Aside: Liberated Areas

South Figaro

Sprite (World of Balance)
Sprite (World of Ruin)
Maps 27
Use Warp? No
Inn Price 80 GP
Chocobo Price 80 GP
World Map South Figaro, South Figaro
Save Points
Basements: From Duncan's House
Mansion Basement Central Room: Center
Treasures Cider, Earrings, 2 Elixirs, Ether, Heavy Shld, Hyper Wrist, Iron Armor, Old Clock-Key, RegalCutlass, Ribbon, RunningShoes, 2 X-Potions, 3,000 GP, 14 others
You'll visit South Figaro several times during the game in a number of different circumstances. There are a surprising number of Maps to explore here, and a lot of good Treasures to find. Some of these can be obtained before they're normally supposed to be, as well.

Depending on how you performed at The Imperial Banquet, a variety of areas may have been liberated by the Empire. Now that you control the Blackjack, you can return to these areas to see what's changed.

South Figaro

The good news is, South Figaro was liberated regardless of your performance at The Imperial Banquet. The bad news is, this doesn't really get you anything. The people are glad to be free, but there's nothing new to find here, not even any pertinent information. Some citizens don't even seem to be aware the Empire attacked in the first place, let alone that they left!

Doma Castle

Sprite (World of Balance)
Sprite (World of Ruin)
Maps 9
Use Warp? No
Inn Price Free
World Map Doma, Doma
Save Point
East Sleeping Quarters: In center within Cyan's soul
Treasures Alexandr, Beads, Elixir, Ether, X-Potion, 2 others
Bosses Leader, Soldier, SoulSaver, Wrexsoul
You'll travel to Doma Castle several times during the course of the game, from the point of meeting Cyan to collecting Treasures late in the World of Balance to entering Cyan's soul in the World of Ruin.

Doma Castle

If you earned at least 50 points during The Imperial Banquet, Doma Castle is now liberated. Your first chance to visit is after the Floating Continent appears. Unfortunately, liberated or not, the inhabitants of Doma Castle remain dead. All there is to find here are some Treasures, the most interesting of which (the Beads) are not even useful due to the Evade % bug.

If you didn't pick up the Remedy in the pot in the Lower Hall beneath the main stairs earlier with Cyan, you can do so now. The western door in this hall leads to the West Sleeping Quarters where you'll find an Ether in a chest and an Elixir hidden inside the alarm clock.

Head to Cyan's Bedroom in the northeast corner of the main hall to find an X-Potion. Then head outside through the doorway to the south and walk over to the Southeast Tower to find a Fenix Down and the Beads. That's all there is to do here.

Imperial Base

Sprite (World of Balance)
Maps 3
Use Warp? No
World Map Albrook
Treasures Back Guard, Cherub Down, Cure Ring, 2 Elixirs, Ether, Flame Sabre, RunningShoes, Wall Ring, X-Potion, 41,000 GP
If you visit the Imperial Base before you're meant to, you'll encounter nothing but hostility. Prove yourself at the banquet, however, and you'll gain access to a load of fantastic Treasures here.

The Imperial Base

If you earned at least 67 points during The Imperial Banquet and didn't ransack the Imperial Base earlier, now is the time to do so. There are a number of nice Relics and Items, not to mention a ton of GP there, ripe for the taking. Though Emperor Gestahl has shown his true colors, he seems more interested in Magicite and the Statues than his actual Empire, so the Imperial Base remains abandoned.

Albrook

The Empire has abandoned Albrook, which now rests under the shadow of the Floating Continent. The Cafe is now empty, and the citizens are (rightfully) fearful of what's going to happen.

Vector

Sprite (World of Balance)
Maps 6
Use Warp? Yes
Inn Price Free
World Map Vector
Save Point
Town: Near MagiTek Research Facility (during escape only)
Boss Guardian
As the imperial capital, it should come as no surprise that Vector is an inhospitable place for a party of Returners. The guards here are hostile, so your best bet is to stick to your mission and avoid them entirely.

Vector and the Imperial Palace

Vector has been totally abandoned, and remains on fire. The Returners have left, as have all the shopkeepers and even the old lady who would heal you. It's a similar situation in the Imperial Palace, with not a soul to be seen anywhere. You can grab any Treasures you missed earlier without interference.