6. The Island of Obojima
To the people who live here, the world begins and ends at the shore. The ocean surrounds Obojima, stretching out to the horizon in all directions. The island, the ocean, and the sky are all there is. What does this mean for Obojimans? This chapter explores what life is like on the island. It contains an overview of the island’s history, culture, and geography, as well as a breakdown of the island’s currency. You will also find descriptions of factions—organizations that are active across Obojima.
How Obojimans Live
Obojima is small enough that a general island culture has developed over the centuries. It’s predominantly a mix of Nakudama and human root cultures but has since developed into something that transcends race and region. Spirits, magic, and gadgetry from the island’s distant past all have a place in Obojiman culture. Each settlement has its own character, with quirks, nuances, and traditions of their own, but they are not so removed from the wider culture that they would be considered something wholly different.
With few exceptions, Obojimans live in villages and small towns scattered across the island. No monarch or governing body claims rulership of the island. Instead, governance is left to the individual settlements. Some look to elders or elect mayors to lead them. Others form affiliations with other settlements to form a cooperative league—a common practice in the region known as the Gift of Shuritashi.
However they are governed, most Obojimans get by as farmers or fisherfolk. Other common trades and professions include artisans, merchants, specialty chefs, and potion crafters. Specialties vary by region and village.
The general independence of settlements means each one is also responsible for defending itself. Larger towns might have a town guard, while smaller settlements might rely on a militia or even a solitary local champion to come to their defense. It also means adventurers are frequently called upon to ensure a settlement’s safety.
Life's Big Questions
Perhaps no other factor shapes the typical Obojiman worldview more than the fact that their entire world is made up of the island.
Beyond the Island
Walk to the water’s edge. Stick your toes in the sand. Now look out across the ocean. Nothing but the glistening sea. Do this again wherever the island meets the sea and the result will be the same. There is Obojima and then there is the vastness of the endless ocean. What else is there?
This is how Obojimans see their island’s place in their watery world—they are an island unto themselves. Every time an intrepid soul gets the itch to see beyond the horizon for themselves, this worldview is reinforced because those who leave don’t return.
That doesn’t mean there is no speculation or fantasizing about what might be hiding just out of view. In fact, “Beyond the Island” is a favorite storytelling game among tavern goers. In the game, players weave a fantastical tale about something that exists beyond the island. Each player builds on the previous player’s idea until they’re left with a truly outlandish story.
Regarding Spirits
The people of Obojima coexist with spirits, which occupy a unique position in Obojiman society. People respect and even revere certain spirits, while other spirits live among their corporeal counterparts as residents in villages and towns. Some spirits are even regarded as pests or nuisances. Whatever the case may be, spirits are part of everyday life.
That’s not to say that spirits and the Spirit Realm are mundane. It’s more that the people of Obojima have resigned themselves to never fully understanding their mysterious manner. It’s simply another quirk in their charming world.
Certain spirit behaviors have led Obojimans to at least place spirits into one of three categories that reflect their relationship with the Physical Realm. The three types are: spirits who live in the Physical Realm, spirits who wander back and forth between the realms, and spirits that live exclusively in the Spirit Realm. To non-spirit Obojimans they are known colloquially as Homebodies, Wanderers, and Ghosts.
Homebodies. Spirits that live in the Physical Realm are called Homebodies by the locals as they prefer to live and work among Obojimans rather than among other spirits in the Spirit Realm. There are many reasons why these spirits have left their plane of origin—some may prefer the bustle and sensations of the Physical Realm while others may live here because they cannot go back, perhaps due to a magic curse, having spent too long on the Physical Realm, or being corrupted.
Wanderers. Spirits who can travel freely back and forth between the Physical Realm and the Spirit Realm are known as Wanderers by Obojimans. These spirits often work as guides, messengers, and merchants who deal in goods from both realms, but there are some who are not to be trusted and seek to exploit the foolish and naive.
Ghosts. Spirits who have, for various reasons, never set foot in the Physical Realm and are bound to the Spirit Realm are known as “Ghosts”. In fact, Obojimans will often say if someone has a noisy spirit that they “have a ghost”, as some spirits can make such a ruckus that even in the Spirit Realm they can be heard in the Physical Realm.
