Joyu

**Joyu** was an icy terrestrial moon in the Cassiopeia Galaxy that orbited a white gas giant. The moon was the home of a population called the Joyuans.

## Description

The moon of Joyu was a rocky world that orbited a gas giant with clouds of water vapor, which gave Joyu's mother planet a white coloration with bands of pale grey and blue. Joyu and its mother planet were situated in the northern Etelan Worlds, a sector of space located in the northwestern reaches of the galactic Central Expanse region. Joyu was one of the several rocky moons orbiting its planet, with all the astronomical bodies in its star system ultimately orbiting the same white giant star.

The frigid surface of Joyu was covered in barren plains of frozen rock and vast icy mountain ranges. Within these mountains were elaborate caves of ice and snow. The way in which the light of the sun reflected off of Joyu's icy topography made the planet glimmer in beautiful shades of white, light blue, indigo, and pink. Arguably some of the most famous natural formations found on Joyu were its enormous thermal pools, known for their brilliant pink coloration. These thermal pools were popular as hot springs for visitors and inhabitants alike.

The moon had a somewhat thinner atmosphere than what was safe for Humans and various other sentient species to sustain themselves naturally, and so most of Joyu's inhabitants lived in heavily-sealed homes and buildings connected to each other via underground street tunnels. Extended trips out on the planet's surface without oxygen-protected gear were possible but largely discouraged for safety reasons, as prolonged exposure to Joyu's thin atmosphere could lead to asphyxia. Those of species who did not need oxygen or air to survive and/or were not affected by the moon's freezing cold temperatures often built monuments and landmarks across Joyu's surface that were not air-sealed or protected from the cold.

### Government

An **imperial governorship** operating under the Lumin Crown once served as the moon's centralized government. At the head of this lunar government was a governor personally appointed by the royal family of the Lumin Crown. Joyu was eventually granted independence by the King and Sentinel of Luminetela, South of Lumin, sometime during the latter half of the 6th millennium ASA.

After achieving independence, the **Republic of Joyu** served as the centralized lunar government of Joyu. This republic operated on a presidential system, with an elected official titled the President granted power over the executive branch of government, deriving its power from the legislative branch.

## History

### Colonization from Imperials and Outsiders

Hundreds of years before the 60th century ASA, groups of Dremirian settlers from the Dreamer Worlds decided to settle in the Etelan Worlds to establish a new home for themselves. Soon after, groups of other sentient species like Humans came to settle on Joyu as well. These different settler groups worked together to build the first cities on Joyu, which was previously uninhabited.

Not too long after the first waves of settlers arrived on Joyu, imperial forces from the Lumin Crown annexed the moon and its star system as imperial territory, taking over operations on Joyu altogether and establishing a governorship. It was believed that this imperial governorship reigned over Joyu for at least over a hundred years.

### Gaining Independence

Sometime during the 58th century ASA, during the reign of King South of Lumin, Joyu was one of the many former imperial colonies to have been granted independence. After a brief transitional period, the Republic of Joyu was founded in place of the old monarchical governorship, looking towards a future of democracy.

## Inhabitants

The inhabitants of Joyu referred to themselves as Joyuans. This Joyuan population was comprised of Humans, Dremirians, and various other sentient species found throughout the galaxy. Those who thrived in extreme cold environments, like the Fridagrians and the Etelans, also made a home for themselves on Joyu.

### Sentinels

Sentinel Joyu was gifted with the ability to instantly change the temperature of any bodies of water, no matter the size. Joyuan Sentinels often worked closely alongside the Republic of Joyu and were generally respected by most of the moon's population.

## Trivia

* The visualization of Joyu and its natural features was inspired by the Ice Cavern and Shooting Star featured in *Steven Universe*.
* Joyu as a name was conceptualized back in March 2018, alongside a design for its Sentinel, Keioh Kiko. However, nothing about Joyu as a location was established until March 2023, five years after the name was first conceived.