The Mythril Mines and Fort Condor

From the Mythril Mines entrance, head east, then north. Continue north until the path forks before stairs.

Ignore the stairs and turn left to find climbable vines. Climb them and search the ledge for the Long Range Materia.

Climb back down and ascend the stairs. Grab an Ether to the right midway up, then continue to the top to find a chest with a Tent.

Return south to the first screen, then backtrack to the entrance. Head west, then south until the path forks.

Go down a short, dead-end tunnel to the south-east to find a chest containing a Mind Source.

Return to the fork and head west, then north. When the path forks again, head west to reach a new screen.

Here, you will encounter Shinra soldiers. If Aeris is in your party, Tseng will speak with her. They depart without a fight.

Head north to find a chest near the entrance containing an Elixir. Continue north to find a Hi-Potion.

Backtrack south. Climb a vine to reach the ledge Tseng was standing on earlier and continue north-west to exit the mines.

To the south is Fort Condor. To the west are forests leading to Junon. Save your game.

In the forests, you can encounter a "Mystery Ninja". Defeat her. Do NOT use the Save Point or enter your menu.

Walk up to her and talk. Select "Not interested".

Talk to her again. Select "Petrified...".

When she prepares to leave, select "Wait a second!".

Select "That's right", then "Let's hurry on" to recruit Yuffie. If you fail these dialogue choices, she may steal Gil from you.

Yuffie is an optional character with long-ranged weapons and the Throw Materia.

Head south to Fort Condor. Talk to the man outside and offer to help defend the Mako Reactor.

Follow him inside. Climb a rope, then a rope-ladder. Talk to the old man at the wooden table.

Agree to help them fight Shinra. Your dialogue choices affect party member disposition: saying "I guess so" or "All right" boosts ally disposition, while "Not interested" lowers it.

Head east to find a rope ladder leading down to a room with a Save Point. You can rest here for free.

Return to the upper level and climb the rope ladder next to an "ITEM" sign.

Visit the shops:

• Item Shop
  • Potion: 50 Gil

Phoenix Down: 300 Gil

Hyper: 100 Gil

Tranquilizer: 100 Gil

Tent: 500 Gil

Lightning Materia: 600 Gil

Ice Materia: 600 Gil

Restore Materia: 750 Gil

After shopping, climb down the ladder back to the level with the old man.

Find and climb another rope ladder to the west, then head up stairs to an observation post.

Talk to the man at the observation post to learn about the Fort Condor mini-game. Shinra sends troops up the mountain, and you must hire and command your own troops to repel them. Each enemy type generally has a counter (e.g., Attackers defeat Beasts).