Stone Joten

I've frankly never seen a creature, much less a species, so universally and wastefully greedy as most Joten in general, and in particular Stone Joten. It isn't even a logical behavior or cultural phenomenon, I am convinced on some deeper level it is a shared mental illness or some sort of supernatural curse upon the species. In many ways its horrifying, in some its quite sad, however it does explain the regular escalations to military involvement that these tribes eventually invoke with their behaviors, and also why such creatures are a favorite target of Exemplari.

'Mochi' aka Montague Cuchilian Williamson Esq, a scathing excerpt from his field notes.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Like most any Joten, they do appear homonid in body shape, though with marked gigantism. In the case of Stone Joten, their flesh has an almost limestone like tone and finish, their body shape harsh, with a very rock and iron like musculature structure. They have harsh, rough cliff and boulder like features, blocky with hard edges. They are known to be extremely tough and hardy, their flesh tissue containing mineral compounds one would find in granites and the like, creating a tougher rocky like hide. Their skeletal structure seems similarly robust and with additional earthen elements within the bones, creating more robust and a tougher more resilient skeleton. They are known to have a great deal of stamina as well, likely due to adaptations for living at such high altitudes most of the time.

Genetics and Reproduction

Not a well studied topic, however as homonids we know a few generalities of this process. For example, it is suspected a Stone Joten pregnancy lasts somewhere in the range of 8 to 11 months, and it is known they give live birth.

Growth Rate & Stages

We know precious little about the stages of growth, ages, or life expectancy of Stone Joten, though shamans amongst their kind have laid claim before to having seen a century or two come and go. However this could also just be some part of their innate connection to the Void, and it may not reflect on an average member of the species potential lifespan at all. We also know precious little about adolesence and child-rearing or child care amongst Stone-Joten.

Ecology and Habitats

Stone Joten tribes, as their name might suggest, prefer to live amongst very rocky regions, specifically favoring mountain ranges and other such highlands. They are actually quite skilled stone workers, miners and have a knack for, even if lacking formal training in, engineering. Tribal lairs, called Monts, are usually quite complex. An entire living quarters, a small settlement if you will, carved out as a cave system within a mountain, complete with effective ventilation, workshops, sleeping areas, a central communal worship chamber, and more. They seem unbothered by the temperature of a climate as much, given how they live, they can easily enough avoid or limit exposure to extremes.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Stone Jotens seem to be similar to us in dietary needs and behavior, not that surprising given they are a long split off branch from the same line of creatures, hence the Homonid in their scientific classification name. However as one might expect due to their sheer size, the volume of food they need to consume daily is notably more than most any human, dwarf, tantur, or otherwise.

Behaviour

Stone Joten are notably greedy, and quite warlike, however they are far from mindless violent killers, like how some greenskins behave. No they are a warlike species, and seem to have a natural talent, for siegecraft. They are uncannily accurate at moderate distances with boulders, and they have in the past shown a penchant, a knack, a seemingly just naturally gifted talent for building crude, but effective, accurate and notably large catapults.

Thankfully, they are a rare creature, and their tribes do not seem to ever grow excessively large, with ten to sixteen adults seeming to be the most common range of size, though there have been instances of groups both smaller and larger documented in times past.

Stone Joten are also cunning stone-workers and their greedy nature oft will mean their Mont will be heavily booby trapped in any part of it that contains hoarded goods and treasures the tribe has collected. Pitfalls, false corridors, collapsing ceilings are the sorts of traps one should expect.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Like many tribal structures, Stone Joten do seem to have a strict sort of hierarchy, tied into a chief and a shaman. These two seem to have their own aspects of the tribes day to day they govern and hold sway over, though it would seem the chieftan has the last say as the tribes leader and authority in most cases.

Shamans however seem to be a sort of spiritually appointed position, not one for open challenge or capable of being shifted, unlike chieftan, where that hierarchial position, atop the tribe, is a challengeable postion. There are likely various specific criteria that must be met for such a challenge, though we know precious little of such specifics.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Stone Joten are known to have a connection to the earth, a senstivity to Geomancy, though they seem not affected by its magicks, they can sense it. They also do seem to possess some limited sensitivity to motion and movement along soil or ground, able to pick up the subtle vibrations. Their large eyes seem to function quite well in the dark. However it is documented that their sense of smell seems almost non-existent.

Civilization and Culture

Culture and Cultural Heritage

A brutalist people, tribal, with culture built on raiding and waging war. Thankfully rare, in those regions where they might be found, Stone Joten tribes are a known thorn in the side that often elicit military responses eventually. Found amongst mountain ranges across Valerick, they have a deep spiritual connection to raiding and pillaging, seeming to have a strong tie to Avarita. They are not unthinking monsters, nor do they hunger for flesh and bone. However they inevitably will fall to violence, for even if nearby villages and towns to a tribe, those within reach they believe they could crush, were to offer tribute at first, the Joten will inevitably demand more and more until the demanded tolls cannot be met. They relish in hoarding food, treasure and more. Fortified tribal lairs, complex cave systems carved out by the creatures themselves have been discovered with multiple chambers filled to the brim with treasure, books, artwork, long rotting and wasted food even.

Stone Joten Base Reference Sheet

Scientific Name

Homo Titanicus Cragmuria

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Height

3.4-4.1 meters (11'2"-13'5")

Average Weight

220-311 kgs (485-686 lbs)