Rome

Illyria, formerly the city of Rome (ローマ, Rōma?), is a major location in the Guilty Gear series. The city serves as the capital of the United Kingdoms of Illyria, and Illyria Castle—the workplace of the First King—is located there. It is likely the largest metropolitan area in the world.

Design

The city has a number of canals, sculptures, and stoneworks. It has a downtown featuring a hotel called Hotel IV Strings with a large sculpture of a cherub at its entrance, and an outdoor garden area called Valkyrie Garden. The city's most prominent structure is Illyria Castle, from which a massive stone spire with a stone clock face and two stone wings protrudes. This structure acts similarly to a lightning rod, and protects the people of Illyria from St. Elmo's Fire. West of Illyria Castle is the Central Organ Tower, which once held equipment for harnessing the energy of St. Elmo's Fire prior to its destruction.

Story

Background

In 2173, the Battle of Rome (ローマ会戦, Rōma Kaisen?) occurred, in which at least two hundred Gears, as well as three Megadeath-class Gears, attacked and overwhelmed the city, leading to its destruction. Ky Kiske, at the time a knight of the Holy Order, led a small force on a mission to evacuate civilians despite knowing it amounted to suicide. He was killed in in this battle while buying time for his soldiers and as many civilians as possible to retreat, in part due to I-No manipulating the situation; however, I-No found the resulting future boring, and rewound time to return to the Battle of Rome and prevent Ky's death.

At some point between 2177 and 2183, Rome is rebuilt into Illyria, the capital of the United Kingdoms of Illyria. In 2183, Ky Kiske is elected First Allied King of the new nation, and takes up residence in Illyria Castle along with his wife and newborn child, though the latter two's existence is kept a closely-guarded secret thanks to their nature as Gears.

Guilty Gear 2 -Overture-

In 2186, following the orders of the Universal Will, Valentine leads an army of creatures called Vizuel into the city of Illyria in search of Dizzy, whose Gear cells will allow them access to a powerful magical artifact hidden within the Backyard. Thanks to their resistance to conventional magic and overwhelming numbers, Illyria is unable to fight back against the Vizuel army: the city is overrun and the castle badly damaged, a number of elite Illyrian soldiers are killed, and Ky Kiske is left trapped within a magical seal. Before being overrun, Ky manages to send word to Sol Badguy and Sin Kiske, who with the help of Izuna and Dr. Paradigm are able to free Ky and defeat Valentine and her army. This event later becomes known as Baptisma 13.

In the aftermath of Baptisma 13, the Sanctus Populi develops magical constructs called Opus units to prevent further Valentine attacks. Around 1,200 Opus units are deployed to the city of Illyria.

Guilty Gear Xrd

The Conclave, operating with the help of Ariels, plans to use the Cradle to bring the body of Justice to Illyria Castle and harness the energy of St. Elmo's Fire in order to fuse themselves with the Gear and take control of humanity. In advance of their arrival, Leo Whitefang orders the emergency evacuation of all civilians within the city of Illyria. The Conclave activates the Gear cells within the Opus units, turning them against Illyria's defense forces and nearly overwhelming Ky and Leo, but Dr. Paradigm with the help of Dizzy and Sol is able to overload Justice with energy and thwart the Conclave's plan.

A number of structures within the city of Illyria are destroyed as a result of this battle, including the Central Organ Tower and surrounding area.

Trivia

• The capital's Down Town area serves as Faust's battle stage in the Xrd games.

Gallery

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  Guilty Gear 2 -Overture-.
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  Overture.
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  Down Town (-Revelator-).
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  Central Organ Tower (Revelator).
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  Valkyrie Garden (Revelator).