Majismontem
Basic Information
Anatomy
Majismontem are the largest sentient land animal on Talifar at around 25 meters (80’) when standing. They are Many-limbed mammal-like creatures with long, jointed necks. They are able to rise up onto their 12 hind legs, but not able to walk that way more than a few steps. Their tremendous mass and height is made possible by several unique physical characteristics, including a web-like internal organ structure, an amazing waste reclamation system, and a cellular skin system filled with millions of tiny hydrogen-filled bubbles. (Most non-skin cells in their body have hydrogen vacuoles) Their nervous system intelligently shuts down parts of the body that are inactive preserving calories, resulting in a grayish appearance in that area. Most giants spend most of their time at least 80% gray. This leads to the idea of color being the primary indication of activity in their language and thought.
They have a bony plate-like a stegosaurus on their heads which are always intricately carved by the tezledek (or other willing contributors) and hung with meaningfully decorated quipus that denote personal, familial history, social status, and other biographical details. Majismontem have a royal appearance and demeanor. When they are asleep they resemble stone statues due to their desaturation and head carvings.
Genetics and Reproduction
Reproduction is a complex system where a female creates an unfertilized egg that requires three males to fertilize. The males have niches in their foreheads where they affix the egg for several weeks. Because this process involves so many individuals, family heritage is incredibly complex, as well as heavily ritualized.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Both sexes share identical beauty standards that focus on the carving of their head crests and the significance/cleverness of their quipus which hang from their crests. They find the color of activity alluring, but only when used judiciously. (Activating too much of your body at once is both wasteful and untoward.)
Courtship Ideals
While majismontem do not have ritualized long term monogamous relationships, they have very specific and elaborate rules and ideals concerning the generation of offspring. Because four individuals are necessary to create a fertilized egg, the company chosen for the task by the female is filled with socially strategic import. The power dynamics at play are nuanced and highly scrutinized by all.
Relationship Ideals
Partnerships, both romantic and platonic are celebrated when they result in social capitol for all involved, and scorned when lop-sided.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Majismontem are very intelligent. They are not intolerant of the smaller people, but have strict codes of conduct regarding entanglements with them. Seeing themselves as much more advanced than all other races, and find the thought of intervening in the matters of the small people a grossly inappropriate thing to do. In fact, if any Magismontem does get involved in the affairs of the tiny folk without very specific instruction from the Council, they are usually banished from polite society. They have a story about a past in which they involved themselves in the political landscape and suffered great loss as a result. They do not have the numbers that the other species have, so a single death has a much larger impact on their culture.
A simple way to think about their rules on this subject is this: only interactions that further the ends of majismontem society are permitted. If smaller peoples benefit from these interactions, that is none of the majismontem concern. Trade is forbidden. But mutual advantage is not. The arrangements are much like the birds that clean the meat out of alligators teeth. So while political treaties are seldom signed, Majismontem and other species are often found living in general harmony, and mutual understandings can exist. But strict rules are applied to all interactions to ensure that proper protocol is maintained. If rules are broken, the majismontem may move away from their settlements, or drive off the other societies.
They have created an immense set of protocols and traditions that must be followed on pain of banishment. This extends to all levels of their society, from speech, to dress, to family structures. They take great care of their appearance, with formal jewelry, and hair.
They rarely have outright wars between their own kind. Generally a cold war full of political intrigue, spying (by proxy), social-assassination, and the like, is carried out over generations.
Individual conflicts can resolved with duels (always between males with head butting) that rarely result in death.
Common Taboos
* Any appearance of commerce with other species.
* Countless reproduction arrangements
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The difficult history between the majismontem and human peoples creates a constant tension for all involved. Since the majismontem are socially constrained from making direct deals with the lesser peoples this tension has remained for thousands of years. Because they wield such great physical power, but are vastly outnumbered by the other sentient species, a general cold war has kept most direct conflict at bay.
Their relationship with the tezledek is unspoken, but most resembles the tezledek worshiping the majismontem. Tezledek keep them groomed, free of parasites and decorated.
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