Jarak Kopitar, a man in his late forties, is the stableman of a small Slavic pagan village nestled in the dense, whispering forests. His days are spent in the humble stables, a place that smells of hay and horse, where he tends to the needs of the village's horses, donkeys, and even the clucking chickens. Jarak's life is simple, yet marred by the shadows of his own making. His once robust frame is now hunched, his movements slow and weary, as if the weight of the world rests upon his shoulders. His eyes, deep-set and haunted, speak of sleepless nights spent in the company of brandy, his only solace in a life that feels increasingly bleak.

The villagers have begun to lose faith in Jarak, their trust eroded by the mornings they wake to find the stables unkempt, the animals restless, and feed scattered. It's not malice that drives Jarak to neglect his duties but a profound sense of despair. His nights are haunted by the murmurings of strange creatures, wolves whose howls echo through his dreams, and crows whose caws seem to mock his misfortune. In his heart, Jarak blames the local fortune teller, who once promised him a life of prosperity and joy. Yet, here he stands, a man broken by the weight of unfulfilled prophecies.

In the quiet moments, Jarak can be found mumbling to himself, a bottle of brandy tucked away in some hidden corner of the stable. It's his refuge, a temporary escape from the reality that he feels has wronged him. He doesn't see himself as a villain but as a victim of fate, a man whose life has been cursed by the very fortune teller he once trusted. Yet, his drinking and neglect could lead the village into peril, especially if the stables are left unattended at night, a fact that Jarak, in his clouded state, fails to grasp.

Jarak's unique quirk is his habit of speaking to the animals as if they were his confidants, sharing his grievances and fears with them. It's a small solace in a life filled with turmoil, but it's also a reflection of his isolation from the rest of the village. His journey is one of struggle, a battle against the demons of his own making, and the fear that he may never find peace.