The Jayer
The Jayer are a small nomadic tribe of around 300 people. While the Zan travel in an annual loop, the Jayer roam freely, choosing their next destination by vote at each Moving Day. As a result, they do not attend the Farrago Bazaar annually – their appearance is always welcome, but infrequent. The Jayer travel fairly slowly due to their use of human-powered vehicles, mostly constructed from old bicycles.
The Jayer believe that the Collapse came about as a result of human violence, which they see as the world’s greatest evil. They follow a policy of strict non-violence, including towards animals; they are vegetarian, though they do keep chickens for eggs and sheep for their wool and milk. Violence is punishable by Unwelcoming, a uniquely Jayer custom – the offender is loosely tied to a tree or other post and left with three days’ supply of food, and then the tribe moves on without them. By the time the offender has freed themselves, the tribe is gone; the tribe is never supposed to contact or acknowledge the offender again.
Although the Jayer do not use currency, trade is an important part of the tribe’s livelihood. They are known for their woollen garments and blankets, which they trade for food, medicine and other supplies at various villages that they pass through. Unofficially, the Jayer also trade in information – as frequent travellers, they bring news from far away.
The Jayer govern through a system of direct democracy. All adults (over 16) are able to vote on important decisions. In practice, this leads to extended weekly gatherings in which the minutiae of different policy decisions is discussed in depth – the Jayer are not known for their brevity. Although all decisions are made as a group, they also vote each year for a Speaker, who is their representative to the outside world – a figurehead, rather than a leader.
NOTE: The 2pm show is now sold out. Tickets are still available for the 7pm show.
Jayer Characters
Afla
She/Her
It seems strange to say it, but you’ve always liked following rules. They provide structure and certainty, which keep you grounded despite life on the road. As such, other people think you’re a bit of a stick-in-the-mud; it’s fair to say you can be a little uptight, but despite your love of order and rigidity, you have a kind heart and do genuinely want what’s best for the tribe.
Daro
He/Him
Just because the Jayer are non-violent doesn’t mean that they are entirely defenceless. You are one of the tribe’s protectors; physically strong and ready to beat back potential thieves, bandits or other ruffians. You’re a master of defensive combat, able to disarm attackers and send them on their way. People are often intimidated by you until they speak to you and realise you are shy and nervous around others. Although you are slow to speak, you aren’t stupid – but you get the impression that other people think you are.
Dejar
He/Him
You’re a musician who’s always trying to learn new instruments; you’re a prolific writer of songs, even if they’re mostly just ditties that exist in your head. You’ve always liked the limelight; you like to tell jokes, make up stories, and be the centre of attention. Your friends love this about you, but some people find it irritating. Still, you can’t help being the way you are.
Flor
She/Her
When you were little, you excelled at your lessons; you learned to read and write very quickly, your skills in mathematics soon outstripped your teacher’s, and you’ve always been great at solving puzzles and riddles. Unfortunately, your intelligence has never extended to any practical skills. You tried learning bike mechanics, but kept breaking equipment. Your weaving looks messy and your cooking is inedible. You want to help your tribe, but things just keep going wrong...
Foy
Any Pronouns
You’re one of the tribe’s cooks, in charge of making big communal meals while on the road – let’s not be humble, you’re probably the best cook in the tribe. You’ve got a keen sense of taste and smell, and a sixth sense for interesting combinations of ingredients. Lately, you’ve been experimenting with sheep’s milk cheeses which you have fermenting away in the corner of one of the bike caravans. You can’t wait to see what food is on offer at the Bazaar!
Jabo
He/Him
You’re the tribe’s chicken keeper, transporting a coop of a dozen chickens by bike when on the road and letting them out to graze whenever you make camp. You take great pride in your flock and the delicious eggs they lay, which you would eat for every meal if you could. You also take pride in being Jayer, though sometimes you find it hard to connect with your fellow tribespeople; you’re unflinchingly honest and never sugarcoat your words, and this bluntness can sometimes come across as offensive.
Jey
He/Him
You are a healer; you know the medicinal properties of plants and the workings of the human body. You’re never without your pack filled with potions and salves, as well as precious pre-Collapse medical textbooks. You’re a very sensitive person; you hate to see others suffer, which is why you got into this line of work. You put others’ needs before your own, to a fault; as one of the few healers in the tribe you’re often under a lot of strain and pressure.
Lolora
She/Her
You were born into the Zan tribe, but as a young woman you grew uncomfortable with Zan warrior culture – you didn’t want to raid smaller villages or hunt animals for meat. You left the tribe and joined the Jayer, the People of Peace. Here, you raise chickens for eggs on a mobile farm powered by bicycles. The Jayer were suspicious of you at first, but they’ve come to accept you as one of them.
Nanya
She/Her
At your age, you’re happy to just sit in the back of the bike caravan and watch the world go by. You were the tribe’s chicken keeper for many years, and served a year as Speaker a long time ago, but now you’re retired and hoping to enjoy some peace and quiet. Of course, that’s easier said than done – suddenly you find yourself volunteering to help out with this and that, to advise young people on their problems, to head up Meetings and organise committees. You simply have a desire to help others... or at least, you like being involved in things.
Olara
She/Her
You worry about a lot of things; diseases in the flock of sheep that you tend to, bad harvests in the villages you trade with, your son and his constant habit of falling from high places. You’re anxious and a little pessimistic, which frustrates some people, but it’s only because you care.
Rona
She/Her
You are a cartographer, mapping out the continent as the Jayer travel through it. In the post-Collapse period, the geography of the region was massively reshaped and most ancient maps are no longer accurate – for a nomadic tribe, a good map is an essential resource. You’re constantly charting the environment around you, and helping navigate. Last year, you took a break from this work to serve as Speaker for the year, but you’re glad to be back to your maps now – you’re happiest when you’re at work.
Sabler
He/Him
No matter what you’re doing, you’re always turning everything into a game: who can skip this stone furthest across the river? Who can name the most species of mushroom? It’s served you well in your job as a forager – who can find the most blueberries in ten minutes? – but sometimes other people find your antics a bit exhausting. You don’t understand why. For you, everything is more fun with a little bit of competition.
Saya
She/Her
You are a bike mechanic, a crucial job in a tribe who use bicycles as their main mode of transport. You like tinkering with things and making them even better than before and are always keen to experiment and give things a go. You’re generally a cheerful, energetic person, though you can be a bit impatient. Jayer life involves a lot of meetings and discussions, and you can often find yourself getting bored whenever you’re in one.
Solay
She/Her
You have always loved beautiful things; expertly woven fabric, perfectly shaped flowers, vibrant sunsets, handsome men and pretty women. You yourself are known as the tribe’s great beauty, and this is something you take pride in. Some call you vain, but they don’t understand that aesthetic appreciation is one of the things that sets humans apart from beasts, or so you believe.
Wayera
She/Her
You are very proud of the Jayer philosophy of non-violence, and believe that it should be maintained at all costs. However, as the years have gone by and you’ve become one of the tribe’s elders, you’ve noticed that younger people in the tribe seem to be giving in to their violent impulses; almost every year, someone in the tribe is expelled after getting into a fight. You think it’s the bad influence of some of the other tribes and towns that you’ve come into contact with, corrupting the youth of today.
Wola
He/Him
You’re always awake at the crack of dawn, always climbing the tallest trees you can find. You have a thirst for adventure, and can be a bit of a risk-taker, which can get you into trouble (and has resulted in injuries more than once!) You’re very loyal to your friends, who you love above anything.
Yera
She/Her
You’re a gentle soul with a knack for charming animals. You can whistle birdsong, tame horses, pet wild cattle; you much prefer the company of animals to people, who are confusing and hard to read. Like all Jayer, you are vegetarian; last time you visited the Bazaar you accidentally ate some fish, and you’ve felt guilty about it ever since. You wish Fayan would stop bringing it up.
Yon
Any Pronouns
You are an argumentative person. You don’t pick fights for the sake of it, but you hate being told what to do without a good explanation, and other people get sick of your constant questions. You’re highly intelligent and think outside the box, and you can get upset when other people don’t listen to your ideas. In Jayer culture, meetings of all adults take place at least once a week; you’re one of the people who tends to make them run long.
