Val'Jaal'darya

Easily the most enigmatic of the clans of Chel'el'Sussoloth, the Jaal’darya are powerful and knowledgeable biological engineers. They are well known for the living weapons and artificial life forms that they create and trade, but the clan members themselves are notoriously secretive and rarely seen. Those very few who are privy to the happenings behind the clan’s closed doors however know that nothing is sacred in the face of the Jaal’darya’s experimental drive, not even their own bodies.

## History

The Jaal’darya are relatively recent arrivals to Chel'el'Sussoloth. Arising in the 8th century of the Moonless Age in the distant eastern drow city of Damadi, their experiments drew disgust and ire from the other residents leading to their prompt exile. The clan traveled west to Mimaneid only to be rejected once again. Their long exodus finally landed them in Chel'el'Sussoloth where they staked a lasting claim.

With them the Jaal’darya brought their unique arts that cities before had considered so perverse: their advanced bioengineering. Their ability to create and shape life was limited purely by their imaginations. Biological golems, living weapons, even unique life forms possessing sentient thought and magical auras were well within their capabilities. Demand for their unique craft escalated rapidly as other clans saw the value in these newly-discovered “wares.” Within an unprecedentedly short period of time the Jaal’darya clan found itself suddenly infused with a vast amount of wealth and power, ascending to the Val status that it retains to this day.

### Notable Event: The District War

When the war came about, the Jaal'darya actively avoided participation. It was until Sarghress infiltrators stole into one of their laboratories at the behest of Wafay Val'Jaal'darya, and thus stealing the equivalent of state secrets, did the Jaals come out of isolation. It is also revealed that the Jaals had been monitoring Femi's activities and relationship with Snadhya'rune Vel'Sharen, and found it wanting. Now with their coveted secrets out, the clan has moved to mitigate the fallout of Snadhya'rune's ambitions by repairing relations with two clans: the Vel'Sharen under Zala'ess and the Val'Beldrobbaen clan--who had extended an olive branch towards their former enemies in this time of uncertainty.

The aftermath of the District War has seen Jaal'darya citizens actively attacked, harassed and murdered in the streets of Chel by Sarghress troops, which has worn down the already sour relations with the Val'Sarghress clan.

## Culture and Politics

The Jaal’darya are an alien people when compared to the rest of Chel'el'Sussoloth, secrecy and reclusiveness being their hallmarks. While it isn’t too uncommon to see one of their creations around the city in the service of its master, laying eyes on an actual member of the clan is incredibly rare. When seen however a Jaal’darya is difficult to miss: they come bearing bat-like ears, flowing garments of golden brown and white cover nearly every inch of exposed skin, and they are usually cold and distant in their dealings with those outside of their clan. It is unclear why the clan members keep their bodies hidden. Though likely a native custom transplanted from their homeland, it is also very possibly an adopted more developed to avoid alienating themselves further from others by concealing the modifications they’ve made to themselves.

Biological experimentation and scientific progress are central aspects of the Jaal’darya mindset, and complex systems of esoteric associations permeate the clan’s culture within their walls. Engineers lord over their projects before presenting their findings to the clan as a whole for scrutiny. Competition between scientists is common and it has become expected practice to keep one’s own work secret lest others steal parts of it for their own. Hardly anything is known of the Jaal’darya’s methodology by outsiders, and the clan goes through great pains to keep their work private lest they lose their monopoly.

Nothing is hallowed ground for their tampering in search of physical perfection. Long has the clan consisted purely of female members; males had to be recruited from outside of the clan for the purpose of procreation (the nature of this practice is unclear,) and even this has faded drastically with the adoption of a reliable asexual reproduction system. Additionally, nearly every member of the clan possesses some deviation from their natural birth form, ranging from Wi'am's tail to Wafay's slit-like irises. The flesh of others is equally up for grabs; the Jaal’darya have set up trading agreements with a number of merchants to purchase slaves and children for use in experiments, and they don’t seem morally opposed to doing fieldwork using outsiders as unsuspecting guinea pigs.

The Jaal’darya are staunchly politically neutral, providing their services to all yet opening their doors to only an elite few. Their lack of interest in claiming territory beyond their island fortress allows them to retain their neutral, non-combative status even as the rest of Chel'el'Sussoloth erupts into war. Despite their neutrality however, their practices are considered unnatural in the eyes of the judgmental Kyorl’solenurn, earning them the drowussu clan’s animosity.

With the realization of Femi's flower plague generating fear in the Chelian leadership, the Jaal'darya expertise in bio-sorcery is highly sought-after. Even the Val'Beldrobbaen sought their aid and counsel in mitigating Snadhya'rune Vel'Sharen's machinations. In turn, the Jaal'darya have taken a harder political stance on the unfolding events, in the aftermath of the District War: they no longer have faith in the Sarghress' ability to keep order, and doubt the integrity of the alliance with Zala'ess' forces.