Dalmasca The Kingdom of Dalmasca is a small desert kingdom in Ivalice in " Final Fantasy XII " and the central location for most of the game . Dalmasca ' s capital is the Royal City of Rabanastre , home to its largest city and to its nobility , descendants of Dynast King Raithwall . Dalmasca is surrounded by the empires of Archadia and Rozarria . One of the greatest treasures of the Dalmascan royal family is the piece of deifacted nethicite , the Dusk Shard , hidden in a statue in a hidden room deep within the Royal Palace of Rabanastre . Order of the Knights of Dalmasca formed the nation ' s main army up until being annexed by the Archadian Empire . Story . Fearing for his kingdom ' s safety , King Raminas arranged his daughter , Princess Ashe , to marry Lord Rasler of the Kingdom of Nabradia . Shortly after the wedding Archadia attacked Nabradia , drawing Dalmasca into the war . Rasler lead the combined forces of Dalmasca and Nabradia , and was struck down during the battle of Nalbina Fortress . He died shortly after and Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg returned his body to Dalmasca . The combined army was defeated , and King Raminas sued for peace . He was to sign the treaty , even though many Dalmascans felt it betrayal to the Kingdom . The treaty signing was but a ploy as Vayne , the heir to the Emperor ' s throne , had sent Judge Gabranth to pose as Basch to kill King Raminas and frame Basch as the murderer . With her father and husband dead , Princess Ashe went into hiding with the Resistance . The Archadian Empire annexed Dalmasca into the Empire , claiming Ashe had taken her own life . The Empire claimed rule over Dalmasca for their own protection and sent Vayne Solidor to oversee the kingdom as Consul . Once the lady Ashe reappears , alive contrary to the Empire ' s assertions , Vayne is called back to the Imperial City of Archades . Once the Sky Fortress " Bahamut " is activated , it comes to Rabanastre along with the full Imperial fleet to attack the Resistance in the battle above Rabanastre . Ashe and her friends defeat Vayne and end the war but in the aftermath the " Bahamut " almost crashes into Rabanastre , barely being diverted to the city outskirts . Ashe reclaims the throne of Dalmasca , becoming Queen . Geography . Rabanastre . Rabanastre is separated into a northern sprawl , a southern sprawl , a marketplace , and a series of gates . The Royal Palace of Rabanastre lies in the north part of the city , inaccessible to the general public . Moogles operate a swift transportation system that allows citizens to teleport to different sections of the city called Moogling . Underneath the main city of Rabanastre is a series of tunnels that house Lowtown where the poor , the destitute , and the lost live . Because Imperials rarely venture there many residents have relocated to Lowtown ; one of such residents is Vaan and Old Dalan . Underneath Lowtown is a series of waterways with a secret entrance into the Royal Palace basement . Garamsythe Waterway . The Garamsythe Waterways supply the city with water . Within the waterways various dangerous creatures make their home , and would - be adventurers use them to sharpen their fighting skills . Unknown to palace security , there is a hidden passage from the Garamsythe Waterways into the Royal Palace basement . Giza Plains . The Giza Plains have a wet season and a dry season and different creatures inhabit the plains during the different seasons . Amidst the plains is a semi - nomadic village whose inhabitants migrate once the wet season comes . Upon the plains stones that emit magickal light , the Dark Crystals , absorb sunlight during the Dry . The magickal light can be siphoned to create sunstones . The Giza Plains lead to the Ozmone Plain . Dalmasca Estersand . The Dalmasca Estersand is an open desert , inhabited by roving monsters . There is a travelers ' sanctuary located near Rabanastre , and a village on the banks of the river Nebra . The Estersand leads to Nalbina Fortress on the east and Mosphoran Highwaste on the north . Dalmasca Westersand . The Dalmasca Westersand is also an open desert , and , unlike the Estersand , is caught in powerful sandstorms frequently . The Westersand leads to the Ogir - Yensa Sandsea . There is a shortcut to the Estersand , but it is guarded by the king of Westersand , the Earth Tyrant . Barheim Passage . An abandoned monster - infested underground passage that connects Dalmasca Estersand , Garamsythe Waterway and Nalbina Fortress . Now the only people who walk the roads of this passage are the people who escape from the Nalbina Dungeons . The exits are guarded by monsters ; the exit to the Estersand is guarded by Mimic Queen and the exit to the Waterway is guarded by an Esper , Zalera the Death Seraph . Etymology . Its name is reminiscent of the city of Damascus in Syria , one that is also surrounded by desert and shares a similar arid climate . Both regions have seen many empires , both foreign and local , rises and fall . The architecture of Damascus is inspired by the rich influx of cultures smattering in this continental nexus , and analogous features may be referenced from Rabanastre ' s architecture . As Damascus stands in between Europe , Asia , and Africa , so too does Dalmasca stand between Valendia ( Archadia ) , Ordalia ( Rozarria ) , and Kerwon .