Grum
Creator Note: Created by poppybell. Grum are an alien species in my Skolexari universe.
Very tall and slender, long visually fragile lithe limbs with long skeletal fingers (may have 3-8 fingers), do not wear clothing, have shiny shell-like skin made of chitin with protrusions common on the skull, elbows, hips, and chest. Insect-like long thin wings in 3-8 pairings, wings may be any color but typically are clear or light colors. Tend to be earthen tones, especially shades of green. Have pointed ears.
Some have splotches of brighter colors on their bodies such as purple, pink, or white.
Faces tend to be long and lean, with two eyes, nose, but their mouths are flat and have no lips.
Grum have large clustered teeth but their teeth are only visible if they bare them, the Grum’s “smile” appears predatory, frightening, and generally unattractive.
Some have strange facial structures with elongated skulls or protrusions from the back of skull or front of face.
Are lightweight, while they appear lithe and lean, their body's delicacy is an illusion. Grum have naturally armored skin and even their paper-like wings are as hard as bone. They possess a terrible hidden strength and endurance.
Blood Color: White
Blood Taste: Sharp, pungent, foul smelling if spilled (smells bad to Skolexari, may not to other species)
Eyes: Solid, sometimes glowing, most common color is yellow.
Reproduction: Unknown, Skolexari know Grum lay eggs in specific areas.
Relationship and History with Skolexari: A tense alliance was formed between Grum and Skolexari in 7590 (999 years ago) after a 340 year war. Grum joined the SB-5 Pact after Skolexari developed an underground weapons system and began to target Grum’s egg chambers where their young were being incubated.
A ceasefire was signed and negotiations took several years, finally it was agreed the war would end and Grum would join the SB-5 Pact as a military ally. Both sides would withdraw completely from one another’s territory, however Skolexari kept one of the Grum’s star systems as an act of peace by the Grum since they lost. After 340 years of fighting, neither liked the other and the alliance was tense and felt forced on both sides.
Skolexari and Grum dislike each other and don’t trust each other but neither wants to go to war again. Grum especially distrust Skolexari technology. Skolexari's willingness to target their eggs and sacred spaces has made Grum fearful of a second war.
Stories persist, on both sides, of acts of brutality and heroism during the conflict creating further divides with no deeper understanding.
Grum Species Abilities: Stronger, faster, more resilient than humans. Bodies have natural armor, flight, ability to stand still for long periods of time, can hold breath for several hours, elemental resistance, good hearing, silent footsteps, fast and agile, night vision.
Technology: Is less advanced than Skolexari and has become critically behind in the last 999 years in the aftermath of the war. Space fairing species, focused on their 2 systems, have become insular and self-focused after losing the war. Refuse to send messages, always use a messenger to carry a message even if this takes days, months, even years. Messages are exchanged verbally by trusted “message-speakers” or by sealed letter.
Behavior: Grum are whimsical and odd, to Skolexari they seem difficult to read and reactive “for no reason”. Their lack of facial expressions, creepy toothy grins, and mysterious private lives leaves a lot of room for unease and distrust. Grum stand very still for long periods of time, then suddenly move. They appear to have abrupt, jerky, aggressive movements. They don’t fidget.
Grum speak their own language and struggle to speak intergalactic standard, often using handheld translators, hissing simple words while pointing, or AI to communicate.
Why did Skolexari go to war with a Star-Seed? Grum started the war, Skolexari didn’t want to fight a Star-Seed species but were unable to form any alliance or reach peace with Grum. When Grum attacked them, they attacked back, and a war began.
