Zeal Palace

Lore & Background

The Kingdom of Zeal was a civilization that mastered magic, creating a society that floated above the world. Their capital, Zeal Palace, was the center of this power. Queen Zeal ruled the kingdom, and her obsession with immortality drove her to harness the energy of Lavos, an extraterrestrial parasite that had crashed into the Earth. The palace was built directly above the Ocean Palace, the facility where the Mammon Machine was used to extract Lavos's power.

This reckless extraction caused Lavos to awaken in 12,000 BC, leading to the destruction of the Kingdom of Zeal. Prince Janus was sent forward through time by the disaster, eventually becoming the sorcerer Magus. Princess Schala, who attempted to stop the awakening, was also lost in the event. The fall of Zeal is a pivotal event in the game's timeline, as it directly connects to the global catastrophe that the party is trying to prevent.

Reader's Guide

Zeal Palace is a key location in the 12,000 BC era. The party travels here to confront Queen Zeal and stop her from using the Mammon Machine to extract Lavos's power. The palace is a large, multi-level area with numerous rooms and corridors. Players will encounter various enemies, including magical beings and royal guards. Key characters found here include Queen Zeal, Princess Schala, and the prophet who is later revealed to be Magus. The party must navigate the palace to reach the Ocean Palace below, where the final confrontation with Lavos in this era takes place. The events at Zeal Palace are crucial to understanding the origin of Lavos and the fate of the Kingdom of Zeal. The party's actions here directly affect the future timeline, as the awakening of Lavos in 12,000 BC is the precursor to the global catastrophe in 1999 AD.

Did You Know?

• Queen Zeal's obsession with immortality drove her to recklessly harness Lavos's power, leading to the kingdom's destruction.
• Princess Schala attempted to stop Lavos's awakening during the Cataclysm that destroyed Zeal.