The Golgari Lich Lord

...... I am Jarad vod Savo, a Devkarin Elf, lich, and guildmaster of the Golgari Swarm.

[askjaradvodsavo]

((I actually made a Jarad cosplay but never posted it here lmao))

[askjaradvodsavo]

((Bad puns aside, what do you think the odds are Jarad dies in the return to return to Ravnica in the fall?))

((Toss up. First of all, the fall set is unconfirmed, so this plot thread could dangle for a bit.Second, Svogthir, the Golgari Parun, was stated in the books to have found a way to make himself immune to a gorgon's gaze. If Jarad was smart, he would have looked into that.And anything could happen. Maybe he escapes, maybe he transfers his soul somewhere else, maybe Vraska has a change of heart (though I doubt that one).Either way I hope their meeting is an actual scene in the story, and not off-screened.))

[askjaradvodsavo]

I hear you may soon need to change your name to Jarad vod Statue

Don't be so sure of that.

[askjaradvodsavo]

((One of these will end up being his staff. One is thicker than the other, and is less straight. Still debating.))

[askjaradvodsavo]

((More on the piece of bark shell, it is about 1/2″ thick throughout. And there is a large crack going through the middle, but I’m going to be cutting it with a jigsaw or something anyway.))

[askjaradvodsavo]

((Think I can make Jarad's vambraces out of this?))

[poison-stripes]

A large beetle carrying a small scroll buzzed in, stopping in front of Poison. It dropped the message, which unfurled before her. "Come to Korozda," it said. "I have news. -JvS."

Poison had not received a message from the lich lord in quite some time. She knelt down, read it and told the beetle to tell him she would be there immediately. Standing up, she made her way toward Korozda hurriedly, letting her eyes adjust to the familiar dim light of the area, the damp air around her also feeling familiar.

“I wonder what news he has for me,” she spoke to herself as she waited to be seen.

[askjaradvodsavo]

poison-stripes

Poison nodded her head in agreeing about the legion of zombies. Even she wasn’t sure how long she could stand against such a force, nevermind doing so with her beast let loose, and she hoped to never find out the answer to that question.

Nevertheless, it was relieving to hear that the necroling was now nothing more than an enemy that was deceased, with no threat of returning. One less enemy of hers to worry about coming back for revenge, she mused inwardly.

“Hearing that she’s gone for good makes me feel better,” she smiled a little. “I think this will be the first night in a long time I’ll be able to sleep peacefully.”

Her tail curled back up to rest in its default position, the warrior no longer feeling like she had an unseen force clenching her heart in terror. “Er…well I suppose I should get going then. It was an honor to fight by your side sir, and should you need my help again I’d be willing to help you, Lord Jarad. Give my regards to Ezoc and the other elf. Sylla, was it?”

The lich nodded. “I will send for you if I need assistance, but I think I will try to keep my matters as internal as possible from now on. No offense intended.”

“Yes, Sylla was her name. Still training her, but she shows promise in her craft.” 

Jarad stood, his seat of plant matter and stone sinking into the ground behind him. “Again, good to see you. Take care.”

[poison-stripes]

A large beetle carrying a small scroll buzzed in, stopping in front of Poison. It dropped the message, which unfurled before her. "Come to Korozda," it said. "I have news. -JvS."

Poison had not received a message from the lich lord in quite some time. She knelt down, read it and told the beetle to tell him she would be there immediately. Standing up, she made her way toward Korozda hurriedly, letting her eyes adjust to the familiar dim light of the area, the damp air around her also feeling familiar.

“I wonder what news he has for me,” she spoke to herself as she waited to be seen.

[askjaradvodsavo]

poison-stripes

Poison sighed after watching Sylla depart. “Yeah, revenge and I don’t know, to track us?” she shrugged. “Then she…well she went quiet. Dormant. I’ll be honest, sir, I thought she was accruing power or formulating some contrived plot or something for a little while. I didn’t sleep well for weeks after Sylvara showed up. Then I guess…I forgot about her?” Poison shrugged her shoulders, as if to say “How can I explain I forgot about a potential threat” with her body language.

“Like, I got busy going off-world, growing my business, and moving on with my life,” she continued, indicating she had in fact forgotten about Ravnica’s necroling. “Sure I was worried about her coming after me for a good amount of time. Up till now I had occasional bad dreams or even nightmares. I still have the physical scars Avey was so kind to give me,” the hybrid spoke, indicating her neck and the ones on her back. Despite Shuichi’s tending of her wounds, they were still there on her body but minimized. They were not visible due to her now-thicker fur, however. Her human skin would show the truth; a thin white line on her neck along with two lines with the thickness of a embroidery cord on her back and shoulders that joined the rest of the network of lines and marks from her battles.

“F-Forgive me, Lord Jarad,” she spoke apologetically, feeling shameful for forgetting about Avey, hee tiger ears laying down and back. “I guess I got so busy with my own life and all that…that I didn’t even have time to think about this monster.”

She sat there before him, stunned and yet relieved at the same time after telling him this.

“Do not concern yourself too much,” Jarad replied. “It was my domain that she was inhabiting. I wouldn’t expect you to put everything on hold for a world that isn’t your own.”

For a moment, Jarad considered hinting, even slightly, the true nature of the creature as Cevraya. He thought better of it, especially now that she was gone for good. It didn’t seem pertinent anymore.

“Still, I thank you again for the part you had during her first attack. The creature itself may not have been as powerful as we feared, but the legion of zombies would have been troublesome by myself.”

He turned his hand over, gesturing to his guest. 

“That is all I had to tell you. The necroling is gone, so you needn’t worry about her any longer.”

[poison-stripes]

A large beetle carrying a small scroll buzzed in, stopping in front of Poison. It dropped the message, which unfurled before her. "Come to Korozda," it said. "I have news. -JvS."

Poison had not received a message from the lich lord in quite some time. She knelt down, read it and told the beetle to tell him she would be there immediately. Standing up, she made her way toward Korozda hurriedly, letting her eyes adjust to the familiar dim light of the area, the damp air around her also feeling familiar.

“I wonder what news he has for me,” she spoke to herself as she waited to be seen.

[askjaradvodsavo]

poison-stripes

She quieted the instant Jarad raised his hand to hear what he had to say. When he said that the necroling was now in fact deceased and all that remained was her skull, the hybrid inhaled sharply and slowly exhaled, completely shocked upon hearing this news. She took a couple deep breaths before resuming her normal breathing rate.

Whatever tension she had been holding onto was released, her tail fully uncurling to its full length and relaxing behind her.

Her nightmare was now truly over, never to return.

She wiped away a couple of tears that had fallen and smiled. “Yeva can rest in peace,” she spoke at last, having remained silent as she felt herself let her fear go. “All those that have died because of this monster, they can now rest in peace too,” she added softly.

Both her and her beast said their thanks to their divinity in her mind.

“Say, where is Ezoc?” Poison asked, noting his absence. “Since you mentioned he helped kill Avey, I figured he would be here too.”

Jarad nodded in agreement at Stripes’ first points. 

He waved slightly at Sylla, who moved to retrieve the skull. She paused for a moment after picking it up, bowing at their guest. The elf slipped into a door behind the lich. 

Jarad glanced to the side briefly, as Sylla departed. “Ezoc has other business to attend to. He’s a very busy...person. I will send him your regards.”

He drummed his fingers against the desk. “From what I had heard from you and others, the necroling was less focused on her original goal. It looked to me that she was seeing revenge on individuals. I thought it best to not wait any longer and act.”

[poison-stripes]

A large beetle carrying a small scroll buzzed in, stopping in front of Poison. It dropped the message, which unfurled before her. "Come to Korozda," it said. "I have news. -JvS."

Poison had not received a message from the lich lord in quite some time. She knelt down, read it and told the beetle to tell him she would be there immediately. Standing up, she made her way toward Korozda hurriedly, letting her eyes adjust to the familiar dim light of the area, the damp air around her also feeling familiar.

“I wonder what news he has for me,” she spoke to herself as she waited to be seen.

[askjaradvodsavo]

poison-stripes

“I understand, sir,” Poison spoke in reply to the lich lord’s desire for secrecy and sat down in the mossy chair. It felt pleasantly cool under her bottom and legs, her tail resting against her back in a slight coil. “Also, nice to meet you, Sylla,” she spoke to the elf woman that stood in front of the door.

When he mentioned the connection of Sylvara and the necroling the hybrid knew as Avey, she sighed and nodded. This motion let her tail relax a little as it uncurled, the length and stinger resting on the ground behind the seat. “Yes, I knew Sylvara and Avey were one in the same. Er…Sylvara and ‘Yeva,’” she corrected, despising even using her old friend’s name for the creature. “I knew from the moment she targeted me from the start and anyone else Avey went after before we shut down that plague of hers. As Sylvara, she gave me some sort of flower and my inner gardener couldn’t help but take care of it for a little while. I destroyed it and the container I placed it in a few months ago, actually.”

Suddenly it dawned on her that it was the necroling they were discussing. Some great event had to have happened for Lord Jarad to request the warrior’s presence here immediately.

Her tiger ears swiveled up slowly as this realization dawned on her. “Lord Jarad, what has happened to the necroling? Is she active again? Do I need to prepare myself to face her?” she questioned, the end of her tail twitching sporadically. “If so, I’ll face her at my full strength and I won’t miss next time.”

Jarad raised a hand, indicating for Stripes to fall silent. Sylla had intended to greet Stripes when she had the chance, and started to speak. But realizing Jarad likely meant her too, she only succeeded in making a small hum.

“I appreciate the offer,” Jarad said. “But I brought you here to tell you personally that the necroling has been destroyed in a concerted effort between myself, Sylla, and Ezoc.” He indicated a cleaned skull sitting on the desk. “This is all that remains now. I absorbed her spirit myself. And my beetles devoured any trace of her that wasn’t bone.”

“I don’t know what she was planning to do with that flower, but it doesn’t matter anymore. The others who dealt with the creature in the past have been informed already. I thought you would want to hear this.”

[poison-stripes]

A large beetle carrying a small scroll buzzed in, stopping in front of Poison. It dropped the message, which unfurled before her. "Come to Korozda," it said. "I have news. -JvS."

Poison had not received a message from the lich lord in quite some time. She knelt down, read it and told the beetle to tell him she would be there immediately. Standing up, she made her way toward Korozda hurriedly, letting her eyes adjust to the familiar dim light of the area, the damp air around her also feeling familiar.

“I wonder what news he has for me,” she spoke to herself as she waited to be seen.

[askjaradvodsavo]

poison-stripes

“Hello,” the hybrid greeted back. She looked past the elf and saw the lich lord sitting at the aforementioned desk.

A private matter? she thought as she made her way inside what she could only guess to be his office. Poison had begun to wonder what matter could be so concerning that he would prefer to meet with her here instead of the throne room.

“Greetings, sir,” she spoke politely, nodding her head a little. “I came right over as soon as your beetle finished delivering its message, Lord Jarad. Um, she told me you wanted to see me in here instead of the throne room to discuss a private matter,” she spoke calmly, ignoring how her tail was curling up a little and focusing on the details of his office, such as the choice of wood for the desk itself.  

“Well met,” said the lich. “It has been a while. Please, sit.” He indicated a mossy chair opposite his desk, then looked at the elf lingering in the doorway. “Sylla, if you would.”

Sylla nodded, then entered the room herself, and closed the door behind her. She stood in front of it, holding one hand in the other. “Pardon the secrecy,” Jarad said to Poison. “But I’d rather not anyone else be present for this.”

He continued, tapping the desk with a bony finger. “I’m going to cut to the point. I trust you know that...the necroling, Yeva as she liked to be called, was the being calling itself Sylvara as well.”

[poison-stripes]

A large beetle carrying a small scroll buzzed in, stopping in front of Poison. It dropped the message, which unfurled before her. "Come to Korozda," it said. "I have news. -JvS."

Poison had not received a message from the lich lord in quite some time. She knelt down, read it and told the beetle to tell him she would be there immediately. Standing up, she made her way toward Korozda hurriedly, letting her eyes adjust to the familiar dim light of the area, the damp air around her also feeling familiar.

“I wonder what news he has for me,” she spoke to herself as she waited to be seen.

[askjaradvodsavo]

To the side of the main hall, a dark-haired elf in muddy orange robes appeared out of a doorway. “Hello,” she said shortly. “Lord Jarad will see you in here. Away from his throne room. This is a more private matter.” 

She stepped to the side, showing that Jarad was seated inside, behind a desk. He sat with his arms crossed, waiting. 

[askvraska]

((Full disclosure, @askjaradvodsavo and I are the same person. As well as @asksarkhanvol

And a few others that don’t really matter at the moment.))

[askjaradvodsavo]

((Yep.))

[askvraska]

if someone's wearing glasses or goggles, does your gaze still work? what about non organic eyes? I only ask cause what with the infinite nature of the planes. there's probably more ways for people to dodge your ace than you realize. it would be prudent to find out as many limitations as possible.

Glasses and goggles do nothing by themselves. Though an enchantment on them could change that. Non-organic is a bit more complicated. Artificial beings like golems I have no effect on. And there are other protections that I am aware of. The Golgari parun Svogthir somehow made himself immune to the gaze of the Sisters of Stone Death. If Jarad knows the same magic, then I have to reconsider what I will do to him.

But more importantly, I’m not so sure that I appreciate your tone. My gaze is my most potent weapon, yes. But I didn’t become an assassin due to a single trick. I have many, many different ways to snuff out life. 

[askjaradvodsavo]

For your own sake, just assume that I am always three steps ahead of you.

[askjaradvodsavo]

Jarad Cosplay

I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, and I’ve finally started planning it. So here we go.

These are some preliminary planning drawings. Not very detailed yet, but they help give me an idea of what I have to accomplish. 

Previously, I thought about using a mask from Composite Effects called Ramses the Mummy, but a more recently released a mask called Graveborn I feel would be a much better fit. I have the reptile mask from them already, so I know that they’re worth the price.  The reason being that the Ramses mask looks very dried out, and Jarad, being covered in fungi and moss, I would not imagine is dry. The Graveborn mask also has exposed teeth similar to Jarad himself. Graveborn is a bit more beat up than Jarad actually is though. None of the art shows exposed ribs. Either mask that I pick will need custom skin tone to match Jarad's greenish brown instead of the fleshy default colors. Also, they would need his face paint at an additional cost. I may also have the Graveborn's ears altered to points, since Jarad is an elf. That would cost more but make it more accurate. Ramses by comparison doesn't even have ears. I'd have to cover as much skin as I can if I want to avoid makeup. The arms will be the most difficult part, but with enough moss and bark I can probably come up with something. I have a large piece of bark shell that I’ll be using to make forearm armor. Legs are a moot point since I'm going to alter his clothing a bit to cover his legs completely. Since his are practically skeletal, and I don't want to try replicating that. I'm going to need a lot of fake mushrooms, and a lot of fake bones. Anyone know where to get ones that actually look somewhat real? I suppose I could make some, but if I can find them cheaply, that would be quicker.

Lastly, I’m finally going to try working with foam to make the armor that he wears over his stomach and waist. 

Anyway, lots of work, and this is all just planning right now. But I’m gonna do it. And I’ve convinced my wife to cosplay Fonn Zunich, his ex-wife. That should be fun.

[askjaradvodsavo]

Jarad in a Nutshell, from the first novel:

“What do you want, Matka?” he asked without preamble.

“Certainly not to spoil your fun,” Savra said. “I trust you are finished here?”

“As you said, the beast is dead,” Jarad replied. “It is meat, and the butchers are on the way. And you have not answered me.”

“Always in such a rush,” the matka said, mewling like a tangled cat. She stepped close to him and ran an index finger down the long scar that ran along his left jawline. “You’re no fun anymore.”

“I was never fun,” Jarad said. 

[askjaradvodsavo]

If you see a suspicious insect nearby, ignore it. You’re being paranoid.