First encountered by USS Voyager in 2372, the Drayans were found to be a very secretive and private culture who had gone into self-imposed seclusion following the Refirmation, a time when they realized that their level of technology had begun to overshadow their people. Unlike most humanoid races, the Drayans aged in reverse, becoming smaller and more child-like and innocent as they reached the end of their lives. Believing that physical matter was only an illusion and that their corporeal bodies did not represent their true selves, Drayans would travel to one of their planet's outermost moons so that their bodies energy could be released upon death in a cave that was believed to have been where the first spark of Drayan life emerged. Drayans at this age were normally watched over by Attendants, whose job it was to prepare the elderly Drayans, often confused and suffering from memory problems, for the release of their energy into the cave.
After achieving a high level of technology the Drayans discovered that this technological advancement had become more important than their own race. In a period known as the Refirmation, the Drayans suppressed further advancement of technology and returned to a more simpler way of life. Although not entirely abandoning the achievements they had made, they became very seclusive and had little direct contact with other nearby races.
In 2372 USS Voyager visited Drayan II and sent out scouting parties to the planet's moons to search for minerals including polyferranide. Meanwhile the ship played host to a small delegation from Drayan II led by First Prelate Alicia. This was the first time in many decades that the Drayans had made direct contact with another race