Outcasts appear to be an evolved strain of Wassie, first observed in 1962 during the Annihilation Event. Characterized by their albino-like appearance, Outcasts are significantly faster and stronger than the average Wassie and possess a much higher intellectual capacity. Outcasts tend to be naturally inclined towards the murder, abuse, or victimization of their lesser cousins, and much of the known Outcast culture is centered around the killing or victimization of Wassies. Unlike Wassies, Outcasts do not have a time-limited lifespan but do not respawn in the same way as Wassies if killed. The only known society of Outcasts is located in Wassietopia, and Outcasts outside of Wassland are known to be solitary creatures.
Biology
Morphology
Outcasts are similar in Wassies in morphology save for the fact that they are universally pale-white in colour and are on average about 15% larger.
Like Wassies, all Outcasts have a broad bill with flipper-like wings dexterous enough to function as hands but are incapable of supporting flight. It does seem however that Outcasts possess a slightly higher average muscle mass as compared to Wassies. The majority of Outcasts walk on two feet but some Outcasts have incorporated technological advancements into their own biology allowing them to move about on wheels or levitate.
Physical Capabilities
Due to their slightly higher average muscle mass and capacity to use these muscles far more efficiently than the average Wassie, Outcasts are significantly stronger and faster than Wassies. Their significantly increased intellectual capacity also allows them to wield tools more effectively and the strain features a level of dexterity which has not been observed in Wassies. Outcasts wielding swords and maces tend to display some understanding of combat techniques and self-injury from mishandling (which is common in Wassies) is rarely observed amongst Outcasts
Like Wassies, Outcasts are able to shrink in size around and inside of powered refrigerators but they do not instinctively have a desire to seek out refrigerators. Shrunken Outcasts are normally the result of an Outcast pursuing a Wassie into or around a refrigerator and / or the Outcast considering it advantageous for its hunt to be smaller in size
Intellectual Capability
Outcasts are far more intelligent than Wassies - demonstrating an almost human-level of intelligence. Although a recently evolved Outcast has no specific memories of its previous life as a Wassie, it spawns with an instinctive understanding of the world around it and quickly adapts to its much heightened physical capabilities. Outcasts exhibit a certain affinity with tools and technology and Outcasts (known as The Smiths) in Wassietopia actively research new technologies to kill, harm or otherwise victimize Wassies
Lifespan and Vulnerability
Outcasts do not have a time-bounded life span and continue living until killed.
Unlike Wassies which benefit from effective immortality of consciousness due to their ability to respawn after every death, Outcasts do not have the ability to respawn as is after death. When an Outcast dies, it respawns as a Wassie once more with its memories completely wiped. Outcasts are instinctively aware of this weakness and consciously avoid situations which might result in fatality (although they are sometimes blinded with target fixation when pursuing Wassies).
Evolution from Wassies
Due to their morphological similarities to Wassies, it was theorized immediately after the discovery of Outcasts that Outcasts are an evolved strain of Wassies. Much more research has been conducted to date (although a lot of research is still ongoing) and there is now some understanding around the process by which Outcasts are created.
Evolutionary Process
Outcasts can only be created by excessive exposure to a type of radiation known as 'Omega radiation' emitted by irradiated couches
Wassies appear to be drawn towards couches emitting such radiation due to the calming effect it has on Wassies. Wassies become more subdued and docile around couches, with the effects being the greatest on Wassies which are physically on the couches as Omega particles radiate most strongly upwards against gravity. Wassies on couches are said to be in a state of 'struggling' - although exposure to Omega radiation is comforting to Wassies, the calming effect can often result in Wassies falling off the couches due to deterioration of their already questionable physical capabilities.
Prolonged and excessive exposure to Omega radiation results in changes to a Wassies biology on a molecular level. When a Wassie has been 'struggling' for a sufficient period of time such that enough of its genetic makeup has been altered by Omega radiation, the Wassie becomes unconscious, falls off the couch and awakens as an Outcast. The Outcast has no memories from its previous life as a Wassie and the Omega radiation which was once calming to it becomes unbearable, forcing it to leave the immediate vicinity of the irradiated couch.
The duration a Wassie needs to 'struggle' in order to become an Outcast is estimated to be about 13 days and 16 hours of continuous maximum exposure, meaning that a Wassie needs to spend almost the entirety of its life on a couch in order to become an Outcast. If a Wassie leaves or falls off the couch before a critical mass of altered cells have been reached, the Omega irradiated cells simply revert back to their natural state.
Limit on Outcast Population
It is theorized that there are natural limits to the total population of Outcasts. Given the fact that Outcast mortality rate are incredibly low (especially compared to Wassies), it was initially expected that the population of Outcasts would increase relative to the population of Wassies over time. Scientists researching the subject, however, have observed that the Outcast population growth rate is asymptotic without any apparent natural limiting factor. Theories have thus been proposed that there is a natural 'limiter' to the Outcast population, such that the intensity of Omega radiation emission and/or the Wassies biological attraction to such radiation falls as the population of Outcasts increases
Society and Culture
Entry to Wassietopia
Wassietopia is the singular known Outcast society on the globe. Newly spawned Outcasts are imbued with a longing to enter Outcast society by becoming accepted as a citizen of Wassietopia, a feat which can only be achieved by evidencing sufficient proficiency at killing Wassies. Non-citizen Outcasts do not exhibit any social behavior and are generally territorial, if not outwardly hostile, to other Outcasts infringing on their hunting grounds.
Since all Outcasts spawn outside of Wassland, Outcasts seeking citizenship in Wassietopia must first kill enough Wassies to secure their citizenship but must also physically cross the Great Wass Sea in order to arrive at Wassietopia. Outcasts are thus sometimes seen near shorelines looking to ambush and kill Wassies arriving from Wassland in order to commandeer their boats which are often subsequently upgraded or subsumed into a larger and more seaworthy vessel capable of reliably making the trip across to Wassland.
Entry to Wassietopia requires that an Outcast seeking citizenship prove his proficiency at hunting Wassies. Though the criteria for citizenship changes on a periodic basis - it generally involves the Outcast demonstrating his ability to kill Wassies. Outcasts deemed to be incredibly inept are executed when seeking entry.
Wassietopia
Outcasts in Wassietopia are far more social and are observed to have some sort of social hierarchy and governance structure.
An Outcast's ability to murder, abuse or otherwise victimize Wassies appears to be correlated to its social standing within Outcast society in Wassietopia and the most prolific Wassie hunters tend to be part of the ruling plutocracy. Outcasts in Wassietopia periodically eave Wassietopia to go on periodic hunts, often armed with new and exotic weaponry acquired from the Smiths. These hunts may take them either to the Barren Lands or outside of the Wassland micro-continent and can last up to several weeks.
Technology
Outcasts demonstrate an affinity and interest in technology, particularly to the extent it offers new methods of victimizing Wassies. These research and development efforts are led by a group of Outcasts known as the Smiths who dedicate their lives to developing these new technologies. Smiths have a high social standing in Outcast society and at least one Smith sits on the ruling plutocracy.
