“Let us speak. There are humans present.” -Lirist Jil Oric, 2124

By now, fraal (pronounced “frahl”) and humans should be as close as brothers. They came to Earth 10,000 years ago. They set up base on earth and observed humans, who were primitive but showed great potential. Meetings lead to earth legends, like spirits or gods. The humans feared them. They reluctantly kept their distance in our star system and waited until we were ready. They eventually made contact in 2124, and soon an alliance and exchange of thoughts and ideas were made.

Fraal and humans have known one another for almost 400 years, and they've colonized space together. In the 26th century, fraal can be found as members of every significant society. The truth is, though, that fraal are in many ways still the most alien sentient beings that humanity deals with. A full third of the fraal live almost completely apart from humans. They're from an ancient culture, even if their history lies mostly forgotten, and the differences between human and fraal loom larger than those between many of humanity's newer friends.

Legally, fraal enjoy the strongest protection under the law and suffer the least discrimination. As humanity shares the credit for the stardrive with the fraal, it's pretty well accepted that the fraal should be given equal consideration in other matters as well. Indeed, the respect given to fraal borders on veneration in some parts; this is especially true of fraal who have experienced their 300th or 400th birthdays.

As for the fraal themselves, their culture has been deeply divided since before 2124. The younger generation of fraal, called Builders by humans, pushed hard for contact with humanity. The older, more conservative Wanderers had become entrenched in their opposition, by then millennia old. This division remains in place in the 26th century, not surprising given the fraal lifespan. The eldest fraal still remember the arguments. As the centuries have passed, the Wanderers' numbers have declined as more and more of their city-driveships leave human space in search of their homeworld. Those left behind are primarily the Builders, whose numbers continue to mushroom.

This population shift is largely a result of choices the two cultures have made. The Wanderers prefer life aboard city- ships. These lonely voyaging craft can be found within all stellar nations, starfalling from one end of space to the other. For the most part, the dwellers of the city-ships avoid contact with the humans they pass by, and the humans extend the same courtesy. Human folklore considers these fraal truly mysterious, as they were in the days when unidentified objects wandered over the cities of Earth. But the nomadic life has never been explained. Maybe the wandering serves a purpose that even the fraal have forgotten, but for the fraal it's the life they're used to.

The younger generation, the Wanderers say, has become tainted by the humans they watched for so long. The Builders have left the city-ships behind. Instead, they live intermingled with humans, taking up human causes and concerns. Fully absorbed in human society, they share in human interests and culture. They fight in what many would call humanity's wars, as the Galactic Wars demonstrated. They are in all ways active citizens of the stellar nations. They live in human-dominated cities and find employment side by side with humans.

Quiet and peaceful, the fraal appear calm and composed in even the most chaotic situations. Averaging 1.5 meters tall, fraal are thin humanoids with large eyes , pale, almost lustrous skin, and swept-back ears. While many are bald, some have wisps of silver, white, or pale yellow hair atop their large, round heads. Individual fraal can be so thin as to appear practically weightless, but most weight about 55 kilograms. Even the youngest fraal adults have an ancient, wizened look that can be as intimidating to most humans as it is intimidating. Older Fraal can appear even thinner and more wispy.

• Type: Humanoid (Fraal)
• Size: Small. Fraal gain a +1 size bonus to Defense, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide Checks. They take a –4 penalty on grapple checks. Their lifting and carrying limits are three-quarters those of a medium-sized character. Fraal must use two hands to wield a Medium-Size weapon, and light weapons for them are Tiny or smaller
• Ability Modifiers: -4 Strength, -4 Constitution, +4 Intelligence, +4 Wisom, +4 Charisma. Fraal are weak and frail, but their mental abilities far surpass those of most other sentient species.
• Speed: 30 feet. Despite their short stature, fraal move with surprising alacrity.
• Bonus Feats: Wild Talent: Mental Contact, Wild Talent: Suggestion
• Free Language Skills: Read/Write Fraal, Speak Fraal, Read/Write Galactic Standard, Speak Galactic Standard.
• Level Adjustment: +0

• Fraal (pronounced “frahl”)
• Homeworld: Unknown
• Current Population: 26 Billion, highest within the Orion League (28%).
• Average Lifespan: 400 years
• Average Height: 4' 11“
• Average Weight: 121 lbs.

Fraal aren’t physically inclined. They tend to develop their minds instead of their bodies. They are thinkers and philosophers with a deeply spiritual nature. Because they are a long-lived species, the fraal have a patient attitude that sometimes annoys other species. Their spirituality centers around mindwalking, the study and application of psionics. All fraal communicate among themselves via psionic link, but they have also mastered many languages to communicate with others. To them, the powers of the mind have an almost religious significance; they feel that all species can find common ground by touching thoughts and sharing inner peace.

Fraal aren’t pacifists, but they believe that violence should be the last resort of an intelligent, civilized species. They can seem cold and distant, but that’s because they don’t have as wide a range of emotions as humans do– and the emotional range they do possess doesn’t shift as rapidly or unpredictably as humans’ emotions do.

Peace-loving and intellectual, fraal are natural builders and scholars– forever working on creative or scientific endeavors, building or mending relationships (both personal and political), and adding to their pool of knowledge simply for the sake of learning.

You have an uncanny ability to open contact with others, and be a representative of your group. Your empathic abilities give you an upper edge in negotiating and diplomacy. You are also the ship's counselor, keeping watch of the crew's mental health and well being. On more than one occasion you may find yourself at a crime scene, in which case your skills can help. Whether it be through interrogation or investigation, your powers become invaluable. Whatever it is you do exactly, fraal ambassadors and diplomats are always in high demand, especially in the Verge.

One thing that drives builder fraal is curiosity and the desire to learn. You have taken a unique interest in the science of life, and seek out new alien worlds, life, and ecologies. Your mind powers also make you a skilled first contact consul. In the event of meeting other sentient life, you can pick up how their minds work, and create a basic foundation of communication and understanding. On the ship your knowledge of biology can be put to use as a doctor, diagnosing mysterious ailments. You know there is much to be discovered in the young Verge, and so you venture forth in hopes to better understand the universe.

More and varied details concerning the Fraal can be found in the Star*Drive campaign setting, chapter 1 “First Contact”.

See Dragon #253 for some possible additional ideas.

Common dress and armor of the Fraal can be found in the Arms and Equipment Guide.

• Bellweyn Sil (“battle-coat”)
• Ashielen (shoulder-drape or shawl for formal occasions)
• Sarabel (tunic, kilt, cape)
• Tilienen (mid-calf slipper shoes)
• Female fraal prefer elaborate and cumbersome head-dresses that extend down to fully enclose and shield the head from view.