Editing Final Fantasy VI (section)

==Plot==
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===Setting===
Instead of the strictly [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[fantasy]] settings featured in previous ''Final Fantasy'' titles, ''Final Fantasy VI'' is set in a world that also has prominent [[steampunk]] influences. The structure of society is similar to that of the latter half of the 19th century, with [[opera]] and the [[fine art]]s serving as recurring motifs throughout the game,<ref name="NPC in Jidor">{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES |quote='''(NPC in Jidoor)''' You like art? No? Philistines!}}</ref> and a level of technology comparable to that of the [[Second Industrial Revolution]]. During the first half of the game, the planet is referred to as the World of Balance, and is divided into three lush continents. The northern continent is punctuated by a series of mountain ranges, the southern continent has been mostly subjugated by the cruel Gestahl Empire, and the eastern continent is home to the Veldt, a massive wilderness inhabited by monsters from all over the world. An apocalyptic event mid-game transforms the planet into the World of Ruin; its withering landmasses are fractured into numerous islands surrounding a larger continent.

The game alludes to a conflict known as the "War of the Magi", which occurred one thousand years prior to the beginning of the game. In this conflict, three quarreling entities known as the "Warring Triad" used innocent humans as soldiers by transforming them into enslaved magical beings called Espers. The Triad realized their wrongdoings; they freed the espers and sealed their own powers inside three stone statues.<ref name="Statues">{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES|quote='''Left statue:''' The birth of magic... three goddesses were banished here. In time they began quarreling, which led to all-out war. Those unlucky humans who got in the way were transformed to Espers, and used as living war machines. / '''Right Statue:''' The goddesses finally realized that they were being laughed at by those who had banished them here. In a rare moment of mutual clarity, they agreed to seal themselves away from the world. With their last ounce of energy they gave the Espers back their own free will, and then transformed themselves... ...into stone. Their only request was that the Espers keep them sealed away from all eternity. / '''Center Statue:''' The Espers created these statues as a symbol of their vow to let the goddesses sleep in peace. The Espers have sworn to keep the goddesses' power from being abused.}}</ref> As a precaution, the espers sealed off both the statues and themselves from the realm of humans. The concept of magic gradually faded to myth as mankind built a society extolling science and technology.<ref name="Game opening">{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES |quote='''(Game opening)''' Long ago, the War of the Magi reduced the world to a scorched wasteland, and magic simply ceased to exist. 1000 years have passed... Iron, gunpowder and steam engines have been rediscovered, and high technology reigns...}}</ref> At the game's opening, the Empire has taken advantage of the weakening barrier between the human and esper domains, capturing several espers in the process. Using these espers as a power source, the Empire has created "Magitek", a craft that combines magic with machinery (including [[mecha|mechanical infantry]]) and infuses humans with magical powers.<ref name="Magitek Armor">{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES |quote='''(Soldier)''' Open up! Give us back the girl and the Empire's Magitek Armor!}}</ref> The Empire is opposed by the Returners, a rebel organization seeking to free the subjugated lands.

===Characters===
{{Main|Characters of Final Fantasy VI}}
''Final Fantasy VI'' features fourteen permanent [[player character|playable characters]], the most of any game in the main series, as well as several secondary characters who are only briefly controlled by the player. The starting character, [[Terra Branford]], is a reserved half-human, half-esper girl who spent most of her life as a slave to the Empire, thanks to a mind-controlling device, and is unfamiliar with love.<ref name="Slave Crown">{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES |quote='''Wedge:''' Not to worry. The Slave Crown on her head robs her of all conscious thought. She'll follow our orders.}}</ref> Other primary characters include [[Locke Cole]], a treasure hunter and rebel sympathizer with a powerful impulse to protect women; [[Celes Chere]], a former general of the Empire, who joined the Returners after being jailed for questioning imperial practices; [[Edgar Roni Figaro]], a consummate womanizer and the king of Figaro, who claims allegiance to the Empire while secretly supplying aid to the Returners;<ref name=Edgar>'''Locke:''' On the surface, Edgar pretends to support the Empire. The truth is, he's collaborating with the Returners, an organization opposed to the Empire. I am his contact with that group... The old man you met in Narshe is one of us. {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES}}</ref> [[Sabin Rene Figaro]], Edgar's independent brother, who fled the royal court to hone his [[martial arts]] skills; [[Cayenne Garamonde|Cyan Garamonde]], a loyal knight to the kingdom of Doma who lost his family and friends when Kefka poisoned the kingdom's water supply; [[Setzer Gabbiani]], a habitual gambler, thrill seeker, and owner of the world's only known airship; [[Shadow (Final Fantasy VI)|Shadow]], a [[ninja]] mercenary who offers his services to both the Empire and the Returners; [[Relm Arrowny]], a young but tough artistic girl with magical powers; [[Strago Magus]], Relm's elderly grandfather and a [[Gameplay of Final Fantasy|Blue Mage]]; [[Gau (Final Fantasy VI)|Gau]], a [[feral child]] surviving since infancy on the Veldt; [[Mog (Final Fantasy VI)|Mog]], a pike-toting [[Moogle]] from the mines of Narshe; [[Characters of Final Fantasy VI#Umaro|Umaro]], a savage but loyal [[yeti]] also from Narshe, talked into joining the Returners through Mog's persuasion; and [[Gogo (Final Fantasy VI)|Gogo]], a mysterious, fully shrouded master of the art of mimicry.

Most of the main characters in the game hold a significant grudge against the Empire and, in particular, [[Kefka Palazzo]], who is one of the game's main antagonists along with [[Emperor Gestahl]]. The clownish Kefka became the first experimental prototype of a line of magically empowered soldiers called Magitek Knights, rendering him insane; his actions throughout the game reflect his demented nature.<ref name="NPC in Vector">{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES |quote='''(NPC in Vector)''' That guy Kefka? He was Cid's first experimental Magitek Knight. But the process wasn't perfected yet. Something in Kefka's mind snapped that day...!}}</ref> The supporting character [[Ultros (character)|Ultros]] is a recurring villain and [[comic relief]]. A handful of characters have reappeared in later games. ''Final Fantasy SGI'', a short [[tech demo]] produced for the [[Silicon Graphics]] [[SGI Onyx|Onyx]] workstation, featured [[polygon (computer graphics)|polygon]]-based [[3D computer graphics|3D]] renderings of Locke, Terra, and Shadow.<ref name="development7">{{cite web |title=Final Fantasy SGI Demo |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/ff/affw/ffsgi.html |publisher=RPGamer |access-date=2006-08-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023828/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/ff/affw/ffsgi.html |archive-date=2007-09-30}}</ref>

===Story===
In the town of Narshe, Terra participates in an Imperial mission to seize a powerful Esper encased in ice. Upon locating it, a magical reaction occurs between Terra and the Esper; as a result, the soldiers accompanying Terra are killed and Terra is knocked unconscious. Upon awakening, Terra is informed that the Empire had been using a device called a "slave crown" to control her actions. With the crown now removed, Terra cannot remember anything more than her name and her rare ability to use magic unaided.<ref>'''Terra:''' You... saved me? / '''Locke:''' Save your thanks for the Moogles! / '''Terra:''' Uhh... I can't remember anything... past or present... / '''Locke:''' You have amnesia!? {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES}}</ref> Terra is then introduced to an organization known as the "Returners", who she agrees to help in their revolution against the Empire.<ref>'''Banon:''' Have you made a decision? Will you become our last ray of hope? ... / '''Terra:''' I'll do it! {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref> The Returners learn that Imperial soldiers, led by Kefka, are planning another attempt to seize the frozen Esper. After repelling Kefka's attack, Terra experiences another magical reaction with the frozen Esper; she transforms into a creature resembling an Esper and flies to another continent.<ref>'''Locke:''' ...Where's Terra? / '''Celes:''' She changed into a...something, and...took off. She looked like... She looked like...an Esper... {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref> Upon locating Terra, the party is confronted by an Esper named Ramuh, who informs the group that Terra may require the assistance of another Esper imprisoned in the Imperial capital city of Vector.<ref>'''(Unidentified character)''' Terra looks like she's in pain. / '''Ramuh:''' Her very existence strikes fear into her own heart. / '''(Unidentified character)''' How can we help her? / '''Ramuh:''' When she accepts this aspect of herself, I think she'll be all right. / '''(Unidentified character)''' We have to help her! / '''Ramuh:''' Then free those of my kind imprisoned in Gestahl's Magitek Research Facility. One of them can surely help her. {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref>

At Vector, the party attempts to rescue several Espers; however, the Espers are already dying from Magitek experiments and choose instead to offer their lives to the party by transforming into magicite.<ref>'''(An Esper)''' Our friends are all gone... We haven't much time left... We have no choice but to entrust you with our essences... / '''Esper:''' You want to help me... But... I haven't long to live. Just as Ifrit did before me, I'll give to you my power... {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref> The group returns to Terra and observes a reaction between her and the magicite "Maduin". The reaction calms Terra and restores her memory; she reveals that she is the half-human, half-Esper child of Maduin and a human woman.<ref>'''Terra:''' Father...? I remember it all... I was raised in the Espers' world. ... / '''Terra:''' I'm the product of an Esper and a human... That's where I got my powers... Now I understand... I finally feel I can begin to control this power of mine... {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref> With this revelation, the Returners ask Terra to convince the Espers to join their cause. To do this, she travels to the sealed gate between the human and Esper worlds.<ref>'''Arvis:''' I see... Your plan would combine Narshe's money with Figaro's machinery to storm the Empire... not enough manpower, though... / '''Banon:''' We have to open the sealed gate... Terra!? / '''Terra:''' To the Esper World...? / '''Arvis:''' We'll never beat the Empire without them. / '''Banon:''' When the gate has been opened, the Espers can attack from the east. We'll storm in at the same time, from the north. No way around it. We MUST get the Espers to understand. We have to establish a bond of trust between humans and Espers. Only one person can do this... Terra... / '''Terra:''' Half human, half Esper... My existence is proof that such a bond CAN exist... I'll do it. I'm the only one who can! {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref> However, unbeknownst to the party, the Empire also uses Terra to gain access to the Esper world.<ref>'''Kefka:''' G'ha, ha, ha! Emperor's orders! I'm to bring the Magicite remains of these Espers to his excellency! Behold! A Magicite mother lode!! {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref><ref>'''Setzer:''' We've been had!! The Emperor is a liar! ... / '''Edgar:''' I got to know the gal who brought us tea. After a while, she just blurted out the whole crooked plan. {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref> There, Emperor Gestahl and Kefka retrieve the statues of the Warring Triad, raising a landmass called the Floating Continent. The group confronts Emperor Gestahl and Kefka at the Floating Continent, whereupon Kefka, whose mental state has progressively deteriorated over the course of the story, usurps and murders Gestahl. Kefka then tampers with the alignment of the statues, which upsets the balance of magic and destroys most of the surface of the world.

One year later, Celes awakens on a deserted island. She learns that Kefka is using the Warring Triad to rule the world in a tyrannical god-like manner, destroying whole villages who oppose him and causing all life to slowly wither away.<ref>'''Cid:''' Celes... at last...! You're finally awake... / '''Celes:''' I... feel like I've been sleeping forever... / '''Cid:''' For one year, actually... ... / '''Cid:''' We're on a tiny, deserted island. After the world crumbled, I awoke to find us here together with... a few strangers. / '''Cid:''' Since that day, the world's continued its slide into ruin. Animals and plants are dying... The few others who washed up here with us passed away of boredom and despair. {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref> After Celes escapes the island, she searches for her lost comrades, who are found scattered throughout the ruined world. They come to terms with their situation and resolve to confront Kefka and end his reign, with Terra additionally accepting her half-Esper heritage and finding a new purpose in life in fighting for a better future. The group infiltrates Kefka's tower and destroys the Warring Triad before confronting Kefka himself, who has descended into [[nihilism]] as a result of his madness and plans to destroy all of existence as a means of self-validation. However, the group successfully destroys Kefka in battle, at which point magic and Espers disappear from the world; despite this, Terra is able to survive by hanging onto the human half of her existence.<ref>'''Celes:''' Terra! What's wrong? The Magicite... Magic is disappearing from this world... / '''Edgar:''' The Espers... They no longer exist... / '''Celes:''' You mean Terra, too? / '''Terra:''' Come with me. I can lead you out with my last ounce of strength. {{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy III |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=1994-10-11 |platform=Super NES }}</ref> The group escapes from Kefka's tower as it collapses and flies away while watching as the world rejuvenates itself.