Jade of Kara-Tur
Original backstory written by Matt Z.
Births occur all the time in the Crescent Valley clan in Kozakura, an archipelago nation found several hundred miles to the east of Shou Lung. But births just did not normally occur during the Starlight Festival. The Starlight Festival is a week-long celebration paying homage to Mother Earth and the Moon Queen. It is a time of happiness but also a time to be wary, for the veil that separates our world from that of the demons is very thin and easier to step through. Though Jade’s mother was with child in the Shou Year of 2748 (1479 DR), she knew the birth was still several months off.
On the third night of the festival, all mirth stopped as the valley echoed with a crack of thunder followed by blood-curdling screams. Moments later, three ogres entered the village and began to attack. The men took up arms and fought to repel the invaders. They would prove to be triumphant, but not before the largest ogre, an Ogre Magi, cast an unknown spell striking many...including Jade’s mother. It is not known whether it was the shock of the attack or the spell she was hit with, but she began going into labor. Miraculously, the baby survived. She was named after her crystal clear green eyes and the event of her birth, thus Jade Starlight Crescent Valley made her entrance into the world.
Time passed, as it likes to do, and Jade grew up happy and healthy. She would often help her mother with gardening or follow her father as he went about training young guards. Though she was too young to start her training, Jade was quite proficient with the staff and her martial arts skills were impressive; so much so that she garnered a lot of attention from the Sword Mistress at the local temple.
On the eve of Jade’s twelfth birthday, an ill wind began to blow. It was hot and lasted through the evening and into the next day. The elders began to worry and sent out scouts to see what might be causing it. Three went out...only one returned The surviving scout ranted, nearly unintelligibly, of evil on the move and an Oni Lord. Panic flew through the village; no oni had been seen in the Crescent Valley for a century...let alone an Oni Lord. Jade’s father marshaled his guard; the Sword Mistress did the same with her disciples. They all lined the path into the village and created ambushes to slow the advancing horde. Though too young to take part, and angry that they would choose her birthday of all days to attack, Jade grabbed her staff and hid among the ranks.
The battle began as the Oni Lord’s troops fell prey to the traps that awaited them. The hidden disciples made a successful attack, taking them by surprise. Unfortunately, many still broke through and the Lord himself laughed at the villagers' “pathetic” attempt to stop him. As he entered the village, the Sword Mistress and her best squared off against him. Jade, knowing she had to help, rushed as part of their attack. Though several blows were landed, the Lord continued to fight even in a bloody state. It was Jade’s turn. As she struck him, the Lord simply looked down and, with a chuckle, batted her away with the back of his hand. Jade flew back twenty feet as she struck a barrel and slipped into unconsciousness.
When she awoke, the battle was still going on. Jade took a quick look at her surroundings and fell into a slight panic. Her vision was blurry and it scared her. Focusing on where the Oni Lord last was, she could make out that he was on one knee but was holding the Sword Mistress off her feet, presumably by the throat. Rage flooded Jade’s mind and she rushed forward only to trip on the Sword Mistress’s personal weapon after a few feet. Picking up the sword, Jade ran into the Oni Lord's stomach, embedding it to the hilt. The Oni Lord let out a howl as he saw the little pest with her hand on the hilt. He tossed the Sword Mistress aside and began to utter foul words at Jade. Taking advantage of the situation, Jade twisted the blade just as the Oni Lord stopped speaking. The twist was enough, with a blast of radiant light, the Oni Lord slumped forward, nearly landing on Jade. Unfortunately, Jade did not see this happen as her vision went black...she could do nothing but scream.
After the battle finally ended, Jade’s father found her huddled in a ball next to the Oni Lord crying uncontrollably. He took her home where her mother tended to her. Several days passed, and Jade’s vision did not return. Unfortunately, and unknown to anyone, with his final words the Oni Lord cursed Jade with blindness. The village healer tried her best, but it was no use. The poor child remained sightless. Jade felt useless. In appreciation for saving her, the Sword Mistress took it as a personal mission to train Jade in the ways of the temple; specifically those of the Followers of Okita Souji. Jade’s training was not easy, but she took to it and began to flourish. Even without her sight, she was mastering forms and hitting targets. The Oni Lord may have taken her sight...but he did not defeat her.
Several months passed and the village elders made contact with the surrounding clans to see if their healers could do anything for Jade. After hearing the tale of the brave Oni Slayer and how she was blinded, many came to try to heal her but none succeeded. Nearly nine months had passed when an old woman entered the village. She looked, for all intents and purposes, like a shaman; however, her clan affiliations were not discernible. The old woman said she had heard of the Oni Slayer and knew she could help. She prepared stranger unguents and performed unknown rituals. In the end, Jade was restored to partial sight. There was much celebration for the stranger who had accomplished the impossible. She would take no coin or gift for her service, only stating that she performed the task as instructed. While this puzzled all involved, they brushed off her comment. As she readied herself to leave, the old woman turned to Jade and pressed her thumbnail between Jade’s eyes. Then, in a voice only Jade could hear, she said “Now they will know how to find you and you will be able to see his followers end you!”. With that, the woman took two steps away, uttered an incantation, and vanished.
The mark left between Jade’s eyes burned and, when the lighting was dim, would faintly glow red. She told her parents and the Sword Mistress what the old woman said, this alarmed them. Try as they might, no one could tell what the end result may be.
The next day, Jade learned that all was not well. She awoke as always, opened the curtain, and screamed in pain as the sunlight flooded her eyes. Immediately, she shut her eyes and dropped to the floor. Her mother rushed in to see what happened. Jade explained how the light burned her eyes. It seems that while the old woman did restore some sight, she made it so Jade could never go about her life in daylight ever again. Working with her mother and the Sword Mistress, Jade began wearing a gauzy blindfold to help limit the light and still allow her to train with the other disciples.
One year later, on the day of her thirteenth birthday, Jade was contemplating her future usefulness and the events of the last year. As she wandered the outskirts of the village, the alarm bell rang as unknown creatures appeared through a portal and entered the village. They were in search of the Oni Slayer and attacked villagers on sight. It didn’t take long to dispatch them, but the event was very ominous. The guards remained on alert for the next month, but nothing returned.
Life continued, Jade trained and improved, and the village prospered. On her fourteenth birthday, the events of the previous year occurred again. Again the foe was defeated, but questions abounded. Why did they come? Why only on that day? When would it end? Only Jade knew the answers.
A month later, Jade met with the Sword Mistress in private and devised a plan to leave the village. While the Mistress was hesitant to go along with the plan, she believed that Jade was ready and very brave for wanting to protect the village. On the evening of the Harvest Festival, while everyone was enjoying themselves, Jade gathered her belongings, left a note for her parents, met with the Sword Mistress one last time, and slipped into the night.
For the next four years, Jade traveled, adventured, and made a living as a sell-sword. Every birthday she made sure to hide away to prevent anyone from being injured when the demon servants returned. She learned to defeat them and how to better avoid them. She constructed a cloak and an Oni Mask to throw them off the scent. This seemed to help, but one or two always saw through it. That was until she turned nineteen.
Nineteen, a day she should be celebrating with her family. Nineteen, the day she should meet her promised one. Nineteen, it should be the happiest day of Jade’s life. Jade went about the day trying to make herself happy and prepare for the inevitable arrival of her enemy in the evening. Jade was ready, the portal opened, the minions came out, and Jade’s eyes opened wide...this time, they weren’t alone. Along with the minions was a large Oni, not quite a Lord, but he looked pretty intimidating. With the sheer numbers they had, Jade was subdued and taken back with them.
When Jade came to, she was in a strange land. The air was heavy and hot, the buildings were in various states of ruin, and creatures abounded. She had been taken to Avernus. Luckily, she was guarded by some weak minions and was able to escape. Jade has spent the last four days hiding, surviving, and trying to find a way home.
Jade is played by Matt Z.
Year of Birth
1479
17 Years old
Birthplace
Kozakura, Kara-Tur
Children
Aligned Organization
Related Plots
Related Reports
Jade by Brian Patterson (@d20monkey)
Comments