On the Jahsen

The Jahsen is a not oft seen creature, mostly residing below ground, and only common in the Underdark. They have been spotted by Dwarven miners as well as scholars and adventurers through the ages. Though hardly flattering, they are more commonly known as “Goat-Slugs”, because that’s how one would best describe them; the lower body of a slug, the upper that of a hairy humanoid with goat or antilope horns. Mostly they have a darker colour on the slug part, than their torso. Primary colours are usually moss-green, bark-brown and dark turquoise. The current theory amongst scholars, is that the Jahsen technically are Satyrs. However, instead of existing in magical groves and mysterious ruins, the Jahsen got teleported from the Feywild to the Underdark, and over time transformed into their current form.

The Jahsen (singular; a Jahs) have adapted to the strange (and often dangerous) environments of the Underdark. Many of them speak both Undercommon as well as Deep Speech. They don’t exactly live in harmony with other races of the subterranean world, with the odd exception being the Svirfniblim (Deep Gnomes), with whom the Jahsen appears pleased to be around. Their relationship with Drow and the Duergar seems reserved at best, the Jahsen are not fighting creatures, and they don’t really have anything that the two other races want.

Jahsen grows in size their entire life, but as they grow, they also become slower as their bodies gets too heavy for their muscles to move. At this point, a Jahs is typically the size of a small hut. They seek knowledge more than anything, and while an ancient Jahs may no longer be able to move, they still take pleasure in hearing stories from the world above, thus gaining new knowledge. Obviously not suited for actual combat, most Jahsen, in addition to seeking knowledge, also take up magic, over time becoming quite potent with their spells. If they are attacked physically, their slimy skin is able to secrete a thick, sticky slime, that acts as a slippery armor. While the Jahsen do not mind hot weather, although it can cause secretion without their own control, they only rarely take to the parts of the Underdark that’s cold. Typically Jahsen lives in small tribe-like groups of up to fifty creatures, while they don’t seem to have a direct leadership, they show respect and honor to older (and larger) Jahsen.

Due to the dangers of the Underdark, it is difficult to carry out extensive research about the Jahsen, but they are believed to be able to reach ages 6-700, before their stillness reaches their inner organs. A few Jahsen speak common, though it seems their grasp on grammar is lacking quite badly. Elder Jahsen speak only through telepathy, as it requires too much energy to move their mouths.