Karnak Castle

Karnak Castle is a location in Final Fantasy V accessible in Bartz's world. It is the resting place of the fire crystal and is connected to the fire-powered ship via passageways at its bottom, which hold the crystal-empowering device that also charges the fire-powered ship. The castle is also home of Queen Karnak, and adjacent to the town of Karnak.
== History ==
Karnak Castle was built over the fire crystal, presumably sometime after the crystals and Planet R split a thousand years prior to the events of Final Fantasy V.
Cid Previa built the fire crystal amplification device, which Queen Karnak used to grant prosperity to the town of Karnak, making it cheap for smiths to build weapons and armor. In response to scholars from the Library of the Ancients who protested this, Queen Karnak ordered a wall built to keep them out, blocking off passage south to the library. Cracks in the fire crystal caused flames to shoot out, many appearing in the castle.
The Karnak meteorite fell sometime during the events of Final Fantasy V, out of which a werewolf named Tsuze appeared, arriving to protect the fire crystal. The captain of the soldiers was bedridden and described a "black shadow", possibly attacked by the werewolf. Seeing the danger of his own amplification device, Cid attempted to deactivate it, but was arrested and thrown into the dungeon. At some point, Queen Karnak was possessed.
Bartz Klauser and the party later used the teleporter from Walse Meteorite to travel to Karnak, also in search of the fire crystal, but were arrested after being spotted in Karnak and accused of guilt by association. In captivity, Bartz's party met Cid, who unsuccessfully attempted to use an explosive to escape but ended up in their cell. Seeing that the crystals had given the Light Warriors their blessings, Cid agreed to work together. At that point, Karnak's chancellor arrived pleaded with Cid for help, having acknowledged that Cid was correct. With haste, and with Cid ordering them free, Cid and the party hurried to the fire-powered ship connected to the castle to enter its lowest floor.
After freeing Queen Karnak from possession and entering the castle's lowest floor, the heroes found the fire crystal and Tsuze. Tsuze recognized Galuf Halm Baldesion, who still suffered amnesia and did not recognize the wolf. Despite all their efforts, the fire crystal shattered thanks to a possessed Karnak Soldier. The castle exploded, removing the great wall that had blocked access to the Library of the Ancients.
Following the destruction of the fire crystal and Tsuze, the party was warped into the castle and had 10 minutes to escape before it exploded. After defeating Iron Claw, a bounty hunter who disguised himself as a Karnak sergeant, the crystal shards descended from the sky and granted the Beastmaster, Geomancer and Ninja jobs (the remaining two, Ranger and Bard, were found later at the Chocobo Forest).
== Geography ==
Karnak Castle is located adjacent to the town, on the northern-most continent of the world. To its west is a path south towards the Library of the Ancients, and Jachol. The wall built by Queen Karnak cuts the castle and town off from this part of the world. Karnak Castle is built directly over the fire crystal.
Much like the town itself, Karnak Castle comprises tall, thick stone walls. In comparison to other castles, very little of the castle is seen outside its walls, as the castle grounds appear small. During Bartz's arrival, flames burn around the castle, blocking off treasure chests.
== Gameplay ==
=== Items ===
Name 	Location 	Monster-in-a-box
2000 gil 	Prison 	
Elixir 	Prison 	Common: Sorcerer & Cur Nakk x2Rare: Gigas
Shuriken 	B3 	Gigas
Ribbon 	B3 	Common: Sorcerer x2Rare: Gigas
Esuna 	First Floor 	Common: Sorcerer x2Rare: Gigas
Lightning Scroll	First Floor 	Common: Sorcerer & Cur Nakk x2Rare: Gigas
Elixir 	2F, Left Path 	Common: Sorcerer & Cur Nakk x2Rare: Gigas
Elixir 	2F, Left Path 	Common: Sorcerer & Cur Nakk x2Rare: Gigas
2000 gil 	2F, Left Path 	
Elixir 	2F, Right Path	Common: Sorcerer & Cur Nakk x2Rare: Gigas
Elixir 	2F, Right Path	Common: Sorcerer & Cur Nakk x2Rare: Gigas
Elixir 	2F, Right Path	Common: Sorcerer & Cur Nakk x2Rare: Gigas
2000 gil 	2F, Right Path	
Main Gauche 	Right Tower 	Common: Gigas & Sorcerer & Cur NakkRare: Gigas
Elven Mantle 	Left Tower 	Common: Gigas & Sorcerer & Cur NakkRare: Gigas
All items are only available when the party is escaping the castle.
=== Enemies ===
* Sergeant
* Sorcerer
* Cur Nakk
* Gigas
* Iron Claw (boss)
When escaping the castle, the player finds numerous monster-in-a-box chests that contain variations of Sorcerer, Cur Nakk, and Gigas.
=== Quests ===
The party cannot access Karnak Castle until first being caught in Karnak, after trying to buy from the weapon shop. After this, they are taken to Karnak Castle where a scene commences, following which they must travel to the Fire-Powered Ship for the next quest. All the items in Karnak Castle are inaccessible at that point.
After completing Fire-Powered Ship, the party returns to Karnak Castle, but has only 10 minutes to escape before it explodes. This is the time when the player can obtain the items previously blocked by flames, though enemies now appear. After leaving the castle, Iron Claw is fought.
Bringing a Blue Mage lets them learn two new Blue Magic spells:
* Aera from Gigas in a monster-in-a-box 
* Death Claw from the Iron Claw boss
== Musical themes ==
"Royal Palace" plays during the first visit to Karnak Castle, and "Hurry! Hurry!!" plays during the escape from the burning castle. When the player only has 1 minute left when escaping the castle, the theme speeds up.
== Other appearances ==
=== Final Fantasy Record Keeper ===
The party steps through a teleporter in the Walse Meteorite and finds themselves transported to Karnak. There they are mistaken for allies of the werewolf attempting to steal the Fire Crystal, and they are imprisoned in Karnak Castle.
== Gallery ==
Karnak Castle.png|The Castle of Karnak (GBA).
Karnak-WM.png|The Castle of Karnak on the world map (GBA).
FFV Karnak SNES BG.PNG|Battle background (Inside during escape) (SNES).
FFV Castle SNES BG.PNG|Battle background (Roof and front gate) (SNES).
FFVA Karnak Castle BG.PNG|Battle background (Inside during escape) (GBA).
FFVA Castle BG.PNG|Battle background (Roof and front gate) (GBA).
FFRK Karnak Castle JP FFV.png|Japanese image for Karnak Castle in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
== Citations ==
Category:Locations in Final Fantasy V
Category:Castles