Jherran Dol’Vastros

There are few figures that are known to the greater world from ancient Metiria. During the Gil'Duan, or Great Exodus from Metiria, many of the old texts that made it to Kerine were damaged or destroyed during the voyage. As such, ancient histories were lost and subsequently only passed down via oral tradition.

However, one such figure from ancient Metiria that is commonly known by Tirians and Krenian alike is the Firbolg known as Jherran Dol'Vastros, the great diplomat and unifier of Metiria. Stories of his adventures as a youth are told to adults and children alike, studying and treating with every tribe across the island of Metiria. Though different stories and myths painted him and his upbringing in a negative light, his memory and history is often viewed upon highly by the citizens and historians of Kerine.

Early Life

Aspects of Jherran's early life have not yet been lost. He was born to a tribe which had no name upon the northern shores of Metiria. Accounts describe him as sporting hair 'paler than the skies' as well as skin and fur 'mottled white with sea foam.' His mother was an herbalist and a midwife while his father was a deep-sea fisherman. Unfortunately, current histories do not mention the names of Jherran's parents, further obfuscating his heritage. His father perished while Jherran was still quite young, only two years of age, leaving his mother to care for the home and her child alone.

The tribe Jherran and his mother were a part of were frequently under attack by a neighboring tribe whose symbol was a canine skill draped in fish skin. This tribe would take food, goods, and people from Jherran's tribe without remorse, leaving him, his mother, and his people with little to live off of. As a result, Jherran would often leave the territory of his tribe and learned to forage for crustaceans and mollusks in order to care for himself and his mother.

Time passed and the constant raids intensified. Jherran, now a young man seeking to rid his people of such a plight, ventured out with nothing but a shawl and tunic made of dried fish skin, shellfish chitin, and leather journeyed out to find the raiding tribe's territory and confront them. Accounts on his return vary, but generally two to three days passed before Jherran returned, bearing fresh game from the raiding tribe and news of their newfound alliance. The tribes soon began to merge territories, intermingle, and share cultural and technological practices. Seeing the good he was able to cause for his people, Jherran said his goodbyes to his mother, donned his tunic and shawl alongside a walking stick carved from a whale bone and left to explore the greater island of Metiria and meet the other people that inhabited the island.

Contributions

Over the course of Jherran Dol'Vastros' journeys, he met each and every tribe that was present on the island of Metiria. In doing so, he learned of their traditions, language, and advancements while sharing what he knew of the other tribes as well. Around five to ten years after his initial departure from his home tribe, Jherran was able to cross the entirety of the land continent of Metiria, learn of all other inhabitants on the island, and unify them all under a single people known as the Tirians of Metiria. Accounts on the interactions Jherran had with natives across the island all describe him as kind, amicable, silver tongued, and curious.

While he unified the natives of Metiria into one people, he did not come to rule over anyone nor did he eventually establish the triumvirate that would eventually rule Metiria. Instead, after the ruling triumvirate of Metiria was formed, Jherran seemingly left, no traces of him remaining on the island other than the stories he left behind. This further fueled rumors and myths on his abilities, origins, and allegiances, claiming he possessed the power of The Devils themselves or were just a wandering spirit of a suffering people wanting peace.

With the merging of ideas and technological developments, the Tirians would eventually craft the ark ship known as the Beaucephalus, leaving Metiria behind to find new lands to settle. This would eventually lead to the discovery of Kerine, and the subsequent formation of cultures and conflicts that were bred from the Tirians making landfall. Were it not for his unification of ancient Metiria, the landscape of Kerine would look much different than it does today.

While many of them did not survive the voyage, some transcribed accounts of Jherran's journeys made it to Kerine, allowing the dissemination of ideas and histories of Metiria for new generations and Krenians alike. The desire to restore what remains of these accounts as well as led to the development of both magical and technological practices that can begin to return ancient items and relics to a state that is more usable and understood in present day.