| Description | Humanoid, Bipedal |
| Size | Medium |
| Skin Pigment | Various |
| Hair | Various |
| Distinguishing Features | "sculptured" look of facial area, and a marked difference in coloration between the sexes (note below). |
| Series | ST IV |
| Planet of Origin | Efros (ice) |
| Quadrant | Alpha (assumed) |
| Background | While the surface of their planet was encompassed by ice, the Efrosians' technological and social development was minimal. They remained in close knit tribes, and subsisted on animals that they cold bring down with stone knives and spears, but once the massive glaciers began to break, both technology and unity swiftly developed. The most esteemed members of the tribes were warrior-priests, who were respected not only for their prowess as warriors, but also for their abilities as great healers. The warrior-priests ruled Efros as a religious oligarchy. Technological development did not suffer (as it often has under religious leadership elsewhere in the galaxy), but actually increased due to the priests belief that technology and invention would make their lives better, and preserve and further what was so precious to the race. As the climate warmed somewhat, the Efrosians descovered previously hidden energy and mineral resources that boosted their technological prgress. By the time the Federation (Vulcan-crewed USS Surak) discovered them, the Efrosians had developed radio telescopes and atomic power. The Efrosians were overjoyed to learn that there was an abundance of intelligent life in the universe, both unlike and like themselves. They accepted the Federation's offer of friendship, and joined the UFP soon afterward. |
| Editors Notes | The planet is a cold, harsh world that only in the last
thousand years emerged from a mellenia-long ice age. Few native animals
live on Efros, as the climate makes it extremely difficult for plants to
thrive. However, the abundance of metal on the planet makes it valuable
nonetheless. There is some evidence suggesting that the race did
not originally evolve on Efros. Perhaps the Efrosians are yet another
of the races that the Preservers seeded throughut the galaxy.
Efrosian males all seem to have fair hair and complexiaon-some almost lood like albinos. On the other hand, Efrosian females are usually raven-haired. Studied have not yet indicated if this is the result of selected breeding early in Efrosian history or if it is some natural phenomenon. It is interesting to note that giving birth to a boy with dark hair brings shame upon a family. To most people, such a male's coloring brands him as a female. Although not widely known throughout the Federation, many Efrosians live and work as teachers and philosophers on other worlds as part of cultural exchanges. Efrosians serve in starfleet as well, especially many of the lower grade warrior priests. Navigation, Helm and Medicine are their most popular choices in Star Fleet. The warrior-priests perform excellently in medicine because of their innate, almost psychic ability to intuitively diagnose a patient's problem and treat them with the minimal amount of medicine or equipment. They are also very adept as navigators and helmsmen due to their highly developed sense of direction. They seem to have developed this survival mechanism to deal with their worlds blinding, disorienting snowstorms. They instinctively know correct courses and can make adjustments to stay on course even without the aid of a computer. Efrosians who do not choose to join Star Fleet are often pressured to join the Merchant Acadamy. The Efrosian culture maintains a strict secrecy about their religion. All that is known about the faith is that it is very esoteric and mystical. They are extremely open and friendly about every other aspect of their culture, but they guard their religion jelously claiming that it was their religion that helped them survive the ravages of the ice age, and they refuse to even share is principles with others. Most Federation races understand and respect this need for such privacy, and the Efrosians have ignored Tellerite speculation about "child-sacrifice" and "ritual murder". |