Eight years beyond Earth. Eight years of wandering around the Sol System, hunting for the next big bag of Atomic Dollars, and carrying his father's debt.
Born in Ndovu Zenith, Osram (means 'moon' in Akan, and is what people have taken to call the Moon in this universe, Africa being the first human power to colonize it), Jabari grew up surrounded by the rich traditions of the Emerald Directorate, where storytellers and warriors are one and the same. His father's failing business left them drowning in debt—debts that became Jabari's burden when his mother abandoned them both. His father fell into depression so deep he couldn't climb out. Jabari made a choice: drop out of school, pick up weapons, become a Griot.
For eight years, he's walked the line between artist and soldier. By day, he hunts Radi-Mon bounties through the tunnels beneath Xing Hong. By night, he performs for crowds who need reminding that humanity is more than making money.
Behind his easy smile and casual sarcasm lies singular determination: earn enough to clear the debt, bring his father back from the edge. He's given everything to that goal.
Stats Overview (Year 2295, Chapter 3)
Power: 3 - Just enough athletic training. Strong enough to wield Obrafo
Resilience: 4 - Griot doctrine favors mobility over endurance. He can still take hits but prefers not to
Intellect: 3 - Tactical mind, but still favors survival more
Magnetism: 4 - Easy smile, performer's charisma. Makes friends naturally despite his burdens
Agility: 6 - Griot training emphasizes perpetual motion. Never static, always repositioning
Libido: 3 - Romance takes a backseat to freedom, though he doesn't mind a bit of fun
Jabari's weapons tell the story of a warrior-poet: each one serves both practical and symbolic purposes. His Lunar and Eclipse psionic affinity grants him command over gravity, moonlight, and the darker art of blood magic. The latter is a power he didn't know he could do with all the ancient Maridian traditions he knew in childhood, until Fuuka teaches him through—a pretty sweaty, fun way—in a future chapter that may or may not actually happen. (Spoilers? But hey, you can look forward to it!)
Type: Kinetic Crossbow
Manufacturer: Emerald Directorate (Foundational Quality)
His first major purchase after arriving on Mars, bought from a weapons dealer who knew what he was selling. While currently configured with basic kinetic bolt acceleration, the modular frame is available for upgrades.
Combat Mechanics:
? Standing still for 3+ seconds grants Spider's Focus (+25% critical hit chance, +15% damage on next shot) (This is actually a part of Jabari's skill tree, which I'll gladly reveal in a future lore entry)
? Can be upgraded with sonic resonator bolts, plasma strings, auto-loading magazines, or psionic enchanting
? Light enough for one-handed use when necessary
Type: Moonstone Cutlass
Manufacturer: Emerald Directorate
Rarity: Uncommon - Inherited Legacy
This curved blade shimmers with opalescent pearl-bronze finish, traced with veins of blue energy that pulse when drawn. Venus minerals in the metal give it an otherworldly quality. The bronze-gold guard bears intricate Adinkra symbols telling the story of its previous owner, a veteran Griot who fell defending Ndovu Zenith. Jabari's teacher. The wrapped grip shows years of use.
Learning From the Past: Sankofa means "go back and get it", as in, learning from history to move forward. The pommel contains a modified battery. When Jabari goes around the city, Sankofa hangs at his left hip, always within reach.
Combat Mechanics:
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? +15% attack speed when dual-wielding
? Every 3rd hit is automatic critical strike (part of skill tree)
? Lunar regolith in the blade allows psionic channeling for enhanced strikes
Type: Psionic Percussion Device
Issue: Standard Griot Equipment
Size: Palm-sized, worn on hip or back (I'm aware the artwork makes it seem gigantic, so this is worth mentioning)
Crafted from Martian titanium and synthetic membranes, this compact drum responds to both physical strikes and psionic impulses. It creates overlapping acoustic fields that can deflect projectiles, boost ally movement speed, or disrupt enemy coordination. Only Griots can use these properly. That's right. Class-restricted items! The other 4 heroes have these, too.
The Heartbeat of Battle: When Jabari strikes the Echo Drum, could be allies feel courage rise in their chests. Or enemies feel their certainty waver. Rapid drumming creates sonic barriers. Sustained rhythms sync movement and timing.
Combat Applications:
? Rhythm Shield: Rapid drumming deflects projectiles for 2-3 seconds
? Momentum Sync: Sustained rhythms provide various boosts for Jabari and allies
? Disruption Beat: Specific frequencies interfere with enemy targeting and Radi-Mon coordination
? Compact palm-sized design for easy carrying and rapid deployment
Type: Quantum Computing Device
Operating Temperature: Near absolute zero
Issued: Year 2288 (Griot Certification)
Standard issue for all operatives, the Nucleus Watch tracks everything: combat performance, bounty values, tactical data, memories. Operating at near-absolute-zero temperatures through quantum entanglement, it performs billions of calculations per second. Communication across the Sol System without lag. Real-time HP and AP monitoring. Target identification. And the Social Worth Level calculation so controversial surely no one in the Seven Realms would question it (/sarcasm).
The Burden of Memory: Every hunt, every performance, every conversation stored in quantum memory. Jabari could relive any moment since receiving the Watch. The Watch shows him his father's last coherent message sometimes. He doesn't reply. Not yet. Not until he has good news to share.
Core Functions:
? Real-time HP/AP monitoring and combat analysis
? Target identification and bounty value calculation
? Quantum Immersion: Relive any memory while wearing device (battery intensive)
? QEC communication across the Sol System (functionality in Proxima Centauri and Tau Ceti not guaranteed)
? Social Worth Level assessment and experience tracking
Type: Recon Hoverbike
Manufacturer: Emerald Directorate (Standard Scout Issue)
Classification: Long-Distance Transport
Named after the Anansemka word for "vulture", the Gyata is the Directorate's answer to Mars's brutal distances and hostile territories. Everyone who operates on the surface eventually learns to ride one, if they're traveling long distances while keeping things cheap.
The Griot's Advantage: Where most riders treat the Gyata as simple transportation, Jabari is especially good at it. Years of scouting Radi-Mon nests and making for tunnel exits at high speed have given him reflexes that make experienced riders jealous. He can thread the Gyata through canyons, pushing its maglev engine to its limits, for sharp banking turns and vertical climbs.
Characteristics:
? Vertical mobility allows canyon navigation and aerial maneuvers
? Standard issue for Directorate scouts, but purchaseable at various price ranges ($5,000 - $13,000 for foundational models, $9,000 - $35,000 for advanced)
? Requires skill and practice to master—most riders never reach expert level
Jabari fights like he performs: never static, always moving, turning combat into composition. Griot doctrine teaches that the blade that never arrives needs no parry. He embodies this. Sankofa flows through enemies like water. Oya picks off distant threats with surgical precision. The Echo Drum delivers a percussion section that makes allies stronger and enemies uncertain.
Contrary to Sigrun's frost-and-snow theme, Jabari's Lunar psionic is more moonlight and gravity manipulation: Moonlit Step surrounds him with silver light, boosting speed and damage. Gravity Thread pulls enemies into killing range. Ancestral Rhythm builds combat momentum that benefits nearby allies. His Eclipse abilities (which he won't be aware of until late in the story) tap into darker stuffs: Blood reaping, killing into healing, raw emotions to destructive power, among other things. Where Sigrun overwhelms with power (and charisma, when she cares to), Jabari gets victory through movement and timing.
"Dropped out of school to hunt monsters and write new pieces, and the real battle is still at home. My father needs me. The debt won't pay itself. So I keep going, keep fighting, keep believing. Stories only end when you stop telling them, and mine isn't quite finished. Not yet, anyway."
Follow Jabari's journey in Nucleus: Dreams & Desires
New chapters release weekly here on Royal Road
