The Jawhwari

**This page is a work in progress**

Alignment: NG, While living an a structured and just society they put a great deal of importance on freedom as they desire a world without borders, leading to a society that overall pursues what is good first and foremost.

Summary

The Jawhwari are a secluded tribe of the Alrimal who most Alrimal believe to have gone extinct though stories of travelers who encountered them once a decade surface keeping people skeptical on whether they are still alive or not, and because of this they are seldom thought of or discussed. The main reason for this being that the tribe lives beyond the draconic mountain range, having long ago been instructed in keeping the primal magic alive at all costs when the Great Hunger appeared. To do so, in ancient times they made a pact with the Canyon Tanin  to forgo any development of the desert so that the Canyon Tanin may still draw upon the raw elements within, in return for being protected from The Great Hunger’s wrath allowing them to weave the primal essences unhindered. In doing so they took up the life of herder’s who adapted to the harsh deserts beyond the Draconic Mountains while passing down the ways of Akashic magic.

History:

The origin of the Jawhwari has been passed down through stories shared every year at the grand gathering held at their holy temple, in the time before they came together as the Jawhwari they were a monastic tribe who sought enlightenment through meditation. Where they lived before no one knows as the tribes took over the area and there were no maps of the area. Their true history begins during the time of Hakim.

It was at this time the tribe chose a new leader named Jayr who pleaded for Hakim to help them find a way to practice their ancient arts of weaving the primal essence without fearing for their lives under the Great Hunger. Hakim agreed and presented Jayr to the Canyon Tanin, where he struck a bargain to not alter the land using technology and instead living as gatherers and herders as to keep the elements of the desert untainted. The pact was struck and the tribe left their homelands long before the Setlaar arrived and settled into the vast desert where they were gifted livestock by Hakim. As part of their promise to Hakim they spent twenty years making the grandest structure possible to honor their benefactor.

Once the structure was built, a feast was made to commemorate their achievements, to thank the Son of Sand, and Jayr declared it a holiday to unite the tribe and it’s many houses and families. Once the feast drew to a close on the seventh day he appointed the other elders to take charge of the tribe, as he was no longer needed and weary from the grand task he made known his desire to wander into the desert until he reached enlightenment, and until then he would not return. At the time the Jawhwari were saddened by the news but venerated him for his achievements and long waited for his return.

The times after are of little note to scholars, many victories and defeats at the hands of the desert and the creatures dwelling within it occurred and such stories are shared by word of mouth among the tribe. Though with the defeat of the Hungering one, a new chapter prepares to unfold for the tribe as the safety which their borders provided them from all threats begins to dwindle as the pact of protection only lasted until the end of the Great Hunger…

Culture

Due to the Jawhwari’s isolation, their culture has hardly been affected by the appearance of the Setlaar if at all, as they the tribe only has guests from lands afar once a decade even as the Setlaar approached upon their land, as seldom would man survive the trek across. Those who did survive were treated with traditional Alrimal hospitality not seen since the arrival of the Setlaar.

Visitors are surprised by how little the tribes have, when questioned about this an elder explained to the foreigner that possessions beyond what is needed to survive makes their nomadic lifestyle difficult and is bad for the soul.

"Though I have little to my name, it is by choice, and by that very choice and desire, I share what little I choose to carry even should it lead to my demise. This life warrants a need not of goods, but of spirit and kindness, yet I know that others do not feel the same. It is not by my choice that I tell others how to live, only that I choose to live in want of nothing, but in abundance of an ability to help those around me."

The few foreign visitors who were aided in their journeys back across the mountains found little value in the group’s resources and technology and remarked being surprised at how little the Jawhwari had as they had little but their livestock and knowledge of the primal essence which was considered a primitive form of magic to the Setlaar. One reason for this as unlike the other tribes, they do not have metal weapons, instead they use akashic magic to form their armaments.

Those who have met the Jawhwari are quick to realize they are the most selfless people they will ever meet as they take great joy sharing everything, even being willing to slaughter one of their prized animals for a passing stranger. They have a special fondness of enjoying long nights with one another and strangers sharing stories, and discussions of history, religion, and culture.

There are many reasons that the Jawhwari are so big on hospitality, one reason is that through treating your guests well, they are brought joy, which in turn brings joy to the giver as well. A famous scholar of the Jawhwari whose name time forgot once said: “To have emotion is to be human, to have love is to be free, in freedom one achieved enlightenment and gains peace.” Why that means so much is that sharing emotions with others makes everything better, as all people desire and require love and from a young age all are made keenly aware of this and through this none are afraid to share their feelings with others. As such one such outlet for sharing one’s emotions is cooking as through it one can share their passion and love for others.

The many facets of Jawhwari life are difficult to pick up all at once for foreigners and even the Alrimal who no longer know the old ways. One such facet is that the Jawhwari see the land as a living record of their history in addition to being a communal resource for all families and houses within the tribe to share, and even as something to be shared with strangers. However, they also understand that all who make use of the land share the responsibility to help keep the land as it is and they will actively resist attempts to mar their beloved homelands. Many have taken up oaths to defend the desert.

Especially considering the history the Jawhwari have with oaths considering their history with Hakim and the Canyon Tanin, oaths have become something sacred to the Jawhwari, and time has only reinforced this fact as many old oaths with religious fervor which can grant those who swore them powers.

Family:

In Jawhwari culture while guests are treated in high regard, often higher than one’s own life, family is often first as the entire tribe puts a great emphasis on one’s family and taking care of them. The elders of a family along with one parent of each family spend their time during the day and night taking care of the children as the future of the tribe is considered everyone’s duty and in doing so they ensure that the children are raised right  and with all the nurture and care they need ensures that they grow up properly. There is no abandonment, for if a parent leaves they are exiled from the tribe and if a parent dies the remaining family is supported by the entire tribe. “Serve your children well and they will serve you well when you are in need.”

Monogamy is the norm for those in the tribe as cheating and polygamy are taboo as the wife is the man’s companion and the man the wife’s, they share great respect and appreciation for one another and will support one another until one or both pass away as one’s spouse is seen as holy in the eyes of the land and the gods.

While many people say that looks don’t matter but mean otherwise, the Jawhwari mean it, while a pretty partner is pleasing, a golden heart is more valuable than a golden appearance as attraction to personality is nurtured within the tribe and marriage encouraged to occur as soon as adulthood is reached to foster loyalty and harmony. So far thanks to this the vast majority of the tribe have happy marriages.

It is important to note that Jawhwari do not have typical societal roles aside from one’s age, all else is determined by ability and choices. If a woman is more skilled at herding than a man than she may go to the field in place of her husband, though most woman choose to stay at home as men are physically stronger and they enjoy being with one another though it is not uncommon for husbands and wives of an entire tribe to take turns herding and taking care of children during the day and night.