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zuzuyams · 8 months

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Jahari (House of None)

Meet my oc and first “tav” from bg3 Jahari, a half-orc paladin of Ilmater :3

More info about him below ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Age: 37 (beginning of bg3)

Race: Half-orc (Tanarukk blood)

Height: 7ft

Pronouns: he/she/them/it (comfortable mirroring pronouns with whoever is speaking to them)

Gender: genderfluid masc/fem presenting alternating

Class: Paladin of Ilmater (oath of devotion)

Alignment: Lawful Good

Notable Personality Traits:

Very regimented, methodical, and orderly (writes down everything from to-do lists, rules, and orders)

Loves children and has a soft spot for them (their playful side comes out when around young ones otherwise hides this part of themself)

Has OCD and compulsions come in the form of cleanliness and repetition in style (e.g. hair braiding has to be even, even number of laces, etc.)

Notable Ideals:

Care for children comes above all else

Self-sacrifice and pain go hand in hand, believes that if they are enduring tremendous pain then they are doing what is right

Forgiveness is important

Unnecessary cruelty, even in jest, is looked down upon

Notable Flaws:

Goes out of the way to help others even if it is at the cost of themself

Sometimes can’t take or understand a joke if it is too mean

Has to clean all equipment after a battle

Backstory

(Uses all pronouns but for the sake of simplicity will use they/them in this story)

Jahari was born into a family of mercenaries—or so they’re told. A kind human mother and a strong orc father. The mother was a decorated Harper soldier, and the orc, some brazen warrior from Waterdeep. And…that is all the information Jahari ever received about their biological parents. The truth stretched deeper than that, but headmaster Vino—of the Silver Lake Orphanage—never elaborated. And they never really bothered to ask. Details muddled over the years, and while there was a brief period of time where Jahari sought nothing but learning all they could about who abandoned them, ultimately they felt that the past is better left untouched. While the stories the orphan keepers told them to stave their curiosity were simple, the truth about their parents was far from it. The mother was a Harper soldier, that much is true. But the father was no ordinary orc. He was a demonic warlord orc–a Tanarukk. The circumstances of Jahari’s birth were never to be uttered, even if someone desperately wanted to tell them. For a pact was made between the mother and this orc, one that would grant the mother a powerful gift and her child’s safety, but in return she would have to forsake Jahari and never utter a word about the child’s demonic blood. The deal was set in stone, and the orphanage respected the rules of said pact or else suffered its consequences. And Jahari was only a baby when dropped off, so all they had to do was lie between their teeth, shave off the horns, and never tell a soul. The only physical evidence of Jahari’s demonic origins was their one devilish eye.

But the sanctuary of the orphanage did not last long for Jahari. After only 8 years they spent there, the orphanage would soon be foreclosed. The landlords were unhappy with the late payments and the government was no help either. With no funds, they had no choice but to close their doors and to everyone in it, the children were left to the harsh conditions of the lower city of Baldur’s Gate. The orphanage did not leave them completely defenseless, many were given opportunities of indentured servitude in the upper city—a choice many welcomed. However, for the less favorable children, this option was not available to them. Jahari was one of those less fortunate kids. Only being around 8 years old, they had no hard skills to offer and despite Baldur’s Gate boasting diversity and equality, very few half-orcs are accepted into high society unless there are extenuating circumstances—especially one with no formal education. No noble would take them in and many of their brethren from the orphanage were in the same boat. Some fled outside of the city’s borders, while others took to begging in the streets, but Jahari found refuge in a temple dedicated to Ilmater. A kind dwarven monk named René was making his rounds around the church when he found a not quite so little half-orc stuck in a barrel. Jahari, starving and cold, ran into the temple as soon as they smelled the egg tart pie being warmed in the oven and snuck their way in. Well, “snuck” in is being generous. Jahari was already quite huge at just 8 years old–a side effect of the demonic orc blood they carried, making them grow faster than even the average half-orc. Any other person might have scolded Jahari and told them to beat it but René was no ordinary person. He gently took the child in his arms, fed them the leftovers, drew a bath, and even fetched them some new clothes. It was all bizarre to Jahari, this dwarf’s willingness to take them in was one of the few acts of kindness Jahari has ever received while homeless and it was an act that would drastically change their life. They questioned René’s actions who replied, “To turn your back on the unfortunate is to lose yourself twice.”

René took the young half-orc in, teaching Jahari the ways of Ilmater. They had shelter, food, and even a job working and doing odd errands in the temple ranging from cleaning and cooking, to reading sermons or asking for donations. More importantly, René was the very first real family Jahari ever had. They were educated not only in the ways of Ilmater, but in the arts, maths, sciences, and history. They even learned the ways of the monk, practicing martial arts and studying the religion deeply. Honing their skills over several years made them a formidable warrior. Jahari took to swordsmanship and medicine the most readily. Easily able to carve out a blade in their enemies as they can suture up a wound with great tenderness. René was there with them every step of the way.

Jahari was greatly loved by everyone in the church and Jahari loved the church back. Very quickly did they charm and convince everyone that their skills are resourceful and necessary for the temple. Not that many argued with their presence to begin with—the few who did only had one complaint and it was that the doors were bruised from Jahari hitting their head on the frames so often. But it was a small problem that was, at most, mildly amusing. No, everyone appreciated Jahari’s bluntness and wit, but more importantly Rene was a valued member of Ilmater’s grace and they would not dare question his decisions. And under René’s teachings Jahari became a well-spoken and graceful member of society. They took the readings and lessons Ilmater imparted on the people to heart and it became the very life blood of who they are. Ilmater or The Crying God or even better known as The One Who Endures, is the patron god of the suffering and downtrodden. He says that the ultimate form of aid and generosity is to smite the suffering of any creature by any means possible, even if it means taking on and enduring the suffering oneself. Self-sacrifice, non-violence, and defending the helpless are all revered by Ilmater’s worshippers and Jahari was no different. At 15 years old a true test of their faith would be put to the test when a familiar tax collector arrived at the temple. His face echoed in Jahari’s mind and suddenly all the memories flooded in like a wave. This was the same tax collector that put the orphanage to ruin all those years ago. At the time Jahari didn’t think much of it. The collectors came for a debt that was owed and it wasn’t paid, while cruel to the children, it made sense to the little half-orc, logically. But all that trust in the system fell apart when they overheard the man making a deal with a magistrate. The tax collector and magistrate had been hoarding and withholding funds from several organizations across the lower city, orphanages and alienages included.

The story of Jahari’s justice is not as dramatic as the songs bards make it out to be—at least in Jahari’s eyes—all they did was bring those men to their knees by striking their sword and talking to a few politicians. And by striking their sword, no, they did not actually kill them. Possibly injured and roused them quite a bit, but after they learned where the coin was stashed, without hesitation Jahari crawled through a dank crypt underneath their home to find the hidden stash. It was in this crypt that they fought swarms of undead, diseased rats, and a few mangey badgers, oddly enough. The crypt battle accolade is the truest part of the songs heard in Baldur’s Gate, but that’s about where the truth ends. After finding the gold and apprehending the men, Jahari divided the coin evenly among all the businesses that were wronged. And for the abandoned orphanage Jahari hailed from? Vino was found dead of disease in their home, but Jahari did not want the coin to go to waste. Instead, they found a journal in the headmaster’s drawers that contained a list of all the children that ever graced Silver Lake Orphanage. Jahari made it their mission to personally grant all their brethren a piece of their childhood back. While it cannot make up for the years they lost, it was the least Jahari could do after undermining the wrongdoings of the corrupt system that failed them. Even the ones who made it to the upper city as servants, Jahari made sure they were given what they were owed. The ones who made it outside of Baldur’s Gate needed compensation too. This meant traveling outside of the city, a journey Jahari has never done. Just before they left, they sought René’s blessing—who gave it wholeheartedly. Despite Jahari’s young age, he knew that they were ready for this. But he did ask Jahari for one thing in return—a pledge of all pledges. Not only as extra protection—because despite his trust, he still loved his child and worried for their safety—but as a promise of return. Jahari made a pledge to the order of Ilmater and became a paladin. Making an oath of devotion, they became a holy warrior at just 16 years old. Now a paladin, they could protect not only themself but the people they care about under Ilmater’s watchful gaze. And since then the returning of gold and spreading of Ilmater’s word has become Jahari’s life goal. They were able to give most of the coin after traveling for 4 years but returned when they heard Rene had fallen ill. A few former orphans eluded them on their journey—but even if they were dead they felt obligated, no, destined to return it all. But Rene’s health was concerning and so they were here to stay in Baldur’s Gate to aid him. All the while, Jahari quickly grew a reputation as a kind holy warrior and tales spun of her adventures saving the innocent, slaying monsters, and serving justice.

Despite the pain and secrecy of Jahari��s past they were actually quite happy. They grew up strictly, with the church, which reflects in the habits they have today. They are regimented, detail-oriented, and cut-throat when it comes to their beliefs. Defending those who suffer and in turn experiencing suffering through pain was all of who Jahari came to be. They weren’t like other members of the church who chose self-flagellation as their penance, but by being a holy warrior they fought battles and took on others' pain by stepping in and facing whatever it is head on. But Jahari would have it no other way. Nothing makes them happier than knowing they can ease the pain for someone else in need. René eventually got better and Jahari would be able to continue their journey searching for everyone who needed their blood coin. But instead, they stuck around in Baldur’s Gate just for a little while…whether it was fate guiding them or some dumb luck, that decision would change just about everything Jahari knew about their faith and devotion, to even their diligence and sense of justice…………

Fun Bonus (Jahari and Astarion’s height difference)

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #my tav #half orc #dnd #astarion #baldur’s gate 3 fanart #my art #my oc #jahari

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