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After you cross the mountains to kohlingen in figaro castle. If you take shadow as the optional 4th character, can you go back to narshe and change characters?

Nope, I tried, he'll run off, but you'll be able to buy his services again if I remember right, but the 3000gp price is kinda harsh at that level.

I was talking about then as well. I suppose it could work, but I have absolutely no idea how to go about avoiding every single battle form figaro to narshe.

I was able to take Shadow through until I found Terra with Ramuh. He never left me randomly after a battle that I can remember, he sauntered off after we found Terra though.

Well, what would probably happen is the moment you entered Narshe, Shadow would leave the party. That's just speculation, but it fits with everything I know aout Final Fantasy triggers.

this is what happens, if you take him back to narshe, he leaves as soon as you enter, and if you take him to zozo, he leaves after you find terra agian.

you could always choose not to get him. any characters you dont get, their part of the ending music plays, but you see a black and white picture of the location where you get them, along with their portrait art.

Wee I have not posted here in a while!

Anyway, there are several points in which shadow joins you before become a perminant addition to the party in the world of ruin.

His first appearance is in South Figaro when you travel there with Locke and Edgar. You see him entering the Cafe, and if you approach him inside, the naming screen pops up.

During the 3 scenarios when the party splits, after the first fight with Ultros you can get Shadow to join for a while in Sabin's journey by speaking to him at the hause of Gau's father. Though he leaves again before you jump over the falls with Cyan, on your way to getting Gau.

Later, after you travel beyond the mountains using figaro castle in your search for Terra, Shadow can be found in the cafe at kohlingen. If you purchase his services he may remain in your party all the way up until the point you rescue terra.

After this he is not seen for quite a while, but when the returners agree to help the emprie search for the espers, it turns out Shadow has been hired to come along. He will remain in your party until you retire for the evening at the inn. Later, he saves you from a burning building.

Here you travel to the holy place where the espers have gathered, but shadow does not accompany you. When you return you are betrayed, General Leo is murdered, The Espers are defeated, and Ghestal and Kefka raise the floating continent. You come across interceptor, wounded and limping, and masterless. It seems at this point that Shadow too has been killed.

Upon landing on the floating continent however, you find shadow is alive. He will join you, but leave again before the confronation with kefka. Then as things seem their worst, shadow shows up to stall kefka while you escape. You make your way to the end of the continent to the airship waiting below.

Here is a pivotal moment, you can save yourself, or, wait for shadow. If you choose to wait, he will appear at the last moment and you all leap to saftey, for a moment.

The world is ripped asunder and the heroes are scattered to the winds.

During your travels in the world of ruin, you may return to the veldt where, deep in a cave, you come across the battered body of shadow. He is taken to thamasa to to heal. But disapears again.

The final appearence of shadow is in the dragons neck colloseum. He will remain there until you wager the item he seeks, and he will fight you for it. When you defeat him, he joins your party for the rest of the game.

And that, as far as I can remember, is every appearance of shadow in ffvi.

I guess I just didn't think an 11 year old game needed a spoiler warning, much less in the forum of a guild devoted to that game.