12. Sunflowers and melons

Complete walkthrough for the 'Sunflowers and Melons' quests in Crusader Kings III. Includes strategies for Shocked News and A Minor Problem, plus item locations.

At this point, focus on developing new parts of your kingdom and gathering money for the shopping arcade. New quests are available from the suggestion box.

Suggestion Box Quests

• From Hag! (Quest): Difficulty: ** - Super Escargoo at Jolly Bridge.
• Cow Herder Onii Info (Quest): Difficulty: ** - Cow Herder Onii at S. Sunflower Plains.
• Shocked News (Quest): Difficulty: * - Wolfsbane Trio near the Onii Grounds.
• A Minor Problem (Quest): Difficulty: * - King Game Club at Sunflower Plains.
• Suspicious Hag Rumour (Quest): Difficulty: *** - Hag in Owl Forest.
• Mad Mask Rumour (Quest): Difficulty: **** - Guardian Ogre Ergo in Torn Forest.

There are six quests, three of which expand your kingdom. Let's do the easier ones first.

Shocked News

Difficulty: *

Quest Giver: Shocked Servant

Head back to the Onii Grounds. You will find two giant turnips and a machine gun turret. Clear the Oniis first, then position yourself just out of the turret's range. Use hunters to attack from a distance, as they will target the turnips first. Once the turnips are destroyed, send soldiers to defeat the machine gun turret. Your reward is three bags of coins, and the turret drops an egg dish.

A Minor Problem

Difficulty: *

Quest Giver: Smug Wimp

Head to the Abandoned Onii Grounds and exit west to Sunflower Plains. Examine the red sign by the cabbage patch to discover Wonder Spot #2: Sunflower Plains. To the west, you'll face the scarecrow king imposter and his Meloncholy minions. Use hunters and the Cupid's Bow to stun the impostor, then send in soldiers. Be cautious of the southern plateau edge to avoid losing units. Your reward is 4 chips (transistors, worth 470000 Bol each).

After the fight, dig behind the impostor's location for a gold bar. Clear the bushes behind that for another hole containing a bag of coins and Art Piece 25, "Omike" by Pochat Ami (a spotted cat with a red ribbon). A sign by the sunflowers recommends adding a miner for a safer route.

Return to the castle to build the Shopping Arcade. To get new merchants, gather treasure in the Royal City. Head east to find Art Piece 17, "Elf Hunter" by Retromania, at the corner. Smash the pot at the northeast corner for Art Piece 49, "Gol Bago" by Takashi Tabata (a green face with two white hands). Shadow Forest is further north.

In the farmland, new shops have appeared. In the Dark Valley, find 2 new holes guarded by Onii Rings, both containing gold bars. You may need to repeat gathering for a day to afford Royal City residences. More quests are available in the suggestion box, including another "From Fanboy" quest which rewards a souvenir and 4 egg dishes.

From Papa!

Difficulty: **

Quest Giver: Guilty Papa

After completing the "From Fanboy" quest, reenter your kingdom for a free arrow refill. Head to Dark Valley Entrance to fight the Runaway Dragon (a Mini Dragon). It has charge, tail whip, ground pound, and fire breath attacks. Enter guard formation and keep your distance. Attack its back when it finishes an attack, and retreat before its tail whip. Your reward is 2 nice rocks, a rock, and 2 good souvenirs. The dragon drops expensive meat.