Jai Long

Jai Long
General information
Path	Path of the Stellar Spear
Rank	Truegold
Faction	Jai Clan
First Appearance	Soulsmith - Cradle book 2
Origin	Black Flame Empire
Family
Siblings	Jai Chen

Child Star

Growing up in Serpent’s Grave, a large city in the Blackflame Empire, young Jai Long was the hope of the Jai Clan, a child with a bright future ahead in the sacred arts. His mastery of the clan’s Path of the Stellar Spear was impressive. He was only outmatched by the Patriarch himself, Jai Daishou.

Jai Long's affinity with the Path of the Stellar Spear was second only to the Patriarch's. At twelve years old, he sparred with disciples five years his senior. By thirteen, he had reached the peak of Jade, and could have broken through to Lowgold if not for the decree of the clan's elders. (Soulsmith ch 6)

His Hasty Advance to Lowgold

When he was 14, a group of rebels practicing an unsanctioned version of the Jai clan’s Path of the Stellar Spear attacked his family. Jai Long, a peak Jade, killed a 17-year-old rebel, but the guy’s Remnant then attacked his little sister Jai Chen, asleep in the house. Racing to her rescue, Jai Long was forced to capture and process the imperfect Remnant, thereby hastily advancing to Lowgold. As a result of the incompatible Remnant, Jai Long was marked with a Goldsign that scarred his face with a snake-like visage. He now follows a unique form of the Jai clan’s Path (Path section below).

When Jai Long turned fourteen, he still had not been granted permission to advance to Lowgold, for the elders remained stubbornly attached to life. It was during this time that a group of rebels, a disenfranchised branch family of the Jai clan, staged an uprising against the head family. They practiced their own warped version of the Path of the Stellar Spear, and had been exiled for it. (Soulsmith ch 6)

His Banishment

That rebel attack left Jai Long disfigured and his sister badly injured. So, at age 14, he was exiled to the Desolate Wilds, despite his promise and ability in the sacred arts. Still a child of six years, little Jai Chen went “out west” with her big brother, because her family had given up on her, and Long wanted to care for her, and seek treatment for her.

In truth, guided by Patriarch Jai Daishou, the whole clan gave up on the siblings. Jai clan elders were horrified by Jai Long’s monstrous transformation; the next clan Patriarch could not deviate from the true Path of the Stellar Spear, and his face could not be hideous.

A fallen star, Jai Long and his sister were quietly shipped away to the Desolate Wilds to support one of the Jai clan’s oldest allies, the Sandviper sect, where they could benefit the clan without bringing further shame. (Soulsmith, ch 6)

“He and his sister were exiled here so that they could serve the main family without being underfoot and embarrassing. Has to do with his wrapped-up face.” Eithan waved a hand vaguely around his own head. (Blackflame, ch 5)

His Unique Path

His Path uses Light Aspects. As a result of the Remnant he adopted when advancing to Lowgold, Jai Long gained the unusual ability to imbue Forged madra with temporary life, specializing in Forged snakes.

"Imbuing Forged madra with temporary life is an advanced technique, far beyond Jai Long. He can only produce this result because he absorbed a Remnant from a Path we’ll call.. .unnatural. " ― (Blackflame Location 1791)

Therefore, Jai Long’s current Path is a unique variation of the clan’s mainstream Path of the Stellar Spear. It is unfolding as he advances. In book 10, he advances to Underlord.

See Path of the Stellar Spear, and see Path of the Stellar Spear (Jai Long) and see Path of the Stellar Spear 2.0. (Much repetition across these pages). Also see the original Path of the Broken Star.

Desolate Wilds

In the Desolate Wilds, young Jai Long found a friend and a home in Sandviper Gokren, the chief of the Sandviper sect in the Desolate Wilds, and his son, Kral. For roughly eight years, the Jai siblings lived among the Sandvipers in the Wilds — a desert, with twisted black trees and numerous dreadbeasts. When opportunity arose, Jai Long and the Sandvipers sought the powerful Ancestor’s Spear in the ancient Labyrinth — the Transcendent Ruins. He was determined to care for his sister and to wreak vengeance on his unfaithful clan, especially on the Patriarch, Underlord Jai Daishou.

Guestimated Age

Jai Long was 14 when he was attacked and then exiled because his face was disfigured. His sister was six. He is eight years older than his sister Jai Chen. (Soulsmith, ch 6)

By the time of book 2, Soulsmith, he might be about 22 years old. By book 10, Reaper, he would probably be about 28ish.
"Jai Long had met the man before; he was early in his second decade and had already reached Highgold, which made him a peer with Kral and Jai Long." (Soulsmith, ch 14)

Appearance

Jai Long is slim and wiry. "He was roughly as tall as Lindon, but thinner, so that his build matched that of his spear" (Soulsmith)
Disfigured face: Jai Long has his head wrapped in scripted red cloth because his face is scarred to resemble a snake, as the result of a gold sign given to him by a remnant from a twisted version of the Path of the Stellar Spear. The gold sign is a hideous face. Jai Long does not like to think about it or deal with people’s horrified reactions so he covers it with red bandages.

Manic laughter: "His voice hadn’t changed, but his laugh. . .It rang out of him, wild and crazy, like the cackling of a deranged murderer. His usual voice was cool and composed, but when he laughed, he sounded like a blood-drunk killer. (Soulsmith)

He covers his face with scripted red cloths.

" He resisted lifting a hand to feel the strips of cloth wrapped around his head. The cloth was red, wrapped so tightly around him that not a hair or scrap of skin was visible from the neck up. Only his eyes peeked out of the middle, and if he could have covered those up without losing his vision, he would have. " ― Soulsmith (Cradle Book 2), Location 1048

Personality

Jai Long is hardworking, thoughtful, careful, determined, protective, and loyal. He can also be driven and vengeful, yet also grateful, forgiving, and merciful. Because his Jai family proved utterly faithless and fickle, he is slow to trust and quite cynical. He is learning to forgive and trust Lindon.

Duel with Lindon

In the Desolate Wilds, Jai Long had sworn to duel Lindon for killing his friend, Sandviper Kral (see Soulsmith). So, a year later, Long is a Truegold back home in Serpent’s Grave. Jai Long and Truegold Sandviper Gokren, Kral’s father, first ambush Lindon, a peak Jade, in the Serpent’s Grave training grounds. During this battle, Lindon and Orthos kill Gokren, while Yerin duels Jai Long (see Blackflame, ch 18).

Immediately after the surprise attack, Eithan sends Lindon to find Jai Chen, kidnapped by the Patriarch and locked away in a nearby house. When Lindon sees her injured madra channels, he heals her, with help from Little Blue and his own pure madra.

Several months later, in the official duel refereed by Naru Gwei, Jai Long, at Truegold, overwhelms Lindon, at Lowgold. However, in gratitude for healing his sister Jai Chen, Long attempts to call the duel finished when Lindon is down. Unfortunately, his Patriarch Jai Daishou forces him to continue, so he cuts off Lindon’s arm at the elbow. (Skysworn ch 4)

To Sacred Valley

After the duel, the Emperor Naru Huan censures the entire Jai Clan, banishing them, because Patriarch Jai Daishou opened the western Labyrinth — which can attract Dreadgods and is off-limits. He also illegally retrieved and employed the Archstone, a restricted ancient weapon. Jai Long and his sister Chen head back west again, towards the Desolate Wilds and beyond. As they head out of town, Lindon gives them a surival pack and tips on how to avoid The Bleeding Phoenix’s Blood Spawn.

“You could have killed me, so I appreciate your restraint.” He rubbed at the remainder of his right arm. “Forgive me, but I hope you'll make it far away from here.” Jai Long returned the sentiment. He shrugged the pack over the shoulder that didn't have his sister on it and began to walk away. Jai Chen spoke from his back. “We're going to the very outskirts of imperial territory,” she said. Jai Long hadn't realized she'd regained consciousness. “People there have forgotten about the Empire.” (Skysworn, ch 9)

Eventually, they reach Sacred Valley in the far west, and meet Lindon’s sister, Wei Shi Kelsa, and Orthos. They help them free Wei Shi Seisha from imprisonment and slavery.

Advancing to Underlord

In book 10 Reaper, Jai Long accepts some advice on advancement to the Lord Realm from Lindon, along with some vital aura treasures. Some months later, with battle raging all around his camp, he accidentally comes upon his own personal Underlord revelation.

His Underlord revelation

To show the Jai elders that he was worthy of their attention and respect. He had been so afraid to let them down. The aura around him shivered, and triggered his soulfire. His advancement to Underlord had begun. Jai Long was so stunned that he almost forgot to guide the soulfire through his body. That was it? An idle thought? (Reaper, ch 18)

He emerges from the soulfire transformation. . .unknown. . .to be determined.

• See Advancement to the Lord Realm