Ivalice ( Final Fantasy XII ) Ivalice is an entire geographical region in the world that consists of three continents : Valendia to the north , Ordalia to the west and Kerwon to the south . The region is populated by a handful of unique races , each with its own culture and traditions . The Ivalice in " Final Fantasy XII " shares subtle similarities to the Ivalice of other games . Geography . Ivalice is made up of three continents , though only small regions of each are explored . This explored area , centered on the Galtean Peninsula , is particularly mountainous in the western and southern sides , while the northern part is mostly rolling plains . The three continents ; Ordalia , Valendia and Kerwon all have distinct characteristics . The Galtean region of the Ordalia continent is a desert area with rocky mountains spread out at the western reaches , making airship travel more feasible , though not entirely possible with the presence of Jagd s . Vast plains are found in Ordalia ' s interior , away from the coast . The Valendia continent is lush and verdant . Southern Valendia is mostly hilly grasslands , as seen with the landscape of the Cerobi Steppe . The Kerwon continent is more arid than most areas in Ivalice , even in its lowlands ; though the highlands mostly experience snow . This continent is heavily forested and filled with Jagds . For the record , there has been no successful attempt to explore this continent . The Naldoan Sea is the largest water body in Ivalice . It is located east of the region , in the Jagd Naldoa . Further east , the Naldoan Sea rushes down the slopes known as the Ridorana Cataract . It is believed that in ancient times , this area was once land , but for some mysterious reason , the ground collapsed , leaving behind a majestic waterfall . Because this area is Jagd , it ' s nigh accessible ; ships will be pulled down the waterfalls , and airships can ' t fly in Jagds . Jagds are a prevalent geographical element in Ivalice . They are heavily filled with Mist and are , as such , shaped by it . Jagds can be found all around Ivalice , and each have different characteristics , for example , Jagd Difohr is snowy while Jagd Yensa is mostly desert . Climate . Climate in Ivalice can be naturally occurring or heavily influenced by Mist . For instance , the Giza Plains experience two seasons ; The Dry where sand sweeps into the plains , and The Rains where water floods the lowlands , making several areas inaccessible . Mediterranean climate is experienced in areas like Balfonheim Port , Rabanastre and Bhujerba . Rainclouds can be seen forming in the Cerobi Steppe before falling in the Giza Plains . Other areas are heavily influenced by Mist . The Jagds are one such area , where snowstorms and sandstorms are prevalent , attracting creatures known as the Elementals and Entites . Calendar . The calendar used in Ivalice is the Old Valendia Calendar . It was started by the Galtean Alliance founded by Dynast King Raithwall of House Galtea . Its first year begins with the creation of the Galtean Alliance . It is unknown if the Project Memorandum found in the Urutan - Yensa bestiary follows this calendar , but if it did , then this calendar would have 29 days in one month , but one year may mean more than 30 months . History . Ivalice was once governed by the Occuria , powerful entities with supernatural powers that relied heavily on Mist . Able to communicate with all living beings , including dragons , their rule was absolute . Some creatures had mystical bindings laid upon them , hinting that the creatures might have served the Occuria . At one point , the Occuria created the Espers who would become their servants and do menial tasks for them . However , the Espers , thinking themselves more powerful than their creators , revolted against them in what would be the Thousand Year War , led by the High Seraph Ultima . The Occuria managed to defeat the Espers and bind them in glyphs , then sealed them in unknown locations . Feolthanos , a member of the winged aegyl race , married a viera , starting a sub - race called the Feol Viera . Seeing this an abomination to order , the Occuria attempted to punish Feolthanos , but he fled into the sky continent of Lemurés where he sealed himself and his people . After the tragedy , the Occuria withdrew into Giruvegan , where they watched over Ivalice as their " all - seeing gods " . Ivalice was thrown into chaos almost immediately , but somehow order returned when Raithwall , a nobleman from Valendia , won the favor of the Occuria and was granted three shards of deifacted nethicite and with their power successfully subjugated a vast region stretching from the continent of Ordalia , the entire Galtean Peninsula and the continent of Valendia , creating the Galtean Alliance and called himself the Dynast King . Two of the shards of nethicite were passed on to the ruling families of the kingdoms of Dalmasca and Nabradia , while the third the King kept for himself . During his reign , the city - states of Archadia and Rozarria rose to become a military might and , years after the Dynast King ' s death , became Empires . Other areas were expanded to become the kingdoms of Nabradia and Dalmasca and the Republic of Landis . However , the two Empires continued their expansion on the guise of " protecting their interests " . A single Occuria known by the name of Venat deserted Giruvegan and allied itself with Dr . Cid of Archadia , teaching them how to manufact nethicite , attempting to severe the Occuria ' s hold on mankind . Cid began lusting after true deifacted nethicite for his studies , and Archadia , also wary of Rozarria ' s attempt to invade its borders , subjugated the kingdoms in the Galtean Peninsula ; assimilating Landis , destroying Nabradia obtaining Midlight Shard , and finally invaded Dalmasca , obtaining the Dusk Shard . Marquis Ondore of Bhujerba , a so - called neutral country , rallied the Resistance , a band of rebellious forces from all of Ivalice , to fight against the military might of Archadia . The battle took place in Dalmasca ' s capital Rabanastre , with Archadia ' s mightiest airship , the Sky Fortress " Bahamut " , leading the charge against the insurgence . The Sky Fortress was fueled by Mist from the Sun - Cryst , a giant piece of nethicite brimming with Mist . The Sun - Cryst was destroyed , ending the Occuria ' s hold on mankind , and the Mist that spilled forth from its depths was absorbed by the " Bahamut " , activating it . However , the battle ended when Archadia ' s war leader , Vayne Solidor , was defeated in battle by Ashe , the princess of Dalmasca , said to have died in the initial Archadian invasion . After peace was forged and order restored to Dalmasca , sky pirates discovered Lemurés , which was revealed when the Mist from the Sun - Cryst destroyed its barrier . Ivalice was again under threat from the Judge of Wings , an enigmatic figure out to drain the Auralith s of anima to gain immense power to destroy Ivalice . A sky pirate band attempted to stop this threat , and forged an alliance with Llyud , member of the aegyl . Their efforts led them to Feolthanos , who had become a god - like figure to the aegyl and who attempted to conquer all of Ivalice to exact his revenge upon the populace . His attempts were put to an end by Vaan and his band of sky pirates , and Ivalice again was at peace . After Feolthanos ' s defeat , the sky continent of Lemurés shattered , and the aegyl left Ivalice to look for a new home . Demography . Many races populate the region of Ivalice . Revealed throughout the game are humes , viera , bangaa , moogles , seeq , garif , Urutan - Yensa , nu mou , baknamy , Occuria , rev and helgas . It is possible that there are other races in the game , such as the four - armed humanoid leading Princess Ashe and Lord Rasler ' s wedding parade . The aegyl were revealed as a hidden race , prominent in " " . Politics . The main political forces in Ivalice are those in Archadia and Rozarria , constantly warring after Archadia ' s takeover of Dalmasca and Nabradia . Archadia ' s Imperial Senate contains the Emperor and some of his trusted people . The Senate , more particularly House Solidor , also controls the Ministry of Law , with the Judges at its head . The Archadian Senate controls most of Ivalice . However , the only House known to exist in Rozarria is House Margrace , when Al - Cid meets the party at Mt Bur - Omisace . The Rozarrian army is rumored to be the equal of the Archadian army . Religion and Beliefs . The people in Ivalice generally are worshipers in the Light of Kiltia religion . The religion was founded by the prophet Kiltia who saw a vision of the gods and saw it his mission to spread the message given to him . This polytheist faith system established itself in Mt Bur - Omisace , where , to this day , faithfuls cross the dangerous Jagds in their self - imposed pilgrimage . The Kiltias , many of which are humes and nu mou , tend to the pilgrims , who make a camp on the base of the area . In recent years , the war between the empires , Archadia and Rozarria , caused many to be left homeless , and refugees flocked to the Paramina Rift in Jagd Ramooda , increasing the burden of the Kiltias to tend to their needs . In a shocking move , the Archadian Empire defiled the temples of Mt Bur - Omisace and murdered their leader , the helgas Gran Kiltias Anastasis in search of Larsa Solidor . Even so , the Kiltias had not lost hope and continued to preach their faith .