The Jacket of the Fallen

The Pride’s Mantle is an enchanted jacket crafted from the mane and skin of Jabari Prideheart, a leonin fighter/bard. After Jabari’s soul was taken during a failed mission, his closest companion, Oren, retrieved it and preserved his essence within the jacket. Reborn as the sentient artifact Leoquin, the jacket became a symbol of loyalty, wit, and sacrifice, guiding wearers with clever insight and harlequin-like charisma.

Magical Artifact

Jabari Prideheart, a charismatic leonin fighter/bard, fought alongside Oren, a tabaxi monk, and Theren Duskwind, a tiefling warlock. Together, they ventured into the Necropolis of Moans to challenge the infamous Demilich Acererak, whose soul-devouring schemes threatened countless lives. The trio believed their combined strength and skill would be enough to destroy Acererak’s phylactery and end his reign of terror.

However, Acererak proved far stronger than they anticipated. During the battle, Acererak used Trap Soul to bind Jabari’s essence within a gem stored in his phylactery, leaving his body intact but lifeless. Oren and Theren, believing Jabari to be unconscious, carried his body out of the collapsing necropolis, retreating under Acererak’s relentless assault. Once safe, they discovered the horrifying truth: Jabari’s soul was gone, trapped within Acererak’s dark magic.

Oren, refusing to abandon his friend, returned alone to the necropolis. Using his monk training, he infiltrated the lair with precision and stealth, bypassing Acererak’s traps and guardians to retrieve Jabari’s soul gem. Acererak, unaware of Oren’s presence, remained preoccupied with his experiments, allowing Oren to escape with the gem. Back with Theren, Oren realized that Jabari’s body had deteriorated too much to restore his life.

From within the soul gem, Jabari spoke his final wish to Oren:
“If I can no longer stand beside you, make me into something that can. Let me help you.”

Determined to honor his friend’s sacrifice, Oren sought out a master enchanter and artificer. Together, they crafted The Pride’s Mantle, an enchanted jacket woven from Jabari’s preserved mane and skin, embedding his soul gem at its core. Reborn as Leoquin, Jabari’s spirit became a guiding presence within the jacket, offering wisdom, wit, and unwavering loyalty to its wearer.

Inspired by the duality of the harlequin—a figure of both comedy and tragedy—Jabari chose the name Leoquin to reflect his transformation. Like the harlequin, Leoquin balances wit and mischief with profound insight and hidden pain, using humor to inspire those who wear the Pride’s Mantle.

The Pride’s Mantle was not created as a weapon of vengeance but as a symbol of friendship and devotion. While Leoquin’s sharp quips and harlequin-like sarcasm often mask his sorrow, his true purpose is to protect and inspire, ensuring that his legacy of loyalty and courage endures

• Friendship, sacrifice, transformation, and legacy.
• The creation of a sentient artifact.
• Overcoming grief and loss through determination