Jokaero

The Jokaero are a fictional minor independent alien race who were introduced on page 197 of Rogue Trader, the first edition Warhammer 40,000 rule book. They closely resembled orangutans. They were described as not being a truly intelligent species, but one with an instinctive knowledge of how to create incredible technologies. They bear a resemblance the alien Motie Engineers, from Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's The Mote in God's Eye, which may have provided the initial inspiration for them.

Examples of Jokaero devices included polyhedral ships capable of incredible movement and miniature "digital weapons" which fit on a finger. These weapons usually contained one-shot weapons like or . They could be fired by sharply bending the finger the ring is on. Another device ascribed to the Jokaero was a surveillance system incorporating tiny mechanical flies, all controlled by a single main component, which requires some form of psychic input, which suggests that the Jokaero are a sentient race.

Ian Watson's The Inquisition War trilogy and other books list them as an "Imperial Protectorate". This indicates that while they are a xenos race the Imperium has some sort of contact with them. They appear to exchange the advanced technology they create for continued tolerance and safety.

Early 40K scenarios featured Jokaero raiding small areas and constructing incredible weapons to defend themselves as the game progressed. Only one model was produced for the Jokaero, which strongly resembles an orangutan, including a 'tree swinging' poise.

Jokaero are considered by some to have been written out of canon, but occasional indirect references can be found. For example, a wargear entry for digital weapons in the 3rd edition Codex: Witch Hunters describes them as "Ancient relics thought to have been created for the Imperium by an alien race" (pg 21). However, the Jokaero are not specifically referenced by name or description in the Witch Hunters Codex. They are mentioned by name in the 3rd edition Codex: Necrons as a "technology-mimicking" (pg.26) race created by the Old Ones in the twilight hours of their empire. In the Black Library novel Horus Rising by Dan Abnett, Horus mentions the Jokaero amongst a list of creatures faced during the Great Crusade. A "Jokaero light-sculpture" is also mentioned in Abnett's novel Xenos, and one character uses what may be a Jokaero digital weapon. Jokaero weapons are mentioned offhand in a Rogue Trader outpost in Ravenor.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu