Final Fantasy XII ( manga ) The Final Fantasy XII manga is a series of five volumes based on the game . The plot is the same but various flashbacks show new details about the characters and some minor details seen in the game are altered . Story . Volume 1 . Chapter 1 . The party traverses the Nam - Yensa Sandsea to find the Tomb of Raithwall and the Dawn Shard . Ashe is attacked by a Garuda , and is saved by Basch and Vossler while Vaan , Balthier and Fran kill the Garuda . The group enters the tomb and finds their way to Belias ' s chamber . Basch , Vossler , Fran and Balthier battle Belias while Ashe , Vaan and Penelo try to enter the door the Esper was guarding to get the Dawn Shard . Vaan wishes to assist in fighting Belias when the four do poorly , but Ashe exclaims their mission to retrieve the Dawn Shard takes priority , and Basch and Vossler would die to see Dalmasca restored . Vaan , displeased with Ashe ' s attitude towards power and her friends , leaves her to retrieve the shard herself . Ashe returns to protect Vaan before Belias can strike him down , and the group defeats it . Belias ' s glyph marks itself on the back of Ashe ' s hand as a sign of its servitude to her , and the group moves on to the treasure chamber . Finding it empty and realizing the Esper ' s allegiance was itself the tomb ' s treasure , Ashe and Vaan see an apparition of Rasler , and Ashe thinks back to their marriage . Chapter 2 . In a flashback , Ashe prepares to meet Rasler with her attendant Argas but , upon seeing Ashe , Rasler declares he cannot marry her . Insulted , Ashe flees . She later overhears Rasler speaking to a knight of Nabradia about King Raminas , and she follows the knight into a restricted area of the Royal Palace of Rabanastre where she witnesses a meeting between Nabradian officers and Archadia n immigrants . The group plans to assassinate Raminas to shatter any hope of alliance between Dalmasca and Nabradia , and force Dalmasca to ally with the stronger Rozarrian Empire . Ashe is detected but Rasler helps her hide , and the two fall through a weak spot in the floor into the Garamsythe Waterway . Rasler tells Ashe Nabradia is divided on what to do regarding the power struggle between Rozarria and Archadia , and he rejected her to avoid making her a target when he heard plots of something sinister to happen in Dalmasca . The waterway floods , and Ashe perceives this as a sign dinner has ended and the assassination will occur soon . The two race to Raminas ' s bedroom to find the leader of the plot , Argas , about to stab him . Argas tells Ashe that with Raminas dead , Ashe will be queen , and can ally with Rozarria , but Ashe refuses to betray Nabradia . The two fight Argas ' s men , and as Argas attacks Raminas , Basch leaps from the bed and slices off her arm while Vossler and Dalmascan guards storm the room . Basch tells Ashe that the knight she followed was an informant of his , and Raminas is safe and the other members of the insurgent faction are being arrested . Realizing the other ' s true character , Ashe and Rasler fall in love and wed . Archadia takes the news of the insurgent faction ' s failure as a sign of civil war in Nabradia , and the Archadian politician Vayne Solidor orders an army to march on Nabradia to " keep the peace " in Ivalice . Nabradia is invaded and its capital city Nabudis is destroyed , with the Archadians turning their sights to Dalmasca . Chapter 3 . Rasler is appointed the head of the Dalmascan military as Archadia prepares to attack Nalbina Fortress . Despite being outnumbered , the Dalmascan forces achieve an advantage by crashing unmanned airship s into the Archadian forces , dousing them in flammable oil . The two armies enter Battle of Nalbina Fortress , and the Archadians discuss retreating , but are threatened into fighting by Judge Bergan . Bergan and Judge Drace lead a charge to push the Dalmascans back , and though Rasler begins to order a retreat Bergan goads him into fighting him , while Basch fights Drace . While they fight Judge Zargabaath infiltrates Nalbina with a teleportation stone , and the Archadians work down the fortress ' s paling so their airships may move in to attack . Rasler and Basch retreat to the fortress , but the paling falls and in the chaos Rasler is struck by an Archadian arrow . Rasler and Basch escape to Rabanastre , but Rasler dies from his wounds . With Nalbina fallen , the Archadians plan to force Dalmasca into an unfair peace treaty . Volume 2 . Chapter 4 . Judge Gabranth arrives at Nalbina as Vayne ' s guard during the peace treaty signing . Vayne is sent on behalf of Emperor Gramis and must represent his wishes , but personally wishes to see Dalmasca fall entirely . Vayne hatches a plot with Gabranth to arrange for Raminas to be assassinated , thus allowing Archadia to continue its invasion since there can be no treaty . Rumors spread of an assassination plot , and Basch and Vossler storm the fortress to rescue the king , among their soldiers a new recruit named Reks . Reks tells Basch he fights to protect Dalmasca and his brother Vaan , reminding Basch of his homeland of Landis , which he left to fall to Archadia while he sought a way to fight the Empire . Regretting leaving his home and his brother Noah , Basch tells Reks to not have any regrets as he does . An imposter Basch finds Raminas and slays the nobles with him , and Raminas flees and is met with the real Basch . The two Baschs do battle , and Basch realizes the imposter is his twin brother Noah , now known as Judge Gabranth for the Archadians . Gabranth defeats Basch and kills Raminas and Reks as " Basch " . With Raminas dead and Basch known as a traitor , the peace talks collapse and Dalmasca falls to Archadian invasion , Ashe vanishing from public view by faking her death . Chapter 5 . Two years after Dalmasca ' s fall , Vayne is appointed consul to Rabanastre . Vaan almost gets arrested when he steals from an Imperial soldier , and Penelo asks him to accept work from Migelo to stay out of trouble . When Vaan continues to complain about Imperial oppression , he decides to sneak into the palace to steal from the treasury and take back some of Dalmasca ' s money . Vaan poses as one of Migelo ' s workers and helps unload food to get into the palace , but is caught by the soldiers and flees into a hidden passage when he sees a specter of Reks walk through a wall . Meanwhile , Vossler and a band of Dalmascan insurgents attack , having snuck weapons and troops into the castle the same way Vaan had gotten in . Vaan finds the passage leads to a treasure room and discovers piece of magicite concealed in a statue ' s mouth , but as he takes it is confronted by Balthier and Fran . Chapter 6 . Vaan attempts to fight his way past Balthier and Fran , when an explosion distracts them and allows Vaan ' s escape . Outside an airship is bombarding the palace , and as Vaan evades the soldiers he finds Vayne talking to Gabranth . Vayne reveals that through a spy in the insurgents he knew of the attack and kept security lax to bait them into an attack , allowing the airship " Ifrit " and the Archadian forces to trap and destroy them . An explosion knocks Vaan off - balance and reveals him , and when he is brought before Vayne Vaan attempts to attack him but is blocked by Gabranth . Vayne orders Vaan executed , but Vaan is saved by Balthier . Cornered by soldiers , Balthier throws Vaan over a balcony and leaps after him . Chapter 7 . Fran catches the two on her hoverbike and the three escape , Vayne watching them fly and Vaan vowing to one day be strong enough to successfully strike him . The bike loses power and crashes in the Garamsythe Waterway , and the three form a temporary alliance to get out . Vossler realizes the insurgence was lead into a trap and orders a retreat , but Ashe , accompanying him under the alias " Amalia " , refuses to admit defeat . Vossler orders Ashe taken to safety through the Waterway , but the troops he sends with her are Imperial informants and aware of her identity . Ashe fights them off but is trapped on a ledge . Vaan spots her and calls for her to jump down , catching her . Volume 3 . Chapter 8 . Vaan , Balthier , Ashe and Fran are met with a force of Imperial soldiers with the insurgent traitors , but a Firemane attacks them . A second Firemane attacks the party , and they attempt to fight it off . Judge Ghis , appointed by Vayne to oversee the counterattack , saves the insurgent traitors and defeats the first Firemane , ordering the insurgents to take him to Ashe . Balthier blinds the second Firemane in one eye , and Ashe tricks it into pursuing her into a tight passage , allowing Fran to attack from its blinded eye with a Quickening " Sesshouku Hatsudo " , freezing it . Ashe introduces herself as " Amalia " when Ghis finds them . Vaan attacks him and is thrown aside , and Balthier tells him Ghis is a Judge Magister , the right - hands of House Solidor . Chapter 9 . With Vaan knocked out and Ashe held captive by the soldiers , Balthier and Fran fight Ghis , but are outmatched . Vaan comes to and latches onto Ghis ' s leg distracting him long enough for Fran to overpower him . Before she can deliver the killing blow , Balthier is surrounded by Imperials and Fran is defeated . Vaan , Fran and Balthier are sent to the Nalbina Dungeons , while Ghis has Ashe taken away . Vossler arrives and attacks Ghis when he realizes he is too late to save Ashe . As the three are lead through the streets Penelo approaches in tears but is calmed by Balthier . The bounty hunter Ba ' Gamnan sees this and resolves to capture her to lure Balthier . Chapter 10 . Vaan awakens in the Nalbina Dungeons , and Balthier warns the dungeon is lawless and only the bloodthirsty thrive here . Vaan intervenes on a seeq prisoner attacking a former Dalmascan soldier , and as he is tossed aside the seeq notices the Goddess ' s Magicite fall from Vaan ' s pocket , and seizes it . Balthier tells him to let it go and tells Vaan he will teach him why he lost . Balthier challenges Vaan to a game where he will throw a coin , catch it , and Vaan must decide which hand it is in . If Vaan fails he will turn over his chestpiece from Reks as a prize , but Vaan demands Balthier wager his airship , the " Strahl " . Balthier tosses the coin , lecturing Vaan he is overconfident and thus he cannot understand when he is outmatched . Vaan fails , and Fran returns and reveals she has the coin and Balthier ' s hands are empty . Gabranth authorizes Ba ' Gamnan to search the prisoners for Balthier , and walks off . Fran reveals she has found the prison exit and used her magic to forge a duplicate key to the bindings that guard it , but they ' ve no way to fight their way out if Gabranth arrives . Balthier decides to make their move in two hours after investigating the Resistance , and Vaan declares to have recovered the stone when he returns . He finds the seeq who stole it but is ambushed by two more . Chapter 11 . Vaan is thrown into a cell until the seeq , Daguza , is ready to face him in the dungeon ' s arena . Ba ' Gamnan offers to free him , but Daguza intervenes and the two fight , and Vaan escapes and charges Daguza . In a flashback , Balthier explains to Vaan he won the coin flip using the magic spells Decoy and Vanish to distract Vaan , toss a fake coin while throwing the invisible real coin to Fran , and Vaan lost because he was too naive to think of sneakier tactics and didn ' t watch his surroundings . Vaan ignores Balthier ' s lesson and surprises Daguza with a frontal attack seizing the Goddess Magicite , and flees to reconvene with Balthier while another prisoner and Ba ' Gamnan deal with Daguza and the other enraged seeq . Gijuk and Bwagi follow Vaan , but Balthier uses the Mist in the air to perform a Quickening , Fires of War . The two escape into the magic - sealed door with Fran , leaving the two bangaa to return to Ba ' Gamnan , still occupied fighting off the seeq . Volume 4 . Chapter 12 . In the deepest layers of the prison Gabranth speaks to Basch , asking how he is kept alive if Ondore announced his execution , and if he knows anything about the prisoner " Amalia " Emperor Gramis and Vayne are secretly transporting , suspecting information is being kept from him . When Gabranth leaves Balthier , Vaan and Fran investigate the pit below for an escape route , and when Vaan is enraged at Basch for supposedly having killed the king causing a clamor , the trio drops Basch ' s cage to escape . In the Barheim Passage below the fortress , Vaan tells Basch Reks was interrogated as a co - conspirator on Raminas ' s murder and died from the torture used to force a confession . The four flee down the passage from a Mimic Queen , Basch grabbing the sword of a fallen adventurer to fight . Vaan attempts to help and distracts the Mimic Queen while Basch cleaves it in two , but they disturb a nest of smaller Mimics . Basch fights them off to protect Vaan , the two discussing Reks ' s belief in Basch and the true events of Raminas ' s death during the battle . With the Mimics dead the group escapes into the Dalmasca Estersand , and Basch heads to Rabanastre , telling Vaan he will accept atonement at his hands after he is finished what he needs to do . Balthier and Fran also return , Balthier returning Vaan ' s chestpiece before they leave . Vossler awakens in a bed with bandaged wounds , wondering how he survived his fight with Ghis , when a shadowed figure approaches him . Chapter 13 . A cloaked Basch seeks Vossler from the Resistance hideout and Vaan reunites with Kytes and Old Dalan , but is told Penelo hasn ' t been seen . Vaan shows Dalan the Goddess ' s Magicite , and Dalan tasks Vaan with taking a Dalmascan knight ' s sword to Vossler , and is taken to him by Resistance members . Vossler and the Resistance leaders discuss Basch ' s return , some considering their chances of success increased with two of Dalmasca ' s famous captains leading them , but others are suspicious . Vossler refuses to assist Basch when he says he wants to rescue Ashe , merely giving him Dalan ' s delivered sword and warning him the Resistance will be watching him . Vossler confides in his aide that Ghis warned him of spies in the Resistance , and worries no one can be trusted . Basch asks Vaan to take him to see Balthier , wishing to fly to Bhujerba , and Vaan accepts as repayment for Basch protecting him from the Mimics . Kytes runs up to them and tells Vaan that Penelo has been kidnapped . Chapter 14 . While Vaan was imprisoned , Penelo was captured by Ba ' Gamnan and taken to Bhujerba to lure Balthier to him . When Basch requests passage to Bhujerba , Balthier reluctantly agrees and the four set off to the sky city . A boy named Lamont is spying on Judge Ghis speaking to the ruler of Bhujerba , Marquis Ondore , and requests Vaan ' s group to accompany him into the mines . Vaan lets Basch ' s identity slip , while Balthier grows suspicious of Lamont due to his clothing and Archadian accent . When Lamont tells the group the magicite mines in Bhujerba are where Draklor Laboratory obtains their samples from to create special magicite called nethicite , Balthier demands to know who he is and how he knows of such subjects . They are interrupted by Ba ' Gamnan and his allies , and Balthier , Fran and Basch fend them off . Lamont is stunned by their power , rivaling the Judges , and thinks they may be strong enough to correct the disruptions in the Empire . Chapter 15 . As the heroes leave the mines they find Penelo , discovered by Archadian soldiers in the mines and taken to Ghis . Ghis orders her executed , suspicious of her being alone in the mines , but Lamont intervenes , confirming Balthier ' s suspicions about his identity — Larsa Ferrinas Solidor , Vayne ' s younger brother . The Archadians leave as Larsa speaks to Penelo , Fran and Balthier assuring Vaan he ' ll take care of her . Marquis Halim Ondore confronts the party , Basch explaining he came to Bhujerba to meet with him . Vossler leaves the Resistance to rescue Amalia from the Dreadnought " Leviathan " , paranoid about spies and wondering if Basch or his lieutenants are secretly working for Vayne . Vaan , Balthier , Fran and Basch are imprisoned and taken before Ondore , Vaan telling him about Penelo and Basch explaining there is an important prisoner aboard the " Leviathan " he wants to rescue . Ondore confesses the prisoner is important to him as well , then explains to Vaan that Larsa has met up with the Imperial fleet . Understanding his words , Basch feigns an attack on Ondore , giving pretence for Ondore to call his guards and have the group taken to the Archadians . As Ondore watches them be taken away , Vossler arrives to speak to Ondore , telling he does not trust him after his announcements that favored the Empire two years ago . Ondore explains he allowed Basch to be captured so he will be taken to the " Leviathan " and encourages Vossler to trust them both . Aboard the " Leviathan " , the four meet with Ghis and Ashe , and Ghis reveals Ashe ' s true identity declaring her the heir of the Dalmascan royal family . Volume 5 . Chapter 16 . Ghis tells the party the cooperation of a royal family member would be valuable to Vayne , but Ashe has no proof of her lineage and to aggravate the people ' s hearts with a false declaration of royal blood would be cause for execution . Basch tells Ghis there is such proof , the Dusk Shard of the Dynast King Raithwall , and he was instructed to deliver Ashe to it by Raminas if needed . The Goddess ' s Magicite — really the Dusk Shard — still in the group ' s belongings reacts to Ashe ' s anger over Basch ' s willingness to cooperate and reveals itself . Ghis seizes it and orders the group imprisoned , Ashe quartered separately . As the Imperial soldiers escort the group away , Basch reminisces of a war in Landis against the Urutan - Yensa , when he fought full of youthful pride and was nearly killed for it due to his inexperience and ignorance . Vossler saves the group disguised as an Archadian soldier , and he and Basch agree to ally their strength to protect Ashe . The group flees to the airship deck Basch , Vossler and Vaan going to fight the Archadians to buy time , while Balthier seizes an airship . Penelo and Larsa arrive , Larsa surprised to learn both Ashe and Basch are alive . Larsa tells them he wishes to protect the Empire from a ' distortion ' within that the news of their survival has aggravated , and gives Penelo a piece of manufacted nethicite to protect her . Ghis arrives , and Vossler takes Larsa prisoner to stay the Judge ' s hand . Ghis attacks with a spell , declaring Larsa is prepared to die as an Imperial , but the spell is absorbed by the nethicite Larsa gave Penelo . Basch wounds Ghis and Balthier starts the airship . The group escapes the " Leviathan " , Larsa ordering Ghis to report the incident since the escapees have no proof of their identities , commenting there need not be a report of Larsa ' s capture and Ghis ' s reaction to it . On the fleeing airship , Vossler tells Basch he remembers the Urutan - Yensa war ten years ago , and that he understands the need for friendship and trust . Chapter 17 . Ashe prepares to meet with Ondore , and Vossler departs , trusting Ashe ' s protection to Basch . Vossler meets with the Resistance leaders , Vossler ' s failed attack on the palace and growing paranoia about who he can and cannot trust causing them to doubt his leadership . A Resistance leader , Amadeo , has been imprisoned for suspicion of treason , but Vossler has faith in him , telling him that in the Urutan - Yensa war Amadeo ' s father served for Dalmasca and tutored him and Basch . Vossler releases Amadeo and the other leaders confess they wish to surrender to Vayne , deeming him a politically competent leader who will listen to their desire for peace . Refusing to yield , Vossler is stabbed by one of the leaders , and attacks them . Vossler uses the Time Magick Balance to return his own wounds on his enemies , creating confusion and allowing him to dispatch them . Amadeo reveals he is a traitor and a spy for Ghis , and flees the room to the rest of the Resistance . He declares Vossler has gone mad and is betraying them , and Vossler is held at swordpoint by his own men . Chapter 18 . Ashe and the party speak to Ondore who offers his protection but refuses aid otherwise , as without the Dusk Shard they cannot prove Ashe ' s royal lineage and the Gran Kiltias Anastasis of Mt Bur - Omisace will not recognize her claim . Ashe heads to the " Strahl " intending to steal it to pursue the Dawn Shard . Balthier tells Ashe he is prepared to leave her with Ondore , but Ashe tells Balthier the Dawn Shard is in Tomb of Raithwall bound to be full of treasures . Balthier agrees to accompany her , and the group takes flight . Vossler tends to his wounds as he flees his pursuers . Ghis traps Vossler with Archadian soldiers and offers him a deal ; deliver the Dawn Shard and he will aid Vossler in restoring Dalmasca ' s monarchy . As the Resistance soldiers seek Vossler , Amadeo is overheard discussing what to do about Vossler and Ghis , and the Resistance turns on him , a bangaa officer finding Vossler as he leaves Ghis . Vossler has accepted Ghis ' s proposal and strikes down the bangaa to depart alone . In the Nam - Yensa Sandsea Vossler meets up with Ashe and Basch , offering them his aid in retrieving the Dawn Shard and telling them the Resistance will aid them once they have the shard . Chapter 19 . In the aftermath of Belias ' s defeat and the retrieval of the Dawn Shard , the party is captured by Ghis ' airship fleet . Gabranth reports this to Vayne , who tells Venat they now have all three shards in their grasp . On the Dreadnought " Leviathan " Vossler hands the Dawn Shard to Ghis and reveals Vayne has agreed that Dalmasca shall be restored with Ashe as ruler in exchange for the shard , and Vossler believes the rebellion is futile . Ghis orders the shard tested to verify its authenticity while Vossler takes the party to their quarters . Vossler tries to explain himself to Ashe , but she refuses to listen . Fran goes berserk from the Mist spewed by the Dawn Shard during testing , and the group incapacitates their guards . Basch and Vossler duel as the party flees to the airship bay . When a group of Imperial gunners halts them , Ashe summons Belias , entering a trance - like rage . Vossler gains the upper hand against Basch using Balance magic and shatters his sword , but through willpower and the Mist around them , Basch creates a blade of Mist from the hilt of his sword and continues to fight , refusing to give up . The two clash again and Basch impales Vossler , Balance not activating since Vossler did not make physical contact with Basch ' s incorporeal weapon . Vossler entrusts Ashe ' s protection to Basch , telling him she ' s currently too weak to hold the throne , and Basch must aid her in her mission . The Dawn Shard ' s reaction causes a chain of system failures and explosions through the airship . Ashe awakens from her trance and sees her arm where Belias ' glyph appeared has grown bulbous and deformed . She dismisses Belias , causing her arm to be cut to a stump below the elbow . A wounded Ghis begins to climb and tries to deactivate the Dawn Shard ' s reactor , but Vossler stabs his sword into Ghis ' hand to stop him , telling him they will die together . The airship explodes and obliterates the rest of the fleet as Ashe and her friends flee in an airship back to Dalmasca . An ending narration says that Dalmasca has taken the first step on its road to revival . Because the manga was cancelled , Chapter 19 serves as the ending to the adaptation .