Basat, the son of Aruz Koca, fell from his mother's shoulder when the Outer Oghuz infidels raided when he was three days old; he was found by a lion in the reeds, nursed, and raised. He grew up wild, following lion customs, far from human language; even though he was brought to the tribe, he would constantly roar and flee back to the lion's den in the mountains. Eventually, through Dede Korkut's spiritual healing, he integrated into human society. However, when Tepegöz began to destroy the Oghuz lands with his supernatural power, while all the other heroes were left helpless, he went alone and, with courage born from both his lion nature and human intellect, defeated the monster Tepegöz, finishing him off with his own sword and saving his tribe.
Being raised on lion's milk as a motherless baby in the reeds instilled in him a fearlessness and endurance peculiar to wild animals. This origin allows him to view even a supernatural freak like Tepegöz as nothing more than an ordinary monster.
A lion-like warrior of sturdy build, reaching for the heights, with solid muscles, fiery gaze, and the rough, wild grace that comes from growing up in the forest.
Tepegöz
A fellow traveler of fate and enemy who grew up in the same home but whose opposing natures drove them to plunge their swords into one another.
Aruz Koca
His father, the affectionate elder who strove to find him and civilize him.
Dede Korkut
His spiritual master who stripped Basat of his wild lion nature to bring him into human nature and taught him language.
