A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Jarin

Jarin by Edwin King and N. Robin Crossby is a role playing game supplement published by Columbia Games Inc. for use with Hârn and HârnMaster.

The supplement is available as a six-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $4.99 but was purchased at a reduced price during a sale.

The opening paragraph explains that Jarin is the name used for the first human inhabitants of Hârn and their present-day descendants.

History covers the Jarin who originated off Hârn itself and arrived after being driven out of Lythia. They had relations with the Sindarin and Khuzdul when those non-humans ruled the island. In the present, the main Jarin home, Orbaal, has been conquered by viking raiders from Ivinia, as the Jarin are poor at cooperating with each other. Sidebars cover their nature, appearance and religion.

Culture looks at both the “barbarian” and “civilised” Jarin, and how they might differ. Their culture is primarily clan-based and their legal system is somewhat similar to vendetta law, as see in Law, it has differences. Their art has been influenced by the Sindarin and Khuzdul and some examples are given. Sidebars look at the Jarin language, which is dying, clothing, food and drink, feasts and entertainment and their burial customs, and the Jarin appear to have brought barrows from Lythia.

Folklore looks at their folktales, but only gives any real details on one legend. A sidebar looks at the Celaetuath, which are spirits and entities that feature in Jarin legends, with details on four of them.

Jarin in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though short, has enough different sections that these would have been useful. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a single column with sidebar format and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of colour and black and white illustrations. Presentation is decent.

If this supplement has one major problem it’s that it’s too short. It is covering one of the major branches of humanity on Hârn in a mere six pages, which means nothing goes into much depth; it would definitely be possible that the supplement could have been a lot more substantial. There are no HârnMaster stats, so it’s usable with any system, and some bits could be scavenged from to use in another setting. Jarin is expensive at full price and it can be found by clicking here.