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| Giant History
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| Pre-history (Age of Ku) 50,000-30,000: This was the pre-war period when the two races of Adu were one people, the Tadraki. They lived on the surface of Adu, in the lowlands and valleys. Yak and a wild barley grain were domesticated during this time. Civil war around 30,000 PT was preceded by a rare three-moon eclipse and alignment, and an earthquake that shuddered through the island (30,100 PT), breaking the surface and causing half of the island to “raise towards the heavens” and half to “become closer to the god himself.” Half the population believed it was an omen for bad times to come, and half the population believed it was a call to the heavens, the higher ground, that the people must come closer to their god, and sing to keep the universe whole and prevent catastrophe. Early History- (Age of Da) Rise and Reign of the Tagme Da Vipar Period (30,000-28,000 PT) 30,000-29,000: (Exodus) - Life was a struggle, living in caves in the mid-reaches of the mountains, preyed upon from below by mountain predators, learning to survive on mountain resources, migration of yak herds, etc. Pretty much any conflict with the dwarves was kept minor and inconsequential. Many died of exposure and starvation. 29,000-28,000: (Homecoming) - The tarushi settled the mountain that would become home to Laku, capital city. The city is located at 27,000 feet, too high for the usual array of predators. Still living in caves, not too dissimilar from dwarves for all intents and purposes, though the giants continued to get food and spend much of their time outside. During this period they discovered strange ruins at 28,000 feet. There was still very little contact with the dwarves. Da Gaji Period (28,000-24,500 PT) 28,000-25,000: (Rise of the Tagmes – Tsetchuk’s Warrior Code) - There were two major occurrences during this time. The first took place in 28,721 PT - The icebloods, of which the giants had no previous knowledge save for the unexplained ruins 1,000 feet above Laku, surrounded the entrances to the caves and attacked and starved the giants. The attack came with a terrible cost of life and lost innocence for the tarushi. Strong, charismatic leader Tagme Tsetchuk (often called the Cold One, named for the iceblood ichor which stained his arms from hand to elbow, his inflexible obsession of hatred for the icebloods, and his unforgiving dedication to expanding and improving giant domination) rose to power, organized the giants into an army, repelled the iceblood horde, and sent the Bourtai, an elite fighting unit, to attack the dwarves and raid their most accessible outposts for supplies. This was the birth of the Tarushi warrior (holy warriors, as religion and spirituality were always important to Tarushi) class, and the beginning of the reign of power by military leaders. At this point, religion and military/political might were kept separate. A series of Tagmes rose to power over the next 7,000 years. The second major development was a new form of excavating the caves, and new architectural and engineering advancements, which allowed the giants to build their cities on the outside of the mountains, with great protected walls, easily defensible accesses, great storerooms, guarded passes, and tunnels to food sources, etc. During this time, the giants discovered several areas on the mountain that held thermal sulfur springs, residual from totally prehistoric volcanic activity in the area. They had already made sure that there was a natural water source near Laku (an underground stream of snow and ice melt, which went into a crevice in the rocks at high altitudes and eventually melted down a channel in the rear of the original Laku caves). Groups of giants set about to learn why these other springs were different, why they were hot, where they came from, why they stank, and why they seemed so therapeutic. 25,000-24,250: Time of wars (red moon rising!) - The icebloods attacked in waves, during certain seasons… they could disappear for a year or two at a time, and then attack in incredibly daunting numbers. Laku was hit over and over again by iceblood invasions. Still, little was known about the icebloods. Various giant elite warriors were sent to upper altitudes to spy out icebloods, but no cities could be found below 35,000 feet (giants not quite yet adapted enough to go higher), only ancient ruins found in a few places, but nothing to give any clues as to iceblood origin or current location. Iceblood corpses brought in for examination revealed very alien biological functions, and most notably, no blood in the sense that giants were used to. Iceblood study became a primary intellectual and military pursuit. Atmospheric disturbances (possibly the Oheia version of the northern lights) caused Bemos to take on a brighter red hue, Miris to become orange, and Telia to become violet. The giants believed this to be a sign from the god as to the bloody nature of the times (there is much speculation in modern times by non-giant scholars as to whether lunar events are really prophetic in their meaning, or if the giants make them so by their subsequent actions. During this time in giant history, religion was a vital piece in justifying the wars, and priests were often called upon to bless the actions of the Tagmes, which they did – usually – for the great prestige and power positions they could achieve.) Da Vashar Period (24,500-21,000 PT) 24,500-22,500: Though the icebloods were still a threat, the giants became more adept at handling invasions and building defenses against them. The giant population within Laku grew exponentially, the city itself expanded, mostly in its outer structure, sprawling vertically up the mountainside, and more tunnels were excavated inside the mountain. Under the leadership of Tagme Gyasho, a great engineering project began (23,155 PT), and a tunnel was slowly dug out from Laku to the location of the thermal springs. As they went, giant engineers and craftsmen created troughs and pipes to carry the water back to Laku. In 22,925, the giants connected with the thermal springs, and water the temperature of 150 degrees F flowed down the waterworks into Laku’s public baths, medicinal baths and holding tanks. City life became significantly less stinky! 22,500-21,000: Giants, encouraged by their growing strength in numbers, their increasing physical stamina, their ability to repel the icebloods, and their new comforts in city life, and encouraged by their bloodiest ruler to date, Tagme Yesukai, led an all out assault on the dwarven cities -- in the name of their religion, and to “bring the dwarves to the truth.” The dwarves were busy dealing with their own battles in Brungul, as the creatures of the deep were swarming up out of the bowels of the earth, and it could have been terrible for the dwarves, if not for advances in dwarven weaponry and armoring skills. Using the tunnels as a natural defense (and not all the tunnels were that high, causing a disadvantage to the giants), and being on home turf, the dwarves were able to hold their own against much greater numbers of giants. The giants won a bit of what they were looking for, some plunder, some high-quality weapons from fallen dwarves, and for a short time, the giants even held the town of Gutchluk in the mountain of Ghabd. The wars ended abruptly when a new wave of iceblood attacks nearly decimated the population of Laku, and brought the main body of giant forces back home to defend their city. No major attacks on the dwarves were ever attempted again, though general hostilities and ill will plagued any interaction between the two races. Middle History – (Age of Cham) Fall of the Tagme, Rise of Nagme, a New Way Cham Vipar Period (21,000-16,000 PT) 21,000-20,500: Giant attention was turned inwards. There was a focus on strengthening Laku and nurturing a weakened population. The last Tagme came to power, Tagme Nyaltuke, who tried to raise money and people to reinvade the dwarves. In an unprecedented, and never again seen, show of brutality and mob rage, the citizens of Laku rebelled and executed Nyaltuke during the riots. The people placed their own choice of leader in the ruling house, with the title of Nagme… Nagme Nikyang, chosen of the people (chosen for his age and wisdom), rebuilt Laku, strengthened the military just enough to protect from iceblood attacks, and set aside a portion of energy and funds to study a greater use of thermal energy. Though Nikyang did not live to see his innovations finished, by 20,500, Laku enjoyed thermal water piped into 60% of its homes, and thermal water piped through the walls, giving the entire city a degree of warmth and comfort never before seen. Giant expeditions sent out, not for militaristic reasons, but to scout out other possible locations for cities. 20,500-16,000: Giant population thrived, icebloods were easily repelled, and their attacks lessened in frequency. Focus of giant culture was on crafts, luxuries, and city improvements. Around 18,750, three hundred giants trekked over the mountains, and dug into a cave complex named Zhangmu, founding the second giant city on Adu. Zhangmu was built at 30,000 feet, very easily defensible, and much closer to sources of thermal water. Zhangmu was piped and plumbed, and the exterior city buildings were in place within 200 years. Zhangmu had a local governor (also chosen for age and wisdom), who answered to the Nagmes of Laku, though local rule is pretty autonomous. Zhangmu was built to be a cultural and religious center for the giant race. Cham Gaji Period (16,000-13,000 PT) 16,000-13,000: The Rise of Religion - Though religion had always been an important part of giant life, during this time, government began obeying the tenets of the giant faith much more closely. A new ways of choosing leadership, based on age and wisdom, the gerontocracy, was established. Wise and just rule was considered a burden of the aged, who no longer had the strength to defend the cities through martial means, nor the biology to increase the population through childbirth and rearing, etc. The giants sent an envoy to the dwarves to seek a peaceful resolution of any differences. Though the casualties were few, the giants were not allowed past Ghabd to proceed onto Bagdu and the Dwarven Council there. Giants sent a new envoy every ten years, until finally, in 14,500, the giants and dwarves entered into a peaceful Age, with mutually agreed upon boundaries, and a commitment to have a dwarven envoy in Laku, and a giant envoy with the dwarves in Bagdu. Fortunately for the peace talks, the entire summit was conducted in the dwarven city of Bagdu, far underground. Up on the surface, a fiery lance of celestial power appeared in the skies (14,500)… moving closer and closer to Oheia. It is common knowledge that the dwarves believe in the Return of Bazgol, a meteor so large that it will destroy Oheia and all living on her will die. This probably would have sent the dwarves deep into their tunnels and into a religious frenzy, which would prevent any peace with the heretic giants. The giants had a more academic interest in the comet (which the giants named The Falling Star, in their erroneous belief at the time that the light was a star falling out of the heavens). The giants observed the increased dust in the atmosphere after the comet struck Oheia, and when the world did not end, and no one died (that they knew of), they informed the dwarves, who explained it as Bazgol’s forerunner… and not Bazgol himself. 13,500: City of Chenpo founded Cham Vasha Period (13,000-10,000 PT) 13,000-10,000: Rise of Education and the University - The city of Chenpo thrived. There was a bad iceblood problem, but giants enough to handle it. The first official university was built in Laku in 12,750, but the largest university went up in Chenpo in 11,500. Expansion of knowledge was a primary directive during this time. Advances in engineering, astronomy, astrology (to the giants, this is a science), medicine and biology. Laku was invaded by massive iceblood force from 12,450-12,445 - a terrible time for the city. The city was large enough to offer protection, but populated with enough people to make feeding them during such a time a real challenge. The city was sprawling enough that it was difficult to protect all of it, and the great university of Laku was razed to the ground, along with all its records. In 12,500, first giant scholars journeyed to Dharbuzha to share knowledge and studies with the dwarves. This period of intense intellectual sharing lasted for over a thousand years. Library at Chenpo became famous as a depository for knowledge from all across the known world (which consisted of Adu at the time). Recent History – (Age of Tse) A cultural and economic Boom! We love dwarves! Tse Vipar Period (10,000-7,250 PT) 10,000-9,900: This was a long period of negotiation for a permanent trade arrangement between the dwarves and the giants, continuing into modern times. 9,500-9,000: Founding of Chamkha - The giants needed a port, which allowed easier travel around island to Dharbuzha, other methods of trade to the farther dwarven communities. 8,250: Voyages were made to Northern Komadas, but the giants miscalculated and overshot island. On return, they landed on the northeastern side of island, and found themselves in the Dark Forest. Finding the island too inhospitable, they left and did not return for a long time. 8,250-8,245: Terrible plague was carried back to Adu from Komadas, which decimated many smaller towns, and cities suffered a death toll of approximately one out of every eight persons. The plague was carried back on a ship, and affected residents of Chamkha, both the giants and the visiting dwarves, all of whom inadvertently carried it back to their home cities due to the relatively long incubation time and the fact that no one knew that they had the plague when the fever and spots started. This particular plague only hit the island once, and thereafter, all survivors of the plague had built up an immunity to the disease, and could travel to Komadas with impunity. All offspring were born with the immunity. 8,245-8,243: Icebloods took advantage of perceived weakness in Chenpo’s defenses and attacked, in the process, managing to kill most of the remaining warriors and lay siege to the city, resulting in a death toll of one in five of the plague survivors. Eventually, reinforcements from Laku arrived and drove the Icebloods back to their heights. 8,240-8,000: Renewed efforts against the icebloods. Expeditions were sent to heights of Chenpo and Laku. Giant patrols climbed as high as 44,000 feet but could not find a significant place of origin for the icebloods. They did find various ruins, remains of less permanent camps, and some burial mounds, but no currently operating cities. The icebloods remain a mystery. 8,000-7,250: Giants continued to patrol and go “hunting” for Icebloods, and cities enjoyed a freedom from raids or invasions during this time. Tse Gaji Period (7,250-3,000 PT) 7,250-5,000: This was truly a golden age for the giants, with economic growth, arts and textiles flourishing, universities collecting more knowledge and teaching more students, population recovering in numbers after the plague. There were few raids from the icebloods, and those that were remained relatively mild. Good relationship with dwarves. Tse Vasha Period (3,000-500 PT) 1,000 PT: Contact was tried again on Komadas. The giants landed on the western side of northern Komadas, found much more familiar forests, and eventually their mini-expedition brought them in contact with the aoru. Not much happened, just sort of a realization that two races wouldn’t kill each other on sight. 900-500 PT: Sporadic contact when giants sailed to Komadas. There was mostly just exploratory or diplomatic with Aoru, nothing official, and no formal trade, still working on the language barrier. Modern History- (Age of Rin) Rin Vipar Period (500 PT- present day) 952 by the common calendar 500 PT: Giants and Aoru engage in trade. 200 PT: Dwarves build Burrow neighborhood in Chamkha. 50 PT: Giants engage in direct trade with the Humans of Saotan. Year 1 by the Common Calendar: 300: Trade established with Qaroo. 400: Trade established with Naktul. 952: current year |
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