Giants

Giants were a rarer folk than the Humanoids, but more common by sheer volume than Dragons. The archetypal Giant is the Goliath, but Orcs, Goblins, and others are all Giants themselves.

Giants' muscles are denser than most others, so even a small Goblin might be stronger than a Human or Gnoll, for example. They lived in large tribes (Many of whom were nomadic) before the Collective, and few made their way into the cities afterward, even after they adopted Steam Tech for their own uses. They were spread over much of the world despite this fact, most often found in forests and mountains.

Giants are not so genetically adaptable as Humanoids, and it was very, very rare to see a Giant/Dragon mixed ancestry or a Giant/Elemental mix. When these did appear, they were so rare that they were largely classed exclusively as Bugbear (Giant/Dragon) and Jotun (Giant/Elemental). There were several common internal mixes, such as Ogres (Half Goliath/Half Orc), however.

When Giants die, their spirits almost always become Totems in favour of reincarnation. Totems, as spirits, have virtually no power in the world, but are often bound or summoned to remedy this fact. Totems are often consulted as ancestor spirits, and are often more chill than they were in life.

## Goliaths

Goliaths are the archetypal Giant. They often stand between 8 and 10 feet tall when fully grown, and are very muscular even if they do nothing to become so. Many Goliaths were actually involved in the founding of the Collective, both those which lived in cities, as well as Tribe Leaders which realized the power of the city-folk's Steam Tech.

Many tribes were maintained throughout the Collective's existence, though these tribes were beset with advancement and foreigners which challenged their tribal identities and practices, and many tribes were opposed, if not insulted, that the Collective took many of their traditions and began using them in functions that destroyed their original meanings. After the Fall, some of those Tribes are able to survive against the Cursed, though just as many fell to the Plague before an enemy was even identified.

Goliaths now often serve as Guards or Cleavers in survival groups. Cleavers being people who go out ONLY to slaughter the Cursed, rather than seeking resources like Scavengers.

## Orcs and Goblins

Orcs and Goblins are more closely related than other Giants, and they often appeared in the same Tribes. Very few were involved in the early Collective, and the Collective's goals of integration and shared knowledge largely happened through the Septs created with Goliath Tribes, where some Goliath leaders pushed for them to accept the Collective's efforts. Many Tribes didn't accept the Collective for many years, sometimes decades, but the overwhelming technological advantage and the proxy threat that the Collective might use force pushed all of the tribes eventually to cooperate.

The Fall hit these tribes hardest of all. Because they still held the Collective's progress at arm's length, they lacked the more advanced technologies which allowed many towns to stand for a time, and even the early Cursed posed a major issue to these tribes.

Orcs and Goblins often act as Cleavers and Scavengers in a group, usually at the same time. Larger groups have so-called "Giant Bands" which go to dangerous areas and take all they can, largely populated by Orcs and Goblins.

## Firbolg

A rarer form of Giant, and largely seen as somewhat secondary, in a sense. Many Firbolg lived with Goliath Leaders, and they were highly welcome of the Collective's efforts, hoping their traditions would help to enlighten the city-dwellers. They weren't so offended when their ancient ways were repurposed, but they were disappointed.

Firbolg were more spiritual than most other Giants, with nearly half of them bearing Druidic talents. As such, they never got fully on board with the new technologies, even those who moved to the cities, and most fell with their tribes.

Firbolg after the Fall tend to be especially mournful of the things that have been lost, their especially long lifetimes and good memories making it all seem especially cruel. They are almost exclusively base-builders and base-keepers, as many have lost the will to fight in any capacity.