Firbolg

"We have been discussing the construction of the new barn for three winters. Young Tulla is worried the shadow it casts might upset the petunias. Until Tulla is satisfied, there will be no barn. We are in no rush, little one. The wood is still growing. The beetles are content. Why run when you can sit?"

— Himo, Speaker of the Moss-Hollow Council

Origins: The Stronghold Roots

• The Living Fortresses: They do not live in open villages; they inhabit "Pocket Communes." These are hidden strongholds woven from living wood, dense brambles, and stone. To an outsider, it looks like a thicket; to a Firbolg, it is a castle.
  

 
• The Beetle-Shepherds: Historically, Firbolgs domesticated the Giant Jewel Beetles of Cruinlagh. They treat these massive insects like family dogs or prized cattle, using them for transport, heavy lifting, and harvesting their shed chitin for tools. A Firbolg is rarely seen without a clicking, chittering companion.
  

 
• The Deep Roots: Firbolgs do not believe in a creator of their species. When the first trees grew, the Firbolg grew with them. They view themselves as the forest's consciousness given form.

Cultural Values: The Unbroken Circle

• The Heavy Democracy: Every decision, from declaring war to planting a new row of turnips, requires the agreement of every single member of the commune. There is no "majority rule." If one person dissents, the motion stops.
  

 
• The Long Council: Because of this, Firbolg politics are agonizingly slow to outsiders. A debate can last decades. They value Patience above all else. To interrupt someone is a grave insult; to rush a decision is an act of violence.
  

 
• The Veto: This system gives immense power to the individual. The youngest child has the power to stop the oldest elder. It creates a society of intense listening and compromise, but also one that struggles to react to sudden danger.