The giants' origin is largely a mystery. They emerged from the depths of the Wastes, the most inhospitable and dangerous area in the world. They settled along the coasts of the northern sea, and the tundra of what is now the far northern Pychekan territories. It is theorized that there might even be more further into the unexplored Wastes.
Unknown time to 200 MoP - The Giants clans migrate from the deep wastes into the outer fringes of the Wastes' expanse. It is theorized they moved while following herds of prey. They settle their villages into these areas, along the coasts and in the harsh tundras. For them, however, it is a bearable environment.
Late 300's - The Giants are encountered by the Arushyika people, and are largely avoided. The giants, fearing they might be walking on unholy grounds, forbid anyone from going south for years.
Mid 350's - In curiosity, some Giant clans send large carts bearing gifts of meat to the Arushyikan villages on the northern fringe. The reaction is generally a good one. The Arushyika villages give them their grown foods and local furs. The primitive system of trade between the Arushyika and the Giants is started. Word of these mysterious giants of legend is spread along the Arushyika trade route, though it is largely regarded as folk tale.
Early 400's - More giants enter the area and settle into already established villages. The Arushyika villages in the far reach of the north are now under the control of the several Arushyikan serf-Kingdoms. These Kingdoms, constantly looking to get the upper hand over each other, find that the myth of Giants is true. They immediately send their top scholars and diplomatic envoys. They gift the giant villages with offerings of meat, enlarged weapons, and armor. The giants then open up to the humans for their great generosity, and the scholars begin the arduous process of cracking their language.
432 - After a decade of living with the giants and deciphering their language, an aged cultural scholar and his colleagues complete their 11 year work on the deciphering of the language. His work is confiscated by the Kingdom he swore allegiance to, and is payed little.
435 - 442 The Great Integration and the Fruitless war. "Had I known my work would be used against the culture I came to respect and love, I would have burned it." - Pyotr Yegevin, tenured scholar on exotic culture.
The Kingdom's work is stolen and sold to the other rivaling Kingdoms, and now the race is on. For the first time, the Kingdoms send diplomatic envoys capable of articulately speaking with the Giant leaders. They promise their finest warriors a place of honor, fame, and fortune in their Kingdom's armies. They promised their laborers a high paying life of easy menial labor. They promised their people that they would be accepted into open arms by their Kingdoms. The wiser of the Clan leaders discouraged their people from leaving. But many did, regardless. The giants were "accepted" into the Kingdoms and given jobs immediately.
War broke out among the greedy and territory hungry kings. Giants were seen as invincible and morale boosting. But it was quite the opposite. Although they were well equipped to handle many human fighters at the same time, they were quite easy to pick out from a crowd, making them easier to coordinate attacks on. Not only that but they were quite easy to hit with ranged weapons. Even the most novice crossbowman could get an arrow or two off on them from range. But the deaths of these giants was kept secret outside of the armies. The wars ended after a few years, with no real change in the territories of any of the Kingdoms.
The Giants were exploited even more. The fame and fortune they were promised was mostly lie, some warriors having success in that region. The majority of the giant people who had been integrated were now exploited. Any who opposed the tyranny were instantly killed out of example, for a rebellion of giants was something to be feared. They were forced into mines, serfdom, and conscription. Thus the first generation of non-native Giants was born within the years.
Mid 450's - The Giant clans recede from their trade deals with the Arushyika kingdoms. Few go south now.
450's - 550's - The giants slowly spread down from Arushyika. They seek Freedom from their pseudo-slavery. They venture down into Occitan, Talibar, and Sida. In Sida and Occitan, they are put into the slave trade. Occitanians favor the giants for use in their large armies, in gladiator arenas, as servants and personal guards for nobles, and for general menial labor. In Sida they are generally favored for the same reasons, but more for the profit of slave trade. A high concentration of giants emerges in Occitan due to the high demand of them.
Back "home" in Arushyika, the giants are experienced more freedoms. Though many are still stuck in serfdom. They begin to refer to themselves as Arushyika, not of Wastes.
567 - The land of Giants. "At last, we have found a place we can all call home." - King Iorek Vyrnson, first King and founder of Bjørgvolsa.
The coastal city-state Bjørgvolsa is established on the coast to the north west of the Arushyikan gulf. It hails all the giant clans to either join it's allegiance and protection or migrate in or around it's city walls. The first and only Giant-Kingdom and city is established. It has limited trade with the country of Talibar, and refuses to trade largely with slave-trade nations. In years to come, it will become a wealthy coastal trading jewel for rare items and artifacts of the Wastes, as well as focal point for explorers. Many desperate giants attempt to reach the city from Occitan, and even more desperate, from the Sidan deserts.
Late 500's to late 600's - As the giants gain their independence, they attempt to integrate themselves into society. Over century they are largely accepted, with some exceptions like in the racist remnants of Occitan.
Mid 650's - Reports of giant half-breeds arise. At first, it is not really looked upon as much of a worry. But giants outside of Arushyika and Bjørgvolsa start to panic, and begin to force arranged marriages to keep their race alive.
690 - The Lumber and Forestry Co., made up of giants and tenured lumberjacks, is formed in Sanctimonia.
Early 700's to mid 700's - Giants have spread over most of the world's modernized nations. Their small numbers and distances from a possible spouse make them rarer and rarer as they interbreed with non-giant species.
785 - Slavery of the Arushyikan giant - "Vymanye! Vymanye! Giants of the proud Arushyika people, your service is needed today! In our farms, that feed the people! In our factories, that give us strength! In the army, that protect our people from all danger! Your nation calls to you! All giants, report to your political office in your district for assignment!" - Notice spread across Pychekan cities and yelled by Political officers.
The giant, along with many other unfortunate non-humans in Pychekan territory, are subjected to slavery under a different name. Though largely unknown outside of Pychekan borders, it remains today as a horrible crime against basic rights to sentient beings. Giants are largely put to work in the army, rather than the industrial and agricultural forces. There they are said to be on par with the Minotaur, which is more or less another lie.
Present day - Outside of Pycheko, the giants have claimed an important part of the labor and defense forces of society.
Physical Description and facts.
Spoiler:
Adult male -- 10-11 feet tall. 600-700 pounds. Contrary to belief, not inherently aggressive by nature.
Adult female -- 9-10 feet tall. 500-600 pounds.
Giants are really just upscaled humans, having little differing traits as human other than more developed muscle structure by genetics and in general a body resistant to physical damage. The most differing traits from humans to giants are the large upper and lower canines, adapted to their carnivorous appetite. They have developed muscles, obviously. They are also known for their blood chilling, inhuman roars. And a lesser obvious fact, their immune system is very strong. And along with having a large appendix, they can digest raw food.
Some of them however are pure ice giants, a rare breed of giant with blue-ish skin and are cool to the touch, if not icy. They are extremely rare, and most of them live in the city of Bjørgvolsa.
They are unable to summon really any kind of powerful magic for some reason. This does not mean that they are immune to magic attacks themselves, just that they cannot do anything really beyond some kind of simple spell. And even that is hard for them. They can still wield magically crafted and imbued weapons and items, and it will have the same effect on them.
Half-breed giants mixed with anything, as stated earlier, just makes a beefy humanoid half breed, maybe a foot taller than the average of the non-giant parent. They also inherit a lessened version of the negating magic trait.
Culture.
Spoiler:
Giants come from a clan-based warrior background. The native giants speak the language Nordik and live along the fringes of the Wastes, and are heavily concentrated in Bjørgvolsa. Their culture is immersed in celebration and tradition. They believe that they emerged from the powerful and mysterious storms of the Wastes. That the first two giants were formed from a godly bolt of lightning striking two tundran bears. These two bears transformed under the arcane powers of the bolt of lightning. There stood the first two giants, pure ice giants of the Wastes. As a result, the tundran bear is regarded as sacred.
The native Giants worship the great storms of the north and spirits of the Tundra. Their celebrations can be as exotic and different as donning stag-head skulls and dancing around fire, to the hearty celebrations of a large table filled with food and alcohol.
Bjørgvolsa today is a thriving sea port where the rarest of items acquired from the wastes are sent through. It is a city state that enjoys all around wealthy style of life and is named one of the most peaceful, happiest cities in the world. The Kingdom is still in place, and often funds explorers who venture in the wastes. They provide them with guides and give them insight as to where their desired item might be.
Non-native giants are spread around the world. With 45% of them in Pycheko, 30% in Occitan, 15% in Sida, and 10% in former Talibar. The Gods they choose to follow are purely based on personal choice.
Last edited by Blitz on Thu May 24, 2012 10:38 pm; edited 9 times in total
Blitz Vengaboy
Posts : 299 Join date : 2012-04-07
Subject: Re: Giants Sat Apr 07, 2012 6:08 am
Note, I am going to fix the whole issue about the viking lore stuff and most likely incorporate it into my new "Arushyika" ethnic group lore.
Just not right now cause I'm lazy.
Blitz Vengaboy
Posts : 299 Join date : 2012-04-07
Subject: Re: Giants Sun Apr 15, 2012 2:52 pm
Updated finally. It has less detail than that of the Aranek, but I think it's an adequate amount of information on them. I believe I had some other things I wanted to add in but for the life of me I can't remember. So this is officially it I suppose.
Bradburns Scrub
Posts : 35 Join date : 2012-04-04 Age : 27 Location : Texas
Subject: Re: Giants Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:34 pm
Question, Giant would be 8'11 and above right, wheres your limit going to be set and such?
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: Giants Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:22 pm
Bradburns wrote:
Question, Giant would be 8'11 and above right, wheres your limit going to be set and such?
Surely this is answered by,
Blitz wrote:
Adult male -- 10-11 feet tall. 600-700 pounds. Contrary to belief, not inherently aggressive by nature.
Adult female -- 9-10 feet tall. 500-600 pounds.
:3?
Bradburns Scrub
Posts : 35 Join date : 2012-04-04 Age : 27 Location : Texas
