Goliath
Goliaths of Wakodia
Overview
Goliaths are the enduring offspring of giants — mighty beings born from the bones of mountains, the breath of storms, and the fire of ancient peaks. Shaped by isolation, harsh terrain, and inherited power, goliaths seek strength not only in body, but in spirit and perseverance. Across Wakodia, they exist in scattered enclaves atop crags, beside volcanoes, and in frigid highlands, each lineage preserving its own elemental memory of the titans who came before.Physical Characteristics
Appearance: Goliaths are towering, muscle-bound humanoids with skin marked by natural patterns — often resembling stone, ash, frost, or runic birthmarks. Their eyes tend toward silver, pale blue, or glowing amber.Lifespan: Goliaths mature by 12 and can live up to 100 years, though those with strong elemental bloodlines may endure longer.
Height and Build: Standing between 6’8” and 7’8”, they are among the tallest mortal humanoids in Wakodia.
Subraces of Goliaths
Goliaths across Wakodia differ based on terrain and ancestry. Some reflect elemental power, others spiritual tradition:Stoneborn Goliaths
Region: Jernfjell Peaks (Stonefell)Traits: Resilient and stoic; embody strength and endurance carved from the mountains.
Ashen Goliaths
Region: Kasōzan (Yoake)Traits: Flame-marked descendants of fire giants; shaped by volcanic hardship and sacred heat.
Frostmarked Goliaths
Region: Stormhollow Coast (Stonefell)Traits: Cold-born kin of frost giants; patient, contemplative, and untouched by winter’s bite.
Culture and Society
Goliaths live by codes of honor, personal challenge, and ancestral reverence. While some dwell in isolated mountain clans, others forge quiet alliances with dwarves, firbolgs, or elemental cults. Status is earned through deeds, not birth. Oral traditions, physical contests, and sacred tattoos define their passage into adulthood. Failure is not feared — only surrender is.Religion
Many goliaths honor the Old Blood — a spiritual belief that their giant ancestors watch and test them. Others follow gods like Sinbog, Skarnak, or Dhurindar, interpreting divine power as another trial of worth. Elemental reverence, ancestral cairns, and skywatching rituals remain common.Magic and Goliaths
Though not typically arcane, some goliaths wield elemental or divine magic tied to their subrace’s legacy. Fire-walkers channel volcanic fury; frostmarked shamans freeze their foes with breath; storm-touched goliaths call thunder with a roar. Most favor primal or divine traditions over wizardry.Relationships with Other Races
Dwarves: Neighbors and trade partners — respected but often rivaled.Humans: Curious alliances form in border towns; humans’ ambition is seen as both foolish and inspiring.
Elves: Viewed as distant and overly cautious. Goliaths favor action over nuance.
Firbolgs: Kindred in silence, nature, and ancient tradition — often allied in spiritual matters.
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