Vaan is an young orphan living in Dalmasca. He lost his parents to the plague. His older brother Reks enlisted in the Dalmascan army and was killed on the day the king died and Archadia took over Dalmasca. Other than helping out other orphans around town he mostly daydreams of becoming a sky pirate and secretly waits for a chance to take some kind of vengeance on the empire. When he finally does get a chance for revenge he gets pulled into a quest to save Dalmasca that pulls him deeper and deeper into the murky intrigues of the high courts of Ivalice.

Lady Ashe, princess of Dalmasca, had been happily wed to Prince Rasler of Nabradia when news of war reached Dalmasca. Lord Rasler took up the Dalmascan king's sword and returned to his homeland to defend it and prevent the Archadian invasion from reaching Dalmasca. Ashe's young husband died in a tragic, cataclysmic battle in Nabradia. The youthful widow had no time to mourn before the Archadian invasion reached her homeland. Her father was murdered before he could make terms of alliance with the invading empire. Lady Ashe's uncle, Marquis Ondore of Bhujerba, announced her subsequent suicide to the conquered Dalmascan capitol of Rabanastre. Even without their Princess, the Dalmascan resistance still searches for a way to oust the Archadian invaders.

Balthier sees himself as the "leading man" in his life. The debonaire pirate sails the skies of Ivalice with his partner Fran. However, when he and Fran went after a certain treasure in the Dalmascan Royal Treasury he got caught up in politics that have kept him mostly grounded. He has quite the shady past and doesn't seem likely to shed light on it any time soon.

Fran is an exotic Viera who's left her homeland in spite of the taboo to seek her fortune in the world of man. Her extreme sensitivity to the mist is unique. She's also very skilled mechanic which helps in her work on the airship she and Balthier take all over Ivalice. Like her partner, Fran is very secretive about her life, but she begins to open up after you've travelled with her awhile.

Panelo is Vaan's best friend. Together they lead a band of Dalmascan orphans. Panelo's parents took in Vaan and his older brother Reks when their parents died in the plague. However, Panelo's family was killed during the war, leaving Panelo an orphan as well. She learned her fighting skills from her older brother but she prefers dancing. Up until her involvement with Vaan and his adventure she worked primarily for the trader Migelo in Rabanastre.

Basch was a great, heroic captain of the Dalmascan knights. Considered greatly loyal, he was a well trusted advisor to the Dalmascan King. Basch was the man who led Vaan's brother into battle and ultimately his death. Though Reks (Vaan's brother) only lived for a short time after the great battle in the Dalmascan Palace, he was the only living witness to what happened in that throne room. Reks witnessed Basch kill the King. Rumor has it Basch was deeply upset by the King's intentions to make a peaceful alliance with the Archadian Empire.