Goliath
Chosen of the mountains
An honorable and nomadic tribal society of almost-giants that live atop mountains, goliaths are one of the least complicated mysteries you'll find. The sight of a goliath is very rare and always memorable. Because of their love of contests, huge size, and intimidating appearance, most other species think of them as frightening berserkers and will often get out of a goliath's way to avoid incurring his or her wrath. However, those that know more about goliaths understand that they are valorous heroes and are often driven to ever greater deeds.
Basic Information
Ecology and Habitats
Goliath tribes are not large or permanent as the mountain terrain doesn't allow for such settlements. Temporary villages are set up then disassembled and relocated every month or so. Goliaths are not afraid to mix with other cultures or travel.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Goliath society's key focus is competitiveness. Their society also holds equality and fairness in high regard. Goliaths live in small tribes that number between forty and sixty members. This is usually made up of three to five extended families. Most goliaths live in the same tribe their entire life. On rare occasions a tribe that gets too large will split into smaller tribes, or smaller tribes will merge together to form a larger tribe in response to hardships. Goliath tribes have a number of key roles that are filled by the most capable members.
Tribe chieftains only maintain power as long as they can prove they are suitable for that role. As a result, leadership constantly changes. New leaders are chosen by contests. Any goliath can challenge the chieftain in an attempt to replace them. If this happens, the chieftain and the challenger compete in three tasks. The challenger has to win all three to become the new chieftain. The old chieftain would then leave the tribe permanently. Due to the fact that few goliaths lived to old age, goliath tribes rely on innate wisdom in their leaders rather than wisdom gained from years of experience.
The competitive nature of goliaths means that the attitude and achievements of one would quickly inspire the whole tribe. Individuals within tribes are constantly trying to outdo each others' good deeds. This means that nearby settlements often stereotype goliaths as a heroic and good people.
Facial characteristics
Goliaths have strong, squared jaws, deep eyes that are usually in shades of blue and green, and hair that is coarse and almost always black.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Every goliath has three names: a birth name assigned by the newborn’s mother and father, a nickname assigned by the tribal chief, and a family or clan name. A birth name is up to three syllables long. Clan names are five syllables or more and end in a vowel.
Birth names are rarely linked to gender. Goliaths see females and males as equal in all things, and they find societies with roles divided by gender to be puzzling or worthy of mockery. To a goliath, the person who is best at a job should be the one tasked with doing it.
A goliath’s nickname is a description that can change on the whim of a chieftain or tribal elder. It refers to a notable deed, either a success or failure, committed by the goliath. Goliaths assign and use nicknames with their friends of other races, and change them to refer to an individual’s notable deeds.
Goliaths present all three names when identifying themselves, in the order of birth name, nickname, and clan name. In casual conversation, they use their nickname.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
The cultures and traditions of goliath tribes vary from tribe to tribe and region to region but a number of traits are common across several tribes. Goliaths have little empathy or pity for adults who can't take care of themselves but they treat and take care of the injured and sick. Permanently injured goliaths are still expected to contribute in every way that they can.
Arts and crafting in goliath culture are limited by the resources they have at hand in the mountains. As a result, goliaths are skilled in crafts like flintknapping, tanning, stitching, creating simple pottery, bone-carving, and painting. Goliath art is often colorful and expressive. Art is one of the few things that goliaths understand to be non-competitive; they fully appreciated that art can't have a winner. Goliaths believe that art should be used to show people something they can't see in the real world. Goliaths decorate their tents, caves, weapons, and clothes with abstract designs (often jagged, parallel lines and symbols that have astronomical significance).
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Considering their competitive nature, it's not surprising that sports are often played by goliaths to improve their physical skills and pass time. Simple games included climbing, sprinting, cliff-climbing, and wrestling. They also have more complex sports such as goat-ball, which functions a bit like dodgeball but played on a series of pillars instead of a flat field.
Goliaths' most notable characteristic was their competitiveness. They kept track of their accomplishments and saw everything as a challenge. Those not familiar with goliath psychology would often get annoyed when goliaths constantly reminded them how many times a certain thing had happened, thinking them arrogant or self-centered. This was not the case however. To goliaths, score-keeping was a natural and integral part of life, not meant to belittle or demean anyone.[4]
A goliath's most fierce competitor is themselves. Beating their own records is the most satisfying victory for a goliath. They are also competitive with their companions and other goliaths, but are never arrogant or cocky. Trust and honor are the key aspects of most goliaths. This tradition of honor and trust means that goliaths tend to be good overall. This combined with their competitive nature often leads goliaths to valorous heroics. Goliaths are also notably daring and fearless. Feats of physical strength and agility, like jumping chasms or climbing cliffs, hold no fear for goliaths. Goliaths are naturally curious beings and loved to explore.
Common Taboos
Goliaths have little time for cheaters, gloaters, and sore losers. Goliaths never hold grudges if they lose a fair fight, and often repeat the goliath maxim that "Today's rival is tomorrow's teammate." Complacency is a trait that goliaths loathe and as a result they never take anything for granted. Even goliaths with magical advantages continue to train their physical prowess in case they ever lose their power.
History
After the destruction of Meara during the Godswar, many religious survivors wanted answers from the gods as to why their home had to be destroyed, yet the gods did not answer their prayers, and sent no omens or prophets. These zealots then decided they would climb the mountains to meet the gods themselves. It is not known exactly what occurred, but years later the first goliath tribes were seen on the slopes of those same mountains.
Since those times goliaths have remained in the chilly regions near the peaks of mountains, though many goliaths seeking to prove themselves have ventured down into the 'softlands' to find worthy challenges.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Homo sapiens gigas
Average Height
7 - 8 feet
Average Weight
200 - 400 lbs
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Goliath skin is gray or brown and is extremely tough (often compared to stone). One of the most distinctive features of the goliath is the darker (often vertically symmetrical) patches of skin that cover their entire bodies. Goliaths believe that these markings somehow explain or controll their fate or destiny. For this reason, goliaths never tattoo themselves as this could affect their future.
Goliath skin is littered with bony growths called "lithoderms". These growths are roughly the size of a coin and appear like studded pebbles on their arms, shoulders, torso or head.
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