Introduction
the gods are toying with us
Have no idea what all this sky pirating is about? If that's the case, I'm pleased to inform you that you've come to the right place! This page aims to serve as your (largely spoiler-free) introduction to the game and its dynamic duo. Although you are encouraged to read through it to get a handle on this site and its stance, it is recommended that you play the original Playstation 2 game before reading through the rest of the (not spoiler-free) site.
Fantasy, take twelve
who are you? an angel of vengeance? or perchance a saint of salvation?
As the Final Fantasy franchise's goodbye to the Sony Playstation 2 -- and good taste; no thanks, Final Fantasy XIII -- Final Fantasy XII pulls all the stops. It has the epic story, the killer ensemble (complete with real voice talents!), and the battle system -- oh, the battle system! -- to make for a one-punch knock out.
Rooting itself in the middle of a tumultuous power struggle between empires, Final Fantasy XII tells the story of a disgraced princess in her quest to restore her name and trampled kingdom. Lady Ashe travels the land of Ivalice with the very knight accused of her downfall -- witness to her husband's slaying and her father's alleged murderer -- as well as two orphans of the streets with nothing but one another. They may hail from different social standings, but with the kingdom of Dalmasca in shambles at the hands of the Archadian empire, they all find common ground in having nothing to lose and everything to gain.
And then there are the sky pirates.
Balthier
I play the leading man, who else?
22 Years Old; Hume; a Dashing Sky Pirate
He would describe himself as a noble thief, stealing only from those who deserve it. He goes where he pleases, swearing fealty to no one. While roaming the skies of Ivalice with Fran, his viera partner, he still makes time to charm the ladies with his silver tongue and put wrongs to right--grinning all the while.
Critics have cited Final Fantasy XII as an epic with an ensemble cast--one where each hero gets his or her share of the limelight.
Balthier would beg to differ.
As the self-appointed Leading Man, Balthier Bunansa is a man of Sophistication (complete with a capital S and italics!) who doubtlessly prefers his martinis shaken, not stirred. With an affinity for the flick-of-the-wrist dismissal, Balthier is articulate in his arrogance--an effortlessly cocky bastard with the diction to make even the target of his belittlement swoon. A victory over even the strongest Esper warrants only a nonchalant adjustment of his shirt cuffs, though one has to wonder if -- as is always the case -- such control is a front to bury ugly scars.
Fran
The viera may begin as part of the Wood, but it is not the only end that we may choose.
Age unknown; Viera; a Master of Weapons
A viera warrior, Fran is as much at ease with a sword as she is her bare hands. Her proficiency with a blade is matched only by that with a wrench, as she also handles the maintenance of Balthier's airship The Strahl. The life span of the viera is far greater than that of humes, and many secrets lie hidden in her long history. Yet the divide of race does nothing to diminish the bond of trust between her and Balthier.
Equal parts Exotic and Beauty, Fran is a woman of few words; she lets her intimidating stature -- and verbose partner -- do most of the talking while she prefers to listen.
The viera are gifted with heightened senses, allowing them to hear the bidding of the Wood from which they hail. Although Fran is no longer in tune to the Wood, she uses her gift to observe the world around her. She knows all about the land of Ivalice and its tumultuous war, even if she'd prefer to have nothing to do with the latter. Her sole allegiance is to Balthier and their airship. Even so, her insight and expertise proves to be a valuable asset when the pair crosses paths with Dalmasca's rightful ruler.
The Dynamic Duo
Nobody knows men like Fran does
Square Enix has already drilled it into our heads with the appropriate promotional artwork (never one without the other) and buzzwords (Trust! Bond! Sex!). We get it; this is a pair of pirates who share their bounty, secrets, and perhaps something else. When it comes to Balthier and Fran -- like it or not -- it's a two for one deal.
Despite being packaged as a pair, the intricacies of this relationship have yet to be fully explored. Partners in Crime they may be, but snips like the Balthier's "nobody knows men like Fran does" have had some fans scratching their heads in wonder. Just how far should we take these double entendres?
Regardless, the comfort and, yes, trust between the two is indisputable; we're just lucky to be allowed along for the ride.
This as-of-right-now-nameless site designed and maintained by Stacey Anne and is not to be duplicated in any way. Final Fantasy XII , Itadaki Street, Balthier, and Fran are copyright Square Enix and Sony; no infringement is intended in the making of this site.