Jarett Howarth

Jarett Howarth is a human guardsman who was captain of the guard at Greyskull Keep in Emon and, after the fall of Emon, an officer of position of the Pale Guard in Whitestone. He fled his hometown of Ank'Harel in Marquet after falling in love with a noble girl who was arranged to marry someone else, but many years later, Vox Machina arranged for his name to be cleared so that he may visit home.

Confident, competent, and charming, Jarett excels with a crossbow and participated in the battle with Thordak. After the defeat of the Chroma Conclave, Jarett was offered opportunity to return to Emon and Greyskull Keep, but he grew to prefer Whitestone and intended to remain there instead.

As an NPC, he is played by Matthew Mercer.

Appearance
Jarett is a human man in his early twenties with dark skin and short, jet black hair. He is described as very handsome and svelte. After the fight with Thordak, he has noticeable scarring on the side of his neck.

As captain of the guard at Greyskull Keep, he wore studded leather and was well-dressed over his armor. As a member of the guard at Whitestone Castle, he wore an outfit of simple dark blues and grays. At both castles, he visibly carried a crossbow.

Personality
Jarett is described as very respectful, charismatic, and always wearing a half-grin. He is earnest and initially answered teasing questions from Scanlan Shorthalt in full sincerity. In time, he accepts Vox Machina's strange behavior and shenanigans with quick wit and mild humor, such as testing wind direction when they asked a strange question about time after returning from the Feywild and remarking that he and Grog braiding one another's hair would be a waste of time as "I think that I have far more than you do, and it's too short anyway".

He spoke well of his home in Ank'Harel and took pride in the city, and he was eager enough for a chance to visit home safely that he was willing to find Scanlan suude, a highly illegal task he was unhappy to perform. In the end, however, he felt it was no longer a priority as he had grown used to living in Tal'Dorei, but he was elated nonetheless when Vox Machina arranged to have his name cleared.

In combat, Jarett prefers fighting from a distance with a crossbow and from a post on a guard wall, but he is capable in short duels with a rapier or shortsword. He is confident in his abilities, even when faced with strange circumstances such as having to potentially guard against an employer. He takes great pride in his work, and Cassandra de Rolo described him as having stepped up and proved useful during the rebuilding of Whitestone, but he also often stated he was happy to do as asked so long as he was paid and requested multiple pay raises when circumstances escalated beyond simple guard work.

Background
Jarett grew up in Ank'Harel among the lower class, though not as a street urchin. He and a girl of very high nobility fell in love. Because she had many other suitors and because her parents wished to maintain a noble bloodline and arranged a marriage, they carried on their relationship in secret. Many months later, they were discovered and Jarett was set to be executed though he had not broken the law. He left Ank'Harel in about 801 or 802 PD, believing that he would be at minimum imprisoned should he return to Ank'Harel. Afterward, he did as needed to survive.

He traveled to Tal'Dorei, at some point passing through the K'Tawl Swamp, and ultimately came to Emon. Shortly before the stream started, he was hired by Vox Machina as a guard at Greyskull Keep after an "audition" where they attacked the candidates to test their mettle. During the fight, Jarett dodged an arrow fired by Vex'ahlia, made eye contact, and nodded at her, immediately earning her respect and the job. Like most of the guard, he was paid 100 gold a month, but he was often given a bonus as captain and because he was hot. He preferred to keep watch at the top of a small tower in the back wall of the keep. He took a shift spanning from the afternoon until about midnight so that he could be present during the daytime and nighttime guard watches.

Arc 2: The Briarwoods
Wishing to both keep Desmond safe and ensure he did not escape, Scanlan Shorthalt asked Jarett to guard him in the prison. Scanlan noted that Percy de Rolo may attempt to harm Desmond, and though Jarett said it was odd to guard against one of his employers, he was confident in his capability to do so, feeling that Percy was "sheepish" around him and that at minimum he could talk Percy down. After teasing Jarett a little, Scanlan offered to pay him five, then ten extra gold for the task. Jarett made for the Desmond's cell in the prison downstairs, asking Shayne Tranter to take over his watch in the tower. Vex'ahlia later left her companion bear Trinket to help Jarett guard Desmond.

While leaving his workshop, Percy discovered Jarett being held off the ground by his throat and choked by an invisible stalker. Percy shot the creature, causing it to release Jarett. When creature immediately moved on to attack Desmond, Jarett unlocked the cell, grappled the creature, and dragged it back out of the cell. It eventually broke free and returned to the cell to knock Desmond unconscious, and Jarett was unable to hit it through the bars with his shortsword. When the prison was again secure, Jarett asked Vox Machina to, in the future, inform him if their enemies would be invisible and apologized for being unprepared. Upon hearing that they were possibly facing vampires or liches, he suggested the keep's guards receive a pay raise as the job was no longer simple guard duty. Receiving promise that it would be considered, he assured the group that he was willing to do any job for good pay and left to confirm the other guards were still alive. Before leaving the keep for Whitestone, Vex'ahlia paid Jarett 200 gold and urged him to protect Desmond with his life; giving him an additional 200 gold to distribute among the guard, she instructed him to add a second guard to watch Desmond.

Upon their return to Greyskull Keep, Jarett was found eating breakfast and keeping guard over Desmond in the dungeon. He greeted Vox Machina, expressing his happiness that they were well. He reported that no further attacks were made on the keep. He said that the elemental Keyleth left to help protect the keep was unsettling and made him uncomfortable. Though he noted that such "haphazardly tethered creatures" went poorly in the past, he was glad that this instance fared well. Vox Machina informed Jarett that Desmond no longer needed to be held in the prison, and Jarett released him.

Later, finding that the guard allowed Dr. Dranzel's Spectacular Traveling Troupe into the keep and knowing of the group's "shady practices", Vex'ahlia instructed Jarett to keep a close eye on the troupe's rooms for the night. He said that he is happy to do so and positioned himself with his crossbow with line of sight to every door in the corridor. When the troupe was allowed to stay longer while Vox Machina was away, Vax'ildan remarked that they should pay Jarett overtime, which Vex'ahlia confirmed she intended to do.

Attack of the Conclave
Upon returning to the keep, Vox Machina found Jarett happily drinking with Zedd. Jarett informed them that the rest of the troupe went into town to get Kaylie released from the stockade she was imprisoned in after a bar fight. He further reported no issues at the keep, having prevented the troupe from leaving the guest room except in a group until they exited into town together. He found them to be good conversationalists. However, later, they discovered that Kaylie stole all the silverware from the kitchen under Jarett's watch, since keeping track of multiple people as one person was difficult. When Vox Machina again left the keep, they instructed him to keep watch and make note of anything strange. Vex'ahlia remarked he needed a raise, to which he agreed, and Percy immediately paid him 10 gold.

After the group escaped the Chroma Conclave attack in the city and weathered an assault from Vorugal on the keep, Jarett was found on his last watch guarding Percy's workshop. He inquired about the noises upstairs, then asked if he may be excused from his watch to help Erwen Dastell. His request was granted. In the morning, before leaving again for the city, Vex'ahlia approached Jarett on his watch in the courtyard. Telling him that the circumstances were well beyond what they hired him for and that they appreciate his work here, she gave him 300 gold with which to care for the keep and the refugees sheltering in it. He assured her that he took pride in his work and would sooner die than allow the keep to fall, and he refused an additional 100 gold in personal payment, citing this as part of his job, but noted Vex'ahlia's generosity. For this, she resisted the urge to kiss him before leaving. Later, worried that someone influenced by the Chroma Conclave may be among the refugees in the keep, Shayne confirmed that Jarett was already closely watching for anyone suspicious among the refugees. When Vox Machina planned to move their base of operations to Whitestone, Jarett said he would be happy to go where needed, particularly away from dragons, so long as he continued to be paid.

Venturing for Vestiges
Upon returning to Whitestone from the Feywild, Vox Machina encountered Jarett, now a member of the Pale Guard, accompanied by three armored guards on the pathway into Whitestone Castle. After meeting their strange questions about time with humor, he updated them on various events in Whitestone, including his own efforts to organize forces to defend the city against the Chrome Conclave if need be. Telling the group to shout if they needed him, he expressed his happiness at seeing them safe. He and the guards then continued on their way into the city.

Vox Machina located Jarett on watch on the pathway to the castle, where sightlines into the valley were long. As Vox Machina was departing for Ank'Harel, his home city, they wished to know about the place and about Marquet. He said that he left Marquet nine or ten years ago because breaking the law carried harsh punishment and afterward did what he needed to survive. He refused to accompany them to Marquet, fearing that he would be imprisoned there for the rest of his life. He described for them various structures in Marquet, including its current leader J'mon Sa Ord, the Hand of Ord, the town of Shandal, and the canals of Ank'Harel. Vax'ildan asked Jarett if he truly did not wish to accompany them, suggesting that Percy may give him a title in Whitestone, but Jarett again refused as he had more interest in living than in titles and warned that he would be a paranoid companion. When asked if he wanted them to bring anything back, he requested some fusaka, a spice for food. As it tended to be expensive, he offered to give them money to buy it, but they refused. Vox Machina requested that he keep an close eye on Shaun Gilmore, who they and Jarett noticed was overworking himself. Upon arrival in Ank'Harel, the group decided that fusaka was actually an illegal drug and Jarett was almost arrested over it.

After resurrecting Percy at Whitestone Castle, Vox Machina found Jarett nervously speaking with Gilmore about Percy's death. Scanlan delivered a bag of fusaka, and Jarett remarked that at 50 gold for two bags, Scanlan was swindled. Scanlan kept one bag for himself, and Jarett promised to give him prepration tips and to cook a classic Marquesian feast as thanks. Vax'ildan put Kynan Leore into Jarett's care, telling him that Kynan wished to work. When Kynan hesitantly confirmed, Jarett attempted to coach him on being more assertive, but he gave up due to the late hour. He then delivered Keyleth a letter and package from Kerrek, though he was not aware that Kerrek sent it. He accepted Vox Machina's invitation to drinks and brought them and Kynan to a tavern, where he purchased a round of finer Whitestone ale for the group. After the round, he drank a glass of Sandkheg's Hide with Grog Strongjaw, who tricked him into believing it was a different alcohol. It numbed their jaws, forcing them to speak slurred. He took this good-naturedly and spoke at length with Grog through the night. Later, he expressed his hope that he may one day return to Ank'Harel himself, perhaps with a writ of approval from Whitestone.

Scanlan pulled Jarett aside to tell him that Vox Machina was now an ally of J'mon, which Jarett initially disbelieved, and offered to secure Jarett a pardon. In exchange, Scanlan ask Jarett to get him drugs. Uncomfortable, Jarett protested, saying he did not deal in these things and that he did not know anyone in Whitestone who might. Regardless, he suggested Scanlan look for suude in the Turst Fields or in Kymal and offered to send a courier. He warned it was highly illegal but noted that perhaps now was a good time to buy because Emon's prison was unavailble due to Thordak's occupation of the city. He continued to protest, citing his new responsibilities with Kynan, its unsuitability to the situation in Whitestone, and the length of time needed. Eventually, with the promise of a cleared name in Ank'Harel, he unhappily promised to get Scanlan the suude and stumbled off to bed.

Fall of the Chroma Conclave
Although it was the late afternoon after most training ended, Jarett was still instructing Kynan in swordsmanship. He updated Vax'ildan on Kynan's progress, and when Vax'ildan asked to borrow Kynan, he deferred permission to Kynan. Kynan agreed to go with Vax'ildan, and Jarett advised Kynan "don't do anything stupid". He followed them back to the castle, though trailed behind them. Later, Jarett spoke with Percy and Kynan to coordinate establishing a gun corps at the castle.

Scanlan found Jarett in the training barracks eating breakfast. Jarett remarked that he found food in Whitestone unsatisfactory, though the fusaka helped, and happily accepted an invitation to dinner. Actually checking in on his progress finding suude, Scanlan was surprised that Jarett sent a request through someone else because Scanlan did not trust others. Jarett was concerned about Scanlan's drug habit, which Scanlan denied having but said he was trying to start, and pointed out that Scanlan historically coped with stress by having sex. When Scanlan said that this was a new kind of stress, coming out of second-guessing himself because of a promise to return alive, Jarett suggested having a keepsake to assure himself when he is uncertain. However, Scanlan insisted that Jarett acquire suude. Though he agreed to continue trying, he warned that he had seen the drug ruin lives near the K'Tawl Swamp. He then sucker punched Scanlan so that Scanlan may count returning the punch as another reason to continue living.

Intending to again check on acquiring suude, Scanlan found Jarett quietly drinking alone in a tavern during the day, reflective and nervous about confronting Thordak with Vox Machina tomorrow. Scanlan assured him that he would be paid another bonus, perhaps two. Jarett gave Scanlan a small amount of brown suude, which was difficult to acquire. Though he refused additional payment, he firmly told Scalan never to ask for this again because the experience was "harrowing". When Scanlan asked how one even used suude, Jarett became embarrassed that he performed the favor at all.

Jarett participated in the battle against Thordak in Emon. Because he was not immune to fear, as he was not included in Heroes' Feast, he was affected by Thordak's Frightful Presence and became frightened of Thordak for the remainder of the fight. He was nearly burned to death by Thordak's fire breath before being revived by Pike. After Thordak retreated, he concentrated his attacks on the remaining wyverns. Jarett refused to pursue Raishan into the caverns.

Jarett, alongside Kerrek, fell a fire giant pursuing Kashaw and Zahra. After returning to Whitestone, Scanlan, who recently died but was resurrected, pulled Jarett aside. Jarett preemptively refused to acquire more suude. Using an 8th-level Modify Memory, Scanlan altered Jarett's memory of delivering the suude: instead, Scanlan emotionally confessed his mother's death haunted him and he needed the drugs to get through the night, Jarett promised to acquire significant amounts of suude for him, and Scanlan paid him 50 platinum at the time. Scanlan slipped 50 platinum into Jarett's pockets right then to match the altered memory. Once the spell took hold, Jarett said that he would do what he could for Scanlan. He additionally said that he expected a pay raise on account of having nearly died twice in Emon. He remained to recover in Whitestone, in need of a vacation and unhappy about having to source suude.

Arc 4: Taryon Darrington
While Jarett was running the guards through ranged combat drills, Vex'ahlia spoke with him about his recovery and his future plans. He said that he was glad to be no longer in Emon, and though he did not expect to develop a taste for slower countryside life, he had grown to like Whitestone. He intended to stay in Whitestone rather than return to Greyskull Keep, but he suggested that the ultimate decision was Vox Machina's as his employers. She reported that they spoke to the Grand Maven in Marquet, who was now working on clearing his name. Elated, he said that he lived long enough in Tal'Dorei that it was no longer a big concern but would be happy to be able to visit home. When Vex'ahlia informed him of Scanlan's departure from the party, Jarett gave Vex'ahlia the suude he procured for Scanlan, telling her that he was uncomfortable holding it and that Scanlan requested it. He later drank with Vox Machina to celebrate Taryon Darrington joining Vox Machina.

Percy wrote Jarett a letter instructing him to quietly hire someone to monitor Scanlan, to report if anything unusual occurred, and to simply watch him without interfering. He included 400 gold with the letter.

After Campaign One
Jarett attended Vex and Percy's wedding in Shammel. He was present at the rehearsal dinner and sat at a table near Vox Machina. Like nearly every guest at the dinner, he was drugged through the wine by Sylas Briarwood and fell unconscious but was otherwise unharmed.

Abilities
In his notes posted after, Matthew Mercer listed Jarett as multiclassed in fighter and rogue. In combat in, Jarett could attack twice a turn with a heavy crossbow, suggesting that he has Extra Attack; two attacks would not be granted with the feat Crossbow Expert because it is not a hand crossbow, but he likely has the feat regardless as he is able to shoot twice, which the loading property normally does not allow but the feat would allow him to ignore the restriction. Assuming that Matt did not change his mechanical make-up, Jarett at minimum had the following class abilities:
 * Fighter
 * Fighting Style
 * Second Wind
 * Action Surge (one use)
 * Martial Archetype
 * Extra Attack
 * Rogue
 * Expertise
 * Sneak Attack (at least 1d6)
 * Thieves' Cant
 * Thieves' tools proficiency

Notable items

 * Heavy crossbow
 * Shortsword
 * Studded leather armor

Appearances and mentions

 * Pre-stream
 * Campaign One: Vox Machina
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Quotations

 * "I would like also to consider possibly some changes made to our income, as this suddenly turned from a general guarding job to going up against the denizens of the afterlife. It's already been a very dangerous proposition."
 * "As long as I'm still getting paid, we're more than happy to go where you need us to be. If it's further away from dragons, I am okay with that."
 * (on becoming wise) "Drink a lot, listen to people talk. There are none wiser than barkeeps, my friend, and I have been friends with many a barkeep."
 * "I never thought I had the sense for the slower parts of the countryside, but I don't know, I've come to like it here in Whitestone."

Trivia

 * When the cast was asked which NPC they would like to play, Sam chose Jarett "because he's so dreamy and hunky".
 * In, Vox Machina visited a bar in Emon called Howarth's. Though the surname is the same, Matt stated there was no relation.