Great Forest of Moore

The Great Forest of Moore is an ancient sentient forest of great natural power in Final Fantasy V, located in Galuf's world. It is the home of the Guardian Tree, which is vastly powerful and protected the crystals of that world. The forest is bound by mountains and ringed by lakes and rivers, with the closest significant inhabited settlement is the town of Moore to the west of the forest. The forest is home to many monsters and evil spirits sealed away there, but also has a moogle population underground.

History[]

In the centuries after the worlds were split in two, humans decided to deal with evil spirits by sealing them in one tree. The concentration of evil attracted many monsters to the forest, making it a dangerous place. Five hundred years prior to the events of Final Fantasy V, the tree grew twisted and corrupt by the sealed evils and became a motile, sentient being called Exdeath. Though Sage Ghido maintained a seal on Exdeath for hundreds of years, thirty years prior to Final Fantasy V, Exdeath left the forest to wreak havoc in the world until the Dawn Warriors sealed him Bartz's world.^[1]

When the power of the four crystals of Bartz's world shattered, Exdeath was released from his prison and returned to Galuf's world to re-establish his power. At Sage Ghido's instruction, the four Light Warriors—Bartz Klauser, Lenna Charlotte Tycoon, Galuf Halm Baldesion, and Faris Scherwiz—traveled to defend the forest, which had sealed itself off from intruders.^[2] Using a branch from one of its trees, given to them by Ghido, the forest admitted them entry.

Galuf prepares to clash with Exdeath within the Guardian Tree.

On their way to the Guardian Tree, Exdeath used the Light Warriors' opening to burn the forest to the ground, with the Light Warriors able to hide thanks to the help of moogles. Upon reaching the Guardian Tree, the Light Warriors mistook the four crystals within for the monster sealed away there, and attacked them, destroying the seals. With the seals no longer holding him back, Exdeath arrived, gloated, and used the crystals' power to attack the Light Warriors. Krile Mayer Baldesion, tipped off by her moogle, came to their defense, but was attacked by the crystals herself, forcing Galuf to fight Exdeath alone. Galuf held his own for a long time, baffling Exdeath, but eventually passed after Exdeath left them. The Guardian Tree allowed Galuf to speak to Krile, and he bestowed her his abilities, making her a Light Warrior in his place.^[3]

When the worlds were recombined, most of the land occupied by the Forest of Moore was overtaken by the Desert of Shifting Sands. Only the area inhabited by the Guardian Tree remained, although the merging of the worlds restored the plant life. After saving the world, the Light Warriors met at the Guardian Tree and promised to continue protecting the world and the crystals.

Geography[]

The Great Forest of Moore on the world map.

The Great Forest of Moore is replaced by the Desert of Shifting Sands in the merged world.

The Great Forest of Moore is located on its own island around the center of the world, surrounded by mountains and only accessible via submarine and occupies a vast amount of space. The forest is further bound by mountains and ringed by lakes and rivers, and can only be reached by a bridge on land. Even after reaching it, the sentient forest seals itself from all except those it chooses to permit access. The closest significant inhabited settlement is the town of Moore to the west of the forest, nearby a lake through which the island can be reached.

The sentient forest is thick with trees and bushes, making it complex to navigate. Below ground is a small moogle settlement, suggesting moogles are among the few creatures permitted to enter the forest. The forest is also home to wood sprites that hide along the road leading to the forest, and normally do not speak to strangers, but are known to occasionally talk to those who peep through tree trunks.^[2]

Characteristics[]

The forest has mystical powers and is capable of reading minds and understanding human speech.^[2] It can commune with deceased souls, allowing Galuf to speak to Krile.^[3] The forest was also able to seal Exdeath away for at least 470 years,^[1] a power that stems from the crystals held in the Guardian Tree.^[3]

Gameplay[]

Items[]

Name	Location
2500 gil	First Area
Ether	First Area
4900 gil	Second Area
9500 gil	Second Area
Phoenix Down	Second Area
Cottage	Third Area
Goliath Tonic	Third Area
Elixir	Third Area
Morning Star	Third Area, before fire
Aegis Shield	Third Area, before fire
Flame Shield	Third Area (Burned Forest)
Flametongue	Third Area (Burned Forest)
Ash	Third Area (Burned Forest)

Enemies[]

Found inside in Galuf's world.

Quests[]

The forest is visited after speaking to Ghido in Ghido's Cave. It is a challenging dungeon due to the limited version and enemies that can drain MP and inflict dangerous status effects, meaning it is optimal to use the Sea Floor to level grind first. Bringing a Blue Mage lets the party learn Lilliputian Lyric from the Mini Magician.

At the end of the dungeon is a boss battle against the four crystals, which each have different elemental properties, and require spells that hit multiple enemies to defeat them. Following this and a scripted scene, the next destination is Castle Exdeath.

Musical themes[]

"As I Feel, You Feel"

The background music for the Forest of Moore is called "Legend of the Deep Forest", but was later renamed "As I Feel, You Feel".

Other media[]

In Dissidia Final Fantasy, one of Exdeath's exclusive weapons is called the Moore Branch. In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, there is a trade material called "Moore Log."