Cyclops
Cyclopses (sing. cyclops) are a race of monstrous, one-eyed sentient beings related to giants. Cyclopses are known to be brutish pastoralists and live on the wild far edges of the map. Though descended from the true giants, cyclopses are a race unto themselves and do not follow the Ordning religion. They fear magic and displays of arcane power, a phobia that appears to be rooted in the murky history of their race.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Cyclopses are huge creatures with rippling muscles; tough, tawny skin; and dark, stringy hair. They have the same bilateral symmetry of most mammalian races on Holos, with one notable exception. Each cyclops has one single eye, not two, that sits directly above their nose. It is unclear how exactly this trait came to be endemic to all cyclopses, with some claiming it to be a random mutation that ended up being selected for over millennia and others explaining the eye through mythology.
Genetics and Reproduction
Cyclopses are generally solitary pastoralists, though they do live within a day's journey from other cyclopses so they can trade and meet to discuss mates. When a cyclops pair couples, they combine their households and stay together until their offspring reaches adulthood. Female cyclopses gestate for a period of about a year.
Growth Rate & Stages
Cyclopses don't live as long as their true giant forebearers and have life spans comparable to most mortals. Cyclopses reach sexual maturity and adulthood at around age fifteen, after which the parents of a cyclops will take a portion of their herd and give it to the child to raise as their own flock. Some cyclopses stay together even after their child reaches maturity and leaves their family unit, but most separate again and return to their solitary lives.
Ecology and Habitats
Cyclopses can adapt to almost any environment but they are most at home in temperate, rugged conditions like remote islands, deserts, jungles, scrublands, forests, and mountain valleys. Because cyclopses are pastoralists, they often move in time with the shifts of the wet and dry seasons, following the rains that produce lush pastures for their flocks. Cyclopses are decent swimmers as well and are often found on remote islands that cannot support mortal agriculturalists but to provide enough shrubbery for a cyclops and their herd.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Cyclopses are omnivorous, though because they breed animals, they eat meat almost every day. They are not nearly as voracious as hill giants or even ogres, but they also don't see much of a difference between eating a wild goat and a mortal man. However, their intelligence does mean that they will think twice before hunting mortals and usually prefer to stick to eating animals that they've raised since birth. Some coastal cyclopses practice fishing, though this is more for sport than sustenance. Cyclopses rarely eat highly processed foods like bread or alcohol and so some folk have used the trade of these exotic foods as a way to entice curious cyclopses into more friendly relations.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Cyclopses are usually solitary, preferring to live either alone or in small family groups. They tend to lair in large caves, ruins, or in large structures made of dry stone they construct themselves. That said, as pastoralists, their first priority is the safety of their flocks of animals and so they will often have two chambers in their homes—one for their herd and one for themselves.
However, even when the live alone, most cyclopses live no more than a day's journey from another cyclops so they can meet to trade goods or seek news of mates. After mating, cyclopses combine their herds and become a single living unit. Mated cyclopses raise their child together until the young cyclops reaches adulthood, at which point, a portion of the herd is given to the cyclops so they can start their new life. Some cyclopses mate for life, while others go their separate ways after a child reaches adulthood.
Facial characteristics
They have one eye above their nose.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Though they are able to survive in colder temperatures, cyclopses are most commonly found in the equatorial regions of Holos. Additionally, because of their pastorialist society, cyclopses do move in time with the varying wet and dry seasons to provide suitable grazing for their herds. Persistent populations of cyclopses have been reported in the Sickle Islands of the Sea of Brass, Kanesh, the Mashiq, the lowlands of the Shanindar, the foothills of the Basceron in Placidia and Savia, the Deccan Plateau, the Shattered Strait, the Travaskus Archipelago, the savannahs of Ulukandu, the Snapping Turtle Bay of Kwila and the Mazabar Highlands.
Average Intelligence
Though they are often depicted as brutish or unsophisticated, cyclopses are actually quite intelligent. They have the capacity to work metals or build complex structures, however they shun this as a mark of "civilization," which they see as treacherous and evil. In particular, magic is hated by cyclopses as many retain the cultural memory of the Fey-Fomorian War, when they were bewitched and terrified by the fey while their leaders were transformed into the dreaded fomorians. Additionally, cyclopses do have long memories and can integrate into societies that are not overly prejudiced against monstrous sentients. However, they have trouble deviating to much from their traditions, particularly when reminded of their ancestors attempts to become a "civilizing" society.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
With only one eye, cyclopses have a great deal of trouble discerning distance. This causes them to have disadvantage on any ranged weapon attacks against targets over 30 feet away. They have a slightly heightened sense of hearing and good memories, but this is rarely enough to make up for the detriment of living without two eyes.
Civilization and Culture
Average Technological Level
Though they are often depicted as brutish or unsophisticated, cyclopses are actually quite intelligent. They have the capacity to work metals or build complex structures, however they shun this as a mark of "civilization," which they see as treacherous and evil. In particular, magic is hated by cyclopses as many retain the cultural memory of the Fey-Fomorian War, when they were bewitched and terrified by the fey while their leaders were transformed into the dreaded fomorians.
History
The natural history of the cyclops race is shrouded in mystery. They seem to have first appeared in the Early Mithril Era, but no conclusive records or evidence of their kind really appears until the Palladian Era. Scant mentions in one Temekanian text appears to show them working for the Temekanian Empire as metallurgists, even claiming their skill at smithing derives from secret knowledge they stole from the fire giants when they worked as slaves in their strongholds. However, the contradicts the most complete myth of the cyclopses, "Pyrémondias & the Raven". This legend appears in the canon of fey animists and includes many references to both Celestial and Ordning religion (see Myths & Legends below for the full text.)
Historical Figures
According to the origin myth "Pyrémondias & the Raven," the first cyclops—or rather the first protocyclopean—was a hill giant named Pyrémondias. As recounting in the myth, Pyrémondias is largely remembered as endowing cyclopses with their increased intelligence and their single eyes. However, it would not be until the Fey-Fomorian War that the cyclopses as a race would truly exist on their own merits.
Common Myths and Legends
One myth does tell the story of how the cyclopses came to be. It comes from practitioners of fey animism, and so is met with some skepticism from scholars. However, the story is the most complete account of the cyclopses and their early history as well as the origin story of the fomorians, another race of one-eyed giants.
Long ago, shortly after the gods of the Ordning had each made the true giant races, a particularly clever hill giant named Pyrémondias1, found a large nest located in a pine tree. He was curious and very hungry and so he pulled down another tall pine tree that stood next to the nest's tree and lashed the tip of the tree to a stone. He waited until something big flew by and then released the pine. It whipped towards the creature and knocked it to the ground. Pyrémondias rushed over to find a giant raven lying on the ground. Pyrémondias snatched the raven and was about to gobbling him up when the raven squawked at him, "Wait! Be still you hunger for just one moment hrungnir! I am a messenger Jötu, the Storm Father; Allking of the Ordning and father of your maker Gronnar, the Hill Creature! Should you eat me grave misfortune shall come upon you and your kin!" Pyrémondias thought for a moment and said, "I do not know if you are a truthful bird or if you are full of trickery. And I know little of this Jötu you speak of; only that he is very smart and very powerful." "Yes, he is so very smart and he will be so very cross should you eat me!" chattered the panicked raven. "And if you are truly his creature then you must know some of his cunning," said Pyrémondias. "Oh, I could not know all that the great Storm Father knows! His eye sees much I cannot comprehend—!" "How did such a wise and powerful maatnir2 lose his eye?" interrupted Pyrémondias. "It happened like this: Jötu was once a young god and he fought many battles. He was a terrifying storm and a cunning warrior—like you, hrungnir! His eyes could discern the weakness of his foes with a single glance. A great serpent called the Dread Dragoness and who's true name causes the earth to quake and smoke to rise from the darkness rose from her slumber and did battle with many gods. When she was finally felled, Jötu was there and saw a flash in time—a great horror of three winters without sun, men becoming as wolves, and the earth cloven to reveal the Dread Dragoness returned. Jötu was troubled by this and so went to find a sorcerer, a witch of the wood whom knew many things even the gods did not. He found her, the Seeress Vaynera, long may her memory be sung by the sweetest voices. The Seeress told Jötu the truth: even for a god to look upon the Time Before or the Time To Be, they risk losing themselves to the Old Magic of this world. For the Old Magic does not grant itself freely; it demands payment. And not a coin pressed into one's hand; it demands a sacrifice, a cost to be felt in one's bones and flesh. Now Jötu prized his skill in battle above all else; it had been his observations and tactical mind that had helped bring peace to the Realms during the War of the Dawn. And so when the Seeress said this, Jötu's heart was stricken for he knew what he must do. The Seeress and her sisters brought Jötu to the Great Oak3. They wrapped a cord of mistletoe around his neck and tied it to the highest branch of the Great Oak. Then, with a bough taken from the Great Oak, the Seeress pried the Storm Father's greatest treasure, his eye, from his skull. The Seeress plunged the blooded branch into his side and stepped back. The Storm Father cried out in pain but his voice was silenced as the sisters of Vaynera pulled the cord tight and hung him from the Great Oak. There he swayed, looking out over all Creation with but one eye and a stick in his side. He watched the stars and sun wheel passed him nine times each as his life and divinity leaked from his lips. None gave him loaf to eat or a horn to drink. He stared out from that Great Oak, who's roots run deeper than time and on the tenth dawn he looked down to the shrieking runes and saw the Era of Twilight. They pulled him from the boughs of the Great Oak. He removed the branch that had pierced his side and called it Críspantis4 and made it a new spear he carries at all times. He came upon Vaynera and pledged himself to her if she could help him prepare Creation for the Era of Twilight. They coupled and from their union came the first of the Ordning, Duris, whom Jötu told of his time in the tree and of the Tale of Twilight. And so the Storm Father's aim was taken and his sight restored and he became the most cunning and wise and powerful of the gods to lead us into Twilight." The hill giant Pryémondias was riveted by this tale. He told the raven, "I wish to be as cunning as Jötu. Will you help me?" The raven was skeptical of the hill giant but said, "I will help you if you let me go." And so Pyrémondias let the raven go. The raven was about to flap to safety, but like Pyrémondias, the raven was too curious for his own good. Pyrémondias took the rope he'd used to lash the pine tree to the ground and handed one end to the raven. He told the raven, "Take this end and tie it to the top of that tree." The raven took the rope to the top of the tree and tied it to the highest, sturdiest branch, careful that it could support the hill giant's enormous weight. Pyrémondias then wrapped the rope around his neck and told the raven. "While I am hanging, you must pluck out my eye just as Vaynera did for Jötu. Do not hesitate no matter what." Again the raven was nervous. It did not know the rites or runes that Vaynera had drawn. But the raven was also getting hungry and the idea of eating the hill giant's juicy eyeball seemed appealing. So the raven called for his flock and they hoisted Pyrémondias up into the tree. The raven flew up to the hanging hill giant and tried to pluck out his eye. But the rope around Pyrémondias' neck was not tied quite tight enough and his fat neck was preventing him from passing out. The hill giant screamed in pain as the raven's beak plunging into his eye socket and he instinctively grabbed the raven and pulled him away. Just as he did so, the branch above him snapped from the commotion. Pyrémondias and the giant raven fell a hundred feet and landed with a thud. The raven's body was crushed by the weight of the hill giant but it's beak had penetrated Pyrémondias's eye socket. Pyrémondias staggered to his feet dazed but alive and without his eye. And through some vestige of faith in the Old Magic and the blood of the Ordning, Pyrémondias had emerged changed. He was smarter and wiser than his kin, though for he had sacrificed but for a moment what the Storm Father had given in nine days and nights. And as his gouged eye sealed up, he other eye moved, as if by his will, to the center of his forehead. He became a cyclops, yet he and those that encountered him and his children did not call them so. They named them fomorians, and they endeavored to seek out greater wisdom and knowledge. Many years later, the fomorians had become a handsome race of giant, one-eyed people. They were led by a class of gifted magicians and seers that knew many secrets of the Old Magic. With only a glance of their great, single eye, these fomorians could cast potent spells and persuade others to help them in their quests for greater knowledge. Yet there were others among the fomorians who were not skilled magicians, but rather treated as mundane slaves. They retained the one-eyed anatomy of their fellow fomorians but were simpler, and bore only a fraction of the cunning imparted to Pyrémondias. At some point, the fomorian leaders decided that the key to understanding the Old Magics was hidden in the halls of the Feywild. They journeyed into the Feywild and began a great war with the fey. This act united the Seelie and Unseelie Court, whom saw the enslavement of their kind to be an abomination worthy of excision. First, the Seelie fey used their trickery to confuse the brutish fomorian slaves and separate them from their sorcerer overseers. The fey confused them with magic and made them fearful of all smaller folk, particularly those whom cast spells. These fomorians fled into the Feywild's wilderness, with the majority of them making it back through the crossing they'd used to enter the Fair Realm. These fomorians are the ancestors of the cyclopses and were spared from the curse the rest of the fomorians endured. Those fomorians that remained only became more feverishly devoted to conquering the Feywild and taking the secrets of the Old Magic. One by one, the Unseelie cursed them, their bodies warped to reflect the evil within their hearts. Even their magical powers were stripped away and after a horrific battle with the combined forces of the Twin Courts, the fomorians too fled back to the Material Realm. Yet when they returned to their home, they found the sunlight burning and their cyclops kin to reject them for their sinfulness. They were forced beneath the surface and into the forbidden Realm of Monsters, the Underdark. To this day, the fomorians live in shadows forever wondering if they were fated to this prison from the moment Pyrémondias fell from the pine tree.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Cyclopses are usually pastoralists, living in isolation on the fringes of wild landscapes and tending to flocks of domesticated animals. Cyclopses keep many kinds of animals, including sheep, markhors, cattle, aurochs, swine, boar, and even camels. These animals are always kept as a source of food, and never though of as pets, as trade goods, or transport. Sometimes cyclopses will keep dire wolves or giant weasels as herding animals to help them keep track of their flocks as they graze over long distances beyond the sight of the cyclops's single eye.
Footnotes:
1 Pyrémondias, meaning "bright giant one" in Classical Celestial. 2 A maatnir is a term used by followers of the Ordning to describe someone who does honorable and normal deeds given their position within the Ordning hierarchy. This is in contrast to a maugnir, someone who goes against the Ordning and therefore acts in a dishonorable or unnatural manner. 3 The Great Oak of Sythenra, an enormous oak tree that grows to an unnatural height and width within the Mehilan Forest. Many cultures, particularly those indigenous groups that draw on druidic belief systems, consider it to be an axis mundi and a place where the Old Magic of the world remains strong. 4 Críspanis, or the Trembling Branch, is the Hallowed Arm of Jötu. It is said to always find its mark and when it flies, its shaft is wreathed with lightning.A male cyclops from the Voai Islands of Teroa
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Origin/Ancestry
Giant
Lifespan
50-70 years
Average Height
3.7 m (12 ft.)
Average Weight
540 kg (1200 lbs)
Average Physique
Cyclopses are considered Huge creatures.
Related Ethnicities
Related Myths
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