Palmacosta, the Port City, is the largest city in the world of Sylvarant in Tales of Symphonia, and the only one which is openly rebelling against the Desians. Although it is not offically recognized as such, Palmacosta is often regarded as Sylvarant's capital. The city and its surrounding rural areas are governed by the Governer-General. It is also home to a highly elite school, the Palmacosta Academy.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 2.1 Tales of Symphonia 2.1.1 Meeting Chocolat 2.1.2 Imposters 2.1.3 Invasion 2.1.4 Believe in Martel 2.1.5 Dorr and Kilia 2.1.6 Back in Sylvarant 2.1.7 Rampage of the Kharlan Tree 2.2 Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World 2.2.1 Troubled Hearts 2.2.2 Eternal Bond 2.2.3 Part of the Past 3 Other Appearances 3.1 Tales of Symphonia: The Animation

Geography

Palmacosta is largely built on small islands off the south-western coast of the eastern continent of Sylvarant. The city is filled with many canals and bridges. The only university and cathedral in Sylvarant are located in this city, as well as the largest steam ship.

History

Tales of Symphonia

Meeting Chocolat

When they get to Palmacosta, Colette Brunel crashes into some other travelers, breaking the Palma Potion that the travelers had been carrying. Before Lloyd Irving and the apparent leader of the other group begin fighting, one of the travelers says that if they buy them a new Palma Potion, they will forgive them. Colette agrees, taking the blame for breaking the bottle. In order to buy a new Palma Potion, they have to go to a shop in which a teenage girl refuses to sell supplies to a couple of Desians, telling them that the price they want to pay is too low. The Desians threaten to hurt her, but she says that as long as Dorr is with them, they will not give in to people like them. Although one Desian is about to attack her, he is stopped by his calmer partner who says that they have to get permission from Lord Magnius if they want to kill someone. They then leave, and almost immediately afterward, the girl whose is named Chocolat bids goodbye to her mother and leaves. After purchasing a replacement Palma Potion, they give it to the travelers who then proceed to leave the city, talking about giving a book to some man at Hakonesia Peak.

Imposters

When the group goes to the center of the city, they see a boy who talks to Dorr, the Governor-General in Palmacosta. The party learns that the boy's father was taken to the nearby Human Ranch. Dorr, together with his young daughter Kilia, assures him that he will get his father back. Afterwards, Dorr and Kilia go back to his office. The party goes to the church to ask the priest if he knows anything about the next seal they must go to in their Journey of Regeneration. He says that the Governor-General has something called the Book of Regeneration, which was written by Spiritua, the last successful Chosen of Sylvarant, when she was on her own journey. With that, they would find the locations for all the seals.

On their way out, they see Chocolat and talk to her. She apologizes for the scene they saw, and she explains that Palmacosta has a treaty with Palmacosta Human Ranch that makes them unable to kill more than a certain number of people. Because they have come to that specific number, they are unable to kill her without inciting open retaliation from the city's population. She ends the conversation with saying that the Chosen of Regeneration will save them from the Desians. She and Colette become friends, incidentally unaware that Colette is actually the Chosen. They go to ask the Governor-General if he has the Book of Regeneration.

When they are asked why they need it, Genis Sage says that Colette is the Chosen One. This claim convinces Dorr and his assistant Neil to call forth guards, accusing them for being imposters of the Chosen. However, Colette trips, revealing her pink angel wings. Discharging the guards, Dorr apologizes for his behavior and explains that a group four people came just before and claimed that they were the Chosen's group, telling them that one of the females claimed to be the Chosen. They had believed them and gave the book away. With no more clues left, they leave the city and go to Hakonesia Peak in hope of meeting the imposters with the Book of Regeneration.

Invasion

When the group comes back again later, however, they find out that Magnius and his Desians have invaded the city, and the latter is unable to fight back because Dorr and his men are out on training exercises. When Lloyd and the others get to the Governor General's office, they see that Cacao is going to be executed for Chocolat's opposition against the Desians. As Magnius is entering the scene, he breaks the neck of a citizen because he did not address him as Lord Magnius, effectively killing him. As he is about to execute Cacao, however, a little boy throws two rocks at Magnius, angering him enough to leap off the platform to punish him. But before he can, Lloyd uses a Demon Fang to stop the Grand Cardinal.

Raine then tries to stop him from doing any actions, but Lloyd angrily asks how they can go on a quest to regenerate the world if they cannot even save the people standing right in front of them. One of the higher-ranked Desians recognizes him as one of the wanted criminals, Number 0074, Lloyd Irving. Magnius, seeing his chance, orders a Desian mage to attack, only to have it easily stopped by Genis. He then angrily orders Cacao's execution, but before she can suffocate, Colette uses her ring to cut the rope, rescuing her. As Magnius is distracted by the ring, Kratos runs forth and slashes Magnius, telling him to respect the wishes of the Chosen. Upon hearing that Colette is the Chosen of Regeneration, the citizens cheer. Raine understands that she will not get Lloyd and Colette to change their minds, and decides to fight alongside them. As Magnius is too hurt to do anything, he warps away, ordering two several Desians to fight the group.

Believe in Martel

After fighting the Desians, the group finds itself at Chocolat and Cacao's house, where Chocoat thanks them for saving Cacao. She explains explains that Chocolat's grandmother was taken to the Palmacosta Human Ranch and Chocolat's father was killed in a battle against the Desians. In order to help her mother to hold the shop, Chocolat works in the church, although she does not believe Martel will come and save them when she sees all the suffer people are going through. Colette, however, tells Chocolat that she believes that the goddess sleeps inside them all, and that she just has to believe in Martel. Enlightened by the girl's words, Chocolat goes back to her work at the church. Lloyd is astounded that someone would continue to work after such an event, but Kratos explains that it is after events like those that both those with and without faith feel a need to go on a journey in search of salvation.

Dorr and Kilia

Later, the group is provided with a choice to either go and confront Dorr about his betrayal or first go and defeat Magnius. Either way, they go and confront Dorr, where they see him talking to a Desian. As the Desian leaves, Dorr sees Lloyd and the others. What they say depends on what choice the player makes, but Dorr shows them his wife Clara, who has become a monster like Marble. Dorr explains that when his father was a Governor-General, his rebellious attitude made the Desians kill him and plant a "demon seed" in Clara as a warning. However, Dorr and the Desians made a deal; if Dorr cooperated with them, they would give him medicine to remove the seed.

After a furious argument with Lloyd, Colette tries to soothe Dorr by telling him that the Goddess Martel lies within him. Kilia, however, and stabs him from behind, saying "The Goddess Martel would never lend her aid to an inferior human being." She then reveals herself to be a monster-like creature, saying that she is a half-elf servant of Pronyma, the leader of the Desian Grand Cardinals. She was ordered to observe the new human cultivation technique Magnius had developed. In the process, she killed Dorr's daughter, the real Kilia, and took her place without Dorr ever noticing.

The group fights Kilia, but as she is dying, she opens the cage, hoping that Clara will fight them. As Lloyd can not bring himself to take another innocent life, Colette goes forth and tells Clara to stop. Clara listens to her and leaves. Dorr, in his last minutes, asks if his real daughter Kilia really is dead. Lloyd, pitying the man, lies and tells him that his real daughter is apparently alive, much to Colette and Genis's displeasure. Raine tries to heal him, but she is unsuccessful as Dorr's wound is too fatal. Before he dies, Dorr asks Lloyd and the others to return Clara to her human form and save Chocolat. When everything is solved with the human ranch and Dorr, Neil tells them that he will take care of the job as the new Governor-General and watch over the prisoners from the ranch while Dirk removes the Exspheres implanted in them.

Back in Sylvarant

When the group manages to transport themselves back to Sylvarant, they fall close to the port city. They decide to visit Neil and see how things are going there. Upon meeting with him, Neil informs them that there have been sightings of Desians at the Palmacosta Human Ranch lately, though his troops have failed to find anything. Fearing that Desians have begun operating there again, they go there to investigate, leaving Mithos to Neil. When they get back from the Remote Island Human Ranch, Mithos apologizes to Neil for sneaking away without telling him. Neil forgives him and wishes them good luck in their Journey of Regeneration, still believing that they are trying to regenerate the world.

Rampage of the Kharlan Tree

When the Giant Kharlan Tree goes out of control after Sheena Fujibayashi formed a pact with Luna and Aska, the Summon Spirits of Light, the tree attacks and destroys Palmacosta, killing countless numbers of people. Clara takes his place as Governor-General during the events of Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World. Cacao and Chocolat are revealed to have survived, as well, though Cacao now runs the shop herself.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

Palmacosta is shown in the prologue of the sequel, where it is under attack with buildings on fire. Apparently, a new organization known as the Vanguard is fighting against the Church of Martel there, with the forces of the Church being led by Lloyd. While there, two adults named Lana and Reysol are running with their child, Emil Castagnier, telling him to hurry before they are all killed by Lloyd. However, before Emil is able to catch up with them, they hear Lloyd behind them, and Lloyd kills the two adults for opposing the Church of Martel and the Chosen. Later, this massacre would be known as the Blood Purge.

Close by, a Marta Lualdi, a girl with a red orb in her posession, is seen running away from Vanguard members. When she finds herself trapped, she calls for Ratatosk's help, and the orb engulfs her in a radiant light before passing out. When she wakes up, she finds that the jewel has merged with her forehead, and she sees a blond boy standing before her, asking if she is all right. He leaves after hearing a howl, and ignores the girl when she asks for his name. Back with the dying Lana and Reysol, the boy is seen kneeling before them. Lana, with a sliver of life left, recognizes Emil, although she can no longer see his face. In her dying breath, she tells him to go to Luin, to his Aunt Flora. Emil then screams out in anguish as the prologue scene ends.

Troubled Hearts

When Emil, Marta, and Tenebrae go to Palmacosta in order to find a boat to Iselia, they separate to search more effectively. Tenebrae goes with Emil, and they agree to meet again at the pub. On their search, however, Emil and Tenebre discover Richter Abend outside the church. They also see Alice, who reveals that Richter is a part of the Vanguard, shocking Emil. They then split apart, with Richter managing to stop Alice from attacking Emil. When Emil and Marta rejoin, Marta admits that she knew Richter was in the Vanguard, but she did not say anything because she knows how much Emil admires him. Emil forgives Marta, and they decide to go to the harbor, however they found out that there is no service on the harbor the current state of the sea. Because of this they decide to pay a visit to the Governor-General in order to get a boat. Clara, the previous Governor-General's wife from the original game, greets them and says that she forgives Marta for her father and the Vanguard's trouble during the Blood Purge. Marta introduces Clara to Emil, but Clara hardly recognizes him, even though she knew him and his parents well. Many in the city also fail to recognize Emil, though the matter is put on hold.

After they are told to look for Thomas at the Dynasty Ruins, a missing person who was Emil's neighbor, they are attacked by Richter. Emil protects Marta, telling Richter that he will fight him if he has to, because he made a pact with Ratatosk to become his knight. After calling Emil a fool for making that pact, he has to use his axe to guard from a sword aiming at him. Zelos Wilder from the original game is introduced, telling Richter that his hand just slipped when he saw the man threatening a girl. Richter, recognizing Zelos as the Chosen of Tethe'alla, decides to leave after telling Emil to be careful, as Alice is plotting something. Marta thanks Zelos, though she does not know his name. Zelos tells her who he is before leaving to talk to Clara, and Marta is shocked to realize that he is a Chosen, just like Colette. Afterward, they go to the mountains nearby to look for Thomas.

Eternal Bond

During Emil's final adventure through the world, he goes to Palmacosta for a personal conversation with Genis. Genis says that he went to see how things were going in Palmacosta, since he was a part of the reason the city was destroyed two years ago. He tells Emil that Colette, as the Chosen of Mana, received all the blame for it. However, she never ran away or excused herself, traits that Emil wishes he had as well. Genis adds that Colette probably managed to get through with the help of Lloyd, like everyone in the group. The little boy asks if they still can be friends when the journey is over, though Emil does not answer.

Part of the Past

When the whole group is gathered, it is possible to encounter a scene which explains Alice and Decus's backstory as part of a sidequest chain. They meet with Alice and some of her people from the Vanguard, and Alice tells them that she does not hold any grudge toward the Church of Martel. She says that if there is anyone to blame, it has to be her own parents for being too weak to survive the pilgrimage. When Colette tries to talk to her, Alice calls her a hypocrite, further exclaiming that everyone is a hypocrite before departing. Genis says that, although he does not agree with her, he thinks her confidence is amazing for a half-elf. Raine agrees and wishes that all half-elves could have the same confidence.

Other Appearances

Tales of Symphonia: The Animation

After Colette passes out upon releasing the Seal of Fire, the party finds itself in Palmacosta. Outside, Lloyd and Kratos are training with the sword, and Kratos pins Lloyd to the wall. After the training, Lloyd admits that Kratos is stronger, and he asks if they can continue training together. Kratos, however, asks Lloyd why he wants to become stronger. Lloyd says that, although he hates the Desians for killing his mother Anna, he needs to become stronger in order to protect Colette, as he does not think he can do that right now. Kratos leaves by saying that as long as he has those feelings, he will become stronger. The scene ends with Lloyd trying to keep Kratos's pace as he returns the question, asking Kratos why he wanted to become stronger.

Later, Genis is seen holding the night-watch, though he has problems staying awake. It is then revealed that Sheena and Corrine are there spying on him. Sheena remembers an event happening near a lake with Zelos, before she hurries to hide when Genis thinks he heard something. She is then seen before Colette's bed with a knife, saying that she does not bear any grudge toward her in person, she needs to kill her for her own world. However, even if she attempted to assault the younger girl, Colette is seen unhurt later, showing that Sheena could not manage to kill her.