Esthar City



Esthar City (エスタシティ, EsutaShiti) is a location in Final Fantasy VIII. The capital city of the reclusive nation Esthar, Esthar City spans almost the entirety of the Great Plains of Esthar. It is hidden behind the OCS Barrier, an invention that cloaks Esthar from view of the outside world.

Story
For a long time, Esthar was governed by the cruel Sorceress Adel. With the help of Dr. Odine, she sought a child to whom she could give her powers to. She finally set her sights on Ellone. However, Laguna saw his chance here, and used Ellone as bait to seal Adel's powers, and launch her into space. After this, Laguna was hailed as the hero of the Esthar revolution, and was elected president, with his two friends Kiros and Ward working together with him. With this, the Sorceress War was abruptly ended, and for the next seventeen years, Esthar kept its silence.

By the time of Final Fantasy VIII, Squall arrives here, carrying the unconscious Rinoa on his back. Seeing only the Salt Flats, and no city, they were beginning to think the reclusive Esthar did not exist anymore. However, they discovered that most of the continent was hidden by a cloaking device to protect the city against invasion from their old enemies. They enter the city, and meet with Dr. Odine. He advises them to go out into space, and Esthar's Lunar Base, to talk to Ellone about going back into time to find out the fate of Rinoa. Squall splits his group into two; his group will go into space, while Zell's group protects the Sorceress Edea.

Later on, Seifer and the Galbadian Army have raised the Lunatic Pandora from beneath the ocean, and are steering it over Esthar towards Tears' Point. Zell devises a plan to board the Lunatic Pandora, and successfully does so, only to be thrown right out. The Lunatic Pandora reaches Tears' Point and initiates the Lunar Cry.

Layout
Located at the Esthar City's LEFTSIDE, it is accessible from the Esthar Airstation's lifter.
 * Dr. Odine's Laboratory:


 * Esthar Airstation:


 * Presidential Residence:


 * Rent-a-Car:

Music

 * "Silence and Motion" - Esthar's theme. It is an ambient track with weird electronics synth whistles and chimes.
 * "SeeD" - Played during and after the Lunar Cry incident in Esthar.

Monsters
Esthar City, peaceful as it is, may be overwhelmed with monsters, and this will happen permanently due to the Lunar Cry. Before the Lunar Cry, monsters may be encountered on the overworld map of Esthar only, but after the said event, monsters can be found inside. {|style="width: 100%"
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Before Lunar Cry

 * Overworld
 * Bite Bug
 * Gayla
 * Glacial Eye
 * Malboro
 * Mesmerize
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Lunatic Pandora Attack

 * City Interior
 * G-Soldier
 * Elite Soldier
 * GIM47N
 * GIM52A
 * SAM08G
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After Lunar Cry

 * City Interior
 * Elnoyle
 * Behemoth
 * Iron Giant
 * Turtapod
 * Torama
 * Imp


 * Overworld
 * Behemoth
 * Imp
 * Iron Giant
 * Torama
 * Turtapod
 * Elnoyle (on certain streets)
 * }