Bakoto

A village hidden in a living mist. Water spirits commune with sacred shamans in the village, tasking these mages with protecting and concealing the mirror pools in which the spirits live. In exchange, the mist spirits provide the shamans with foresight.

Deep within an endless expanse of mist-shrouded swamp lies the civilization of Bakoto, an enigmatic tribal society that has adapted to the swamp's mysteries and dangers. Isolated by treacherous waterways, labyrinthine thickets, and an ever-present, ethereal fog, the Bakoto thrive in a world where outsiders dare not tread. Their culture is deeply rooted in the swamp’s rhythms, spirits, and secrets, making them one with their environment in wondrous and unsettling ways. It is incredibly hard to find Bakoto, the entire village hidden within a mist that almost seems to magically disorient travelers and conceal the bounds of the place. The swamp is a place of supernatural beauty and peril. Ancient, gnarled trees rise from the waters, their roots like grasping hands, while bioluminescent fungi cast an eerie glow through the ever-present mist. The fog itself is alive with whispers and half-seen shapes, which the Bakoto believe are manifestations of the swamp’s spirit residents.

A phenomenon unique to the Bakoto's homeland, the mist doesn’t merely obscure; it moves and changes with intention. Paths that are clear one moment become impassable the next, while unseen forces guide those who stray too far. The Bakoto see this as the swamp’s will, protecting them from invaders and ensuring the safety of their people. However, even they are wary of angering the mist, which they believe can claim the unwary or the disrespectful. The Bakoto are a tightly knit and highly spiritual people, bound together by a shared respect for the swamp and its spirits. Their lives are guided by intricate rituals and a deep connection to their environment.
The Bakoto practice mistbinding, a form of water affinity magic that allows them to work with, rather than against, the swamp’s shifting nature. Mistbinders, the tribe’s shamans, use enchanted charms and songs to part the mist or summon it to conceal their villages. They also claim to commune with the swamp’s spirits, seeking guidance and protection. Bakoto leadership is shared among the Mistbinders, who interpret the will of the swamp, and the Hunters, who protect the people and provide sustenance. Both roles are considered equally sacred, ensuring that the spiritual and physical remain balanced.

Scattered throughout Bakoto’s swamp are Echo Pools, mysterious bodies of water with magical and inexplicable properties. These pools are mirror-still and impossibly deep, reflecting not just the world above but strange and shifting visions of the past, present, and sometimes the future. The Bakoto regard the pools as sacred portals to the swamp’s memory. Mistbinders gather at these pools during certain rituals to seek insight or guidance. However, gazing into an Echo Pool for too long invites madness, as the visions become increasingly fragmented and alien. The Bakoto believe the pools are home to Echo Spirits, water spirits guarding the swamp’s secrets. These spirits are said to be capricious, offering aid to those who show proper respect but punishing those who exploit the swamp.