Jesters

> "*War is a theatre, and all the world's a stage!*"
> ― Galien the Dancer
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Jesters were (or more likely *are*) a race of Dreadfolk known for being extremely mischievious, eccentric and unpredictable. Although they are most commonly associated with Onshi and Chalparna, Jesters have been in contact with every corner of Inecuria. Despite superficially appearing to be the most alike mortals of any race of Dreadfolk - they bear strong similarities to the Elfkin - their behaviour is more alien and unknowable than most Titans. They are often assumed to be the spawn of Keddaban the Trickster, but there is no solid evidence to link the two beyond their similar natures. There is, however, a proven link between Jesters and the substantially more insane and incomprehensible Mummers; all Jesters who were questioned on the topic uniformly stated that all Mummers used to be Jesters.

Jesters often displayed random and almost insane behaviours, but they were clearly very cunning; it has often been suspected that most of their supposedly insane behaviour is merely an act, either to deceive their opponents or simply for their own amusement. Most of them made a habit of speaking in riddles or cryptic language, often in an antiquated and poetic style, speaking in unnatural and strange intonation and often in the third person. They frequently made jokes, even when they were fully aware that such jokes were inappropriate, were in poor taste or were simply not funny at all.

The main aim in life for a Jester seemed to be the pursuit of entertainment; above all else, they loved to laugh and have fun. However, the things they found funny could vary wildly between individuals. Where some satisfied themselves with jokes and relatively harmless pranks, others found the greatest glee in sadistic violence. Most of them did not entirely lack a moral compass, but their sense of morality was often warped by mortal standards, and when forced to make a decision they frequently chose the option they thought to be the funniest over all other considerations, sometimes including their own wellbeing and safety. Very few Jesters are known to mortals as being virtuous, most prominently the Good Doctor of Onshi, who is regarded by the Onshians as a selfless heroine. The number of Jesters whose memory is reviled is far greater.

Jesters had no offensive combat magic of any kind, but they could wield potent healing and shield magic, and they were highly capable of either tearing open or forcing shut dimensional rifts between this world and the Dreadlands - something which was extraordinarily difficult for most creatures besides the Titans. However, innovative Jesters - usually those who had a violent streak, which was certainly not all of them - were capable of shaping their shields into blunt force weapons that could be remarkably effective in combat. Some Jesters were also recorded as using their healing magic to inflict harm; a wound could first be inflicted and then powerfully healed using magic in a fraction of a second, which would cause extreme and utterly debilitating agony.

## Appearance

Jesters were humanoid in shape, and they were one of the few Dreadfolk which came in two sexes and appeared to reproduce in a "normal" manner. The males stood at approximately 5' 9", and the females at approximately 5' 7". Their skin was very pale, almost pure white, and their whole body was gaunt and lean - but very strong despite the apparent lack of muscle. They possessed large, slanted, amber goat-like eyes with rectangular pupils, and bright, vibrant red hair (often kept long) from underneath which poked two small brown antlers. Their ears were long and pointed, which in combination with their slanted eyes and slender build has led some to suggest this implies relation to the Elfkin.