The Jaraki

Jungle Warriors

  The Jaraki are a humanoid species that live deep within the jungles of Oloris. They are typically shorter than the average human with wiry, nimble frames, and a low centre of gravity, all of which make them very agile and stealthy. The most distinctive physical characteristic, which single out the Jaraki from their human and half human counterparts, is their tough leathery skin, which helps them to retain water in the humid conditions of the jungle, and their frog-like appearance .   A Jaraki’s skin is their primary means of camouflage, coming in a spectrum of colour ranging from light shades of mossy greens to dark muddy browns. The Jaraki can breathe for extended periods underwater but must periodically surface for air.   The Jaraki emerged from the waters of Oloris three centuries ago as a result of the Sundering. Their shamans and tribal elders know that the Jaraki once inhabited much of southern Aestis, but they mysteriously vanished from the earth during the Hidden Age thousands of years ago, as a result of a period of Binding, where the Keeper found a way to draw all remaining magic, known as the Song, from the Mortal Realm.  

Jaraki Society

  Other races and nations too often underestimate the sophistication of the Jaraki, given that they have built no cities, no architectural wonders such as The Library of Harenis nor have they ever carved out an empire out of the regions surrounding Oloris. Though the Ghothars and the Veskans were able to make successful incursions in and around the tributaries of the Lorean Delta, they were never able to advance into the interior, for the Jaraki are peerless warriors in their native lands, capable of defeating forces many times their size with relatively little difficulty. They recognise that their strength lies in their peerless knowledge of their environment, and the ingenuity which drives them to harness the largely untapped potential of the jungle to the benefit of their people, and to the detriment of any invading force.   Jaraki who have left their hierarchical society tend to be highly independent and individualistic, balking at authority, which they are highly suspicious of. When they return to their tribes, each is expected to contribute to the survival of the whole, and to have an active role in sustaining and shaping the community. Though tyrants have risen and fallen among them power and decision making tends to be evenly shared most of the time, with their leaders chosen on the basis of their prowess and respect among the tribe, rather than their bloodline.   Though Harenis is the centre of all knowledge and learning in Aestis, the secrets of the Olorian interior and the Kheyun Marshes are largely obscure to their scholars. The Jaraki’s accumulated knowledge of these untapped regions exceeds the cumulative knowledge of the rest of Aestis. Strictly speaking there is no designated class of scholars in Jaraki society. All strata of their society, from the highest to the lowest, participates to some degree in the life of a mind, receiving a formal education, with a particular emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, from an early age. As a result of this training many Jaraki have been able to distinguish themselves in professions such as Corsairs, Marauders, lizard riding Dragoons and Knights. Jaraki are able to become any kind of spell casting class.  

Born Adventurers

  The Jaraki have a reputation across Aestis for disobedience in the face of authority, seeing no intrinsic reason to respect kings or nobility on the basis of their titles or social standing. Many Jaraki are particularly drawn to the camaraderie of a Marauder’s gang or a band of Corsairs, where proven skill rather than established rank is the determining factor for respect, and where they can hone their skills in agility or boatmanship, earning fame and renown and gold from their daring exploits. They are also drawn to other well-travelled outsiders from all backgrounds and enjoy travelling with those who can show skill, courage and determination. This is not to say that the Jaraki do not have their biases. Oloris was once ravaged by slavery from the north, and it required the close cooperation of the Olorians and the Jaraki to defeat Veskan and Ghothar slavers. As a result Jaraki tend to get on best with Olorians and harbour the most instinctive hostility and suspicion amongst the Veskans and the Ghothars. Outside of Oloris the Jaraki find themselves in a human world and though this can present its challenges, the most industrious and ingenious are able to use their skills to great advantage and perform feats which are not humanly possible.       Age: Jaraki are able to begin their lives as adventurers in the teenage years and live between 130-170 years.   Size: All Jaraki adventurers are Medium sized.   Speed: Jaraki walking speed is 35 feet.   Language: The Jaraki’s common tongue is simply known as Jaraki.    

Jaraki Names

  The Jaraki refer to one another based on physical characteristics. A tall, dark green Jaraki with a flat head would have a name based on these aspects of their body, whereas a short, squat Jaraki with longer arms would be described differently. Jaraki elders can quickly tell younger Jaraki what to do by describing them and in human discourse this would seem rude eg ‘Hey, flat head, bring me my spear,’ but the Jaraki view this as an efficient and simple way of communicating.  

The Kheyun Marshes

  The The Kheyun Marshes are one of the most impenetrable wildernesses of Aestis and home to isolated tribes of humans and the more warlike cousins of the Olorian Jaraki, the Kaar Jaraki. These humanoids are larger than the Jaraki and have been known to hunt human beings. At the center of the marshes are a series of interlinked giant freshwater lakes that both humans and Jaraki seem drawn to, their waters having a hypnotic power that attracts all sentient life. The lakes generate the development of strange new forms of life such as the Goragon Islands, an entire archipelago of living islands in the swamps (ranging from hundreds of feet across to half a mile wide) that periodically rise out of the fetid waters of vast mud and earth limbs to migrate, changing the geography of the swamps and potentially crushing anything they land on. Predators like blood spinners which resemble giant blood red stick insects and whose bodies stand above the low lying fog, waiting for the unwary to walk underneath) and the Ryvvik - intelligent rat like humanoids who worship the lakes as if they were gods and are also hunted by the Kaar Jaraki. The geography and the dangers of the marshes mean that few have ever sought to colonise and settle here, but it has become home to lone mages wishing to find new spell forges and have solitude in the swamps.    

Jaraki and Olorians

  The Jaraki mainly come from the great rain forest of Oloris. The human inhabitants of the region, the Olorians, have an uneasy relationship with them. The Jaraki emerged during the Sundering, the flow of magic back into the earth having awoken them from a long slumber. After many battles with the Olorians, they have agreed to share the forests and respect each other, though relations are still punctuated with fear and mistrust. The Jaraki awoke from the long Feysleep they had been under since the end of the Hidden Age, a slumber that had protected and hidden them (see history for more details on this), and found a world transformed by humanity. The Olorian story tellers, the Vayanga, knew of the story of the Kuunji (roughly translated as 'frog men'), but thef Olorians could not quite believe their eyes when these warriors emerged from the forests.  

Jaraki Adventurers

  Most Jaraki never leave Oloris, they love the forests and river deltas where they hunt. Some join riverboat crews that explore the depths of the vast region and others hitch a ride on vessels across the Olorian and Veskan coastlines. Most humans have never come into contact with the Jaraki, but human sailors who serve alongside them recognise that they are brave, determined, hard working and can take huge amounts of strong drink. They are expert trackers and work as bounty hunters across Southern Aestis, hunting down fugitives and outlaws. They are instinctively loyal to those they travel with and feel determined to prove their worth to humans, who often look upon them as strange and alien.    

History of the Jaraki People

  Stepping from the verdant, mystical depths of Oloris, the Jaraki are a humanoid species that imbues the resilience of the natural world with an age-old wisdom that far surpasses human understanding. Their wiry, agile frames and distinctive leathery, frog-like skin, coloured from light mossy greens to dark muddy browns, not only make them unparalleled stealth masters but also resilient to the jungle's humid conditions. Awakened after at least a 10,000-year slumber in the dark caverns of the world during the Sundering, the Jaraki are believed to be the last vestiges of the humanoid species that co-existed with the Fey, the Oriads, and the Yellish in a world radically different from ours.   Known for their hardiness, which is often overlooked due to their preference for the undisturbed jungles over city life, the Jaraki are formidable warriors and ingenious tacticians, harnessing their profound knowledge of their environment to both nurture their kin and thwart invading forces. They lead a fiercely independent life outside their tribes, demonstrating a healthy scepticism of authority, and adhering to a communal way of life that values individual prowess and respect over bloodline hierarchy.   As prospective adventurers, Jaraki are deft trackers, bounty hunters, and mariners, renowned for their fearless determination, hard work, and an exceptional capacity for strong drink. Although deeply connected to their native land of Oloris, a rich tradition of exploration and discovery encourages young Jaraki to venture into the wider world and return with new skills, knowledge, and allies for the benefit of the tribe. Their alien appearance may draw unwarranted suspicion, but these brave, loyal individuals prove their worth through actions, not appearances.   With a long lifespan of 130-170 years and an intriguing, millennia-spanning history, playing a Jaraki character offers an immersive, compelling experience that brings a unique perspective to your D&D adventures.   In this early age of the Fey, the Jaraki played a significant role as the quiet intermediaries and resourceful allies to the Fey. They were not born of the Song in the way that the Fey were and were not ruled by the power of the Syadthe, instead, they, like the Oriads, were the product of the meeting of the Song and the chaos of the Devourer. When the Fey realms, the Oonaliedh, stretched from Ty'Zan to Aestis, the Jaraki inhabited the hinterlands, riverbeds, and caverns, thus forming an interconnected web of surveillance and knowledge, connecting the five great realms. They found a natural affinity with the Fey and were masters of the river systems that flowed across the continent.   As the Tydas became more isolationist, they often relied on the Jaraki for news from the wider world. Although the Fey were far more powerful and advanced, the Jaraki were much closer to the pulse of the world due to their deep connection with the natural realm (even though the Fey were the first children of nature, their kingdoms and citadels began to alienate them from the natural world). The Jaraki provided valuable counsel, alerting the Fey to the dangers and happenings of the world beyond their realm, much of which was being manipulated by the increasingly bold Keeper.   When Thyuscaphe, the mighty king of the Fey, began to enact strict laws controlling magic, the Jaraki had already foreseen the brewing storm. They offered their wisdom and knowledge to Thyuscaphe, urging him to see beyond the immediate future and prepare for a war that was far greater than their internal squabbles.   During the betrayal of Haaronathe, the Jaraki remained steadfastly neutral. Understanding the danger of siding with one faction or another, they did their best to mitigate the damage caused by Haaronathe's folly. As the Fey battled amongst themselves, the Jaraki played an important role in maintaining order and continuity in the mortal realm.   As the Fey kingdoms expanded and colonized the southern continent, the Jaraki, respecting the Fey's decision to expand, ensured the natural balance of the realms remained intact, becoming unofficial stewards of the lands the Fey had left behind. While they did not interfere directly in Fey politics, they did their best to safeguard the Mortal Realm, understanding that the Keeper's eye was always watching.   Throughout this era, the Jaraki maintained a delicate balance between their allegiance to the Fey and their commitment to the wellbeing of the Mortal Realm. Their knowledge and wisdom often prevented larger disasters and helped the Fey navigate through difficult times. Yet, they remained largely in the shadows, a secret and silent force helping to maintain balance and harmony in a world increasingly dominated by the Fey and their conflicts.   In the backdrop of this Fey saga, the Jaraki served as crucial allies and observers, often acting as the voice of wisdom and caution in the face of grand ambitions and escalating conflicts. With the establishment of the four Fey realms, the Jaraki continued their roles as the protectors of balance and harmony. They had an unspoken pact with the realms, a pact of neutrality and of preservation of the natural world, even in times of conflict and expansion.   When Araneniel embarked on her grand vision of creating the greatest Fey kingdom, the Jaraki forewarned her of the consequences of such pride and ambition. They were cautious of the power of the song and the risks of channelling it into physical forms, as these could act as beacons for the ever-lurking enemy, the Keeper. Despite their caution, the Jaraki were powerless to prevent the awakening of the Thaladic Graces, an act that drew Thyuscaphe and his armies to Asturan, and brought the world ever closer to war.   As the Keeper's wrath fell upon the Fey kingdoms in the form of the Yogondath and the Shuravai horde, the Jaraki took up the call to arms. While they weren't front-line warriors like the Fey, they contributed to the war effort in crucial ways. As the war raged, the Jaraki worked behind the scenes to safeguard Fey civilians, serve as healers, and support the Fey armies with their deep knowledge of the natural world and their unique magic.   As the age of the Fey ended in a wave of terrible devastation, the Jaraki continued their task of maintaining balance and harmony, often at great personal cost. They took on the monumental task of healing the land that was scarred by the conflicts, knowing that the Keeper's wrath was not yet fully spent. The tale of the Jaraki during this period is one of resilience, wisdom, and sacrifice, underpinning the grand and tragic saga of the Fey.  

The Jaraki and the Marshal of the Night

  Amidst the tumult of this period, the Jaraki's role in the narrative again became indispensable. They were the silent observers, the diplomats who moved discreetly between the warring factions, and the healers who provided succor in times of unspeakable devastation.   As the Phalanx Graces and the Shuravai cowered in the fortress of Nolok-Atai, the Jaraki bore witness to their inner turmoil and conflicts. They understood the dreadful fear that the Keeper's wrath inspired and the profound betrayal that the Phalanx felt. The Jaraki, with their keen intuition, recognized the fractures within the enemy ranks and subtly communicated this information to the Fey.   When the terrifying Marshal of the Night emerged as the new leader of the Keeper's army, the Jaraki were once again on the front lines. They aided the fleeing Graces, providing them with sanctuary and protection from the relentless pursuit of the Shuravai. They also provided reconnaissance, gathering crucial information about the new enemy and his fell minions.   During the following centuries of unrelenting war and devastation, the Jaraki served as the backbone of the Fey resistance. As the Fey kingdoms of Asturan, Yeshurah, and Magogh crumbled, the Jaraki worked tirelessly to save the lives of the Fey, guide them to safety, and aid in the establishment of the refuge city, Anagol.   When Neniel discovered the terrifying truth about the Marshal of the Night and subsequently descended into madness, it was the Jaraki who cared for her, using their knowledge of healing and mental restoration. They helped Raganwe in his quest to bring Neniel back to sanity.   In the ensuing battles, the Jaraki offered strategic counsel and support to the Fey armies, helping them to repel the continuous onslaughts from the Marshal. They played a crucial role in uncovering the betrayal of the rogue Sentinels, leading to the intervention of the virtuous Sentinels on the side of the Fey.   In the aftermath of the wars, when the Fey Kingdoms were finally re-established and the threat of the Marshal went into retreat, the Jaraki returned to their essential task of healing the land and aiding in the restoration of order and balance.   As the Keeper's fury manifested in reality storms that unleashed more grotesque creatures, the Jaraki stood firm, helping the Athervannir in their monumental task of banishing the Keeper from the Mortal Realm. With Neniel's restoration and the resurfacing of the Marshal, now disguised as Eratheon, the Jaraki continued to support the Fey, assisting in the establishment of the seeing places and ultimately exposing Eratheon's deception, preventing the reformation of the Marshal's armies.   Throughout this chaotic era, the Jaraki were the unsung heroes. Their wisdom, resilience, and tireless efforts behind the scenes played a significant role in maintaining the stability and survival of the Fey Kingdoms amid the relentless turmoil.  

The Jaraki during the Third Age of the Fey

  In this final age, the Jaraki faced what seemed to be their ultimate fate. With the emergence of humans and the teaching of empire and religion by the Phalanx Graces, the Fey found themselves progressively marginalized. Eratheon, with the aid of the Graces, founded the Aruhvian faith, further solidifying the human dominance and the subsequent decline of the Fey.   In this shifting landscape, the role of the Jaraki became more about survival and protection of their ancient knowledge. They observed the rise of human society, storing away invaluable knowledge about these new rulers of the world, and sharing it with the Fey to help them navigate their diminishing presence.   When the Keeper found a way to steal the song, the very essence of Fey magic and power, the effect on the Jaraki was catastrophic. They found themselves on the brink of extinction, their life-force tied so intrinsically to the stolen song. In this desperate time, the Fey showcased their love and respect for the Jaraki by guiding them into the perilous darkness in a bid to escape annihilation at the hands of the Oriads.   After the intervention of the Syadthe, the Fey successfully guided the Jaraki to safety, a testament to their symbiotic relationship and the deep bond that they had formed over the centuries. Their return to the surface was marked by significant changes, with part of their realm under the rule of the Thorn King.   Faced with dwindling power and increasing threats, the Jaraki chose the path of Feysleep, the last remaining magic that the Fey had to bequeath them, it brought about in the Jaraki a deep slumber of the ages, but the magic also hid their mortal forms in the earth and the water so that they might evade their enemies. This suspended state would preserve the last of their kind, ensuring that they lived to see a brighter future, carrying their wisdom and lessons into an uncertain tomorrow. Their decision reflected their tenacity, hope, and unyielding commitment to protect the ancient heritage and wisdom of the Fey.   Thus, the Third Age was one of endurance and resilience for the Jaraki, their survival symbolizing a torch in the dark, a beacon of hope for a brighter future for the Fey.  

The Jaraki and the Sundering

  When the waves of magical energy that poured back into the world broke the Feysleep spell, both the Jaraki and the Fey awoke to find a world transformed by humanity. The emerging Jaraki tribes encountered hostility from the Olorians as they set foot on Olorian land and sailed down the Olorian delta.   There were some scholarly works in Harenis and other places that referred to the Jaraki, and some Olorian Vayanga story tellers understood that 'Kunjii' or 'Frog Men' had walked the lands long before humans (it was the lore of the Vayanga that rescued both sides from all out war).   The emergence of the Jaraki and other non humans led to panic, fear, and terror amongst humans during the aftermath of the Sundering. This has changed in some areas to acceptance and respect, indifference and sometimes outright prejudice.

A Fire in the Heart of Knowing

  Our debut Arclands novel is available here. Read A Fire In the Heart of Knowing, a story of desperate power struggles and a battle for survival in the dark lands of Mordikhaan.

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