Finul - The Planet and the People

Finul is a water world. There are seventeen islands large enough to support intelligent life, some of them quite large. All of them are in the equatorial region, and the climate is quite temperate and pleasant. Being a water world there is reasonable amount of rainfall leading to lush vegetation. There are small animals and insects as well, but nothing dangerous. You might say Finul is a perfect world, almost too perfect.

The only large creatures living on Finul are the Finuls. Even they are small, being only about half the height of the average Castarian or human. Finuls are fur covered and have long bushy tails. Finuls never wear clothes. There is no need for clothes when the climate is so perfect and they have their fur to protect them on a chilly night. It has never occurred to a Finul to cover themselves with animal skins or dead plants.

Finuls are very intelligent, but they have never developed advanced technology. There are several reasons for this. First with the climate so perfect they have no need for advanced technology to protect them from the elements. Second, Finuls breed prolifically. With no natural enemies and nothing to naturally control the size of the population, they have gone through many cycles of overpopulation followed by famine as they depleted the resources of their island world.

Their elders and their priests have found a solution to this problem. They have made arrangements with an alien species to remove a high percentage of the population each year. They call this ascension and tell the people they are going to a better life. Finuls who are chosen for ascension, line up, and anxiously await the arrival of the Castarian ship each year.

There is a problem however, because ascension is not what the Finuls think it is.

Fritz

Fritz is tall for a Finul. She is about half the height of a human male when she stands up straight in her bare feet. She is always barefooted since Finuls never wear any kind of clothing. She is quite pretty, but she never gives such things much thought. She has short white fur on her chest, on her hands and feet, and on the tip of her tail. The rest of her is black and gray in a sort of striped pattern. She is especially proud of the rings on her tail.

Fritz is a lead character is Star Children. She is only fifteen years old and has a very limited education, but she is wiser than most of the people she meets. She is also a very fast learner, learning new languages in hours, and seemingly fearless.

Sharish

Sharish is older than Fritz. She had three children before going on ascension. She is one of the three Finuls brought up from the hold to verify to the senior staff of the harvester that Finuls are intelligent. She becomes an important player in Sanctuary, and in freeing the Finuls from the practice of ascension.

Hayrack

Hayrack is one of the three Finuls brought up from the hold to verify to the senior staff of the harvester that Finuls are intelligent. He plays only a small role in the story.

Quinn – Fritz's boyfriend

Quinn is slightly taller than Fritz. He is mostly black, with a white fur on his vest and his hands. He and Fritz have been close friends since childhood. Quinn is important to the story only as Fritz's soul mate.

Janda – Member of Governing Council

Janda is selected by Fritz to work with her on the Council. She is mentioned by name only.