Zenithia: Difference between revisions
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==Background music== | ==Background music== | ||
* The theme for Zenithia was called "Unknown Castle" in the Japanese [[soundtrack]] for Dragon Quest IV. | * The theme for Zenithia was called "Unknown Castle" in the Japanese [[soundtrack]] for Dragon Quest IV. | ||
* [[Dragon Quest V]]'s theme was called "Heaven". | * ''[[Dragon Quest V]]'''s theme was called "Heaven". | ||
* [[Dragon Quest VI]] does not have a special theme for Zenithia; instead it uses the regular castle theme, "At the Palace". | * ''[[Dragon Quest VI]]'' does not have a special theme for Zenithia; instead it uses the regular castle theme, "At the Palace". | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 11:11, 23 August 2016
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 Official art of Zenithia, circa 2001 | |
| Game | Zenithian saga |
Zenithia, also called Zenith Castle, is the name of a fictional sky castle from the video game series Dragon Quest. The first appearance is in Dragon Quest IV, and the castle is one of several elements from IV, V, and VI which connects the three games as a distant trilogy; this group was often called the Tenku (Japanese for Heaven, or Sky), or the Tenkuu no Shiro (Castle in the Sky) trilogy until Square Enix branded them as the Zenithia Trilogy in 2008.
Zenithia is home to a powerful dragon, lord of the skies, and the winged, angel-like Zenithian people. Zenithians are an insular culture who avoid contact with those on the ground if at all possible, but there have been instances where they have fallen off the clouds by accident or descended to earth of their own volition.
Zenithia is one of the few locations in Square Enix's DS remake Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen to keep the name used in the original localization.
A castle in the Dragon Quest III remakes for Super Famicom/Game Boy Color is also called Zenith, though the layout differs from the castle from the eponymous series. It is unclear whether Zenith and Zenithia are one in the same, or merely a reference to later games in the series.
The counterpart to Zenithia is Nadiria, the underworld.
Appearances/Location
Dragon Quest IV
In Dragon Quest IV, Zenithia makes its first appearance. The castle can be accessed by climbing the Stairway to Zenithia near the Azimuth, which goes as far up to the sky. It is directly above the entrance to Nadiria. While at Zenithia, the hero is given additional experience points by the Zenith Dragon, enough to raise them one level.
Dragon Quest V
In Dragon Quest V, Zenithia has fallen into a lake south of Lofty Peak. This happened when the Golden Orb, half of a set of magical orbs that supported the castle in the sky, fell from its place. Once recovered and returned to the Zenith Dragon, it will make Zenithia rise again but not to it's full height. With this partially restored power, the castle can move freely around the lower sky and is one of the methods of travel used by the hero to fly around the world map -- it's the only means of reaching the secluded Talon Tower.
Dragon Quest VI
Cloudsgate Citadel is sealed away by Demon Lord Dhuran in Dragon Quest VI, and a giant hole is left behind in its place in the dream world. It can be restored to its proper place by defeating Dhuran. After Mortamor is defeated, the dream world begins to disintegrate; Zenith Castle is left as the only part of it that can still be seen, and floating above the real world, it becomes the Zenithia known in Dragon Quest IV and Dragon Quest V.
Legendary Equipment
Main article: Zenithian Equipment
There exists a set of legendary weapons and armor hailing from Zenithia.
Most commonly known as the Zenithian sword, armor, shield and helmet; only a hero of Zenithian descent can wear them. The entire set is required to be allowed entry into the Stairway to Zenithia in Dragon Quest IV--if the hero is not present in the party, the gate will not open.
In Dragon Quest VI, the sword is called the Sword of Ramias, the armor is the Armour of Orgo, the shield is the Shield of Valora, and the helmet is the Helm of Sebath.
Square Enix has released the Zenithian Sword and Sword of Ramias as part of their Dragon Quest Legend Items series - miniature collectible toy replicas of artifacts from the Dragon Quest universe.
Treasures
(Dragon Quest IV) |
(Dragon Quest V) |
(Dragon Quest VI)
|
Nearby monsters
(Dragon Quest VI)
Bosses
(Dragon Quest VI)
Inhabitants
An inhabitant of Zentihia is called a zenithian; notable zenithians appearing in Dragon Quest IV, V, or VI are:
- Zenith Dragon (originally Master Dragon) - The ruler of Zenithia in Dragon Quest IV & Dragon Quest V. In IV, he asks the party to defeat Psaro the Manslayer. In V, he offers to carry the party on his back through the skies.
- Orifiela (originally Lucia) - She appears in the game Dragon Quest IV, as a Zenithian who has fallen to the world below and was unable to return to Zenithia. The party meets her at the top of the Yggdrasil, and she participates in battle as an uncontrollable partner.
- Dr Agon (originally Pusan) - An enigmatic person who comes from the Castle of Zenithia. He appears in Dragon Quest V, and he may be more than he seems at first.
- King Zenith. The ruler of Zenith Castle in Dragon Quest VI. He is humanoid, unlike the Zenith Dragon.
- Sparkie (originally Doran) - A young dragon who is sent by Zenith Dragon to help the party in their fight against Psaro the Manslayer. He appears in Dragon Quest IV.
- Oopsy and Daisy - Both are elfin girls who first appear in Birdsong Tower in Chapter 2. They leave upon Alena, Kiryl & Borya reaching the top of the tower, and accidently drop Birdsong nectar. They appear again in Chapter 5 & 6 in Zenithia voicing their distrust of human, but concede respect for The Hero and company upon their victory of Psaro (Aamon in Chapter 6).
- According to the games, at least one woman from Zenithia became involved in a relationship with a human, leaving an offspring that is half-human and half-Zenithian.
Background music
- The theme for Zenithia was called "Unknown Castle" in the Japanese soundtrack for Dragon Quest IV.
- Dragon Quest V's theme was called "Heaven".
- Dragon Quest VI does not have a special theme for Zenithia; instead it uses the regular castle theme, "At the Palace".
Notes
- Zenithia might have some relation to Zenith from Dragon Quest III, being both ruled by a powerful dragon and both being in the sky. In fact, Zenithia comes from the word zenith, meaning highest point or state, aptly appropriate seeing as it is the highest point in the game. However, Yuji Horii has included references to unconnected games throughout the series, such as in VIII, and this could merely be one such instance.
- The Zenithians could be compared to Celestrians in Dragon Quest IX, though they play a significantly smaller role in the world they inhabit than the latter does, with only the Zenith Dragon taking an active role in world affairs.
Maps
Zenithia Castle earthbound in Dragon Quest VI (SF)
Zenithia Castle in Dragon Quest IV (NES)
Underwater Zenithia Castle in Dragon Quest V (SF)
Zenithia Castle risen in Dragon Quest V (SF)
