Artwork of the Crystal Pillar [top] for which Lunatic Pandora [bottom] was constructed about, from Final Fantasy VIII
The Centra civilisation started to flourish nearly four millennia before the events of Final Fantasy VIII. Over time, Centra immigrants have migrated to other continents, eventually having founded the Holy Dollet & Esthar empires in the west & east continents, respectively.
However, some eighty years ago [or over a century ago according to the Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania], the Lunar Cry, a gravity-induced destructive event that has been occurring at regular intervals for thousands of years, destroyed the Centra civilisation on their home continent.
After the destruction of the Centra, the Holy Dollet Empire’s geopolitical territory balkanised into three independent city-states in the west continent, namely; Timber, the Republic of Galbadia, & the Dollet Dukedom.
However, the destruction of the Centra civilisation & the subsequent break up of the Holy Dollet Empire were not the only consequences the aforementioned Lunar Cry had on the world.
Along with the Lunar Cry that occurred on the Centra continent, a crystal pillar from the moon fell amongst the monsters that infested the continent. It was later discovered by Estharian scientists that the crystal pillar can trigger Lunar Cries because of a strong energy field it emits between itself & the moon.
Info Corner entry on the Crystal Pillar: A crystal that causes the Lunar Cry by producing a strong energy field between the planet & the moon. It’s believed to have originated in the moon. The Crystal Pillar responds to a specific location on the planet, & sends a strong directional signal. More research is required to analyse this process in detail.
During the Sorceress War between Galbadia & Esthar, the government of Esthar, which had grown scientifically [as opposed to militarily in Galbadia] since its inception, created the Centra Excavation Site over the area that the Crystal Pillar was buried. After the Crystal Pillar was excavated, the Crystal Pillar was encased by a mobile fortress called Lunatic Pandora, under the charge of Dr. Odine, an Estharian scientist.
Info Corner entry on Lunatic Pandora: An enclosure for Crystal Pillar made by Esthar. 3 miles tall & 1.5 miles wide, the enormous enclosure boasts a high-tech facility. It floats by causing a reaction with the Crystal Pillar. A stone from the moon is sealed inside. It was probably built to cause the Lunar Cry through artificial means.
Meant to be utilised for war, it is heavily implied that Lunatic Pandora has been tested around the Vienne Mountains, where the structure is shown in the background during the Laguna movie filming sequence & a visible crater in the modern day world map near the Vienne Mountains. However, with the coup that was orchestrated by Laguna Loire & the resistance against Adel in Esthar, the weapon was sunk into the ocean due to the danger it possesses, until it was raised out of the ocean by Seifer Almasy & the Galbadian military during the events of Final Fantasy VIII.
It is interesting to note that the Crystal Pillar is one of the very few, if not only, appearance of the Final Fantasy series’ crystal motif in Final Fantasy VIII.
