Jorune
Encyclopedia
Jorune, or Skyrealms of Jorune, is a science-fantasy role-playing game
set among the Skyrealms - floating "islands" of earth levitated by mysterious crystals in the crust of an alien planet. Three editions of the game were published from 1984 until 1992, but all are currently out of print. The buildings, races, and bizarre creatures of Jorune were brought to life by the realistic artwork of illustrator Miles Teves
.
background (of the planetary romance
subtype) created by Andrew Leker, initially for a high school writing assignment. The setting was somewhat comparable to the Barsoom
of the John Carter novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs
, in that it was a barbaric fantasy world populated by sword-wielding heroes who encountered strange alien beings and technologies. It also has elements of the intricate fantasy worlds of Jack Vance
.
The game's setting was quite different from other role-playing games of the time. However it had some features in common with Tekumel
. These included the idea of humans colonising a distant planet and subsequently losing contact with the rest of humanity (a dimensional rift in Tekumel' s case, civil war in Jorune' s) leading to the regression of the colonist's society and war against the planet's native inhabitants.
The game's setting, the planet Jorune, was colonized by successive waves of inhabitants after the evolution of the native life forms ("Jorune creatures"), including the insectoid Cleash, the bizarre Thriddle, and the broadly humanoid Ramian, culminating in the invasion of the Human race. By the time game play begins, the human race has evolved into three subspecies differentiated by size and facility with Isho (the magic-like energy of the setting): regular Humans; the small, Isho-adept Muadra; and the large, Isho-resistant Boccord. Four additional PC races, the Blount, Crugar, Bronth, and Woffen, are bipedal, genetically-engineered descendants of Earth animals (frogs, cougars, bears, and wolves, respectively).
Conflict and interaction between the various alien species on Jorune drove some of the drama of individual adventures, as did the exploration of the planet's surface, which was littered with powerful prehistoric artifacts originating variously with the initial Human settlement (typically blaster weapons and other "advanced technology") or the Shanthas, the native sentient lifeform (typically instruments for Isho manipulation).
Some game terms were derived from the language of Jorune, such as the use of "Sholari" ("teacher") for the gamemaster
or "Isho" for the system of magic.
Sarceen's Knowledge, fanzine from UK by Alex Blair.
Sholari, fanzine from US by [Joseph K. Adams] aka Joe Coleman
.
Bokelby's Folly, fanzine from UK by Ray Gilliam.
Danstead's Traveler, webzine by Danstead Traveler (defunct).
Journal of the Tansoor Historical Society, fanzine from US by Joseph K. Adams.
Gomo Guide to Thoneport, fanzine from US by Joseph K. Adams.'
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
set among the Skyrealms - floating "islands" of earth levitated by mysterious crystals in the crust of an alien planet. Three editions of the game were published from 1984 until 1992, but all are currently out of print. The buildings, races, and bizarre creatures of Jorune were brought to life by the realistic artwork of illustrator Miles Teves
Miles Teves
Miles Teves is a Hollywood artist and conceptual designer who works on television productions, films, and computer games. He illustrated the role-playing game, Jorune in the mid-1980s. Since then, his work has been more for the silver screen...
.
Setting
Skyrealms of Jorune was based on a science-fantasyScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
background (of the planetary romance
Planetary romance
Planetary romance is a type of science fiction or science fantasy story in which the bulk of the action consists of adventures on one or more exotic alien planets, characterized by distinctive physical and cultural backgrounds...
subtype) created by Andrew Leker, initially for a high school writing assignment. The setting was somewhat comparable to the Barsoom
Barsoom
Barsoom is a fictional representation of the planet Mars created by American pulp fiction author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote close to 100 action adventure stories in various genres in the first half of the 20th century, and is now best known as the creator of the character Tarzan...
of the John Carter novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
, in that it was a barbaric fantasy world populated by sword-wielding heroes who encountered strange alien beings and technologies. It also has elements of the intricate fantasy worlds of Jack Vance
Jack Vance
John Holbrook Vance is an American mystery, fantasy and science fiction author. Most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance. Vance has published 11 mysteries as John Holbrook Vance and 3 as Ellery Queen...
.
The game's setting was quite different from other role-playing games of the time. However it had some features in common with Tekumel
Tékumel
Tékumel is a fantasy world created by Professor M. A. R. Barker over the course of several decades from around 1940. With time Barker also created the role-playing game Empire of the Petal Throne, set in the Tékumel fictional universe and first published in 1975 by TSR, Inc...
. These included the idea of humans colonising a distant planet and subsequently losing contact with the rest of humanity (a dimensional rift in Tekumel
The game's setting, the planet Jorune, was colonized by successive waves of inhabitants after the evolution of the native life forms ("Jorune creatures"), including the insectoid Cleash, the bizarre Thriddle, and the broadly humanoid Ramian, culminating in the invasion of the Human race. By the time game play begins, the human race has evolved into three subspecies differentiated by size and facility with Isho (the magic-like energy of the setting): regular Humans; the small, Isho-adept Muadra; and the large, Isho-resistant Boccord. Four additional PC races, the Blount, Crugar, Bronth, and Woffen, are bipedal, genetically-engineered descendants of Earth animals (frogs, cougars, bears, and wolves, respectively).
Conflict and interaction between the various alien species on Jorune drove some of the drama of individual adventures, as did the exploration of the planet's surface, which was littered with powerful prehistoric artifacts originating variously with the initial Human settlement (typically blaster weapons and other "advanced technology") or the Shanthas, the native sentient lifeform (typically instruments for Isho manipulation).
Some game terms were derived from the language of Jorune, such as the use of "Sholari" ("teacher") for the gamemaster
Gamemaster
A gamemaster is a person who acts as an organizer, officiant for questions regarding rules, arbitrator, and moderator for a multiplayer game...
or "Isho" for the system of magic.
Spinoffs
Alien Logic: A Skyrealms of Jorune Adventure, a DOS based RPG published in 1994, is based in the Skyrealms game-universe.Sarceen's Knowledge, fanzine from UK by Alex Blair.
Sholari, fanzine from US by [Joseph K. Adams] aka Joe Coleman
Joe Coleman
Joe Coleman may refer to:*Joe Coleman , American Major League Baseball pitcher*Joe Coleman , American Major League Baseball pitcher...
.
Bokelby's Folly, fanzine from UK by Ray Gilliam.
Danstead's Traveler, webzine by Danstead Traveler (defunct).
Journal of the Tansoor Historical Society, fanzine from US by Joseph K. Adams.
Gomo Guide to Thoneport, fanzine from US by Joseph K. Adams.'