Jal Brûlant

Jal Brûlant is a Loa who is worshipped in the domain of Raba in the Wartorn Cluster. It belongs to the Loa ap Mache.

In the mythology of Raba, Jal Brûlant used to be a fiery Loa that acted in an absolutely deranged manner, brawling with any other Loa it encountered and exciting her followers during celebrations to the point of madness. It seemed to delight in driving people to acts of violence and hedonism, teaching them that nothing mattered, and so they should do what delighted them.

That all ended when one fateful morning, all the artwork of Jal Brûlant changed. From a dancing, leaping figure of crimson flame, the Loa's images were transformed to a figure that looked like a charred corpse, seated upon a gravestone. The figure had two dreadful wounds; a gaping hole in its right flank that oozed blood; a gaping hole in its chest that showed the heart had been ripped out and was replaced with a crimson rose. Written upon the gravestone were the words "Someone mattered. But she is gone."

From a figure of nihilistic hedonism, Jal Brûlant has become a Loa of sorrow, grief and contemplation. It offers no comfort to those who suffer, but does give them understanding and a trance-sleep so deep that it might almost be a coma. This does not mean the spirit has become softer or more gentle; it only shows understanding and care to those who suffer. Several times, Voodan who attempted to re-kindle the flame of their patron by holding the ribald celebrations of yesteryear have come to gruesome ends, having caught fire mid-ritual, with no water capable of dousing them. The fortunate ones burned to death; the truly unfortunate had to linger for days or even months before they finally died of their injuries.

Rather than being celebrated and called upon for boons, most people prefer to appease the Loa. It may offer respite to those who are suffering, but it is clearly unbalanced and dangerous to all others.

Appearance

As mentioned above, Jal Brûlant is depicted as a flame-charred corpse with two hideous wounds. In its images, it is shown sitting cross-legged on a gravestone, its hands cupped protectively around the rose that blooms where its heart used to be. Its eyes are typically lowered in quiet contemplation. Rare images where the Loa is looking up show that they are filled with the fire of an insane rage.

Statistics

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
• Domains: Death, Destruction, Fire
• Schools: Conjuration, Evocation, Necromancy