Fomorians

*"From the west emerged a new foe, from the blackest depths of the Skyrfang. Fomorians they were called, and they bore the forms of the hideous and the disfigured, but stood three men tall at least. Fierce foes they were indeed, for they hungered for naught but the flesh and blood of Jorns."* - From the Jornasmal.

## Basic Information

### Anatomy

Fomorian anatomy is difficult to describe, as it varies somewhat widely between specimens. Generally, they have two arms, legs, and one head. However, there have been instances of Fomorians with smaller, weaker third arms or legs, or having a second head. Others may be conjoined, with one body being the larger and dominant of the two, while the other is smaller and more deformed than the other, functioning somewhat like a parasite. All Fomorians are prone to deformities and are generally hideous in appearance, with purplish-grey skin covered in pustules and cancerous growths and highly asymmetrical faces. They are very tall, generally standing around fifteen feet tall hunched over, and are alarmingly strong.

### Genetics and Reproduction

Like their Tryggavolk forbears, Fomorians are actually sterile as a race. Their continued survival is achieved by transforming others into Fomorians via vile magics. To this end they are known to raid and attack any nearby settlements regularly to kidnap prisoners to either transform or eat. The transformation process is long and painful, and generally shatters the mind of the victim.

### Dietary Needs and Habits

Fomorians subsist solely off of meat. It is unknown whether this is because their bodies are incapable of digesting plant material or if they simply love the act of killing too much to eat anything other than meat.

## Additional Information

### Geographic Origin and Distribution

Fomorians came to be within the islands surrounding Jorland. They would later gain control of all of Jorland, ultimately forcing the Jorns to flee. This is their greatest stronghold, although they are known to raid and pillage along the northern coasts of other continents and Sitala.

### Average Intelligence

Due to the extent of their disfiguration and the pain experienced during the transformation, Fomorians have lost much of their reasoning ability. They retain the ability to craft tools and weapons, as well as things like boats, but these are often simple in nature. They can speak, and many understand Forgosian Common, as that was their language they spoke before their transformation. However, this speech is often broken.

## Civilization and Culture

### History

The Fomorians came to be when a group of Tryggavolk were exiled into the depths of the Skryfang Caverns after they betrayed their own. This group got lost inside the caverns for centuries, eventually devolving into the Fomorians. The method by which the Tryggavolk created more of their own from ice and stone was forgotten by the Exiled, who instead turned to dark forces beneath the earth to gain vile sorcerous powers. Among these powers was the ability to corrupt and change flesh, which is the method by which the Fomorians would create more of their own. Centuries passed and eventually the Exiles found their way to the surface. While they had forgotten much in their exile, they never forgot the architects of their punishment. They imprinted this hatred on all things that dwell on the surface, and went to war with the surface with an unbridled ferocity. The Jorns and Tryggavolk fought bravely, but could do little to defeat the ravenous hatred of the Fomorians and their quickly-growing army. They retreated to their homeland of Jorland. Unable to penetrate its defenses, the Fomorians instead used magic to lock Jorland in an everlasting winter. For two years the Jorns and Tryggavolk held out, but were ultimately unable to hold the Fomorians back any longer. In a final desperate bid, the Jorns sailed from Jorland in search of an unsettled land, while the Tryggavolk remained behind to stop the enemy advance and buy the Jorns some time. This would end in the extinction of the Tryggavolk and ultimately the discovery of Forgosia by the Jorns. The Fomorians would go on to solidify their grasp of Jorland, and would launch raids on any nearby nations to bolster their ranks.

Genetic Ancestor(s)
* Tryggavolk

Lifespan
200 Years
Average Height
15'