Ettin/Giant

Ettins are the large genetic cousins of humans. They tower over the other sapient species at an average height of 8’8”, so most people refer to these creatures as giants. They share many similar qualities in appearance, but their anatomies have some very drastic differences. If compared to a human, a giant has fairly long thick legs, naturally muscular bodies, and very dense heavy bones. Their size alone grants them incredible strength and fortitude. Giants are usually driven out of settlements because of the destruction they are capable of causing, but some tolerant civilizations have included giants into their workforce and grant them their own districts to call home. Giants live short lives because of their taxing anatomies and usually die very suddenly from heart failure rather than old age.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Giants share a similar anatomy to humans. They look like scaled up humans with naturally muscular legs and lower bodies. Their skeletons and organs are reinforced with panacea to allow them to sustain their large bodies.

Genetics and Reproduction

Giants can reproduce as quickly as humans being able to have as many as 8 children in their lifetimes. However, ettins carry their baby for a year before giving birth.

Civilization and Culture

History

Era of Man and Orc

During the earliest parts of recorded Gaian history, ettins have ironically lived in the shadows of their smaller cousins, humans. The two species shared many qualities, but humans were naturally more intelligent and intuitive. Almost every significant advancement in civilized culture was developed by humans and then modified by ettins to fit a larger community. Some parts of the world integrated their human cities with ettin villages allowing the 2 species to coexist, but most cultures feared the towering giants and shunned them from their developing city states. Ettins never had the ability to dominate the ancient world due to humans having superior numbers and the ability to use what little magic existed in Gaia at the time. As such, ettins remained followers of the developing young world as humans continued to spearhead society into the modern era.

Era of Conquest

When the Great Happening stranded the fey on Gaia, the ettins were mostly unaffected. Unlike most of the human civilizations, ettins played no part in driving the fey south. They mostly kept to themselves in their small developing communities.
During Draygonix's rise to power, ettin domains were drafted to fight opposing forces on the front lines. Their strength was highly admired by the Eshan Raun giving ettins a foothold within the most powerful organization in the world at the time. For the first time in history, ettins were widely accepted into cities as equals among humans.

Era of Freedom

Though their equality was given to them by the worst of humanity, it sustained after the Eshan Raun were deposed from power.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Human

Lifespan

40-50 years

Average Height

9ft