Va'a Obeye

## Introduction

Old folktales speak of a great and powerful isle where wickedness reigns. Nightmares conjured from the deepest darkest depths and creatures that emerge from stone are all only whispers meant to frighten children into their beds. Tall tales are shared amongst sailors of those who conjure the dead to navigate the darkest nights. All they share in these stories are the whispers of something dark and guarded by the Stone Giants and a single name: Va’a Obeye.

## The Basics

* **Other Names:** Bokor, Caplata, The Forgotten, Wayfarers
* **Appearance:** Darker skin, typically a light brown to a deep dark brown, dark brown and black hair with occasional white blonde found amongst the people, shaved or worn long; rare to occur in between. Amber eyes traditionally, occasional teal found. Clothing is often layered with trinkets and belts.
* **Lifespan:** 95 Years
* **Height:** 170 cm - 190 cm
* **Regions Found:** Only found on the three of the five isles of Va’a Obeye (Ahi’Wai, Aina, Ea) which lay to the southeast of the Oyari and North of the Nihon.
* **Culture:** Heavy focus on sorcery and the Marked - no set Covens as magic is not taboo. Those with the strongest mana are leaders. Deeply religious and emphasis on self-sufficiency and the spirits. Government is centered around the practices of Santémana and much of the culture focuses on mana, tapu, and mauri.
* **Common Character Roles:** Shaman or Spiritual Leader, Sailor, Fishmonger, Drug Dealer, Healer
* **Common Allies:** Iwa Wóch, Marked, Elementals
* **Common Enemies:** Demons, Sirens, Witch Hunters
* **Architecture:** Small island village with a great deal of ships and pier houses.
* **Religion:** Santémana, The Cycle
* **Views on Magic:** All magic is welcome and works in tune with the other, creating a balance of the spirit and summoning the mana needed.

## Appearance

Those of the Va’a Obeye are dark-skinned humans, claiming to have traveled from the isle over to the Centarii region in the East (or vice versa if asking the Centarii). Their skin tone ranges from a light brown to a deep brown that is nearly black in color. The people of isle tend to have amber eyes, though brighter blue-green (almost teal) eyes do pop up from time to time. Islanders tend to wear their hair long. Most keep it loose, though formal occasions do call for updos or to have it pulled back. It is rare for an islander to have short hair, only shaving it for lifetime transitions (perhaps to become a priest). Those with short hair are seen as in a transitory stage between one step to another.  Much of the Va’a Obeye are slim due to their diet of fish, small grain, and sea vegetation. Men tend to be taller and broader than the women of the isle.

Clothing does not often denote status amongst the Forgotten. The islanders wear what is most practical to their position. Given the more tropical climate that settles on many of the islands, loose blouses are common amongst women, along with lighter fabrics or brief wraps that allow much of  the skin to breathe or remain exposed are preferred. Men often go shirtless and wear wraps or skirting as well, though are prone to pants and open blouses for more formal standing. Most people often keep one or two trinkets close to them at all times, though it is not often visible. They are talismans of their religion. Sorcerers on the isles are known to keep many trinkets belted along their person and wear elaborate headpieces that contain a multitude of talismans.

Makeup and face paint is heavily used in Va’a Obeye to mark religious belief or magical ability. Many of the bokor and caplata will use dark makeups to capture more of the darker aspect of their sphere, while those prone to the Cycle and magic associated with the elements will find themselves brightly inked and painted.

## History & Culture

The Va’a Obeye consider themselves to be the first man, heralding from the furthest east, though the Centarii of early years contend such claims. What is clear is that those of the isles were around some of the first humans to wander the earth and sea. It was very early on that the people of the isles heralded the Wayfarers and the power of wind and water as their highest honor in primitive state. Providing fish and traveling to farther lands was the most important, in which death and the afterlife were means to an end and a secondary thought for the living. Part of the Cycle as it were.

Within this belief of the Cycle came the tenets of mana (and the start of Santémana), that which powers all of life and death in its creation. This belief may have stemmed from some vaguely confused conceptual grasp of the Elven, Ki. All of the Va’a Obeye would keep one or two talismans (Mauri) that could keep the mana flowing. Many restrictions and much of the culture of the Va’a Obeye was based on certain sacred rituals and places, known as tapu. Two of the isles in particular fell under tapu restrictions and still remain uninhabited, except by the Iwa Wóch to this day.

The Iwa Wóch are great stone figures that are said to seep mana from every part of them. These beings of the earth practiced some of the earliest forms of controlled magic in manipulation of the islands, shaping much of the land along the other isles and building a larger island for the Va’a Obeye. As such, these creatures are considered sacred and any who controlled one without consent was seen as violating law. Death would often result from the enslavement of these figures and would drive those who collar the creatures as familiars out to sea, tied to a large rock for a violent watery end.

As time moved forward, small villages began to settle on the isles, provided feed by the wayfarers who reigned as chieftain and focused heavily upon the tenets of the Cycle and the focus on the four elements. The Va’a Obeye were seen as one of the more advanced civilizations with their voyaging canoes that spanned with livable platforms and homes between being some of the largest vessels in the sea. The skill of these sailors was legendary, invoking fear into their enemies with tales of victory over sirens.

Larger villages would begin to form and with the assistance of the Iwa Wóch, the Va’a Obeye would begin to further develop their mineral and earthen mined materials. They are speculated to have combined a great deal of gems with earthen parts to create magically infused weapons and ships. This discovery would draw the attention of a certain trouble making god known as Ananyaote.

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> ### 2000 Years of Solitude
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> This small secluded pocket around the isles would result in over 2000 years of solitude for the Va’a Obeye. Cut off from the world, the island nation would remain as it were… preserved in time and forgotten by the rest of the world except a few old wives tales and one or two macabre lullabies. Progress slowed with less ideas from others. Slowly the rest of Ashborn would fade to memory and legend and there would be far more time spent on spiritual speculation, rather than exploring. Many began to discover much that could be had with magic, the Iwa Wóch, and what the isles had to offer.
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> There came a time where the chieftains of old were no longer seen as a power to abide by. The prior rituals and stipulations that made up the tapu needed changed and as a result… there was a great chism on the isles. This war was bloody and caused a great clash between the Wayfarers and the sorcerers as a dark period settled over the isles. It is here that the male and female sorcerers emerge as victorious. It was only when the Iwa Wóch stepped in as peace makers that the bloodshed would cease. The population of the isles had decreased quite a bit at this point from the war, but would build back up slowly through the years.
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> ### Rule of Santémana
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> A turning point from wayfaring and the Cycle as the primary guiding force, new tenets were created for religious rule under the Santémana sorcerers, often led by those who were Marked. Those high sorcerers who take on prestigious roles under and familiars are known as the Bokor (male) and Caplata (female) Iwa Wóch were taken often as familiars and treated as loyal advisors and equals of status. It was not unheard of for a sorcerer to perform a ceremony of mana with one of the stone creatures to rule hand in hand. Balance became ever important on the isles. There was no taboo in undeath as the Cycle had emphasized. Those who dealt in death and the unnatural became daily hapstance. The dead were honored as much as the living, seen as holding the mana still within them.
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> Shortly after a time of peace and acceptance had settled came demons who somehow could find themselves within the place untouched by the rest of the world. At first, demons thought the Va’a Obeye would be easy bargaining given their whispered folktales about such creatures. It was shortly discovered that the Va’a Obeye had the means and common knowledge to enslave demons as familiars with ease. All the practice with the Iwa Wóch had led them to the process being a means of simplicity to the islanders. To that end, the demons would retaliate and begin attacking those outside of the Bokor and Caplata. The simple fishmonger stood no chance and so the sorcerers punished the demons, creating a struggle for power where Ananyaote would step in once more. With his assistance came the binding and purge of demons from the fold of the Veil.
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> ### Ripples in the Veil
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> Also with the emergence of demons came the return of Sirens, which had long been eradicated from the seas trapped within the pocket of time and space. As more of these creatures came about, so too came more of the importance of those wayfarers and master hunters of the beasts. Siren teeth hold great value and are often used as conduits of mauri in the islander nation. Ananyaote noted this too and began to check along the fold at the veil, finding it thinning greatly at this time on both sides. He found tears along his fold in time and space where the Sirens had emerged, recognizing the fall to come.
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> With the final fall of the veil, the isles were brought back to the known world, some of the Va’a Obeye venturing out in their once great voyaging canoes only to find the large ships of the Nihon and the Salvadorian fleets. They discovered firearms when venturing out and all the advances the world had made without them. What once had been one of the most advanced nations in all the world, now seemed to fall vastly behind the rest.
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## Society

Those who follow the Cycle are almost exclusively found on the isle of Ahi’Wai. There is a great focus on nature and the four elements upon this isle. Much of the culture here is very focused on doing what is best for preserving the natural surroundings. The elder leader here oversees various farming and harvests, as well as providing a great deal of the healing herbs and plants for the Va’a Obeye.

Ea is made up primarily of spiritual temples and a host of fishing ports around the isle, as well as a few farms for other animals. The large spiritual events and festivals often take place upon the larger island of Ea, where a bulk of the population dwells. There are several small villages nearer the fishing ports on this isle. Aina is the other isle where Santémana reigns supreme. This isle is the furthest north of the all the isles and would be the spot to host outsiders, as well as a bulk of the trades and isle business run through this isle. The darker rituals often take place around the molten mountain that sits to the south of this isle with the largest temple built along the darkened rocks.

Women are often tasked with household chores and men are often tasked with outdoor endeavors. Sailing is almost exclusively for men, outside of the Caplata (powerful female sorcerers, primarily Marked). This comes from an ancient rhyme about the sea opening at the beckoning of women and the earth rising to meet her. It is said only a well-versed caplata can keep the earth from rising in the sea to meet her. Though in more recent times, it simply is the matter of training often given to those with experience and traditions passed down from father to son. While it is not impossible for a woman to become a sailor, it is highly unusual and borders on tapu.

Marriage is not common amongst the islanders, as the concept is entirely foreign. Many live in their own personal spaces without the interference of others, though occasionally they might pair up. Instead of marriage, there is a small personal ceremony amongst those who choose to live together and share their mana together by swapping matching feathers. Given the tapu and rules around disrupting the mana of others, it is not often that the Va’a Obeye take more than one partner at a time. Typically two people will remain together for long periods of time before parting and finding others to share their mana with. Children are often raised by all the women in a village, sleeping and dining in a communal space until they come of age.

A coming of age ceremony takes place on a single beach on one of the two forbidden islands: Uhane. Here there is a black sanded beach that glows in the night from the algae that often forms along it. On the eve of the eighteenth day, all the children of age are left and it is here that the Iwa Wóch approach. A stone is handed to each and thus is the first symbol of mauri amongst the islanders. All that survive are granted a stone and those who do not live through the night on the sand are said to leave a clean polished skull with strange carvings along it. These are delivered to the high sorcerers of Santémana.

The high sorcerers of Santémana are known as the Bokor and Caplata. The Bokor are the male sorcerers (also called high priests) of the religion and are of equal status to the Caplata. These female sorcerers of Santémana are also known as high priestesses. Both are known and identified by their excess talisman, headdresses, elaborate makeup and jewelry.

## Architecture

The architecture of the Va’a Obeye varies. Upon the isle of Ahi’Wai there are mostly nature made shelters in the large trees and many homes are built out along piers in the water to avoid disrupting nature. Straw huts are not uncommon, fortified with reeds and the occasional fallen tree. A great deal of time is spent in focus on how to layout gardens for the best mauri flow to all the living creatures upon the isle and those who live deeper in the isle are often dwellers of natural caves of living beneath the roots of massive trees with colorful fabrics that have been waterproofed with a strange mix of blubber and sap to create long tent-like structures from natural occurring livable spaces.

The villages upon Ea are similar in that many houses sit upon the water, but tend to be that of anchored voyaging canoes. There are many spiritual temples upon this isle that had been carved into mountains or settled in stone amongst the top of great plateaus. Ropes bridging or quick travel lines are not uncommon between plateaus. Many communal houses sit along the shore and at the heart of piers for housing the communities’ children and for having large meals taken together.

Aina is primarily built with a few lively port cities. These cities are built out of stone and wood and a variety of other items,though often have thatch and straw roofing that is dyed in bright colors. Multi-storied homes are not uncommon here and often house more than one family at a time, as opposed to communal buildings. This style of architecture has only come back into fashion with the possibility of more outsiders heading to the shores.  The darker ritual sites tend to be built of blackened and burnt stone, though rarely hold much fanfare to them, being simply what is needed for the rituals at hand.

## Religion

The one with the greatest mana rules the isles. There are three current rulers upon the isles, one for each of the habitable isles. Two are the high priest of Ea and priestess of Aina in the Santémana faith and the third being the lead elder priest of the Cycle that rules over Ahi’Wai. These three often meet and make major decisions for the isle, which most recently had only consisted of how many to send out to see what had become of the rest of the world with the lift of the Veil.

When the high sorcerers of each faith passes away, it is said that Ananyaote leaves the mauri stone of each upon the pillow of the chosen one to take their place. One chosen may forfeit their claim to rule to one of their siblings who is adept in the same sphere of magic. If none are to be had, the other rulers may choose one that both agree upon to take the place of which was lost.

Men or women may rule over the isles, as the power of mana in women is infinite, but men have the strength to build more at one time. That is why the Va’a Obeye believe men are often taller than women upon the isles. Tapu dictates “whoever holds the power must be the tallest in their direct vicinity”. This results in a great deal of people kneeling, bowing, or squatting in the presence of the rulers of the isle. Iwa Wóch are not subject to this tapu and may stand however high they are without any disrespect taken, though no one needs to bow or lower themselves before the Iwa Wóch.

Given the drastic long term seclusion that the Va’a Obeye experienced, they are practitioners of only two religions: The Cycle and Santémana. Their religion dictates much of their government and societal norms.

>
> ### Ananyaote
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> Ananyaote was a great shape shifting God known amongst the Va’a Obeye for his mischievousness and great bargains made. He was known to walk amongst those on the isles, taking the form of a coyote, old man, or even wandering into enclosed places as a small spider. It is said that he stood against the Fey during the great war and with him… stood the Va’a Obeye and the Iwa Wóch. As the veil was sealed away, the power of the original Iwa Wóch attempted to draw the final seal to lock away the Fey forever. The Veil was set to close on the isles as a result and would destroy both races of the isles.
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> Ananyaote could only escape by allowing himself to slip into the veil, which would no doubt assure his destruction at the hands of the True Fey. It was speculated that there was a personal sense of betrayal between the God and the True Fey and further speculated that Ananyaote was the first attempt at Changelings and not a god at all. In all his great trickery, the god would set about a mirrored illusion to create a wrinkle in time and space, sealing the isles off and saving the inhabitants upon them from a darker fate amongst the Fey. He was trapped amongst them in the process for many years.
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## Racial Relations

The Iwa Wóch have always been the allies of the Va’a Obeye. Their culture is almost entirely formulated and intertwined with that of the Va’a Obeye, even ruling with them. The stone creatures are guardian, ally, idol, and friend to the people of the isles. Their fate and the fate of the Va’a Obeye fall hand in hand. The only creature that first happened through the Veil would be Elementals. Given the strong emphasis on power through mana and magic, elementals are often seen as sacred beings by those that follow the Cycle and powerful allies by other islanders, even dark elementals. Another often persecuted party, the Marked sphere users can find sanctuary on the isles. Often these outsiders are even held in high regard as visiting parties and may be the few to survive such an encounter. Cambion are sometimes a byproduct of those outsiders and treated well upon the isle, given the lack of understanding about their link to demons.

The appearance of Demons had started friendly enough until souls began to be taken and then the struggle between both parties ended with demons driven out or enslaved as familiars to powerful marked islanders. There is a mutual disgust between the two so both parties often avoid the other, only taking vastly opportunistic chances to kill or enslave the other. Given the history with sailing and wayfaring, it is not surprising that the Va’a Obeye had encountered Sirens in their travels. These flesh eating creatures are heavily hunted by the islanders, who often take the teeth of the beasts they kill as trophies to show off their fishing prowess. The islanders see sirens as nothing more than murderous flesh eating monsters. Some folklore amongst the islands even mentions them as land walking monsters in a realm between the living and the dead, where Ananyaote is said to rest with the spirits of the Iwa Wóch. The primary enemy of the Va’a Obeye as they venture out into the world once again would be Witch Hunters. The few that had ever cropped up on the isles were left to a very bloody and decisive end, but out in the open world with open practice of magic has the islanders once again wary of such hunters.

The Va’a Obeye have had little to no contact with the rest of the world in thousands of years and thus have little impression of any other culture at present.

## Perception of Magic

Those on the island welcome the open use of all magic upon the isles. There is some respect to the Cycle where the darker magics are not allowed to be performed on Ahi’Wai. This is the only isle with such a restriction, stemming from the lingering tension between remaining wayfarers and the Bokor and Caplata. The other isles accept all forms of magic, often being heavily inundated with rituals and sorcerers. Magic is used nearly daily and almost all islanders are capable of even the unskilled learned magic. Daily use of such is not unusual and the concept of mana is particularly key in the efficient use of magic for the betterment of society overall.

## Lore Contribution

> **Credit for Lore Contribution:** Solacious
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