Fraal

(From Alternity '98 and d20 Future)

## Description

(From Alternity '98 ) Quiet and peaceful, the fraal (pronounced “frahl”) appear calm and composed in even the most chaotic situations. Averaging about 1.5 meters tall, the fraal are thin humanoids with large eyes: pale, almost luminous skin: and swept-bock 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 weigh about 55 kilograms. Even the youngest fraal adults have an ancient, wizened look that can be as intimidating to Human  as it is disconcerting.

## Roleplaying

Fraal aren’t physically inclined. They tend to develop their minds instead of their bodies, working as Mindwalkers, Tech Op, or Diplomats rather than in the Free Agent or Combat Spec professions. 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 humans . Their spirituality centers around mindwalking, the study and application of psionics. To them, the powers of the mind have 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 on 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.

## History

The fraal are nomadic starfarers who came to Earth more than 10,000 years ago. A large group of explorers traveled in three slow-moving colony ships, crossing the void of space over the course of many centuries. The trip was plagued by one disaster after another, though, so that by the time these colony ships reached the Sol system, contact with the fraal homeworld had been lost. In addition, damage to the ship’s computers resulted in the loss of much vital information, including some technological know-how and most historical and scholarly records—among these the location of the fraal home-world. The starfarers were cut off, isolated from their place of origin, and unaware of their original mission. Indeed, they weren’t even sure if Earth was the destination they had been traveling to reach, or for what purpose. Thanks to eons of lost knowledge and countless mechanical breakdowns, accidents, and travel-related mishaps, these Fraal were truly alone.

Initially, the Fraal set up installations on Earth, building bases in isolated regions using local materials and components salvaged from their colony ships. From these hidden bases, the visitors set out to explore the planet and meet its inhabitants.

Humans, still primitive but demonstrating great potential, were beginning to spread out from the geographic cradles that spawned them by the time the fraal arrived. Meetings between the two species led to the birth of many of Earth’s greatest legends. Unfortunately, such meetings rarely went well for the visitors.

Though the fraal tried to join human society from the moment they arrived in the region, they kept running into problems. Primitive humans displayed great fear when the fraal approached, looking upon the aliens as magical creatures, spirits, or even gods. As humanity advanced, making contact didn’t get any easier. Fear turned to distrust and hatred, and humanity’s violent nature was too much for the peaceful fraal to deal with. Eventually, they withdrew and went into hiding in other parts of the solar system, watching humanity from afar and waiting for the proper moment to reveal themselves. Attempts made by the fraal in the 20th century resulted in tales of flying saucers and alien abductions, but little else. If they were capable of the emotion, the fraal would have begun to despair.

At some later point in human history, however, a meeting of the minds finally took place. As humanity put aside its own hostile nature to create a world of peace, the ancient visitors revealed themselves. The Fraal joined forces with the humans, helping to lead humanity to the next great plateau. A free exchange of knowledge and ideas advanced both societies in numerous ways. One of the fraal’s most significant gifts spawned a leap in technology that paved the way for true faster-than-light travel. Both sides prospered, and they soon merged to become a united society.