Mabosa

• 05 April 2025

Mabosa were Isutan hedge mages who made their living serving lords throughout The Eastern Provinces. Ever since the earliest days of the Eastern Kingdoms, mabosa would make great fortunes pledging their services to different warlords, supplementing their Nakai with true mage backup. Mabosa were also referred to as Isutan witches or masked mages in Tradespeak.

Masked Mages #

Many mabosa were known to be "promiscuous in loyalty", quickly hopping between two masters in order to benefit from greater payment. To facilitate this type of career, mabosa would adopt monikers and hide their faces behind masks, which could be easily switched to change their identity.

Even more loyal mabosa bought into the tradition of wearing masks, although this was usually to separate their professional life from their personal. By doffing their mask, a mabosa could appear to be a hapless member of the populace once their master was defeated--mabosa didn't hold the strong ties of honour and loyalty that bound Nakai. Even mabosa who weren't combat mages held onto the traditions of mask-wearing. In many ways, the mask of a mabosa was a sort of "brand image" for the mage. Mabosa with more decorated, elaborate masks were held in higher regard, while mages with simpler masks (sometimes as simple as a featureless wooden ovaloid with nothing but eyeholes) were considered to be less reputable.

After the unification of The Eastern Provinces, certain mabosa who entered into long-term contracts with a Ganpoumi Fi councilor or Songkram grandmaster would wear new masks that matched the style worn by the rest of their lord's retinue.

Arcane Paths #

While mabosa practiced all manner of magical arts, the most common types of arcane paths studied by mabosa shifted throughout the ages. During the wars between the Eastern Kingdoms, vasamantic and elemental mabosa were the most ubiquitous. After the unification of The Eastern Provinces, a greater prevalence of nuivan and zendamantic mabosa could be found. During the time of the Songkram Empire, shadowmantic mabosa (especially those loyal to the Dark Mage Zak) rose in frequency, particularly after the Songkram joined the Ebon Alliance.

History #

The Age of the Eastern Kingdoms #

Before the Ganpoumi Fi unified The Eastern Provinces, mabosa were the most profitable. The tumultuous, perpetual war that raged across Sangmyung Valley ensured that the need for mabosa was also there.

The Ganpoumi Fi Federation #

As the Ganpoumi Fi began to unite the Eastern Provinces to instill peace, strength, and prosperity to the Isutan people, the need for mabosa in warfare decreased significantly. Mabosa began to shift towards services comparable to mage lancing.

Mabosa prepared to fight on the battlefield resurged during the Demon Wars.

The Songkram #

During the Eastern Civil War, mabosa were once again at no shortage of work throughout the Eastern Provinces. As the Eastern Civil War drew to a close, the Songkram put out bounties for mabosa who had served their rivals. This caused a massive scouring of the mabosa industry, with many mabosa turning on each other just to claim the rewards. Various mabosa began to band together in clades to stick up for each other, creating a multitude of small factions spread throughout the provinces.

Eventually, the Songkram stopped paying these bounties, and tensions against mabosa dropped. However, the prevalence and livelihood of mabosa would remain low until the Spear of the West Campaign would be launched, and the need for combat mabosa increased again.