Final Fantasy XII takes place mostly in the kingdom of Dalmasca, a small city-state in Ivalice. A neutral party in the past wars between its neighboring kingdoms of Archadia and Rozarria, Dalmasca was ultimately conquered by Archadia and reduced to the status of an occupied state under Archadian rule. Vaan, a street urchin living in the Dalmascan capital of Rabanastre, attempts to steal from the royal palace, in an attempt to "take back" Dalmascan treasures from the Archadians. However, resistance forces lead an assault on the royal castle, and Vaan is caught between Archadian troops and Dalmascan insurgeants. This leads to a chance encounter with Ashe, the deposed princess of Dalmasca and the leader of the resistance faction.
