Returners

The Returners (リターナー Ritānā) are an organization in Final Fantasy VI. They stand to oppose the Gestahlian Empire's conquest of the world. A majority of the game's protagonists are members of the group.

Storyline
The Returners were formed by Banon to resist the growing influence of the Empire as they used Magitek to conquer the southern territories and set their sights on the north. The Returners stationed themselves in a hideout in the Sabre Mountains, but their influence was small. Edgar provided funds and resources to the group using Locke as a go-between, but the Returners did not have the manpower for open war on the Empire and operated quietly. Over time the kingdom of Doma sided with them, as did individuals in other cities including Arvis in Narshe.

The turning point in their operation came when Arvis had Locke rescue a former Imperial soldier named Terra from Narshe. Terra had the ability to use magic, a force thought mythical, and has been freed from Imperial control by contact with a frozen Esper found in Narshe. This confirmed for Banon that the Empire's source of power was the legendary magical beasts known as Espers. To discover more, Banon and Terra, along with Edgar and his brother Sabin, returned to Narshe to defend the town from attack. Terra eventually was discovered to be half-Esper, and revealed the existence of another realm where Espers lived where the Empire had invaded and seized the Espers used to produce their Magitek weapons.

Eventually Narshe joined the Returners, and with Figaro this gave them the resources and technology to attack the Empire's capital Vector, but they lacked the manpower. On their request, Terra opened the gate to the Esper world, releasing several Espers that decimated Vector. The Returner-Narshe forces occupied most of Vector while the Empire called a ceasefire to look for the Espers with Terra's help. Eventually, this was shown to be a ruse, and the Empire captured the Espers as Magicite and continued to push for power. At this time, Banon, Arvis, and many Returners and Narshe guards were presumably killed, as they are not seen again after.

The Returners were mostly wiped after the Apocalypse, with perhaps the exception of a Narshe guard in Nikeah and the main cast. After they gather in the Falcon, the party of returners leads an attack on Kefka's Tower. They defeat him after a long battle and at last return peace to the world.

Die Rückkehrer