Goliath

At the highest mountain peaks — far above the slopes where trees grow and where the air is thin and the frigid winds howl — dwell the reclusive goliaths. Few folk can claim to have seen a goliath, and fewer still can claim friendship with them. Goliaths wander a bleak realm of rock, wind, and cold. Their bodies look as if they are carved from mountain stone and give them great physical power. Their spirits take after the wandering wind, making them nomads who wander from peak to peak. Their hearts are infused with the cold regard of their frigid realm, leaving each goliath with the responsibility to earn a place in the tribe or die trying. Descended from the Dragon race. Known goliaths: Melithea, Lisaena.

## Overview

Goliaths are massive creatures unafraid of throwing their weight around in a fight. Highly competitive, these strong nomads can prove to be powerful allies and welcome additions to any adventuring party. They inhabit the mountains in Lomia, but some can be found far away from their tribes.

### Personality and psychology

Goliaths are known for their almost fool-hardy daring. They place great importance on clan and family, life in the mountains teaches even the youngest goliath to rely completely on his fellows for a helping hand. They tend to be inquisitive and curious. They are completely unsympathetic toward tribe members who can't contribute to the well-being of the tribe anymore, old, sick, and otherwise infirm goliaths are exiled from their clans, never to return.

Goliaths instinctively keep score about anything that is a challenge, and casually mention how they are doing compared to his comrades or rivals. It may seem arrogant, self-centered and annoying, but score keeping is an act as natural as breathing to a goliath, not meant to belittle or taunt anyone. Their most formidable foe is themselves, always seeking to surpass their former achievements.

Almost no goliath is capable of holding a grudge if they lose a fair competition, and oft-repeated goliath maxim is "*Today's rival is tomorrow's teammate*." Another common mind-set is the notion that *"Everyone gets a turn."* The concept of fair play covers their beliefs on how everyone should have a chance to compete for power, the difference between nobles and common folk being disregarded. Goliaths see females and males as equal in all things, and they find societies with roles divided by gender to be puzzling or worthy of mockery. To a goliath, the person who is best at a job should be the one tasked with doing it.

Goliaths are not generally warlike. When pressed by a formidable foe, they're more likely to pack up and leave for safer territory. Any life lost in battle will make life harder for the tribe. But in the case they are unable to outrun the enemy or part of the tribe might be taken captive, they will go to battle. Imprisonment and slavery are especially heinous crimes to goliaths. Goliaths extend principles of fair play to the battlefield, but they aren't foolish to believe that their enemies are playing by the same rules, unless the enemies are also goliaths, of course. They do not win by sheer numbers, even withholding troops back to even the odds. Finishing off a fallen foe, taking hostages, and attacking civilians is distasteful or "cheating".

### Physical description

Most goliaths stand between 2 meters to 2.45 meters tall and weigh between 110 to 155 kilograms. There is no appreciable height or weight difference between male and female goliaths. Their lifespan is the same of a Human's, rarely reaching 100 years of age. Goliaths have gray skin, mottled with dark and light patches that goliath shamans say hint at a particular goliath's fate. Female goliaths gave dark hair on their heads, grown to great length and always kept braided. Male goliaths generally have hair only on their limbs. Goliaths' eyes are a brilliant blue or green and they seem to glow a little. Because their skin markings have cultural significance, goliaths generally dress as lightly as possible, displaying their skin patterns for all to see. For the same reason, few individuals would get a tattoo, to draw on one's skin is tantamount to trying to rewrite one's fate.

## Culture

### Goliath Names

Every goliath has three names: a birth name assigned by the newborn’s mother and father, a nickname assigned by the tribal chief, and a family or clan name. A goliath’s nickname is a description that can change on the whim of a chieftain or tribal elder. It refers to a notable deed, either a success or failure, committed by the goliath. Goliaths assign and use nicknames with their friends of other races, and change them to refer to an individual’s notable deeds.

Goliaths present all three names when identifying themselves, in the order of birth name, nickname, and clan name. In casual conversation, they use their nickname. A goliath refusing to present their full name is paramount to insulting the inquirer.

### Tribe members

**Chieftan** - the primary authority figure, leading the oath of the tribe and deciding when to move on once hunting is scarce. Chooses the captains, known as *kathunae* and gives them tasks for the day.

**Captain** - they are chosen each day and they form teams for the day's work.

**Skywatcher** - a druid who keeps watch over resources and the health of the nature. Also prepares seasonal festivals and rituals.

**Dawncaller** - bards who act as sentries at night, and before dawn sing anthems of bravery and virtue to awaken the rest of the tribe.

**Adjudicator** - settles disputes between tribe members. The Chieftan can override their decision only by removing their title.

**Tent-Mother** - only gender specific occupation. Takes care of the infants and toddles and teaches them with the help of assistants. She is the one who deems them able to start aiding the tribe,

**Lamenter** - decides when a tribe member is not fit to be a productive member anymore and creates an epic with all of their deeds in life. They first discuss and try to support the struggling goliath, and if there is no chance for recovery then discusses the matter with the Chieftan, and influence decisions to be more merciful (move to warmer, lower altitude areas, instead of banishing the struggling individual.)

### Laws and Justice

There is no written legal code. In general, the only law is to obey the Chieftan and the captains. Goliaths who disobey the Chieftan, caught stealing, cheating or committing other crimes are often beaten or shunned. Shunning has two forms, the less sever one is known as *volok-kanu*, while exile is *volok-thea.*

### Language

Goliaths can speak Common, Giant and Gol-Kaa, the latter being their language. It is spoken in the the active voice and is entirely phonetic, having thirteen sounds. A few goliath sayings are:

* *Aulak thala kaua gamala -* Hunt the herd one animal at a time (patience and planning).
* *Gol ilakae kathana kulia* - Make sure your spear shaft is straight (Mind your own business).
* *Kuli gumatha goli kanakath* - My shoulder is at your back (Promise of teamwork).
* *Gol maula kae* - You have exceeded me (Congratulation or polite apology).
* *Goli lenamaka nae* - Keep your antlers up (Be alert and perceptive).
* *Kuli ananaka kulae aulaka* - My heart is in my head (Excitement).
* *Lothakal lanae lulakamana* - An elk in a berry bush (A very lucky circumstance).
* *Elieka kukanath mali kothek, naulea kukanath mali anemakua* - Fast goats provide drink, slow goats provide food (Hurry up).
* *Kuthalam gailek, naua namamek thanae* - Respect the width, but don't fear the height (Distance to the ground doesn't matter nearly as much as the width of the ledge you're balancing on).
* *Kauma nau emaka nauth* - The mountain doesn't climb itself (Work hard).
* *Thaaval* - Rotten carcass (Goliath curse).

### Leisure

There are many games and sports that require little preparation, a few common ones among all tribes being: *Cliff-Climb*, *Stubborn Root*, *Wrestling*, *Goat-Ball*, *Keep Away,* *Drink-and Tell*.

### Arts and Crafts

Goliaths decorate their weapons, tents, and clothing with abstract designs, many featuring jagged, parallel lines and symbols that have astronomical significance. For a goliath artist, the whole purpose of art is to be decorative and show the viewer something they can't see in the real world.

As nomads, they don't mine metals nor farm crops. Still, goliaths have a basic understanding of metallurgy. Flintknapping, tanning, leatherwork, weaving, carving and pottery are fields they excel in.

### Technology and Magic

Goliaths make for themselves only what they can carry with them, including the tools necessary for creation to occur. Without magic, the goliaths' lifestyle would leave them on the edge of starvation and social collapse. Druids are omnipresent, among other spellcasters.

## Trivia

* Goliaths love jewelry, often sporting ear, nose, or brow rings.
* They hold dwarves in high regard, halflings and gnomes also have won their respect. But races with extremely long lifespans are frightening, the prospect of knowing someone's great-great grandparents hard to imagine.
* Legends passed down since ancient times say how goliaths were born from gems of a shrub and given shape by a god, or they were Humans who ascended to the highest peak to seek parley with the gods and were turned to their current appearance.
* Goliath alcohol is extremely strong, inducing drowsiness and reducing speech to a slurred gibberish. There is a specially brewed mead for the game *Drink-and-Tell*.
* Marriages and remarriages are frequent and families tend to be rather fluid, as the tribe as a whole raises its young.
* Female goliaths are able to nurse multiple babies, the Tent-mother usually being the wet-nurse for all of the tribe's infants.