Oerba

Oerba [ɛɹbə] (ヲルバ郷, Woruba-gou) is a location on Gran Pulse in Final Fantasy XIII. It is one of the few city-like areas visitable on the land of Gran Pulse, and is the hometown of Oerba Dia Vanille and Oerba Yun Fang. Villagers from several different clans had settled in Oerba and adopted the same surname. They had all lived together in communities, sharing their houses with each other. It is mentioned that the fal'Cie Anima used to be the protector of the village.

At present time, Oerba is abandoned, devoid of any life other than monsters and Cie'th. The whole village is also covered in a layer of snow-like crystal dust. Although it is not specifically explained how this came to be, it could possibly be a result of Oerba's close proximity to Cocoon.

Oerba also contains a sole survivor: Bhakti, Vanille's pet robot. The player has to help fix him first, by salvaging parts scattered throughout the village. In return, he will grant valuable items, such as Deceptisol, Platinum Ingots, and Gold Nuggets, as well as tips on where to find secret Cie'th Stone missions.

Datalog
''Fang and Vanille's former home, the village of Oerba is located at the northernmost edge of the Gran Pulse mainland. Villagers from several clans shared a communal lifestyle here, honoring the fal'Cie Anima as their patron and protector.''

Today, what remains of the abandoned village is overrun by Cie'th and in the process of being swallowed by an encroaching sea of ashen crystal sand dunes.

Design
Oerba seems like a concept of the "present" world, contrasting Gran Pulse's prehistoric and Cocoon's futuristic look. There is visible evidence of living spaces, wind farms, oil rigs, billboards, and a huge railroad, possibly connecting Oerba to the outside world. A potential reason for the difference between Cocoon's more futuristic look, and Oerba's more present day look, is possibly due to Oerba being destroyed 500 years ago, and so technological advancements in the next 500 years on Cocoon progressed their towns to the more futuristic style, whereas Oerba stayed in ruins and monsters slowly overtook.

Zones

 * The Ashensand
 * Village Proper
 * Desolate Mill
 * Dilapidated Dwelling
 * Derelict Depot
 * Deserted Schoolhouse
 * Rust-eaten Bridge

Enemy Formations

 * Vampire
 * Seeker
 * Varcolaci
 * Vetala
 * Taxim
 * Chonchon
 * Barthandelus (Boss)

Music
"Dust to Dust" (色のない世界) is the location theme that plays at the outskirts of Oerba and in the village itself. Like many other tracks in the game, it features female vocals, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing for times past.

The vocal part intertwines with the main Final Fantasy XIII theme found in "Blinded By Light", though the overall feel is much slower and wistful, perhaps mirroring the feelings of Fang and Vanille as they take in the colorless world of their dead and decaying hometown. Incidentally, battles do not interrupt the song, further adding to that feel.

"Iro no nai Sekai" is one of the tracks in W/F: Music from Final Fantasy XIII, a gramophone record album. It is the second track in Side B.

Lyrics
Nothing left to fear, l'Cie Cradled in eternity Shore of sand, your fate awaits Oh surrender in the light

Trivia

 * A photo of Fang and Vanille can be found on a table in the house with Bhakti.
 * Also, in the house with Bhakti, the player can find Vanille's and Fang's items, such as Vanille's bracelets and necklaces.
 * In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, there is a trade material called "Oerba Beads".
 * Among the many things to examine in Oerba ironically a model globe of cocoon itself can be found inside of the school house and examined. If examined it tells that it is indeed a model of cocoon but has been defaced with "derogatory writing". From this one can imply that the past inhabitants of Oerba and people of Cocoon shared a mutual hate of one another.