More about Jaheira
When asked
about her past, Jaheira glares as she speaks. She says that she was born in the
Tethyr region to a loyalist of the King Alemander regime, unfortunately during
the Tethyrian civil war. Her family was among the nobles targeted by the angry
mobs of peasants, and she was only spared because a servant girl took her from
their castle before it fell. They fled into the forest of Tethyr and stumbled
across an enclave of Druids willing to take the child. Jaheira grew up a very
headstrong girl, believing that the only way to protect nature was to have an
active role in the world. She seems to have little in common with Khalid, but
even though her manner is often confrontational, she apparently cares deeply
for him. Her admiration of Gorion is obvious, and she plainly states that
whomever was responsible for his death will suffer an equal fate. Jaheira is a
member of the Harpers as well as an old friend of your mentor, Gorion. She
promised him before his death that they would see to his charge's safety....a
promise she takes seriously. Jaheira is a no nonsense, determined woman and she
will not be found far from the object of her promise, like it or not. She is a
half-elf, so one of her parents is human, and one elven.
In Baldur's
Gate 1, Jaheira is a Fighter/Druid, that you can meet early in the Game. She is
the only character that you meet who is more powerfull (higher leveled) than
you (the protaganist) at the point of meeting. She is travelling with her
husband Khalid, an elven Fighter. If you want to seperate her from Khalid,
you'll need to use one of the three couple seperating tricks. She levels up
enough to get Druidic Polymorph, which allows her to shapesift into a wolf or
one of two bears. The bears have a lower armour class than her (if wearing
armour) but a higher hit probability. I found them too slow to use in combat,
and she gets the ability so late in the game that the reduction in armour class
is very dangerous. The wolf however makes a very usefull scout as she is
quicker as a wolf.
As a
Fighter/Druid, she makes an excellent utility choice, backing up Branwen or
Yeslick for healing, and by casting defensive and offensive spells before
leaping into melee. I always used barkskin and flame blade, and Basilisks don't
like "Call Lightning" . Her weapon proficiencies are limited, but
darts of wounding carry on hurting your opponents for rounds after striking and
darts of stunning are battle winning weapons.
In Baldur's
Gate 2, she remains a Fighter Druid, and she is not far from you when you
start. She has a high dexterity which means thaqt she develops a high armour
class and is hence hard to hit. You have the option of equiping her with a
weapon and shield, in which case you should look either for the magic clubs or
scimitars, or you can develop proficiency in the quaterstaff, of which towards
the end of the game you will find a powerfull staff to see you though the
Throne of Bhaal. As a druid, she gets usefull summoning spells early, calling
on nymphs, bears, elementals and insects to help her and you. She thus retains
the flexibility she offers you in the first part of the story.
She is
multi-class and a Druid. This means that to become the Great Druid, she needs
six million points, but once she gets there, the scale shortens dramtically as
she becomes a heirophant. If you play with five companions in your party,
she'll not do it. Some correspondents at Planet Baldur's Gate play solo, or
solo with only one companion. If you want to Jaheira as the Great Druid, you'll
need to play with fewer companions.
Sparky the
Bardbarian says (here...)
about making her fight.... Funny, she fights with me all the time, I don't
have to do anything. Jaheira: Smacks Sparky upside the head.
Sparky: See! Anyway, I give her the best organic armor available,
usually studded leather early in the game, then the Dragon armors, and finally
the Gorgon plate from the Underdark. (I refrain from giving her metal plate
mail for role playing purposes). For weapons I start her with Belm (the +2
Scimitar from Trademeet). Later I give her the Waters Edge (+3 Scimitar from
House Jae'lett in the Udark) and finally the Spectral Brand from Watchers Keep.
Late in the game and in TOB I give her the Staff Of The Woodlands. I also give
her either a girdle of giant strength or the gauntlets of ogre power,
Balduran's helm, the shield of harmony from Trademeet, and boots of speed. This
combo makes her armor class about -10 and sheilds her mind from most effects.
Have her cast a few buffing spells on herself before combat and she can stand
toe to toe with anyone in the game. And if my PC isn't wearing it, I give her
the Amulet Of Power from Aran Linvale to speed her casting time and protect her
from level drain. I plan to live forever, or die trying!
NB Sparky
often travels only with Jaheira! So she gets to be Grand Druid, I must try it
some time.
April 2002
Sparky's comments added August 2005