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"Never imagined I’d ever come this far away from home."

—Vaan

The Imperial City of Archades (帝都アルケイディス, Teito Arukeidisu^?) is the capital city of the Archadian Empire which rules over most of Ivalice in Final Fantasy XII. The modern city of Archades is built on the poor, and the ruins of older cities. There are only two ways into the city of Archades. The most common way is via airship. This method is patrolled for trouble by the Archadian Judges. The second way is up through the Sochen Temple, into old Archades and across the bridge into Archades proper.

Sage KnowledgeEdit

"The capital of the Archadian Empire. Still small when it first formed as a city-state, it grew tremendously during the long peace fostered by the Galtean Alliance. When the Empire was formed, the city center was re-located, forming the Archades we know today. Though poor in both natural resources and land, Archades came to prominence as a city of innovation and learning. All information and technology gathers here, and the famed mages and artificers born within her walls are legion. Knowledge, then, is the true strength of the Archadian Empire. The city of Archades forms an octagon with the Imperial Palace at its center. Around the Palace sit the Senate Chambers and other administrative quarters, beyond which lies a booming mercantile district. The buildings in the city center are quite tall, with the lower floors being used mainly as residences. The difference in heights between the various buildings makes this a city of small airships, that being the most efficient means of accessing all levels of the metropolis. More than half the population of Archades is hume, and while at one time all lived near the ground, of late, those of power or particular wealth have taken to living in the higher apartments and traveling exclusively by private airship."

—Sage Knowledge 55, Archades

LocationsEdit

ArchadesEdit

The city is divided in two levels: one consisting of the districts of "Nilbasse", "Trant", "Molberry", and "Rienna" and the upper level of "Tsenoble". There are no poor within the city of Archades proper, all of the poor find themselves in Old Archades. Dr. Cid bases all of his research out of the Draklor Laboratories, found within the city in the Tsenoble area.

Archades residents tend to be rich and arrogant. Most people there are more interested in having a good reputation—usually of being well informed—than in money or riches. Well informed people in Archades can earn chops by giving information to other residents about a particular subject. The chops are then used as proof of status, granting access to Tsenoble via taxi. Certain areas in Tsenoble can only be accessed by those who possess a sandalwood chop. The Archades Aerodrome has Skyferry flights to Balfonheim, Nalbina and Rabanastre.

Old ArchadesEdit

Main article: Old Archades

Old Archades is where all of the poor and destitute from Archades wind up. It is run down and barely patrolled by the Judges, who appear to be more interested in keeping the poor in their place. The only way into Archades is with money, so all of the citizens dream of finding a way to earn enough to see them safely into Archades.

Where chops are the most important trade item in Archades, gossip is the most important in Old Archades. If there's one way to get ahead it is by finding out as much information as possible to make the way up into Archades through gaining fortune.

Old Archades can be accessed via the ruins of the Sochen Palace.

Sochen Cave PalaceEdit

Main article: Sochen Cave Palace

Sochen Cave Palace is an ancient palace overrun with several undead creatures. The only royalty currently residing within the temple are a family of Mandragoras led by the Onion Queen. These Mandragoras have caused problems for hunters in the Archadian wilderness.

Several ancient and powerful creatures are locked away in the depths of the Sochen, including one of the game's superbosses, the Hell Wyrm.

An old lift device connects Sochen to Old Archades, whilst the entrance to the destitute palace lies within the Tchita Uplands.

Draklor LaboratoryEdit

Main article: Draklor Laboratory

The Draklor Labs serve as a base to Doctor Cid, whose research concerning nethicite is integral to the Empire's developments. He uses these facilities to create more and more powerful airships for the Archadian fleets, such as the Sky Fortress Bahamut. He also uses these facilities to create manufacted nethicite.

The Laboratories are actually a series of rooms on multiple floors. Each floor has a garrison of Judges on it, as well as several smaller labs manned by Imperial scientists. The top floor houses Cid's personal open air lab.

QuestsEdit

Chop CollectingEdit

To proceed in the storyline the player needs to play the Information Exchange minigame in Archadia to earn Pine Chops. The story proceeds after nine chops, but if the player collects all, the chops can be traded in for a Sandalwood Chop on the second floor of any merchant shop, by talking with the Chopmaster. The Sandalwood Chop grants entrance to Archades's Highgarden Terrace. Pine Chops are earned by connecting people with information in the various sections of Archades, by matching pairs of people.

Once the Tarot Reader and the Happy Novelist are matched in the Rienna area, the Tarot Reader will tell how many matches are left in each area.

MolberryEdit

1st Person	2nd Person
Reminiscing Lady	Family-minded Girl
Daughter-in-Law	Man from Giza
Avid Traveler	Traveling Gentleman
Ardent Woman	Ardent Man
Talented Woman	Akademician
Look-Alike	Look-Alike
Proud Mother	Tutor
Poor Husband	Poor Wife
Would-be Judge	Judge's Wife

RiennaEdit

1st Person	2nd Person
Tarot Reader	Happy Novelist
Lazy Profiteer	Researcher's Wife
Greenseller	Vegetable Seller
Good Brother	Waiting Woman
Philosopher of Cuisine	Dangerous Chef
Tour Leader	Bhujerban Lady
Lucky Man	Romantic Lady

TrantEdit

1st Person	2nd Person
Smitten Man	Smitten Woman
Boutiquere	Moneyed Gentleman
Farce-Goer	Girl on an Errand
Historian	Perceptive Man
Music Appreciator	Lutenist
Builder	Artisan Architect

NilbasseEdit

1st Person	2nd Person
Determined Researcher	Ex-Researcher
Senior Researcher	Failed Researcher
Worried Husband	Materialistic Woman
Aspiring Starlet	Faded Star
Athletic Woman	Avid Reader
Gentleman Onlooker	Eager Crier

Hunt Club OwnerEdit

The owner of the Hunt Club can be found on the Highgarden Terrace (can only be accessed with a Sandalwood Chop, see above). He'll reward the player with Zodiac Gems for killing Trophy Monsters.

Trophies	Reward
5	Aries Gem & Libra Gem
10	Taurus Gem & Scorpio Gem
15	Gemini Gem & Sagittarius Gem
20	Cancer Gem & Capricorn Gem
25	Leo Gem & Aquarius Gem
30	Virgo Gem & Pisces Gem

JulyEdit

If the player helped July in Nalbina Fortress earlier in the game, she will reward them with a Salamand Halcyon at Charlotte's Magickery.

Medallion QuestEdit

After talking to a nu mou in Nabreus Deadlands the player is asked to find some medallions and bring them to the deadlands. In Archades the player can find Roh'Kenmu within the Magick Shop, looking for a medallion. In the Old Archades the player can find the Proper Gent sitting on a side wall in the eastern side of the Alley of Muted Sighs. He is Otto and will give the Moonsilver Medallion, which the player must pass on to Roh'Kenmu at the Magick Shop.

Great Cockatrice Escape SidequestEdit

Main article: Giza Plains (Final Fantasy XII)#Great Cockatrice Escape Sidequest

A cockatrice called Agytha is in the Grand Arcade area in the Central area of Archades, looking for a husband. The player must have a Sandalwood Chop to access the area, by earning all the available chops and trading them in a shop. The player must speak to a male Cockatrice in the Alley of Low Whispers area in Old Archades, then tell Agytha where to look to get a Tumulus.

ShopsEdit

Note: The items available for purchase change throughout the game. These items may not all be available at the same time.

ArchadesEdit

Vint's ArmamentsEdit

Armor SellerEdit

You may wish to consult the List of Final Fantasy XII Armor article for more information on individual armor pieces.

Diamond Helm	7000 gil
Armor	Cost
Diamond Armor	7000 gil
Platinum Shield	5300 gil
Officer's Hat	7000 gil
Barrel Coat	7000 gil
Gaia Hat	7000 gil
Maduin Gear	7000 gil
Steel Mask	8100 gil
Mirror Mail	8100 gil
Dragon Shield	6000 gil
Chakra Band	8100 gil
Power Vest	8100 gil
Hypnocrown	8100 gil
Jade Gown	8100 gil
Platinum Helm	9300 gil
Platinum Shield	9300 gil
Crystal Shield	7200 gil

Weapons SellerEdit

You may wish to consult the List of Final Fantasy XII Weapons article for more information on individual weapons.

Platinum Sword	9000 gil
Weapons	Cost
Power Rod	4500 gil
Hammerhead	9500 gil
Recurve Crossbow	9500 gil
Traitor's Bow	10000 gil
Halberd	10000 gil
Aldebaran	10000 gil
Gokuu Pole	9000 gil
Kagenui	10000 gil
Kiku-ichimonji	10500 gil
Claymore	10500 gil
Chaos Mace	8800 gil
Bastard Sword	11000 gil
Cross Scale	11000 gil
Francisca	11500 gil
Platinum Dagger	11500 gil
Tumulus	12000 gil
Judicer's Staff	5700 gil

Charlotte's MagickeryEdit

You may wish to consult the Magick article for more information on individual spells.

Aeroga	6800 gil
Spell	Cost
Reflectga	6800 gil
Silencega	6800 gil
Blindga	6800 gil
Graviga	6800 gil

Bulward's TechnicksEdit

You may wish to consult the Technick article fore more information on individual technicks.

Infuse	2000 gil
Technick	Cost
Addle	3500 gil
Bonecrusher	700 gil
Shades of Black	5000 gil
Stamp	4500 gil

Granch's RequisitesEdit

You may wish to consult the List of Final Fantasy XII Items for more information on individual items.

Potion	70 gil
Wares	Cost
Antidote	50 gil
Eye Drops	50 gil
Phoenix Down	250 gil
Echo Herbs	50 gil
Gold Needle	100 gil
Alarm Clock	50 gil
Handkerchief	50 gil
Hi-Potion	210 gil
Bacchus's Wine	120 gil
Smelling Salts	50 gil
Remedy	400 gil
Chronos Tear	50 gil
X-Potion	630 gil

MusicEdit

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"Theme of the Empire"

Trouble with the audio sample?

Main article: The Archadian Empire (Theme)

"Theme of the Empire" (帝国のテーマ, Teikoku no teema^?) plays as the background music to the Imperial City of Archades. A piano arrangement of the theme is included on the Piano Collections: Final Fantasy XII album.