Wasted (not accepting new characters)

The Malums aren’t a horrible species. They never wanted to do anyone harm. We were terrified of their intelligence, their ability to understand anything, and their incredible memory. Malums evolved alongside Humans, with Humans getting the brawn and Malums the brains. That’s how we nearly wiped them out. We were more numerous and physically stronger.

Compared to us, they are absolute geniuses. They understand everything, given enough information. Our tricky puzzles and riddles that no one but the inventor can figure out would be a first-grade pop quiz for them.

Also, compared to us, they are total wimps. They can barely lift their own -- very light -- weight. They can’t defend themselves in one on one combat. They’re fast, sure, but not strong enough to do anything. All of their defenses rely on their technology. Think of them like really weak elves from LoTR, that aren’t immortal and don’t have pointy ears. Their numbers are still small, with maybe ten thousand living in the Wastes al together.

Another notable point is that they have fangs. Not vampire fangs (and they do NOT drink blood, it’s a total taboo for them), snake fangs. They have cobra fangs that fold back into their mouths when they aren’t going to strike. Lke I said before, they are fast. They can’t fight, but they can hunt, which they have to in order to eat. They have venom glands by their nasal cavities. The fangs are two and a half inches long full size.

Their native language is totally made up not very pretty and not well known. It’s “backwards” like English, with the subject first. If you want to use it, it has sounds like “ai” “oi” “ka” “loi” “sai” and “sou” a lot. (this part was made up when I was making up their English accent, which ended up like “Ai cahn spaeck Aenglis”) The language in itself is taught for occupations like government official, businessman, etc. Some learn it through their parents or guardians teaching it to them as a second language. Some never learn it. They usually speak English these days, but it’s still with the dialect.

Why do they speak English? Twenty thousand soldiers from the United States, because the Wastes are closest to the US, guard the entrances to their underground tunnel system. They make sure no one tries anything, day and night. Of course, the Malums got sick and tired of not understanding them, so they learned (quickly).

They live in underground tunnels. See the cave in the picture? That’s an entrance. They use crystals for everything, which I will grow on later. Bright, glowing crystals light up the entire area. The walls are either made of rock or were created with metal. Air vents are in every room and every tunnel. In the tunnels they cook, sleep, etc. It’s where we live.

The crystals are their natural energy. Each crystal starts out as one of the many, many clear quartz that they have down there. Chemicals are what give them their colors. They have to be activated once a week with certain chemicals, and they never die out or whither away. This is the discovery that Malums try most to keep hidden from humans. There are four types of crystals:
Caltai: These are the “electricity”. They power everything. All the locks, database systems, machines, all of the things like that are powered by these yellow crystals.
Loi: These are the sources of heat. They keep the rooms warm at night and are used in cooking. Can reach temperatures of 150o Fahrenheit, so are concealed under insulators that can be opened up at night or closed during the hot day. These are a light purple.
Routhai: These are the cooling crystals. They feel like dry ice to the touch. They have to be changed with Loi day and night, cooling off the temperatures of the day. They are pitch black, like obsidian.
Kaithan: These are the light sources. They are so bright when activated that they are put under very thick shades, or else they could blind you. They glow green, but inactivated are clear.
Soutoke: These are a weak version of the other crystals. They have a very dim glow, give off a subtle heat, and are essential to maintain proper health. Without them, someone might actually get sick! They are a clouded clear.

ADDITIONAL FACTS: Malums sleep for only a few hours each morning, they are mostly nocturnal. They have the perfect government system. They have huge iron deposits, and thanks to the human discovery of electricity and their crystals, they can make almost anything. They raise about four dozen cattle per thousand Malums deep underground for the meat (don’t worry, the animals are very well treated, and they are so deep down that they only need Loi crystals 24/7), hides and milk, and sheep for wool.

There are caves that, with proper crystals and a lot of maintenance, have come to produce edible foliage, which the Malums tend and cultivate. They don’t have money, they barter their wares. Very few farm animals are killed, they mostly hunt at night the rabbits and snakes that multiply like crazy out on the surface.

Most Malums are betrothed to a partner at birth and marry them when they become adults (17). Of course, they can decide against it, but if they do they most likely won’t find someone else to marry. They usually just go with it.




Before you go thinking the Wastes are just an Eden with a bad name, let me just remind you that, even with the crystals, the temperatures are very extreme. There is a small population because the government regulates when you can, or cannot have a child, and who may or may not, based on how much food is being brought in and genetics. Food is hard to come by, though they try to grow as much as they can, and water is treasured. A scientist who discovered a new crystal is worthless compared to a farmer who has successfully grown a bumper crop or a child who discovered a new spring. It’s a hard life, and they all hate it, but those who don’t know anything else live with it. Life is precious and killing is a crime against yourself, but when you are the dominant species and still dying out, there’s no time to be a humanitarian.