Deling City

Deling City is a location in Final Fantasy VIII. Its design is influenced by the city of Paris, France.

Deling City is a cosmopolitan center located at the north of the Galbadian continent, and is the capital of Galbadia, named after its president, Vinzer Deling, who runs his administration from the city. It is also the home of General Caraway and Rinoa Heartilly's hometown.

Story
When Squall and his SeeD team from Balamb Garden are sent to their first SeeD mission in Timber, they pass out while on the train and enter a shared dream where they witness the exploits of three Galbadian soldiers Laguna Loire, Kiros Seagill and Ward Zabac. After partaking in the last stages of the Timber War, the trio retreats to Deling City. At the Galbadia Hotel the three listen Julia Heartilly play the piano and Laguna tries to summon the courage to talk to her, but his nerves get the better of him.

Julia approaches Laguna herself and invites him to her room. He is delighted to do so, and the two talk for hours and share their dreams for the future. Julia wants to become a singer, while Laguna reveals he wishes to become a traveling journalist. When Laguna is called away to another mission the dream ends, leaving the SeeDs puzzled.

Later on the SeeDs arrive at Deling City. Ultimecia, within the body of Sorceress Edea, is to become the Ambassador of Galbadia and the party is on a mission to assassinate her under orders from Galbadia Garden, who fears for the sorceress's influence. The team meets with their contact General Caraway, after providing a password they recover from the Tomb of the Unknown King. Squall ponders whether they are being used for a coup d'etat, but nevertheless follows with the plan they have been given, as it is an assignment from Headmaster Cid Kramer.

The SeeDs are to divide in two groups: one to trap Edea inside a gated archway during her introductory parade, and another to snipe her from afar. Should the sniper fail, the leader of the operation, Squall, is to take her our head on. Rinoa, a girl Squall's party has been assigned to protect, is excluded from the plan for not being a SeeD, and Caraway—whom the party learns is Rinoa's father—locks her in a room to stop her from interfering.

After the general, the sniper Irvine Kinneas from Galbadia Garden assigned to assist the SeeDs, and Squall, depart, Rinoa breaks from the room and confronts Quistis Trepe, the leader of the gateway team. She explains she has discovered an Odine bangle said to be able to suppress a sorceress's powers, and wants to come up with a plan to trick her into wearing it for the ceremony. Quistis rebuffs her, and leads her team out, leaving Rinoa to attempt to carry out the plan alone.

Quistis soon regrets her harsh words and returns to apologize, but ends up being locked inside the mansion with her team. Quistis, Zell and Selphie find a way to the Deling City Sewers and make their way to the gateway in time. Rinoa infiltrates the presidential residence on her own, but the sorceress sees through her gambit and renders her under her control.

Rather than rise to ambassador, Ultimecia takes control of the government by murdering President Deling in front of the cheering crowds. She ends the speech by bringing two Iguion gargoyles to life, and ordering them to devour Rinoa.

Squall and Irvine rescue Rinoa just in time, and soon the parade begins and the three make their way to the top of the palace where a sniper rifle has been left for Irvine to assassinate the sorceress with. As the parade commences they spot Seifer Almasy standing next to the sorceress; Rinoa's former boyfriend and Squall's rival from Balamb Garden.

Quistis, Zell and Selphie imprison Ultimecia inside the gateway, leaving it up to Squall and Irvine to snipe her from atop President Deling's residence. Irvine, unaware of Ultimecia's possession of Edea's body, remembers Edea as the woman who raised him and the others in an orphanage when they were children, and therefore refuses to assassinate her. When Squall convinces him to shoot, Ultimecia blocks the bullet with a magic shield.

Squall carjacks a a car and drives to the archway where he fights Seifer, who has become Ultimecia's knight. Irvine and Rinoa join him, but after a short fight, Ultimecia impales an ice javelin through Squall's shoulder, and he loses consciousness. Squall has another dream about Laguna, and wakes up in D-District Prison.

Location
As the capital of Galbadia, Deling City is another hub for the transcontinental railway, located in the north-western region of the continent. To the east of Willburn hill, to the north of the Great Peak of Galbadia, within the Galbadian Plains.

Layout
As the capital city of Galbadia, Deling City Station is connected to numerous other towns and stations within the country. One of these stations include the Galbadia Garden.
 * Deling Station:

A popular hotel in Galbadia, the Galbadia Hotel features a bar next to the foyer where, before her hit single "Eyes on Me," Julia Heartilly played the piano for patrons. This is also where Laguna Loire first met her. There is a save point in the reception.
 * Galbadia Hotel:
 * Items: Timber Maniacs magazine

The shopping district has a general store and a junk shop where the player can buy items and remodel weapons. A Triple Triad player in black can have a Kiros card as part of the Queen of Cards sidequest here.
 * Shopping Arcade

The home mansion of General Fury Caraway of the Galbadia Army. His wife and daughter also used to live here a long time ago. There is a save point outside the mansion.
 * Caraway's Mansion:
 * Items - Map of the Tomb of the Unknown King, Location Indicator, Cup

On the outskirts of the city, one can rent a car to travel across the world map without the fear of enemy encounters.
 * Car Rental:


 * Deling City Sewers:

The Deling sewers are a labyrinth of corridors and streams filled with monsters such as Creeps and Grand Mantis.
 * Items - Weapons Monthly Magazine (when controlling Rinoa)
 * Draw points - Esuna, Zombie, Bio (hidden)

The gateway is the central, prominent feature in Deling City. Possibly a remnant from the days of the Dollet Empire, the gateway features a pair of working metal gates and is decorated by various stone gargoyles. It closely resembles the Arc de Triomphe.
 * Gateway:
 * Draw points - Thundara (in the park)

The home residence of the president of Galbadia. Currently, President Deling is the tenant of this high maintenance abode, featuring full scale security and a platform to address the public that await outside the gates. The Residence also features an automated display that emerges from the roof during celebrations.
 * Presidential Residence
 * Guardian Forces - Carbuncle (draw from Iguions)

Junk shop
Weapon remodeling can be done at the junk shop, located on the shopping district.

Transportation services
Deling City is served by an efficient bus service, which can be boarded for free. To board a bus, one needs to talk to the bus conductor at the relevant bus stop. Car rental is also available from the town entrance.

The code to enter Caraway's mansion
When the party first arrives a concierge at Caraway's house denies them entry until they provide a password. The correct code is found by visiting Tomb of the Unknown King to the south from the city and inspecting the sword on the ground in the first indoors area. The code is not fixed, and a randomized one is generated on each playthrough.

The secret passage to the sewers
Inside the locked room in Caraway's mansion, the player must check the wine glasses on the left, and place a glass in the statue's hands at the upper left corner of the room. A secret entrance will open up, leading to the Deling City Sewers.

Triple Triad
Deling City uses the Galbadia region's rules, where Same is the sole starting rule.

Rinoa card can be won from General Caraway in his mansion from the beginning of disc 2 onwards, although the player must lose the Ifrit card to him first. The earliest opportunity to do this is to head back to Deling City with Selphie before entering the Missile Base. The lost Ifrit card can then be won back from Martine at Fishermans Horizon any time after this.

Kiros's card can be won from a man in black in the Deling City shopping arcade as part of the Queen of Cards sidequest.

Musical themes
"Under Her Control", the ninth track of the OST's disc 2, is the main theme of Deling City; a jazzy, laid-back melody. The title of the track refers to Edea (Ultimecia)'s dictatorial hold on the city.

"The Stage Is Set", the tenth track of the OST's disc 2, is a militaristic tune used when General Caraway was discussing the plans for the sorceress's assassination with the SeeDs.

"A Sacrifice", the eleventh track of the OST's disc 2, compliments Rinoa's encounter with the sorceress.

"Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec" the twelfth track of the OST's disc 2, was used during sorceress Ultimecia's welcoming parade, a dark and mysterious instrumental piece combined with chants of "Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec".

"Intruders", the thirteenth track of the OST's disc 2, was used during when Quistis, Zell and Selphie travel the underground sewers.

"Premonition", the fourteenth track of the OST's disc 2, plays during the fight against Edea.

"Wounded", the fifteenth track of the OST's disc 2, plays during the scene where Squall is attacked with Edea's Ice Strike Limit Break.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper
Deling City was the setting for the Challenge Event To Slay a Sorceress and its re-issue.

Chocobo Racing
The Deling City appears as the secret track FFVIII Circuit that somewhat resembles the city's original layout in Final Fantasy VIII. With the notable addition of a large gunblade fountain, the circuit includes the presidential residence, the shopping district, the Deling station, and the gateway.

Trivia

 * During the parade, the masked dancers are performing dance moves similar to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video.
 * According to the Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania, Deling City is perpetually covered in clouds and there are only 10 days of clear sky in a year.
 * The clock tower actually faces the back of Edea's float during the assassination mission. Irvine's shot should have hit her chair, but in the FMV the float is shown in the correct position.
 * Deling City has some references to the number 8, namely the buses in the city all have the #08 on the roof of the buses, and Rinoa says to take the #08 bus to get to the General's Mansion. The assassination plan is also to take place at eight o'clock.
 * The gateway at the city center is similar in design to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
 * There are two variations of the scene in General Caraway's mansion. When Rinoa is going to call her father because he's taking too long, she will step outside and instantly return and reveal she is the general's daughter before rushing out again. In the player quickly talks to her before she approaches the door, Squall offers to go in her place.
 * If the player leaves Galbadia Hotel during the Laguna dream, they can witness a traffic jam outside. This is because Laguna parked his APC in the middle of the street.

Deling-City