 The six main playable characters in Final Fantasy XII are Vaan , an energetic orphan of Rabanastre who dreams of becoming a sky pirate ; Ashe , a determined princess of Dalmasca who lost her father and her husband in the Archadian invasion ; Basch , a disgraced knight of Dalmasca charged with treason for slaying the king ; Balthier , a gentlemanly sky pirate who pilots his airship , the Strahl ; Fran , Balthier 's partner and a Viera exile whose knowledge extends to legends and myths ; and Penelo , Vaan 's childhood friend who accompanies him on journeys to " keep an eye on him " . 
