Fishermans Horizon

Fishermans Horizon, abbreviated as FH, is a location in Final Fantasy VIII. The town is attached to a transcontinental bridge in the middle of the ocean, with Galbadia to the west and Esthar to the east. The town is lightly populated and sees little immigration due to Esthar shutting itself off from outside interest. The town is built of recycled materials, and powered by windmills and solar-panels. As the town mayor is a strict pacifist, the town has no militia or weapons, and disputes are solved through discussion.
Fishermans Horizon was built by the dissatisfied engineers who were active during the time of Esthar's development and decided to abandon their homeland. The town was named by the man who had played an important role in breaking away from Esthar, the Master Fisherman. Those involved in the town's construction have grown old, but the town has reached the point of seeing its first native generation grow up. The town was built on the old railroad station used to cross the sea, and ruins of that structure still remain.
== Story ==
When Balamb Garden crashes into Fishermans Horizon, Mayor Dobe, fearing the SeeDs will start trouble, orders them to leave. He lets his mechanics to fix the Garden's controls that have broken down due to lack of maintenance; as Balamb Garden was originally built in Esthar, many technicians are familiar with its mechanics. Galbadian soldiers enter the town in search of a woman named Ellone, and after not finding her, decide to burn the town down.
Mayor Dobe tries to reason with them, but it is left up to the SeeD Squall and his party to fight off the Galbadians, who deploy the Iron Clad mecha to deal with them. After its defeat, Selphie and her teammates, who had hid inside it following the mission at the Missile Base, climb out, and are reunited with Squall's team.
While the technicians are restoring Balamb Garden, Selphie and her friends organize a Garden Festival to celebrate Squall's promotion to commander of SeeD and Garden, and Squall and Irvine can explore the town and dispatch the final Galbadian officer left behind trying to find someone to fix the mecha the SeeDs had destroyed. They can also meet Master Fisherman and learn of the town's origins from him, and how the fisherman was the one to have named it "Fishermans Horizon" although he cannot explain how he came up with the name. If Irvine explores the town alone the streets vacate in fear of him brandishing his shotgun, though Irvine remains oblivious. He has a chance of explaining his views on life and friendship when one of the lift operators calls him a war monger.
Squall is reluctant to take on the role of commander despite headmaster Cid Kramer claiming it is his destiny. A member of Squall's party, Rinoa Heartilly, takes him to the concert where their friends Selphie, Irvine, Quistis and Zell, perform, though the two are embarrassed to find Irvine had left a naughty magazine to "inspire" the two get closer. If Rinoa loves the performance, she convinces Squall to trust in his friends more. If she dislikes the music, the two will argue and Squall's belief in isolation is affirmed. The next day, Squall takes the Garden's reins and takes it back to Balamb Town.
The party can return any time, and after visiting Shumi Village they can learn of the town's connection to the Shumis. After Rinoa has gone into a coma and the party learns from the White SeeD Squall's "Sis" Ellone has gone to Esthar, Squall takes the Garden to FH. He crosses the Horizon Bridge on foot to reach Esthar with Rinoa on his back, leaving the Garden docked at FH. Once they return from Esthar with the Ragnarok, the spaceship can use the colossal sun panel in the middle of town as a landing pad.
== Geography ==
=== Overview ===
Fishermans Horizon, while located in the center of the ocean between the Galbadia and Esthar Continents, is connected via a railroad, Horizon Bridge, that has long since fallen into disuse.
Fishermans Horizon is a sparsely populated town in the middle of the ocean. The outer town is mostly contained within a large sea wall. Its buildings are constructed out of recycled materials, and the town's energy is provided by windmills out in the ocean as well as solar-panels found in the large sun panel in the center. Many water safety rings are held up around the town. As the name implies, many of FH's residents are fishermen, though many others are engineers.
Enemies appear in the town after Squall meets with the Mayor for the first time after Balamb Garden crashes into the Fisherman's Horizon. They will stop appearing after BGH251F2 is defeated. These enemies are the G-Soldier, two GIM47N fought with an Elite Soldier, and the SAM08G. Aside from this, there are no encounters, as the residents and the mayor are avowed pacifists.
=== Horizon Bridge ===
Horizon Bridge is the intercontinental railway bridge that connects Galbadia and Esthar. Ever since the Sorceress War erupted, the bridge has been out of operation. Horizon Bridge's appearance on the larger world map is reminiscent of the Big Bridge in Final Fantasy V, which also spans two continents. The mobile Garden cannot cross the bridge on the world map.
=== Sun panel ===
The sun panel is a round area in the shape of a dish, situated at the center of the town. It is thought to be the main power supplier for the settlement (it utilizes a concentrated solar power set-up, which was a recent technology around the time of the game's release). Bolstered by wind fans and possible water refineries, Fishermans Horizon boasts an immense power network. A long bridge cuts through the sun panel leading to the mayor's residence in the center. A draw and a save point can be found on its edge, and this is also where the Queen of Cards can be found if she comes to FH. The draw point fills fast and is a good way to stock up on Regen, as the player needs to walk around FH quite a lot if they want to do all sidequests here.
=== Mayor's residence ===
The Mayor's residence is a small, gray hut located at the center of the sun panel. Accommodated by Mayor Dobe and his wife/supporter Flo, the residence has been built next to FH's only visible tree. Like other buildings in the settlement, it is built from recycled materials. The hut contains two floors. Both floors contain machinery and unused parts around the rooms, and the top floor is an entirely open area and has model airplanes hanging from the ceiling.
Martine is found behind the mayor's house, and this is also where the player enters the town when arriving there with the Ragnarok.
=== Drunkman Alley ===
The Drunkman Alley is Fishermans Horizon's hotel/item store overlooking one of the town's many wharfs. While its accommodations may seem crude in comparison to most other hotels around the world, the Drunkman Alley does provide access to a news screen from which patrons can follow the happenings of the world.
Drunkman Alley Hotel is also home to the FH Store, which sells various items.
{|class="article-table FFVIII" style="text-align:center"	
Recovery Item	Cost
Potion 	100
Hi-Potion 	500
Phoenix Down 	500
Antidote 	100
Eye Drops 	100
Soft 	100
Echo Screen 	100
Holy Water 	100
Remedy 	1000
The telegraph at the hotel relays the latest news. They are as follows:
Point in game 	News
First visit 	Just a while ago, Balamb Garden crashed into our port, but luckily there was no major damage. Comments anyone?"I thought it was a bomb at first. It was so loud. I nearly fell down from the tremor."
After visiting the mayor 	Numerous soldiers are gathering by the station. It appears the people have begun to panic. Comments anyone?"Ehhh...THOSE SOLDIERS...hic GOT NO BUSINESS BEIN' HERE...hic!!!"
After defeating the Iron Clad 	Tension has risen since the arrival of soldiers at the station. The mayor is on his way to speak to them. Please remain calm and lock your doors. Comments anyone?"The soldier in red that looked like the leader seemed like a moron."
After meeting up with Irvine 	It appears that some soldiers by the station have been eliminated. This will surely stir heated debates concerning our principles. Here are Mayor Dobe's comments."I am concerned about this situation, but we must maintain our principles."
Exploring FH with Irvine alone 	Be on the lookout for a suspicious man prowling around town. He's wearing a long coat and carrying a rifle. Comments anyone?"I was so scared. I saw him by the lift and got the hell outta there."
Gaining free control of the Garden	The sorceress is terrorizing the world with her powers. Comments anyone?"I heard the sorceress is mighty pretty."
After visiting Lunar Base 	We've just received incredible news. The sky over Esthar has turned red, and millions of monsters are falling over the region. Comments anyone?"That little brat...! So what will it be?"
=== Docks ===
The docks are contained within the sea wall and operate a Junk shop, where weapon remodeling can be done can be done. It is also where Master Fisherman's apprentice, the Fisherkid, goes to practice, much to the shop owner's dismay.
=== Grease Monkey's residence ===
The home of the Grease Monkey, an artisan who owns a Moomba doll that will react to visitors who have been to Shumi Village. The residence is a location to optional events, first after the Iron Clad has been defeated, and later as part of the Shumi Village sidequests. After gaining free access to the mobile Garden, visiting Grease Monkey suggests the party head for the Shumi Village, an otherwise optional location in the game.
After defeating the Iron Clad on the station square, the player is meant to return to the Garden, but on the way Squall bumps into Irvine. If the player then heads back to FH, they can visit Grease Monkey for a scene and an item. When Irvine is deciding the instruments for the concert, the player can leave the scene and again visit Grease Monkey to get a scene and more items. After the player has done the stone-searching sidequest in Shumi Village and left and returned, they must get the artisan to help make a statue. Visiting the Grease Monkey at this point has him gift the party his Moomba Doll, which is needed to advance in the sidequest at Shumi Village.
There is a Timber Maniacs magazine on the floor the player can read.
=== FH Train Station ===
The now run-down station that served as a halfway point on the Horizon Bridge now only serves as a source of scrap metal ready for any mechanic who has found themselves needing a little more. The station has numerous cats.
The player can find the Balamb Garden Cafeteria Lady's son here. Identifying him has him go to the Garden cafeteria where the player can talk to him. He says he got his mother to play cards, but if the player challenges the cafeteria lady, she will not have any special cards of note. If the player finds the son at the cafeteria later on, he regrets having promised to help his mother and yearns for another adventure. 
=== Fishing Spot ===
The spot where Master Fisherman fishes is down by the water level by taking a ladder from the side of a large silo near where Balamb Garden docks while in FH. Master Fisherman can first be encountered here, but after telling the story of FH's history he leaves the town.
== Quests ==
=== Master Fisherman ===
If the party participates in a sidequest involving the Master Fisherman, they can learn more about the town's history. The party must meet up with him before taking the lift down into the town the first time they arrive in FH by descending a difficult-to-see ladder next to a large silo, in the screen before the lift. Master Fisherman gives Squall the Occult Fan III magazine and asks Squall to find his apprentice.
After having liberated the town from Galbadia, the party can witness the apprentice boy near the junk shop learn to fish properly, and he wants Squall to tell his master. On the way, Irvine will join Squall, and instead of returning to Garden, the two must return to Master Fisherman's fishing spot. He asks Squall to follow him to the local hotel, where he tells Squall and Irvine the town's history, then asks if they want to hear more.
Squall must respond positively and follow Master Fisherman out on the docks, and after some more conversation, receives a Megalixir. This will earn 20 SeeD Exp to the player, 0.2 of a SeeD rank.
Master Fisherman will leave, and if the party visits his fishing spot, they can find a Full-life draw point. The Fisherkid says the Master Fisherman has left town as he wanted to go fish on a pond somewhere. After completing the side quest the party can later meet Master Fisherman in Shumi Village.
Master Fisherman asks the party to find his pupil from FFVIII R.png
Fisherkid learns to fish from FFVIII Remastered.png
Master Fisherman wants to meet at the FH inn from FFVIII R.png
Mayor-Dobe.jpg
Master Fisherman comes to the FH docks from FFVIII Remastered.png
Full-life draw point in FH from FFVIII Remastered.png
=== Grease Monkey's residence ===
The Grease Monkey living on the outskirts of the town owns a Moomba doll. After Squall has met up with Irvine on his way back to Garden, they must instead return to town and visit Grease Monkey to find the Galbadian officer demanding he fix the Iron Clad. After an event, Grease Monkey rewards Squall and Irvine with a Mega Phoenix.
Later, Irvine is organizing a concert and must choose instruments for each party member. After choosing an instrument the player, now controlling Irvine, can leave the scene and roam around the Garden and the town. Irvine can have a scene with the man by the lift and go visit the sleeping Squall in his dorm, trigger a scene for Zell's "love quest" at the Garden library, and hear news about himself by checking the terminal in the hotel, but if the player visits the Grease Monkey, they learn the Galbadian officer is back. After a scene Irvine can receive a Phoenix Down from Grease Monkey, and by examining the officer's body, some ammo for his Shot (five each of Fast Ammo, AP Ammo and Pulse Ammo).
Galbadian Soldier at Grease Monkeys from FFVIII Remastered.png
Galbadian Soldier escaped through the window from FFVIII R.png
Irvine exploring FH alone from FFVIII Remastered.png
Irvine visits Grease Monkeys from FFVIII Remastered.png
=== Concert ===
For the concert, Irvine can choose instruments for the characters to play. Depending on the choices, the scene between Squall and Rinoa plays differently.
Later, if the party meets the Master Fisherman in Shumi Village, they learn that he recorded the band's music and plays it back for them.
;"Irish Jig"
* Violin
* Flute
* Acoustic Guitar
* Tap
Gives the "best" conversation, with Squall promising to trust his friends more.
;"Eyes on Me"
* Piano
* Sax
* Electric Guitar
* Bass
Rinoa does not think the band is the best and argues with Squall.
;"Mix"
If the player mixes scores from the two pieces, with two instruments each, Rinoa will complain that the music is awful. If the scores are mixed with three from one piece and one from the other, Rinoa will find it hard to understand. Either way, finding herself feeling misconstrued prompts a rejection from Squall.
If the player completes the Master Fisherman and Shumi Village quests on Disc 2, then the Master Fisherman will appear in the workshop in Shumi Village on Disc 3. Having Squall speak to him will cause him to play the song chosen by the player during the concert. The song will cease if the player moves from one section of the workshop to another, but will resume upon exiting the workshop and continue until the player moves to the next screen.
=== Triple Triad ===
The Fishermans Horizon uses Fishermans Horizon region rules, where Elemental and Sudden Death are the starting rules.
* Mayor Dobe has the Quezacotl card.
* Flo has the Irvine card as part of the Queen of Cards sidequest.
* Martine sitting behind the mayor's house has all the rare cards lost to Galbadia Garden students, plus the Ifrit card if the player lost it to General Caraway to win the Rinoa card.
If the Queen of Cards comes to FH she will be at the save point near to where the stairs to the mayor's house are. She will sell new rules for the FH region and playing her manipulates the FH region trading rule. The queen moves regions when the number of rare cards (Lv.8–10) she holds changes, so the player must lose one to her or win back from her, but she does not start with any. The player can do her sidequest by getting her to Dollet. From FH she will go to Dollet (12.5%), Winhill (25%), or Esthar City (62.5%).
== Notable citizens ==
* Mayor Dobe and Flo, the town's mayor and his wife.
* Grease Monkey, an artisan.
* Fisherkid, an apprentice fisherman.
* Master Fisherman, previously known as "The Engineer", the founder of Fishermans Horizon.
* Familiar Face, Familiar Face 2, and Familiar Face 3, brothers who operate the loading lift.
* Cafeteria Lady's Son, the son of the Balamb Garden Cafeteria Lady can be found in the area where the boss was fought, near to where Grease Monkey lives. If the player recognizes him he will move to Balamb Garden and can be found in the cafeteria.
== Musical themes ==
"Fisherman's Horizon", the seventh track on the original soundtrack's Disc 3, is the theme of Fishermans Horizon.
== Other appearances ==
=== Theatrhythm Final Fantasy ===
Fishermans Horizon appears in the "Blue Fields" Field Music Sequence.
=== Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade ===
FFAB Horizon Bridge FFVIII.png|Horizon Bridge (Normal).
FFAB Fisherman's Horizon (Concert Venue) FFVIII.png|Fisherman's Horizon (Concert Venue).
FFAB Fisherman's Horizon FFVIII Special.png|Fisherman's Horizon (Special).
FFAB Horizon Bridge FFVIII Special.png|Horizon Bridge (Special).
=== Final Fantasy Record Keeper ===
Balamb Garden has crashed into Fisherman's Horizon, where Galbadian forces appear, searching for Ellone, a girl with strange powers.
==Behind the scenes==
In the Information section of the menu, the entry for the town is labeled "Fisherman's Horizon" (with the apostrophe); however, every other instance of the name in-game (dialogue and the location both in the menu and on save files) neglects the apostrophe.
The news screen at the hotel lobby acts much in the same way as Selphie's page on the study panel, insofar as it will give a light commentary on recent and ongoing events.
At least one of the locals at FH helped paint Balamb Garden, presumably while it was being built upon the Centra Shelter that makes it mobile.
The Mayor's residence contains a mural of toy airships, some of which look like toy versions of the Nautilus, an interpretation of the Lunar Whale and the Tiny Bronco.
In the game's Japanese, German and Italian versions, Dobe is called "station master", not mayor.
Once the two parties reunite following the Galbadian army encounter, a different conversation between Rinoa and Squall occurs depending on whether Rinoa was in Selphie's party or Squall's.
If the player talked to Familiar Face #3 during Irvine's sidequest at FH, he will have unique dialogue later when spoken to with Irvine in the party.
When asked about one thing Director Yoshinori Kitase would change about Final Fantasy VIII, he mentioned the FH concert where Rinoa mocks Squall by mimicking his mannerisms and he raises his hand at her and she dodges. "[...]even at the time, [Kazushige] Nojima-san was like, 'He shouldn’t be hitting her. It’s really not good to have a guy hitting a girl.' Looking back, I wish I could change that."
==Gallery==
Fishermanshorizon-1-.jpg|Sun panel.
FH lift from FFVIII Remastered.png|Lift operated by familiar faces.
FH Hotel Timber Maniacs magazine location from FFVIII R.png|Timber Maniacs at the hotel.
Grease Monkey Residence from FFVIII Remastered.png|Moomba doll and Timber Maniacs at Grease Monkey's.
Garden Festival good conversation from FFVIII Remastered.png|Garden Festival concert.
==References==
de:Fisherman's Horizon
Category:Locations in Final Fantasy VIII
Category:Towns