Relm: I couldn't miss the chance to practice my drawing!
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"It smells nice. All naturey." "Just smells damp. And I think something bit me."
—Vanille and Sazh
"This forest, abundant with water and wildlife, was once a nature reserve managed by the Sanctum. The crystal pillar shimmers through the gaps between the twisted tree trunks that are spread across the land."
—Final Fantasy XIII-2 Online Description
The Sunleth Waterscape(サンレス水郷,Sanresu-suigou?) is a location in Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2. Located in the Riparian Corridor valley in Cocoon, it is a nature reserve where many types of rare monsters run rampant, including edible flan. It is maintained by a fal'Cie capable of changing the weather. Rain affects some creatures, making them weaker in battle.
In Final Fantasy XIII-2 the Sunleth Waterscape has lost its lush green and become more "autumn-like" in appearance. New species of giant monsters have moved in, and they are able to be used as transportation, along with the vines hanging throughout the area.
When asked why Sunleth Waterscape is populated by flan in Final Fantasy XIII-2 the lead scenario writer Daisuke Watanabe answered: "We are aware that most episodes in the game are very serious. So we thought that the Sunleth Waterscape location offered an opportunity to introduce a humorous note and the flan creatures are perfect for this purpose."[1]
Off-limits to civilians, this unusual nature reservation is often visited by Sanctum officials engaged in ecological field studies. Research into the local ecosystem is conducted via climate-control mechanisms installed in the area. These mechanisms provide direct access to the fal'Cie in charge of manipulating weather conditions.
The Sunleth Waterscape is a nature preserve located inside Cocoon. After the catastrophe, the various fal'Cie that controlled the weather became dormant and the light of the fal'Cie Phoenix, which once served as Cocoon's sun, dimmed considerably.
For these reasons, the native biosystem has broken down and the site is now a haven for monsters.
From the Editor's Desk:
Jars of concentrated miniflan mucus are sold exclusively at the local Academy branch office. Known as Firaga for the Tongue, the spice is wildly popular with chefs who need to give their dishes an extra dash of hellish heat.
According to the web novelization, the Sunleth Waterscape is where Hope Estheim and his friends went on a school trip, interestingly, with Sazh as the pilot of their transport.
Sazh and Vanille arrive here after leaving the Vile Peaks, before reaching Nautilus. After they spot PSICOM ships flying overhead heading in the direction of Palumpolum, Sazh comments that Lightning and Hope could be in trouble. Vanille says that there is nothing they can do to help, and suggests that they run in the opposite direction—towards the city of Nautilus.
Sazh recounts to Vanille the story of his son Dajh and how he became a l'Cie for the Sanctum. The area ends with the two waiting to catch a boat to Nautilus in the pouring rain. Vanille asks Sazh if he hates Gran Pulse, to which he replies that he did not use to. He claims he had always been suspicious of the Sanctum's motives, until he got sucked into their stories about Pulse. Vanille grows steadily quiet after hearing Sazh's story.
While in search of Lightning three years later, Serah Farron, Noel Kreiss, and Mog travel to Sunleth Waterscape at 300 AF. Three hundred years after Cocoon's fall the fal'Cie that used to maintain it have become dormant, and the area is overtaken by flan. Noel and Serah find Snow Villiers overcome by Miniflans. He wakes up to see Serah and is unsure whether or not he is dreaming. Snow tries to protect her from the Royal Ripeness until Noel comes to their aid. They band together and fight it much to Noel's irritation due to him advising Snow not to fight.
During the battle, Snow deflects Royal Ripeness's attack and they defeat it in a combined effort. However, the flan merge back into Royal Ripeness as the three manage to escape. Noel accuses Snow of not running away from the fight when he should have. Snow reveals he had a dream with Lightning, who asked him to keep Cocoon's crystal pillar safe and says that after traveling through time and following leads, he concluded that if Royal Ripeness continues to grow, it will destroy the pillar and initiate a war. More and more flan are appearing in the area, and Serah and Noel conclude it must be a paradox, which they need to solve.
As they travel through the area they encounter a giant Enlil. Despite Noel's warnings, Snow tries to get the beast's attention, and asks Enlil if he and the others can ride on his back to get through the valley. Gaining Enlil's 'permission,' they jump onto the giant's back. Later they follow Miniflan to where they believe an artefact may be located; defeating the Miniflan places the artefact in the party's possession. Serah and Snow tell Noel about Vanille and Fang, and Noel and Serah enter through a Time Gate to look for a way to solve the paradox. When Snow tries to go with them he is blocked from entering the gate, and promises he will stay out of trouble until Serah and Noel get back.
After Serah and Noel resolve the anomaly in the Archylte Steppe and stop Royal Ripeness from growing bigger, they return to the Sunleth Waterscape finding Snow on the ropes in front of the reduced Royal Ripeness. Snow thanks them for their help defeating it, as he couldn't do it alone. After being questioned by Noel why he still fought despite not being able to beat it, he answers that he couldn't simply stand back and watch something happen to Vanille and Fang. Noel berates Snow for believing himself to be everyone's hero and protector, asking if he had ever really saved anyone, and if he realizes how his reckless behavior affects the people around him, namely the ones he is supposed to protect.
Snow tells Noel that he has been protecting Serah in his absence. When Snow entrusts Serah into Noel's care, he starts to glow and turn transparent. Noel thinks Snow is disappearing because they solved the anomaly and Snow doesn't belong in this time. When Serah tries to hold him, Snow tells her not to worry and promises they will meet again before fading away.
After Snow disappears and Noel, Mog, and Serah leave through a Time Gate, Caius Ballad and Paddra Nsu-Yeul appear in front of the gate, the former asking if their actions in this time are acceptable.
In 400 AF, the Academy has made Sunleth Waterscape a protected observatory as they find the young Miniflan that remained have begun to form communities called "Flan Schools". Serah, Noel, and Mog help the Miniflan find their missing friends, however, once the flan are reunited, they threaten to take out the crystal pillar with their rough housing. Being a teacher and having experience with troublemaking kids, Serah manages to scare the Miniflan into promising to behave themselves.
In Final Fantasy XIII, the Sunleth Waterscape is a mountainous area covered with lakes, large trees and cliffs. It's connected with the Vile Peaks and has a seabus transportation service to Nautilus.
In Final Fantasy XIII-2, the area seen in the first installment is not available for exploration, and a new area is given for players to be explored. This area is located near the crystal pillar and its surroundings are explorable on various tree branches.
The eponymous theme, "Sunleth Waterscape", plays as the background music. It is one of the few location themes in the series to have distinct English lyrics. The song is performed by Frances Maya, alternating with a piano melody and background percussion and violin.
In the year 300 AF, "Starting Over" plays as the location theme. It is composed by Naoshi Mizuta, sung by Joelle, and mixed by GOH HOTODA. An alternate version version of the song, "Starting Over -Aggressive Mix-" also plays in the area, but only whenever monsters appear, and unlike the original version, it is not mixed by GOH HOTODA. At 400 AF and 300 AF in the southern parts, the original theme from XIII returns as the background theme, but interestingly, the lyrics are from the Japanese version instead of the overseas English version.
Lightning is seen traveling through the Sunleth Waterscape in the E3 2006 trailer, but she does not visit the area in the actual game. It is likely she was simply used as a placeholder.
The Sunleth Waterscape makes a cameo in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy as the background for Final Fantasy XIII FMS events, one such being the area's eponymous theme.
The Sunleth Waterscape is the closest place for player in Final Fantasy XIII-2 to inspect the crystal pillar closely.
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Added by Zelda164
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Added by FFfangirl
Vanille examines a weather sphere.
The Old Growth.
The Sun-dappled Trail.
View of the Sunleth Waterscape.
A Shimmering Sky.
Vanille at the Sunleth Waterscape.
Concept art.
Concept art.
Concept art.
Electric fence concept art.
Train station concept art.
Sunleth Waterscape 300 AF.
Sunleth Waterscape 300 AF.
Sunleth Waterscape 300 AF.
Chocolina in 300 AF.
The party rides on a monster.
Noel swings on a vine.
Flan guarding an artefact.
Sunleth Waterscape 300 AF Map.
Sunleth Waterscape 400 AF.
Sunleth Waterscape 400 AF.
Sunleth Waterscape 400 AF Map.
Added by NeloAngelo
