Species Template: Efrosian
By John Whitfield

Attributes
Fitness 2 [6]
    Vitality +1
Coordination 2 [5]
Intellect 2 [5]
    Perception +1
Presence 2 [5]
    Willpower +1
Psi 0 [5]

Skills
Culture (Efrosian) 2 (3)
History (Efrosian) 1 (2)
Language, Efrosian 2
Planetary Survival (Arctic) 1 (2)
Space Science (any Specialization) 2 (3)
World Knowledge (Efros) 1 (2)

Typical Advantages/Disadvantages
Excellent Balance +1; Sense of Direction +1

Background Information
Homeworld: Efros (Federation member)
A cold, harsh Class M world that only in the last thousand years emerged from a millennia-long ice age. There are comparatively few native species of flora and fauna, in comparison with other worlds, because there are so few unique ecological niches. However, the abundance of metals on the planet makes it valuable nonetheless.

Appearance
Efrosians are a hardy, strikingly handsome humanoid race with a sculptured look to their facial features. This particular development, resulting from thick layers of fatty deposits beneath the facial areas, was an evolutionary adaptation to exposure to the cold, harsh winds of Efros. Efrosians have a ruddy complexion contrasted by thick, fine, stark white hair. Older males tend to wear their hair long and often sport long facial hair as well. Also noteworthy are the bluish-white eyes characteristic of this race.

Traits Common to Species
Efrosians are known throughout the Federation for their natural aptitude as helmsmen and navigators due to their highly developed sense of direction. It has been conjectured that their intuitive sense of direction was a survival mechanism to deal with their world’s blinding, disorienting snowstorms. As natural navigators, they instinctively know correct courses and can make adjustments to stay on course even without the aid of a computer.

Efrosians of the warrior-priest caste tend to be drawn to the medical sciences. They seem to have an innate, almost psychic ability to diagnose intuitively a patient’s problem and treat her with minimal medicine or equipment.

The one aspect of Efrosian culture that other Federation members find annoying is the secrecy about their religion. All that is knows about the Efrosian faith is that it is very esoteric and mystical. Although extremely open and friendly about other aspects of their culture, the Efrosians guard their religion jealously. They say it was their religion that helped them survive the ravages of their planet’s ice age, and they refuse to share even its principles with others. Fortunately, most Federation races understand and respect the need for such privacy, and the Efrosians benignly ignore Tellarite speculation about "child sacrifice" and "ritual murder."

Author's Notes
Attached is a template for the Efrosian race. Although never actually given a name, members of this race were seen in Star Trek IV as the helmsman of the U.S.S. Saratoga and as the Federation President in Star Trek VI.

In a FASA supplement, they were detailed and were actually named. I thought they were a neat race, so I borrowed heavily from the FASA write-up. Let me know what you think!

Editor's Notes
For another interpretation of the Efrosians, see Patrick Murphy's version.

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