Firbolg

While travelling the bright forest east of Lerdelore, I made my way through the forest before coming upon a small village. In it, there were several people whose faces reminded me of cows. Their ears flopped around like those of a small dog, and their noses were large and bulbous. They seemed cheerful and were talking loudly around a fire in some ancient tongue that I could not recognize, but their voices were kind and I unfortunately had to leave them to their merry-making...
~ Tashil Vastarwë, A Traveller's Guide to Loria

Appearance

Those who have encountered firbolgs have described them as not unlike cows as far as facial features go, with large floppy ears and large bulbous noses. They come in various shades of blue, grey and white, with the nose and hands being a slightly darker colour. They are also incredibly tall, towering over even grakonlar from time to time.

A Mystery Race

Very little is known about these creatures. Berilar records place them in the Kaldin Forest as early as the end of the Third Era, which makes them a recent introduction to the world of Orkanis. Since then, they have changed the tepilar relationship to the forests of eastern Loria by occasionally harassing foresters and hunters in the woods.
They have an uncanny habit of disappearing, leading to beliefs that they are migratory. Some have been seen to vanish from sight, becoming invisible long enough to escape into the underbrush and away from sight. Many have also mastered woodland magic, and these "woodwhisperers" are often the leaders of a group of firbolgs.

Lifespan

75-100 years

Average Height

1.9-2.4 m tall.

Average Weight

85-140 kg.

Naming Traditions

The names of firbolgs are often reminiscent of plants, animals, or other natural phenomena. It is not uncommon to find firbolgs named Bark, River, or similar names. Those who interact often with traders or outsiders might have a tepilar or ibelilar name, depending on whom they share contact with the most.

Language

The language of the firbolgs has not been studied very much, and is truly only known to them. It appears to be related to Fay and appears to share a script in some cases. Firbolgs, however, tend to learn the language of their neighbours and will be often caught speaking an ibelilar tongue or Common.

Geographic Distribution

The Kaldin Forest is the major home of this race, as they tend to stay to the forest and rarely venture into the rest of the world. However, the recent increase in tepilar at the edge of the forest means they often come into conflict, and a few of them have now spread throughout the world.

Art Credit: emperorcharlesii (me!)