Giant

Between God and Mortal

Written by Endrise

Something that walks between god and mortal, a being as close to us as it is as distant. Though maybe they are a bit closer than us than I give credit to.

— Traveller

Giants are a classification of humanoids known for their larger than average height, found around the globe. They are the offspring between Titans and Antomniae, mighty beings who live in isolation of the civilised world, forming their own cultures amongst mortal men.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The classification of Giants focuses on one primary trait: massive humanoid size. The smallest ones only are twice the height of an average Human, while the largest known ones are in the dozen feet tall. With it also comes a massive increase in weight, making many quite heavy.

To support a weight difference like this, their strength lies heavily in their lower body. Thicker legs with the foot more fused to the lower leg, making the instep less pronounced.

The result is that the head is closer to the torso and smaller in comparison, making the chest appear way larger. Arms also lose their size, making them shorter in proportion to the rest of the figure. Together, it gives them a broad, almost square appearance.

Biological Traits

Wild Mutation

Thanks to their Antomnias heritage, Giants display a wide variety of mutations and unique physical properties between groups. Combined with their Titan ancestry, this grants them a wide variety of traits, on top of the existing differences between each.

Mutations can range from more direct effects like cyclopia or additional heads to more unique traits like regenerative tissue. Rare examples even show more special traits, like an ability to generate personal weather phenomena or manipulate the elements directly.

Might makes Right

Most Giants possess immense strength even for their size. Even the smallest ones can uplift entire trees and swing them like clubs, or kick large boulders beyond the horizon.

Long-Lived

Their Titan nature gave most Giants a long lifespan, rivalling that of other races. Without problem, one can achieve half a Millenium before age catches up on them.

Iron Stomach

At their scale, Giants eat anything to keep up with their needs. Their omnivorous nature is complimented with an iron stomach, allowing them to eat almost anything edible.

With it also comes a natural immunity against poisons and disease, making it hard for one to get sick. This gives them similar tolerances to Dwarves, if not greater in some areas.

Genetics & Reproduction

Giants do not reproduce often, as their long lifespans and isolative nature make it less sought after to have children. When they do, they share the same mammalian pregnancies other humanoid races do, having one to two children during birth.

Thanks to their Antomnias genes, they are compatible with other humanoid life, allowing them to crossbreed. However, most half-giants are prone to infertility from birth.

Geographic origin and Distribution

One can find small groups of Giants everywhere on the globe, with several being loners wandering the countryside. Nomadic lifestyles are common for most of them, preferring to stay far away from civilisations or forming their own communities.

Titan Corpses are pretty common areas for Giants to live nearby, or any region that the first gods once called home. Though exceptions exist as Giants can migrate to more urban areas.

Giant Transport by Endrise

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Antomnias
• Titan

Average Height

12 ft. - 60 ft.

Average Weight

1440 lbs - 140.000 lbs
635 kg - 63.502 kg

Civilisation & Culture

History

The origins of why Giants came to be remain shrouded in mystery. The earliest ones predate most written texts, while others already were descendants of the original Giants. People only have the myths and fables surrounding them, boiling down into three main origins:

For Love

Some believe that the Titans and Antomniae had children out of pure love, as simple as it may sound. Despite their god-like nature, many still showed enough affection for their subjects that a relationship was possible. How the conception was possible remains unclear, though it might have not been natural to begin with.

For Blood

Others believe that the Titans never agreed upon having children and instead Antomniae themselves made Giants. By consuming the Blood of a Titan, they gained some of its power, which spread to the children themselves. Over time, it bled together and formed the Giants, who carried that deep-rooted power inside them.

For Survival

The third theory is that Titans forced themselves onto some Antomniae to immortalise their nature forever. By creating offspring that held a fraction of their power, they would survive the wrath of Fasma and their extinction. This way, each Giants carries a sliver of a Titan’s soul, ensuring they live on forever through their children.

Whatever happened, it led to the birth of Giants and their rise on Fabulae. As the trend emerged with several Titans, drastically different groups formed across the globe, building their own communities. Though such diversity makes it difficult to discuss their history beyond their origins.

Giant Culture

Hah! What your kings eat for festivals my kind eats for breakfast. I will show you how to make a real feast!

— Giant Nomad

Giants prefer small and isolated communities, either living alone or with very close family. Their immense size and needs to survive make it rare for them to hang around one area too long. Most choose a nomadic lifestyle, traversing open areas for new sources of food and shelter before moving to the next area. With their long lifespans, it can make them see large parts of the world with ease.

Fashion

At the scale they tend to work on, Giants wear only what is necessary to survive. Even a single pair of pants can cost them several hides worth of animals, making it costly to wear things that are unnecessary.

However, that does not stop them from decorating themselves with found treasures and equipment. A giant’s necklaces or bracelets can hold a fortune of antiques, adorned with swords and other gear they found on battlefields and abandoned ruins.

Religion

Giants have their own set of beliefs and religions based on both that of existing pantheons and their own deities. It is not uncommon for them to pray to a greater power by carving large stones with divine symbols, leaving them as offers to the gods.

A few of them worship their Titan ancestors, keeping their divinity alive as followers of the first gods. Some even consider themselves worthy of the world, to inherit it as the next ones fit to rule over it.

Cuisine

Great men require great meals, and Giants infamously eat entire feasts for a single meal. Their metabolism requires them to eat at a scale that makes farming food hard to do, relying more on scavenging and hunting their meals instead. Though some leave behind their own crops for later.

While their meals may be massive, the iron stomach of a Giant makes it sometimes dangerous for others. What they consider edible may be poisonous for others to eat.

Interspecies Relations

Despite their mythical nature, Giants are not that common of a sight anymore. As civilisations grew, they moved out into their own territories and built their own lifestyles. For one to appear before others either is a coincidence or because they were actively searching for them.

The friendlier Giants do not mind helping those that pass through their lands, going as to provide transport if needed. Their old ages even give them access to things other civilisations would not remember, making some sought after to get advice from.

A rare few formed relationships with local civilisations as well, offering protection against larger threats in exchange for food and shelter. And with some Giants being old enough to watch kingdoms rise and fall, they are aware of treasures long lost to time.

More hostile Giants instead prove themselves to be territorial and terrorise local communities. Even the strength of one proves difficulty for defenceless villages, leaving behind a path of destruction wherever they go. Cattle stolen, houses demolished and much more.

They believe their divine birthright is to own the world and will demand authority for it. For those that do not die by their hands, these Giants like to tax them instead. The one that cannot meet the demands suffers whatever punishment the Giant might think of.

This causes a severe amount of conflict between Giants themselves and other races, further pushing them into a lonely existence. Even the well-intended ones observe the world from afar, building their homes far away from civilisation or other Giants to prevent needless fights.