The Library of Ancients is a location in Final Fantasy V accessible in both Bartz's world and the merged world. It contains countless volumes of books, including the Sealed Tome. Scholars congregate in the library to share and obtain knowledge but the basement is infested with books possessed by monsters. Ifrit resides deep in the basement, and in the past he was the one who burned the possessed books.
The game has a glitch regarding the library, that if the party uses Teleport in the merged world after the storyline events there are over, they end up at Ghido's Cave and not outside the library.
History[]
The Library of the Ancients predates the separating of the worlds 1,000 years prior to the events of Final Fantasy V, as sage Ghido, from Galuf's world, was aware of its existence.[1] The Sealed Tome, present in the library, was also split in half when the world separated, with the other half in Surgate Castle of Galuf's world, making both halves of the book illegible.[2]
Scholars studied the library's books, while Ifrit burned the books that became possessed by monsters. When Byblos arrived at the Wind Shrine thirty years prior to the events of Final Fantasy V, he was sealed in the library.[2] Cid Previa studied in the library, wherein he learned that the crystals once possessed much greater power than they did in modern times, prompting him to build the crystal amplification devices.[3][2] After they were built, scholars from the Library of the Ancients protested Karnak's use of the fire crystal amplification device as it turned out the machine was weakening the crystal, prompting Queen Karnak to build a wall to keep the protesters away.[4]
In Final Fantasy V, Bartz Klauser and his fellow Warriors of Light arrived to the Library of the Ancients after the explosion at Karnak Castle. They found that Mid Previa, Cid's grandson, was missing, and ventured into the depths of the library filled with books possessed by demons.[2] Halfway through the basement, they encountered Ifrit, who rewarded them with his power after they defeated him. Along the way, a possessed bookshelf blocked the party's entry, enraging Ifrit so the bookshelf fearfully let them pass. At the deepest floor they defeated the demon Byblos, still sealed there, and met with Mid and they all returned to Karnak.[5]
Later, when Exdeath merged the worlds, sage Ghido was excited to finally discover the library's location.[1] He, Bartz, Faris Scherwiz, and Krile Mayer Baldesion found the library, whose scholars had met with those of Surgate, and merged the parts of the Sealed Tome, allowing Ghido to read it to Bartz and the party.[6] Later, to eliminate Ghido, Exdeath engulfed the library with the power of the Void,[7] but it was restored after Exdeath was defeated.
Geography[]
The Library of the Ancients is located midway along the western continent. To its north is Karnak, and to its south is Jachol. The wall separating Karnak from the library also prevented travelers from passing between Jachol and Karnak.[4] The library is surrounded by a large forest, and to its west, through a valley, is the Desert of Shifting Sands.
The library is an ancient building filled with books in its basement, first floor, and second floor. A furnace on the top floor is used by scholars to burn possessed books. Below its basement, the library is difficult to navigate, as many of the bookshelves are capable of movement.
The library's reputation reaches across Bartz's and Galuf's worlds. Scholars from Castle Walse, far to the east, desired to study there,[8] and both sage Ghido and the Surgate scholars were excited to discover it after the worlds merged.[1]
Gameplay[]
Items[]
Name | Location |
---|---|
Ifrit | Defeat Ifrit. |
Ether | Second area. |
Ninja Suit | Area left of possessed bookshelf. |
Phoenix Down | Area after the room after the possessed bookshelf. |
Mana's Paean | Atop the library in the merged world. |
Enemies[]
- Inside
- Outside (Bartz's world)
- Outside (merged world)
Quests[]
The Library of the Ancients is first visited in Bartz's world to find Mid Previa. Due to the enemies fought here, it is an ideal location to bring a Blue Mage along to learn Blue Magic spells along the way. Ifrit is fought as a boss midway through, earning a powerful summon, before fighting Byblos. After reaching Mid, the basement can still be returned to for Blue Magic opportunities.
There are three Blue Magic spells the player can first get at the library:
- Level 5 Death from Page 64 (learner must be on a level that is a multiple by 5)
- Off-Guard and Moon Flute from Page 256 (must be controlled with a Beastmaster)
- Magic Hammer from Byblos
Two more Blue Magic spells are available from the world map around the library:
- Aqua Breath from Dhorme Chimera in the desert north of the library
- Transfusion from Mythril Dragon outside the library in the world map (must be controlled by a Beastmaster or confused)
The library is revisited a couple times though all subsequent visits are purely story related. In Bartz's world, the library is visited to find Cid and Mid again after Crescent, and in the merged world, it is visited with Ghido to learn about the sealed tome.
Musical themes[]
"Library of Ancients" (古代図書館, Kodai Toshokan?), also known as "The Ancient Library", is the background music to the Library of the Ancients.
The original theme is included in the music player in Final Fantasy XV. It is on the Memories of FFV album bought for 100 gil from Aldare's shop in Galdin Quay.
It also appears in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival as a song and in Dissidia Final Fantasy arcade version as a battle music.
Other appearances[]
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
The Library of the Ancients appears as the background for the DLC Field Music Sequence "Library of Ancients."
Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
Bartz and the party arrive at the Library of the Ancients in search of clues about the last Crystal, but they soon learn that Cid's grandson, Mid, has gone missing. They head down into the depths of the library to find him.
World of Final Fantasy[]
Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances[]
Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable[]
The Library of the Ancients appears as a stage.
Gallery[]
Citations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Final Fantasy V Advance script § "Ghido's Cave 2"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Final Fantasy V Advance script § "Library of the Ancients optional dialogue"
- ↑ Final Fantasy V Advance script § "Karnak Castle"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Final Fantasy V Advance script § "Karnak optional dialogue"
- ↑ Final Fantasy V Advance script § "Library of the Ancients"
- ↑ Final Fantasy V Advance script § "Library of the Ancients 2"
- ↑ Final Fantasy V Advance script § "Guardian Tree (after Pyramid of Moore)"
- ↑ Final Fantasy V Advance script § "Castle Walse optional dialogue"