Returners The Returners is an organization in " Final Fantasy VI " . They oppose the Gestahlian Empire ' s conquest of the world . The majority of the game ' s protagonists are members of the group . Story . The Returners were formed by Banon to resist the Empire ' s growing influence as they used Magitek to conquer the southern territories and set their sights on the north in the Third Gestahlian Campaign . The Returners station in a hideout in the Sabre Mountains , but their influence is small . King Edgar of Figaro provides funds and resources to the group using Locke as a go - between , but the Returners lack the manpower for open war on the Empire and operate quietly . The kingdom of Doma sides with them , as do individuals in other cities , including Arvis in Narshe . Initially the struggle goes badly for the Returners and their allies , with almost the entire population of Doma perishing in the Siege of Doma . When Figaro is dragged into the war , they quickly lose South Figaro to the Imperials . Arvis has Locke rescue a former Imperial soldier named Terra from Narshe . Terra can use magic , a power thought mythical , and has been freed from Imperial control by contact with a frozen esper found in Narshe Mines . This confirms for Banon that the Empire ' s source of power is the legendary magical beasts known as espers . To discover more , Banon and Terra , along with Edgar and his brother Sabin , return to Narshe to defend the town from attack , and the Battle for the Frozen Esper ensues . Narshe guards defend the town while Returners defend the esper against Kefka Palazzo ' s Imperial forces . After repelling the Imperial force Terra is discovered to be half - esper , and reveals the existence of another realm where the espers live the Empire had invaded , and seized the espers used to produce their Magitek weapons . Narshe joins the Returners , and with Figaro this gives them the resources and technology to attack the Empire ' s capital Vector , but they lack the manpower . On their request , Terra opens the gate to the Esper World , releasing several espers that decimate Vector . The Returner - Narshe forces occupy most of Vector while the Empire calls a ceasefire to look for the espers with Terra ' s help . Terra and her friends travel to Thamasa and help locate the espers and their leader Yura , who soon agrees to a peace treaty with Imperial general Leo Cristophe . The peace is short - lived ; soon Kefka attacks the town , and kills Leo and his troops and captures the espers as magicite . The Imperials then invade the Esper World and raise the Floating Continent . Although the Returners destroy the Imperial air force in the battle over the Floating Continent , they fail to prevent Kefka from moving the Warring Triad out of alignment . This triggers the end of the world . The Returners are mostly wiped out in the global disaster , with the exception of the playable party and , in the " Advance " and mobile releases , a man in Nikeah who tells the party about the four new espers that can be found . The organization can be said to live on through the playable party in the World of Ruin , but are never referred to as such . Etymology . The Returners are trying to return things to the way they were before the empire ' s conquests , and return it to peaceful times . In the World of Ruin , the Returners ' " spirit " lingers , with Celes saying she wants to return the world to the state before Kefka ruined it . Kefka brings death and destruction , while the party wants to return life into the dying world , finally materializing it in the ending . The word " returner " is used throughout the game not simply referring to the organization , but many NPCs in the World of Ruin mention their wish to return to the " good old days " ( the World of Balance ) .