Creed: My flesh is the soil beneath your feet, my bone is the rock which surround you. I allow you to partake from my body that which you need to sustain yourself. Merely I ask that you treat this privilege with respect, for though I am slow to anger, I bend the very mountains with my fury.
Title: The slumbering father, The living continent
Gender: Is referred to as male.
Alignment: True neutral
God Appearance: His followers depict him as a cross between a snake and a wingless dragon. Though this isn't particularly accurate as Rodrauge is considered to be the living embodiment of the terrain itself.
Personality: Rodrauge is a very calm and patient being, though he can be very stubborn at times. He talks and acts like an old man. Always sounding tired, yet constantly speaking like he were talking to a child or someone younger then him, even with beings that could be argued to be older then he. Still he has a level head, and is willing to give someone the time they need to speak and will listen to what they have to say. Still though, even for one as patient as he there is a breaking point. If someone were to manage to anger him they would find that the lord of stone can display and unrelenting furry that could cause the very world to shake.
Opinion of mortals: Mortals are a trivial curiosity to Rodrauge. He neither likes nor dislikes the small flesh creatures, and tolerates the presence well so long as they do not grow too greedy for the materials they mine from his flesh. He does not complain that they take such from his body, and to those that manage to earn his favor he will even grant greater privileges in their harvest. Those that earn his ire though, shall find out the hard way what happens when the land no longer is as providing as before. "Respect the land, and it shall respect you."
Godâs Domain:
God's territory: This is hard to explain as Rodrauge technically is his territory. The smallest pebble under your shoe too the tallest rock face. A small patch of dirt to a vast plain. All of it, every ore, rock and grain of dirt is a part of Rodrauge's body.
Portfolios Governed: He is the Lord of rock, soil, sand, dust and metal ore.
Symbol(s): The mountains
Creations
Giants
Physical Description/Biology: The average giant is a humanoid that stands roughly fifteen feet in height. Generally they are very hairy and muscular in appearance as much of their body mass goes into their limbs. With thick hides, several inches of muscle and fat between their skin and bone, one can easily imaging that giants are both resilient and strong. Indeed, some have been observed to uproot whole trees with their bare hands alone.
The way they walk is sometimes described as lumbering, do to the illusion of such from their hunched over posture and the fact that their arms are actually longer then their legs, making it seem like they drag their arms as they walk. The average Giant's lifespan is roughly two centuries, with them not starting puberty until their late twenties. Even in their more advanced ages, a giant is still very fit and capable of much physical activity, and will only cease any sort of labor if they are sick.
Terrain preference: Giant's generally prefer to live in the mountains and hills, where their bodies seem more suited to handle rough terrain. They will also take up residence in forest and jungle and are known to make much use out of the natural vegetation. Their homeland, Ramatung, sits in the south east most corner of the know world, and compasses mountains, jungle, plains and dessert.
Culture: The giants are largely nomadic, with their livelihoods dedicated mostly to herding animals and gathering materials. The most of their animals are preferred to be large creatures, like the giants themselves, and as such things like water buffalo, giraffes and elephants are they're favorite herd beast, and they domesticate lions to act as 'sheep dogs' for the herd. They get much of their clothing, fabric materials and food from their animals, with cheese made from giraffe and elephant milk being considered a delicacy.
Giants do have some permanent settlements though. Small towns and villages that act as 'trade centers' where different herder tribes will pass through to exchange goods, get supplies, hear news about the other tribes, then move on. Building in giant lands are mostly made out of stone, carved and placed by hand, with hide curtains being a substitute for doors. These places help to ensure that there is a general unity between the giant tribes, and that they are able to communicate on a regular basis. The largest of these settlements is Torodram the unofficial capital of the giant's home land.
There is little much in the way of giant artistry or fashion since, as you can imagine, they have little time or supplies to use for paint or sewing. They do however have preference for carving in their society, and some giants proudly display stone or wooden statuettes as a part of ritual and religious significance.
While the giants aren't normally a very violent species, they do take great pride in their physical strength, and much of their games involve test and displays of their own might.
Language: Giant language is best described as 'rumbling'. It's words are pronounced with a lot of grunts, humming, and growls that make the speaker sound deep voiced.
Religion: Like many races, the Giants choose their creator god as their chief deity who would be Rodrauge in this case. It is part of their belief that Rodrauge gives apart of himself to support all life on this world, and all things that die turn to dust and become one with his soil. Thus they treat the lands around them with great care, as they believe that all they take from it is on loan to them from the earth god.
Giants will, however, acknowledge other gods. Riomu, MĂ©rida and Adarani would all would likely be favored by herdsmen for the belief that they might watch over their animals and migratory tribes. Almaran, would also be ensured to gain favor from many giants considering their values on strength.
In the Lands of Ramatung, shaman are considered the true priest of Rodrauge. Elder members of the giant race, giant shaman have learn how to communicate with elementals, and are the only among the giants that can use magic of some description. (More on that in the magic section). They live as hermits for the most part, only communicating with the rest of the lands when sought out by other worshipers of the stone god for services relating to ceremony or when they themselves feel a disturbance that would require their attention. Generally shaman go on a pilgrimage into the deserts that border Ramatung in order to seek out the sand colossus Burmas at least once in their life times.
Level of technology: Giants aren't a particularly advanced raced, to most they would even appear down right primitive. The mobile header tribes live in tents, and what buildings they do construct are made almost exclusively out of stone, with wood being reserved for tools and containers. Much of their crafted items are made from animal hides and bone or leather and wood, however they are on the verge of discovering smiting, which allows some bronze to find it's into the mix. Forges are rare in Ramatung though, as it is difficult to manage smelters and such when the majority of the race are nomads. That said, the giants do take pride in their ability to take what they have build something from it. Their architecture, though unrefined, has a beauty all it's own from the size and sturdiness of it.
Social structure: Herder tribes and towns are usually headed by an elder giant, a patriarch or matriarch or sometimes both. There is little in the way of gender distinction, though females usually spend more time with the young. Shaman, priest of the stone god, generally have high status in Ramatung though they tend to be more recluse, choosing to living as hermits.
Important figure: Ramatung itself is headed by the elder council which consist of four of the lands oldest shaman and the Duraka, or high chieftain. The Duraka acts as a mediator between the four shaman who regulates votes on decisions from the council, and in times of war is commander in chief of the military. The current Duraka is a giant by the name of Hogrum
Important locations: Torodram, the mountain home. The city is likely the largest in size in all of the known world. Out of the body of a ancient mountain peak, generations were spent carving and digging literally by hand or raised up with the help of earth elementals summoned by shaman to create this humongous city. It is massive, with walls the cast vast shadows over the landscape, and each of its buildings is a monolithic structure that towers over the streets. The rare visitors that are allowed entrance into this great city will be struck dumb by its size and stature.
Durtuma, a massive dam constructed ages ago at the mouth of the north fang river. The giants built the dam to store rain water in the event of drought and it can serve as a point of shelter and defense for their people if the need were ever to arise.
Military: The giants are not normally a very war like race, and are content to simply tend to their herds. However when they do feel the need to march to battle you can feel them coming, as the earth will quake beneath their warrior's marching feet. There is very little that could repel a single charging giant and a whole pack of them is next to unstoppable. A horde of giants will most often meet their foes head on, believing it best to simply trample the enemy under foot, causing as much damage as possible and sending the smaller combatants into a panic so they will rout.
Giant's will bring massive and easily made clubs and spears or the occasional axe to bare against their foes. For armor they wear thick hides and leather to ward against arrows, spears and swords. In lieu of bows, which would be impossible to craft for a creature of their size, giants use large slings to hurdle rocks at their foes. Giant 'stone throwers' will carry a bag of huge rocks, between the size of a fist to larger then an adults head, and toss these stone over a large distance where upon impact they will break bone, cave in armor and leave massive welts and bruises. And in compensation for their lack of carvery the giants will bring in animals from their herds to act as war beast.
Temperament: The giants of Ramatung are a content and peaceful race for the most part. They a fine with simply spending their time tending the herds. They are slightly territorial, however and will regard outsiders with suspicion. They will only grow aggressive, though, if someone gets to close to their animals, of which they are very protective.
Magic: Shaman of the earth god spend decades of their lives in isolation and meditation as they try to become one with the earth. This is not metaphorical term, as priest of Rodrauge mean to literally turn parts of their bodies into solid stone, crystal, metal or some other form of material born from the the sleeping stone gods body. In exchange for becoming a part of him, giant shaman will be able to channel a small fragment of his power to shape and move the earth around them. The oldest and most powerful of giant shaman will convert their bodies entirely, and become earth elementals.
Other:
Born from shards that broke free from Rodrauge's colossi children during their birth, fragments of their power grew into a race of spirits that inhabited mineral and sediment. Extremely resilient, these 'earth elementals' can endure for thousands of years within their bodies of soil and rock. The make up of their bodies varies between individual entities, both in the material they are made up of and the shape of their form, such as some having one complete body while others will 'levitate' different parts of different sizes in an orbit around their main body. The power and age of an elemental can usually be determined by it's size, as those with a larger body have more power with which to move that body. Being a creatures born of energy with no flesh and blood, most elementals can only be truly harmed by magic or a very potent disruption to their bodies.
Usually elementals live a very solitary and secluded life, away from other creatures or simply in a dormant state for long periods of time. They are, however, very territorial, and are known to attack people and creatures that get to close to them. Due to their very simple and disconnected life styles, most assume elementals are more like automation's with no real sentient thought, though many giant shaman and some magi claim to be able to learn how to 'speak' with them. Among those that make this claim, they state that elemental's communicate by making vibrations in the ground and with their bodies.
The four colossi.
The eldest of Rodrauge's children and his most powerful. They are demi-gods, all of them. Each inheriting a portion of his strength and an aspect of his personal nature. They are the guardians he assigned to stand post at the four corners of the world and watch over his sleeping form, and they also act as his envoys to the other gods.
Talmas of Iron: A metallic titan and the most humanoid appearing of the four colossi. Talmas inherited his fathers generosity, and is considered the most diplomatic of the four. He is noted for taking a greater liking to the inhabitants of the middle realm. He is the guardian of the East.
Armas of crystal: A being composed entirely of diamonds and gemstone, Armas is almost opposite of Talmas in personality. Inheriting his fathers foul temper, Armas is a very harsh creature, full of pride. He takes his position as guardian seriously and has little tolerance for those he considers the ungrateful and greedy. He is the Guardian of the North.
Domas of stone: Made of rock, and the one considered the closest in appearance to what many assume his father's true form would look like. Domas is even often mistaken for his father by younger mortals, mostly due to the similarities of their titles, and is considered the base for the cult of the stone gods idea of Rodrauge's form. Dormas inherited both his fathers patience and stubbornness, making him a rather gruff being at times but capable of showing a more grudging respect to those willing to speak with him. He is guardian of the West.
Burmas of sand: A malleable creature without permanent shape, the vast many grains of sand that make up Brumas shift and change constantly, but may merge into the shape of a giant worm if force to. Brumas was the inheritor of his fathers sleepy nature, and could be called the most slothful of the four. However when roused to due his duties he takes his task with a great seriousness, and a surprisingly quick divisiveness to complete. He is the guardian of the south.
