Jal'jin
One day, our people rose to power. We had the strength to stop simply wandering the seas and create grand cities. Our people came together and, with our combined strength, finally became the true apex predators of our home. Our cities became stationary, but over time, our people did not.
We forged a true multi-planet civilization. Our portals spread across vast distances with each planet adding to our knowledge and resources. Even when our portals opened to deserts, we found a way to persevere. We have always been survivors after all. We always found a way.
Were we fortunate that the few other peoples of this universe that we encountered were friendly? That we remained relatively closed off from other intelligent life? Perhaps we became docile in our grip of nature. We grew too used to being the apex predators.
If we never stopped preparing for a greater threat, maybe we would have been ready for the Great Sundering. Our seas would not have turned a deeper blue from the blood we shed. Lower scavengers would not be feasting on the flesh of our dead and we would not have had to flee from the monsters that descended on our homes.
Now we grasp tightly at whatever we can. Our people scattered to the winds from the great hurricane we have barely survived. Countless generations of history and knowledge potentially lost. There are many now that never knew the splendor of Cheomcột, the glow of Alooilo’ele ta Hoh!jonou’s great forests, the rolling expanses of Fjell Stjaralda, nor the seemingly endless expanse of Il Marabir Atisdere.
Our healers are now the bedrock of our survival. Our Magi are now the last hope we have of recovering those lost to us in the edges of space. Even our bards have gone from entertainers to seekers of lost history and culture. Not even the Yeomẫu’s legacy was spared.
But we will survive. We will recover. We will drown the monsters beneath the sea of our wrath.
We have always been survivors, after all. This is no different.
Summary
The Jal'jin are an amphibious alien, formally nomadic sapient species originating from the planet Stjaralda located in near the Cassiopeia Nebula. While they spent many generations spread across multiple planets, a catastrophic assault by what is believed to be the Batallion about 120 years ago has driven them to the brink of extinction, now only inhabiting a small number of scattered outposts that were never intended for long term habitation. While they do not seek out fights, they always intend to finish them. Survivors to the bitter end.
History
The Years of Wandering (???- 721 BF)
For as long as the Jal’jin can remember, their species was a wandering one. The creatures of the deep they shared the planet with were hardly hospitable and not settling down for too long was the only way the Jal’jin would remain safe. There were, of course, attempts to buck this trend with mixed success. Be it Fjell Stjaralda, Alooilo’ele ta Hoh!jonou, or Il Marabir Atisdere, all had their legends of grand settlements brought to heel by terrifying creatures. Unlike many of Humanity’s legends of terrifying beasts, however, these were generally far closer to reality than one might be comfortable with.
Around 700 BF (Before Foundation), a treatise was written detailing theoretically methods one could hold the monsters at bay by Gyeang Sek Abbez; a reclusive scholar in the most remote areas of the Great Expanse. It required magic not yet realized, architecture never before seen, and weaponry only imagined. Amanni, realizing that this was not a dream that could be achieved alone, began a journey that would continue well after their own death.
For 21 years, Gyeang traveled the world, gathering followers who saw hope in their theories. Together, they would form the great pod known as the Fandor and forge the future of their entire species.
The Laying of Roots (721 BF - 0)
While there is plenty of history and conflict that occurred during this period, the fight to secure the area which would eventually become the planet’s capital was one that often drew the most attention by the Jal’jin as it was what enabled the Jal’jin to begin long term settlements.
The Fandor pod worked to secure a specific area within Fjell Stjaralda. Their interest in the area lay in the location where several islands were placed which not only gave them plenty of room above water to do delicate work that could not risk interruption but also as part of a massive ritual. When viewed from above, the islands, if connected, could form various points of a massive rune of power. The hope was that they could use this to jumpstart a dynamic force field at its center to keep predators out without restricting the flow of their own people and livestock.
The catch of this forcefield was, as the need for such a massive rune of power might suggest, the raw energy to create it. Once the field was created, it theoretically would not require a large amount of power to maintain. The trouble was getting the rune made. It was a battle against the creatures that stalked the water as well as the elements that would wear away at any lines created in the earth with anything but durable material.
Once that field was erected around the center most island, they could build around and into the island. The field’s size might have restricted how far they could spread out on the ocean floor, but that mattered little to them. In the end, they had a simple dream: Create the Spire. The beacon of their peoples’ future.
So, for just under 700 years, they toiled. First as simply the Fandor pod, but as other pods joined, they became the Seolập Uiviện, the prototype of what later became the Vời Uiviện of the modern age. While, for the longest time, they were seen as insane for remaining in one place for as long as they had, history would remember them differently.
There were many battles with the local wildlife that came close to claiming the collective and destroying the dream of the Spire. Then, one final great event pushed this collective to the edge of oblivion before succumbing to their efforts.
The Foundation (Year 0)
This event marked the year future generations would use as the axis point. Their focal point that would indicate a common era. According to preserved records, the collective had finally completed the rune of power. With its activation, their greatest minds were preparing the field they had waited generations to put up.
An unforeseen side effect of the rune, however, was that it would draw kitaaras from far and wide to their location. The fight to keep the creatures at bay as the field was erected went for a full 24 hours. It is said that some of the Jal’jin’s greatest warriors were reborn on that day and some of their greatest heroes fell. Bards would tell many stories of the defense of the site, children often sitting at the edge of their seats as they listened.
When the field went up, it was the first time they found ultimate superiority against the threats they faced every day. The creatures battered and bit against the field without any success. The Seolập looked on with shock as, no matter what was thrown at their creation, it remained at full strength. The planet which for so long had turned a blind eye to them had finally gifted them the ultimate weapon against the creatures that kept them running for so long: safety.
Thus, the first true sanctuary from the dangers of the planet was erected. The Foundation was set.
The First Breach (941 AF)
Portal technology could be pointed to as their answer to Humanity’s internal combustion engine as far as far reaching implications go. While shorter range portals between settlements had existed for quite some time, 941 was the first time a portal successfully opened to a distant planet. The process was extremely difficult to pull off and took years just to build up the necessary materials and raw arcane energy to initiate the link.
Of course, ironically, no Jal’jin dared set foot on the other side of the portal once it was established.
The portal opened to what would become named Xála Mển Amchdá and would not have a single Jal’jin set foot on it for many years to come as it was absolutely not habitable. Still, the planet had exotic chemicals and materials, which led to simple golems being sent out to harvest what they could.
This was extremely inefficient, but until a better solution could be found, no Jal’jin would survive being there.
The Error in Speech (1002 AF)
Another portal that was set up as a back-up in case the portal opened in 941 failed continued development until its completion in 1002. As the story goes, it opened to a semi-habitable planet and a team of Jal’jin went to the other side to explore. However, upon encountering intelligent life and even making contact with their leaders, a misunderstanding led the Jal’jin to flee for their lives.
While this was an extremely unfortunate venture and forced the team to close the portal to never see it open to that planet again, it wasn’t entirely without benefit. While there, the exploration team collected notes on how the locals created bio-domes for extremely sensitive plants they were growing. This eventually led to the first colony being built on Xála Mển Amchdá...though, given the nature of the planet and the fact that few Jal’jin could be convinced to move there freely, it was turned into the first prison colony the planet came to know.
The Distant Bond (1840 AF)
While some limited contact had been made with more primitive species, first contact with another decently advanced species occurred not long after a portal to a barely habitable planet was opened in 1839. The solar system, as it turned out, was inhabited by a species known as the Osyrathid. Ironically, the Seekers had deemed the dwarf planet they dubbed “ZAX-021” (temporary names such as this were not uncommon for planets not yet given long term colonization) to lack sufficient resources to justify long term habitation. Before leaving, however, first contact was made and, after the initial hurdle of establishing communication, an amicable relationship was born. The outpost was not constantly manned and was mainly only inhabited when a trade could be made. Both sides were hesitant to allow for cross-species colonization (both over concerns of unknown diseases as well as concerns born of cultural differences), but after more and more frequent trades of both material and cultural goods, there was more talk of at least placing long term emissaries in each species' respective capitals. Talks began around 1939, but ceased immediately a year later, leading the Osyrathid to be extremely concerned as to the Jal’jin’s disappearance. Perhaps they lost interest. Perhaps there was something else.
The Sundering (1940 AF)
This could very well have been the ultimate end of the species. There was no warning of invasion. When the Battalion came, there was very little time to react let alone gather information about their enemy. The planet’s skies were full of hostile space craft overnight. There were no attempts to make contact, not even to take prisoners. The invaders knew who the intelligent life on the planet was and, from their actions, made it clear they had a single intent: destroy the Jal’jin.
Ever aiming towards survival and the Vời Uiviện’s members largely missing or dead, the Yeomẫu made the ultimate decision that every leader fears to make. Flee not just their ancient homelands but the planet. The order was given to evacuate as many as possible to the Dark Water Outposts. Portals to outposts with allied sapient species were to be immediately closed to prevent the invaders from breaching them and leading to confusion to those on the other end. The message given was that this was to allow the front line warriors to focus on the invasion rather than protection, but this was simply a lie to keep the masses calm.
The Yeomẫu and her advisors knew all too well that there would be no returning.
Whenever the Battalion drew close to a portal depot, it was deactivated remotely from the central hub to prevent any from following. Families might have been separated and sacrificed in the process, but it was clear why this was done. The Jal’jin knew anything else would mean destruction. They had to survive.
However, it was not long until the invading forces began to finally put real strain on the Spire Field. The ancient safeguard from predators was prepared for much, but its failure was inevitable.
Soon, the capital was fully evacuated except for one small group of people: The remainder of the parliament and the Grand Matriarch. As the portal network was reliant on the central portals in the city, they were fully aware that if they were not destroyed, the sacrifices made to evacuate would be in vain. So, utilizing the talents of all present, they made the ultimate sacrifice.
They forced the central portal network and all portals in the Jeweled Waters to overload. This did not just forcibly disconnect all portals from one another, but caused catastrophic arcane abnormalities around every single portal in the Jeweled Waters. While the Jal’jin who failed to flee might have fallen and while they might have lost their home, they dealt a massive blow to the Battalion’s forces. It cost the Jal’jin almost everything, but, while fractured, could rebuild. Albeit far from home.
The Lost Years (1940 AF - 2000 AF)
To the survivors of the Sundering, the struggle had only just begun. The Dark Water Outposts were never intended to be cut off. Each had some aspect that would make life hell without the assistance of other settlements. With the destruction of the central portal network, they were stranded with no easy way of reconnecting.
While every outpost had someone with skills in portal technology, few had experts that could suss out how to reconnect to other outposts with little guidance from a central repository. For a full generation, there was no contact between the survivors. Only the knowledge that countless miles separated them.
It wasn’t until a breakthrough was made by magi on Sticlăhaba that the first portal re-connection was made to Xála Mển Amchdá. The two colonies were able to reconnect to Fossteni and Sals Mansa about a year later and, with their combined resources, were finally able to focus a little bit less on pure survival.
The Resurrection of Hope (2000 AF - Present)
From then onwards, the Jal’jin became focused on three things outside of survival: Improving standards of living, rediscovery of lost knowledge and technology, and reconnecting to other outposts. Over the next several years, while life has been generally difficult, they have managed to reassemble the shattered remains of what was once a minor galactic empire. When all was said and done, three generations of Jal’jin were left: Those around to see the Sundering happen, the young that the previous generation told stories to, and the generation those storied children raised.
Biology
Height
Male heights average from 5’0” to 5’5” while females tend to fall between 5’5” to 6’0”. This is not set in stone, however, and is often not the most reliable metric to differentiate the sexes.
Build/Weight
While their builds can vary just as much as humans, they tend to fall into one of three types (assuming good health and exercise): Extremely scrawny with lean muscle, bulky with big bones and powerful muscle, and something akin to humans albeit a bit heavier given their size due to differences in muscle type and strength.
Lifespan
Jal’jin have a very broad lifespan of 60 to 120 years based on the toxins they carry in their body.
Toxins
Jal’jin are naturally extremely toxic. Every single part of their body is poisonous to some degree and some Jal’jin even have fangs capable of injecting venom, spit glands that let them spray toxins from their mouth, and extra poison sacks in their body that allows them to hold more than one kind of toxin at one time with different toxins found in different parts of the body. What’s more, with changes to a Jal’jin’s diet and sufficient meditation, a Jal’jin can change what kind of toxin any one toxin generating part does. However, if this diet cannot be maintained, their toxin generation can become something else with very little control on the Jal’jin’s part.
While Jal’jin are heavily resistant to the toxins of another Jal’jin, this is not universal. Toxins that impact brain chemistry are generally the easiest to resist while toxins that directly attack the body’s flesh are the least likely to be resisted. This is, in large part, why physically touching one another among the Jal’jin outside of a simple hand-shake would be a sign of great affection and trust.
The major drawback to all of this is their lifespan. While a Jal’jin with gentle toxins can live upwards of 120 years, their lifespan generally falls closer to 100 starting at birth which shortens the more harsh their poisons are. This is because while their bodies are capable of handling harsh toxins, the more harsh a generated toxin gets the more of a strain it puts on the body. While a Jal’jin is immune to the effects of their own toxin, they are only heavily resistant to the toxins of other Jal’jin and moderately resistant to foreign toxins.
It is theorized that if a Jal’jin were to somehow change their natural toxin generation into something that revitalized the body instead of in some way harm it, they could theoretically push their lifespans well beyond 120 years. The exact amount is unknown.
Skin
The Jal’jin have a wide array of skin colors which follow one of two patterns. Either the skin color is a warm and bright color with bright highlights or it is a dark color (warm or cold) with bright high contrast highlights.
Their skin is very reminiscent of a whale with a smooth rubbery texture. While it is capable of maintaining moisture for extended periods of time out of the water, enough water will still evaporate that a Jal’jin can become dehydrated far quicker than a human.
Hair
If a Jal’jin has hair, it is very fine and pale in color which heavily resembles thin fiber optics. Some don't have hair at all while a select few instead sport fin like growths which serve a more decorative purpose.
Sex
Jal'jin all have primary and secondary female characteristics with both males and females capable of mothering children. Males are capable of both, although are significantly less efficient at it. Not unlike clownfish, a Jal'jin male's instinctual push to become a mother is often dictated by the presence of other females. While this can make identification between the two difficult, Jal'jin are capable of determining this based on instinct and pheromones. However, not only can birth control suppress the relevant pheromones that make this obvious, their their reliance on these subtle factors can make it extremely difficult for Jal'jin to quickly identify sexual dimorphism among other species, leading to not just awkward situations among their own kind but also to other species.
Breathing
They also have gills located on their necks effective at pulling water in (instead of out) with the resulting CO2 moving to their lungs to be exhaled (which allows for underwater communication). When out of the water, Jal’jin are capable of utilizing powerful muscles on their diaphragm to push water from their lungs to enable easier intake of oxygen (albeit not as efficiently as with their gills). They can breathe in both fresh and salt water but require fresh water to stay hydrated. Their respiratory system is not as good above water as it is below, but can be improved through regular use out of the water.
Eyes
Jal’jin have exceptional eyesight while underwater and can see just as easily in low light conditions as they would in optimal lighting conditions. However, when out of the water, their vision becomes slightly less effective than the human eye.
Ears
Jal’jin ears, instead of cartilage, are made of a hard keratin which can pick up soundwaves underwater and channel the vibrations into the inner ear. Its coloration can vary greatly, meaning it can match skin color or deviate completely. While their ears offer little advantage in terms of sound quality and sensitivity, their ears do enable them to be extremely effective at determining the precise direction a sound is coming from which can aid in fighting in complete darkness. While the ears are capable of regrowing should they become chipped or damaged, injury to their ears can be exceptionally painful.
Webbing
Jal’jin have several body parts geared towards aquatic movement. The first is that their feet are webbed and their fingers have retractable webbing which can be extended or retracted at will. They also have a fin at the center of their back that, like the webbing on their hand webbing, can be retracted down. With their webbing fully available, they can move at normal speeds of 6-8 mph and hustle at speeds up averaging at around 12 mph. Without any assistance, their land speed is 2.5 mph with a run speed of 6 mph.
Diet
Their diet is not very restricted thanks in large part to their background as opportunistic scavengers. While omnivorous, the Jal’jin tend to prefer fish meat and generally consider meat from land creatures far from shore to be a delicacy.
Mouth
While located similarly to a human, their mouths are capable of unhinging and/or simply opening a large degree, allowing them to bite down on objects significantly larger than they would otherwise. They cannot swallow objects this large, so this trait is generally only used for offensive attacks. Their teeth are numerous and pointed with serrated edges that are effective at tearing at flesh. If the Jal’jin has venomous fangs, they come in two pairs located around where canines are in humans.