Jared Maphis
Commander Jared Maphis (a.k.a. "Iron-Eyes" , "The Fang of the Sand")
Brief Overview
Jared "Iron-Eyes" Maphis is a hardened Rahki war veteran-turned-mercenary commander, renowned for his ruthless efficiency in protecting Tzarog’s trade routes. Born into hardship and raised in the unforgiving deserts of Granheim, Jared forged his reputation through sheer resilience, unyielding discipline, and an innate understanding of battlefield strategy. He now serves as the commander of the Sandfang Irregulars, a feared and respected force specializing in caravan protection, urban enforcement, and maritime security.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born in a nomadic Rahki warband, Jared was forced to fend for himself from an early age, learning survival and combat through necessity rather than instruction. His people frequently clashed with the Sultanate’s forces, and by the time he was sixteen, he had already participated in several brutal skirmishes against the Gilded Blades.
At twenty, he abandoned his warband and sought work in Tzarog’s bustling mercenary trade, seeing an opportunity to earn wealth and power through skill rather than birthright. He rose through the ranks of the Sandfang Irregulars, proving himself in battles against raiders, corrupt officials, and rival trade groups. Eventually, he seized command of the Irregulars, molding them into the most formidable private army in Tzarog.
Now, Jared commands loyalty through respect, fear, and sheer battlefield dominance, ensuring that Tzarog’s trade routes remain secure while pushing his own agenda of Rahki resilience and autonomy within the Free Mercantile Lords.
Education
Jared never attended any formal institution. His education came from the battlefield, from bloodshed, and from survival. Every lesson he learned was carved into his flesh or seared into his mind through experience and hardship.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Defended Tzarog’s trade routes from three major Sultanate-backed incursions, ensuring the city remained independent.
Personally led over 200 successful convoy defenses across Granheim’s most treacherous territories.
Uncovered and dismantled a major espionage ring planted in Tzarog by the Sultanate, earning favor with the Council of Coin.
Forged an alliance between Tzarog and the Kaelen Confederacy, solidifying the city’s access to skilled Rahki mercenaries.
Holds an unbroken personal combat record, having never been bested in single combat since he took command of the Sandfang Irregulars.
Morality & Philosophy
Jared believes in power through earned strength. He despises entitlement, believing that respect must be won through action and sacrifice. He has little patience for bureaucracy but recognizes its necessity. While pragmatic, he holds a deep loyalty to Tzarog and the Rahki people, ensuring they are never again beholden to foreign rule.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
To protect Tzarog’s sovereignty and ensure it remains free from outside control.
To maintain Rahki dominance in the region, proving that his people are not just desert raiders but rightful warriors of worth.
To crush the Saffron Winds Trade Union, whom he sees as spineless profiteers trying to strangle Tzarog’s independence through economic manipulation.
To cement his legacy as a warrior of legend, one whose name will be spoken with fear and respect for generations.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Lord Salvio Xenthos – Respected Ally, though they disagree on certain aspects of Tzarog’s future.
Master Atavo Dren – Professional Rival, often in conflict over trade route control.
Lady Calista Vorrun – Occasionally aligned, but wary of her deeper political ties.
Rahki Clans of the Kaelen Confederacy – Strong Ally, maintains deep ties with their warrior-leaders.
The Free Mercantile Lords of Tzarog – Employer and benefactor, but not a true comrade.
Saffron Winds Trade Union – Bitter Enemy, frequently clashes with their hired forces.
Family Ties
Jared rarely speaks of his Rahki warband origins, but it is known that his father was killed in a skirmish with the Sultanate’s forces, and his mother disappeared during a trade dispute gone wrong.
No known living family.
Has taken in several orphaned Rahki warriors, treating them as his own and grooming them for leadership.
Social Aptitude
Jared is a warrior first, a diplomat second. He commands respect through presence alone, his cold, iron-like gaze capable of silencing even the most outspoken merchants. Though he does not play political games as deftly as his counterparts, he makes up for it with brutal honesty, military precision, and unwavering loyalty to his ideals.
His reputation precedes him, ensuring that when he speaks, even the most powerful in Tzarog listen.
Current Location
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Commander of the Sandfang Irregulars
The Iron-Eyed General
Tzarog’s Guardian Fang
Age
44
Date of Birth
11th of Huegard, 430 AEL
Birthplace
The Rel-Vath Barrens
Children
Pronouns
He/Him
Sex
Male
Presentation
Masculine
Eyes
Piercing steel-gray, seemingly unshaken by fear or deceit, earning him the moniker "Iron-Eyes."
Hair
Short, tightly cropped black hair, streaked with a few strands of silver.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Deep, sun-scorched brown, weathered from years of combat and exposure to Granheim’s brutal climate.
Height
6'2"
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Survival is not a right. It is a privilege earned through strength."
"The Sultanate wants our hands bound in chains. I say we cut off theirs instead."
"If you hesitate on the battlefield, you die. If you hesitate in politics, you might as well be dead already."
"Respect isn’t given. It’s taken."
Aligned Organization
