Ammadhur, City Eternal

Mallek placeholder art

The Mallek.

Mallek

(Race based on a tunneling mole cricket)

[Editor's note: The Mallek are intended to have a Conan ish Byzantine ish culture. Only, in tunnels. They are enlightened and artistic, quiet except when in their"Nobel Savage" adventuring years. It's a Byzantine barbarian bug rumspringa!]

Armored burrower. Mandibles and claws maximized for digging.  Drones can exude a glue like substance that coats the dirt behind them and glue it together into permanent cemented tunnels.  Live in burrows and tunnels usually fairly close to the surface, but occasionally intersecting with the upper portions of the Dismal. Large family units. Drones, warriors, queens, etc. 

They live primarily in badlands, scrublands and desert areas, building huge tunnel complexes all throughout an area. Their burrows are beautifully sculpted, the concrete walls swirled into the crickets' flowing cursive script. The Mallek literally write their history behind them as they go forwards. 

They have a complex and sophisticated society. Though their culture is generally quiet, contemplative and communal in nature, their youth often take a period of several years to explore the world and eventually bring knowledge and riches back to the hive. They have agriculture, primarily fungi, molds and algaes that they grow in vast horizontal and vertical fields, almost entirely covering their huge, vaulted farm caverns.  They cultivate animals, including other insects. They do however take and keep slaves, of their own or any other race, usually as a manner of resolving debt or punishing criminals.  Slaves have some basic rights and a position in the hive, being seen as an important commodity for the tribe.

The drones are a quiet, thoughtful and artistic people. Their warriors however can call upon and find strength in a feral savagery when pressed into battle. Their magic culturally leans towards shamanism/necromancy. 

Mallek age ranges:

0-5 Childhood 

6-10 Adolescence 

11-15 young adult 

16-30 adult

31-45 middle aged 

46-60 venerable

61 and up Ancient 

Warrior:

Power +2

Health +2

Grace +1

Finesse 

Acumen 

Discipline -1

Charm -1

Drone:

Power 

Health 

Grace 

Finesse +1

Acumen +1

Discipline +1

Charm 

Both have:

Trait: burrower

Trait: scent

Trait: 4 arms

Warriors have:

Trait: Large

Trait: armored (thick carapace)

Trait: Natural Weapons

Beserker: Novice

Drones have:

Trait: tough hide (thin carapace)

Trait: gooey

Drones gain +1 sp per term that they can out into a domestic or artisan skill.

Queens are immobile, NPC only.

Power +1

Health +1

Grace -5

Finesse -1

Acumen +4

Discipline +4

Charm +2