Border Town

Border Town seen from the world map.

Border Town (ボルダー, Border) is a town seen in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. The town is named for its unique location, directly on the border of the two countries of Morgal and Bilibin. Because of its location, the town is essentially divided into two halves. During Dark Dawn, the border is closed due to conflict between the countries. However, if a player uses a Dream Leaf in the inn, the gates will open, leading to the Haures Summon.

This town is essentially two towns: one in Bilibin and one in Morgal. As the nations involved become more hostile, the town is increasingly divided.

Story

Border Town seen from the world map.

At one point, Border Town was a prosperous trading town. Following the events of the Morgal Revolution, Bilibin's leaders attempted to invade the newly independent country. To protect Morgal, King Volechek ordered that the Border Crossing be blocked off. This had several effects on the town: trading came to a standstill and at least one Morgal citizen, the son of the Innkeepers, was trapped on the Bilibin side of the town. By the time Matthew's party arrives, the citizens of the town have fallen into despair.

Matthew's group had come to Border Town in an attempt to head off Kraden, as they believed he was traveling to Belinsk from Bilibin. However, they learn about the border's closing and realize that they won't be able to meet with Kraden anytime soon. While exploring their options, the group is approached by Pirates under the command of Briggs. The pirates have a letter for Kraden, which they give to Matthew to read, as it concerns them as well. The letter asks that the Adepts assist Briggs in rescuing his son, Eoleo, who has been captured by Morgal forces.

The Adepts, especially Amiti, initially refuse, as Eoleo is a notorious pirate. They soon realize that they have no other options but to help Briggs at that point, though Amiti is still resistant. Rief points out that the Sanan royal, Hou Ju, is also imprisoned, and by helping Eoleo they may be able to free her. Amiti is willing to agree to help an innocent girl, and so the group leaves Border Town to meet Briggs in Port Rago. On the way out, they meet with a musician from Belinsk's minstrel band. After speaking to Matthew, the musician agrees to travel back to Belinsk so that the band will be able to play Arangoa Prelude, which will allow the Adepts to contact Sveta.

West Border Town, accessible in this form only through cheats. The player can enter a Dream World version of the town by using a Dream Leaf at the Inn.

Border Town's Dream World

Dream Leaves have become particularly popular in Border Town, as they allow the citizens to dream of better days. If Matthew stays at the inn with a Dream Leaf in his inventory, he will enter a Dream World where the Morgal-Bilibin border is open. In the Dream World, Border Town is described by its citizens as a cultural crossroads between east and west, where humans and beastmen live in peace. Matthew will be able to cross the border into the Bilibin side of Border Town, allowing him to access a cave where the Haures summon may be found. If the player does not activate the event prior to the Grave Eclipse, the summon will be permanently lost.

Vendors

Border Town's inn is located immediately ahead if entering from the Morgal side and costs 14 coins per party member.

General Store
Name	Class	Cost	Effect
Broad Axe	Axe	1400	Attack +50, Unleashes Critical Strike and Rolling Attack
Battle Mace	Mace	2600	Attack +56, Unleashes Power Charge and Critical Strike
Gauntlets	Gloves	1600	Defense +23
Mail Cap	Hat	2000	Defense +23
Herb	Consumable Item	10	Restores 50 HP to one Adept
Nut	Consumable Item	200	Restores 200 HP to one Adept
Antidote	Consumable Item	20	Cures Poison and Venom from one Adept
Elixir	Consumable Item	30	Removes Stun, Sleep, and Delusion from one Adept
Sacred Feather	Consumable Item	70	Temporarily lowers monster encounter rate
Artifacts
Knight's Greave	Boot	2700	Defense +16, Max HP +5
Mist Potion	Consumable Item	9000	Restores 300 HP to all Adepts
Water of Life	Consumable Item	3000	Revives one downed Adept

Collectables

Sirocco: found in a small cabin on the Morgal side of town. Can only be reached by climbing down from the roof.
Haures: found in a small cave on the Bilibin side of town. Can only be accessed after using a Dream Leaf at Border Town's Inn.

Trivia and Cultural References

• Border Town's name, of course, represents the border crossing between the western country of Bilibin and eastern Morgal, its bridge straddling a great river flowing from Lake Bycal to the Sea.
• Border's geographical layout seems to be a reference to the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk which straddles the Yenisei River with a prominent bridge over the river. Krasnoyarsk serves as a major junction on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, connecting western Russia and Europe with the Russian Far East.
• The architecture of Border Town also seems to be a reference to that of Krasnoyarsk.
• Krasnoyarsk lies up the Yenisei south of where it meets the Angara River that flows out of Lake Baikal, much like Border Town's location on a river flowing out of Lake Bycal.
• During the Russian Civil War, self-proclaimed Supreme Ruler of Russia Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak, a potential partial inspiration for Volechek, had to retreat his forces in a Great Siberian Ice March across the Yenisei River at Krasnoyarsk and ultimately was betrayed to the Red Army at his new headquarters in Irkutsk near Lake Baikal – the architectural and geographic inspiration for Belinsk. Similarly, Volechek led a nation in tension with another nation west of Border Town's river, and was betrayed by his nominal allies at his stronghold of Belinsk.
• Within game, Border Town may share some connections with Bilibin Barricade, the previous border between Bilibin to the west and Kolima to the east.