The Juna were an ancient precursor race who preceded most other races into wildspace in the Spelljammer campaign setting.[1][2]
"Who were the elder ones? I do not know - no spacefarer alive today does. Deep space is littered with their artifacts; monstrous artificial asteroids, with nothing left but their three-armed symbol graven in stone."
- Gamalon Idogyr, addressing the Seekers at the Library of the Spheres.[3]
Overview[]
Known variously as the Ancients[4], the Elders[2][4], the Star Folk[5][4] the First Voyagers[6] or the Lost Gods[7], the Juna were worshipped as gods on hundreds of worlds, by myriads of people now extinct. Perhaps only the ancient thri-kreen, who preceded humans and illithid into wildspace by millions of years, knew them at all. By the time the humans and the illithids were taking their first steps into wildspace, the Juna were already disappearing from this universe. Whether they died out, were destroyed, or chose to move on to another plane of existence is unknown, as is almost everything else about them.[1][2]
Description[]
The Juna were trilaterally symmetrical creatures, with three arms and three legs, vaguely similar to xorn or tiraphegs but unlike both. They also stood nearly 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall. The Juna used a trifoliate symbol, usually in the form of a three-petaled flower or a three-pointed star, which has been found in ancient ruins and on relics throughout the universe.[1][2][5][8]
History[]
Not much is known about the Juna, except for what can be gleaned from the mythologies of dozens of races. The Juna were an ancient, powerful race capable of reforming entire planets, even entire systems to suit their needs.[1][9]
Remnants[]
Only a few relics have survived from the time of the Juna. The most common items include daggers and swords that were grown from crystal, with smoothly curved blades and long, complicated hilts featuring strange ridges and grooves that make it clear that they were not designed for a humans' hand.[1][10] Other items that have been found include armour designed for trilateral bodied creatures; photo-sensitive metal that vibrates in the presence of light; a uniquely powerful "star-helm" capable of propelling an asteroid sized vessel in the manner of a dwarven citadel; star-charts printed on thin sheets of foil-like metal; and a planetarium designed to display and provide information on various crystal spheres and their planets.[2]
The Spelljammer[]
The eminent illithid historian Estriss theorised that the Spelljammer had been created by the Juna. This theory is not widely accepted or supported by other sages.[1]
The Cloak of the First Pilot[]
The Cloak of the First Pilot is a powerful artifact believed to have been created by the Juna. As an ultimate helm, the Cloak grants its wearer the right to captain the most powerful vessel in the universe, the Spelljammer.[1][5]
Radole[]
On the tidally locked planet Radole, the habitable zone known as the Ribbon is believed to have been created by the Juna. Most sages who have studied the enormous mountain range that borders the Ribbon along the entire circumference of the planet, known as the Barrier Mountains, have all concluded that it had been manufactured. Additionally, the huge smooth-walled tunnels that lead for miles into the heart of the Barrier Mountains appear to have been created before the mountains were even built. The walls of these caverns are decorated with abstract murals and carvings, including a recurring motif of three-pointed stars and three-petaled flowers.[11][9]
Asteroids[]
Deep space is littered with artificial asteroids reputedly created by the Juna. Usually little remains except for their trifoliate symbol carved into the stone.[12] The Outpost is a prime example of such a constructed facility, and was perhaps the most complete Juna ruin when it was discovered.[2]
Associated Creatures[]
The People of Nex[]
'The People' are a trilaterally symmetrical race native to the near mythical planet Nex. The Cloakmaster, Teldin Moore, and his first mate, Djan Alantri of Crescent, postulated that the trilateral creatures evolved from a more primitive form, and by the time they had achieved sentience, the Juna had already left the system. The planetary intelligence created by the Juna, known as the Mind of the World, took an interest in 'the People' when they achieved sentience, and has been protecting them and catering to their every need ever since, essentially depriving them of the need or opportunity to evolve any further.[13]
The Keepers[]
The Keepers, also known as the Zookeepers, were an ancient race of small, halfling-sized trilaterally symmetrical creatures, with three arms and legs, and barrel shaped bodies. Their heads were dominated by large milky white eyes, and they travelled the universe in disc-shaped vessels. The sages of wildspace believe that the Keepers raided various worlds for their native life, collecting specimens and taking them elsewhere, either for study, their own amusement or for storage.[14] It is possible that the Juna and these Keepers are related.
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Juna article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, Into the Void, 1991, (TSR Inc.), pages 64-70
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Nigel D Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Chapter 3: Starfaring Races, The Outpost, pages 43-50
- ↑ Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), side bar, page 5
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Broken Sphere, 1993, (TSR Inc.), page 52
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Roger E. Moore, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Maelstrom's Eye, 1992, (TSR Inc.), pages 45-47
- ↑ Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Broken Sphere, 1993, (TSR Inc.), page 92
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Time Capsule section, chapter 3: Starfaring Races, page 43
- ↑ Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Broken Sphere, 1993, (TSR Inc.), page 54
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Broken Sphere, 1993, (TSR Inc.), pages 91-92
- ↑ Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, Into the Void, 1991, (TSR Inc.), page 247
- ↑ Nigel Findley, SJR4 Practical Planetology, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Chapter 2 Earth Bodies, Radole, pages 13-16
- ↑ L. Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc.), Part One The Crossroads of Wildspace, page 5
- ↑ Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Broken Sphere, 1993, (TSR Inc.), pages 164-189
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Lorebook of the Void, 1992, (TSR Inc.), Chapter 3 Spacefarers, Other Monsters, page 65