Castle Exdeath

Castle Exdeath, also known as Exdeath's Castle or X-Death's Castle, is the stronghold of the warlock Exdeath in Final Fantasy V. It is the "final dungeon" of Galuf's world. The fortress is connected to the mainland by the Big Bridge, and surrounded by forests and a basalt mountain range. Its interior appearance resembling a regular castle is an illusion, as its true appearance is much more sinister. Around the castle are four towers that generate a barrier around the castle, preventing entry.

History[]

The history of Castle Exdeath is unknown. It is unclear if the castle existed prior to his return during the events of Final Fantasy V, or when the Dawn Warriors defeated him thirty years prior. However, one of the Dawn Warriors, Kelger Vlondett, knew the castle's appearance was an illusion,^[1] and the other Dawn Warriors sieged the castle when Exdeath returned.

Galuf Halm Baldesion, his daughter Krile Mayer Baldesion, and an army sieged the castle by storming the Big Bridge, after Galuf returned from Bartz's world, unaware the castle's barrier had been finished.^[2] Before the barrier was activated, Bartz Klauser, Lenna Charlotte Tycoon, and Faris Scherwiz were captured, with Exdeath projecting their image in the sky and warning Galuf to turn back or they would die. This led Galuf to infiltrate the castle alone to rescue his friends from Gilgamesh, Exdeath's underling.^[3] After they escaped across the Big Bridge, the barrier was activated.

Later, Xezat Matias Surgate and the party entered the south-east barrier tower via an underwater cave, and Xezat sacrificed himself to destroy it. The barrier's destruction allowed the party to enter the castle and confront Exdeath.

The party returned to Castle Exdeath after first confronting Exdeath in the Great Forest of Moore, where he was merging the worlds.^[1] Once the party reached a dead end, Krile discovered the castle's appearance was an illusion. Kelger, then the last Dawn Warrior, used his power to break the illusion, which led to his death.^[1] This sacrifice revealed that Exdeath's Castle was made out of the corpses of Exdeath's many victims, but opened up a path for the party, allowing them to meet Exdeath himself.

The party came across a treasure chest whose contents Gilgamesh rushed to claim for himself. A battle ensued with Gilgamesh forced to morph, using the weapon he got from the chest that he believed to be the legendary Excalibur; in truth, it was a cheap knock off, the Excalipoor. Witnessing his incompetence and tiring from his failures, Exdeath banished Gilgamesh to another dimension.^[1]

When the party reached Exdeath in person, vowing to stop him, the warlock asked if they knew what his true goal was. Not bothering with explaining, Exdeath battled the party, but was defeated. The crystals in his possession broke, merging the two halves of the world to one.^[1]

Geography[]

Castle Exdeath is located on a continent roughly in the middle of Galuf's world (and is not present in the merged world, replaced by the Island Shrine). It is surrounded by forests and a basalt mountain range, and is the main point of interest of the continent aside from the four barrier towers, and the Big Bridge to the west. The Big Bridge to the west connects Castle Exdeath to the western continent where the Castle of Bal is located.

Castle Exdeath's exterior resembles the barrier towers clumped together, while its interior is different. The illusionary interior resembles a typical castle, similar to those used seen throughout Galuf's or Bartz's worlds. When the illusion is removed, it reveals the red walls and pillars, many of which have flames or patterns resembling monsters' skulls and horns. Many rooms of the castle have lava floors, making them inaccessible for those who are not Geomancers or floating.

Gameplay[]

Items[]

Name	Location
Ether	Second Floor
Diamond Shield	Second Floor
Ice Shield	Fourth Floor
Ether	Fifth Floor
Elixir	Sixth Floor
Hayate Bow	Sixth Floor
Icebrand	Seventh Floor
Kotetsu	Seventh Floor
Elixir	Eighth Floor
9,900 gil	Eighth Floor
8,000 gil	Tenth Floor
Twin Lance	Tenth Floor
Partisan	Twelfth Floor
Fuma Shuriken	Twelfth Floor

A healing spring is located in the back room of the first floor, but it turns into lava after the castle transforms, making it unavailable thereafter. The summon Carbuncle can be found inside the transformed castle.

Enemies[]

Outside

Bartz encounters Gilgamesh in the Castle.

Before transformation

Dungeons
- Shell Bear
- Tarantula
- Gilgamesh (Boss)
Other Floors

After transformation

Quests[]

Castle Exdeath is an unrevisitable dungeon visited twice in the story. The first is by Galuf alone in a brief mission to rescue Bartz and the others; this is fairly simple task to reach the bottom, as there is only a short battle against Gilgamesh and otherwise little combat.

The second is a longer visit wherein the player will fight a number of challenging enemies before fighting two bosses at the end. Bringing a Geomancer, someone with the Light Step ability, or using float, is helpful during the sections with lava.

Carbuncle can fought as an optional boss on the second visit if the player wishes to obtain the summon. Bringing a Blue Mage to the boss at the end allows them to learn Doom.

Musical themes[]

"X-death's Castle"

"The Dawn Warriors" plays in the castle's false form.

Castle Exdeath's eponymous theme plays in the castle's true form.

Other appearances[]

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]

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