Timber Timber is a city in " Final Fantasy VIII " . It is under martial law by the Galbadia n Army , and has many resistance groups struggling to regain Timber ' s independence . Notable features include its many train lines and its television broadcasting studio . It is also the home of Timber Maniacs , a publishing company . The city ' s name was derived from the surrounding woods . The town has four train stations , but due to the citizens ' disobedience with the current government the town has never really prospered under Galbadian regiment . For a long time Timber ' s mass media reflected local political ideology , but was later heavily censored by the government . An atmosphere of new and old blends in the city , with houses and stores having a stone - made look , while the TV station has a futuristic appearance . The mixture of Timber and Galbadia ' s crests within the city allude to the town ' s complicated history . Timber used to have its own military troops while an independent nation , but following Galbadian occupation that body was largely dissolved and Galbadian soldiers serve as the peace - keeping force . To give its government a firmer presence , the Galbadian army has some of its troops stationed in Timber . Story . According to Anarchist Monthly , Galbadia , under the new leadership of President Vinzer Deling , invaded the area following the " 2nd Sorceress War " . This is the only part in the game where it is implied there would have been more than one Sorceress War , and elsewhere the term Sorceress War is used to refer to the war Galbadia waged against Esthar reigned by Sorceress Adel . Under Galbadian occupation the woodland decreased dramatically . Prior to its occupation , those in the resistance were hunted down , and many citizens were killed and imprisoned leading to the deep - seated hostility in the local consciousness . Many of Timber ' s citizens have , or presently belong to , the resistance , although the resistance remains largely inactive owing to the strong Galbadian occupancy . The newly graduated SeeD members are sent to Timber as their first mission to help the Forest Owls , a subversive group resisting the Galbadian occupation . During the mission Squall Leonhart meets Rinoa Heartilly for the second time , following their dance at Balamb Garden . Squall and his party are to aid the Forest Owls in kidnapping of the Galbadian President , Vinzer Deling , but the mission fails when it is discovered that the president they were attempting to kidnap is only a body double called Gerogero . It is discovered that the president ' s business in Timber is to broadcast the announcement of a sorceress becoming Galbadia ' s new ambassador . During the broadcast Seifer Almasy appears , and holds the President hostage , until he is lured away by Sorceress Edea . In the incident ' s aftermath the G - army searches the town and destroys the Forest Owls ' base . Squall and his teammates lay low and avoid capture , and escape to the Galbadia Garden . Location . Timber is located within the Galbadian Continent and is a crossroad for the transcontinental railroad system . It is to the north of the Winhill Cape and to the south of Obel Lake . One of the major rail stations is located in Timber . Rail lines from the station are connected to Balamb Town , Deling City , East Academy Station , and — at one time — Esthar Sea Side Station . The Timber Maniacs office is the central administration for most magazines circulating the globe . They publish " battle series " magazine , s such as Weapons Monthly Magazine , and photobooks , such as " Jacket Over Skin : The Beautiful Women Edition " . They also published Timber Maniacs that focused on freelance writings . Located to the right of Timber Maniacs ' offices , the party can view the back alley behind the pub from the second floor window . Doing so is not required to gain access to the TV station . When the hotel is inaccessible right after the train mission , the party can drink from the faucet to restore HP . Checking the cupboard repeatedly can find the old man ' s stash of 500 gil . There is no option to return it , but no penalty for taking the money either . The house is to the right past the Lady ' s House and into the section with train tracks ; the old man ' s house is located on the left platform . Two screen east of the Timber Maniac ' s building , two train platforms are located here along with the Old Man ' s House . After returning to Timber in disc 2 , you can find a girl playing on the train tracks . If you choose to save her before the train comes , the screen fades to white and you got a free stay at the hotel . A model train will roll into the room , and examining it gives a news bulletin saying that a young girl was rescued from the train tracks by a brave young man . A prominent bar located near the Railroad Station . Patrons can walk through the pub into a back alley to access the Timber TV Station . The drinks for sale are named after greens found in other " Final Fantasy " games . The hotel features a scaled train model in the foyer as well as an actual rail - crossing bar that prevents people from entering without paying first . The party can stay here for free if they rescue a girl from an oncoming train at the train station . Layout . Before the Sorceress War ' s end radio transmission broadcasts were broadcast from Timber ' s TV Station . Now , 17 years after all transmissions became static , the station still stands ready for use . Shops . Junk shop . Weapon remodeling can be done at the junk shop , located next to the hotel . Quests . Train hi - jacking . During the mission to capture the president ' s train car Squall , Selphie , Zell and Rinoa jump over to the the presidential train , and the player has to input three codes . The player should go down when there are no guards , and go back up if a guard gets near . In the next segment the player must input five codes and won ' t get a warning for the guards . During the train mission , if Squall is never detected by the guards he gains a SeeD rank . If he is detected fewer than 10 times it has no effect on his rank , but if the guards spot him over 10 times , his rank will drop . Triple Triad . Timber plays with Galbadia region rules , where Same is the sole starting rule . When the player defeats the Galbadian soldiers outside the pub during the event they try to get to the TV Station , they will obtain a Buel card . This card can be shown to a drunk man in the pub and he gives the player a Tonberry card . If the player modifies / loses the card before talking to the drunk man , he will give the player another , inferior card , instead . Doomtrain is won from the pub owner as part of Queen of Cards sidequest . Musical themes . " Martial Law " is the theme song played in Timber . This song uses percussion and has a jazzy feel to it . " Timber Owls " is the song for the Forest Owls resistance group . Other appearances . " Final Fantasy Record Keeper " . Squall and his party make their way toward Timber , site of their first assignment . Once there , they are to assist the Forest Owls resistance in abducting President Deling .