Goliaths

Goliaths look like very tall, feral humans, though similarities end here. Their body can resist low temperatures and high altitudes, as they are used to live on high mountains, and this hard lifestyle led them to develop a strong sense of competition. They spend their lives not only trying to survive on the mountains but also trying to accomplish increasingly harder tasks and feats. Most of them die young because of this. Also, a good challenge requires an even ground and as such fair play is very important for a Goliath. Lastly, they believe that if someone is the best for a job then he should do it, and no one else, therefore anytime a Goliath ventures in the realms of other races, especially in Newhope, where the pathfinders live, he is prone to mock anyone he sees that he deems not fit for his job, which can happen frequently and lead to unpleasant circumstances...

Basic Information

Anatomy

Nearly all Goliaths have muscular bodies, fit for the many challenges they face every day. Other than that, they are as varied as humans.

Biological Traits

Thanks to their strong bulk and the fact that they are used to live on mountains, they can resist extremely cold temperatures and are acclimated to high altitude. Other than that, they sport completely white eyes, with no pupils or irises.

Ecology and Habitats

Though they could live anywhere on Kontonyus, Goliath were born on the mountains and prefer to live there.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

As said, Goliaths live preferably on mountains, but some of them find more challenging living in other environments, since they are not used to them. More than that, sometimes a Goliath might understand that an adventuring party offers many more occasions to face challenges than his usual life on the mountains.

Average Intelligence

Though Goliaths are not less intelligent than other races, their constant compulsion to accomplish more and more dangerous feats often leads them to a premature demise. As such, not many old Goliaths exist that can contribute with their wisdom matured from experience. Ultimately, Goliaths rely on natural born wise individuals to become their leaders.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Goliaths usually have three names: a given name, from their parents, then a nickname decided by the tribe leader, usually referring to some positive or negative happenings in their life and subject to changes, and a last name which is the name of their tribe. A Goliath who fails his tribe can be exiled and thus stripped of his tribe name.

Major Organizations

Goliaths are divided in 5 main tribes, usually a tribe goes along with the others but conflicts may happen. Once every two years a competition takes place, where each tribe tries their best. In the end, a council of wise individuals decides which tribe wins, and this tribe gets to live in the Capital, a fabled city full of wonders and challenges to accomplish. It's rare for the same tribe to win the competition two times in a row, since living in the Capital is usually very hard and wears down even the strongest Goliath. The council of wise men is formed before the competition and is comprised of 5 members, one from each of the main tribes, chosen through vote. These men then live in the Capital for the subsequent two years and cannot be chosen again as members of the council.

Gender Ideals

Goliaths believe in meritocracy,. As such, they make no difference between men and women, if a woman is better suited for a task than a man, then she should do it.

Common Etiquette Rules

Goliaths have no common sense regarding what to say and what not to say to others. As such, they speak freely about what they think, particularly when they can show how better they are than the others. If they are dealing with a powerful king that has them surrounded and they think he is not the best at his job, they will surely say it openly, even mocking the king and usually ending up tortured if not dead.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Goliaths have strong faith in Kord, deity of storms and bad weather. It is said that their Capital holds a stone temple devoted to Kord, which is odd since Goliaths don't build in stone.

Common Taboos

Since fair play is everything to a Goliath, cheating to obtain a vantage is considered the worst crime ever. A Goliath caught cheating would immediately be exiled if not killed outright.

Common Myths and Legends

Goliaths have few myths to recount, but there's a tale that children learn as soon as they can: The Trickery of the Tiger. The story tells about a speaking tiger than helped the first Goliaths settle in a valley between the mountains, where it gave them many gifts, helped them hunting and ultimately presented them with a life of pleasures and leisure. But after many years, suddenly the tiger disappeared along with all of its gifts, and the Goliaths found out that the valley they lived in was barren and empty of animals. They tried to return to the mountains but many died because no one remembered how to survive in a dangerous environment. In the end, they managed to return and live on the mountains but are always wary of a life full of comforts and have a natural hate for tigers.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Goliaths don't get along well with Tabaxi and Kenku, both deemed too curious. Even though they both live immersed in the nature, Goliaths and Firbolgs don't get along well since the former exploit nature while the latter defend it. Their strong sense of fair play allows them to get along well with Tritons and the concept of prey and predator likens them to the Lizardfolk.

Lifespan

Though they have a lifespan comparable to that of humans, there aren't many old Goliaths since they usually die young attempting some feat worth of note.