![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/u037.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/shine.gif)
![](https://img.mega64.net/shine.gif)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/001.jpg)
Today's trip is into the small, quiet town of Clearbrook.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/002.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/003.jpg)
It can't be an Octopath town without a woman literally fighting off marriage proposals.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/004.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/005.jpg)
She does has a nice axe and literally headbutts enemies though, so she's cool in my book.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/006.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/007.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/009.jpg)
Guess what I fail five times in a row?
Two thousand leaves later...
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/011.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/012.jpg)
A solid axe with an accuracy boost.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/013.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/014.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/015.jpg)
This is a three-star difficulty foe who can heal herself, but otherwise cannot stop large cats.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/016.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/017.jpg)
OK.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/019.jpg)
That Golden Axe is end-game level strong. There's a 3% chance to steal it at Therion, and if you're willing to savescum you could have a great weapon to last you the entire game.
The Argent Axe is also overpowered for this stage of the game but it's only a Chapter 2-tier axe at best.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/020.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/021.jpg)
Remember, smoking kills.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/022.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/characters/xman06.png)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/025.jpg)
Uh, ok.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/026.jpg)
As you may expect, a lot of NPCs here sell Concoct ingredients.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/028.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/characters/xman07.png)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/030.jpg)
Just a person great at his job. Can't ask for more than that.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/031.jpg)
We'll get these once we need them.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/032.jpg)
But if we ever want to have a cook scorch some enemies, we know where to go.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/033.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/characters/xboy01.png)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/035.jpg)
Another Side Story for the backburner.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/036.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/characters/gertas.png)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/041.jpg)
There's ol' Grumpy Gertas, grumping it up.
We've heard a lot about Meryl now, but she'll show up another day since she has her own Side Story chain for this region.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/042.jpg)
Even his attitude is toxic.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/043.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/044.jpg)
Zeph's embracing his new role as sole apothecary.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/045.jpg)
He says this when you buy from him for some reason.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/047.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/048.jpg)
Good luck with that.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/049.jpg)
He can throw ice and poison attacks our way, though, so he's still a decent challenge.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/050.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/051.jpg)
We can chat up Nina, but we've already got the loot from this place.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/052.jpg)
Her information is unchanged from when Alfyn Inquired her.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/054.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/characters/xoldwoman02.png)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/056.jpg)
I skip Scruitinizing her because, uh, look at that chance of landing it.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/059.jpg)
And also because she could kick my ass.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/060.jpg)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/characters/xoldman03.png)
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/062.jpg)
Sometimes NPCs will actually give you hints on how to handle certain foes. This will be especially true for a certain Chapter 2 section.
![](https://img.mega64.net/ot/u037/063.jpg)
Finally, he has a pretty nice Iron Vest to buy.
We could do all the Side Stories here, but I think it's time to move on and grab our last character. Next time, we'll explore the Riverlands and Clifflands, and then recruit the most jerkish character.