The Basari
A Hannish family numerous in number, known for their trade of arms and armours, and for the rules which govern them in their daily lives.
01.
History
The Basari lineage starts in Corvos. Oral stories that have survived that 700-year time span simply state that the earliest Basari crossed the Corvosi Narrows, though not without some hardship and great loss. Another rendition of the tale states that an ambitious Basari simply chafed under tribal tradition and wanted to set out to forge their own path, though this has nothing to back it up.
Regardless of the reason of why, this group arrived on the shores of Thavnair battered and depleted, having lost several of their members to the journey across the ice bridge. Still they were determined to make the most of their new home and quickly claimed a swathe of land on the island's western portion. Battling the area’s flora, fauna, and environment the sept slowly eked out an existence in this new clime. In time there was even a slight surplus that lead to the sept engaging in trade with the ‘merchants’ that made their way around the tip of Thavnair, though in reality these were just pirates and ne’er-do-wells seeking quick and easy supplies.
Originally, the Basari made no moves to the south, towards Radz-at-Han, even for attempts at trade. Some forty years after landing and establishing themselves the sept began to mine local minerals. At the behest of a long-forgotten matriarch these activities commenced, and quickly the sept established several medium yield mines within their territory pulling up precious and semi-precious metals and gems.
With a secure supply of resources, the matriarchs instructed more of the tribe become smiths and gem cutters. After another fifty years of near constant growth regular, sept caravans had started to make their way south to trade with the people of Radz-at-Han. Each time these tribal merchants would come back with tales of the city. Its smells, sights, and, to them, its near endless sprawl of permanent dwellings. More and more a portion of the sept’s gaze turned from their simple life to the wonders and world outside of their desert home. With little more than their personal possessions and newly acquired smithing and gem cutting talents this forward-looking group took south with the hopes of making their homes and fortunes within Radz-at-Han.
The first Hannish-born miqo'te was Rahza Basari, a healthy female of dark features and golden eyes. The current Basari line can all be traced directly to Rahza. Many of the Basari traditions can also be traced to Rahza, including the practice of selective breeding, the taking of multiple spouses, and succession rules.
02.
The Basari Trade
The Basari Trade Company is a Hannish-based company that has seen expansion out into the whole of Eorzea proper within recent years. With a proud history spanning nearly four hundred years, this family sees their fingers in many mercantile pies, but has made their name primarily on their creation and distribution of arms and armours. Known for pieces which accentuate their familial colours of black and gold, with intricate designs to further enhance a creation’s beauty and ability, they hold their craftsmanship to a level all of its own.
These pieces can range from custom creations, to the outfitting of entire companies or small armies, to ceremonial regalia. If you can picture it, the Basari will have their smiths see it come to fruition.
Other ventures of the Basari drift into raw goods, specifically the mining of Giantsgall, where the family funds a handful of private veins. Like nearly all Hannish, they also maintain a connection to the alchemical world their city is known for.
Their first non-Hannish office was located in Ul’dah, where it has been for nigh forty years. Within the past fifteen years, and under the behest of the current matriarch Aliyah and her twin, Eirah Basari, locations in La Noscea, Gridania and Kugane have also opened. Most recently is a freshly opened office in Ishgard. While they were once engaged in trade with the Empire, current events have seen all ties of commerce with Garlemald cut off.
03.
Basari Culture
One thing to note about the Basari is that they practice a number of what many would consider odd family traditions. Through their 700-cycle history, these traditions have changed and evolved but have many have become cemented as family law. Few, if any, Basari will go against these traditions for fear of the family coming down upon their heads. These traditions include:
Basari Males: Like all Miqo’te the Basari have a very low male birthrate. This has led to the family to jealously guard all of their males while also pushing them to accomplish as much as they possibly can before the time that they will marry. This all leads to a very early grave or a male with many notable deeds under his belt. When it comes to marriage, no male is ever permitted to marry out of the family. Instead any and all spouses will have to marry into the Basari, adopting their familial name.
The Radiant Host and Basari House Guard: A large portion of the Basari claim some time within the Radiant Host, where their martial abilities are honed and they are able to make names not only for themselves but for their family. It is during this time in the Host that they may have the luck of being chosen to serve the Basari House Guard, a group within the Basari that numbers only twelve and whose members - often the half-siblings of the mainline branch - are noted for their loyalty, skill, and the deeds they accomplished while being a part of the Radiant Host. To be selected as a House Guard is seen as an ultimate honour - and often the highest ranking that a half-sibling can achieve.
Selective Breeding: Starting with Rahz herself this is likely the oldest Basari tradition that only recently saw a decline. Rahz, in her drive to be the premier Seeker family in the city, chose to take only take husbands that would complement her own features as well as only selecting males of strong build and above average height. Her desire was to see her offspring and further descendants stand heads and shoulders above their fellows and competition so that there was no choice but to look up to them, and the Basari likewise could look down on the rest of them. At the behest of her surviving husband, Rahz's eldest daughter continued this and it went for generations until the trademark Basari features were solidified: a brown skin tone, raven hair, and eyes as gold as gil. Such qualities have become so enshrined as Basari hallmarks that most would be able to pick them out from a crowd. This is further helped by the fact that - thanks to their breeding practices - near all main Basari family members exhibit a height that is above the norm for Miqo'te. This is most easily seen in Eirah who stands a full nine ilms taller than Miqo’te of average height.
Family Members
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