Gigan
The Gigan are towering beings of immense power and majesty, born from the union of otherworldly beings and the mortals of Seerth. They embody the raw elements of the world, standing as living monuments of the past's mysteries and the future's potential. With their otherworldly heritage, the Gigan possess abilities far beyond that of ordinary mortals, yet they bear the burden of their dual nature—torn between the ethereal realms of their forebears and the earthbound existence of their human lineage.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Gigan physiology is a marvel of nature's design, showcasing adaptations that allow them to thrive in some of Seerth's most inhospitable environments. Standing at an average height of 3 to 5 meters tall, their bodies are a testament to their connection with the earth, featuring skin tones that range from deep stone greys to vibrant moss greens. Unlike traditional giants, Gigan resemble well built humans, leaning towards the bulkier side from the torso up.
Genetics and Reproduction
Gigan reproduce sparingly, with a gestation period that spans several years. Their offspring, known as "Gigettes" are born semi aware and capable of basic speech and movement, reflecting their immediate bond with the natural world. The genetic legacy of a Gigan is strong, with little variation between generations, preserving their ancient traits through millennia.
Growth Rate & Stages
The developmental journey of a Gigan mirrors their eternal perspective, with childhoods that extend into their thirtys filled with learning and preparation for their destined roles. They reach adulthood through a rite of passage defined by a significant act that cements their place in the annals of their kin. Living for over one hundred and fifty years, each Gigan stands as a sentinel over the ages, witnessing the rise and decline of civilizations while maintaining their ceaseless watch over the world. It is not uncommon to mistake a Gigan child for an adult.
Ecology and Habitats
Gigan have an intrinsic connection to the natural world. They are often found in remote, untouched regions of Seerth, such as towering mountain ranges, deep forests, vast deserts, and secluded islands. Their presence is said to bring harmony to these places, nurturing the land and guiding its creatures.
Gigan's impact on their habitat is profound. Their movements can alter the geography over time, creating new valleys or diverting watercourses. However, they are deeply respectful of the balance of nature and strive to maintain it. This harmonious relationship with their environment has led to lush, thriving ecosystems around their dwellings, often regarded as sacred by nearby peoples.
The habitats of the Gigan vary widely, reflecting the diverse nature of these beings. Some prefer the solitude of high mountains, where the air is thin, and the land is covered in snow. Others dwell in the heart of dense forests, surrounded by ancient trees and hidden from the eyes of the world. There are also Gigan who roam the vast deserts, their forms silhouetted against the setting sun, or who reside on remote islands, shaping the land and communing with the sea.
No matter where they choose to live, Gigan are always closely tied to the natural forces of their habitat, learning to fear and respect the world around them. Mountain Gigan might smith from the rocks and earth, while those in forests could have dominion over plants and animals, forming close relationships with druids, fey or rangers.Other Gigan tribes form habitats in secluded areas, away from the influence of the outside world.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Gigans, known for their colossal size, have a diet that is as large and varied as they are. Primarily omnivorous, their meals include a significant portion of meat from large beasts, entire fields of crops, and forests of fruit trees. Due to their size, a single meal for a Gigan could feed a small village for a week. Their ability to consume raw materials directly from nature often puts them in conflict with local populations over resources.
Gigans are adept hunters and gatherers, capable of tracking and taking down the largest beasts within their territory. Their hunting practices are ritualistic, often involving ceremonies that pay respect to the spirit of the land and the creatures they consume. Some Gigan communities have developed forms of agriculture suited to their scale, cultivating vast tracts of land to grow crops that are resilient and yield large harvests. These agricultural practices are often seen as marvels of engineering, involving complex irrigation systems and unique farming tools.
Behaviour
Gigans possess a deep connection to the earth and its cycles, which influences their behavior significantly. They are generally solitary or live in small family units, coming together in larger gatherings only on rare occasions. Despite their imposing presence, Gigans have a profound respect for the balance of nature and strive to live in harmony with it. Gigan elders are known for their wisdom and often sought out by other races for counsel. However, their interactions are governed by a strict code of honor and respect. Showing disrespect to a Gigan can have dire consequences.
Gigans prefer to avoid conflict, but when provoked, they are formidable opponents. Their long lifespan and powerful physique make them almost unbeatable in direct combat. However, they are also known for their fairness and will not engage in a fight without just cause.
The presence of Gigans within a region often leads to myths and legends about their deeds. They are revered as guardians of the earth and are often entreated to mediate disputes between smaller races.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Gigan society is structured around clans, each led by a chieftain who is often the oldest and wisest among them. These clans are bound by blood and ancient pacts, with a deep sense of loyalty and communal responsibility. Leadership is not just a position of power but a duty to guide and protect the clan members. Elders hold a revered place in Gigan society, serving as advisors and arbitrators in disputes.
Facial characteristics
Gigans have broad, expressive faces with deep-set eyes that sparkle with ancient knowledge. Their facial features might reflect harsh conditions each tribe is accustomed to, such as stone-like skin textures or thick facial hair.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Gigans are most commonly found in remote and rugged terrains such as mountain ranges, deep forests, and secluded islands. These locations offer the solitude many Gigans crave and the space needed to accommodate their large communities.
Average Intelligence
Gigans possess a keen intellect much like humans, with an inclination towards building, craft, philosophy, astronomy, and in some instances magical craft. Their long lives grant them the luxury of dedicating centuries to the mastery of complex subjects, making them formidable scholars and sages. Many Gigan have found themselves leading a large cohort of soldiers due to their strength and natural intellect.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The Gigan possess acute senses that enable them to navigate their colossal world with relative grace. Many Gigan have a sense of hearing is finely tuned to detect the slightest tremors through the ground, an ability that aids them in communication over long distances through low-frequency vibrations in their native landscapes.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Gigan names are as grand as their stature, often inspired by the natural elements and the ancient tongue of their ancestors. Names are given by the clan's elder based on an auspicious event or a notable characteristic observed at birth. A Gigan's name grows with deeds and accomplishments, with suffixes added to denote honor and achievements.
Major Organizations
While Gigans are not known for forming large-scale political entities, their clans can form powerful coalitions, especially when the land they cherish is threatened. The "Circle of Stone" is a legendary council where clan chieftains gather to discuss matters of grave importance, their decisions echoing through the mountains like the rumble of an avalanche.
Average Technological Level
Despite their affinity for nature, Gigans have developed sophisticated techniques for working stone and metal, creating structures and artifacts that blend seamlessly with the natural landscape. Their engineering marvels include fortified mountain citadels, vast underground halls, and intricate stone carvings that tell the story of their people. Gigan can and have used tools of man, although the sizes are never quite right.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The Gigan language, "Gigantongue," is a deep, resonating language that carries calmness and authority. It has several dialects, varying from clan to clan, each with unique idiomatic expressions shaped by their specific environments.
Common Etiquette Rules
Gigans value respect and family above all. Their family units are caring, protective, and thoughtful, reflecting their contemplative nature. Showing disrespect, especially towards elders, is considered a grave insult.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Gigan culture is a reflection of their deep bond with the earth and its dicotomy. They celebrate the cycles of nature through festivals that mark the change of seasons, the solstices, and the equinoxes. Their myths are rich with stories of earth spirits, the creation of the world, and the Gigan's place within it.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
One of the most sacred customs is the "Tithe," where young Gigans embark on a solitary journey within the boundaries of their territory to connect with the land and discover their purpose. This journey marks the transition from youth to adulthood and is a pivotal moment in every Gigan's life. Upon return, they must present a gift to the tribe from their journey, a trophy, an art, a skill or riches.
Common Taboos
Insulting one's famliy is the greatest disrespect one can achieve towards a Gigan, while not a martial crime, it is likely to lead to a deadly encounter.
History
Amidst towering mountains and whispering forests, the saga of the Gigan unfolds—a tale not of conquests and crowns, but of earth and essence. The Gigan, these colossal sentinels of stone and spirit, have long walked the lands of Seerth, their origins shrouded mystery from the Golden age. Unlike the turbulent histories that plague many races, the Gigan were relatively secular and experienced very little tragedy, apart from the harsh conditions they call home.
In ages past, when the world was still young and the fabric of reality thinner, the first Gigan stepped forth from the heart of the mountains. It is said that their birth was the world's sigh, a release of the deep magics that could have caused a mutation of orcs, men or even traditional giants. These primal Gigans were not conquerors but guardians of their own hidden lands, however they have always been able to fend for themselves, given their stature and strength.
As eons passed, the Gigan remained largely reclusive, their interactions with the smaller races scarce and filled with an air of detached curiosity. They watched as empires rose and fell, as wars scorched the earth and peace blossomed anew. To the Gigan, these were but fleeting moments of time, no more permanent than the dew at dawn.
Yet, the Gigan were not untouched by the march of ages. Their own lore grew rich with tales of the earth's deep secrets, of caverns glittering with unspoken magic, and of the sky's boundless mysteries. In their solitude, they crafted wonders—great halls carved into the heart of mountains and harmonious gardens that bloomed with the magic of all four seasons at once.
The most venerable among the Gigan, Byth the greatfather, is a figure of legend. Once a simple forger of pathways through the impassable, Byth rose to prominence not through conquest, but through the creation of the Great Concourse, a network of roads and tunnels that connected the disparate parts of the Gigan's world. It was Byth who taught the Gigan the value of connection—not just with the land, but with each other and the smaller races that tread softly upon the earth. This event has led a few Gigan to leave their homelands and venture forth, however this is rare.
Their history, a gentle stream rather than a raging torrent, serves as a reminder that power need not be wielded with a heavy hand, but with a deep understanding of the world and one's place within it. The Gigan, with their monumental patience and profound wisdom, continue to shape the world in subtle ways.
Historical Figures
Byth the Grandfather: the legendary chieftain who led the first Gigan excursions outside the Gigan lands, this led to shared learnings and a respect for what the Gigans have been gifted.
Tera Earthshaper: a revered matriarch who united the clans in a time of grear famine, her connection to nature and natural intelligence led to the argricultural practices Gigan have today.
Common Myths and Legends
The legends of the Gigan are as vast as the landscapes they inhabit, filled with tales of ancient earth giants, battles with primordial forces of nature, and the taming of the mountains. "The Tale of the First Stone" recounts how the Gigan race carved their home in the world, and are destined to be the protectors in the harshest of lands.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Gigans maintain a cautious relationship with other races, guided by a principle of mutual respect but always wary of past betrayals. Their historical conflicts with the Sliisk and the elves have left deep scars, influencing their interactions with the outside world. However, their alliances with humans and other races during times of common threat showcase their capacity for cooperation and their unwavering commitment to the protection of Seerth.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Origin/Ancestry
Legends tell of the Gigan being the last true giants of Seerth, attributing their origin to generations of strong breeding between immortals and mortals in the harshest of conditions.
Lifespan
Gigans are known for their longevity, with an average lifespan ranging from 80 to 170 years. Most Gigan succumb to battle or the harsh conditions before attaining this age.
Average Height
3-5m Tall
Average Weight
600 - 900Kg
Average Physique
Gigans boast an impressive physique, with powerful muscles that are well adapted to their size. This physical prowess, combined with their innate resilience, makes them formidable warriors and laborers.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The skin of Gigans can vary widely, from earthy tones that blend with their mountainous homes to vibrant hues that mirror the exotic flora of their forest dwellings. Some clans bear distinctive markings or tattoos that signify their lineage or achievements.
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