Goliath

Living in mountains in a truly nomadic life, Goliaths are a rare race considered by many to be the embodiment of freedom and physical strength. Their towering bodies and friendly nature have lead many to call them the gentle giants of the north. Their various cultures and customs can feel intimidating to many other races, especially since your average Goliath partakes in cliff jumping, high risk and speedy mountain climbing and enjoy games like wrestling in ice cold rivers and drinking their weight in alcohol.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Tall and muscular. Towering between seven and eight feet tall and between 280 and 340 pounds. Both male and female Goliaths tower equally. Their skin is grey and covered natural dark "tattoos" all over their body. Sometimes  lithoderms, or coin-sized pebble like growths on the skin, will speckle their body. Men will not have any hair but women will have dark coarse hair they will keep braided. Eyes are a solid blue or green and seem to almost glow.

Ecology and Habitats

Goliaths of the continent dwell in mountains. While many tribes exist across the many mountain ranges of Flagg, the only mountain range where they exist in St. Rosalyn is the Bull Peaks.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Goliaths subside on a hearty diet of gathered berries and whatever game they can manage to hunt. They view the deer as a vital source of meat and will try their best to track and hunt them when tasked with food, but will not take issue with any other animal found while on a trip. The elk is considered a beast of good fortune and is valued as a delicacy. Many tribes will raise and herd goats for milk as well as slaughtering the slower and weaker ones in case hunting is scarce. They have a love for alcohol and will trade happily with any race that has some to spare.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Goliath names are strung together from various syllables across their language. While it may seem random and entirely flippant, both parents carefully craft their children's name with the chieftan of the tribe to create a name that they feel suits their child. When the child comes of age, their most notable achievement or their job among the tribe will decide what they are called by members of the tribe who they aren't particularly close to. Names like this can include "Pathwatcher" for a job of finding suitable routes to take for the nomadic race or "Snowchampion" for being able to brave a winter storm and find food for the starving tribe. The name can and will likely change as the Goliath ages and new jobs and achievements are gathered.

Beauty Ideals

More vain Goliaths will adorn themselves with piercings that have jewels on them or will insert jewels on their lithoderms. Otherwise, a handsome or beautiful Goliath is more up to the standards of the individual and tastes are rarely judged among the tribe.

Gender Ideals

The only true gender role of the tribe will be the Tent-Mother, a role exclusive to the women of the tribe. The mother is in charge of raising and teaching the young members of the tribe.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

All Goliath speak Gol-Kaa  Their dialects will vary from tribe to tribe, but a mastery of the language will yield a general understanding of the language.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Goliaths are almost always friendly to any race who doesn't pose a threat to their tribe. However, because their lands are almost always poor for farming and putting down roots, all races a Goliath will encounter in the mountains will be a visitor or a traveler happening upon them.

• Humans: Humans will rarely brave the harsh mountains Goliaths live in, but they are almost always greeted with a friendly welcome in the event of the rarity being fulfilled. Any human brave enough to step up and help a Goliath hunter will be rewarded with a tasty meal and being deigned a permanent friend to the tribe.
• Dwarves: Goliaths hold Dwarves in a very high regard, admiring their weapon and armor crafting skills especially. Many tribes will brave the tunnels within the mountains to trade with the Dwarves in the hopes of acquiring some of those skillfully crafted arms and armor.
• Elves: Elves very rarely visit the mountains. Those who do are usually regarded with caution and even small amounts of fear due to their very long lifespans. It is very difficult for many Goliaths to imagine someone they're speaking to having known well their great-great grandfather and not look as old as the mountain they're living on.
• Gnomes: Gnomes are regarded as a curiosity by Goliaths, but their skill in climbing is a common ground between them.

Genetic Descendants

• Feral Gargun

Lifespan

65 years

Average Height

7-8ft

Average Weight

280-340lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Deep Grey with dark markings throughout.