Obo
Nothing I saw in those jungles amazed me more than watching the obo leap from branch to branch over my head; swinging on vines and scaling enormous trees effortlessly. There was such beauty and grace in every movement they made. I didn't realise what I had stumbled upon until they took me up the trees. I saw houses: buildings made of wood, suspended dozens of feet off the ground among the branches. They had schools and businesses: blacksmiths; bakers; herbalists. They were much more than simple apes. They were people.
—Reginald Fortfinger, Exploring the Far Horizons
The term 'obo' refers to a range of different ape-like humanoids that developed independently from each other in different parts of a jungle archipelago. Separated from other cultures and societies—isolated by both the dense jungle and the vast ocean—they developed their own language, religion, and way of life.
Each of the three kinds of obo have vastly different abilities and features, but over the years, they have learned to live in harmony and use those differences to the benefit of all those that dwell in the jungle.
Jungle Dwelling
Obo are mostly herbivores, though they will still eat small animals such as insects and rodents. The smallest species, swift obo, are expert climbers, navigators, hunters, and foragers. They can scale trees as fast as they can run along the ground, and they forage for fruit and nuts hight up in the forest canopy: providing most of the food for their tribes. Swift obo also serve as messengers throughout the sprawling jungle, and, when the obo developed sea-faring technology and met the other races, swift obo were the most eager to explore outside the jungle.
Swift obo are known for their curiosity and adventurous spirits as much as anything.
To survive against predators, obo learned to build their homes up in the trees. Even the large and bulky great obo will stay off the ground during the night. Up in the trees they keep careful watch of the surrounding jungle for signs of danger. It is the great obo who make up most of the protective force against predators, and also the law enforcement in obo society. From a young age, they are trained with traditional weaponry and learn the ritualistic war dances of the great obo: terrifying displays of strength they call 'mataka.'
The maj obo, neither as nimble as the swift obo nor as fierce as the great obo, make up much of the governing body, as well as many of the teachers, judges, lawyers, doctors, scholars, scribes, and diplomats. They are known for their deep insight and wisdom, and are respected even by other races for their advice. Maj obo who left the jungle and became diplomats in other nations have even been known to advise kings and emperors.
Shame and Honour
Obo innately understand little of 'guilt' and 'innocence.' Their moral compass revolves around bringing honour to their family, their tribe, and their race. Rather than an individual's conscience, it is the society as a whole that encourages or condemns a person's actions. To bring shame to one's family is the greatest fear of the obo, and the highest punishments for acts of shame are disownment, ostracism, and even exile. Likewise, to bring honour is the greatest goal of the obo, and is the mark of living a successful life.
Such acts of shame may include speaking poorly or criticizing one's family or tribe, not pulling one's weight, not supporting one's parents, being unfaithful to a spouse, or neglecting a child.
Acts of honour include serving the family or tribe and speaking highly of them, representing the obo well overseas, raising a child who is successful, obedient, and productive, and, of course, being injured or dying while protecting the obo in battle.
Rite of Passage
At age 15, each obo undertakes an important rite of passage, marking the end of childhood. Each obo of age attempts the rite within a week, at the beginning of the year. This week is the Great Feast, and the most important festival in obo culture.
The swift obo rite involves surviving alone in the wild. The young obo must forage for food, build a shelter, and navigate back home, sometimes taking the entire week to do so.
The great obo rite requires the child to catch or kill a wild predator, such as a panther or great boar. For both these rites, the young hopefuls are being watched the whole time, and will be protected if the situation looks dire. Of course, intervention results in failure for the obo.
The maj obo rite simply has the child pass exams on obo history, language, herbology, and magic. This might sound like a much easier task to complete for an outsider, but most swift obo and great obo would find this to be the least desirable option of the three.
In any case, if the obo fails, they must wait a whole year to try again, as the rites only take place during the Great Feast. Only after completing the rite may an obo take up a trade, marry, and have children.
A Pantheon of Three
Each of the three kinds of obo have a distinct god that reflects the characteristics the species each hold most dear. It is rare, but not unheard of, for an obo to worship a god other than that of their kind: it usually happens when that obo takes on one of the societal roles of another kind. For example, a Swift obo scholar or doctor may worship the maj obo god. More likely than that is an obo worshipping all three deities.
The swift obo god is Sun. She is a trickster god, known for her great adventures: traveling the heavens, meeting all the other gods, and pranking them. She is capable of traveling vast distances in the blink of an eye, and has seen every island in the ocean a hundred times.
It is said she gave the swift obo their laugh, and taught them to laugh with every word they speak. She adores those that cause others to laugh, and rewards every joke that is pulled on another.
The great obo god is Kong, the god of strength, war, and courage. He wields a great staff that weighs over ten thousand pounds with ease, and can split the earth with a single strike. He defends the obo from demons and evil gods who try to destroy the jungle with fire and lightning, and he expects great obo to do the same. Kong values strength and courage over all, and will curse great obo that show fear in the face of danger.
The maj obo god is Wu, the god of knowledge and wisdom. Wu has great magical powers, and can transform into seventy-two different animals and objects. He can create clones of himself, and can even control the weather. It is said that his great library holds all the history of all the obo that have ever come, and that he can even tell the future. Obo will often ask Wu clerics to speak to Wu and predict their future: advising them on all number of issues, such as who they should marry, what they should name their children, and what career they should have.
Some obo worship a single god, whose name is the combined names of the three traditional gods. They call him 'Sun Wukong.' There is great debate over the nature of this one 'true' god as believers call him. Some believe that there are really three distinct persons, but they are a single god in unity. Some obo believe that the three gods are the children of the one, or that a single god was split into three a long time ago. Some obo believe that it is heretical to worship the three distinct gods and some believe that it is perfectly acceptable to worship elements of the one true god as though they are separate elements.
The nature of this 'Sun Wukong' envelops all the natures of the other three gods, and his symbol is combined of the other three. This creates further conflict between believers in the one god, regarding the conflicting natures of the three gods.
Obo Names
Obo have three names: a given name, their father or mother's name, if they are male or female, respectively, and a tribe name. Depending on how large the tribe is, an obo might share their last name with third or fourth cousins. When two obo from different tribes are married, either one may join the tribe of their spouse, or they may choose to create a new tribe elsewhere.
Male Names: Ao, Chao, Dai, Dao, Hu, Koi, Ko, Ku, Qi, Qing, Ren, Ru, Su, Shu, Tao, Xi
Female Names: An, Bu, Jin, Jing, Hui, Lei, Li, Lin, Liu, Lu, Luo, Mian, Na, Nian, Yu, Yan
Unisex Names: Ba, Bai, Bao, Bo, Jun, Ma, Min, Ming, Pa, Pin, Ping, Ruo, San, Shi, Sung, Xia, Zha, Zhi, Zing
Tribe Names: Chen, Chin, Chou, Fang, Feng, Han, Hong, Hui, Jyun, Long, Ni, Pang, Qiang, Tang, Tsao, Tsai, Wang, Wei, Wong, Xiu, Xu, Yang, Yu, Yuan, Zhang, Zhao
Obo Traits
While all obo have some features in common, the three kinds of obo are vastly different, and most of their talents are unique to their kind.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age. Obo develop at similar rates to humans, and live to be around 100 years old.
Alignment. Obo are deeply ingrained in the wellbeing of their society. Selflessness is one of the most important traits for an honourable obo. They tend towards good.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Jungle Dweller. You have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Obo. Obo has a different dialect for each kind, who sound vastly different due to physiological differences. They can, of course, understand each other clearly. Swift obo speak fast and staccato, and their speech is often mistaken for laughter. Great obo speak in low, guttural tones; almost grunts. When they raise their voice, it sounds like the roar of a ferocious beast. Maj obo speak with clear intonation, and their mastery over obo language and literature sets them apart from
the other two kinds of obo.
Subrace. Each kind of obo is a wholly separate
species that have developed independently, yet
formed a single, harmonious culture together.
Swift Obo
Small, nimble, and adventurous, swift obo are unique
mainly because of their prehensile tail and strong grip
strength with their feet. In this way, they resemble
monkeys. They are capable of hanging from branches
with any of their five limbs, and this makes them
exceptional trackers, foragers, explorers, and messengers. Swift obo also often fit the role of scouts and lookouts, entering the militaristic heirachy of the great obo. The clash between the adventurous nature of the swift obo and the discipline and focus required to stand watch for extended periods of time can be difficult for some.
Many swift obo long to escape the jungle and explore the world, just as their god does. Many swift obo become messengers or merchants between the jungles of the obo and the rest of the world, sailing with intrepidity across the ocean. For this reason, swift obo are often the only obo an outsider may ever see.
Swift obo fur varies from dark brown to orange, tan, white, and even black, in rare cases. Their skin tones are equally varied, from pale pink to dark grey.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1 more. Your Strength or Charisma also increases by 1 (your choice).
Alignment. Swift obo value adventure and excitement over the rigidity of the other obo. They tend toward chaotic as much as good.
Size. Swift obo are between three and four feet, and weigh around 60 pounds. Your size is Small.
Swift Obo Agility. You have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.
Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.
Prehensile Tail. You can grasp things with your tail, and you can use it to hang from brances or similarly-sized objects without the use of your hands. Your tail has a reach of 5 feet, and it can lift a number of pounds equal to three times your Strength score. You can use it to do the following simple tasks: lift, drop, hold, or pull an object or a creature; open or close a door or a container. Your DM might allow other simple tasks to be added to that list of options.
Your tail can't be used to grapple someone or make an unarmed strike. It can't wield weapons or shields or do anything that requires manual precision, such as using tools or magic items or performing the somatic components of a spell.
Great Obo
Great obo are known for their ferocity and strength. They make excellent guards, warriors, and law enforcement in obo society. Outside of the military, great obo are suited for careers involving manual labour, such as smithing, carpentry, mining, and building. This is just as honourable as being in the military. In particular, many great obo will leave the military and take up a craft when they are married and have children, or later, when they are middle-aged.
When great obo are not working hard, they
enjoy letting off steam through wrestling and
sparring. On any given night, an obo tavern
may see two or three brawls break out
between great obo, and it has become
the expected manner in which great
obo resolve conflict and
disagreements.
Their dark skin, silver, grey,
and dark black fur, and wide
stature, is similar to that of
gorillas.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2.
Alignment. Great obo are generally militaristic, and military ranks are deeply ingrained in their culture. To defy the orders of a higher-ranked warrior is an act of great shame. Great obo tend toward lawful.
Size. Great obo stand between 5.5 and 6.5 feet. Their massive bodies weigh between 300 and 400 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Warrior Training. Trained with traditional great obo weaponry, you have proficiency with the halberd, glaive, javelin, pike, quarterstaff, and spear.
Great Obo Ferocity. You have proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
Resolute Courageousness. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened. When a creature tries to force you to make such a saving throw, the next time you hit that creature with a weapon attack, you deal an extra 1d8 damage.
Maj Obo
Maj obo are knowledgable and wise; trained in history, literature, and art. Besides comprising most of the white-collar workforce in obo society, the maj obo have developed a great capacity for natural magic and herbology. They are also known to pick up new skills and languages quickly, especially those that leave the jungle and immerse themselves in other cultures.
'Maj' (pronounced as in 'mage') is as much a title as it is a description of the kind of Obo. The term comes from the Common mage. Completing the maj obo rite of passage denotes the young obo as not only an adult, but also a 'Maj.'
This title tells not only the obo, but also the rest of the world, that this person is capable and practiced in magic. The Maj are generally well-respected by those who are familiar with their culture.
Their faces often feature bright colouration, from blue to purple, to pink, and red, and their fur can vary from grey and white to golden yellow, much like mandrills. Like other Obo, their skin colour varies from light pink or yellow to almost black.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2.
Alignment. Maj obo value knowledge and learning more than the values held by the other kind of obo. They tend towards neutral good.
Size. Maj obo vary greatly, from 4.5 to 6 feet tall, weighing between 60 and 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Maj Obo Education. You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: History, Nature, or Religion.
Jungle Magic. Trained by the great sages and druids of the obo, you have formed a basic connection to the magic of the jungle or the gods of the obo. You know the druidcraft or thaumaturgy cantrip (your choice).
Choose one 1st-level spell with the ritual tag from the cleric or druid spell lists. You can cast the spell with this trait.
Likewise, at 3rd level, you can choose a spell of 2nd level or lower, and at 5th level, a spell of 3rd level or lower, in the same manner.
Once you cast a spell with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells. If you have spell slots of the appropriate levels, you can cast these spells with them, though not as a ritual.
The Obo Race v.1.05
by DrYoshiyahu.
Art credits:
Sun Wukong, Heroes Evolved by Net Dragon and R2Games.
Unnamed by Wallpaperbetter.
Mixed nuts by Eisenhut and Mayer Wien.
Long-Shafted Assegai by Cold Steel by Buying a Sword.
Single Isolated Banana Leaf by Rosa Pompelmo.
Mocamedes, SoulSpark by Ryan Pancoast.
MONKEY KING Sun Wukong by Grafik.