| Jaruma Package Deal | |
|---|---|
| Ability | Cost |
| +3 STR | 3 |
| +3 CON | 6 |
| Jaruma Toughness: Damage Resistance (1 PD/1 ED) | 1 |
| Jaruma Toughness: Life Support (Safe Environments: High Pressure, Intense Heat) | 3 |
| Jaruma Body Structure: Extra Limbs (2 - one extra arm and leg), Inherent (+1/4) | 6 |
| Three Sets Of Eyes: Increased Arc Of Perception (360o) for Sight Group) | 10 |
| Disadvantages | Value |
| None | |
| Total Cost Of Package: | 29 |
One of the most unusual-looking known species, the Jaruma have belonged to the Conjoined Civilizations since first contact with the Se'ecra.
Powerfully-built creatures, the Jaruma (the name is both singular and plural) have an unusual body chemistry involving fluorosilicone compounds. They come from a high-temperature Venusian world and breathe a mix of carbon dioxide and fluorine which is deadly to most other species (and which requires them to use special breathing gear when they need to interact with other species). They stand more than two meters tall on three stumpy legs. They have three arms, each of which ends in a mouth/hand surrounded by three eyes.
Umara is a Type 8 world (on the Terran scale) with a high atmospheric density and high temperatures. Few species can survive there without protective gear. One of the reasons for the Jaruma's importance in the Conjoined Civilizations is that they've been able to spread out and colonize many similar planets that other species have little or no use for. They prefer to establish colonies in star systems with other inhabited planets so they can develop a robust intra-system economy quickly.
The Jaruma evolved on a world where life is often harsh, and creatures that survive must be tough and clever. Lacking natural weaponry, they used their intelligence to create weapons and band together in ku'la ("tribes") to hunt and defend themselves. After they advanced to a stage of development where predators were no longer a significant threat, they spread out and established kingdoms and city-states based on tribal alliances and rivalries. These gave way to true nations in time, though not without numerous wars, rebellions, and other conflicts (much as on Earth). The Jaruma united in the twenty-second century under an immensely charismatic political leader named Damgu Wa'neet, and have remained that way ever since, though periodically some sentiment arises for a return to balkanization.
Family and clan influence remains strong in Jaruma society. Most Jaruma give their loyalty to their large extended families first, their clans second, their careers (usually in clan-owned businesses) third, and to Jaruma society as a whole fourth. The Jaruma educational and apprenticeship system, used to train the young, is widely admired for its high degree of success and efficiency.
The Jaruma had developed a fairly advanced technology on their own (ATRI 7), but never had any interest in space exploration or interstellar travel until they were contacted by the Se'ecra - in fact, thanks to the nigh-perpetual cloud cover over all of Umara, they had almost no astronomical knowledge at all. On the other hand, their geological, biological, and mathematical sciences were well-developed; they're well-known even today for their skills in the fields of prospecting, mining, and genetic engineering.