Kojin

See also: Kojin Daily Quests and Beastmen

Easily recognized by the bulky shells upon their backs, these beastmen make their home in the waters of the Ruby Sea. Kojin hold the fervent belief that the kami of the Far East reside in all manner of objects-often valuable baubles or masterpieces of craft-and the entire tribe is consumed by the pursuit of such relics. The mercenary and merchant trades aid them in acquiring these treasures, and thus do they actively seek out contact with other races.

Physical Characteristics

In addition to their distinctive natural armor, the Kojin are known for their large and well-muscled frames. Their hearts and lungs are also highly developed, allowing them to spend extended periods underwater on a single breath. One can often observe the shells of deceased Kojin displayed upon their gates around a settlement where they serve as spirit guardians-a custom which stems from the belief that the souls of especially learned and long-lived brethren linger for a time within their protective carapaces.

Symbol

There exist two distinct factions within the Kojin tribe: the Red Kojin, the more numerous and aggressive group; and the less-populous Blue Kojin, who value a more harmonious approach to life. Their respective symbols are 2 Kojin hand representative of martial force, and a soul-infused Kojin shell.

Diet

As ocean-dwellers, the Kojin's diet heavily favors the bounty of the sea. Fish, crabs, kelp-anything harvested under the waves is potential fare for the table. Due to the poor circulation of air within Tamamizu, however, the residents are reluctant to cook with fire, and consume much of their catch raw. But for those occasions when only a hot meal will satisfy, the Kojin have invented a dish known as "Gasame Stew", wherein the fire-aspected chell of the eponymous gasame is used to heat a medley of ingredients.

Leadership

Known for their prodigiously long lifespans, the Kojin hold a great respect for the aged. It follows naturally, then, that it is the elders among them who are elevated to positions of authority. The actual powers of an elder vary between factions, with the militant marine commanders of the Red Kojin able to exert significant influence over their kin. Conversely, the Blue Kojin gather under a single elder, who provides the axis around which matters are languidly debated and resolved.

The Divine Circle

Formed at the behest of Tsukumo—an aptly named tsukumogami spirit inhabiting a Kojin-shaped doll—the Divine Circle is a treasure-seeking company of Blue Kojin. The purpose of its members is a simple one: to fill the newly built treasure vault in Tamamizu with rare and wondrous objects of potentially sacred worth. Their method of collecting these treasures values encounters of fate, relying as much on the purchase of promising marvels as it does on salvaging chance baubles from shipwrecks and flotsam. Such pursuits, however, frequently lead them into competition with their Red Kojin kin, a meeting which often erupted into violence.

Kabuto Ironshell

“Barter with blood and blade as you do? Never!”

An awkward youth of the Blue Kojin, Kabuto Ironshell’s exceptional skill at arms allowed him to safely explore and salvage on his own. He preferred these solo expeditions, fearing that he would be unable to protect others from harm, but others misconstrued the shy Kojin’s attitude as a desire for solitude, and left him to a lonely existence. Upon encountering an adventurer and the spirit-infused doll Tsukumo, however, Kabuto was appointed to lead the Divine Circle. As the head of this treasure-seeking band, he formed bonds with a host of new companions, and grew to become a trusted and respected leader despite having seen only six and twenty summers.

Society and Culture

Drawing on the eldritch wisdom of their ancestors, the Kjin are able to create everlasting bubbles of magical force to enfold their underwater holdings, such as that which encapsulates the settlement of Tamamizu. Many of the Kojin's rituals and blessings are centered on life in the sea, and their command of water-and wind-aspected energies can even allow the surface dwellers the ability to breathe beneath the waves.

Another, better-documented aspect of Kojin society is their preoccupation with collecting treasures. Objects that could potentially harbor the spirit of a kami are gathered from myriad sources, and stored within a treasure vault constructed for the purpose. All Kojin once shared the vault on the Isle of Zekki, but due to the philosophical rift which now separates the Red and Blue, the latter faction has since built a new structure to house its relics.

Nomenclature

The oviparous Kojin believe that when the soul that is to inhabit an egg falls from the heavens and into the sea, it first resides within a mundane object to ease the transition into the mortal realm. It is said that the choice of object is markedly influenced by the soul's own character, and thus is the item referenced when naming the newly hatched individual. A soul which values knowledge gained through study, for example, might infuse a paperweight, which in the tongue of the Far East would result in the hatchling being named "Bunchin".

Primary Industries

Mercenary Contracts

The large and brutishly strong Red Kojin see military force as a solution in many situations, and have a long history of attacking other races in pursuit of treasures. Following the Garlean Empire's invasion, however, the Red found themselves outmanned and overmatched, and resorted to hiring themselves out to the Garleans as sellswords. As well as allowing them to retain their position in the region, this trade also enabled them to carry out their tribe's sacred purpose by requesting valuable objects in return for their mercenary services.

Trade

With their affinity for personal connections and bonds decreed by fate, the Blue Kojin prefer commerce as a means of amassing treasures. To that end, they are known for harvesting the riches of the Ruby Sea and bringing their wares to trade at the markets of neighboring nations. This mercantile practice serves not only as a tool for acquiring relics, but also as a way of obtaining fire-forged metal goods, a commodity the Kojin find difficult to craft beneath the ocean's surface.

Handicraft

The Kojin boast a high level of skill in working shells, coral, and other produce of the Ruby Sea into their crafted wares. In particular, the goods they inlay with mother of pearl are possessed of a distinctive beauty, and are prized as works of fine art.

The Kojin and Rays

Rays, the underwater mounts of the Kojin, were bred from wild mantas over the course of many years. As a result, they are more docile than mantas, with backs better suited for bearing riders. Only a tribe such as the Kojin, able to breed and raise creatures from the sea floor, could ever have accomplished such a feat.

Behind the Scenes

“

You are doubtless wondering why our objectively green-hued friend here refers to himself as a Kojin of the Blue. The answer is quite fascinating, really. The Kojin language has many similarities with ancient Hingan, you see, and in ancient Hingan, the word for green, “ao,” can mean green and or blue─though I do the word a disservice by even attempting to translate it, so steeped in meaning as it is. Why they elected to keep on calling themselves the “blue” in modern times is anyone's guess─I for one would have much preferred “kojin of the ao”─but one theory posits that they prefer the sound of the word “blue” when spoken. Another is that they are physically incapable of distinguishing between the two, which would have interesting implications in their everyday lives...

— Hancock

The Blue faction of Kojin is in fact intended to be Green in keeping with their skin tone. This error on the part of the localization was referenced by Hancock in the quote above.

References

See also: wikipedia:Kōjin