Oual is plural, and pronounced as "OO-al".

Oual are sentient creatures that can be best understood as a hive of consisting of a plant-like nexus and thousands of mostly humanoid foci. The nexus and foci together form an individual, with most Oual having around ten thousand foci.

A nexus is an amphibious plant-like creature with an elongated bulb-like shape of up to 4.5 meters in height and 3.5 meters in diameter. A nexus lacks fine manipulators and is barely capable of locomotion outside of aquatic environments. Oual in their native environment on Eunaphlan prefer a location on the waterside, due to their unique communication mechanism. In cities, they prefer ground-level locations.

A nexus can grow foci that mimic observed species and amalgamations of the physiological qualities of such species. They cannot faithfully reproduce an individual's appearance—nor can they recreate special abilities beyond those based in physics and chemistry.

Each focus is grown and matures in a pod within a month's time. Foci are composed of organic fungi-like materials capable of mimicking qualities often associated with more complex life forms. Many physical qualities of a focus can be influenced during growth, but unless special care is taken they are somewhat soft and warm to the touch, and take on a pale greenish hue due to their composition. Foci need not be humanoid, but the form's universal utility and acceptance in the interstellar community is advantageous.

The nexus and foci communicate via subsonics, and require and atmosphere or other medium in which sound can propagate to stay in contact. Their dependence upon subsonics has made Oual experts in engineering "always-open" architecture and non-compartmentalized spaceships.

Foci that can no longer communicate with their nexus wilt and wither away in a matter of days, and while capable of instinctive fight-or-flight behaviour lack any higher social functions beyond that.

Like many plants Oual mature slowly, they reach full adulthood at 80 years, and remain in their physical prime for hundreds of years. Oual show signs of ageing around 400 years, but can live on for centuries as long as they remain active and maintain foci.