Jak O The Wisp is the ex Imperial Court Bard from the town of Greenstaves. Son of failed musician turned drunk, Cornelius Munch; and the renowned and beautiful Tali the Tattered of Lordsport; he is a self made man of humble and sorrowful origins.
After the leaving of his father before he could speak, and the loss of his mother to a plague in Lordsport in the year 1324; his late childhood and early adolescence is unknown, even to him.
He next appears as a traveling Gleeman, clothed in a cloak of many strips of tattered Silk. Over the next 15 years, he is seen in numerous lordly mansions, estates and finally, the royal palace itself.
After impressing the Emperor Talaved with his lyrical genius at his coronation, winning the Battle of the Bards organised in the Emperor'’s name; Jak reward was to adopt both a lordly title and therefore name. Jakobia Alfred Pankatraz he became, but what is strange is that he refused all writs of land or income, begging only the name and his status as Lord.
Rumours flew concerning Jak, especially in regards to how close of a friendship blossomed between him and Talaved. Many a late night was spent at the Emperors bedside, with little but the sound of his lute and the young Emperors laughter.
A saying older than the hills themselves should be used to describe the events that followed. This too shall pass. As it is in life, so it is with Jak. He fell madly in love with the favoured concubine of the Emperor Talaved. A woman of strong spirit could you never find, Alisandre of Raven hair and steel of spine. She, who in another time or place, could have ruled the Empire alone.
It is said that Jak changed upon the day he met Alisandre, for a previously gay and cheerful soul, only concerned with the next toast, song or cheer; became steeped in politics. He showed his tenacity, mettel and keen mind in the small councils of the Empire, through his loyal service against Talaved’s enemies and most of all, with the bureaucracy of the Empire itself.
Each accolade he was granted, he received graciously and nobelly, however it would be found for sale in the market the following day. But after each award ceremony, those in the court that followed such things noticed a nearing of Jak towards the Emperors favoured female.
Many sharp eye would say that she fell for him too, however the result of the forbidden love could not attest to it. After an evening of rare violence from the Emperor, who slew three serving men and banished 15 more, a warrant for Jaks arrest was issued. Declaring 1000 golden crowns for his capture, dead or alive. With no evidence, rumours flew, and even more after the disappearance of Alisandre 1 week later.
Where he is now, is unknown; but the question still stands. What will the Emperor do to his previous closest friend, if he were to be found?