#j tribe

[miqojak]

Better to have the last laugh,

than the first bite.

- J tribe proverb

[ediworld]

We have a special need, to feel that we belong.

Come with me inside, inside my velvet rope.

[miqojak]

Give me my robe, put on my crown;

I have immortal longings in me

- Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare

[miqojak]

J Tribe - Jackal

The Jackal is both guardian and guide to the dead - in their primary role. The Jackal is also a trickster, and a consummate survivor - it's well known on Gyr Abanian sands that a deal with a 'Jackal' must be carefully worded, lest you lose more than you thought you bargained for. The desert is a harsh place - searing days, and frigid nights, ravenous beasts, sandstorms...and in more recent years, the oppressive presence of Garlemald, to top off the more natural threats the desert wields; here, survival of the fittest can often mean 'survival of the cleverest'.

The Jackal teaches survival in the face of harsh odds, and it teaches this by virtue of patience, cunning, and intelligence. 'Better to have the last laugh, than the first bite,' being a common anecdote among their people.

In their primary role - when not serving as patron to thieves, travelers, tricksters, desert-dwellers, survivors of every sort, and all those in-between - the Jackal serves as a guide to the departed souls of the tribe, and other of its followers. This belief varies in intensity from one individual to another...some believing this with a real, religious fervor, while others consider tales of the Jackal, be they guardian or trickster, to be fireside tales for kits...mere legends, and nothing more.

Whether guarding the souls of the departed on their way to the life stream, or swindling another to ensure the survival of its own, the Jackal is rarely thought of as a particularly 'savage' being, though that's far from the truth - but survival always takes priority. Why fight, when even a mere injury could spell your demise, in such a harsh land...not to mention risking one's life? Why fight first, when you can manipulate your way out, and come out ahead? When pressed, however, tales speak of the creature's ferocity in sobering tones.

You don't survive such a harsh place without learning all the best ways to survive. You have to be prepared for anything - even to bring death, rather than be its shepherd.

(Page 2 here)

[miqojak]

I've earned myself a reputation That my bark is much worse than my bite But I keep snapping at Goliath's hands With all of my tiny might

- Take Me to War, Crane Wives

[miqojak]

J Tribe - Jackal Page 2

The Jackal knows when to turn a blind eye to what is necessary for survival; they know the ache of an empty belly, the heat of the sand searing the pads of their feet, and the burn of thirst when you've gone too long since your last sip of water - they know what it is to suffer, and what it takes to rise above it. They sit not in judgement of what must be done, ever ready to guide their long-suffering pack 'home,' when the time is come.

[miqojak]

Hey! Do you mind if people kind of I guess borrow your jackal headcanon? I really love the scavenger, guardians of the dead thing

Absolutely, go right ahead! I love it too much to *not* share the concept with others! It'd be pretty cool to know other people are getting fun out of the concept(s), themselves.

Thanks for asking, all the same - and enjoy! I look forward to seeing/hearing about what you do (feel free to tag me if you do anything with it on tumblr so I can read/see it! I love seeing others' creative creations.)

And hey, thanks for enjoying what I cooked up, I'm flattered!

[miqojak]

🙏 Is your OC religious in any way? Why or why not? Do they have other beliefs that govern them in any way?

Here’s some stuff about her take on religion - it’s very tribal, and centered around the J tribe’s totem animal, the Jackal!

Here.

And here.

I know I have more, but Tumblr is trash that won’t find things by your own tags, so I’ll do my best to write a little more, too! The Jackal is probably like some mix of Anubis, Hades...and Jani from WoW, to me. I’ve always had a sort of Egyptian themed pseudo-religion in mind for her nomadic tribe, and their take on life and the afterlife. The Jackal functions much like Hades or Anubis, as a sort of guardian and guide to the dead. But like many stories of gods, their domains weren’t simply restricted to those of death - the Jackal is the benefactor of survivors, of tricksters, and scavengers. All those who travel the searing sands, and prize cunning, wits, and survival over all else. I like to think her people were keen nomadic merchants - you could hold them to their word, but you’d better look deep into their word, because you better believe any deal they make is benefitting them somehow...and likely more than you’d expect. Cunning tradesmen, but beholden to their word. Like the creature they’re named after, they’re scavengers - but not just scavengers - but they’re not the biggest, or strongest predator out there, either, so they prize utilizing their wits to stay alive...because there’s always a bigger, hungrier predator. There were ways to honor the dead, and lots of parables (very Aesop-inspired, I’ve even re-worked aesop fables in writing for her past before) about the Jackal to teach each generation their values, and survival skills, and how to approach life in a ruthless world. (There’s so much head-canon at this point, I’m sure I’ve missed some. I’ll compile a post for it all One Day™.)