Giants

Giants, or Thurún as they call themselves, are the towering inhabitants of Northern Verrin.
Famed among the other races for their immense strength and size, giants are renowned as warriors, although their craftsmanship, architecture and literary works are not without merit. Giants live far longer than either the Men of Verrin or Dwarves and the eldest among them are often fonts of historical knowledge. Where Men cling to their youth, Giants are eager to grow old and wise. To learn that being called 'old' in human and dwarf society is an insult is quite a shock to many Giants and the eldest among them are often fonts of historical knowledge.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Giants are bipedal humanoids, though they bear little resemblance to either the race of Men or Dwarves. Giants have strongly protruding brows and noses, and are facially quite different to their smaller cousins. They tend to be muscular, strong and broad, although a fat Giant is not unheard of.

Genetics and Reproduction

Giants reproduce sexually, and the gestation period is six years.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Most Giants speak the language of Kerask, which is unique to them. To the ears of a man or a dwarf, Kerask sounds alien in that it features many long drawn-out vowel sounds with few consonants. Giants are known to be particularly proud of their language, and consider it shameful to teach it to non-giants. Nonetheless, some Men and Dwarves are known to speak it.

Common Dress Code

Giants dress in a very similar way to Men and Dwarves, albeit with some differences arising from their colossal size.
Giants generally wear simple tunics, held in place with a belt which is often richly decorated as a status symbol. In the winter months, Giants wear cloaks which are either woven or made from animal hides (usually bear, since very few animals have a hide large enough to cover a Giant's body). Richer Giants may use an ornate brooch or dagger to hold it in place.
In battle, Giants very rarely wear armour because of the prohibitive cost of a coat of mail big enough to cover their frame. Most rely on their thick, leathery skin to protect them from harm. However, the richest in Giant society employ Dwarven smiths to create their enormous hauberks. Famously, the Thurún king Vathlauss wore a coat of mail at the Battle of Westerhill which made him almost unkillable.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

In Thurún culture, the connection between the land and its inhabitants is emphasised. As such, many Giants see death not as an ending, but as a new beginning as you become one with the earth once more. To reflect this, Giants bury their dead in mounds upon which beautiful flowers or strong trees are planted. It is considered an affront to be burned or entombed in a stone crypt, as it separates the deceased from the natural world.

History

According to their long-held religious dogma, the Thurún believe that they were the first race created by the gods. Thengalir, the god of strength and wisdom, is thought to have played a pivotal role in their creation and is worshipped as the patron god of Giants.

Lifespan

~200 years

Average Height

3.4 - 3.7 metres