Zotu Starshine's page

Zotu was born in a jungle village named after his tribe, Jaesali. They say Ekujae Tribes once were scattered across the Mwangi Expanse. These Elves were the first humanoids to settle the Mwangi Expanse. They tamed great lizards and dire-tigers. Now Jaesali is one of a few remaining tribes.

When the last great elf king left Mwangi, the tears of the Ekujae filled Lake Ocata. The Savage Elves returned to the Mwangi Expanse seven-thousand years later and it could not be called their own. Many elves choose not to leave their new comforts in Kyonin. The Aiudara was long sealed off. Their many neighbors and enemies, the Gorilla-King and his Charau-ka, lizard-folk, crazed sorcerers, and pygmies, knew no territorial lands except where they lived and slept for thousands of years. The Jaesali are alone in the jungle.

In the northwest of the Mwangi lies the lands of the Ekujae. They travel to sell goods across the Mwangi. The Jaesali travel around the Mwangi at least once a month sleeping in a different place every night. Their path determined by the seasons, they trade their foraged seeds and darkwood cloth for beautiful crystal beads, Hwandi spider silk ropes, and fine perfumes. It is rare the Jaesali mystics could not cure an ailment or poison.

The southeast brought the savage tribes of Charau-ka and their Gorilla-King ruler. Ruthazek, self-proclaimed Master of Mwangi and Favored Son of Angazhan, rules with fear and strength. By day the Gorilla-King's soldiers beat drums of human skin, revenge for the attacks of northerners. They are one of the many inhabitants of the Mwangi who savor Elf flesh. The attention of these primates is short and viscous. Ten years ago, they attacked the Jaesali for months and then lost interest. More than half of Jaesali warriors died battling this Gorilla-King, his Girallon and Charau-ka warriors.

The Danger and Bounty of the Jungle

Unlike the elves of the north, the Ekujae are shorter than a human on average with nearly the same body mass as the other elves. A human might mistake them for a half-elf, but their large hands and feet, thick tights and forearms, ruddy skin tone, and blonde, red or green hair gives them away to the astute observer. Their features are thin and delicate the same as other elves.

This beauty is quite the risk in the savage Mwangi, many natural enemies savor elf flesh. The truth is, these tribal enemies are the least to fear in the jungle.. there are plenty of more natural threats. Serilon - Elvish for dire tiger; flesh eating maggots; and spider vines can all kill a Ekujae. Every night the Jaesali sleep in a hanging tent. Northern elves sleep in these tents to make the best use of limited space. In the Mwangi, the elves sleep above the ground to avoid an unpleasant death by army ant. Girallons, tyrannosaurus and swarms of vampire bats make for other unpleasant deaths. Truly the Mwangi is a dangerous place.

All of this danger rewards the the Jaesali with the bounty of the jungle. Darkwood is the most valuable of these gifts. The Jaesali are careful harvest the darkwood seeds and care for them until they are tenderlings. They will then clear a small patch of the canopy and raise the tree to adulthood. While this whole process can take more than fifty years, the Jaesali see their grove to adulthood in their lifetime. Only darkwood infected by a mold or similar parasite is chopped down. The harvest of one tree can feed the tribe for a year. The danger of tending these trees and protecting them from poachers is well rewarded.

Sister Tessal and the Gorilla-Prince Seake

"WHHHIIittTTTEEEE!" Zotu whistled loudly with his bow cocked. The huge girallon turned its' head to Zotu. " I saw you following my sister last week too. You can't escape a Jaesali Ranger. This part of the jungle, it is dangerous for you."

Zotu would soon learn his quarry would not forget him. This girallon was no ordinary girallon but one of the many sons of Ruthazek, the Gorilla-King. Seake the Gorilla-Prince replied with a sharp toothed grin, "You Jaesali were no match the last hunt. We dined on many elf."

By this time Zotu's youngest sister, Tessal, had noticed the two quarreling and left her bath for the cover of trees. Seake's attention turns to her escape and crushes a handful of flowers he had prepared for his bride-to-be.

“Elves belong in north towers, not Mwangi. We send you there Jaesali. Don't worry, I will take care of your sister for you.” Seake snorts as he lectures Zotu. Seake towers above him almost ten foot tall.

Two of the Charau-ka charge Zotu and grab him by the arms. Zotu manages to kick one Charau-ra in the knee. Then the Gorilla-Prince grabs Zotu with all four of his girallon hands holding Zotu in the air.

Cheliax, Nidal and the Slavers

Zotu had never heard common until he woke up in the harbor of Bloodcove. His stay in this city would be short. It was the first great human city he laid eyes on, but not the last.

He knew he could not return to the Mwangi without allies. He thought to himself, first I must free these bonds, then I must find allies to defeat Seake.

Soon the Cheliax Slaver's armor was worn by Zotu. He found himself in a strange land, Varisia. He managed to learn these people's language on this boat to Cheliax. Would Zotu find the friends he so desperately needed?