Firbolgs

A Firbolg man

### Height

varies wildly; of the fey-touched firbolgs, they tend to be shorter - around 7 to 8 feet tall. Of the Giant-Kin Firbolgs, they tend to be larger, anywhere from 10 to 11 feet tall. Though the latter are rarer these days.

### Skin Colors

Fey-Touched: Pale blue, gray, pinkGiant-Kin: White, dark gray, black

### Eye Colors

Fey-Touched: Purple, Green, GrayGiant-Kin: Brown, Blue, Yellow

## Behavior

### Inclination

To gather in small groups called clans, to protect what is left of the great forests of the world, to non-violence

### Inhabits

Strongholds in old world forests and jungles

### Attitude

Generally nurturing, mistrusting of outsiders though. Tend to live solitarily in their clans, if anyone leaves it is likely because they are outcasts or sent out specifically by the Clan-Mother

## History

### Notable Locations

Ocelach

Firbolgs are a species of giant-kin which commonly reside in forests or jungles. As opposed to most Giant-Kin, they detest The Ordning, the hierarchy which is an essential part of giant culture. Instead of following the rule of the ordning, the Firbolgs follow a set of rules they have dubbed, quite simply, 'the code'. The code dictates the rules of society for Firbolgs and if ever these rules were not clear enough or don't exactly solve the issue at hand, the firbolgs, led by the Clan-Mother, call 'The Casting' (essentially a vote that every member of the clan partakes in.)

Due to their particular legal code other giant kin, especially true-blooded giant kin, detest Firbolgs and sent them away to the old and forgotten places of the world under threat of war and utter destruction. Now, very few Firbolgs remain. Currently, only one clan is known of so far; Clan Jord of Ocelach in Vasilia, Northern Congeria.

## Physiology

Firbolgs are among the tallest of the civilized peoples of Malachite. Giant-Kin Firbolgs, the rarer subspecies, even grow to be ten to eleven feet tall; that's two-three feet taller than a Goliath on average. When talking about the physiology of Firbolgs it's important to distinguish the two subspecies.

Giant-Kin Firbolgs are elusive and hulking. They are an ancient race that has been preserved in the only the most forgotten places. Standing ten to eleven feet tall and weighing up to 450-500 pounds, Giant-Kin Firbolgs truly live up to their names. It is these firbolgs, after all, which are most closely related to their Giant brethren. These Firbolgs are directly descendant from the giant of old. They are hardier than their Fey-Touched cousins, and generally are stronger and more powerful. Giant-Kin Firbolgs skin color matches those of their ancestors: white for their hill giant ancestors, dark gray for their fire giant ancestors, and black for their storm giant ancestors.

Fey-Touched Firbolgs are those who have dwelt long enough in the old forests or even the Fey-Wild itself to acquire a capacity for fey magic. These Firbolgs are more common, as most surviving Firbolgs are those who hide in the oldest and most enchanted forests. They only grow to seven to eight feet tall; averaging only a couple inches shorter than most goliaths. On top of that, they usually only weight 240-300 lbs; around 200 pounds less than their giant-kin cousins. They also typically are very furry, with their arms, legs, and torsos generally being overgrown with it, but also grow long beards and beautiful hair. Even their pointed ears are tipped with fur. The reason for this is the Fey Magic which has seeped into the Firbolg blood after so many centuries of them living in the old woods. The forest magic has altered their DNA so much that their skin color is paled, and their eyes glow exotic colors. They have a basic aptitude for Fey Magics and Beastial Communications due to their connection to their homes, and often times come to grow a deep-seated affection for the woods which house them. To this end, Fey-Touched are more dexterous, so as to be able to quickly navigate their home forest and protect it swiftly should it be needed.

## History

### Golden Era

Of the golden age, we can assume that Firbolgs did not yet live. Giants are an ancient and primordial people, hailing from beings older than the Gods of Creation themselves. In the golden age, it was told that they were a horrible blight to the civilized peoples of the land. Having no god or structured society, they were a war-mongering people who ransacked settlements far and wide. Some of the biggest battles were raged against giants in these days, and they were called the Bane of the Righteous.

### Silver Era

Though the Firbolgs have no official recorded history, instead preferring oral traditions, it is safe to say that at the end of the silver age firbolgs had made their first appearances. The uncivilized giant peoples kept waging war on the pious lands, but it was a war that they were losing; and badly. With their species on the brink of total extinction, they had to choose: do they die as they were, or adapt to survive in a world, which for them, had changed completely as the Gods and their people began to spread across the lands.

So, the giant races decided to adapt. They formed a rudimentary form of government and society, and began to settle rather than travel as a horde of doom-bringers. At this time too, the giant races attempted diplomacy with the other species. Although many peoples were unwilling to cooperate with those who had afflicted them for so long, a select few groups formed alliances with the giants.

At the end of the silver age, we get our first recorded presence of 'Giant-lings' as they are recorded by Thadeus Morah, a professor of the age. "*Remarkably, there seems to be new subspecies of giants beginning to arise around giant camps since their near collapse and cultural reform. . .They appear like to giants in every way save that they are only, at most, eight cubits tall* [equivalent to twelve feet by modern measurements] *and are much less bulky and hardy. Whether it is due to inter-breeding, or breeding with other races, it is an earth-shattering discovery. Perhaps these Giant-lings will prove to be more skilled in nefarious plots... time will tell."* (Morah, *On Giants and Giant-lings,* page 86).

They were not altogether nefarious though - from these ancient 'Giant-lings,' goliaths and firbolgs have evolved.

### Bronze Era

After some several hundred years of giants undergoing the grand change from a warmongering battle-horde to a group of diplomatic warrior tribes, they had evolved to be a rather solitary people in the bronze era. Now they followed the set of laws they called The Ordning.

Due to their violent background it is no wonder their hierarchical society leans heavily on strength and power as determining factors of 'nobility.' It is argued by the tribes that they were all created by elder beings, far older than Creation Gods... but they were not created equal. Some giants, such as storm giants or cloud giants, are the absolutely mightiest and humongous giants; and they are respected for it. So, it has been decided that the ranks of giants are separated very strictly depending on their bloodlines.

One group, '*Fyrog'* as they were called in Jotunn, rebelled against The Ordning and tried to sway the minds of their kin. However, they were poorly received. They received the moniker 'Fyrog' which means "Above the earth." It was an expression used by giants to poke-fun at the pious peoples, who spent their time in prayer and thought; 'above the earth.' It was generally an insult and to call another giant 'Fyrog' was a heinous offense to their pride.