Ability Scores: d6 Strength, d6 Vigor

Pace: 5
Vision: Standard
Languages: Pan Galactic, Dralease

Artwork by Scraecrovv

Human society centers around the family. A family generally consists of a father, a mother and 1 to 10 children. Families usually group together into communities for mutual support and protection. Community size varies widely; several human cities are known to have populations above 5 million. Of all the star-faring races, humans are the most varied. As a race they are not as warlike as the yazirians, as businesslike as the vrusk or as thoughtful as the dralasites. Yet, individual humans can be found who surpass even the most violent yazirians, the most dedicated vrusk and the most philosophical dralasites. Humans tend to value individuality and personal freedom more than anything else, but they do not hesitate to work together to reach a common goal or to protect themselves from attack.

To members of the other races, the most puzzling aspect of human behavior is their curiosity and love of adventure. Many humans are willing to put themselves in great danger simply to see something

new or go somewhere no one has ever gone before. Some humans (a very small percentage) seem to actually enjoy being in danger, thriving on the excitement of a life-or-death situation. This type of

behavior has never been observed in normal members of the other races. Even the yazirians, known for their violence and f its of rage, try to avoid taking unnecessary risks. This spirit of adventure has served Humans well, however, as most major exploration missions organized by local governments or private companies are led by a human.

Many alien biologists have wondered how the human race could have survived long enough to build a civilization and colonize new planets; compared to other creatures in the galaxy, humans

are not especially strong or quick, and are no smarter than the other races. However, humans are very inventive and adaptable. They manage to survive and even flourish in areas other races

consider uninhabitable, by adapting themselves to the new conditions with surprising speed. This and the Humans' love for gadgets and hardware led to the appearance of a popular saying among vrusk,

''Mr. Human and his Indestructible Junk Show.''  Despite this condescending attitude, vrusk and the other star-faring races have learned to respect humans.

Humans are one of the most open and accepting of the known races. They get along very well with dralasites, and their similarity to yazirians usually is strong enough to overcome the usual negative reaction to a yazirian's pushiness. Many humans, however, are mildly nervous around vrusk. human psychologists blame this on the Vrusk's resemblance to a giant insect. (Many Humans dislike insects, and some are actually afraid of them.)

Average Size: 1.9m tall (Medium)
Average Mass: 80kg male, 55kg female

Ability Scores: d8 Strength; d6 Spirit, d6 Vigor, -2 Charisma

Pace: 6, 15 (can leap 5 turns, takes +1 fatigue)
Vision: Standard
Languages: Pan Galactic, Hummaise
Skill Bonuses:
Hinderances: Arrogant, Mean

Vrusk look like large insects. Eight legs grow from their abdomen, four on each side. Their torso is upright in front of the abdomen. The torso is

humanoid, with two arms connected at the shoulders. The head is above the shoulders. Vrusk hands are circular pads with five fingers spaced evenly around the edge. A vrusk's shoulders are double-jointed, so they can rotate their arms in a full circle without straining any muscles. They can reach any point on their abdomen or behind their

backs easily. 

A vrusk's body is covered by a carapace (hardshell). This shell is jointed at the Vrusk's elbows, hips, knees, etc. The carapace protects the vrusk from bruises, cuts, scratches and other minor injuries. Unlike insects, Vrusk have an internal skeleton to support their bodies. Young vrusk have a blue carapace with bright orange near the joints.

As the vrusk gets older, its carapace changes to dull green with yellow joints.

Vrusk have large eyes that are protected by a hard, clear covering. The mouth is surrounded by four eating mandibles. The two larger mandibles hold food while the small ones tear it apart and place it in the mouth. They are omnivores. Vrusk have lungs, and breathe through many small nostrils under their abdomens. This arrangement makes it difficult for Vrusk to swim.

Vrusk have very good color vision, but they see more of the short wavelengths (blue and ultraviolet light) than Humans do, and less of the long wavelengths (orange and red). Their sense of smell is centered in their antennae, and is slightly better than a Human's. They also can touch with their antennae. Their hearing is about the same as a

human's. 

Vrusk speak by combining clicks produced by their mandibles and buzzes produced by a plate in their mouths.

SOCIETY AND CUSTOMS 

Vrusk are hard-working and practical. Their society is organized around independent corporations. To a vrusk, the company he works for is his family and his nation. The company determines everything about the Vrusk's life; who he lives with, what his job is, where he travels, etc. Vrusk give their company name before their personal name. 

Vrusk have two types of corporations: conglomerates and trade houses. Conglomerates have business interests in many areas. A single conglomerate might have divisions that build computers, operate farms, train lawyers and set up colonies. A Vrusk that works for a conglomerate usually works for only one division, and might not even know what other divisions the company owns. Trade houses, which are more common in the Frontier, specialize in one type of business. Because all vrusk working for a trade house do the same work, trade houses usually work together. For example, a trade house that builds farming equipment would hire accountants from an accounting house to keep their financial records. Business between companies is regulated by laws that are so complex no one besides Vrusk have ever fully understood them.

Vrusk also love beauty, harmony and order. The goal of most Vrusk is to become wealthy, collect art, and live in peace. Their love for beauty makes them unwilling to get into fights that do not involve their

company. However, Vrusk that are defending their company will do anything to remove the threat permanently.

Vrusk adventurers, however, do not belong to a company. Some are independent businessmen, some are company employees who were fired and some are just too rebellious to put up with company rules. A few start their own companies and eventually become leaders in their communities.

ATTITUDES
Vrusk get along well with the other three races. They respect the Yazirian custom of choosing a lifeenemy, and feel at ease around Dralasites because they are careful and skillful planners (though they

are annoyed by the Dralasites' sense of humor). They understand Humans the least because, to a Vrusk, Humans seem unpredictable and a little lazy. 

Average Size: 1.5m tall, 1.5m long (Medium)

Average Mass: 85kg

Average Lifespan 175 years

Reproductive System heterosexual, ovoviviparous

Body Temperature 38 degrees Celsius

Ability Scores: d6 Smarts, d6 Spirit

Speed: 8 

Vision: Standard; Low-Light 

Languages: Pan Galactic, Vrusk 

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Yazirians are tall, thin humanoids. They have long arms and legs and slender torsos. Two large flaps of skin grow on either side of their bodies, attached along their arms, torso and legs. When a yazirian raises its arms, this membrane is stretched tight and forms a sort of wing. Under certain conditions (explained under Gliding). Yazirians can glide short distances using these wings.Yazirians have muzzles and high foreheads. Their heads are surrounded by manes and collars of hair, which varies in color from glossy black to pale yellow. Their skin color ranges from gray to light tan. Because their bodies do not sweat, yazirians pant to keep cool. They are omnivores.

Yazirians have four knuckles (one more than humans) on their fingers and toes. The inside toe is opposed like a thumb, allowing them to grasp things with their feet. The tips of their fingers and toes end in broad, ribbed pads, giving them an excellent grip. These characteristics, combined with their animallike appearance, earned them the nickname "monkeys."

SENSES
Yazirians’ senses of hearing, smell and taste are equivalent to a human’s. Because they evolved from nocturnal hunters their eyes are adapted to seeing in dim light, however, they can not see in complete darkness. They usually wear dark goggles when they must work in sunlight.

SPEECH
Yazirians have no trouble speaking hHuman languages or Pan- Galactic. Their own language is a combination of Human-type sounds and snarls and growls.
SOCIETY AND CUSTOMS
Yazirian communities are divided into large, loosely organized clans. All the members of a clan are related to each other. In the past, clan ties were very strong. The clans had traditional enemies and allies, and they struggled constantly for power and land. Since the Yazir- ians moved into space, they have learned to cooperate more and the clans have become less important. Despite this, yazirians still have a reputation throughout the Frontier as proud, fierce fighters.

A custom yazirians have kept intact is the selection of a life enemy. When a yazirian chooses a life enemy, he dedicates his life to destroying, overcoming or outdoing that enemy as completely as possible. In the past, a yazirian would choose an enemy clan or clan member as his life-enemy, but now the choice is much wider. A yazirian scientist could name an incurable disease as his life-enemy, or a yazirian trader could choose a competing company. The scientist would try to find a cure for the disease; the trader would try to build up his own company so it is more powerful than his enemy's, or even try to drive the other company out of business.A Yazirian gains honor by striving to defeat his enemy. Yazirians with powerful life-enemies are respected and admired. A yazirian that defeats its enemy does not need to choose another, but some yazirians do. There is no set point in a Yazirian's life when he must choose a life enemy, and some yazirians never choose one. A yazirian that dies without having chosen a life-enemy is considered unlucky.

ATTITUDES
In general, yazirians like vrusk and humans. They occasionally lose their patience with dralasites, because they are slow and would rather discuss ideas than act on them.


SPECIAL ABILITIES
Flight (Gliding)
Yazirians can glide short distances using the membranes attache dto their arms and legs. A yazirian must start his glide 10 meters (5") above the ground and can glide 1” (2 meters) for every meter he is above the ground when he starts his glide.

The maximum distance a Yazirian can glide depends on the gravity of the planet, as shown below.

Gravity	Maximum Glide
.6	300m (150")
.7	200m (100")
.8	100m (50")
.9	50m (25")
1.0	20m (10")

Battle Rage (Novice, Berzerk):
Yazirians train themselves to berserk in battle. The yazirian does not have to wait until it receives a wound to make the Smarts roll. With a raise, they may use skills that require concentration they would otherwise be unable to use.

Low Light Vision:
Yazirians can see without penalty in dim light, however they must wear goggles while in bright light or sunlight or suffer a -2 to all ranged attack rolls and Notice rolls.