The Janya

Arrived in their Promised Land two millennia ago to find it…currently occupied. A highly religious people with advanced psychic gifts, their technological base (known as Technik) is highly advanced, if lacking in some electronic features some would consider fundamental. Divided into social castes by physiology and enlightenment, most Janya have brick red skin and are sexually trimorphic.

The Kravyad

The native civilized people of this half of a binary star system, the Kravyad evolved from bipedal alpine mammals, and colonized the inner planets of the system in the far depths of distant history. Their technology, while primitive compared to that of the Janya, comports with the basic principles of chemistry and physics that we are familiar with. This places them at a significant disadvantage when compared to the Technik of the Janya, or the Nemesis-Tech of the Abhva. Originally a strongly matriarchal society, the hirsute Kravyad have broken into fractious clans with varying allegiance to the Solar Kingdoms led by the Janya.  

The Abhva

The inhabitants of the other half of the binary solar system, the Abhva are a decadent and corrupted coalition of hive-minded reptilian races who have long since depleted the resources of their native worlds. Strongly if abhorrently spiritual, the Abhva are a dark mirror to the worst tendencies of Janya and Kravyad alike. Every handful of centuries, as the co-orbits of the system’s binary stars bring them into proximity, the Abhva hordes arrive, locust like, to consume and despoil.

The seven lunar worlds* at the center of Janya culture and the Solar Kingdoms orbit the Storm-Giant Kaikasi, and are blessed with atmosphere, warmth, and life. But it was not always so. When the starfaring Janya first arrived in the Mitra system a few thousand years ago, the moons of Kaikasi were cold and lifeless (with the exception of those close enough to feel the stress of the Storm-Giant’s massive gravity; those were hot and lifeless). Within a year of arrival, each boasted all the environmental qualities necessary to support life, from the microscopic to macroscopic.

According to Janya religious tradition, each of the seven worlds was rendered habitable by one of the Radiant Celestials that observe the Janya in a miracle fueled by Solar Shakti. Great crystal cathedrals have been erected in the holy locations where the Radiant Celestials first manifested themselves (and the planetary wide tempests that followed were centered).

* Karnsya, Aruna, Marakata, Nilavarna, Dhumala, Guara, and Rajata

Unexpected bonus wildlife from the concept art team. Four legs plus two wings means it’s from heptilicus family on the Inner Worlds (Subahu and Maricha). Since it turned up in the Lunar Worlds wildlife guide, that means this clever rascal has mastered inter-solar flight, or (more likely) some jackass rocket crew was smuggling them for the nobility caste, ran into a customs patrol, and had to dump cargo. Now they’re everywhere.

Displacement: Scale 2 (5,000 – 50,000 cubic meters)
Armor: Standard, Scale 1
Hull: Standard, Scale 2
Weapons: Two Neutron Particle Gun Turrets
Standard Crew: 100 (military), 20 Boarding Defense

Layout:
Zone A: Bridge
Zone B: Quarters
Zone C: Gun Decks
Zone D: Engineering / Propulsion
Zone E: Cargo

Before the first Incursion, when the Janya had yet to encounter the Abhva, they were understandably dismissive of the Kravyad legends of Ice Giants. During and after that Dark Age, that context became less controversial.

In AY 1936, the Subahu-based Chandra Sundries joined the arms industry and developed a non-lethal weapon for the Solar Navy. While the gun performed admirably, the Navy ultimately went with a Raka based manufacturing cartel (Chandra Sundries filed an appeal with the Prince of Commerce alleging favouritism, but lost the case).

Undeterred, Chandra continued forward by marketing to local defense departments. Police and Security forces quickly adopted the DA-Z in the more Inner Worlds, as well as the Yami Belt where constant jurisdiction disputes necessitated a non-lethal solution to apprehending criminals.

Within fifteen years, Chandra Sundries had nearly 25% of the non-lethal armament market. As the previous military contract for non-lethal arms expiring, the Janya Military Police forces signed a 10 year renewable contract for non-lethal weaponry which has continued to this day.

While there have been dozens of other manufacturing cartels releasing variant ‘lightning gun’ versions of their more lethal blaster weaponry – and some that possibly perform better, the Chandra Sundries Dazer models remain the industry standard for civilian and police forces throughout the solar system.

CS-12: Concealable variant (requires restricted license in the Kingdoms)

CS-22: Sidearm Variant (requires common license in the Kingdoms)

CS-35: Carbine Variant, enhanced damage (does not require a license for home defense, private ownership subsidised during incursions)

CS-47: Longarm Variant, maximum damage and range (requires restricted license in the Kingdoms during times of peace, common license during incursions)

Note: Civilians with military training in firearm combat are rarely declined the common license, and only occasionally denied restricted licenses.