Castle Oblivion

Castle Oblivion (忘却の城 Bōkyaku no Shiro) is the setting of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and the only world in the game which the characters actually visit. It is controlled by Marluxia of Organization XIII, and consists of thirteen floors above ground, and twelve basements, creating a total of 25 floors.

Organization Headquarters

File:CastleOblivionTitle.jpg

Logo of Castle Oblivion

The origins of Castle Oblivion and its use prior to the series are still unknown other than it exists in a dimension in between light and darkness, similar to Twilight Town, and also has 13 floors and 12 basements. It is also known that the castle's rooms change shape in relation to the memories of those entering them. The basements focus on dark memories while the regular floors focus on light memories, all of which are crafted into cards and continuously used in order to operate the fortress. However, it was eventually found by Xemnas, Superior of Organization XIII, who decided to convert it to a base of operations for the Organization. The fortress soon became a base where research and experiments would be performed on memories. Since the members of Organization XIII lack emotions, they needed to rely on memories to piece together their characterizations.

Xemnas sent Xigbar and Xaldin to recruit more members, as they needed a good number in order to run the fortress. Eventually, a girl named Naminé appeared in this castle and was found by the Organization. They soon learned of her strange abilities over memories and she became the core of the research. To further help, Xemnas had pods created that could piece together memories to aid in the research. The castle and Naminé were eventually entrusted to Marluxia, a new member. However, Marluxia would use this grant in power in a plot to seize control over the Organization.

A Separate Motive

While Xemnas did want to experiment on memories in the Castle, it is largely hinted that he had a separate motive. This motive was brought up in a conversation between Xigbar and Zexion at the Castle that Never Was. Xigbar believes that Xemnas is searching for a room called the Room of Awakening and believes that Xemnas thinks it’s somewhere in Castle Oblivion. This could mean that Castle Oblivion will show up in a later game. Xemnas, when he was known as Xehanort, constructed a Room called the Room of Sleep that houses armor that Xemnas refers to as “Friend”. Though this may have some connection to the Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep and the connection between Terra, Aqua and Ven, the connection is currently unknown. The Room of Awakening was not made by Xehanort, but does appear to exist and may house another friend. Xemnas’s plans for this room are unknown.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

File:CastleOblivionCoM.png

Castle Oblivion as it appears in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy follow Pluto into Castle Oblivion. As soon as they enter, they forget all their skills, and are forced to use the castle's memory-based card combat system. The higher they progress up the Castle, the more memories are reshaped by Naminé. This is so that Marluxia and Larxene can use Sora as a puppet to overthrow Xemnas. The scheme fails thanks to Axel, and Marluxia and Larxene are killed.

Reverse/Rebirth Mode

Riku awakens inside the lowest basement of Castle Oblivion, as a result of his connection to Sora. Here he faces his memories of both Xehanort's Heartless and Maleficent, and overcoming his fear of the darkness within himself. It was within the Castle that he meets DiZ and Naminé, as well as reuniting with King Mickey.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

Roxas and Axel have been seen inside Castle Oblivion near the entrance in a recent screenshot. What they plan to do there is currently unknown.

The Floors and the Basements

Castle Oblivion is divided into two equal sections, the floors and the basements. Marluxia, Axel and Larxene control the floors. Vexen, Lexaeus and Zexion control the basements. In the manga, it appears that the floors and basements members have a rivalry against each other. Also, in the manga it appears as if Zexion is the leader of the basements group, and that Lexaeus is his second in command, leaving Vexen to be a scientist who simply goes from the floors to the basements performing his experiments.

Characters

• KHSoraCG.jpg

  Sora

• DonaldKHI.jpg

  Donald

• Goofy000.jpg

  Goofy

• Jiminy Cricket.jpg

  Jiminy Cricket

• PlutoCG.jpg

  Pluto

• Riku Dark Mode.jpg

  Riku Replica

• DiZ.jpg

  DiZ

• KHRikuCG.jpg

  Riku

• Mickey.jpg

  King Mickey

Heartless

• XAnsem.jpg

  Ansem

• Blue Rhapsody2.jpg

  Blue Rhapsody

• Darkball.jpg

  Darkball

• Defender.jpg

  Defender

• Green Requiem.jpg

  Green Requiem

• Neoshadow1.jpg

  Neoshadow

• Red Nocturne.jpg

  Red Nocturne

• Shadow.jpg

  Shadow

• Wizard.jpg

  Wizard

• Wyvern-Heartless.jpg

  Wyvern

• Yellow Opera.jpg

  Yellow Opera

Nobodies

• Marluxia.png

  Marluxia

• Larxene.png

  Larxene

• Axel.png

  Axel

• Vexen.png

  Vexen

• Lexaeus.png

  Lexaeus

• Zexion.png

  Zexion

• KH reCOM-Namine.jpg

  Naminé

Treasures

Type	Item	Locations	Notes
Cards	Ultima Weapon	Bounty	This is available only if there is a completed Sora's Story file saved on the memory card.
	Lexaeus	Bounty	This is available only if there is a completed Reverse/Rebirth file saved on the memory card.
	Star Seeker	Room of Rewards, Set 2	Available in Re:Chain of Memories only.
Sleights	Raging Storm	Bounty	Available in Re:Chain of Memories only.
	Super Glide	Room of Rewards, Set 1	Available in Re:Chain of Memories only.

Trivia

The need for the card system in Castle Oblivion is unknown. Though Marluxia claims that they are simply part of the castle, he claims that the trademark memory loss was due to the castle's influence as well, when in actuality it was Naminé's doing. It is possible that the card system was created by the Organization simply to disorient and manipulate intruders like Riku and Sora.