Dralasite

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Dralasites are short, rubbery aliens that have no bones or hard body parts. Their skin is a flexible membrane that is very tough and scratchy. It generally is dull grey and lined with dark veins that meet at the dralasite’s two eyespots.The internal structure of a dralasite is very different from the other races. The dralasite’s central nerve bundle (brain), numerous small hearts and other internal organs float in a pudding-like mixture of protein and organic fluids. Dralasite’s breathe by absorbing oxygen directly through their skin, so they have no lungs.

They are omnivores, but eat by surrounding their food and absorbing it, so they also have no digestive tract or intestines.

All dralasites go through male, female and neutral stages during their lives (these phases can be controlled with medicines). Males release spores into the air, which drift until they become attached to a female. A young dralastie then “sprouts” from its mother, eventu- ally maturing and dropping off.

SENSES
The most important sense of a dralasite is smell. They breathe directly through their skin, and the entire membrane is sensitive to odors. Their sense of smell is so keen they can identify persons by smell alone and can recognize familiar smells on objects or persons. The membrane also is sensitive to touch and to vibrations, allowing daralasites to hear and feel.

SPEECH
Dralasites have a voice box, but it works like a bellows because they have no lungs. A dralasite’s voice can vary from a soft whisper to a thundering roar and from a bass rumble to a piercing screech. Among themselves, they also use shapes, odors and touch to communicate.

SOCIETY AND CUSTOMS
Dralasites are philosophical and thoughtful. Their communities are small, and many dralasites prefer to live alone. Dralasites do not care about wealth, power or status symbols. They judge them- selves by the quality ideas and their ability to discuss important ideas wisely. Dralasites often hold large public meetings to discuss new ideas. Discussions and debates are among their favorite ways to relax. Steam baths are another favorite dralasite recreation. They mix perfumes and intoxicants with the steam. These effects dralasites the same way alcohol does a human or yazirian. Dralasites are widely known for their strange sense of humor. They love old jokes and puns that make humans groan. Many human comedians who could not find work in human cities have become rich performing on dralasite worlds. Dralasites do not normally wear clothing, because it makes breath- ing difficult and interferes with their sense of smell. They usually carry their equipment on web belts. When they must wear clothing to protect themselves, they use special materials that let air reach their skin. ATTITUDES