If I could protect but one person from war's horror... then I would bear any shame. I would bear it proudly.
Basch fon Ronsenburg
Basch fon Ronsenburg is a playable character in Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. A disgraced knight, Basch had his name ruined throughout Ivalice when he was framed for murdering King Raminas, contributing to the Kingdom of Dalmasca's downfall. His background is expanded upon in the manga version.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
I could not defend my home. What is shame to me?
Basch
Basch.
Basch is a 36-year-old man with a strong, muscular-though-emaciated build, a tall frame, and blue eyes. He has long blond slicked back hair, beard, and goatee. When first met, his facial hair is wildly overgrown, but after joining the party, it is trimmed down. Basch has a long scar across his left brow.
Basch is seen in a variety of outfits, the first being his Dalmascan knight armor. As a prisoner, he wears a pair of teal trousers and no shirt, revealing prominent scars on his shoulders and upper back, before eventually salvaging armor from a felled soldier and tying his disheveled hair into a ponytail. The clothing that Basch wears throughout most of the game resembles a Bhujerban sainikah. Later, he appears in an Archadian Judge Magister suit of armor.
As the player can assign characters with any role in Final Fantasy XII, Basch doesn't have a signature weapon. In his official render, the sword that Basch wields is the Claymore. His starting weapon is the Mythril Blade, delivered to him by Vaan as a sword of the Old Order. Previously, he wielded a sword resembling the Mythril Blade as a Dalmascan knight and salvaged a Flimsy Blade from a deceased soldier.
Personality[]
Basch has a fierce sense of loyalty and a professional manner. He abides by a knight's code, dedicating himself to restoring the country he serves. He is selfless, prioritizing others at the cost of his own reputation. Basch strives to fulfill promises and commands from his superiors, friends, and family, regardless of the request or the circumstances.
Story[]
Early life[]
A young Basch and Noah.
Born in 670 Old Valendian in the Republic of Landis to a Landisian father and Archadian mother, Basch grew up with his identical twin brother, Noah fon Ronsenburg, and their sickly mother. Basch is considered the older brother, having been born first. They lived peacefully until in 687, nineteen years prior to the events of Final Fantasy XII, the Archadian Empire attacked Landis.
Basch left Landis to train in Dalmasca in hopes of restoring his old homeland. He joined the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca and, over time, was promoted to captain ("general" in the Japanese version). Landis fell and Basch assumed his mother and brother dead or enslaved to the Empire.
Protecting Dalmasca[]
Basch reveals himself from beneath Raminas' bed sheets.
Basch dedicated his life to protecting his adopted country and its royalty, King Raminas and his daughter, Princess Ashelia. As told in the manga version of Final Fantasy XII, Basch and Vossler fought in a war against the Urutan-Yensa of the sandsea ten years ago. Before the royal engagement between Ashe and Lord Rasler of Nabradia, a Neo-Rozarria Faction arose in Nabradia, believing the proposed political allegiance to Dalmasca to be better placed with the Rozarrian Empire to avert war with Archadia.
The faction planned to assassinate King Raminas to prevent the royal engagement from going ahead and pinning the murder on Archadia to send both Dalmasca and Nabradia into the hands of Rozarria. However, the Order of Knights intercepted their plan by having Basch pose as Raminas to lure the assassin. The Neo-Rozarrian movement was defeated, but the Archadian threat still loomed on the horizon.
Final Fantasy XII[]
Basch planning the counterattack of Nalbina in the opening FMV.
Vossler:Listen to me, Basch. Your cage may have no bars, but it is a cage. The eyes of the Resistance watch unblinking.
Basch:Let them watch. I know something of cages.
Vossler and Basch.
With the assassination attempt foiled, the pro-Rozarrian faction in Nabradia abandoned subtlety and rose up in open rebellion in the year 704. The Archadian Empire, under the pretense of restoring order in the country, responded by invading Nabradia after dispatching the Rozarrian troops headed for the capital, Nabudis. After the Battle of Nabudis, the capital was destroyed in an explosion of Mist by the Archadian Judge Zecht under Doctor Cid's orders. Knowing that Dalmasca would be next, Basch led the army to fight the Empire at the Battle of Nalbina Fortress joined by his new prince, Lord Rasler.
As told in the manga, the battle began with the defenders using a combination of unmanned kamikaze airships filled with oil, the use of flaming arrows, and a chocobo cavalry charge to wipe out the Archadian vanguard. When the main body of the Archadian army arrived, bolstered by two Judge Magisters, a small task force under Judge Zargabaath teleported into Nalbina Fortress intent on disabling the paling. Rasler listened to Basch's counsel and hurried back to Nalbina, but the Archadian army, hot on their heels, attacked and entered the fortress before the defenses were fully prepared and, with their attention divided, the Dalmascans were unable to prevent the task force from disabling the paling. Judges Bergan and Drace led a charge to push the Dalmascans back and Bergan goaded Rasler into fighting him while Basch fought Drace. Rasler and Basch retreated to the fortress, but the paling fell and, in the chaos, Rasler was struck by an Archadian arrow. Rasler and Basch escaped to the Dalmascan capital of Rabanastre, but Rasler succumbed to his wounds. With Nalbina having fallen, the Archadians planned to force Dalmasca into an unfair peace treaty.
Gabranth scars Basch.
The heir to the Empire, Vayne Solidor, wished to conquer Dalmasca and hatched a plan to assassinate Raminas. Vayne leaked rumors of assassins to the Dalmascan forces and Basch led a force to Nalbina Fortress along with his long-time friend, Vossler Azelas. Of his few remaining soldiers was a young man named Reks, who reminded Basch of his brother, Noah. As they made their way through the fortress, Basch told Reks about his regret leaving Landis and not knowing whether Noah or his mother survived.
Basch rushed to Raminas while his forces stayed behind to fight the Archadians. Basch was attacked in King Raminas' chambers and, when he recognized the fighting style of Landis being used by one of the soldiers, he realized that he was fighting his brother and called him by his name. However, Noah refused to acknowledge it, claiming that he is now Gabranth, a judge of the Empire. Gabranth defeated Basch, scarring his brow above his left eye. With Basch incapacitated, Gabranth killed the king while impersonating his twin brother. When Reks arrived, he saw the murdered king and was attacked by Gabranth, believing Basch to be the culprit while the real Basch was held elsewhere.
Basch was blamed for Raminas' death and became known as the king-slayer. The peace negotiations fell apart and Archadian forces occupied Dalmasca. Basch was found guilty of incitement of sedition, the assassination of King Raminas, and high treason. Though Archadia announced him executed, Basch was being held prisoner in the Nalbina Dungeons to ensure Bhujerba's loyalty to the Empire, as its ruler, Marquis Ondore, was the one who had announced both Basch's and Ashe's deaths.
Basch imprisoned in Nalbina Dungeons.
Two years later, the street thief Vaan and his allies of circumstance—sky pirates Balthier and Fran—discover the oubliette where Basch is being held. The trio witnesses Gabranth talking to an imprisoned Basch, informing him that the Empire has captured a woman from the insurgence, "Amalia". Following Gabranth's leave, Basch pleads with the party to set him free. However, Vaan, who is Reks' younger brother, yells at the disgraced knight, blaming him for his brother's death and Dalmasca's fall. The ruckus attracts the guards and Fran has everyone jump onto Basch's cage before dropping it into the pit below the dungeons. Freed from the cage, Basch joins the team as they escape through the Barheim Passage. Basch explains that the Empire framed him. Though Balthier believes him, Vaan remains unconvinced.
Basch's appearance in Barheim Passage.
In Rabanastre, Basch departs to speak to the local resistance. When Vaan delivers the Sword of the Old Order to Vossler, now a resistance leader alongside the captured Amalia, he finds Basch at the hideout trying to convince his old friend that he did not kill Raminas and that they need to save "Amalia". Reluctant, Vossler gives Basch the Sword of the Old Order, implying that he wishes him to deliver it to Marquis Ondore, Bhujerba's leader; although Bhujerba is officially allied with the Empire, the marquis works as an undercover resistance sympathizer.
Basch asks Vaan to join him, since they both have errands in Bhujerba, and Vaan begins to believe in Basch's innocence. Basch accompanies Vaan, Balthier, and Fran to Bhujerba to rescue Vaan's friend, Penelo, from Ba'Gamnan, a ruthless bounty hunter. On their journey to the Lhusu Mines, the party is joined by a youth named Lamont. Within the mines, the party learns that Penelo is no longer under Ba'Gamnan's capture and, after escaping Ba'Gamnan's gang, learn of Lamont's true identity as Larsa Solidor—Vayne's younger brother and the second in line to the throne of Archadia. The party next focuses on Basch's errand to deliver the Sword of the Old Order to Ondore, as Vaan has learned that Larsa took Penelo to Ondore's estate. With Vaan's aid, they secure an audience with the marquis. To reunite Basch with "Amalia", Ondore has Judge Ghis, whose Dreadnought Leviathan is currently docked at the skycity, imprison the party under the guise of helping the Empire catch the Nalbina Dungeon escapees. In the manga, Vaan, Balthier, Fran, and Basch are taken before Ondore, with Basch explaining that there is someone aboard the Leviathan who he wants to rescue. Ondore confesses that the prisoner is important to him as well and Basch feigns an attack on Ondore, giving pretense for him to call his guards and have the group taken to the Archadians.
Basch is reunited with Ashe upon the Dreadnought Leviathan.
Basch is reunited with "Amalia", who Vaan and the others are surprised to learn is Princess Ashe. Identifying him as the king-slayer, Ashe strikes Basch across the face. Ghis tells the party that the cooperation of a royal would be valuable to Vayne, but Ashe has no proof of her lineage. Basch tells him that there is such proof, the Dusk Shard of the Dynast-King Raithwall, and he was instructed to give it to Ashe by Raminas if needed. The Goddess' Magicite that Vaan had pilfered from the Royal Palace of Rabanastre earlier—really the Dusk Shard—reveals itself, pointing Ashe out as Raithwall's kin and the rightful heir to the throne of Dalmasca. Ghis seizes it and orders the group imprisoned, with Ashe being quartered separately.
Vossler, disguised as an imperial knight, springs the party free. Working together, they rescue Ashe, whom Vossler has sworn to protect. Penelo, who has come on board the Leviathan with Larsa, joins the party. Ashe is still angered by Basch's presence, but he swears his innocence and loyalty to Dalmasca and thus, to her. After defeating Ghis, they escape the Leviathan on a carrier ship piloted by Balthier, with Vossler staying behind to secure their escape, entrusting Ashe's safety in Basch's hands. They return to Bhujerba, where Ashe is returned to the marquis.
Ashe wishes to reclaim the throne of Dalmasca, but cannot do so without proof of her lineage. In her quest to locate the Dawn Shard, another piece of deifacted nethicite belonging to her ancestor, Dynast-King Raithwall, she coaxes Basch and the others to accompany her to the Tomb of Raithwall. After acquiring the shard, the party is ambushed by the Empire as a result of Vossler having betrayed them, now cooperating with the Empire, and the party is again taken prisoner aboard the Leviathan and the nethicite taken from them.
Vossler defeated.
Vossler reveals that he is working with the Empire to restore peace and order to Dalmasca. Basch is furious, but the party is transferred to the Shiva while Ghis attempts to test the nethicite by placing it in the Leviathan's engine. Fran's Mist-induced frenzy enables the team's escape, but Vossler refuses to let them leave, forcing Basch to fight his old ally. The defeated Vossler asks Basch to protect the princess in his stead and explains that everything he did, he did for Dalmasca. Basch says that he never questioned Vossler's loyalty to the kingdom and that he will protect her. Basch and the party leave Vossler behind and flee the Shiva on a carrier ship. After the Mist explosion triggered by the overheating Dawn Shard destroys the entire imperial fleet, the party recovers the nethicite, but it has lost its luster.
In the manga adaptation, Vossler hands the Dawn Shard to Ghis and reveals that Vayne has agreed to restore Dalmasca with Ashe as ruler in exchange for it. Ghis has the nethicite tested while Vossler takes the party to their quarters. Fran goes berserk from the Mist spewed by the Dawn Shard and the group incapacitates the guards. Basch and Vossler duel as the party flees to the airship bay. Vossler gains the upper hand using Balance magic and shatters Basch's sword, but through willpower and the Mist around them, Basch creates a blade of Mist from the hilt of his sword and continues to fight. Basch impales Vossler, with Balance not activating since Vossler cannot make physical contact with Basch's incorporeal weapon. Vossler entrusts Ashe's protection to Basch, telling him that she's currently too weak to hold the throne and Basch must aid her in her mission. The Dawn Shard's reaction causes a chain of system failures and the airship explodes as Ashe and her friends flee in an airship back to Dalmasca. Because the manga was cancelled, this serves as the ending to the adaptation.
The party returns to Dalmasca, where Basch keeps a low profile, but stays true to his promise to Vossler to protect Ashe. He accompanies her to Jahara to learn of the nethicite from the garif and they cross paths with Larsa, who wishes an end to the conflict and for Ashe to become the queen of Dalmasca and propose peace to the Empire. They head to Mt Bur-Omisace with Larsa's company to meet another political ally, Prince Al-Cid Margrace of Rozarria. Before leaving, Basch questions Balthier's intentions, fearing for Ashe's safety.
Basch and the party in Archades.
Basch and Ashe discuss the possibility of a truce between the Empire and Dalmasca. While Basch supports the idea of peace, Ashe remains uncertain. At Bur-Omisace, they learn from Al-Cid that Vayne has succeeded the recently assassinated Emperor Gramis and disbanded the Imperial Senate, taking absolute control over Archadia. The plan for a peaceful resolution thus foiled and armed with the Sword of Kings that the party uncovers from the Stilshrine of Miriam, the party sets out to destroy the Empire's most powerful weapons: the nethicite.
In the Draklor Laboratory, the party apprehends Doctor Cid, the Empire's leading nethicite researcher, but fails to destroy the nethicite he holds. They pursue him to Giruvegan, where they learn of the Occuria's wishes for Ashe to wield nethicite to destroy the Empire. The Occuria, who deem themselves the gods of Ivalice for their immortality, task Ashe with carving more pieces of nethicite from the motherlode, the Sun-Cryst. Basch accompanies his conflicted princess to the Ridorana Cataract alongside a wise sky pirate, Reddas.
Atop the Pharos, Gabranth ambushes the party. After lecturing Ashe about how she can do nothing as she could not even defend her kingdom, Basch steps in, saying that he will protect both Ashe and Dalmasca. Gabranth claims that Basch is powerless since he failed both Landis and Dalmasca, reminds Basch that he has been vilified by the people he so loyally served, and tells him that killing the king's true slayer will not reclaim him the honor he has lost. Basch acknowledges this, saying that he will bear it willingly as long as he does everything for hope. Gabranth is defeated and Doctor Cid arrives, asking Gabranth to leave. Cid re-integrates the pieces of deifacted nethicite in his possession to the Sun-Cryst, which begins to exhaust Mist. The outpouring awakens the Sky Fortress Bahamut, the Empire's newest battleship, but Reddas sacrifices his life to destroy the Sun-Cryst, ending the era of nethicite in Ivalice.
Basch by his brother.
Basch and the party board the Bahamut to confront Vayne, who is about to engage Marquis Ondore's resistance forces in the Battle above Rabanastre. On their way up to the Cannon Superstructure, they are accosted by Gabranth, who questions Basch about his ability to keep his honor. Basch says that all he has done is protect those he has sworn to protect and asks Gabranth what he has protected, suggesting that he should focus on protecting Lord Larsa. Gabranth attacks the party and is defeated and Basch asks if he is done, calling him Noah. The party leaves a wounded Gabranth behind and confronts Vayne. Larsa joins the fray on Ashe's side, but not even this quells Vayne. A weakened Gabranth follows and, upon witnessing Vayne willing to harm Larsa, he turns on Vayne and supports Basch and the others in their final battle before being struck down.
With Vayne dead, the party escapes the Sky Fortress Bahamut. On his deathbed, Gabranth asks his brother to protect Larsa and Archadia. Believing Ashe—who can now take her throne—to no longer require his protection, Basch fulfills his brother's last wish and takes up Gabranth's identity and position of Judge Magister, becoming Larsa's personal guard wearing Gabranth's suit of armor. Penelo corresponds with Larsa, writing that she believes Ashe misses Basch and hopes to see him again soon.
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings[]
No! The dead will find no release in blood. Perhaps I am no true Judge, but the future is built on more than what is passed. A man whose gaze bends ever back cannot hope to find his way forward. You would bind yourself to illusions, to the fallen. I will cut you free of those bonds!
Basch
Basch works with the Empire under his late brother's identity, serving as Lord Larsa's bodyguard. Basch guides his emperor across Ivalice to deal with the new threat, the Judge of Wings. Vaan's party first encounters Basch upon the new Dreadnought Leviathan in Lemurés. Basch voices the rising threat of sky pirates using the Yarhi and auracite to wreak havoc throughout Ivalice. After learning that the party has experience handling the Yarhi, he requests their aid while the Empire researches the Yarhi back in Archadia. Once he secures Vaan's help, Basch directs the Leviathan to Ivalice, where he tells the party that they will take on another member upon arrival.
Basch introduces them to Lord Larsa and informs them of the Empire's current issue: the Judge of Wings' choice of title is doing little to improve the Empire's public image and, thus, Basch and Larsa implore them to stop her. On the airship bridge, Penelo expresses how pleased she is to be fighting alongside Basch again, while Filo admits that she finds his Archadian Armor intimidating. Vaan vows to continue calling Basch "Basch", despite his official title as Judge Magister.
Everyone gathers on the Leviathan bridge to discuss what they know of the Judge of Wings. Basch advises Vaan to seek out a man in the Giza Plains who knows of someone inquiring after Lemurés. Basch is surprised that Lemurés remained undiscovered for so long in a world filled with airships and believes that Mydia's guise as an Archadian Judge could not be merely coincidental.
Basch and Ashe in an FMV.
The party heads down to the Giza Plains and locates Basch's source, the Rabanastre City Watch, who reveals that it was Mydia who inquired after Lemurés. After learning that Mydia was last seen in Kerwon, they venture to the Paramina Rift in hopes of unearthing clues about her past. After discovering the war memorial to the slain at Nalbina Fortress, Basch and Ashe conclude that Mydia had visited Paramina Rift to pay homage to her fallen love, Velis. Mydia arrives dressed in the armor of the Judge of Wings and says that she left her anima in Lemurés. She summons several Zombies to torment Basch with guilt over his dead comrades. Basch sees through the ploy and throws off Mydia's spell, determined to look to the future rather than the past. Mydia escapes and Basch returns to the war memorial. Fran comforts him by saying that the zombies Mydia summoned were not those of the soldiers at Nalbina, but figments of Yarhi illusion.
During the party's passage to Roda Volcano, they discover the Feol Warren and face both Chaos and Mydia. After defeating her, Basch agrees alongside the others to honor Mydia's wishes to kill Feolthanos, the entity that made Mydia take on the role of Judge of Wings. They journey to the Keep of Forgotten Time to slay him. Basch insists that they must not turn their back on Feolthanos' disturbing illusions and encourages the party to continue on. In their final stand, Basch champions the strength of friendship overcoming suffering as his reason to fight. After Feolthanos is felled, Lemurés crumbles from the sky. Basch returns to Ivalice with Ashe and is last seen on her balcony alongside Lord Larsa.
Gameplay[]
In Final Fantasy XII, Basch first appears as a guest, but soon becomes a permanent party member. His Strength and HP are among highest of the characters, but his magickal stats, Vitality, and Speed are low to compensate.
Killing 500 enemies adds Basch's sprite to the Sky Pirate's Den, awarding the player with the title of Blood Dancer.
In Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, Basch has high physical stats, equips heavy armor and helms, and wields blades and knightswords, casting him as the party's heavy hitter. He has several defensive abilities as well as powerful attacks, making him similar to a Paladin. His Quickening, Apocalypse Shield, makes his group temporarily invincible. It can be obtained by defeating the Esper Zalera.
Musical themes[]
Basch's theme is "I Give You My Word" (バッシュの回想, Basshu no Kaisō?, lit. Basch's Reminiscence), a slow, melancholy piece reflecting his sorrow and past. It plays during the party's escape through the Barheim Passage when Basch tells the party of what really happened to King Raminas on the night Basch was charged for his murder.
Other appearances[]
Basch has made appearances in the following games in the Final Fantasy series:
- Fortress as the main protagonist (cancelled).
- Dissidia Final Fantasy as a cameo.
- Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy as a cameo.
- Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia as a playable character.
- Pictlogica Final Fantasy as a playable character.
- Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade as a summonable Legend.
- Final Fantasy Artniks as a series of cards.
- Final Fantasy Record Keeper as a playable character.
- Final Fantasy Brave Exvius as a summonable vision.
- Final Fantasy Trading Card Game as a series of cards.
- Triple Triad as a card.
Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances[]
Basch has made key guest appearances in the following non-Final Fantasy games:
- Itadaki Street series as a playable character.
Other media[]
Games[]
An avatar dressed as Basch
Users in Square Enix Members Virtual World community can make their character appear as Basch. Basch's hair costs 100 crystals and his clothes cost 480 crystals.
Behind the scenes[]
Early concept art of Basch.
Basch's appearance went through multiple drafts from its initial concept. Originally designed with an armor and motif seemingly inspired by Old English knights, Akihiko Yoshida scrapped this look in favor of the Bhujerban sainikah uniform. Basch's hairstyle also changed from its original design, as did his facial hair and distinctive scar, which appear to be non-existent in early concepts.
Gabranth is the younger twin and Basch is the elder. This is made evident in the Japanese version of Final Fantasy XII, but was dropped in the English localization. Gabranth's status as the younger twin is noted in his biography in the original Dissidia Final Fantasy.
Basch's hair is glitched in the PlayStation 4 version of the The Zodiac Age (for the red-vested model used for majority of the game), as it never moves like the others'. This is fixed in the PC, Xbox, and Switch versions.
Voice[]
In the English release of Final Fantasy XII, Basch is voiced by Keith Ferguson. He is voiced by Rikiya Koyama in the Japanese release.
Basch, along with Balthier and Ashe, speaks in formalized English in contrast to Vaan and Penelo's more casual style. In Japanese, Balthier, Ashe and Basch use an older, more formal form of Japanese than Vaan and Penelo.
The one point of disagreement between the translators and the original Japanese developers revolved around the translators' decision to have the actor who played Gabranth (Michael E. Rodgers) mimic Basch's voice (voiced by Keith Ferguson) in the scene where Gabranth is impersonating his twin. In the Japanese version, the two actors' voices play over one another to give the scene the quality of a dream-sequence, but the translators opted to go for the more "realistic" sound. The debate came after the recording was finished and, eventually, the team sided with the translators, but there were those who chafed at what was essentially a directorial decision being made by the translation team (albeit with the blessing of the voice director).[2]
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
The name Basch (or Bäsch) is German from a southern short form of Sebastian. Fon is based on German word von. Von means "from" (or "of"), and is used to denote someone is of noble descent. In Japanese, Ronsenburg's name was ローゼンバーグ (Rōzenbāgu). While the German word "Rosen" directly means "roses", "Bāgu" sounds more like the German word "Berg" (mountain or hill) than "Burg" (castle, keep, fortress, fortification) when spoken with Japanese pronouciation.