Burkhdyn Goliaths

The goliaths of the Burkhdyn culture can be divided into two groups: the feral savages to the south of the Strait of Shandar and the more civilized goliaths to the north of the Strait. The latter are the ones meant when speaking of the “Burkhdyn” goliaths.

Government

Goliaths tend to organize into small clans of 10–20 adults, each living in separate villages. Villages are clustered close enough to allow for group gatherings, and marriages are generally between members of neighboring clans. Each clan has a parriarch (a matriarch if female, patriarch if male) who is responsible for the group’s survival and prosperity. Like all goliaths, the Burkhdyn are egalitarian when it comes to gender issues, finding it odd when other cultures are not. A parriarch rules for as long as they keep the respect of the clan. In the harsh mountain climes, that is often until death, but occasionally an old and infirm parriarch does reach a peaceful retirement. In more recent times, the elderly who might have struggled to survive have additional opportunities in the somewhat more sheltered environs of Khuldani Purda.

Like all members of the mountain culture, the goliaths adhere strictly to the batya. Adults also adhere to the goliath code of ancestry: greeting a new friend requires an extensive recounting of ones’ ancestors and clan history, along with the appropriate food and drink to commemorate each story. Consequently, making a friend is a significant time commitment: goliaths can appear standoffish at first, simply out of expedience. 

Commerce

Goliath are hunter-gatherers. Their hunting packs are a sight to behold: in addition to a well-armed horde of agile half-giants navigating the mountains with the grace of a cat, the Burkhdyn goliaths have a propensity for falconry. Large golden eagles seek out prey of all sizes, and are able to take down small deer and adolescent wolves without assistance from their masters.

They are excellent at carving wood, bone, and ivory. Goliath flutes and recorders are of particular interest in modern musicians seeking a lower bass range for their performances.

Occasionally a tribe in dire need has hired themselves out as laborers. This is more common if some honorable justification is available: raising a bell from the foundry to hang in a new mountain shrine would merit consideration, for instance.

Culture and Entertainment

Goliaths, like all the mountain folk, are consummate weavers and knitters. To untrained eyes, their woolen caps — festooned with small pom-poms and tassles — may appear somewhat silly, but it’s best to keep such thoughts contained. The goliath’s hats are an elaborate elucidation of their clan and their position in the clan, with the color pattern of the hat itself forming a tribal norm. The poms are earned and placed for feats of valor, nobility, and defense of honor. More than one outsider has mocked a hat’s appearance, only to find themself remembered only as another tassle or woolen ball atop the goliath’s head.

Goliaths are excellent and willing singers. Their bawdy drinking songs may be no surprise, but their remarkably tender love ballads reveal an inner romanticism not hinted at by their outward mien. Large wooden and bone recorders accompany the traditional alpine drums during more organized sessions. Goliaths are particular fond of the rebecs used by the Burkhdyn dwarves, and will go out of their way to invite any dwarven hunting parties to share meals with them if they believe that a group song session may ensue. The two also bond over a shared love of mead and kumis (and ale, when available).

Goliaths have a noble tradition of wrestling. Their bouts are less structured than in many cultures, with no defined winning condition: a match continues until one party submits, though it is considered dishonorable to extend a match once one has been fairly restrained by one’s opponent. Striking, gouging, and breaking of joints are forbidden. Goliath matches tend to go to ground quickly, with little tentative upright play: a fighter who attempted to wriggle away from their foe rather than engage them would be considered disgraceful.

Arm wrestling and target throwing competitions are also common. While goliath shaman do use tusks in their rituals, they are not popular as a game among the large folk.

The goliaths of the Burkhdyn Gazar have a friendly rivalry with the alpine orcs, often going out of their way to mention how short and puny the orcs are while ignoring the stature of the surrounding dwarves, humans, and Iswari.