Bavel

> Bavel is at the heart of Ozuma, even today. It's also the place where I was born. I suppose that makes it my hometown, but I can't say that I have a lot of fond memories there.
>
> Tasha

**Bavel** is a city in Ozuma. The capital of Ozumian society, it is the home of the Yevon religion. Being Tasha's birthplace, it remained her home until her father, High Summoner Braska, defeated Penance. The Warrior Monks and a dragon named Evrae protect the city, and Penance rarely attacks it.

## History

Bavel was a wonder one thousand years ago, surpassing even the city-state of Kanarzand's glories. The escalating hostilities between the city-states culminated in war, and Kanarzand held the advantage with its mahkina weapons. Kanarzand's head summoner, Yevon, fled the city at the height of the war with his daughter Tashasca and her husband Zayon when the city leaders turned their backs on all summoners and planned to execute them. Some time later Tashasca was able to temporarily banish Penance.With Penance's "defeat," a short period of peace settled on Ozuma, known as the First Rest, and the survivors began reconstructing Ozuma, focusing on Bavel. However after a short time Penance was eventually reborn. The new Penance destroyed the remaining mahkina civilizations, and thus mahkina use began to fall out of favor.

The Yevon Temple was established in Bavel, and the teachings of paying homage to Yevon and Tashasca, as well as preaching of mahkina prohibition, were adopted by the world at large. The new religion of Yevon established Penance as a punishment for people's sins into its doctrine.

Penance has been ravaging Ozuma for a thousand years, bringing technological innovation to a halt. It has been defeated several times but always returned. Ten years before the start of the campaign, when Penance killed his Bedore wife Valbana, Braska, a Yevon priest who had fallen out of favor with the church, resolved to become a summoner. Joined by Auron and Jecht as his guardians, Braska embarked on his pilgrimage to Kanarzand, leaving behind a seven-year-old Tasha in Bavel. Jecht was a mysterious man who claimed to hail from Kanarzand and be a bandersnatch player for the Kanarzand Abes. He was jailed in Bavel for being a drunken madman before Braska released Jecht to make him his guardian.

Tasha learned of her father's success and that it had claimed his life. She was found by Kimahri Ronshasa, who had come to Bavel to take her to Be-Sia Island to grow up peacefully as a request from a dying Auron of what the girl's father wanted of her.

## Locations

Most of Bavel is unexplored by those outside of the ranks of Yevon. Outsiders who attempt to infiltrate the city will end up arrested and placed within the city's dungeon interiors.

#### Bavel Palace

Bavel Palace sits atop the very center of the city. There is a passage from the rooftop spires to the temple and subsequent Cloister of Trials below.

#### Highbridge

The Highbridge is a long bridge leading to the temple.

#### Bavel Temple

Main article: Bavel Temple
Situated inside Bavel Temple is a Chamber of the Fayth where the aeon Bahamut resides. The cloister, consisting of a labyrinth of powered walkways and mystic seals housed in a mechanical framework, leads to the temple's fayth, a young boy.