Aerbs Mountains

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Aerbs Mountains
(アーブス山脈, Ābusu sanmyaku?)
Background information
Type	Mountains
Region	Mist Continent
Gameplay details
Items	North Gate: Melda Arch Potion Eye Drops Burmecia Arch Hi-Potion Tent South Gate: Moccha Coffee Ether Bohden Gate: Gate Pass Multina Racket Potion Elixir card Summit Station: Phoenix Down Kupo Nut 1610 gil Many found in shops
Quests	Morrid's coffee Mognet

The Aerbs Mountains are a geographical formation in Final Fantasy IX. Located on the planet of Gaia, the mountains are a long chain of branching peaks on the Mist Continent. Their altitude effectively separates the continent into three distinct areas of flatland, each ruled by a different kingdom: Alexandria in the northeast, Burmecia in the northwest, and Lindblum in the south.

To make trade convenient between the three countries, several methods of transportation have been erected along the mountains. There are various foot gates on either side of the peaks, allowing people to reach the system of cable cars. Two airship gates serve as a checkpoint to inspect airships traversing the three countries.

In disc 3 the player can revisit these areas, but the cable cars no longer work due to the absence of Mist. On disc 4, all areas of the Aerbs Mountains are blocked by Iifa Tree roots, rendering them inaccessible. Part-time Worker Mary, who retreats to Dali after Aerbs Mountains become inaccessible, says that the whole South Gate was destroyed when the Iifa roots broke through the ground to release Mist.

Locations

North Gate

North Gate is the airship gate that regulates trade between Alexandria and Burmecia. It has two lower gates on either side: the Melda Arch that lies on the Alexandrian side, and the Burmecian Arch on the opposite side. Both are blocked to the player since no storyline events occur at North Gate, as peaceful relations between the two countries were nonexistent by the time the player party comes across them. Though the player never visits North Gate, it has a similar design to South Gate, minus the Berkmea Cable Cars that operate at South Gate.

Melda Arch

Melda Arch.

The players can enter the Melda Arch once Zidane, Vivi, Steiner, and Garnet escape from Evil Forest. Steiner comments that the Alexandrian war flag is flying from the gate, and Zidane notes the fresh footprints outside the gate, as well as the rising smoke and the sound of voices and metal work from the other side.

The party cannot investigate further due to traveling with Garnet; however, Zidane can buy Potions from a woman behind the gate. Later, it becomes clear they had encountered the Alexandrian Army on its way to Burmecia before the imminent invasion.

Burmecian Arch

Burmecian Arch.

Zidane, Vivi, Freya, and optionally Quina, arrive at the Burmecian Arch once they reach the other side of the mountains on their way to Burmecia. Freya notes the smoke rising from there as well and the smell of blood, most likely the result of the conflict between Alexandria and Burmecia. A rainbow can be seen as a one-time event here at any point between obtaining the Blue Narciss and going to Terra.

South Gate

The cable car of Aerbs Lindblum Station on South Gate.

South Gate allows travel, both via airship and on foot, between the territories of Alexandria and Lindblum.

The South Gate appears in an FMV where Zidane, Garnet, Vivi, and Steiner pilot the cargo ship to reach Lindblum. Black Waltz 3 attacks the airship, and Zidane leaves Garnet to decide whether to fly through the Gate to Lindblum or turn back to Alexandria.

Garnet decides to go through the gate, which begins to close on them and the Black Waltz. As the two airships fly through the interior, the Black Waltz sets his airship on fire with an erratic Thunder spell, causing it to explode and damage the South Gate. The cargo ship makes it through, carrying its passengers to Lindblum Castle.

South Gate is destroyed by the resurgent roots of the Iifa Tree after the party returns from Terra. Part-time Worker Mary and Part-time Worker Jeff survive and find refuge in Dali.

Bohden Gate

Concept Art of Steiner approaching the higher Bohden Gate and Aerbs Lindblum Station.

The Bohden Gate is Lindblum's foot passageway to the Aerbs Mountains and is situated near South Gate. Garnet and Steiner flee here after escaping Lindblum. They get through the lower Bohden Gate in the King Ed Plains, walk up the mountain, get through the higher Bohden Gate and reach the Aerbs Lindblum Station.

Steiner must hide Garnet in a burlap sack full of Gysahl Pickles to avoid recognition by the Lindblum guards flanking the entrance to the gate, aided by the pickles' repulsive odor. Once past the guards, Garnet comes out of hiding, and the pair boards the cable car to the mountain crest.

This area can be revisited on disc 3, and the player can open a treasure chest containing an Elixir card at the top of the ladder that Steiner was unable to open due to the heavy load he was carrying.

Summit Station

The rest area of Summit Station.

Summit Station, also known as Aerbs Peak Station, lies at the apex. This is the midpoint between the Aerbs Lindblum Station in Lindblum and Aerbs Alexandria Station (leading to the Dali and Treno Gates in Alexandria), where the two cable cars take turns docking. Its rest area holds several shops and a save moogle, and the local cafe is famous for its bundt cake.

Steiner and Garnet get off the Lindblum cable car and meet Marcus from Tantalus Theater Troupe, who plans to continue to Alexandria, and Cinna, who plans to head back to Lindblum. Steiner makes a fuss and tries to prevent Garnet from talking with the two, but she scolds him. Marcus accompanies Steiner and Garnet to Alexandria to collect a Supersoft from Treno to save his friend Blank who was petrified back in the Evil Forest. Along the way, the cable car stops to avoid a collision with a battered Black Waltz 3 who is still trying to kidnap Garnet. He is defeated by Garnet's party and the cable car resumes its journey.

Because Summit Station is only accessible by cable car in either direction and has no airship or chocobo access, it is an unrevisitable location by disc 3 when the Mist is gone.

Dali and Treno Gates

The waypoint between Dali and Treno.

DO NOT VANDALIZE THE FARM!

Dali signpost

The Alexandrian station contains a small item shop and paths to the two locations under the control of Alexandria—the city of Treno and the hamlet Dali. Several markers and statues are erected here in honor of Regent Cid VIII, the former leader of Lindblum who designed the cable car system to foster a friendship with Alexandria. Steiner, Garnet, and Marcus must head to Treno in their quest for Blank's medicine.

Although geographically in Alexandria, the Treno Gate is guarded by Lindblum soldiers.

Items

South Gate as it appears on the world map.

• North Gate
  • Melda Arch
    • Potion
    • Eye Drops
  • Burmecia Arch
    • Hi-Potion
    • Tent
• South Gate
  • Moccha Coffee
  • Ether
• Bohden Gate
  • Gate Pass
  • Multina Racket
  • Potion
  • Elixir card
• Summit Station
  • Phoenix Down
  • Kupo Nut
  • 1610 gil

Quests

Morrid's coffee

Moccha Coffee at Bohden Gate.

Main article: Observatory Mountain § Quests

The first of the set, Moccha Coffee, can be found at Bohden Gate in the King Ed Plains and can be found as early as disc 1. The player will see an ATE earlier in the game where Tantalus visits South Gate, and Cinna makes the coffee.

Mognet

See also: Mognet (Final Fantasy IX)

Grimo at Boden Station sends a letter to Nazna at the South Gate resting area:

The letter the party delivers from Grimo to Nazna:

Mary's Unrequited Love
From Grimo to Nazna I feel so sad whenever I see Mary, that part-time worker. Have you ever fallen in love? I've never fallen in love before, kupo. If watching someone else in love is so difficult, I wonder how difficult it is to actually fall in love myself?

Nazna from the resting area sends a letter to Mochos in the Gargan Roo.

Am I Right?
From Nazna to Mochos Grimo, in South Gate's Bohden Station, sent me a letter saying that he feels sad when he sees Mary in love... ... but I think he feels that way because Grimo himself is in love. Kupo... Am I right?

Shops

Summit Station Shop

Item	Price
Air Racket	400 gil
Mythril Rod	560 gil
Glass Armlet	250 gil
Silver Gloves	720 gil
Mythril Gloves	980 gil
Steepled Hat	260 gil
Magus Hat	400 gil
Rubber Helm	250 gil
Iron Helm	450 gil
Barbut	600 gil
Bronze Vest	670 gil
Linen Cuirass	800 gil
Potion	50 gil
Phoenix Down	150 gil
Echo Screen	50 gil
Soft	100 gil
Antidote	50 gil
Eye Drops	50 gil
Tent	800 gil

Item Shop Vega

Item	Price
Potion	50 gil
Phoenix Down	150 gil
Antidote	50 gil
Eye Drops	50 gil
Tent	800 gil

Musical themes

"At the South Gate Border"

"At the South Gate Border" plays here. It is an arrangement of the world map theme, "Over the Hill".

Other appearances

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade

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Final Fantasy Record Keeper

South Gate

The South Gate appears as a Core dungeon.

South Gate
Difficulty
Classic	66
Classic	66
Elite	87
Elite	87
Total stamina
Classic	43
Classic	43
Elite	58
Elite	58
Enemies
Enemies
South Gate Summit Station, Part 3 boss
Target Scores	South Gate Summit Station, Part 3 Defeat the Black Waltz 3 without being KO'd.
Target Scores	South Gate Summit Station, Part 3 Defeat the Black Waltz 3 without being KO'd.
Classic rewards
Completion	6,000 gil
Completion	6,000 gil
First Time	x3
First Time	x3
Mastery	x3
Mastery	x3
Elite rewards
Completion	16,000
Completion	16,000
First Time
First Time
Mastery
Mastery
Stages
South Gate Summit Station, Part 1
Classic stamina	14
Classic stamina	14
Elite stamina	19
Elite stamina	19
Rounds	3
Rounds	3
South Gate Summit Station, Part 2
Classic stamina	14
Classic stamina	14
Elite stamina	19
Elite stamina	19
Rounds	3
Rounds	3
South Gate Summit Station, Part 3
Classic stamina	15
Classic stamina	15
Elite stamina	20
Elite stamina	20
Rounds	1
Rounds	1

Behind the scenes

The sign at the Summit Station spells Lindblum as "Lindbulm". This was not a spelling or translation error, but the original Japanese name of the city.

Although the cable car system is supposed to work on pulleys, with one car being at the top of the mountain while the other is at the bottom, both cars can be found at the bottom of their respective stations when the Mist clears in disc 3.

During the first interlude in South Gate, the shop near the cable car is named Altair, which shares its name with the town the Wild Rose Rebellion fled to at the start of Final Fantasy II. The name "Altair" was implemented to juxtapose the item shop in the northern station of South Gate named "Vega", which is a reference to the Tanabata legend in Chinese originated Japanese folklore. The stars Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair) are lovers separated by a river of stars (Milky Way). They are forced to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. In Final Fantasy IX, the Aerbs Mountains seem to obstruct them and their lovesick owners. This relationship is the subject of the Mognet letter Grimo asks to deliver to Nanza.

Gallery

Artwork

Map artwork.

South Gate artwork.

South Gate artwork.

Cable Car artwork.

Concept artwork of the Berkmea cable car.

Concept artwork of the interior of the Berkmea cable car.

Concept artwork of the Berkmea cable car.

Summit Station artwork.

Summit Station sketch.

South Gate Trail artwork.

South Gate Trail artwork.

South Gate Trail artwork.

Bohden Gate artwork.

Bohden Arch concept sketches.

Dali Gate artwork.

Treno Gate artwork.

Treno Gate artwork.

North Gate Burmecia Arch artwork.

North Gate Melda Arch artwork.

NPC artwork.

Backgrounds and Screenshots

Summit Station.

Summit Station.

Summit Station.

Bohden Gate main entrance.

Within Bohden Gate.

Back alley in Bohden Gate.

Inside a cable car.

Bohden Station for cable cars.

Gate near Dali, on top of the mountain.

South Gate trail.

South Gate near Treno.

South Gate near Treno.

Gate at the bottom of the mountain, Bohden Arch.

South Gate Bohden Arch with no mist.

North Gate Burmecia Arch.

North Gate Burmecia Arch with no mist.

North Gate Melda Arch.

North Gate Melda Arch with no mist.

South Gate Alexandria station.

Cable Car.

Cable Car.

South Gate bridge.

South Gate bridge.

Inside of the South Gate.