Ipsen's Castle

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Ipsen's Castle
イプセンの古城 (Ipusen no Kojō?) Alternate names: Ipsen's Heritage
Background information
Type	Castle
Region	Forgotten Continent
Gameplay details
Items	Aquarius Earth Mirror Fire Mirror Water Mirror Wind Mirror Mage Staff Fork Ancient Aroma Air Racket Golem's Flute Dagger Cat's Claws Javelin Maiden Prayer Broadsword Rod Barette Many found in shops
Enemies	Agares Cerberus Gargoyle Tonberry Veteran Taharka (boss)
Quests	Find the mirror room Save Amarant Party dialogue Mognet Ancient Aroma Blu Mag

Ipsen's Castle is a location on the Forgotten Continent in Final Fantasy IX situated in a natural depression, well below sea level. The building itself, inside and outside, is an architectural marvel, much like M.C. Escher's drawing "Relativity". Many rooms are upside down and in one room the visitor has to slide up a pole.

While in Ipsen's Castle, weapons will do more damage the lower their attack power is. Weak weapons are sold by a local moogle, and the characters' default weapons can be found in many of the treasure chests. The unusual set-up does not extend to armor, add-ons or magic.

The reduced weapon damage while in Ipsen's Castle is due an alteration in the base damage formula: $Damage = Base = (60 - Atk) - Def$

Due to steep, canyon-like walls that surround the castle, it can only be accessed with Choco or by airship. It is possible to evolve Choco to red (mountain-crossing) or even dark blue (ocean-crossing) by the time the party first visits the Forgotten Continent, so it is possible to visit Ipsen's Castle before it is mentioned in the story. If the party does so, however, the castle appears on the map as "?" and, although the area can be entered, the front door is closed. In the endgame, Ipsen's Castle is surrounded with a thick Mist.

Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Ipsen and his good friend Colin worked at a tavern in Treno. One day, Ipsen got a letter. The letter was so wet from rain that most of the writing was illegible. The only part he could read said, 'Come back home'. Nowadays, we have airships and stuff, but back then, it was really hard to travel. He didn't know why he had to go back, but he got some time off, gathered his things, and set out on his journey home. He walked a thousand leagues through the Mist. Sometimes he was attacked by vicious monsters, but he made it, because his friend Colin was by his side. And then, after much time on the road, he had to ask Colin something:
"Why did you come with me?"
"Only because I wanted to go with you."

Story told by Zidane

Concept art.

According to the Final Fantasy IX Ultimania, Ipsen's Castle is one of the locations from Terra that ended up on Gaia 5000 years ago due to Garland's failed attempt to merge the two planets into one. The origin from Terra is made clear by the unusual-looking treasure chests, as Terran treasures are blue, whereas Gaian chests are wooden.

The castle is named after the explorer Ipsen, who is thought to be the first to discover the castle. Another etymological origin derives from Latin where ipse means it/her/himself, so as Lady Hilda decides on the castle's name, she means it will be called the "no name castle"—the "ipsen" castle (literally translated: the castle itself).

The four mirrors.

When the party is sent to Ipsen's Castle to retrieve the four elemental mirrors Amarant challenges Zidane to a race, saying that he "works alone". The party ventures through the maze-like interior, made all the more confusing due to the castle's mirrored structure. Amarant wins and vacates the premises after declaring his disbandment from the party. Zidane and his friends collect the mirrors, but are interrupted by the monster, Taharka, the mirrors' guardian.

Upon exiting the castle, the party discovers Amarant hasn't come out yet. Zidane scours the castle and finds and rescues him. When the two return, Zidane formulates a plan to raid the four elemental shrines, whose locations are marked by the mirrors' placement on the mural they were found in.

Spoilers end here.

Quests

Getting through the castle

Main article: Walkthrough

Mognet

See also: Mognet (Final Fantasy IX)

Kumool at Ipsen's Castle receives a letter from Mogki from Lindblum Castle:

Where is Mognet Central?
From Mogki to Kumool Hey, Kumool. How are you, kupo? Us moogles in Lindblum are all wondering the same thing, these days: Where the heck is Mognet Central? No one knows, kupo. Do you know where it is, Kumool? It's supposedly very far away, and you can't enter very easily, kupo...

After the party returns from Terra they can start a side quest to fix Mognet Central by talking to Kupo in Alexandria. As part of this chain of correspondence Mogryo from Black Mage Village sends a letter to Kumool:

Rare Item
From Mogryo to Kumool I heard that the machine in Mognet Central broke down! It's because they're missing that item! I wonder where you can find one? Kupo? It's a rare item, so I don't think you'll find one very easily...

Kumool in response sends a letter to Mois at the entrance to Fossil Roo at Qu's Marsh in Mist Continent:

Where Is That Item?
From Kumool to Mois I understand! Kupo! Mognet will function again once we have some! I think Mois would know! Kupo! Where is that item? We need it to repair Mognet!

Party dialogue and events

The character who comments on Zidane being able to understand the mysterious language depends on who is in the player's party. The priority is Eiko → Steiner → Vivi → Freya.

After the battle with Taharka, on the way out of the castle, a cutscene will play showing one of the non-Zidane party members nearly falling into a trapdoor. The priority is Garnet → Eiko → Vivi → Quina.

Ancient Aroma

Sword room.

Ancient Aroma is an add-on found within the castle. It teaches Dagger the ability "Odin's Sword", which, when equipped, allows Odin to deal damage to enemies that survive the Instant Death.

To obtain the Ancient Aroma the player must solve the puzzle of the rotating tablet near the elevator to the mirror room. When prompted, Zidane is required to examine, push, pound, think, push, think, try something drastic, and rest to flip the wall and gain access to a new area. This opens up a door in the dungeon's entry foyer, directly to the left of the first door the party entered. The new passage leads to a large glowing sword with three ledges and two pots. (This room also has a treasure: Golem's Flute.)

A voice within the room whispers, Fight the flow of time, implying the pots must be picked up and placed on the next ledge counterclockwise from their present location. After both pots are rotated thrice, the electricity within the blade will fill one pot, from which the Ancient Aroma may be collected.

Blu Mag

See also: Blu Mag (Final Fantasy IX)

Quina can eat a Cerberus to learn Auto-Life, a Gargoyle to learn Mighty Guard, and a Veteran to learn Doom. This is the first place where Quina can learn the latter.

Items

Ipsen's Castle on the world map.

• Aquarius (foyer)
• Earth Mirror (mirror room)
• Fire Mirror (mirror room)
• Water Mirror (mirror room)
• Wind Mirror (mirror room)
• Cat's Claws (corner of the mogshop area )
• Mage Staff (top of "chandelier" in the mogshop area )
• Fork (top of "chandelier" in the mogshop area)
• Ancient Aroma (hidden room)
• Air Racket (room with lift)
• Golem's Flute (hidden room)
• Dagger
• Javelin
• Maiden Prayer
• Broadsword
• Rod
• Barette (foyer)

Enemies

Inside the castle

Screen	Encounter Rate	Enemies Frequency AP
	56	Cerberus 40.5% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 37.5% 3 Veteran 22% 3
	42	Cerberus 40.5% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 37.5% 3 Veteran 22% 3
	32	Cerberus 40.5% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 37.5% 3 Veteran 22% 3
	120	Cerberus 40.5% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 37.5% 3 Veteran 22% 3
	44	Veteran 37.5% 3 Cerberus 28% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 22% 3 Tonberry x3 12.5% 4 If Amarant is in the party: Cerberus 40.5% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 22% 3 Veteran 37.5% 3
	68	Veteran 37.5% 3 Cerberus 28% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 22% 3 Tonberry x3 12.5% 4 If Amarant is in the party: Cerberus 40.5% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 22% 3 Veteran 37.5% 3
	68	Veteran 28% 3 Cerberus 12.5% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 22% 3 Tonberry x3 37.5% 4 If Amarant is in the party: Cerberus 35% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 35% 3 Veteran 30% 3
	72	Veteran 37.5% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 40.5% 3 Tonberry x3 22% 4 If Amarant is in the party: Gargoyle, Agares 50% 3 Veteran 50% 3
	36	Veteran 35% 3 Cerberus 30% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 30% 3 Tonberry x3 5% 4 If Amarant is in the party: Cerberus 40.5% 3 Gargoyle, Agares 22% 3 Veteran 37.5% 3

World map

The world map areas outside Ipsen's Castle consist of Yuanshao Peninsula and Hadris Basin. Ragtime Mouse may also appear here inside forests as part of his sidequest. Though the below lists have enemies since "disc 1", in a normal playthrough the player can't come here until Zorn and Thorn bring the party to the Forgotten Continent on the Hilda Garde I as part of the story.

	Enemies Frequency AP
Grassland	Disc 1–3: Armstrong 100% 2 Disc 4: Dracozombie 100% 3
Dirt	Disc 1–3: Catoblepas 40.5% 2 Armstrong 37.5% 2 Jabberwock x2 22% 2 Disc 4: Worm Hydra 37.5% 3 Mistodon 11.2% 2 Mistodon x2 16.8% 3 Hecteyes 22% 3 Cactuar x3 6.25% 3 Cactuar x4 6.25% 3 Disc 4: Worm Hydra 37.5% 3 Mistodon 11.2% 2 Mistodon x2 16.8% 3 Dracozombie 22% 3 Cactuar x3 6.25% 3 Cactuar x4 6.25% 3
Forest	Disc 1–3: Armstrong 100% 2 Disc 4: Malboro 35% 3 Dracozombie 35% 3 Hecteyes 30% 3
Mountain	Disc 1–3: Armstrong 50% 2 Catoblepas 50% 2 Disc 4: Dracozombie 50% 3 Hecteyes 50% 3

Shop

Items available from Kumool's Mogshop.

Item	Price
Mage Masher	500 gil
Iron Sword	660 gil
Mythril Spear	1,100 gil
Poison Knuckles	5,000 gil
Multina Racket	750 gil
Mythril Rod	560 gil
Lamia's Flute	3,800 gil
Oak Staff	2,400 gil
Needle Fork	3,100 gil
Rising Sun	500 gil
N-Kai Armlet	3,000 gil
Jade Armlet	3,400 gil
Venetia Shield	2,800 gil
Red Hat	3,000 gil
Golden Hairpin	3,700 gil
Cross Helm	2,200 gil
Diamond Helm	3,000 gil
Power Vest	7,200 gil
Gaia Gear	8,700 gil
Shield Armor	4,300 gil
Demon's Mail	5,900 gil
Potion	50 gil
Hi-Potion	200 gil
Phoenix Down	150 gil
Echo Screen	50 gil
Soft	100 gil
Antidote	50 gil
Eye Drops	50 gil
Magic Tag	100 gil
Vaccine	100 gil
Remedy	300 gil
Annoyntment	150 gil
Tent	800 gil

Musical themes

"Ipsen's Castle"

The theme that plays in Ipsen's Castle is known as "Ipsen's Castle" or "Ipsen's Heritage". It is a rearranged version of "A Place to Call Home", a theme associated with Terra and Zidane. The theme is included in the Final Fantasy XV music player.

An arrangement of this theme appears in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy as Zidane's dungeon theme.

Other appearances

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade

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Final Fantasy Record Keeper

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Behind the scenes

If, instead of going to Ipsen's Castle by airship (as part of the story), the player goes there by chocobo, upon leaving the dungeon, the chocobo will be replaced by the party's airship.

If the player attempts to leave the castle before meeting Amarant, Zidane will comment, "I can't leave until I've finished my game with Amarant," and "I'm gonna find it before him." If Amarant has been found, but the party has not yet examined the mirrors, he will comment, "I gotta find out how to reach Terra before we leave here...I should look around some more." Finally, when playing with Zidane alone as he looks for Amarant, exiting will result in him stating, "...Wait. I haven't found what I'm looking for. Where is he?"

After the events of this location, Amarant, who, up to this point, has gone without posing at the end of battles, will finally begin to perform a victory pose.

Gallery

Aroma Vase artwork from The Art of Final Fantasy IX book.

Concept art.

Concept art.

Concept art.

Ipsen's Castle covered in Mist.

Entrance Hall.

Room with traps.

Inverted Hall.

Inverted Room.

Castle lift.

Castle lift.

Stairwell.

Stairwell.

Mural room.

The Four Mirrors.

Battle background in Ipsen's Castle, when fighting Taharka.

Battle background in Ipsen's Castle.

Battle background in Ipsen's Castle.

The Japanese dungeon image for Ipsen's Castle in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.