Garland

Lore & Background

Garland serves as the initial obstacle for the Warriors of Light, who each carry one of the four darkened elemental crystals. He operates out of the ruined Temple of Chaos before his capture. Upon his defeat in Coneria, he does not remain a lingering threat but rather acts as the catalyst that unlocks the path forward; specifically, his removal allows King of Coneria to build a bridge. This structure is essential for the Warriors' progression eastward to Pravoka, where they must liberate the town from pirates. Garland's role is strictly defined by this early confrontation, setting the stage for the heroes to acquire a ship and embark on their delivery quests along the Aldi Sea.

In Their Own Story

The game begins with the appearance of four youthful Warriors of Light who carry darkened crystals. Their first major test occurs in Coneria, where they must rescue Princess Sarah from Garland. After successfully defeating this evil knight, the King of Coneria builds a bridge that enables the heroes to pass east to the town of Pravoka. There, the narrative shifts as the warriors face Bikke and his band of pirates rather than Garland again. The story continues with the defeat of Astos in Marsh Cave, the awakening of the elf prince by Matoya's herb, and the eventual retrieval of the Mystic Key. While Garland initiates the chain of events, he does not reappear in the later stages where the heroes confront Lich, Kary, Kraken, or Tiamat.

Reader's Guide

To progress past Garland, players must form a party of four characters from six available classes: Fighter, Thief, Black Belt, Red Mage, White Mage, and Black Mage. Combat is menu-based and turn-based; the player selects actions like Attack, Magic, or Item until one side flees or is defeated. Victory grants experience points (to increase levels up to fifty) and Gil. Upon defeating Garland in Coneria, the game advances by unlocking the bridge to Pravoka. Players should ensure their party has sufficient healing items, such as potions for ailments like poison, and Tents or Cabins available on the world map to restore health and save progress before engaging him.

Did You Know?

• Garland is the evil knight who kidnaps Princess Sarah, an event that triggers the King of Coneria to build a bridge for the Warriors of Light.
• The game was originally conceived under the working title Fighting Fantasy before trademark issues and Square's dire circumstances prompted a name change.
• By March 2003, all versions of Final Fantasy had sold a combined two million copies worldwide.
• Final Fantasy was the first game to show player characters on the right side of the screen and enemies on the left, rather than using a first-person view.