Star Citizen lore: the Banu, merchants of the stars

The Banu are the first intelligent species humanity ever met, and probably the most trade-minded in the galaxy. With them, everything can be bought… if you’re willing to pay the price.

Who are they?

Bipeds with a tall, tapering head and thick, wrinkled skin.
Their lives are shorter than ours, but they are extremely resilient, able to endure extreme conditions.
They barely sleep: about ten minutes, sitting or standing, is enough for them to recover.

The Souli and the Protectorate

Every Banu belongs to a Souli: a group of unrelated members who live, work and train their young in a single craft, a bit like a guild.
The Banu Protectorate is a republic of planet-states, each with its own political system. They meet in assembly for shared matters, especially trade.
They live in seven known systems. Their presumed homeworld, Bacchus II, is neither confirmed nor denied by the Banu themselves.
No standing army: a rotating militia keeps the peace, but they can raise a formidable force in times of conflict.

A first meeting that started badly

In 2438, a human explorer mistook a Banu ship for a rival and opened fire… missing his target. The encounter still led to the first interstellar peace and trade treaty. The irony: the Banu pilot was fleeing his own world’s authorities over embezzlement.

Trade above all

Their markets mix nobles and criminals, and it’s said a Banu can find almost anything, for a price.
They trade with humans, with the Xi’an… and even, discreetly, with some Vanduul clans.
Their Protectorate is a haven for UEE fugitives, whom the Advocacy sometimes tries to bring back undercover.
Their signature ship: the Merchantman, a huge flying marketplace.

How long have you been waiting for the Merchantman? Tell us in a reply!

The full story: Star Citizen lore: the great timeline, from 2038 to 2956

Sources: the official Star Citizen lore (Galactapedia, Comm-Links) and the community Star Citizen Wiki. Image: Star Citizen Fankit visuals, logos and 3D models, layout by Beacon Mag. Made By The Community. Star Citizen®, Roberts Space Industries® and Cloud Imperium® are registered trademarks of Cloud Imperium Rights LLC.