Rabanastre



The Royal City of Rabanastre is a city in Ivalice, the world of Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. It is the hometown of Vaan, the hume orphan and the game's main character. Being the capital of the Kingdom of Dalmasca, Princess Ashe would also normally make residence here. Rabanastre becomes the most frequently visited city by the player, and could be considered a "homebase".

Final Fantasy XII
Rabanastre is the capital of Kingdom of Dalmasca. Two years prior, the relationships between the competing empires of Archadia and Rozarria had grown strained and Archadia was expected to invade the small nations situated between the borders of the two superpowers. In order to strengthen the national security of both nations Princess Ashelia of Dalmasca was to marry Prince Rasler of Nabradia.

The wedding was held in Rabanastre with the prince and princess paraded through the city streets in front of cheering crowds. Soon after, Archadia invaded Nabradia and Prince Rasler joined the Battle of Nalbina Fortress where he was killed. As the Empire moved to assassinate the king of Dalmasca and take over the kingdom Ashe escaped from Rabanastre and went into hiding, and a word was spread that she had committed suicide.

After the Empire took over Dalmasca the life in Rabanastre greatly changed. Imperial soldiers took over the town and many of the old citizens were forced to move underground where they formed a shadow city, known as Lowtown. Vaan and his childhood friend Penelo grew up during these events and after Penelo's parents died in the invasion of Rabanastre, the two started to work for Migelo, who would look after them. The people of Rabanastre hated the Empire but were powerless to do anything about it.

The story opens two years after Dalmasca has been invaded by the Archadian Empire. Vaan spends his days in Rabanastre practicing his hunting skills, dreaming of becoming a sky pirate and stealing from the imperials. A new Consul, Vayne Carudas Solidor, arrives in Rabanastre to be appointed to rule over Dalmasca, and the Royal City of Rabanastre prepares for a grand fete to commemorate the event. Vayne holds a speech to the citizens of Rabanastre and even if the crowd shows their disdain at first, Vayne is able to make an impression on the citizens by praising the late king.

On the night of the fete, the Resistance storms the Royal Palace with Princess Ashe as part of the Resistance forces, but the Imperial fleet, expecting the attack, stifles the skirmish quickly. Ashe escapes the palace via an underground waterway, but is caught by Vayne and her accomplices are thrown into the Nalbina Dungeons. The days of the new Consul are short-lived, however, and Vayne is soon summoned back to Archades, where he goes on to conspire to become the new emperor.

As the war between the Resistance forces led by Marquis Ondore and the forces of Archadian Empire, led by Vayne, breaks out, Rabanastre becomes the battleground. Princess Ashe manages to defeat Vayne, but the Imperial flagship Sky Fortress Bahamut loses its power and is in danger of falling on the city of Rabanastre, obliterating it. Ashe's comrade, the sky pirate Balthier, manages to fix the Bahamut's glossair rings just in time, and Bahamut crash-lands outside of the city, becoming a notable landmark in the area.

Vayne defeated, Larsa Solidor becomes the new emperor of Archadia, and settles peace with Princess Ashe. Dalmasca regains its sovereignty, and Ashe becomes the queen, continuing to rule Dalmasca from the Royal Palace in Rabanastre. A year later, Penelo notes in a letter to Larsa that Rabanastre is finally back to the way it was, back when her parents were still alive.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
After losing his new airship at the Glabados Ruins, Vaan returns to Rabanastre. One day a mysterious derelict arrives at the city outskirts and Vaan, Penelo, Kytes and Filo venture inside. The derelict turns out to be the airship Galbana which leads the group into the trip to Lemurés. During their adventures the group runs into Velis, a former member of the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca who once resided in Rabanastre.

After defeating Feolthanos in the Keep of Forgotten Time, the sky continent falls to pieces and Galbana flies away to locations unknown. Vaan, Penelo, Kytes and Filo return to Rabanastre, but unwilling to go back to their usual routine Vaan and Penelo sneak out of town during night to set out to new adventures, but are caught by Filo and Kytes.

Gates
The City of Rabanastre has three gates which lead into the city. Eastgate to Estersand, West Gate (where the Aerodrome is also located) to Westersand, and Southgate to the Giza Plains. The gates are usually open, but during the new Consul's parade they were closed off. One can easily move between the gates via "Moogling".

Aerodrome
Aerodrome is situated at the West Gate of Rabanastre. It has Skyferries leading to Nalbina Fortress, Bhujerba and Archades. The party's airship, Strahl, is kept at the aerodrome as well when the player is in the town.

Southern Plaza
The Southern Plaza is in the cross-junction between the gates and is a popular hang-out spot. People like to come and sit around the fountain watching travelers pass through the gates. A Cartographers moogle can be found in the Southern Plaza and during side quests many people of interest can be found around the fountain.

East End
In the East End of Rabanastre, along the main street, are plenty of shops. Magick, weapons, armaments, and even Migelo has a shop around here called Migelo's Sundries.

The Sandsea
The Sandsea is a popular tavern and especially among sky pirates. It has a notice board for aspiring hunters and is always booming with business. The tavern owner Tomaj can often be found inside.

Clan Centurio Hall
Clan Centurio is a clan of hunters founded by Montblanc. Only members are allowed inside. Within the hall the clan members train their skills and find out about new rare hunts from Montblanc himself, who can always be found within the hall. As the party progresses clan ranks and further the storyline, clan members will change their mindset about Vaan, from a newcomer to a veteran.

The Muthru Bazaar
The Muthru Bazaar is the liveliest part of town with numerous vendors. The Clan Centurio shop can be found here, open only for members. At the end of the bazaar is a door, which leads to a resistance hideout.

Lowtown
Below Rabanastre lies a shadow city, the Lowtown. After the Empire took over the city many people were forced to move below the street-level and now Lowtown is as booming with activity as the upper town. Old Dalan has his house in Lowtown, and Vaan's friend Kytes can also often be found about. Lowtown has passage to the Garamsythe Waterway. Some rare equipment can be bought at Lowtown's South Sprawl after the events at Giruvegan.

Treasures
Lowtown is the only area in Rabanastre where the player may find treasures. Unlike treasures in most other locations, Lowtown treasures are stored in urns covered in blue cloth. The treasure outside Old Dalan's house is a forbidden chest (labeled in red) that, once claimed, prevents the player from obtaining the Zodiac Spear, the most powerful weapon, in Necrohol of Nabudis.

The other treasures are nothing special, mainly containing Potions. With Diamond Armlet equipped the treasures are mainly Knots of Rust, with the rare treasure being Ether or Hi-Ether.

In the International Zodiac Job System version, the forbidden chest gimmick has been removed, it is safe to open every chest down in the Lowtown. The treasures are mostly typical healing items as in the original Final Fantasy XII. Diamond Armlets, as is usual for this version, in this location will reveal only Knots of Rusts and Meteorites.

South Sprawl

 *  - Chest does not respawn.
 *  - WARNING: Opening this chest stops the Zodiac Spear from spawning in the Necrohol of Nabudis.

Demographics
The majority of Rabanastre's residents are humes. There are also large numbers of bangaa, moogles, and seeq. The city also contains a small population of viera and at least two nu mou.

Notable citizens

 * Vaan, a local thief, and protagonist in Final Fantasy XII.
 * Penelo, Vaan's childhood friend.
 * Migelo, a local vendor, owns an item shop Migelo's Sundries.
 * Montblanc, moogle who leads Clan Centurio.
 * Old Dalan, wise old man living in the Lowtown, friend of Vaan's.
 * Kytes, Vaan's friend. Also works for Migelo.
 * Filo, Kytes's friend.
 * Tomaj, owner of the local tavern, the Sandsea.
 * Ktjn, viera by the Muthru Bazaar (sidequest).
 * Krjn, Ktjn's sister, member of Clan Centurio.
 * Weather Eye, seeq at Southgate who knows when the weather at Giza Plains will change.

Moogling


In the city, there are five moogles that will warp the party to certain locations within city borders. It's free and a way to get around easily. It becomes available after Vaan escapes from the Barheim Passage.

The five Moogling locations are:
 * Eastgate
 * Muthru Bazaar
 * Southgate
 * The Sandsea (just outside it)
 * Westgate

Hunts
Rogue Tomato is a hunt mark found on the Estersand after being petitioned by Tomaj in Rabanastre's Sandsea tavern. It is the first hunt, and felling it allows Vaan to join Clan Centurio, whose base is to the north of Rabanastre.

The Thextera is a mark found within the Galtea Downs area of Westersand. The hunt can be undertaken as soon as Vaan returns to Rabanastre from the Rogue Tomato hunt. Its petitioner is Gatsly found in the Sandsea tavern.

The Wraith hunt can be undertaken after escaping from the Barheim Passage. It is found in the Overflow Cloaca of the Garamsythe Waterway, and its petitioner is Milha in Rabanastre's Lowtown. Defeating Wraith allows the player enter a private residence in Lowtown and pick up the Dusty Letter key item, part of a later sidequest that tells in which order the sluice gates must be operated in the waterway.

Small Package
When the player sets out to hunt Rogue Tomato there is a bangaa in Southern Plaza who will ask Vaan to deliver something to his friend outside East Gate. If the player agrees help they get a Small Package, which can be either sold for 150 gil, or be taken to the bangaa's friend for no reward. The player can never get another Small Package if sold or given away.

Conversations with Ktjn


Ktjn is a viera found sitting on the steps leading to Muthru Bazaar after the events in the Barheim Passage. She asks the party questions and depending on the given answers she will decide what to do with her life and depending on her choice, will reward the party with items.

Windvane
At the Westgate, the green bangaa Rimzat will appear after the events in the Tomb of Raithwall. He will ask Vaan to gather information on sandstorms. After agreeing to help him, the player should go to the fountain at the crossroad of the gates, and look for a man sitting in the fountain by the name of Cotze. He will tell Vaan to go to Lowtown to find his friend Northon, who is near the entrance to the Garamsythe Waterway. Northon will explain about the Windvane and why he and Cotze split it in half, and directs Vaan to his half in the Dalmasca Westersand.

Northon hid his half of the Windvane under a Dynast Cactus in the Windtrace Dunes area in Dalmasca Westersand. However, it is in a small, closed-off area only accessible from the Shimmering Horizons area. A Dynast Cactus is a large, sometimes flowering cactus. There will be two Dynast Cacti in the area. The player should go north and look for a cactus against the west wall and examine it to get Northon's half of the Windvane, the Wind Globe. Back at the Westgate Rimzat, Cotze, and Northon have met. Cotze should give his half, and Vaan will get the Windvane.

With the Windvane the party can access the northern part of Westersand, previously blocked off by a sandstorm.

Viera matchmaking
The quest becomes available after talking with the Garif Elder in Jahara. Wandering Viera can be spotted in the Southgate who'll mention she's looking for a lover. Vaan must follow her and talk to the Lovestruck Man by the fountain, then go to Yamoora's Gambits and talk to the viera again.

Afterward she can be found in the Sandsea's upper level. She asks for Vaan's help and it is possible to pair the viera with either the Lovestruck Man or with Lord Vain in the Yamoora's Gambits to get a Loxley Bow. However, if the player chooses the Lovestruck Man they will also get two Hi-Potions, making it the better option.

Nabudis Medallion
After the events in Mt Bur-Omisace the player can visit Old Dalan to find a nu mou who is looking for a medallion, in order to fight Chaos. The player can then help him by finding the different medallion fragments from around the city.

To get the medal, the player must collect three medallion shards: Blackened Fragment, Dull Fragment, and Grimy Fragment.

To get the Blackened Fragment the Wraith, White Mousse, and Orthros hunts must be cleared, and the player will receive the Blackened Fragment as reward for the Orthros hunt. The Dull Fragment is hidden in the Garamsythe Waterway. After obtaining the Sluice Gate Key (reward from White Mousse hunt mission), the player can work the Sluice Gate Switches in the waterway.

The player must first turn all the switches off (that means lights off) and follow the steps below:
 * On No.11 Area Panel (that means light up the panel)
 * On No.4 Area Panel
 * Off No.11 Area Panel
 * On No.3 Area Panel
 * Off No.4 Area Panel

After the last gate is closed a click is heard and south in the same semi-circle area, on the ground, there is a glittering object, the Dull Fragment.

To get the Grimy Fragment the player must return to Rabanastre Lowtown and go to Old Dalan's place and speak to the nu mou known as Roh'Kenmou. In order for Roh'Kenmou to appear at Dalan's place the player must have first spoken to Ma'Kleou in the Nabreus Deadlands. Filo is around the South East area of Lowtown and mentions the kids are also looking for the medallion. In Rabanastre's central section, Southern Plaza, there is a "Curious Woman" looking at the fountain.

After talking to the "Curious Woman" the player should walk to the Muthru Bazaar and speak to the bangaa merchant just after passing the Clan Provisioner about the necklace to get the information, then head to the Magick Shop and speak to the "Sotted Imperial", the soldier sitting in the left corner, and choose the first option. Back in Lowtown the player should talk to Filo again, choose "Let's Go" with Filo for some events to get the last fragment, the Grimy Fragment.

Back in Old Dalan's place the player should to give all the fragments to Roh'Kenmou and he will disappear.

Great cockatrice escape quest


A cockatrice that has escaped from Giza Plains called Renn is found at the North End after the events in Draklor Laboratory, but will run away and the player must catch him. The player can hide by the pillars next to the shops and wait for him to walk past. The player can try to catch up with him when he is turning a corner, or approach him slowly as he goes past and choose: "Erm... no?". Chit must have returned to Giza before Renn will. After catching him and talking to him again north of the area, Renn will give the player the Diamond Sword.

Main Missions
After two main storyline missions, Rabanastre can never be visited by the party again.

Mission 03: Eve of Adventure
Vaan, Filo, and Kytes make a midnight run for the derelict. While passing through the square, they encounter several strange monsters, the Yarhi. This mission serves as an explanation of the Melee-Ranged-Flying unit type relationship.

Monsters

 * Sylph x3
 * Garchimacera x3
 * Alraune x3

Mission 04: The Coveted Derelict
At the Southgate, the trio catches sight of the derelict and must cross a small section of plains to reach it. This mission serves as a lesson in using abilities and Gambits.

Monsters

 * Sylph
 * Garchimacera
 * Alraune

Guests

 * White Hare x2

Secret ending
If the player completes all missions, they can fight the final boss at level 99 and get an extra scene to the ending where Vaan and Penelo sneak out of Rabanastre together, suggesting a romantic connection between the two.

Shops
The items available for purchase change throughout the game. These items may not all be available at the same time.

Yugri's Magicks
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Migelo's Sundries

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Batahn's Technicks

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Traveling Merchants
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Lowtown, North Sprawl

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Lowtown, South Sprawl

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Clan Provisioner
The items sold at the Clan Centurio's Clan Provisioner depend on the Clan Rank the party has reached. The minimum required rank displayed in parenthesis.

Musical themes
Unlike other locations, the city of Rabanastre has two different musical themes. On the main upper city, the theme "The Royal City of Rabanastre" (also known as "City Ward Upper Level") plays. Within the city's Lowtown plays "Rabanastre Downtown". Both Rabanastre themes have piano arrangements on the Piano Collections: Final Fantasy XII album.

Final Fantasy XIV
One of the original servers was named Rabanastre. It was merged with the Cornelia server into the Durandal server.

Trivia

 * While Japanese games are often comfortable breaking immersion to deliver in-game information, this aspect was to be "Westernized" for the localized Final Fantasy XII. When Vaan encounters a chocobo vendor in Rabanastre, the Japanese version had the vendor explain the yellow birds are chocobos that can be ridden. As Vaan, a street-wise orphan, would know what a chocobo is, the English version instead has the vendor lamenting that some guy rode off on a chocobo without paying to deliver the same information more fluidly.
 * There were some atmospheric voices in scenes like the Sandsea tavern that couldn't be used for the English version of Final Fantasy XII, so the original Japanese tracks voices were reused.