Juran-Ti
About The Juran-Ti
Species Physiology
Biologically, having evolved on a somewhat swampy but otherwise class-M world, Juran-Ti are oxygen-breathing, bipedal humanoids with the typical two arms and two legs, plantigrade stance, and five digits per hand and foot. Hairless, their skin varies from grey to orange, with pale and raised, speckled markings down the limbs and digits, and about the ears, temples and cheeks of the face. Ears are larger and finlike, sensitive to a greater range of higher-frequency sound than humans, with slightly decreased sensitity in the low range. Pupils of the eye are vertically slitted and adapted to function underwater, though are on par with humans as far as viewable spectrum and sensitivity. More unusual is the atypical structuring of the Juran-Ti mouth, with two hinged jaws in a vertical orientation. Lined with teeth suited for omnivorous consumption, Juran-Ti are capable and comfortable eating most everything that other humanoids eat (except Bolians with their cartilaginous tongues that can practically eat battery acid) though they evolved to consume small fish and similarly sized prey. Unlike most humanoids, they also possess six prehensile tongues (25 - 30 cm's in length) which were historically used to constrict and pull in small prey for consumption.
Interestingly, the multiple Juran-Ti tongues also offers an advantage when it comes to speaking alien languages; learning a new language is no easier for them than it is for most other species, but the multiple tongues and structure of their mouth allows them to more easily duplicate the phonetics of most verbal languages. A Juran-Ti who becomes fluent in a language can usually eliminate their own accent within six to ten months. Juranis IV has more than forty indigenous dialects, though the most prevalent is Kezet-Formal, for general use among Juran-Ti, and Kezet-Central, which is a simplified version of Formal, that non-natives are generally more capable of articulating successfully.
History
A little over one hundred and fifty years ago, the Juran-Ti were spreading out through their solar system utilizing sublight technology, establishing a number of outposts and settlements on other moons within the system, though no planets outside of Juranis IV were habitable. In the midst of this time of expansion, First Contact was made with the Ferengi Alliance, who provided them (for a considerable price) with the technology to travel faster than light. As expected, the introduction of such a technology changed their society overnight, for both better and worse. While science and exploration surged ahead, so too did the less savory elements of their society, and as they started to spread out from their little corner of the galaxy, smugglers and pirates were unfortunately among the first 'Ambassadors' that many other races would see.
In general, current Juran-Ti technology is equivalent to early twenty-third century Earth, though with exceptions given their relationships and trade status with the Federation, Ferengi Alliance, and other intergalactic neighbors. Largely confined to their own solar system, with legitimate settlements in a half dozen star systems and an unknown number of bases of operation of different pirate and smuggler groups, there has never been a need for a large-scale space fleet, though they do have a considerable police force to try and keep the piracy in check. In spite of relative proximity (galactically speaking) to the Federation border and Bajoran section, the Juranis system was largely left alone during the war between the Dominion and the Alpha Quadrant, mostly due to a lack of any serious strategic importance in the star system and their decision to remain neutral and unaffiliated with either side. In this, both the legitimate government and the various pirate organizations were in agreement; after all, they all knew what happened to the Maquis at the hands of the Cardassians and their Dominion allies, and if the Dominion turned its attention to the Juranis system, there wouldn't be a lot any of them could do to resist. Juranis IV remains too far outside the Federation's current sphere of influence to be a potential candidate for membership, though they're close enough to the Federation border for regular trade and contact, with a great many Juran-Ti travelling through Federation territory on legitimate -and sometimes illegal- business.
Culture
Excepting of course most of the outlaw elements, many of the Juran-Ti people are highly spiritual, following a belief of shifting balance in the universe, of the ebb and flow of fortune, both good and bad; a very crude interpretation would be 'Nothing Bad Lasts Forever', coupled with 'All Good Things Must Come To An End'. True Traditionalists also believe the Juran-Ti to be the first, true people in the universe (and True Believers are rarely swayed by pesky notions such as 'facts' and 'evidence to the contrary') and often offer opposition in matters of government policy that relate to dealings with other races, inalienable rights, and anything that might (in their minds) 'pollute' Juran-Ti racial purity. The fact that it's difficult for Juran-Ti to procreate with other races only serves to further convince the Traditionalists that they're Right.
Credit: Dave Bawtree