Resistance (Final Fantasy XII)

The Resistance, also referred to as the Insurgence, is the name of a group in the game Final Fantasy XII. It is an assembly of anti-Imperial forces that are found throughout Ivalice.

Resistance Airships

 * See Also: Resistance Ships

Known Resistance ships are Garland, the Resistance flagship under the command of Marquis Ondore, the carrier Galuf-Val, which was shot down during the battle against Archadia, Queen Hilda for support and defense, and Xezat Surgate for the main force and carrier airships.

Creation
For the most part of the story, the Resistance was largely made up by the remnants of the Dalmascan Army after the fall of Dalmasca following the surrender at Nalbina Fortress and the death of King Raminas supposedly by the Dalmascan captain, Basch fon Ronsenburg. The Resistance was created on the eve that Marquis Ondore falsely declared Ashe dead. Vossler York Azelas took her underground and together they created the Resistance. At this point the Resistance was small, and only operated in Rabanastre.

Attack on the Royal Palace of Rabanastre
The Resistance stayed underground until Vayne Carudas Solidor was elected Consul of Rabanastre. An attack was planned to be staged during the banquet held for the occasion. Vossler and Ashe had squads of fighters set up in the Garamsythe Waterway and attempted to storm the Royal Palace during the banquet when security was supposed to be light. However, Vayne knew of the attack beforehand and decided to use himself as bait to lure out the Resistance. He made plans to have the Ifrit patrol Dalmascan skies. When the Resistance made their move, they were caught in a deadly snare. Bombed by fire from Ifrit, most were killed in the destruction. However, the leaders of the Resistance, Vossler and Ashe, both managed to survive.

Return of Basch fon Ronsenburg
Ashe was captured during her escape through the Waterway, and with her a group of thieves, Vaan, Balthier, and Fran were arrested as well. The thieves were all sent to the Nalbina Dungeons. While breaking out of Nalbina they discovered Basch fon Ronsenburg, the disgraced captain of the Dalmascan army accused of killing King Raminas and also said to be dead himself. The party helped him escape after he reveals that the death of the king was an elaborate setup by Vayne and Basch's twin, Judge Gabranth, who impersonated Basch and in actuality killed King Raminas.

Upon returning to Rabanastre, Basch met with the surviving commanders and soldiers of the Resistance lead by Vossler. Having learnt that Princess Ashe is still alive, yet held by the Empire, Basch, driven by his sense of duty as Dalmascan soldier, wants to save her. Vossler, however, cautious in making their move after the disastrous attack at the Palace, refuses to let Basch join their cause. Basch then decides to seek the Marquis's aid in Bhujerba, who has been rumored to fund another Resistance movement in the Skycity. To gain the Marquis's attention, Vaan "revealed" himself as Captain Basch, prompting the Resistance forces in Bhujerba to capture them, leading them to Havharo, the Bhujerban Resistance leader, and then to the Marquis himself.

Marquis Ondore of Bhujerba
The Marquis at first seems less than helpful. The Archadian Fleet is stationed at Bhujerba at the current time, and the Marquis appears to be collaborating with Vayne behind the Emperor Gramis Gana Solidor's back and providing The Draklor Laboratory with magicite. However, when he learns that Princess Ashe is held captive by the Empire, he decides to lend a hand. Rather than giving direct aid, the Marquis has the party arrested by his Archadian "allies", so that they may have a chance to save the Princess. The party manages to rescue Ashe and defeat Judge Ghis.

Ashe, determined to restore Dalmasca, is left without proof of her lineage. The Marquis doesn't agree with her plans, and wants Ashe to stay in hiding with him in Bhujerba. Ashe, however, is not content to just standing aside and with the party's aid they make their way to Tomb of Raithwall, where Ashe knows the Dawn Shard is hidden. With the Dawn Shard, she could prove her identity as the rightful heir to the throne of Dalmasca. On the way to the tomb the party meet up with Vossler, who has been looking for Ashe ever since he heard Basch managed to save her.

Vossler's Betrayal, Fall of 8th fleet
Vossler aids the party to retrieve the Dawn Shard, but shows his true colors when the party is captured by the Archadian Empire's 8th Fleet. Turns out after being captured by the Empire he has switched sides, and agreed to help the Empire to the piece of Deifacted Nethicite, the Dawn Shard. Vossler's rationale is that Dalmasca's only future is with the Empire, continued resistance would be pointless. The Empire has promised to restore Dalmasca if only Ashe agrees to hand over the Dawn Shard. Opposing Vossler's ideals, the party defeats him in battle. Judge Ghis brings about his own destruction by experimenting with the Nethicite recovered from the Tomb of Raithwall. The party escapes, but Ghis and Vossler are destroyed along with the entire Eighth Fleet, as the Dawn Shard's Mist is released in a violent explosion. After the disaster, the first cracks in the Archadian armor begin to show. The Resistance moves quickly.

Turning Point
After the destruction of the 8th Fleet, the Resistance begins to make huge steps to take advantage of the situation. Ondore withdrew his position as Marquis of Bhujerba with the excuse of an illness. He traveled across Ivalice to bring all scattered parts of the Resistance together, including the Resistance within the rival Empire of Rozarria.

With the threat of a massive conflict, the plan was that Archadia may be willing to make concessions. Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, the Emperor's fourth son and Vayne's brother, has his plans on saving Ivalice from the upcoming war, by stopping Marquis Ondore's Resistance. Invited by Larsa, Al-Cid Margrace of Rozarria journeyed to Mt. Bur-Omisace for a peace negotiation. Larsa wanted Ashe to claim the throne of Dalmasca, and then propose peace with the Empire. However, all hope for a peaceful end to the crisis was destroyed when Vayne murdered his father and became the new Emperor of Archadia. Judge Bergan was sent to Bur-Omisace to retrieve Larsa and he slaughters the Gran Kiltias Anastasis and other pilgrims at the site.

Ondore hired the Sky Pirate King Reddas of Balfonheim as a mercenary to infiltrate Draklor Laboratory and steal the Empire's Deifacted Nethicite, the Empire's most powerful weapon. The plan fails, however, as Dr Cid escapes with the Nethicite. Ondore also began to train the Resistance over the Dalmasca-Rozarria borders. The road to war was now clearly mapped out.

Battle over Rabanastre


The war began, as many wars do, unexpectedly for both sides. A group of Rozarrian mercenaries who were hired into the Resistance ignored orders and traveled to Nabudis for a surprise attack. They retreated into Rabanastre airspace, and as they hoped, provoked a belligerent response from Archadia. The entire 12th fleet of the Archadian army, with the colossal Sky Fortress Bahamut as the flagship, charged after them.

Ondore, unable to just leave his ships out to be destroyed, sent his entire fleet out to support them. The Battle Above Rabanastre thus began. Many ships and fighters were destroyed on both sides, but the battle was finally decided inside the Sky Fortress. The main party went inside and defeated Vayne Solidor. With Vayne defeated, Larsa became the Emperor of Archadia, and called for cease-fire. The Bahamut collapsed and crashed into the deserts outside Rabanastre. It remains as a monument to the struggle.

The Resistance, their cause fulfilled, disappeared after Larsa Ferrinas Solidor became Emperor of Archadia. Ashe was put in her rightful place as Queen of Dalmasca and Ondore returned to Bhujerba.

Trivia

 * A running joke throughout the game is the proper name for the Resistance. Balthier, Judge Ghis and even Larsa call it the "Insurgence", prompting Ashe to correct them.