Goliaths
Goliaths are a species of powerful and hardy humanoids that are descended from Giants.
Goliaths have a fierce reputation as violent barbarians. They are famed for their strength and brutality, and are feared because of it. Goliaths will often face prejudice due to their association with violent Goliath raiding tribes, especially those in Atlan.
Goliaths are commonly found in nomadic tribes that travel across Exorsia, usually raiding to survive. The largest concentration of these tribes are located in Atlan. There is also the Iron Mountain Goliath tribe, located in a village called Winterkisk, who have a different culture compared to most other Goliath tribes.
Nomadic Raiders
Goliath tribes are often violent raiders that steal and plunder to survive, such as the The Karagkar tribes of Atlan.
They value strength and bravery above all else, constantly competing to one up each other in feats of strength. They see the existence of other people as a challenge and therefore resort to violence, giving them a violent reputation.
Goliaths tribes are often governed by a Chieftain, the strongest individual in the tribe. They also often worship the Goddess Gaia, the Patron Deity of Giants, as well as the Gigantes, who they worship like a Pantheon of Giant Gods.
Honorific Names
Traditionally Goliaths have two important names, their given name and the honorific name that they receive as part of a cultural coming of age ritual. Most Goliaths go by their honorific name more than their given name.
Goliaths raised in tribes all take part in this coming age ritual when they turn 20 years old. Throughout all known Goliath societies this tradition involves climbing a sacred mountain and competing some sort of divine challenge. Those who succeed are welcomed into the tribe and given their honorific name. Those who fail are banished.
This honorific name is collectively decided by the rest of the tribe, usually with divine or spiritual aid. The name is meant to symbolise or reflect the true nature or achievements of the individual. Many honorific name are reflective of the trial the Goliath overcame during their coming of age ritual, such as "Wintersbane", if they survived a heavy snowstorm, or "Giantsbane" if they fought and defeated a Giant.
In rare circumstances a new honorific name can be given to a Goliath, replacing the old one. Usually this is in response of a great achievement or triumph the Goliath performed. A honorific name can also be stripped from a Goliath in cases of dishonour or betrayal.
Tribal Tattoos
Completing the coming of age ritual and gaining your honorific name is also how Goliaths get their tribal Tattoos. These Tattoos are usually black in colour and signify a Goliaths tribe, their role in the tribe, and their parentage.
The Tattoos are always symmetrical and inked across a Goliath's body, particularly the face and arms, following natural groves often found on a Goliath's skin. Goliaths often take pride in these markings, wearing as little clothing as necessary in order to show them off.
Giant Heritage
Many Goliaths have supernatural traits and abilities that resemble those found in their Giant ancestors. These traits can reflect the abilities of Fire Giants, Frost Giants, Sea Giants, Stone Giants or Sky Giants.
These traits are hereditary, but while a Goliath is more likely to share a Giant ancestry with one of their parents, there is also a chance that they will have a completely different Giant ancestry, that resemble the traits of a completely different kind of Giant, or even none at all.
Because of this it is very common for Goliaths families and tribes to have a mix of different Giant ancestries coexisting together.
Appearance
Goliaths are tall humanoids with broad shoulders and natural musculature. Their skin is often stone-like in appearance and extremely tough. A majority of Goliaths also have distinctive and symmetrical tribal Tattoos across their face and body.
A Goliaths appearance is often reflective of their Giant ancestry, with some Giants having the fiery hair of a Fire Giant, or the aquatic features of a Sea Giant.
Complexion: Goliaths have an stone-like complexion ranging from tones of grey, brown, white or even blue.
Hair: Many Goliaths tend to be bald, those that aren't often have black or brown hair that commonly turning grey or white with age.
Eyes: Goliaths often have grey, blue, brown or even orange coloured eyes.
Maturity:
Goliaths mature around the same rate as Humans do, reaching adulthood by the age of 20.
Reproduction
Goliaths reproduce similarly to Humans, though unlike humans, Goliaths become stronger and healthier during pregnancy at the cost of requiring more food.
The gestation period for a Goliath is around 12 months.
Ancestry
Terrena
2.1 - 2.4 m (7 - 8 ft)
Diet
Omnivore
Patron Deity
Gaia - The Earth Mother
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