Jutai Fereira

 

History

Fourth Age

Born in 1157, son of a Jomzaar and Ortagui couple, he is a common as those of mixed origin are called. His father was of a wealthy house, and his mother a princess of the Eauratu tribe; he was born into power. Although this power needed to be maintained amidst the volatile struggles between indigenous tribes, clans, and the wanderers‘ ongoing efforts to secure their footholds, it was a constant challenge.

In his town of Dribar, he had access to libraries, guilds, powerful wealthy houses, and tutors. He early on became interested in mana manipulation and ignored the talent of handcrafting. At the age of 7 he began to toy with petty magic paths. Often causing small disasters, he began to experience how manipulation felt and enjoyed it so much that he became known as ‘the overcaster’.

The nickname only spurred the young lad on, as he was eager to feel energies stream and experience what could be altered or produced. Eventually, the magic schools noticed the boy and recognised his strong will, which exceeded his current skill level. So they decided to begin teaching him proper path mastery, and he became a mana manipulator apprentice at only 9.

However, those focused on early intervention were not the only ones who had noticed the lad’s desire to channel energies. The gods also noticed, and some, particularly those associated with light, heat, and winds, saw the potential of this mortal and began to feed him. As a child, he became overpowered. These traits made him quite dangerous to teach, as his eagerness resulted in powerful overcasts.

Although he was young for a manipulator, he learned fast. But his craving for overcasting kept his teachers from elevating him. At the age of 17, they risked it, and he finally became a journeyman. He was able to travel freely, seeking other journeymen, chiefs, masters, and lords. He was let loose and immediately travelled to the nearest city, presented his journeyman pass, and began reading. He also joined a local academy and began studying mana bursts more intensively.

Years passed, and he continued to travel across Puchaxa, primarily focusing on the Ortagui-led academies and teachers, as he was most interested in the searing energies of the sand and the hill tribes. In 1183 he became chief mana-manipulator but didn’t settle down. Instead, he began visiting the n-erectus of Puchaxa. Some perceived him as too unstable, but others saw the potential and acknowledged his boldness and determination.

Thus, he began to learn N-erectus lore from various sources, including Kobold, Drakk Alfar, Fautyr, and even some T'Aurs. At first, they were asking for the foreign secrets of the others in return. But, as he would rather decline and leave than reveal secrets, some taught him their secrets just to see what this newcomer could make of it. So, he gained the ability to perform giant bursts and long channels.

In 1191, as he attempted to pass the master exam, his benefactors decided to play a jest on him, or he simply overcast too much. He was supposed to perform a fireball and transform its impact into a fountain of spluttering and spraying lava. It instead became a hole through the carpet of void gardens, our world's surface, and from the astral inside came a demonic monster.

As the monster ascended, it lashed out with searing fire, destroying half of the assembled teachers before turning its attention to him and attacking again. Jutai began chanting a chaos swirl, far above his capabilities, but he’d rather die trying to master something than be dissolved by the astral sea. Then, Jutai’s mana husk brutally absorbed the energetic lash.

As the two next energy fangs came within seconds, the monster didn’t manage to stop them. As they impacted, they were also sucked or drained brutally. Jutai could not figure out what went on, but feeling empowered, he thought that if he could drain the leashes, then why not try something insane? When he surged forward, the monster shrieked, and Jutais’ chaotic shimmering turned yellowish.

As he impacted with the monster of raw energy, he was engulfed in a gargantuan yellow flash. When the others scattered around him could again see, the creature was gone, and Jutai stood naked. Clothes burnt away, skin blistered, hair and beard smoking tufts, but alive.” Then one yelled, “You crazy overcaster, look what you have done.” “Luckily you defeated it and it’s gone.” Jutai stood confused, looked at the screamer and said, “Defeated? Gone? You mean this?” And as he stretched his hand toward the master, the demon appeared again and burnt the screamer to ashes. Screaming wildly, the rest fled, and Jutai looked around at the chaos he had created; then he fainted.

None came close to the building for three days, but eventually Zizu came and went inside. Finding Jutai, who was near death from fatigue and thirst, Zizu brought him back to Ashenhall and ensured that Jutai received care. A week later he came to his senses, and as Zizu enquired, Jutai, explained what he could recall, and mourned the unability to summon or perform any magic.

A few weeks later, Wrekazi and Kanziganthir came by as well, and they examined Jutai thoroughly. Saddened he could no longer cast, Zizu told him it was but a seal he had cast for safety. When they deemed it safe to release, they would allow this yellow fountain to channel once more. But for now, it was time for study and practice, as he needed to control his castings more than ever because he had a living astral entity inside him.

Jutai spent eight years studying and practising at Ashenhall. In 1199, they finally acknowledged that he had learnt to restrain his overcast urge, and the seal was lifted. When asked to release the demon, Jutai summoned it and easily controlled it. Then Wrekazi said, “Remember others might take over, so learn to not only summon but truly master it.” With those words, the demon turned towards him, began to flare, and lashed out, and Zizu unsummoned it.

Knowing the might of his power, he stared at the two lords of mana manipulation. When he asked how they had become so powerful, they explained that it was due to centuries of study and practice with the best in the world and astral realms. All it came down to was determining the purpose of manipulation prior to release, then just releasing enough to cast. Overcasting was dangerous, created imbalance, and left residue shards. Now mastering his rashness, he travelled home and began building his own realm.

As he learnt to make metal and craft bars, he used them to finance his dreams. The first extremely profitable venture occurred when Crimsonhand made an agreement to receive weapons made of his alloys in exchange for their labour. Approximately 30 combat-skilled agents from Crimsonhand travelled north. The quality weapons crafted by Zambuk, which they gained in return, became one of their marks.

In 1215, Dreamer came by, as he had found a functional ancient astravel site; he wanted Jutai to come along, as they – Painbringer, Drumin Minol, and Dreamer – all believed it could bring them to the Outlands. It was a place with golden roofs and tempting lore. But they could use some heavy magic support.

In the autumn of 1224, Wrekazi came by and asked him to travel along to Cronos's examinations and meet some other intriguing crafters. He then met Zambuk and Gilion Ewitz again. They all spent the autumn there studying some new glass blends and metal alloys.

In 1231 Jutai was at Mt. Vula, invited by Aragon to help craft a pair of enhanced bear claws for Aragon and enchant them. There he met F.F. Jaeger, Lord Nam, Tomaltu Baer, and Jiakob Burne. The crafting was a blast, and he learned quite a lot in the months there.

In 1238, Zambuk came by his place again and stayed for a full year. They have never revealed what they did, but it was about metal purifying and creating new alloys. It’s said Jutai used these to create rings of might that boosted his capabilities far above previous levels. They even hold gems cut from chaos shards, used to further his mastery over his astral demon.

Some say he used his demon on a tour across all the isles and Darin. Where he forced several other astral energy creatures to knee-bend, earning him the nick “daemonmantle”. This tour lasted from 1240 to 1249, so he did not have much to do with the 1st alliance. Although he did assist whenever his path crossed with their forces, as he was still eager to manipulate.

Although he visited Grimsborg several times, he didn’t attend the high king’s coronation. Nor did he become affiliated with the realm's administration. But in 1260 he came and helped Zambuk mix metals for bars, balls, rods, and ingots. These materials were intended for forging weapons for the realm’s guard. When done, he went back to further strengthen his own domain.

In 1274, as Da'Vey had sold his workshop in Grimsborg, he came by for a quick stop. We know this because Da’Veyy and Jutai had a large pouch of gems evaluated at the local gemcutter. Then, a heavier leather backpack richer, Da’Vey left for Mt. Vula to try for overlord status in his crafts.

In 1277, Jutai was visiting Kexen-spire, a famous stallion farm led by Zan Felstad. Suddenly, Jutai’s demon emerged on its own, and as everyone stared at each other in bewilderment, it spoke. “They are coming; a full circle is coming. Now, it’s time to fully release.” Then it disappeared. Looking at Zan, he looked at the mounts, and all seemed nervous except one, which stared right at him.

He shouted, “That one, that amber-flaring one right there, how much?” The price was high, but Jutai didn’t care; he paid some extra and got pristine saddlework all along in the deal. Then he rode off, his demon appearing by itself once more and following with energies lashing here and there.

Eager to try astral travel with his new sturdy destrier, Jutai was surprised when he reached the astral gate. Flocking around it were hundreds of tall, slim, frog-like humans in coloured kimonos and stocky pigmen with yellow and orange raggy vests and pants. Both wielded large halberds, billhooks, spears and axes. Gritting his teeth, he realised that these were definitely not friends of the isles, so he wanted to test his skills, and he prepared to overcast like never before.

Yelling to the demon to let lose, he himself let a rain of flaming bolts surge towards the targets. Seeing a human charge them, they countercharged. Then Jutai, whose mind was already divided, as taught and trained, let go of the demon. After all, it had its command and loved searing flesh. Instead, he focused on a handful of shards in his shard holster. As they levitated out, he sent them ahead to fit into the sites’ pillars.

Seeing the shards surge forth with precision, he switched focus to his own energies. Not even releasing the reins to perform proper Weaving, he released the grandest wall of flame he had ever created. As the elemental force built in front of him, he divided his mind somewhat from the shards and sheltered his destrier. Feeling his deity was with him, he let even more energy into the release.

The flames burnt flesh, vaporised blood, powdered bones, and melted metal. In a powerful surge, he cut through the enemy forces. As he turned the destrier onto the pink tile, he activated the site, and the trio found themselves in the astral realm. There he saw more silhouettes than he had ever seen, and in the distance he saw something that scared him to the bone. The silhouettes of what seemed to be gods were fighting.

Struggling to recognise the shadowy landscape, he bumped into beings, avoided nearby powerful shadows, and circled the deities while fighting. He even saw what looked like Vular and Boriac fighting with what had to be gods. The situation was insane. What was going on? He decided not to go home but thought of The Grey Crevasse As he felt the swirl of the astral sea, he also recognised some silhouettes and forced his mount out into the world.

As he emerged, a few of the Anurai and Pigryns, who had been sucked along by his overfed and brutal astral surge, stood bewildered. Among them, some were burnt and scarred, others just confused; there also stood a large humanoid elephant-man and a very tall  black woman. Exhausted to the brink of emptiness, Jutai attacked the group, hoping Wrekazi would emerge and help him finish them off.

Seeing the demon storing husks, the gaji-kulat bellowed and stomped in frenzied rage, forcing the others’ attention to it. Giving Jutai the moment to manipulate an overcast attack. He was surprised by how the grey crevasse reacted to his raw surge of power. His demon protectively dissolved as his cast sucked in energies and surged extreme heat outwards in a bubble blast. As the flames engulfed the berserk, he noticed the black woman elegantly ducking behind it for cover. Then he fainted.

When he woke, he was inside and laid naked on a large bed. Next to it laid the clothes of the black priestess he remembered to have seen. As he regained his senses, he noticed the blood on the scorched sheets. Then he became fully awake and alert. But as he walked around Wrekazi’s home, none was there. He was alone, and after a few weeks waiting he decided to leave. But first, he collected all tomes, scrolls, potions, and powders. Carried them to a remote crevasse and buried the entire treasure. Then he disguised it with some rubble and erased the tracks his actions had created. His destrier, backpack, shard container, and everything he owned were gone, so he donned some of Wrekazi’s attire and then headed for home.

It became a long journey with quite a lot of fighting invaders and traitors. But at least it gave him proper clothes, better gear, coins, and shards to travel with. But he preferred worldly travel, as the astral option was far too risky. At times he came across other heroes and resistance groups. But the entire realm was swarming with all these invader types. He had none to discuss his observations with.

As he passed by tomes, he aimed for the Ye Olde Zephyrs to visit Kanziganthir. But their town had been razed, as well as the many places he’d passed through. Returning home, he found his town had been attacked as well, leaving less than a quarter of its residents alive. His family was nowhere to be found. The invaders were evil incarnate, so they were either dead, slaves, or cooked as food.

Then he aimed for Grimsborg, and when he finally fought his way there, he saw a capital that had been razed years prior. As he sat on the edge of the city, he noticed silhouettes in the distance. It was a large contingent of invaders slowly advancing on the city ruins. In front of one of the columns, he recognised a mount and its tall priestess rider. With a child sitting behind her.

Speculating on how to get his destrier back, he became distracted as his demon appeared by itself again. Looking at it, he suddenly realised something he’d overlooked for years. Asking why it had looked female ever since the grey crevasse. Just before he received a response, the answer struck him. It had seen what the black priestess did and stole and his joy. And it craved the same, to please him equally.

Sitting dumbfounded, staring at it, he realised what had happened. “So the scorched bed, the blood – it was you saving me?” It replied with a ‘yes’, indicating that when the Romasai had its treasure, it had pulled its dagger and was about to strike. I could not let that happen, as we are bonded; you’re my gate to this world, and I crave all of it. So I had to attack her and make her flee.

Realising that the devious witch had stolen his mount and sacred energy, he decided to seek revenge. He remained hidden and observed as the invaders appeared to construct a trap. Almost a week passed as the forces built up; some even astral travelled away. But something in the back of his mind told him they were merely hiding from something. That something revealed itself 11 days after he had sat down to keep an eye out – the entire army of the 2nd alliance marched into vision and began to spread out as if to camp, not besiege or fight. Realising what was brewing, he jumped up, fired a large fireball into the air, and surged towards the astral site. Summoning his demon, he yelled at it to make them foolish realmsters arm and be ready for what’s to come – and it parted with him.

As he neared the astral site, the invaders began to emerge. Regardless of his own safety, he then and there decided to do what was best for the inhabitants of the isles. So as he ran, he began to pattern himself into a swirling channel-tube of his greater god. As his energetic lashes began to surge forth, blasting through rows of charging enemies, he released the energies drawn up behind him and funnelled them into a single pinpointed blast at the astravel site. When it struck, the site exploded in a gigantic, chaotically coloured flash, flinging him backwards; as he landed, body parts, grass tufts, and stone fragments began to rain down. Then he was ported to the 2nd alliance, and the one who had moved him yelled a question about what the demon and that blowup were about. Jutai merely yelled, “It’s an ambush,” and then the invaders surged forth from the city ruins to dig hideouts.

Although a portion of the invaders had been prevented from pouring out, the 2nd alliance managed to survive the sally, regroup, and begin their retreat. However, the sheer number of foes, along with their ferocity and capabilities, presented a major obstacle. Quickly, the 2nd alliance’s regrouping evolved into a more strategic formation. It became a fight for survival of the leaders and their core army; meanwhile, words were sent to strengthen the alliance so it could turn and face the pursuing invaders. It took weeks, months, in fact. Before the 2nd alliance, they finally saw their escape route blocked by yet another enemy force, and on the horizon, one could see a large armada of enemy junks.

Realising this was the moment for their final stand, the 2nd alliance turned, and then suddenly, everything shifted. Allies from all over the isles came to their aid; n-erectus of all kinds surged forth from the hillsides and forests. The Kraken of the Deep, summoned by the undine Niala Zonkis wielding the Trident of Regret, swallowed the enemy armada at sea. As the day turned into dusk, the invaders broke, and in the fading sun, Jutai saw the Romasai priestess on his destrier. Surging towards her, she noticed the yellow-orange glowing ball of energetic lashes, and she reared her mount and fled.

In mid-October 1283, Jutai chased her all the way to northeastern Midgard. And as she could not find any ship that would take her to Findon or Markeoy, he finally caught up with her at the docks of Cartageno. Slowly walking towards her as she was talking to a visibly scarred captain, she felt his presence and turned. Staring at him, she shivered; memories of a distant experience, his determination, power, and fury, filled her, and she surrendered. Looking at her, Jutai asked where the child was, and with a sigh she hollowly replied that she had lost it at the Battle of Weeping Plains. Jutai then looked at her for quite a long time. Then, in exchange for a large pouch of gold and gems, he bought the ship, and both he and the Romasai climbed onboard and sailed  off.

No one knows what Jutai did after they sailed off, and as far as we are aware, he has not been seen since.

”A life of embraces of whatever danger faced him, the overcaster seems overcast himself.”

~Skjald Valgrif

 

Organisation

Leader of Lusit-aniait

“He carved every plank, cut every stone, weaved every banner of his gradn estate.”

~Skjald Sejrik

 

Special

He is so used to overcast that he can perform most paths without handweaving.

“His demon might also appear by itself, and act in accordance with its own whimsical desires.”

~Skjald Vinotis