below. The car is at the intersection marked on the map.

Side Quest: Alone on the Road

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous car quest, My Beloved Chariot. The car is on the ring outside the Rock of Ravatogh.

Side Quest: A Manic Motorist

This quest only appears if you've finished a previous car quest, My Beloved Chariot. The car is at the Ravatoghan Trail parking spot.

Hunting Quests

If you reach Rank 8 in Altissia, then hunting quests in the following areas will open up:

• Wiz Chocobo Post
• Taelpar Rest Area
• Cauthess Rest Area
• Old Lestallum
• Meldacio Hunter HQ

You can reach a maximum of Rank 8 with 27/30 stars. You won't be able to reach Rank 9 unless you either defeat the Adamantoise early or do hunting quests in the post-game (Chapter 15).