Basch analysis

I’m thinking about Basch lately, which is unusual.

Basch is a Paladin (in the rpg way). He is loyal to the core. He lives for his duty. When the party is out of Barheim at last, he states that with his former allies or alone, he still bears his duty and he must fulfill it.

He devoted himself to Dalmasca and to Ashe. He always looks at her back, one step behind her. It takes time for Ashe to completely trust him again. Basch represents (her) failure. He was supposed to protect Rasler at the battle of Nalbina, but he ends up being the one to bring back his dead body. Basch is close to Ashe and the royal family. He is one of the few who attended the Prince’s funerals.

However, at this moment he is for Ashe “the one who failed”. And then he is fooled by the Empire and his brother when they try to save the King. The official version comes from Ondore, of course the Princess believes it. She thinks Basch is a traitor. And I think Basch feels guilt. For letting Dalmasca down. And as he says, he will do everything in his power to make it right.

As usual in this game, the characters’ development is not obvious. Apart from a few key moments (eg Vaan/Ashe scene in Jahara) the party rarely talks things through. We don’t have a Ashe/Basch scene where Ashe would verbally accept Basch’s presence. Basch only stay true to himself, and she slowly let him get back to his former role. Basch key scenes are mostly linked to his brother.

For Basch, being “True to himself” means he is honored to be Ashe’s sword, shield and advisor. And yet he takes no Pride in it. He has a strong sense of the hierarchy. True, the party becomes friends, family, they share a special link. Even between Ashe and Basch. However, Ashe will always be the ruler and Basch the knight. They trust each other and respect each other, which means they respect each other’s rank, strength and abilities.

When Balthier asks for the ring as a deposit, I’m sure Basch is not all so pleased about it. But he would never speak his mind at that very moment nor after. In no case Basch is a “dog” only following someone else’s orders (as his brother thinks), on the contrary he has a strong sense of free will, but his free will lead him to respect Ashe’s wish more than anything.

The scene with the ring is utterly important to Ashe’s development. She needs to achieve her goal, for her Kingdom, and that means sacrificing something personal, hurtful even if she still doesn’t know how to live without her husband’s presence. When Ashe agrees to give up on the ring, she is selfless, she does what a leader should do for their people.

I think Basch sees it. And even if he wouldn’t, he respects Ashe’s rank and free will by letting her do it. That doesn’t mean he would let her do anything she wants, but the ring is a private matter, not a Dalmasca one. After the scene with the Occurias, he is the one claiming “We are the arbiters of our Destiny. Your Highness, I am against it”.

Basch’s character is for me the perfect balance between the loyalty of a Paladin, and the independence of a Man. Because Final Fantasy XII characterization and story is bound to reality.

The reality of war, the reality of poverty, the reality of death, the reality of being powerless, but also the reality of devotion, friendship and goodbyes