Giants

Civil strife and the frontlines of a war against his own people could not prepare him for the sight before him. The skeleton of his old home stood slumped against the monstrous bough of a willow, which bravely held fast the very structure he raised his daughter in. Thirty years time in the vanguard, away from home and child, left the cozy home pristine only in his memories. The simple two floor home whined noisily in the powerful wind, as if it might fall. To think another year away would have left this thing a pile of lumber on the ground... Amidatty stood at a distance. Her and Illux watched the hulking man almost wilt at the sight of everything he gave up. " 'as it been so long?" For him, for any other denizen, thirty years was not so bad. It meant Ellie must be alive. Eluae did not fade away so easily. But where she was, that was another matter entirely. "It has." Amidatty replied. "I think it registers more for us. More has happened in that time for us, but you... You have been fighting." Illux remained entirely silent. She wasn't very comfortable accompanying her Queen on this kind of meeting anyways, but she supposed she owed it to her to be a good companion. "Time flies when yur 'avin fun, dunnit." She'd snicker at the comment. "Sure. I guess it does." She didn't blame him for Ellie's disappearance. Their circumstances were rather dire anyways -- a Giant rearing an Eluae who had no parents of her own. The thing was lost... He hoped dearly that she'd found home in his absence. God damn the alcohol. He couldn't even remember why he left in the first place. "Gregory?" " 'es ma'am." "You're going to look for her, right?" " 'eah. Little one is too skiddish to be on 'er own fer long..." As if it mattered. If he was gone long enough to let his home rot, she had to have moved on. It broke his heart to think that she's forgotten about him. "Don't much think they'd let me go rootin' 'round in the caves for 'er. Can't even ask around. Gotta wait. Hope I get lucky." "I don't know Gregory... I wish I had better news for you, but I don't. You should at least ask for help. Many live around here who are allowed into Sum. You won't be able to find her without their help."
The blond haired hulk stammered forwards. The front porch sunk so low he could touch the slate awning with his forehead now. Most of his bottles still hung -- little stained glass containers that he dangled from the awning like wind chimes. They broke the shapes of light into colors and danced them across the floor. It was supposed to remind Ellie of home. He wondered what it looked like. What she looked like, now that she was grown up. God, he missed her.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Giants are much like the name describes. They are large, brutal creatures with low intelligence. Female giants share the same strength and height as males, with no real differences in physical performance. They do have a sexual binary, though, and tend to have differences between the sexes.
Teeth are generally the one biological marker that Giants use to define social classes. More civilized (by denizen standards) giants have flatter teeth, and those who are more feral will develop tusks. Giants are sourced by the Marxian Vanguard as mercenaries, for their strength and brute force. They are not especially loyal, but have a sturdy head about them when it comes to combat. Most have no problem pledging allegiance to a queen who is not the same race, but some don't consider it a very appropriate practice, fighting for a Denizen ruler.

Genetics and Reproduction

Giants reproduce just like humans do. There is a simple sexual binary.

Ecology and Habitats

Giants frequent Proletaria most often (West of Elvask), in the inner rings where black market practices are not moderated at all.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Giants are almost stereotypically carnivores. Mutton and lamb are favorites. And despite being rather daft, they have a very good culinary aptitude and make some pretty killer comfort food.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Giants have very gaunt faces with low cheek bones and broad noses. Sometimes they are hailed as having a cute, pug-like look, but are generally quite grotesque. Neither males nor females grow their hair out very long. If so, only to decorate it with beads or feathers or other formal head wear. Black hair is the most common, but some are known to have patchy blond hair as well. This is considered a defect. Blond hair is kept short or often shaved off entirely.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Giants typically live in warm, desert areas such as Proletaria and Brimstone. They are also found in the Saltflats, and are VERY common as strong arms for slaver outposts such as Adet.

Average Intelligence

Brawn over brain... Giants are not especially smart, but certainly competent at many things. They are accomplished cooks and fighters. Feral giants are sometimes categorized as non-sapient, and can be entirely feral.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Giants have very dull senses-- smell and sight are probably their most in tune, but they have a very dull sense of touch and hearing. They have a very uncomfortable reputation of being big and dumb, despite being fairly competent at most things.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Giants prey mercilessly on Eluae, who they bully for the sake of being cruel. Eluae flesh is considered a delicacy, but more intelligent denizens in the east typically pay them in lamb flesh for their safe capture to sell as slaves. See slave market. As a result, that and their physique tend to make for dubious relations with Denizens. Denizens are untrustful of giants much more often than not. Giants have a good relationship with Homunculi, though, who rely on them for heavy lifting quite often. They can be very easily taught how to do construction work, and so they are quick friends for any busy homunculus.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Giants take to very simple first names that are only a few syllables. They occasionally take family names the way Denizens do (by using an occupational name), but are also prone to using a clan name.

Major Organizations

Giants have a heavy presence in the underground slave markets in Adet and Proletaria's inner rings. They do not hold seats in Arcadian government.

Beauty Ideals

Brawn is a surefire turn on for any Giant. Exhibitions of strength or honor for one's clan are exemplary traits for one to have. Clothing is made solely for function, but it is not unheard of to wear things for their aesthetic or fear factor either. Short hair for both genders is considered attractive, but nothing is set in stone.

Gender Ideals

Giants have a rather strict binary, and are not as open minded about self expression as Eluae or Denizens are. There are not many specific roles one gender takes over another, but people generally do not think of expression quite as much, as it's not something that is pertinent to survival. A specrum for gender is probably too high up on Maslow's Hierarchy to be even relevant to them.

Courtship Ideals

Courtship is very lax for giants. One may have many mates in a lifetime, or even stick to just one. Weddings are not traditionally done, but when a pair gets together it is celebrated with quite a lot of food and music. Denizens also have many obscure holidays that other races refuse to recognize because of their absurdity. Such as meat day. An actual holiday. It's the first day of the third week in every month. They just eat a ton of mutton. It is cause for a lot of 'weddings'.

Relationship Ideals

Giants are typically QUITE emotional creatures, despite their lack of intelligence, and in some case sapience. Those living in slave rings are generally less sensitive to emotion or less empathetic, but those who live in the Saltflats, or nearer to Elvask, are quite empathetic and quite kind. Regardless of location, Giants have a very firm policy of monogamy. Sure, a giant may have many relationships during their lifetime, but they take it one at a time. Where Eluae exhibit that kind of looseness, Giants disdain faithlessness. Many relationships with giants are also not sexual or romantic. They are prone to making very strong, fulfilling friendships that can last beyond a lifetime. And this is not to just other giants. They are known, in rare cases, to even befriend Eluae. They are not naturally mean or brutish -- that is simply the culture they have developed due to the harshness of their relationships with other species. They act tough to protect themselves.

Average Technological Level

Stone age. Simple as that. They can make tools and weapons, but are incapable of making complex machines. The concept of electricity completely baffles them. In fact, many are terrified of it. They rely on homunculi to build them more sound and secure towns, because their building skills are generally limited to tents and weak shacks.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Giants speak only Common Tongue, or Arcadian Standard. They do not have their own dialect.

Common Dress Code

Clothes? Bah. Who needs clothes... Actually, Nudity is generally not very openly accepted in giant culture. Toplessness is, but that's another ordeal. Pants are required more or less everywhere. Their clothing is usually quite simple, and almost always contain many pockets.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Giants share lots of traditions with other cultures, which is ironic considering their grumpy nature. Any giant would claim to be a proud member of their own race, but their culture is still derivative from even those they despise. They are masters of appropriation.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Like above, Giants tend to bring food when visiting other clans or villages. It's less of a neighbor to neighbor thing, but still a common gesture. Again. Masters of appropriation.

Common Taboos

Giants HUGELY frown upon incest, and cruelty to young. They agree rather easily to most legistlation put in place by Denizen leaders, because their morals are not that different. Of course, the slave rings are a huge exception. Most giants working in the ring do not have a choice. They are very easily manipulated by more intelligent species.

Historical Figures

Giants use verbal sagas to pass on their history. Many historical figures are lost to purely bad storytelling.

Common Myths and Legends

Giants hail their own origin story. This, however, is vastly underdeveloped and needs to be actually written. Feel free to ping me if you wanna learn, I'll get to it.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

See relationship ideals and symbiotic/parasitic relationships.

Scientific Name

Inca Collusus Sapiens

Lifespan

200-300 cycles, (189 years).

Average Height

13 ft 4 in. 15 ft max, 11 ft min.

Average Weight

800-1200 lbs

Average Physique

Most giants are quite built. Potbellies are common in males, and females tend to be a tad more slim (but equally as brawny). They are not just big balls of muscle though. They tend to appear only mildly unattractive, but are not incapable of being very beautiful or handsome. Alcoholism is quite common across the species, and so is the beer belly. Obesity is not very unheard of either. The carnivorous people are generally either quite muscular, or quite fat. It depends largely on lifestyle. More feral giants tend to be in much better shape because they work off what they eat.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Giants tend to be more on the dark side, with warm coloration and no freckles. Unlike other races, there is very little diversity in skin tone. They change more in hue than value, some giants being warmer colored than others. For example, Gregory Marxis has very desaturated skin.