Pirate (term)

Pirates are a recurring theme in the Final Fantasy series, that mainly featured in the early installments. Pirates in the Final Fantasy series are usually designed after the popular modern imagination of pirates, as rebellious, clever teams operating outside the bureaucracy of modern life. Imagery associated with pirates includes the Jolly Roger flag, which is the traditional name for the flags of European and American pirates, and a symbol for piracy that has been adopted by film-makers and toy manufacturers.

Final Fantasy
Pirates are met in Pravoka, where they have attacked the town. The captain of the pirates is Bikke and when the Warriors of Light approach him, he summons nine pirates to attack the player. When they are defeated, Bikke feels regret for his crimes, and surrenders his ship to the party, allowing the player to travel across the world's oceans.

Final Fantasy V
Faris Scherwiz is the captain of a band of pirates who reside in a cave, aptly named Pirates' Hideout. Bartz, Lenna and Galuf come across the hideout on their way to the Wind Shrine, and are amazed the pirates are able to operate their sailing ship even if the wind of the world has died, and no other ship is able to sail. They infiltrate the hideout and sneak onboard the ship, but are discovered by Faris, the captain of the pirates, and captured. Intrigued by Lenna's pendant, which Faris recognises as identical to her own, she decides to aid Bartz and his friends on their quest to investigate the Wind Shrine, where Faris is made a Warrior of Light along with the three others, destined to save the world.

If the player visits Tule while using the pirate ship, the pirates, Faris included, will rush to the pub for a drink. After the pirate ship is destroyed, the pirates can be found in their hideout.

The pirates' theme in Final Fantasy V is called "Pirates Ahoy".

Final Fantasy VII
Although not referred to as pirates, AVALANCHE's symbol greatly resembles that of the Jolly Roger flag, traditionally associated with pirates. AVALANCHE are an eco-terrorist insurgent group opposing the actions of Shinra Electric Power Company.

Although the traditional skull and crossbones pirate flag prevalent in popular culture is usually depicted as black, many historians agree that the original pirate flag was red; red flags were common in naval warfare, to signal that no quarter would be given. This red flag was called Joli Rouge (pretty red) by the French, and may have been corrupted into English as Jolly Roger. From the red flag individual pirates might have begun to develop their own personal flags and in contrast with the well-known red flag, they used the black flag of quarantine and disease as the base, with the universal symbol for death, the skull and bones.

Final Fantasy XII


The term sky pirate is used for the freefolk who travel the world on airships. Though they are collectively called "pirates", their actual occupations vary, some searching for treasure, some traveling the world, while others are villains who attack trade ships.

Sky pirates in Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings bear little resemblance to the traditional stereotypical pirates that appeared in the original Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy V, not being associated with any specific regalia. The airships in Final Fantasy XII are also more futuristic in look, rather than resembling actual flying sailing ships.

Vaan, a thief living in Royal City of Rabanastre, dreams of owning an airship and becoming a sky pirate to escape the mundaneness of life. While pillaging the royal palace he runs into Balthier and Fran, two sky pirates, and the three join forces to escape the palace when it is attacked by the Resistance. The sky pirates eventually join Princess Ashe on a quest to save the Kingdom of Dalmasca from war. Ba'Gamnan is a sky pirate who wants to catch Balthier to collect the bounty on him, and Reddas is a former Archadian Judge turned sky pirate, residing in the pirates' haven, Port at Balfonheim.

At the end of the game Vaan obtains his own airship, deciding to become a sky pirate with Penelo as his partner, setting the stage for the sequel, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, that revolves around Vaan's band of sky pirates, including himself, Penelo, Filo and Kytes, although Balthier and Fran join him on his quest later.

Balthier also appears as a secret character in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions where his job is Sky Pirate. Likewise, Vaan who makes an appearance in Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift has his job listed as a Sky Pirate.

Final Fantasy XIII-2
Mog can be dressed in a pirate costume in a future downloadable content.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light
The Pirate Hideout is the headquarters of Captain Drake and his crew of pirates. Before the events of the game, Leviathan began to cause trouble in Liberte around the time of the Glassworks Fair and sent his minions to make Captain Drake and his crew attack the city to steal all of the objects in Liberte's town hall. The Captain Drake and his crew stole Pione's vase with the fairy Lilibelle inside, and the Rusty Compass. After the Rusty Compass was stolen, Leviathan held the real Captain Drake hostage and sent a Trollud disguised as Drake to constantly pillage the village.

Years later, Jusqua and Aire travel to the Pirate Hideout, after Apollo asks them to save his parents. In the Pirate Hideout, the two defeat the Trollud disguised as Drake and release the real Captain Drake from his prison. After being released from his prison, Captain Drake and his pirates decide to help make Liberte a peaceful place.

After being sent decades into the past, the Heroes of Light arrive around the time of the Glassworks Fair. Captain Drake and his pirates loot Liberte of their artworks including the kidnapping of Pione and Lilibelle. Inside the Pirates Hideout, Captain Drake is being controlled by a Seadevil and almost kills Lilibelle until the party interrupts him. Captain Drake and Lilibelle are set free from the demon's control and the Captain gives them the Rusty Compass.