Gabranth Gabranth , born Noah fon Ronsenburg , is a character in " Final Fantasy XII " . A major antagonist , he is a Judge Magister , the highest rank in the Archadian Empire ' s military . While he appears to serve the Empire faithfully , a torn and broken man lies behind his lordly façade . A silhouette of Gabranth forms the for " Final Fantasy XII " . Profile . Appearance . Gabranth is a tall man with short blond hair and hazel eyes , and as Basch ' s identical twin brother the two share facial features . Gabranth ' s biography in " Dissidia Final Fantasy " reveals he is the younger twin , Basch being born first . The Japanese release of " Final Fantasy XII " had always stated this , but the mentions of which twin was the elder were removed in the English translation . Compared to Basch , Gabranth has shorter hair , no facial hair , lacks Basch ' s scar over the eye , has a slightly shorter nose , slightly crooked eyebrows , slight difference in cheekbones and a slightly longer chin . Gabranth wears the armor of a Judge Magister , a full suit of plate mail with a horned helmet and a long black cape with the symbol of the Empire in red . Gabranth wields two swords in battle , the longer Chaos Blade and the shorter Highway Star , which can connect at the handles into a dual - bladed weapon . Personality . Gabranth demonstrates a ruthless and cruel demeanor imprisoning his brother and keeping him alive while informing him of every failure his former knights suffer after the Archadian occupation . Yet Gabranth remains a respectful follower to Emperor Gramis to the point the Emperor appoints him bodyguard to his son Larsa . Though he acts as a faithful Imperial , Gabranth ' s motivations relate to his hatred toward his believed dishonorable failure at protecting his homeland of Landis , and in turn he directs his hatred toward Basch for abandoning him and their mother to fight for Dalmasca . Story . Noah and Basch grew up in the Republic of Landis before it was invaded by the Empire . During the invasion , Basch fled their hometown to the Kingdom of Dalmasca to serve with the military , while Noah moved with his sickly mother to Archadia , her homeland , where he adopted his mother ' s surname , Gabranth , and joined the Archadian Military . He climbed the ranks , and with the backing of Emperor Gramis , became Judge Magister . Gabranth was placed in charge of the 9th Bureau , primarily concerned with the gathering and dissemination of information for the Emperor . Gabranth was present at Nalbina Fortress where he killed King Raminas of Dalmasca while impersonating his brother , Basch . In the manga adaptation Vayne Carudas Solidor orders Gabranth to do this , believing Basch ' s treachery and Raminas ' s death to give him an excuse to suspend peace negotiations and push his father to take over Dalmasca . The two spread rumors of an assassination attempt on the king ' s life to trick Basch and a force of his soldiers to storm the fortress and " rescue " Raminas . In reality , this was a ruse to get Basch at the scene : Gabranth posed as Basch and killed the Dalmascan officials present before pursuing Raminas . The two ran into Basch and Gabranth engaged him , scarring Basch over his left eye before defeating him . Gabranth killed Raminas and one of Basch ' s soldiers , Reks , witnessed Gabranth ( as Basch ) confess to the murder . For the next two years Basch is locked up in the Nalbina Dungeons framed for regicide , Gabranth visiting regularly to interrogate him about the Resistance that arose to oppose the Empire . With Raminas dead , the peace negotiations failed and Archadia ' s invasion of Dalmasca became total , placing the city of Rabanastre under Imperial control . Two years later , Gabranth and Vayne , now appointed consul of Rabanastre , arrange a banquet to celebrate the latter ' s arrival . As told in the manga , Gabranth ensures the palace security forces are spotted as a ploy to draw the Resistance to attack , at which point the airship " Ifrit " and the Archadian forces outside the Royal Palace of Rabanastre attack to repel them . Reks ' s brother Vaan infiltrates the palace to steal that night , and flees during the attack . As told in the manga , Vaan spots Gabranth and Vayne and is caught and brought before the consul . He attempts to strike him but is blocked by Gabranth . Though Gabranth suggests Vayne show mercy as Vaan is not with the rebels , Vayne orders him executed and the two depart . Vaan mentions his brother was stationed at Nalbina Fortress , but Vaan and Gabranth do not realize the deeper connection between them . The night after the attack Gabranth visits the Nalbina Dungeon where Basch is being held captive , and berates Ba ' Gamnan , a bounty hunter searching for Balthier , a sky pirate captured along with Vaan and Fran . The three shadow Gabranth to the Oubliette where Basch is held , where Gabranth interrogates him on the capture of Amalia , a member of the Resistance , who is actually the Dalmascan Princess Ashe using an alias . When Gabranth leaves Basch is freed by Vaan , Balthier and Fran , and the four escape the dungeon . As told in the manga , still in Rabanastre , Gabranth tells Vayne that the Imperial resistance in Bhujerba is suspiciously well - funded , and suspects Marquis Ondore to be behind them . Gabranth assists Vayne in searching the palace for the Dusk Shard , unaware it was stolen by Vaan before he fled the palace . Later , when Ashe ' s group has obtained the Dawn Shard but Vossler ' s betrayal has the group captured by Judge Ghis , Gabranth reports this to Vayne . Some time after , Gabranth returns to Archadia and reports Vayne ' s activities to Emperor Gramis , alerting him to Vayne ' s possible hand in the destruction of Nabudis through Judge Zecht , and his funding of Dr . Cid ' s experiments at Draklor Laboratory . Gramis worries he no longer knows Vayne ' s intentions and asks Gabranth to protect Larsa so that he will not become as brutal and merciless in his elder years as Vayne has . Judge Drace confides in Gabranth of her fear for Larsa ' s safety due to the Imperial Senate desiring him an easily - manipulated heir over Vayne , and the two agree to defend him . After Gramis ' s death , Drace accuses Vayne of murdering him , and she is subdued by Judge Bergan . Aware of Gabranth informing Gramis of his actions , Vayne appoints him as Drace ' s executioner as a test of loyalty . Reluctantly , he kills her , but with her dying breath Drace asks Gabranth to guard Larsa in her place , to which Gabranth promises that he will . Larsa urges Vayne to make peace with Ashe to avoid a war with the Resistance , as the neighboring Rozarrian Empire would use this as pretense to invade Archadia , beginning a second , more destructive war with Dalmasca as the battleground . Believing Ashe wants a war , Vayne sends Gabranth to track her and ascertain her desires and kill her if a war is indeed her intent . Atop the Pharos Ashe approaches the Sun - Cryst , which she could use to cut shards of nethicite for use to fight the Empire . Gabranth urges her to do so , revealing he was the one who killed Raminas . Ashe refuses the Cryst ' s power , realizing her vengeance will only lead Dalmasca to ruin . The dumbfounded Gabranth attacks Ashe and her party , which includes Basch , but is defeated . Dr . Cid arrives , telling Gabranth that he is pitiful for failing at the mission given to him , and that he no longer serves any purpose . When Gabranth attempts to strike the doctor , the Occuria n Venat that has allied with Cid throws him back . The disgraced Judge Magister retreats . Cid ' s actions aboard the Pharos spill a powerful Mist over Ivalice allowing Vayne to activate the Empire ' s new battleship , the Sky Fortress " Bahamut " . Aboard Gabranth confronts Ashe ' s party , still wounded and unable to understand how Basch has held onto his pride and honor despite repeated failures . Considering his disgrace the punishment he is due to aiding the Empire after they destroyed Landis , Gabranth attacks them and is struck down , Basch urging him to reclaim his name and honor . The party leaves Gabranth to confront Vayne , who uses Cid ' s manufacted nethicite to become Vayne Novus . Wounded , Gabranth reaches the scene and , after being ordered by Vayne to defend Larsa due to his " having much need in the Hell to follow , " raises his sword toward Vayne . He assists the party in stopping Vayne even as he is aware that doing so will kill him . Gabranth strikes Vayne with his empowered sword , but Vayne knocks him back with a powerful punch . As a dying Gabranth lays in Basch ' s arms , Vayne summons his Sephira to finish him off but is stopped by Larsa , who uses his own manufacted nethicite to absorb his magick . Vaan picks up Gabranth ' s fallen sword and wounds Vayne forcing him to retreat to the exterior of the " Bahamut " . In the subsequent battle Vayne and Venat merge into the Undying , and are destroyed together . With Vayne dead , the party retreats to their airship , " Strahl " , to escape the falling " Bahamut " bringing Gabranth aboard . With Larsa and Basch by his side , Gabranth asks Basch to protect Larsa in his stead , as the Arcadian Empire would fall into strife without an heir to the throne . Gabranth dies and Basch impersonates Gabranth to announce a ceasefire to the Arcadian fleet , ordering them to withdraw . The masquerade persists as Basch takes up Gabranth ' s armor and accompanies Larsa back to Archadia , serving as his bodyguard . Gameplay . Boss . The party fights Gabranth twice , at the Pharos at Ridorana and on board the Sky Fortress " Bahamut " . Gabranth focuses mainly on Basch , if he is in the active party , and two short optional cutscenes occur if Basch is in the active party during the battles . He also assists the party during the battle against Vayne Novus as an uncontrollable ally . He protects Larsa from the Sephiras and after the player defeats them , he attacks Vayne Novus while remaining close to Larsa . Gabranth is also fought in the Trial Mode , at Stage 100 , in the " International version " . Support character . Gabranth is a support character in Sky Fortress " Bahamut " . Musical themes . " The Archadian Empire " plays during the first boss battle against Gabranth at the Pharos at Ridorana . Composed and arranged by Hitoshi Sakimoto , it is the eleventh track on disc 2 of the . " Desperate Fight " is the boss battle theme that plays during the second battle against Gabranth at the Sky Fortress " Bahamut " . Composed and arranged by Hitoshi Sakimoto , it is the fifth track on disc 3 of the original soundtrack . The theme can also be unlocked in " Dissidia Final Fantasy " , given the title " Fight to the Death , " another translation of the Japanese track name . While it represents the third of three tracks from " Final Fantasy XII " in that game , it is not available in the original soundtrack . Creation and development . Voice . In the English version of " Final Fantasy XII " , Gabranth is voiced by Michael E . Rodgers , while he is played by Keith Ferguson in the English versions of " Dissidia Final Fantasy " and " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " , who had previously voiced Gabranth ' s brother , Basch . In the Japanese versions of " Final Fantasy XII " and " Dissidia " , he is voiced by . In " Final Fantasy XII " , Gabranth has an echo to his voice when he speaks with his helmet on . This is absent in " Dissidia " and " Dissidia 012 " . The one point of disagreement between the translators and the original Japanese developers revolved around the translators ' decision to have the actor who played Gabranth ( Michael E . Rodgers ) mimic the twin brother Basch ' s voice ( voiced by Keith Ferguson ) in the scene where Gabranth is impersonating his twin . In the Japanese version the two actor ' s voices play over one another to give the scene the quality of a dream - sequence , but the translators opted to go for the more " realistic " sound . The debate came after the recording was finished , and eventually the team sided with the translators , but there were those who chafed at what was essentially a directorial decision being made by the translation team ( albeit with the blessing of the voice director ) . Other appearances . Gabranth has appeared in the following games throughout the " Final Fantasy " series : Non - " Final Fantasy " guest appearances . Gabranth has made key guest appearances in the following non - " Final Fantasy " games : Merchandise . Gabranth has two Play Arts action figures : one for " Final Fantasy XII " and one for " Dissidia Final Fantasy " . He also has a statue called " Judge Master Gabranth . " A new one is being released to commemorate the HD remaster , " Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age " . The most expensive piece of " Final Fantasy XII " merchandise is a 1 : 1 replica of Gabranth ' s helmet , only 500 of which were made . Although not for sale , a life - size armor of Gabranth has been showcased in Square Enix exhibitions . Etymology . Fon is based on German word " von " .