The Western Basitin

Originally, the Basitin was composed of a single tribe of people, living on their large island off the mainland. Although the mountains split the tribe into two parts, they all considered themselves a single entity. That is, until the humans arrived... they met with the eastern side of the tribe on the shores of the island, and the Basitin immediately took a liking to the "strange, hairless race." In a matter of a few years, they adopted the human language as their own and several traits of the human's culture, including a military mentality.

The western tribe disapproved of this change greatly, stating that it was important not to lose the original culture, language, and writing. When it become apparent that nothing could be done to persuade the eastern side to break contact with the humans, the western side closed itself off from the east. And thus, the two tribes of the Basitin were born.

In the western tribe, completely secluded from the east, tradition was maintained to a brutal degree. Each Basitin spent their day praying to old gods, eating their traditional meals, and practicing their ancient writing. Their traditional robes, adorn at all times, were stifling. They covered their entire bodies with heavy, brown cloth that proved terrible under the heat of the sun.

Because their side of the island was mostly flat and faced towards the sun at most times of the day, everything remained brown. The rocks, grass, leaves, dirt... all were brown. Not to mention their own fur, which only changed to white on rare occasional during old age. This was considered by the eastern tribe to be the western tribe's downfall.

It is believed that on one particularly warm summer morning, after years of living with the blazing sun hanging over the brown land, and themselves, in their traditional brown robes covering their eternally brown fur, every single member of the western tribe went mad. No one is sure why it had happened or what had caused it. They only know that on that morning, every one of them, young and old, ran from their houses, throwing their robes off their bodies with glee. Their ancient language, which was once written in multicolor paints into scrolls, were instead painted on each other, or thrown onto building and into streets in a desperate attempt to bring color to their dull world.

The Basitin of the western tribe no longer wear their robes - in fact, they no longer wear anything at all, satisfied in living comfortably within their own fur. Their ancient language has not been lost, but is instead traditionally painted on themselves to express their thoughts and moods. Each western Basitin continues to retain a hint of madness; laughing, singing, and dancing at the slightest provocation. Their government, which was largely based on their ancient traditions, crumbled from disuse.

After the change, every Basitin of the western tribe lost all anxieties or worries, simply becoming content with whatever they had and whatever situation they were faced with. Most are lackadaisical, their days sprinkled with bursts of excitement and jubilance. Their only apparent needs are food and sleep, which they appreciate greatly. Parties are common, and open to anyone who happens across one. Sleep can be had anywhere, and it's not unusual to see many Basitin sleeping on top of houses or in fields, as they tend to drop everything and set down where they are if they feel the need arise. Their only want is color, the most valuable thing to a Western Basitin.

The Basitin of the eastern tribe, worried about having lost contact with the western tribe for so long, sent a party to find them. The search party was understandably baffled by the westerners' complete lack of modesty and carefree behavior. After reporting what they had seen, the counsel members of the military, which now ruled the eastern Basitin, decided it would be best if they kept out of contact as much as possible.

So, life went on, and that is how the Western Tribe came to be.

Western Basitins consider their greatest invention to be edible paints made from berries and plants.