Frales

## Physiology

The Frales are not singular entities, but actually a swarm of insectoid creatures, similar in appearance to Terran bees, but smaller. This swarm, which originates around a free-floating 'core', follows the demand of its queen in order to form a 'body' out of the creatures. The shape of the swarm is generally dependent on whatever creature has taken the queen's attention, though for the most part, they will shape themselves into the forms of other space-faring races. A hive's shape may change, but reforming the hive into a completely different, permanent shape would require intense study and a large amount of time. As they are a swarm, the creatures do not technically speak, but instead the queen will control the vibrations of the entire swarm in order to 'vocalise' when dealing with other races. Among their own, the queens instead have the swarm illuminate, forming different patterns and utilising a wide array of colours in order to communicate. For intense conversations, this can result in quite the impressive light show between two different hives. These colours still show up when the hive communicates with other species as well, being used to indicate emotion as the species lacks the ability to show facial features or change pitch in their voice. So far, these colours have been recorded as such:

* Dark Green: Excited, happy, pleased
* Light Green: Calm, relaxed, peaceful

* Pink: Friendly, diplomatic, cheery
* Yellow: Upset, nervous, stressed
* Orange: Angry, hostile, irritated
* Red: Embarrassed, ashamed, abashed
* Light Blue: Thoughtful, quizzical, investigative
* Dark Blue: Sad, disappointed, depressed
* Violet: Disbelief, surprised, astounded
* Lavender: Determined, brave, proud
* Grey (unlit): Neutral

When the hive itself is threatened, the queen will have the swarm condense to absorb hits, sacrificing the drones in order to survive. However, should the swarm be destroyed, whether by constant firepower or through the use of fire or radiation, then the queen will attempt to escape with the 'core'. Over the course of several months, a queen can rebuild her hive to its former potential, utilising the larvae and breeding drones that are secured within the core proper. However, should the core be destroyed, then the queen shall perish as well.

The swarm is also utilised when needing to interact with objects in their environment, with parts of the swarm detatching to manipulate levers, buttons, and switches. Some queens, however, prefer to imitate the race that they're copying, and will move the appendages that they have formed, though this is to the discretion of the queen of the hive in question.

## Culture

The Frales are unique in that every hive is technically its own 'culture', depending on the whims of the queens. Some are fascinated with travel, others with research, and others still with war. However, all Frales are driven by an underlying curiosity to learn about the world around them, and as such they are naturally inquisitive and experimental, sometimes to alarming degrees. Xenobiology and the study of other cultures are widespread among the Frales. Some Frales even imitate norms of other cultures, taking part in marriages and copying the same eating methods as the races they shape themselves after, though the swarm still 'deconstructs' whatever food is brought into it regardless.

As a species on the whole, the Frales exist in a monarchy of massive proportions, with every queen beholden to one 'Grand Empress' of the Frales, who resides on their home planet, Kistavistasi. However, excluding dire circumstances that require unity among all hives, most Frales are left to their own devices.