Jaran Krimeeah
| Jaran Krimeeah | |
|---|---|
| Names and titles | |
| Alt. Spelling: | Jaran Krimeah, Jason Krimeah |
| Nickname: | "Black One", "Mage of the Valley", or "Mage of the Vale", "Great Teacher" (by the gnomes of the Vale)[1] |
| Title(s): | "Exalted One" |
| General info | |
| Occupation: | Archmage |
| Home: | Valley of the Mage |
| Alignment: | Neutral Evil |
| Gender: | Male |
| Species: | Human |
| Class: | Wizard 19[2], Wizard 20+[3] |
Jaran Krimeeah is the archmage who nominally rules the Valley of the Mage.
Description
Krimeeah began adopting various appearances when he was wandering through different lands after fleeing the Great Kingdom. He continues to use "myriad visages"[4] which vary depending on his mood and with whom he is interacting, to keep others from knowing exactly what he looks like.[4] Many who live in the Vale of the Mage don't even know if those few closest to him know his true appearance.[4] In his true form he appears as a tall, thin, clean-shaven man in his forties with shoulder-length wavy brown hair, slate gray eyes, and olive skin.[5]
Personality
Jaran Krimeeah started off as an ambitious young mage, but his ambitions got him exiled from the Great Kingdom and his mood turned dark. Perhaps he has mellowed over the years after making his new home in the Valley of the Mage. However, he is still paranoid when it pertains to outsiders (especially those he expects come from the Great Kingdom) entering his vale. Lately, his attentions have turned more to his magical research/acquisition and prolonging his life as well as his beloved drow consort.[6]
History
It is believed that Jaran was born in Rauxes, the capital city of the Great Kingdom. He was of noble birth and was a cousin to the Overking himself—although which Overking is a matter of debate since Jaran's true age is not known. He always had an aptitude for magic and studied under the Court Wizards of Aerdy themselves. It was believed he could have been a court wizard or even the Supreme Wizard, but Jaran sought more. In CY 516, he believed he had enough support from relatives and over-confidence in his own magical powers to take the Malachite Thrown. His plans were thwarted by the very wizards who had trained him as well as the lack of any real support from others. Rather than being executed as a traitor to the throne, Jaran was exiled from the Great Kingdom and all accounts of him were struck from the official records.[4][7]
During his exile, Jaran wandered the Flanaess and adopted the nickname the Black One, to fit his mood. He first found employment as a mage in the Bandit Kingdoms, but his paranoia of being tracked by the Overking's assassins soon made him move on. He went on to study magic in the Shield Lands, the Horned Society, Furyondy, Veluna, Keoland, the Yeomanry, and Sterich before he eventually wandered into the isolated valley he currently calls home.[4][7]
Despite being initially corrupt and wicked he soon won over the local inhabitants of the valley, including the gnomes, valley elves, and even some fellow human exiles. He was also able to enlist the aid of the dwarves in the surrounding Barrier Peaks to build up his defenses and a keep in the valley. He has come to rule the valley and actually seems to care for its inhabitants, though he largely leaves them to their own self-rule unless the need arises to do otherwise. He spends most of his time researching magic and acquiring new magical items along with researching various ways to prolong his own lifespan. [5][7]
Relationships
The Mage of the Vale has won over the support of most of the residents of the valley. The gnomes were the first to swear fealty and were drawn to mage's mastery of magic. The valley elves of the Vale are a bit of a mystery as to why they are so loyal to the mage, even to the mage himself. However, it may be due to their shared belief in isolationism within the valley. The humans of the Vale are mostly exiles from other lands for various reasons. The have become known as the "Tree People" since many have returned to more the nature-intensive ways of living. The mage has faith in their loyalty the least, but he does see fit to visit each village once a year for celebrations in his honor. The dwarves of surrounding mountains are also on good terms with the mage, but it seems to be more of a working relationship than an actual alliance. The dwarves help to keep intruders from passing through the mountains and the mage keeps the gnomes from mining in the mountains, as well as the dwarves have helped to build some of the more permanent structures in the valley. Jaran has also influenced through magic the aid of a green dragon and has created several other creatures to protect his domain.[6][8][9][10]
When Jaran Krimeeah first came to the Valley he encountered a powerful druid named Jakar Whitewing. The two of them fought each other to a standstill and soon after became great friends. Jaran agreed to help Jakar protect the woods and created a magic item that allowed the druid to transform into beasts more frequently and of almost any size and to appear as a human of any age.[11]
Like so many other outsiders, the drow, Tysiln San, came to the Valley of the Mage to hide. She was soon captured by the valley elves and brought before the Exalted One. Intrigued by the mage, Tysiln swore her fealty to him. Jaran saw the potential as an ally that she may have and tested her loyalty in many ways, which Tysiln passed. The two began a more intimate relationship soon-after, and he named her First Protector of the valley. The two have performed many experiments together and she frequently joins him on quests to attain magical items and research. Her loyalty to the Exalted One is unwavering even unto death.[12]
Summerstorm Nightwind was the first valley elf that Jaran encountered when he came to the vale. The elf was awed by the magical powers of the mage and the two became friends out of respect and the mutual goal to protect the valley from outsiders.[13]
Jaran has also won over the friendship and loyalty of the gnomish leader, Endoble Mistikmore and the tree people's leader, Zurt. The former due to a mastery of magic that the gnome did not know was possible, and the latter at the mage's ability to unite and protect all of the people of the valley.[13]
Jaran is also known to have particular enmity with the archmage, Drawmij, of the Circle of Eight.
Creations
Although some would say his greatest creation is the unified realm known as the Valley of the Mage, Jaran also created many creatures, spells, and magical items to protect the vale or further his other goals.
- Creatures
- Grist—"true gargoyle" created from a statue using much magic[14]
- Jakar—actually a magical collar that allows the wearer to polymorph repeatedly[11]
- Jaleeda Bird—magical mix of an ape and an eagle[15]
- Spells
- The Exalted Eye—more powerful version of a wizard eye spell[16]
- Jaran's Prismatic Blade—condensed prismatic sphere into a blade[17]
- Reflection—reflects low-level spells back at the caster as well as normal missiles[16]
- Tysiln's Wondrous Carriage—creates a magical carriage[17]
- Unmask—allows the caster to see creatures as they truly are[16]
- Magic Items
- Potion of Intensity—causes spells to have the maximum effect[16]
- Potion of Black Sight—see in the dark[16]
- Tome of Recording—magical scribes all nearby speech[16]
- Gem of Musing—regain cast spells[16]
- The Exalted Component Case—as a bag of holding for spell components[16]
- Exalted Dweomercraft—magical tome[18]
Apocrphya
In the non-canon novel Sea of Death by Gary Gygax, part of the Gord the Rogue series, the "Archimage" of the Vale is a completely different character, Basiliv the Demiurge.
Appearances
References
Citations
- ↑ WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.15.
- ↑ WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.5.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.126.
- ↑ a b c d e WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.5.
- ↑ a b WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.6.
- ↑ a b WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.5-6.
- ↑ a b c Dragon #241 (Nov 1997), p.75-76.
- ↑ WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.11-15.
- ↑ WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.25.
- ↑ WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.27.
- ↑ a b WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.31.
- ↑ WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.8.
- ↑ a b WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.9.
- ↑ WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.29.
- ↑ WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.32.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h WG12 Vale of the Mage (1990), p.7.
- ↑ a b Dragon #241 (Nov 1997), p.77.
- ↑ Dragon #241 (Nov 1997), p.76-77.
Bibliography
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean Reynolds and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000. Item code 11743.
- Rabe, Jean. Vale of the Mage. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 24 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | Dragon magazine #067 | 11 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | Dragon magazine #241 | 75, 76, 77 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | Dragon magazine #344 | 48 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 42, 43 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | Greyhawk Adventures | 42, 43, 49, 109 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 126, 127 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 3, 27 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 15 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 5, 16, 22, 25, 37 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | PHBR8 - The Complete Book of Elves | 26, 27 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | Return of the Eight | 60 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | The Adventure Begins | 15, 35 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | WG12 Vale of the Mage | All |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | WGA4 Vecna Lives! | 85 |
| Jaran Krimeeah {Jason Krimeah, Black one} | Non-player character | (Mage of the Vale) [3eM20], | WGR1 Greyhawk Ruins | 3 |