Quote Originally Posted by Roogle View Post
I recall seeing background information before the game was released that stated that she learned how to fight from her brother who was a soldier in the war, and that she combined the soldiers' techniques with her dancing techniques to defend herself. This was not in the game, and I wonder why. I could be mistaken, as I do not have a source for this information, but I remember looking forward to seeing some of her background story and it never came during Final Fantasy XII.
It's written in my FFXII game manual that her brothers taught her to fight. I imagine if they had included her dancing in the game she could have fought a bit like River from Firefly; sort of a balletic martial artist. Penelo as a dancer is the only thing I regret them cutting. I did keep an eye out for her background story, but I wasn't too sad that nothing was said about it because I feel we get a pretty good idea of who she is in the game: a mature and emotionally strong young woman who "believes that in perseverence, there is hope." The quoted part is also from my game manual. Besides, she does tell her story albeit without much detail. She lived with her family until the Empire invaded, and they were all killed.

It seems that people expect all the characters in a FF game to have a moment of sweeping exposition where their profound emotions and complicated motivations are revealed. Perhaps the lack of appeal with a character like Penelo is that she is an uncomplicated girl, who despite having a tragic life has the simple determination to find better days. There isn't really a need for her to have a dramatic moment. We are shown her and Vaan's sadness at the loss of their families and freedom through their interactions with the whole party. I like what other people have said about her role in the story being more about her symbolic value as hope, as a member of the younger generation who will mend the rift that's grown in Ivalice.

Whoa, I rambled. Sorry.