12 Centuries Ago

• The current rulership is the Holy Empire Yudora. The current religion is the Fara Church.
• Ajora Glabados born in Bervenia Free City; raised in Milodos. He prophesizes that a well will bring "great trouble" and demands that it is sealed; as it turns out, the water from that well is tainted and anyone who drank from it died soon after. Thus Ajora's fame began to grow.
• Ajora begins to prophesize of the arrival of a "kingdom from a higher source". Ajora gains several disciples and the Fara Church begins to experience antipathy for him.
• Information comes to the Yudora Empire that Ajora is actually a spy, taking money from the highest bidder and spreading information around. They dispatch Germonik, their own spy, to verify the account.
• Germonik discovers several Holy Stones which he believes Ajora to be using to try to revive the Zodiac Braves. Although the spy allegations were never proved, the Empire fears that Ajora is trying to stir up some unknown chaos in the Empire.
• Germonik tells the Empire of Ajora's whereabouts. Ajora is captured and executed at Golgorand Execution Site.
• Ajora's disciple Bariaus is chased by Holy Empire Yudora. He hides out at Bariaus Valley and is forced to Bariaus Hill, where he is killed.
• A giant wave submerges the Fara Church Capital. Believing this to be supernatural, the Glabados Church is formed and overtakes the old Fara Church.
• Germonik writes the Germonik Scriptures, detailing the truth about himself and St. Ajora.

The Zodiac Brave Legend

• Ivalice before its unification is divided into seven separate provinces: Zeltennia, Fovoham, Lionel, Limberry, Lesalia, Gallione, and Murond. Warring takes place over hundreds of years as to who will gain the upper hand. A particularly evil king summons a dark lord from the Lucavi Demons to help him, but the demon kills him. 12 heroes dubbed "Zodiac Braves" appear wielding the 12 Zodiac Stones and banish the demon back to Hell.
• The Glabados Church takes advantage of this story to say that a similar story happened to St. Ajora (a king of Limberry summoned a demon; Ajora and the 12 Zodiac Braves killed it).

The Fifty Year War

• The ruler of Ivalice is King Denamunda; the ruler of neighboring Ordalia is King Diwanu. The leader of the Ivalice Hokuten Knights is Balbanes Beoulve; the leader of the Nanten Knights is Cidolfas Orlandu. There also exists a third group, the Touten Knights, a valiant member of which is Gaff Gafgarion. Gustav Margueriff is a Hokuten Knight.
• King Diwanu of Ordalia dies and is succeeded by his brother Valowa.
• Zelamonia is a territory of Ivalice running along the Ordalian border. Unrest there causes its nobles to appeal to King Denamunda. He declares war on Ordalia.
• While Ivalice's army marches on Bura, Ordalia's capital, King Denamunda falls ill and dies. He is succeeded by his son Denamunda II.
• A stalemate in the war is reached due to an invasion by Romanda. Romanda is a militant nation separated from Ivalice by the Larner Channel; its king is a blood relative to King Valowa of Ordalia.
• A bout of Bubonic Plague (Black Death) assails the Romandan army and they retreat after three years of war.
• Denamunda II dies (believed to be assassinated) and is succeeded by his son Omdolia. Omdolia is a weak-willed man and unfit to rule; all the decisions are made by his wife Ruvelia.
• King Valowa of Ordalia dies and is succeeded by his son Prince Lanard.
• Because of Omdolia's weakness, Ivalice is pressured to end the war. However, because of the fearful strength of Balbanes and Orlandu, the leaders of the Nanten and Hokuten Knights, Ivalice does not surrender but instead a mutual peace is agreed upon.

During the Fifty Year War:

• Gafgarion is dismissed from the Touten Knights and Gustav is dismissed from the Hokuten Knights, both on true charges of contemptible conduct during battle. Gafgarion becomes a mercenary, selling to the highest bidder.
• King Omdolia's two sons die. He adopts his much younger sister Ovelia as his daughter.
• Grand Duke Gelkanis Barinten adopts Rafa and Malak Galthana. When they grow up, he puts them as leaders of his elite assassination group Kamyuja, which is later disbanded.
• The Knights of Death, an anti-aristocratic terrorist group, are disbanded. Their leader is Wiegraf Folles; his second-in-command is Gustav Margueriff, after his dismissal from the Hokuten.
• Priest Buremonda of Lionel becomes insanely jealous at the love shared between Beowulf Kadmas, head of the Lionel Temple Knights, and his sweetheart Reis. In a fit of anger, he casts a curse on Beowulf, but Reis intercepts it, sacrificing herself. The curse turns her into a dragon form, in which all her memories are erased. She leaves in humiliation, and Beowulf quits the Temple Knights to begin searching for her.
• Balbanes Beoulve allows Delita and Teta Hyral to live in Igros Castle with his family. Delita becomes fast friends with his son Ramza, and Teta and Alma (Balbanes' daughter) also become very close.

The Lion War (beginning of the game)

Chapter One: The Meager (So called because of an exchange between Wiegraf and Ramza where Wiegraf claims that Ramza has never known "the meager" - living in poverty.
• Balbanes Beoulve falls ill and dies (poisoned by his son Dycedarg in a long-range plot to gain the throne). Zalbag Beoulve becomes leader of the Hokuten Knights.
• Ramza Beoulve and Delita Hyral are sent to the Gariland Military Academy; Alma Beoulve and Teta Hyral attend the Igros Aristocratic School.
• King Omdolia and Queen Ruvelia have another son, Orinas.
• The Knights of Death resurface as the Death Corps. Due to the turmoil caused by the war, they run rampant throughout Ivalice. Igros Castle concerns itself with ousting them.
• Ramza, Delita, and their group of Hokuten cadets have their first battle in Magic City Gariland with a band of thieves. They decide to travel to Igros Castle to await orders regarding the Death Corps.
• On the way, they find Algus Sadalfas, a Hokuten cadet under Marquis Elmdor (the leader of Limberry), beset by Death Corps soldiers. They rescue Algus, and upon his discovery that Ramza is a Beoulve, he begs them to let him accompany him to Igros. The Marquis has been kidnapped by Gustav, second-in-command of the Death Corps, and a ransom is demanded. (Dycedarg and Prince Larg put him up to it, giving them an excuse to concentrate all their forces in destroying the Death Corps.)
• Upon reaching Igros Castle, Dycedarg forbids Ramza, Delita, and Algus from chasing the Marquis, fearing that if they rescue him the Hokuten's excuse will be negated. However, Ramza finds out from Zalbag that a spy searching for the Marquis was last seen in Dorter Trade City. He resolves to travel there; Delita and Algus accompany him.
• They pass through Sweegy Woods, where they are attacked by monsters.
• They explore Dorter until they happen upon the Dorter Slums. There, they find Wiegraf, leader of the Death Corps, threatening a Death Corps fencer until he divulges the whereabouts of the Marquis. (Wiegraf is angry that Gustav acted without his permission, giving the Hokuten an opening to attack the Death Corps.) Wiegraf leaves, but the fencer and his group attack Ramza's cadets. After beating them, Algus gives a very harsh treatment to the fencer until he tells them that the Marquis has been hidden in the Sand Rat Cellar in Zeklaus Desert. Ramza and Delita are shocked by Algus's ridiculously harsh views of commoners.
• Wiegraf beats Ramza to the Sand Rat Cellar and confronts Gustav. Gustav pulls a sword, but Wiegraf kills him first. Ramza and his cadets fight through the guards of the Sand Rat Cellar to find Wiegraf, a dead Gustav, and a tied up Marquis. Ramza lets Wiegraf go in exchange for the Marquis.
• Ramza and co. travel back to Igros Castle. Dycedarg is upset with them, but Prince Larg enters and commends Ramza's work. (Larg later tells Dycedarg that even with the Marquis alive, the Death Corps' audacity would still have to be dealt with; and Ramza has proven his ability as a warrior.) Dycedarg sends Ramza to the Thieves' Fort to deal with a cadre of Death Corps there.
• Miluda Folles, Wiegraf's sister, leads the cadre at the Thieves' Fort. Ramza, although unwilling to fight her, must. She escapes, however, and declares her undying hatred for the Beoulves and all nobles.
• Golagros Levine, a member of the Death Corps, carries out an assassination attempt on Dycedarg which was foiled by Zalbag, but not before he badly wounds Dycedarg. To allow his escape, Golagros takes Teta Hyral, Delita's sister, as a hostage. He escapes with her to the windmill on Fovoham Plains.
• Ramza, Delita, and Algus return to Igros Castle to hear the news. Algus makes several disgusting remarks about commoners and Ramza dismisses him, demanding never to see him again. However, Algus tells them about the Death Corps base at Fort Zeakden before he leaves. Ramza and Delita head towards there.
• To get there, they pass through Lenalia Plateau, where Miluda is stationed. They are forced to fight again, and Miluda is killed.
• Ramza reaches Fovoham Plains and is confronted by Wiegraf. He beats him, but Wiegraf escapes. Delita rushes into the windmill to find that Golagros and Teta are gone; they escaped to Fort Zeakden.
• Ramza and Delita reach Fort Zeakden to find Golagros holding Teta as a hostage. However, Zalbag, Algus, and the Hokuten are also there. Algus, at Zalbag's order, shoots Teta with a crossbow. With Golagros's hostage gone, he is also shot. Fatally wounded, he shuts himself in the fort. Delita's rage overflows and he and Ramza fight Algus, who dies. Delita rushes to Teta, who's badly wounded. However, Golagros ignites the huge store of explosives in the fort. Ramza turns tail and runs, but Delita cannot move from his grief. However, Teta shields him from the blasts with her last energy. (After the explosion and commotion, Ramza remains unaware that Delita is alive.)

  Chapter Two: The Manipulator And The Subservient (So called because the true natures of the war come out: that of the manipulative Church and the unknowingly subservient Princes Larg and Goltana.)

• King Omdolia falls ill and dies. A battle for the guardianship of Prince Orinas breaks out between Prince Larg, Ruvelia's brother, and Prince Goltana, Omdolia's first cousin.
• Ramza, unsure of his state of life, changes his last name to Ruglia and joins Gafgarion's mercenary group (which currently only has one other member, a squire named Rad). Gafgarion is now the only person who knows Ramza's real identity (besides Delita and Ramza's siblings).
• Delita, who escaped Fort Zeakden thanks to Teta, meets with members of the Murond Glabados Church and convinces them that he wishes to join their cause. He starts a long string of double-crossing, first becoming a member of the Black Sheep Knights under Baron Grims, a Nanten Knight leader; he quickly rises to second-in-command. However, the Black Sheep and Baron Grims are wiped out by the Ryomoku, an assassin group led by Grand Duke Gelkanis Barinten. Delita instead joins the Hokuten and rises to the rank of Holy Knight, while still allegedly being loyal to Goltana behind Larg's back, being loyal to the Church behind even Goltana's back, and planning on double-crossing even the Church at the end.
• Wiegraf Folles, after the demise of the Death Corps, falls in with the Temple Knights, protectors of High Priest Funeral. The Temple Knights' true purpose (and that of the Glabados Church) is to collect the Holy Stones and resurrect the Zodiac Braves.
• Gafgarion and group are hired by the Hokuten Knights to attend Agrias Oaks, the bodyguard of Princess Ovelia. She is stationed in Orbonne Monastery, under the auspices of Priest Simon Pen Rakshu. The monastery is given the Holy Stone Virgo, which is a royal keepsake, for proof of her status. The job of Agrias and her knights is to protect the Princess at all costs; Gafgarion is hired to help her.
• Minister Gelwan, a close aide to Goltana, defects to the side of Larg and Queen Ruvelia. Larg, who knows he will be named guardian to Prince Orinas, wants Ovelia dead; Gelwan suggests kidnapping her and taking her to Bethla Garrison, where she is to be executed. At the same time, they can frame Goltana for the crime by sending the kidnappers in Nanten dress. Delita is the backup for the disguised Hokuten; he is to carry out the actual kidnapping while the disguised Hokuten keep Agrias and Gafgarion busy. They are then to meet at Zirekile Falls, where they will continue to Bethla. (Then why hire Gafgarion to protect her at all? My guess is to make a grand show of his desire to protect the princess, thus proving that it must have been Goltana who kidnapped her. He purposely throws away the lives of the front-line Hokuten to Gafgarion and Agrias, knowing that Delita will sneak through the back and accomplish his purpose anyway.) Queen Ruvelia gives the order for the kidnapping to take place.
• Gelwan's plan is carried out: The Hokuten meet defeat at the hands of Ramza, Gafgarion, and Agrias, but Delita steals the princess away on a Chocobo. Ramza sees him and feels a need to find out what happened to him and why he's in Goltana's army. He insists on following Agrias to rescue Ovelia. Agrias agrees and tells him that they must have taken her to the impenetrable fortress, Bethla Garrison.
• On the way to Bethla, Agrias, Gafgarion, and Ramza pass through Dorter Trade City. Vormav of the Temple Knights tries to stop them by sending a band of thieves against them, but the thieves are surprised by the inclusion of Gafgarion in the party, and fall easily.
• Ramza and company pass through Araguay Woods, where Boco the Chocobo is beset by Goblins. They save him and he joins them.
• Next stop is Zirekile Falls. Delita refuses to hand over the Princess to the Hokuten, knowing that they'll kill her. He wants to take her back to Goltana. Agrias, Ramza, and Gafgarion come upon the scene, and the Hokuten command Gafgarion to kill the Princess; he agrees, seeing as it's all to contract. Delita joins Ramza and Agrias in fighting Gafgarion and the Hokuten. Gafgarion escapes, however. After the battle, Delita, while not telling Ramza anything about his life other than the fact that Teta saved him, agrees to let Ovelia travel with Ramza and Agrias. He leaves to places unknown. Agrias and Ovelia decide to head to Lionel Castle, where Cardinal Draclau can offer protection. (They do not reach Bethla Garrison in this leg of the game, by the way.)
• (Cardinal Draclau of Lionel Castle controls Bart Rudvich's Bart Trading Company. He orders Rudvich to find a Holy Stone, Taurus, which was rumored to have been discovered in Goug Machine City. (More about that later.) Rudvich finds the one who allegedly found the stone, named Besrodio Bunanza, and captures him. However, he won't talk, and Rudvich tries to find his son Mustadio, who'll definitely come to rescue his father and will tell the location of the stone in exchange for Besrodio's life.)
• Zaland Fort City is on the way to Lionel. Ramza and Agrias come upon Mustadio Bunanza, an engineer from Goug Machine City, being beset by agents from the Bart Trading Company. After rescuing him, he tells them that Bart Company is party to many illegal ventures behind the cover enterprises. His father, Besrodio, has been captured by them. He begs them to take him to Lionel, but won't tell them why Bart Company is chasing him.
• Ramza overhears Ovelia pouring her heart out to Agrias. He finds out that Ovelia and Alma were close friends in another monastery, where Ovelia was stationed before she went to Orbonne. Ovelia also wishes that she was never a princess, so people wouldn't have to die because of her...
• Ramza, Agrias, and Mustadio must pass through Bariaus Hill to reach Lionel. Bart Company is there, however. Mustadio still cannot tell Ramza why he's being chased.
• Dycedarg orders Gafgarion to capture Ovelia at any cost, even Ramza's life. He claims that Ramza is a disgrace to the Beoulve name. Gafgarion is dubious, but orders are orders.
• Ramza and co. reach Lionel Castle. Cardinal Draclau agrees to expose Prince Larg's plan, and also offers to rescue Mustadio's father, Besrodio, from Goug Machine City. However, he shows Mustadio the Scorpio Zodiac Stone and gets him to confess that that was the reason that Bart Company is chasing Besrodio. According to Mustadio, Bart Rudvich wants the Stone to make weapons with. Agrias and Ovelia stay with Draclau in Lionel Castle; Ramza and Mustadio head for Goug Machine City. (Draclau's soothing words ensure that Ovelia will stay at the castle, while Ramza and Mustadio can give the stone to Rudvich.)
• They pass through Zigolis Swamp and fight some skeletons, ghouls, and a Morbol.
• In Goug Machine City, Mustadio tells Ramza to wait for him while he checks out the situation. However, Mustadio is captured by Rudvich. He tells him the location of the Zodiac Stone he's looking for (actually a fake) in hopes that he'll let him go; but Rudvich sics his people on Ramza and Mustadio anyway. Before he leaves, he drops a hint that Cardinal Draclau was behind his search for the Taurus Stone. Ramza and Mustadio rescue Besrodio, then Mustadio shows the real Zodiac Stone to Ramza. They decide that they must rescue Ovelia from Draclau, but the main way is closed; they must go by sea.
• They reach Warjilis Trade City. Ramza unexpectedly meets Delita, who warns Ramza to leave Ovelia alone and let Delita take care of things. Delita claims that Larg, Goltana, and everyone else are unaware that they're being carried along by the same stream, which he is going against. He then exits, leaving Ramza in total confusion.
• Draclau gets a visit from Gafgarion (who's still in Dycedarg's pay). A meeting between the Cardinal, Gafgarion, and Rudvich takes place. Gafgarion and Draclau agree to let Ovelia stay in the castle. That way, Ramza (who knows about Prince Larg being the one who actually kidnapped Ovelia) and Mustadio (who has the Taurus Stone) will both fall into their clutches. Draclau (and his alterego Queklain), upset with Rudvich at failing him, kills him.
• Bariaus Valley is on the way to Lionel. Ramza and Mustadio find Agrias running away from the Lionel Knights, and they rescue her. She tells them that Draclau and his cohorts are planning to execute the Princess at the Golgorand Execution Site nearby; they rush there.
• The executioner at the site turns out to be Gafgarion; the Princess is a fake. Gafgarion set a trap for Ramza at Draclau's request. Ramza and his band beat him, however, and rush to Lionel Castle to rescue the real princess.
• Delita visits Ovelia in her cell, but Vormav, the leader of the Temple Knights, and Cardinal Draclau enter the cell before he can finish what he has to say. Vormav informs her that she's not really Prinvess Ovelia, but a double. (I'm confused about this - the character information still seems to say she's the real Ovelia.) Then Vormav, Draclau, and Delita leave.
• Another trap has been set at the main gate of Lionel Castle. Gafgarion traps Ramza behind the gate, while his troops fight Ramza's in front of the gate. Managing to open the gate, the battle becomes a free-for-all, with Ramza finally beating Gafgarion, who dies. Ramza rushes into Lionel Castle.
• Ramza confronts Draclau, who tries to dissuade him from rescuing the Princess, urging him to follow his brothers. Ramza adamantly refuses, and demands to see Ovelia. Draclau tells him that she's been taken to Zeltennia Castle, then he takes out his Holy Stone and calls the power of Queklain, the Impure King. Ramza and his band defeat Queklain, who dies and disappears, leaving only his Scorpio Zodiac Stone behind.
• Goltana holds a meeting: Gelwan, Kanbabrif (his aides), Orlandu (leader of the Nanten Knights), his adpoted son Olan, and Delita attend. Delita enters, telling Goltana that he has the princess with him. He also has a prisoner, one of the Hokuten who originally helped kidnap Ovelia. He exposes Minister Gelwan, and Delita kills him then and there. Delita demands that Goltana storm Lesalia Capital, depose Ruvelia and Orinas, and institute Ovelia as queen.
• Goltana rushes Lesalia and imprisons Queen Ruvelia in Bethla Garrison for the crime of kidnapping Ovelia. However, Larg declares himself Orinas's guardian and affirms him as king of Ivalice. At the same time, Goltana claims that Ovelia has the real claim to the throne. Thus begins the "Lion War".
• The first battle occurs at Gulofavia, with heavy casualties to both sides, and over 400,000 wounded. In addition to this, a huge drought begins throughout Ivalice, crippling both sides.
• Both the Hokuten and the Nanten head to Bethla Garrison to fight over Queen Ruvelia.
• Goltana has a meeting in Bethla Garrison. Attendees are Goltana, Orlandu, Bolmna, and Blansh (the latter two are aides to Goltana). Goltana decides to raise taxes for the farmers because of the high prices of grain due to the draught; Orlandu dismisses this idea as ridiculous. He asks Prince Goltana to try a peace treaty with Larg, seeing as both sides are being beset by the draught and lack of food, as well as heavy losses of manpower. Goltana and his aides flare up at this and Goltana declares that any more harsh words on Orlandu's part will cost him his life.

  Chapter Three: The Valiant (So called because Ramza, in a conversation with Rafa, finally realizes that he is not fighting for honor, but because he craves justice.)

• Ramza heads to Lesalia Capital to tell his brother Zalbag that someone is manipulating the war.
• On the way he passes through Goland Coal City. There, Olan Durai (Orlandu's adopted son) has stumbled onto a thieves' hideout. The thieves decide to kill Olan, but Ramza saves him (not that he needs too much saving!) He is surprised upon hearing that Ramza is a Beoulve but leaves him peacefully without telling him his true identity.
• Ramza reaches Lesalia. He tries to tell Zalbag about the manipulation and that Dycedarg spearheaded Ovelia's capture, but Zalbag refuses to believe him. Before he can be convinced, a Hokuten knight enters and brings news that Orlandu and the Nanten have broken through Doguola Pass. Zalbag leaves.
• Alma, who's also in Lesalia, catches up with Ramza at the back gate of the castle. He tells her about Dycedarg and Delita, and she begs to come along; Ramza refuses. Their talk is cut short by the arrival of Zalmo Rusnada, a Pagan Examiner for the Glabados Church. He declares Ramza a heretic for the "murder" of Cardinal Draclau and demands that he comes with him. Ramza defeats Zalmo, who disappears. Alma tells Ramza that she's seen one of those Holy Stones he's dealing with, at Orbonne Monastery. However, as a heretic, Ramza can't get into Orbonne himself, so he's forced to bring Alma with him.
• At Orbonne, Ramza finds Simon wounded. Simon tells him that the Temple Knights have arrived looking for the Virgo Holy Stone. Izlude is leading them and is looking through the underground library to find the Stone. Ramza tells Alma to stay with Simon, and gives her his two Stones (Taurus and Scorpio). He chases Izlude.
• Izlude disappears, and grabs Alma on the way out. Ramza, chasing the Temple Knights, finds Wiegraf, now a Temple Knight. Wiegraf still wants to get revenge on Ramza for killing his sister Miluda. However, Ramza defeats him again. Fatally wounded, he teleports out of the monastery.
• Wiegraf's despair and hate react with the Aries Stone and summon Velius, a Lucavi demon. Velius signs a pact with Wiegraf, giving Wiegraf Velius's body and power. Wiegraf/Velius disappears. Simon crawls out of the monastery and gives Ramza a book called the Germonik Scriptures; then he dies from his wounds.
• The Scriptures tell the true story of St. Ajora and dispel the Church's claims that he's a Son of God.
• Upon traveling back to Dorter, Ramza is confronted by Malak Galthana, a Hell Knight. He tells Ramza that if he wishes to see Alma again, he must bring the Germonik Scriptures to Riovanes Castle.
• Delita finds Ovelia crying in the ruins of Zeltennia Church. She tells him that since she's a fake, she's worth nothing, not even to live; she wonders what all her suffering was for. Delita comforts her and promises her that she can trust him.
• Marquis Elmdor, who switched to Goltana's side, dies in battle in the Fuse Plains.
• Grog Hill lies on the way to Riovanes Castle. There, Ramza stumbles on a group of Nanten Knights who wish to desert and quit fighting. However, one of them recognizes Ramza and tells the group to kill him instead; that way, they can leave with an honorable discharge instead of hiding for the rest of their lives. After reluctantly vanquishing them, Ramza is visited by Olan and a group of Nanten Knights. Olan tells Ramza that he's a sympathizer and would risk his life for Ramza and his cause. Ramza asks him if he knows Orlandu (whom his father Balbanes said was his only real friend); Olan replies that he's Olan's father-in-law (see Inconsistencies). Olan tells Ramza that Orlandu knows of the conspiracy by the Church but has no evidence; Ramza almost gives him the Germonik Scriptures but remembers his sister's needs. They part on friendly terms.
• Next stop is Yardow Fort City. Here, Ramza finds Malak and his sister, Rafa, arguing. Rafa runs from Malak and begs Ramza to save her from him. Ramza does so, and decides to hide for the moment with Rafa in Yardow. Rafa tells Ramza about Grand Duke Barinten and his scheme to gain the Galthanas' Heaven and Hell skills; that he burned their entire village to gain hold of them. She also tells him that Barinten once raped her. Once Rafa discovered the truth about the burnt village, she ran away, but Malak refused to believe it. Rafa says that Barinten wishes to become the regent of Orinas and therefore king, by allowing Larg and Goltana to kill each other. While they're speaking, a frog with Malak's voice shows up and tells Ramza that the ante has been raised: if he wants to see Alma, he must bring both the Germonik Scriptures and Rafa to Riovanes. Then the frog disappears, leaving Ramza bemused.
• Next stop is Yuguo Woods; here, ghosts of warriors from the Fifty Year War plague Ramza and Rafa.
• Grand Duke Barinten is visited by Vormav. He tells Vormav that he wants to work with the Temple Knights, who have the Holy Stones, in an effort to bring Barinten to the throne. Vormav asks why he should listen to Barinten; Barinten calls for Malak, who brings in Izlude (Wiegraf follows them in). Barinten tells Vormav that he has the Taurus and Scorpio Stones and the Germonik Scriptures as well (although he doesn't technically have it yet). A Nanten Knight interrupts, telling of Ramza's arrival; Malak leaves to deal with him. Barinten threatens to expose the Church's lies if Vormav doesn't go along with him. In response, Vormav uses his Zodiac Stone and his alterego Hashmalum to go on a rampage and kill Barinten's troops; he also fatally wounds Izlude for his incompetency.
• At the gate of Riovanes Castle, Ramza and Rafa fight Malak and his troops. When wounded, Malak disappears; Rafa also disappears to follow him. Ramza makes his way inside the castle.
• Alma, in her cell, hears horrific sounds of fighting above her. Suddenly, her cell door opens and a mortally wounded knight enters. He tells her to run away, that a dangerous monster is around; then he dies. Alma hesistates, then runs out of her now-open cell.
• Ramza enters the castle to find many dead Nanten Knights... and Wiegraf, who challenges him to a duel. After beating him, Wiegraf uses his Aries Stone to turn into Velius. Ramza and friends defeat Velius, and he dies, leaving the Aries Stone behind.
• In the meantime, Alma finds her way into the main hall where Vormav went nuts. She finds Izlude lying on the floor. Izlude tries to warn her about Vormav but Alma doesn't get the point (she thinks he's talking about Wiegraf, who's already dead). Izlude gives Alma the Pisces Stone and dies. Vormav then enters. He walks up to Alma, intending to kill her, but his Leo Stone reacts to her. He realizes that she is the embodiment of St. Ajora, and takes her away. She drops the Pisces Stone behind her.
• Rafa confronts Barinten on the roof of the castle. She draws her sword, but Barinten takes out a gun. Barinten taunts her, saying that she can't kill him because her body remembers the terror he caused her. Malak overhears him and demands to know if that's true; Barinten fires, but Malak pushes Rafa away and takes the bullet himself. Barinten demands that Rafa take the Taurus Stone (which Malak still has from Izlude) from Malak and give it to him, but before she can, Lede (an assassin) climbs up behind Barinten and throws him off the roof. Marquis Elmdor (who's been resurrected as a Zodiac Brave) enters and demands the Stone. Ramza and Rafa refuse, and they fight Elmdor and his two assassins. The three foes disappear after the battle, but before they do, Elmdor tells Ramza that if he wants Elmdor's stone, he should come to Limberry Castle.
• Rafa, who has Malak's Taurus Stone, weeps over Malak's dead body. Suddenly, the Stone reacts and Malak is brought back to life.
• Ramza enters the main hall where Izlude died and finds the Pisces Stone.

  Chapter Four: Somebody To Love (So called because of the many themes of love throughout this chapter: Delita and Ovelia, Ramza and Alma, Beowulf and Reis, and maybe even Cloud and Aeris.)

• Ramza tells Malak and Rafa that he believes that Vormav is behind the plot of the Zodiac Stones; he tells them that he plans to go to Zeltennia Castle to meet Delita and advise him that he's being used by the Church. He also wishes to meet Count Orlandu and show him the Germonik Scriptures, and try to convince him to join Ramza's cause.
• Prince Larg's Hokuten take an offensive stand and storm Bethla Garrison. The war rages on.
• Balmafula Lanando, a female magician working for the Murond Glabados Church, is sent to keep an eye on Delita and help him as long as his aims coincide with those of the Church. However, if she finds out that he's double-crossing the Church, she is to kill him.
• In Zeltennia Castle, Olan returns to his adoptive father, Orlandu. Olan unfortunately has nothing to report other than the existence of the Taurus and Scorpio Stones. Orlandu takes out his own Libra Stone and says that when the truth does come out, the real war will start...
• On the way to Zeltennia, Ramza must get through Doguola Pass, which is guarded by Nanten Knights.
• Next stop is Bervenia Free City. Ramza is surprised by a battle with Meliadoul Tingel, Vormav's daughter and Izlude's sister. He tries to tell her the truth about her father, but she refuses to listen and disappears after being beaten by Ramza.
• Next is Finath River, which is populated by wild Chocobos. Ramza defeats them and moves on.
• Ramza meets Delita secretly in Zeltennia Church. Delita tells Ramza the Church's real intentions: to stir revolt among the anti-nobilists, and then to assassinate all the leaders of the armies: Larg, Goltana, Orlandu, Zalbag, and Dycedarg. With the leaders gone, Ivalice will embrace peace and the Church's ways. Delita admits that he's using Ovelia but he has also fallen in love with her. However, their conversation is interrupted by Zalmo, the Pagan Examiner, who has the Church surrounded and demands Ramza to come with him. Ramza and Delita (who refuses to let Zalmo live once he's seen Delita with Ramza the heretic) kill Zalmo.
• After the fight, Balmafula shows up. Delita introduces her to Ramza, and she tells Delita that Orlandu has headed to Bethla Garrison to deal with the revolts stirred up by the Church. This is Ramza's next destination.
• Bed Desert lies between Bervenia Free City and Bethla Garrison. Here, Ramza is confronted by Balk Fenzol, a Temple Knight. Balk informs him that he has spread a deadly poison called Mosfungus throughout the Hokuten troops. In the confusion caused by it, the Temple Knights plan to kill Goltana, Orlandu, and Larg. Balk then infects Ramza and his troops with the poison (luckily Ramza has some Antidotes on hand) and proceeds to fight him. However, Balk is killed by Ramza during the battle.
• Count Orlandu is accused by Prince Goltana of conspiring with the Church to overthrow him. He is taken to the prison in Bethla, awaiting execution the following morning. Goltana then appoints Delita the head of the Nanten Knights in Orlandu's place, and tells him to try to get an official edict from the Church approving Goltana's position as king. (Goltana obviously knows of the Church's Mosfungus scandal (the poison was only spread among Hokuten) and therefore thinks the Church is on his side.)
• Zalbag finds Larg in a hill outside Bethla Garrison, surrounded by dead and dying Hokuten. Larg, as well as Dycedarg, have been poisoned by Mosfungus, but not badly. However, Dycedarg, as part of his plot to take the throne, stabs Larg. An astonished Larg says that Dycedarg killed his father as well, before dying; Zalbag is nonplussed. Dycedarg tells a horrified Zalbag to put the knife in the hands of one of the dead Hokuten, claiming that that dead body was a spy of the Nanten and did the deed. Zalbag complies, but his mind whirls...
• Ramza fights his way past the Nanten guard and manages to open the sluices in Bethla Garrison, causing the water to rush out, paralyzing both sides of the battle. Ramza and Olan, accompanied by Balmafula (Delita wants both Ramza and Orlandu to escape, so that they can defeat the Church after it has served his purposes), rescue Orlandu from Bethla. Orlandu sends Olan back to Zeltennia to protect Princess Ovelia, whom he claims is the true heir to the throne. (Orlandu always believed in Goltana's cause; otherwise he wouldn't have fought for him. However, the current situation, with Orlandu being scheduled for execution, is less than favorable.)
• Delita confronts Goltana and stabs him. A member of the Church named Grenados, who's a dead ringer for Orlandu, dresses up in typical Orlandu clothes and is stabbed by Delita (Grenados gives up his life for the Church's cause).
• With the leaders of both the Nanten and Hokuten gone or dead, High Priest Funeral suggests a mediator; however, the strength of both sides is still enough so that they (Dycedarg and Delita) refuse. Ramza then heads to Limberry Castle to look for Alma.
• On the way, they pass Germinas Peak (where they're accosted by bandits who decide to kill Ramza for the bounty) and Poeskas Lake (where ghosts demand his Holy Stones for a chance to rise "to a higher level".
• Rofel Wodring, a Temple Knight, meets with Dycedarg at Igros. Dycedarg repeats his refusal to accept the Church's mediation. Rofel gives him the Capricorn Holy Stone as a "token of good will" - but in reality it's to give the Lucavi demon Adramelk a host body. Rofel also hints very strongly to Dycedarg that the Church knows that he poisoned his father with Mosfungus. He suggests that Dycedarg listen to the Church. However, the one who listened, to the entire conversation, was Zalbag...
• Vormav and Elmdor meet inside Limberry Castle. They comment on Adramelk's new host, and we find out that they're trying to resurrect a demon called the "Bloody Angel". If the Angel is resurrected, all Lucavi can come and go at will on the real world, without needing hosts. Alma is to be the host for the Angel, but the Angel can only be summoned at a place called the "dead city". Vormav leaves to look for it, leaving Elmdor and his assassin cohorts, Celia and Lede (who are actually Ultima Demons in disguise) to fight off Ramza.
• Ramza defeats the Marquis and his assassins. Elmdor retreats to an underground cemetary, then uses his Gemini Stone to turn into the Lucavi demon Zarela. Meliadoul (Vormav's daughter) suddenly enters the room, astonished at finding out the true power of the Zodiac Stones. Meliadoul and Ramza defeat Zarela.
• Meliadoul has her own Holy Stone, Sagittarius, a treasure of her family. She gives it to Ramza for keeping. She now believes Ramza and needs to find out the truth about her father - is he human anymore? She tells Ramza that Vormav's right-hand man, Rofel, gave another Holy Stone (Capricorn) to Dycedarg; both she and Ramza want to find out why. (It was to give the Lucavi Adramelk a body.) Meliadoul joins Ramza's troops.
• In Zeltennia, Ovelia (who had been appointed queen by Goltana before he died) is visited by Olan, whom she seems to know. Olan tells her that Orlandu did not kill Goltana, but before he can tell her who it was, Delita, Balmafula, and two Nanten Knights enter. Delita orders the Knights to leave, then tells Ovelia that he wishes to be the people's "hero", one who will restore peace to Ivalice. She's surprised; Delita then tells her to leave. He promises not to hurt Olan. (He thinks perhaps Olan might work for him against the Church.) Ovelia goes to the door (which is out of sight of the three others), opens and closes the door, but stays inside to hear. Delita and Olan have an argument, and Delita declares that all manipulators will die, including the High Priest. He then turns to Balmafula, who has let out a gasp. He tells her that he knows she was sent as an assassin if he turned against the Church. She takes out her knife, but realizes that she can't stab Delita because of her feelings for him; Delita overpowers her.
• Zalbag takes a chemist to visit the grave of his father Balbanes. The chemist confirms that Mosfungus is growing out of the grave, but the man seems urgent to leave. He tells Zalbag that Mosfungused corpses are bad luck; they signify the end of that family's dynasty. Zalbag flips him a coin and stands by Balbanes' grave, shocked...
• Ramza and Meliadoul travel to Igros Castle to find the truth about Dycedarg, Rofel, and the Capricorn Stone. There are no guards outside, but Zalbag's Chocobo is there. Inside the castle, Ramza finds Zalbag with his sword drawn, intending to kill Dycedarg for his actions against Larg and Balbanes. Dycedarg calls his Hokuten Knights to help, but Ramza saves Zalbag, who kills Dycedarg. Suddenly, Dycedarg's Capricorn Stone begins to glow, and Dycedarg transforms into Adramelk, the Lucavi demon. Adramelk kills Zalbag; his body disappears. Ramza then defeats Adramelk. He decides to head to Murond Holy Place, headquarters of the Murond Glabados Church, to look for Alma.

  Cloud Subquest

• In Goug Machine City, Besrodio has found a strange steel device from many centuries ago. It bears the mark of Aquarius, and reacts to Ramza's Holy Stones.
• In Goland Coal City, Ramza hears a rumor about a strange, powerful monster living in the Goland Colliery.
• In Lesalia Imperial Capital, Ramza overhears the same rumor again. He tells the bartender he might want to go and kill the monster. Beowulf Kadmas, a hunter, asks Ramza if he can join him on this quest; Ramza agrees.
• The Goland Colliery is inexplicably guarded by Chemists and dragons. When Ramza and Beowulf reach the inner chamber, they find a Holy Dragon named Reis whom Beowulf seems to know. Reis, who holds the Aquarius Holy Stone, is being beset by an Archaic Demon named Schinoeg, who demands the stone. Beowulf and Ramza rescue Reis from the Demon and Reis joins Ramza's fight.
• Back in Goug, Ramza puts the Aquarius stone in the steel device. It turns out to be a robot named Worker 8 who claims that Ramza is his master; he joins him.
• In Zarghidas Trade City, Ramza meets a flower girl named Aeris (from FF7). He buys a flower from her.
• Back in Goug, Besrodio has found yet another device. This one looks like some kind of heavenly chart mechanism. It also reacts to Ramza's Holy Stones, and the sign of Cancer is on it. Ramza leaves to look for this Stone.
• In Zeltennia Castle, a rumor circulates about Nelveska Temple. It's also known as "Cursed Island" and rumors of a Holy Stone and an iron guard are rampant. Ramza heads there from Zeltennia.
• In Nelveska Temple, Ramza comes upon a Steel Giant named Worker 7-new, an identical clone of Worker 8. This Steel Giant is also powered by a Zodiac Stone, in this case the Cancer Stone. Worker 7-new, who appears to be guarding the now-empty temple without regard to the fact that there are no more inhabitants, attacks Ramza. Ramza defeats it and obtains the Cancer Stone.
• Beowulf gives Reis the Cancer Stone; the stone reacts to her and lifts her curse, transforming her back into a human.
• Returning once more to Goug, Ramza puts the Cancer Stone in the new device. It summons a very strange-looking young man (Cloud, also from FF7), who runs away.
• Back in Zarghidas, Cloud meets Aeris and notices something familiar about her. 8-) Then, a bunch of ruffians gang up on Aeris. Apparently she has to pay them a large amount of money for an undisclosed reason. They ridicule her, then Cloud comes to her rescue. They forget Aeris and attack Cloud, but Ramza shows up to save him. Cloud joins Ramza's party.

  Chapter 4, continued

• In Murond Holy Place, High Priest Funeral is cornered by the three head Temple Knights: Vormav, Rofel, and Kletian. Vormav stabs Funeral, but tells him that the wound would heal. Vormav offers to save Funeral's life in exchange for the whereabouts of Murond Death City. Funeral finally blurts out the location - in a Magic Square in the deepest level of Orbonne Monastery. However, Funeral doesn't know how to open it - but it must mention it in the Germonik Scriptures. Vormav nods to Rofel as he leaves to look for Ramza and the Scriptures; Rofel plunges his sword into Funeral's back and leaves him there.
• Ramza fights his way into Murond Holy Place, but he is stopped by the three Temple Knights. They demand all of his Holy Stones and the Germonik Scriptures, in exchange for Alma. He gives them the Scriptures, but refuses to give them the Stones until they give him Alma. Rofel reads the Scriptures and finds the chant to open the Magic Square; then the Temple Knights betray Ramza and attack him. Ramza defeats them and they disappear.
• Further into the Murond Holy Place is (for reasons unknown) a room with a large coffin. Vormav summons three Demons and a surprise attacker - Zalbag! The Lucavi are controlling his body, which is now undead. Zalbag begs Ramza to kill him. Ramza reluctantly does, and Zalbag disappears in a flash of sound and color, never to return.
• Ramza finally reaches the innermost sanctuary of Murond Holy Place, where Funeral lies with a sword in his back. Funeral is still barely alive, but can only twitch his hand and whisper one word before he dies: "Orbonne". Ramza heads to Orbonne for the final sequence of battles.

  Deep Dungeon Subquest

• In Warjilis Trade City, Ramza overhears a conversation about an ancient lighthouse called Deep Dungeon. The Dungeon holds lots of amazing treasure, and is home to many dangerous monsters. The Dungeon has ten levels, each harder than the next. When Ramza finally fights his way to the final level, he is confronted by another surprise: the wizard Elidibs. Elidibs (a former graduate of Gariland Military Academy who fought for Ivalice in the Fifty Year War) has yet another Zodiac Stone, Serpentarius. He transforms into a Lucavi demon and attacks Ramza. Ramza (aided by a mysterious monster called a Byblos) defeats Elidibs and takes his Serpentarius Stone.

  Chapter 4: Final Battles

• Ramza fights his way past the hordes of Temple Knights guarding Orbonne Monastery. He meets Rofel in the lowest reaches of the Monastery. Ramza defeats him, but Rofel then opens the gate to Murond Death City, sucking Ramza's party and himself inside. He then destroys the entrance, trapping Ramza there. Rofel tells him that his sister is waiting. Ramza demands to know where, but Rofel dies. Ramza sees a flash of light and follows it.
• In the Murond Death City, Ramza is challenged by Kletian. He defeats him and continues to the Lost Sacred Precincts, where he is again challenged, this time by Balk who has been brought back from the dead as a Zodiac Brave. Balk is defeated again, and Ramza continues to the Graveyard of Airships.
• This place is where St. Ajora's soul lives. Vormav is attempting to use Alma's body to ressurrect St. Ajora, but the Virgo Stone is not responding. Ramza then arrives. Vormav decides that Ajora needs more bloodshed to return; he transforms into the Lucavi demon Hashmalum and fights Ramza. After being beaten, Hashmalum decides to sacrifice himself for Ajora. Alma's body begins to glow and St. Ajora takes over her body.
• Somehow, Alma's will fights against Ajora and her real body appears beside Ajora. Ajora becomes enraged and summons four Ultima Demons, then transforms into Altima, the Bloody Angel. Ramza's troops begin to prevail against him. The Ultima Demons disappear, and Altima gathers even more power, but Ramza defeats him. Altima's final death throes completely destroy the entire airship...
• A poignant funeral service is held for Alma (in the name of St. Ajora, no less). Ramza, being a heretic, was denied a funeral. Olan and Balmafula show up late and Olan lays flowers at Alma's grave. However, Olan is completely surprised when he sees Ramza and Alma pass by on Chocobos! He tries to chase after them, but they quickly ride out of his sight. No one ever sees either of them again, and history is unsure as to whether they truly died in Murond Death City, or whether he survived and remained in peace with his sister for the rest of his life.

  Epilogue

• Delita marries Ovelia and becomes king of Ivalice.
• However, the apparent deaths of Ramza and Alma slowly eat away at Ovelia's sanity. Several years after she married King Delita, on her birthday, she hides away in the ruins of Zeltennia Church (where Delita once comforted her when she cried). Delita finally finds her and has a boquet of flowers for her, but Ovelia, crazed with grief, rushes at him with a dagger and stabs him. She accuses him of killing Ramza, and that he plans on killing her as well. Delita, shocked, takes out his own knife and stabs Ovelia. Weak with pain, he limps a few steps, then wonders, "Ramza... what did you get?" before all goes black.
• Olan completes his work, the Durai Writings, chronicling the truth behind the Church, the Temple Knights, and Ramza's actions. He plans on presenting them to Prince Clemence on the occasion of his coronation. However, the Church apprehends Olan before he can do so, proclaims him a heretic, and burns him at the stake. The Durai Writings are confiscated and hidden away deep in Murond Holy Place.

400 Years Later

• Alazlam J. Durai, a descendent of Olan, discovers the Durai Writings during his work as a historian. He attempts to piece together the truth of what happened during the Lion War... and thus the game begins.

There are several things which aren't clearly defined or which contradict each other throughout the game. Here's a (very) short list of them.

• Vormav tells Princess Ovelia that she's not the real princess. However, the character info still lists her as Omdolia's sister whom he adopted, and no clarification of her "fake" status is ever made after this. She does call Orlandu her "Uncle"...
• The Record log says that Delita framed Gelwan for the kidnapping of Ovelia, but Rumors and other facts point to Gelwan actually doing it.
• When Olan meets Ramza in Yardow he tells him that he's Orlandu's son-in-law; however, the "Person" information gives details on Olan being Orlandu's adopted son; Olan later calls Orlandu his stepfather.
• If you think of any others, E-mail me.