Palumpolum

Final Fantasy XIII[]

Lightning and Hope need to go through Palumpolum to reach the city of Eden, but they are being pursued by PSICOM troops that have taken the city over from the local Guardian Corps. Hope is familiar with the area as Palumpolum is his home town, and leads Lightning through an underground complex to sneak through the harbor and avoid the patrolling soldiers. They find the fal'Cie Carbuncle in the Nutriculture Complex, and after hearing Hope compare the Cocoon citizens to pets of the fal'Cie, Lightning has an epiphany and abandons her plan to destroy the fal'Cie Eden, and tells Hope to not follow through with his plans on vengeance either. Hope does not listen and chooses to continue focusing his energy into his objective ahead—to kill Snow and avenge the death of his mother Nora.

They are beleaguered in the Agora by PSICOM and Yaag Rosch who prepares to publicly execute the two. Snow shows up along with Fang, who is now helping him. Snow summons the Shiva Sisters, who cover the area in crystal, allowing the l'Cie to escape. Lightning has Hope leave with Snow as she goes with Fang. The teams correspond by radio and agrees to meet at Hope's house in Felix Heights, where his father Bartholomew Estheim resides.

Fang reveals to Lightning that she and Vanille hail from Gran Pulse and awoke in Cocoon after being in crystal stasis for centuries. Fang cannot remember her previous Focus and their attempted forays on Cocoon resulted in Serah Farron and Dajh Katzroy becoming l'Cie, and Fang to separate from Vanille at Euride Gorge. She explains how a l'Cie's brand indicates his or her advancement towards becoming a Cie'th, and reassures Lightning of her motivation to survive and see Serah freed from stasis.

Meanwhile, after a close call with a crowd of angry civilians whom Snow tried to save from being Purged, Hope and Snow destroy a PSICOM enemy on the rooftops of Rivera Towers. Hope confronts Snow about Nora's death and blasts him off a rooftop, leaving him hanging from the edge. Hope prepares to kill Snow, but is attacked by a PSICOM airship and falls. Snow catches Hope in midair and shields him with his body as they fall to the streets below. Snow and Hope are weakened by their injuries, but Hope overcomes his anger. They regroup with Fang and Lightning at Felix Heights and the party makes their way to the Estheim Residence.

Hope tells his dad the news about Nora, and at first he is grief-stricken, but does not reject the l'Cie or take his remorse out on the injured Snow. Lightning apologizes for her previous behavior toward Snow, and the two resolve to see Serah again together. As the group tries to form a plan, Bartholomew points out that attacking the Sanctum would make the citizens hate the l'Cie even more. The apartment is bombarded by PSICOM troops led by Yaag Rosch. Snow confronts them and argues with Yaag about the Purge.

Cavalry soldiers disguised as PSICOM troops open fire on Yaag and the squadron, giving Snow the chance to sneak back to the house while the others tie up Hope's father so PSICOM does not know he helped them. The team is saved by the arrival of a Cavalry airship, and they leave Palumpolum with Hope promising his father he will return when his Focus is over.

Final Fantasy XIII-2[]

Although Serah and Noel never visit Palumpolum on their quest, according to fragment entries the city was nearly undamaged by Cocoon's fall, and many people stayed in the city. Final Fantasy XIII-2 Fragments Before reveals Palumpolum became the new capital after Eden was destroyed in Cocoon's fall, and became the base of military operations with the historic concert hall acting as the new Edenhall.