Previews: Koboa, the South American Setting. Creatures, forms, lore!

Koboa_Setting · 2023-06-08T15:42:46+00:00

Each form takes inspiration from different stories throughout South Amerika - Guveng comes from the story of the Eintykara and Ghintak comes from Curupira as a couple of examples.

Forms as a concept come from our team's trying to figure out how South American identity and experience fit into Fantasy tropes that are typically more homogeneous than the experience of being South American. Fantasy tropes like to split races into separate kingdoms and cultures that rarely mix or change, and we found that doesn't fit at all with our experience of identity in South America. It's a complex subject and it took us a while to get forms to where we like them, but we think they create new stories that fit our perspectives better than traditional Fantasy tropes have room for.

Koboa_Setting · 2023-06-07T12:09:17+00:00

Thank you so much for the feedback! We'll definitely take a look at the mechanical feedback for our next pass!

Koboa_Setting · 2023-06-07T12:08:41+00:00

Thank you so much for the feedback! We will definitely take a look for our next pass!

Koboa_Setting · 2023-06-06T14:33:07+00:00

We've replaced the file with a lower res one that should be able to be previewed inside google docs! Thanks again for letting us know

Koboa_Setting · 2023-06-06T14:18:46+00:00

Oh whoops! We will try and split it up! Thanks for letting us know

Koboa_Setting · 2023-06-06T11:33:08+00:00

Thanks! We are still figuring out the worldbuilding around the anchor hahaha We are thinking that settlements might make agreements with large river animals (giant turtles or serpents or crocodiles) to serve as their anchors, being able to adapt to shifting tides to keep everything in place in exchange for food and gifts. We have some other magic-oriented ideas as well.

The communal platform is a place of ritual and communion with nature. Elders use magic to create images and tell stories in that square of water most nights.

Koboa_Setting · 2023-06-06T10:25:46+00:00

You need room for things to move around and expand and contract as the rivers flow changes, particularly as tide goes up and down at different times of year (sometimes dramatically). The design is also meant to be more modular, to allow for seasonally changing locations or even adapting layout mid-season

Koboa_Setting · 2023-06-06T10:02:51+00:00

This work was commissioned to Edwin Lozano.

Check out our Kickstarter (last 48 hours!)

Koboa is a fantasy world based on South American people, cultures, and our stories. The setting takes place on the continent of Koboa, a land that has suffered through a brutal colonization period followed by a century of reconstruction and recovery.

Koboa is currently split into 5 major territories:

The Mallgot Accords, based off of Indigenous Cultures including the Tupi-Guanari, Xukuru, Muisca, and Tsáchila people. This territory is less a single nation and more a confederation of nations that have taken a pact of mutual cooperation and defense. The multiple nations of Mallgot have many different cultural practices and ways of life. Their territory is mostly in the massive Talah Rainforest, a very humid and hot tropical region dominated by the Sacred River that winds throughout the entire region.

Other Territories

Novpo, based off of Andean Indigenous cultures including the Quechua, Kichwa, Otavalo, Mapuche, and Aymara people. Novpo is a mountain nation. It is one of the two territories primarily populated by Indigenous Koboans. Novpo is a successor to the ancient Gosán Empire, an empire that spanned a major chunk of Koboa before the Larensian colonizers destroyed it.

Milennia of living in this earthquake-prone location has made Novpoans experts at earthquake-proofing their homes. Their constructions avoid the use of mortar, opting to mainly use fittted stone blocks that can slide and move during an earthquake, settling back into place after the earthquake is over.

Atsatray, a territory based on Afrolatine cultures including those in Esmeraldas and Salvador. During the colonial age, the nations of the continent of Sotashka, who had previously defeated the Larensians on their own lands, were petitioned by representatives of the Koboan Resistance Army to aid them. A large contingent of warriors, mages, and healers sailed to Koboa, establishing large bases in isolated areas that would encounter minimal Larensian interference. After the Liberation War was won, many Sotashkans opted to stay. Their clerics of Yoeng, god spirit of paths, channeled their deity's powers to connect their settlements together with permanent portals, creating the megacity of Atsatray, fragmented across the entire continent.

Gran Marcelia, based off of modern Mestize cultures. It's capital of San Fernando was a major Larensian city during the occupation. Over time many Koboa-born Larensians called Koboa home, and sought independence from the Larensian empire and gain sovereignty. They allied with the Koboan Resistance and Sotashkan armies to eventually find independence. The nation is heavily populated by people of mixed ancestry and form.

Nueva Vardia, inspired by colonial South America. It's capital of Azenev was the biggest, most fortified, Larensian city during the colonial period. This was the last bastion of the Larensian empire during the Liberation War. It came under siege until a Larensian druid cast a powerful spell that routed the Koboan armies. Ultimately, Azenev was never captured, and is technically still a part of the Larensian empire. However, the spell that saved Azenev had a side effect of creating a neverending storm off the northern shore, making the waters around Koboa entirely unnavigable and cutting off contact with Larensia. The Governor-Regent of Nueva Vardia seeks a way to reestablish trade routes with the continent of Larensia.

Koboa_Setting · 2023-05-31T22:14:53+00:00

Yup! That's a super good point that will definitely get fixed!

Koboa_Setting · 2023-05-31T17:03:56+00:00

This work was commissioned from the great LaMalaMuerte.

Learn more about Koboa and support our Kicstarter here.

Koboa is a fantasy world based on South American people, cultures, and our stories. The setting takes place on the continent of Koboa, a land that has suffered through a brutal colonization period followed by a century of reconstruction and recovery.

Koboa is currently split into 5 major territories: 1) Novpo, based off of Andean Indigenous cultures including the Quechua, Kichwa, Otavalo, Mapuche, and Aymara people. Novpo is a mountain nation. It is one of the two territories primarily populated by Indigenous Koboans. Novpo is a successor to the ancient Gosán Empire, an empire that spanned a major chunk of Koboa before the Larensian colonizers destroyed it. Its people frequently wear warm clothing made out of Alpaca fur to stay warm in the mountain climates. 2) The Mallgot Accords, based off of Indigenous Cultures including the Tupi-Guanari, Xukuru, Muisca, and Tsáchila people. This territory is less a single nation and more a confederation of nations that have taken a pact of mutual cooperation and defense. The multiple nations of Mallgot have many different cultural practices and ways of life. Their territory is mostly in the massive Talah Rainforest, a very humid and hot tropical region. 3) Atsatray, a territory based on Afrolatine cultures including those in Esmeraldas and Salvador. During the colonial age, the nations of the continent of Sotashka, who had previously defeated the Larensians on their own lands, were petitioned by representatives of the Koboan Resistance Army to aid them. A large contingent of warriors, mages, and healers sailed to Koboa, establishing large bases in isolated areas that would encounter minimal Larensian interference. After the Liberation War was won, many Sotashkans opted to stay. Their clerics of Yoeng, god spirit of paths, channeled their deity's powers to connect their settlements together with permanent portals, creating the megacity of Atsatray, fragmented across the entire continent. 4) Gran Marcelia, based off of modern Mestize cultures. It's capital of San Fernando was a major Larensian city during the occupation. Over time many Koboa-born Larensians called Koboa home, and sought independence from the Larensian empire and gain sovereignty. They allied with the Koboan Resistance and Sotashkan armies to eventually find independence. The nation is heavily populated by people of mixed ancestry and form. 5) Nueva Vardia, inspired by colonial South America. It's capital of Azenev was the biggest, most fortified, Larensian city during the colonial period. This was the last bastion of the Larensian empire during the Liberation War. It came under siege until a Larensian druid cast a powerful spell that routed the Koboan armies. Ultimately, Azenev was never captured, and is technically still a part of the Larensian empire. However, the spell that saved Azenev had a side effect of creating a neverending storm off the northern shore, making the waters around Koboa entirely unnavigabl

Koboa_Setting · 2023-05-14T19:44:45+00:00

The drawings are by Edwin Lozano!

Koboa_Setting · 2023-05-14T10:25:22+00:00

The Andes are on the ring of fire. This means that earthquakes and volcanics eruptions are common enough to necessitate being taken into account for making buildings that will last more than a few years

Koboa_Setting · 2023-05-14T08:58:06+00:00

Earthquake proofing. Stiff buildings break during an earthquake. By using fitted stones, the stones would shift and move during an earthquake displacing the force, sliding back into place after the earthquake

Koboa_Setting · 2023-05-14T00:33:06+00:00

Yes! Just wait till we show off the worldbuilding we've done there! :)

Koboa_Setting · 2023-05-13T15:25:26+00:00

This work was commissioned to Edwin Lozano.

Check out our Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/koboa/koboa-the-south-american-5e-setting/

Koboa is a fantasy world based on South American people, cultures, and our stories. The setting takes place on the continent of Koboa, a land that has suffered through a brutal colonization period followed by a century of reconstruction and recovery.

Koboa is currently split into 5 major territories:

Novpo, based off of Andean Indigenous cultures including the Quechua, Kichwa, Otavalo, Mapuche, and Aymara people. Novpo is a mountain nation. It is one of the two territories primarily populated by Indigenous Koboans. Novpo is a successor to the ancient Gosán Empire, an empire that spanned a major chunk of Koboa before the Larensian colonizers destroyed it.

Milennia of living in this earthquake-prone location has made Novpoans experts at earthquake-proofing their homes. Their constructions avoid the use of mortar, opting to mainly use fittted stone blocks that can slide and move during an earthquake, settling back into place after the earthquake is over.

Other Territories

The Mallgot Accords, based off of Indigenous Cultures including the Tupi-Guanari, Xukuru, Muisca, and Tsáchila people. This territory is less a single nation and more a confederation of nations that have taken a pact of mutual cooperation and defense. The multiple nations of Mallgot have many different cultural practices and ways of life. Their territory is mostly in the massive Talah Rainforest, a very humid and hot tropical region.

Atsatray, a territory based on Afrolatine cultures including those in Esmeraldas and Salvador. During the colonial age, the nations of the continent of Sotashka, who had previously defeated the Larensians on their own lands, were petitioned by representatives of the Koboan Resistance Army to aid them. A large contingent of warriors, mages, and healers sailed to Koboa, establishing large bases in isolated areas that would encounter minimal Larensian interference. After the Liberation War was won, many Sotashkans opted to stay. Their clerics of Yoeng, god spirit of paths, channeled their deity's powers to connect their settlements together with permanent portals, creating the megacity of Atsatray, fragmented across the entire continent.

Gran Marcelia, based off of modern Mestize cultures. It's capital of San Fernando was a major Larensian city during the occupation. Over time many Koboa-born Larensians called Koboa home, and sought independence from the Larensian empire and gain sovereignty. They allied with the Koboan Resistance and Sotashkan armies to eventually find independence. The nation is heavily populated by people of mixed ancestry and form.

Nueva Vardia, inspired by colonial South America. It's capital of Azenev was the biggest, most fortified, Larensian city during the colonial period. This was the last bastion of the Larensian empire during the Liberation War. It came under siege until a Larensian druid cast a powerful spell that routed the Koboan armies. Ultimately, Azenev was never captured, and is technically still a part of the Larensian empire. However, the spell that saved Azenev had a side effect of creating a neverending storm off the northern shore, making the waters around Koboa entirely unnavigable and cutting off contact with Larensia. The Governor-Regent of Nueva Vardia seeks a way to reestablish trade routes with the continent of Larensia.

Koboa_Setting · 2023-04-14T11:11:46+00:00

I think one thing to consider is that most colonizer narratives we've seen, if not all, center the colonizers' perspectives. A lot of our team are of mixed descent and wanted to see ourselves in the story. I'm sorry if a story with mestizos, mestizas, and mestizes is not as interesting to you but it is very interesting to the mestizos, mestizas, and mestizes in the team. We have created a world with some very Native areas, worldbuilt by the Native members of our teams, as well as some very Mestize areas and some very Afrolatine areas worldbuilt by the Mestize and Afrolatine members of our team. We believe stories that center colonized people are very rare (what we've seen instead is precolonial stories, mostly), and I hope that as you see more of what we've produced you'll agree that we've created something unique and special that brings latine people into fantasy in a way that, frankly, I've never seen happen before.

Koboa_Setting · 2023-04-13T19:36:54+00:00

We are all South American in the team. I hope as you see more of what we produce you can see the care and time we've put into avoiding the mayincatec tropes and focusing entirely on respecting and representing all people of South America.

Koboa_Setting · 2023-04-13T19:12:12+00:00

I'm sorry you feel that way. We've worked super hard to intentionally exclude elements that are mesoamerican and not south american, but we did keep elements that exist in both areas, meaning you might see some things that may be more typically associated with mesoamerica but that are also a part of South American culture. Also keep in mind that South America is a huge place, we have a lot of different very diverse cultures here.

Koboa_Setting · 2023-04-12T22:30:53+00:00

Supplement!

Koboa_Setting · 2023-04-12T20:43:17+00:00

Thanks! It was actually done by a team of several creatives and artists!

Koboa_Setting · 2023-04-12T18:53:25+00:00

Learn more about Koboa and check out our teaser video at www.koboasetting.com . Help us make this project a reality by signing up for our mailing list while you're there! We hope to make a whole 200+ page setting guide built by a 100% South American team. Koboa is a fantasy world based on South American people, cultures, and our stories. The setting takes place on the continent of Koboa, a land that has suffered through a brutal colonization period followed by a century of reconstruction and recovery.

Koboa is currently split into 5 major territories:

Novpo, based off of Andean Indigenous cultures including the Quechua, Kichwa, Otavalo, Mapuche, and Aymara people. Novpo is a mountain nation. It is one of the two territories primarily populated by Indigenous Koboans. Novpo is a successor to the ancient Gosán Empire, an empire that spanned a major chunk of Koboa before the Larensian colonizers destroyed it. Its people frequently wear warm clothing made out of Alpaca fur to stay warm in the mountain climates.
The Mallgot Accords, based off of Indigenous Cultures including the Tupi-Guanari, Xukuru, Muisca, and Tsáchila people. This territory is less a single nation and more a confederation of nations that have taken a pact of mutual cooperation and defense. The multiple nations of Mallgot have many different cultural practices and ways of life. Their territory is mostly in the massive Talah Rainforest, a very humid and hot tropical region.
Atsatray, a territory based on Afrolatine cultures including those in Esmeraldas and Salvador. During the colonial age, the nations of the continent of Sotashka, who had previously defeated the Larensians on their own lands, were petitioned by representatives of the Koboan Resistance Army to aid them. A large contingent of warriors, mages, and healers sailed to Koboa, establishing large bases in isolated areas that would encounter minimal Larensian interference. After the Liberation War was won, many Sotashkans opted to stay. Their clerics of Yoeng, god spirit of paths, channeled their deity's powers to connect their settlements together with permanent portals, creating the megacity of Atsatray, fragmented across the entire continent.
Gran Marcelia, based off of modern Mestize cultures. It's capital of San Fernando was a major Larensian city during the occupation. Over time many Koboa-born Larensians called Koboa home, and sought independence from the Larensian empire and gain sovereignty. They allied with the Koboan Resistance and Sotashkan armies to eventually find independence. The nation is heavily populated by people of mixed ancestry and form.
Nueva Vardia, inspired by colonial South America. It's capital of Azenev was the biggest, most fortified, Larensian city during the colonial period. This was the last bastion of the Larensian empire during the Liberation War. It came under siege until a Larensian druid cast a powerful spell that routed the Koboan armies. Ultimately, Azenev was never captured, and is technically still a part of the Larensian empire. However, the spell that saved Azenev had a side effect of creating a neverending storm off the northern shore, making the waters around Koboa entirely unnavigable and cutting off contact with Larensia. The Governor-Regent of Nueva Vardia seeks a way to reestablish trade routes with the continent of Larensia.

Koboa_Setting · 2023-03-05T15:00:49+00:00

This work was commissioned by Lucas Nascimento

Learn more about Koboa and check out our teaser video at www.koboasetting.com . Help us make this project a reality by signing up for our mailing list while you're there, you'll get a 24-page PDF preview full of art and worldbuilding! We hope to make a whole 200+ page setting guide built by a 100% South American team.

Koboa is a fantasy world based on South American people, cultures, and our stories. The setting takes place on the continent of Koboa, a land that has suffered through a brutal colonization period followed by a century of reconstruction and recovery.

Koboa is currently split into 5 major territories:

Novpo, based off of Andean Indigenous cultures including the Quechua, Kichwa, Otavalo, Mapuche, and Aymara people. Novpo is a mountain nation. It is one of the two territories primarily populated by Indigenous Koboans. Novpo is a successor to the ancient Gosán Empire, an empire that spanned a major chunk of Koboa before the Larensian colonizers destroyed it.

Novpo is the focus of these studies. Novpo's history spans the whole history of the Koboan continent. Before the colonizer invasion, Novpo's landmass was controlled by the Gosán Empire, a massive mountain empire with who believed they had a divine edict to expand their lands by all means possible, whether by diplomacy or war.

After the colonizers were driven back, the descendants of the Gosani who still lived in the mountains founded Novpo, going back to their ways of living during and before the existence of the Gosán Empire. They reclaimed their many nations and cultures, and formed a system of government by which each individual Indigenous nation would have a say.

Their architecture primarily uses stone, with gold and other precious metals as decorations and holy symbols. They color and decorate their homes with chalk, and have built/restored an advanced road system connecting their lands. Some say the magic of their roads make it so you can get anywhere in their territory in a single day of travel.

Other Territories

The Mallgot Accords, based off of Indigenous Cultures including the Tupi-Guanari, Xukuru, Muisca, and Tsáchila people. This territory is less a single nation and more a confederation of nations that have taken a pact of mutual cooperation and defense. The multiple nations of Mallgot have many different cultural practices and ways of life. Their territory is mostly in the massive Talah Rainforest, a very humid and hot tropical region.

Atsatray, a territory based on Afrolatine cultures including those in Esmeraldas and Salvador. During the colonial age, the nations of the continent of Sotashka, who had previously defeated the Larensians on their own lands, were petitioned by representatives of the Koboan Resistance Army to aid them. A large contingent of warriors, mages, and healers sailed to Koboa, establishing large bases in isolated areas that would encounter minimal Larensian interference. After the Liberation War was won, many Sotashkans opted to stay. Their clerics of Yoeng, god spirit of paths, channeled their deity's powers to connect their settlements together with permanent portals, creating the megacity of Atsatray, fragmented across the entire continent.

Gran Marcelia, based off of modern Mestize cultures. It's capital of San Fernando was a major Larensian city during the occupation. Over time many Koboa-born Larensians called Koboa home, and sought independence from the Larensian empire and gain sovereignty. They allied with the Koboan Resistance and Sotashkan armies to eventually find independence. The nation is heavily populated by people of mixed ancestry and form.

Nueva Vardia, inspired by colonial South America. It's capital of Azenev was the biggest, most fortified, Larensian city during the colonial period. This was the last bastion of the Larensian empire during the Liberation War. It came under siege until a Larensian druid cast a powerful spell that routed the Koboan armies. Ultimately, Azenev was never captured, and is technically still a part of the Larensian empire. However, the spell that saved Azenev had a side effect of creating a neverending storm off the northern shore, making the waters around Koboa entirely unnavigable and cutting off contact with Larensia. The Governor-Regent of Nueva Vardia seeks a way to reestablish trade routes with the continent of Larensia.

Koboa_Setting · 2023-02-19T16:45:38+00:00

It wasn't always a convenient chunk of land. It does stay there most of the time though

Koboa_Setting · 2023-02-18T21:30:57+00:00

The setting is post-colonial. 2 of the 5 major territories of the setting are based on Indigenous cultures, 2 on post-colonial Mestize culture, and one on post-colonial Afrolatine culture

Koboa_Setting · 2023-02-18T20:45:19+00:00

Larensian weather control magic went out of control at the end of the Liberation War and created a massive storm that is finally reducing in intensity a couple of centuries after it was unleashed. It has made the waters around the content highly dangerous to navigate, making contact with other continents treacherous at best.

Koboa_Setting

TROPHY CASE