- "Doubtless your journey was a trying one. You deserve the rest ahead of you. You came here seeking the dawn, yes? I must ask: why? The road you took here is soaked in the blood of those who opposed you. Was it worth it? I suppose it matters not. There is no evil in this world. No good. There is only that which we believe in. Can you tell me, without a shade of a doubt, that the dawn is worth all you have endured?" —Oboro, being confronted by the travelers in Vidania
Oboro, also known as Kazan, is a character in Octopath Traveler II. He is the overarching antagonist of Hikari's story, as well as one of the main antagonists of the game overall, being a prominent member of the Moonshade Order.
A famous tactician known as the Eagle of Ku, Kazan has led his nation to many victories. He is regrettably fond of drinking and gambling.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Kazan is an aged man with gray hair, a ponytail, and a beard. He wears a white robe above a set of simple clothes, and has a flask hanging off of his hip.
Personality[]
As the Eagle of Ku, Kazan is a genius in strategy and manipulation. His cunning and mysterious nature makes him both a valuable ally and a terrifying enemy, despite his lack of combat skill. Hikari has noted that Kazan unfortunately has a habit of falling into vices, namely gambling and alcohol.
In reality, he is greatly embittered to the world due to the horrible experiences he suffered under Ku's invasions and the constant violence he witnessed and perpetuated as Ku's tactician. He is dedicated and patient regarding his true ambitions, willing to wait for decades and aid his enemies in order to get what he wants. He wishes for the Shadow to consume the world, believing that humans do not deserve their world due to their cruelty.
According to him, there is no such thing as good or evil. There is only belief.
Story[]
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(I don't think this is where I should be going at the moment...) The following section contains potential story spoilers! |
Prior to Story[]
Kazan's true identity is Oboro. He and his adoptive younger sister Ori were lowborn citizens of U who suffered under Ku's conquest. Oboro tried to assassinate King Jigo Ku, but failed. The King was nonetheless impressed by his attempt to escape and offered him a position as tactician, thus creating the identity of Kazan. Witnessing the numerous atrocities committed by Jigo and his son Mugen shaped Oboro’s ideology that the world was a cruel and unsightly place. During his tenure in Ku, he was approached by the Moonshade Order, a cult dedicated to Vide the Wicked. He was invited to read the Book of Night—a tome he found underwhelming, as he had already reached the same conclusions detailed in the book. Acting in the cult's and his own interests, Oboro exploited Mugen Ku's desire to acquire the Darkblood Blade, a means to quell the Sacred Flames; but upon learning Mugen had no intent to hand over the Darkblood Blade, Kazan left for Montwise after the war ended.
Story[]
Forming an empathetic kinship with the gladiators of Montwise's Underground Arena, Kazan formulated a plan to free them with Hikari's aid. He coerced Hikari to participate in matches under the pretense of repaying his gambling debts to the arena owner Borneau. By exploiting Hikari's matches, Kazan amasses enough wealth to bet an increasing amount of leaves, culminating in the match against Bandelam the Reaper, which, should Hikari win, would net Kazan three billion leaves. In the confusion after Hikari's victory, gladiators storm the booth where Borneau and the other high bettors sit, forcing them to the stage where Hikari bests Bandelam once more. Kazan reminds Borneau of his winnings—a sum too vast for Borneau to pay. As a compromise, Kazan requests ownership of the arena itself.
Above the arena, Kazan confirms Hikari's suspicions that he was plotting something. Kazan's strategy all along was to free the gladiators, noting he was once downtrodden as they were. When the gladiators, including Zeto the Butcher, approach Hikari and pledge their loyalty to him, Kazan reveals that providing Hikari with capable, faithful soldiers was another part of his plan. Kazan also pledges to assist Hikari, advising him to stop a weapons trade with Ku taking place in Wellgrove before setting off to visit Rai Mei. He then departs for Ryu.
Once Hikari returns to Ku, Kazan meets with the Prince at the Crest of Heroes and reveals his scheme to storm the castle's front gate under. He will manufacture a sandstorm to distract the guards long enough to overwhelm them. The plan succeeds, allowing Hikari to break into the castle and kill Mugen. Kazan can be seen turning towards the Darkblood Blade while Hikari goes to inform the soldiers that Mugen has been defeated.
It is revealed in a memory that Oboro, now revealing his true identity and intentions to Ageha, had helped Mugen ascend to the throne, only to "betray" him for Hikari. Oboro's goal had been the Darkblood Blade all along, which he sacrifices Ageha with as a way to snuff out Ku's Sacred Flame. Oboro is later encountered at the top of Vidania, where he asks all eight travelers whether the dawn is worth everything they have suffered. The answer comes from whichever traveler was selected as protagonist at the beginning of the game. Having received his answer, and after lamenting the state of the world, Oboro sacrifices himself in order to awaken Vide.
Quotes[]
Associated Journals[]
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
"Oboro" is Japanese for "cloudy," "dim," or "hazy" (朧, oboro), often with reference to the moon. As such, Oboro's name symbolizes the Moonshade Order's desire for eternal night and his own lack of faith in humanity.
His alias, "Kazan," is the Japanese word for "volcano"; the term "kazan" can also mean "boiler" or "cauldron" in the Tatar and Turkic languages. This association with fire may reflect Kazan's role as a firebrand and contrasts the darkness implied by Oboro's true name.
Trivia[]
- If Hikari was selected as the starting traveler, he will acknowledge Oboro as Kazan when he answers his question about the dawn prior to the battle with Vide.
- Oboro's diary can be found in a lower room on the east side of Castle Ku during Hikari's Chapter 1.
- According to Hikari, Kazan has a chronic lying tell: hiding his cup.
- As revealed in travel banter, Kazan once looked King Jigo in the eye and asked, "Shall we begin digging for salt?" The king was taken aback by this abrupt question, but he subsequently commanded the mining of salt in order to help his kingdom's poor populace, whose need Kazan had noticed before anyone else.
- Given his backstory and the town's history, Oboro likely hails from Sai.