Narshe Cliffs

The Narshe Cliffs are a location in Final Fantasy VI. They are a subarea of Narshe, located in the mountains north of the city and accessed through the town mines.

Story[]

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

A frozen esper, a legendary magical being long thought to be mere folklore, is excavated from the mines of Narshe. The Gestahlian Empire deploys Terra Branford, Biggs and Wedge to retrieve it, but the esper kills Biggs and Wedge and damages Terra's Slave Crown.

Returners defeat Kefka from FFVI Pixel Remaster — The Returners successfully hold back Kefka's assault.

To prevent the esper from being reached so easily in a future Imperial raid, the Elder of Narshe has it moved to the cliffs above the city. When Terra returns to the town in the company Edgar and Banon, the Narshian who helped Terra escape the city, Arvis, attempts to convince the town to side with the Returners, a rebel group opposing the empire, but the Elder fears getting involved in the war. Returners member Locke returns from an infiltration of the imperial-occupied South Figaro and, with information supplied by the traitor Imperial general Celes, warns the townspeople of an Imperial force on its way to seize the esper, lead by Kefka. The Elder of Narshe accepts the Returners' help and the rebels assist the Narshe Guards in defending the town and drive Kefka off in the Battle for the Frozen Esper.

Trance Terra Narshe from FFVI Pixel Remaster — Terra transforms before the party.

In the aftermath of Kefka's defeat, the group gathers to Valigarmanda's resting place on the cliffs in an attempt to have Terra convince the esper to aid the Returners in the war against the Empire. However, as soon as Terra attempts to communicate with the esper, it causes Terra to transform into an esper herself. Frightened at her current state, the transformed Terra goes berserk before her allies and flies away. Banon and a handful of Returners remain in the town while another group departs to search for Terra.

Valigarmanda Joines from FFVI Pixel Remaster — The awakened Valigarmanda joins the party.

In the World of Ruin, the Ice Dragon roams the cliffs where the imperial attack took place. The frozen esper can still be found on the cliffs, and the party can obtain its magicite by awakening it and defeating it in battle. After it is defeated, a secret passage to the Yeti's Cave opens on the edge of the cliff.

Spoilers end here.

Layout[]

The first area of the cliffs connects to the northern mines and then into the town of Narshe. The area consists of a large snowfield with many outcroppings of rock creating a maze of pathways. This is the point the Returners choose to defend the frozen esper, using the area to force the imperials to bottleneck against the narrow passage north. A small alcove here contains a save point, but it is only present during preparations for the imperial attack and in the World of Ruin. In the Pixel Remaster port of the game, a pot of healing is located near the save point and is present throughout the game.

The northern area is a pair of cliff edges overlooking a valley below, atop which the frozen esper is relocated. The cliffs are connected by a wooden bridge.

Gameplay[]

Encounters[]

World of Balance[]

During the imperial attack

Corporal x4
Hunting Hound, Corporal x2
Heavy Armor, Corporal x2
Fidor, Corporal
Hell's Rider
Kefka (Boss)

Aftermath of the imperial attack

Valigarmanda (Event Boss)

World of Ruin[]

Garm x2, Psychos x2
Wizard x3
Wizard x2, Psychos x3
Psychos x6
Ice Dragon (Boss)
Valigarmanda (Boss)

Treasures[]

The Valigarmanda magicite can be acquired by defeating the frozen esper in the World of Ruin.

Quests[]

Battle for the Frozen Esper[]

Main article: Battle for the Frozen Esper

The Battle for the Frozen Esper is a conflict between the Gestahlian Empire, and the joint forces of Narshe and the Returners, for the possession of Valigarmanda. It is a multiparty battle where the player must arrange and control three different groups of characters to battle against the invading forces. The imperial forces start from the bottom and approach Banon at the top. The objective is to defeat Kefka before the imperial forces reach Banon.

Optional bosses[]

In the snowfields atop the town the player can find the Ice Dragon, one of the Eight legendary dragons. Beyond the snowfield at the cliff, the player can find the frozen esper Valigarmanda and battle it, unthawing it to obtain it as a magicite. Defeating Valigarmanda opens a passage to the Yeti's Cave where Umaro lives.

Snowman Rondo[]

The snowfields above the town are the only location where Mog can learn the Snowman Rondo, Dance. Because no random encounters occur here in the World of Balance, Mog cannot learn the Dance until the World of Ruin.