Morpheus Unbound  |  Supporting Cast  |  GURPS  |  Alien Races
Empire

Kharakan Giants

for Morpheus Unbound's Empire of Dreams campaign setting

It is commonly believed among reputable xeno-biologists and xeno-archaeologists that the existence of the Kharakan Giants is a prank. Although, no one is quite sure by whom the prank was perpetrated or on whom.

The Giant creation myth dates back seven thousand years when the Giants were a three-foot tall race of primitive sentients. The gods, from whom they wrested the secrets of great size and great memory, visited them. These myths are supported by archaeological findings, which indicate that seven thousand years ago a three-foot tall race vanished forever and was mysteriously replaced, by the Kharakan Giants. There are no Giant artifacts or fossils older than seven thousand years. Except for their highly advanced communications equipment (including radio and computer network technology), their society is purely medieval. Their command of communications equipment is limited only by the fact that wood-burning steam engines prove inadequate power sources. They have developed a planet-wide feudal society around this equipment. There are fewer than five million Giants on their entire home planet. (It is estimated that there were seven to nine million of their predecessors.) They are not war-like by nature, but are military minded and any conflicts are fought to the death.

The Giants are technically sentient, but are dumb as posts. Ironically, they are possessed of amazing mental fortitude and fantastic memories. Apparently by genetics, they are proficient in high technology communications equipment and philosophy. Communication and power storage equipment is typically TL8 or TL9, with power generating technology at TL4 and the rest of society at TL3. Several of the feudal states have begun exporting troops and soldiers off world as mercenaries. They dislike extremely high tech equipment, but are deadly with force sword and force shield.

Environment:  Their planet is a 1.3-G world with huge mineral deposits, and small oceans, but many lakes.

Physiology: Kharakan Giants normally stand between 12 and 14 feet tall and weigh 1400 to 2300 pounds. Skin color ranges the spectrum, with darker browns and greens found near the equator, and lighter blues and pinks near the poles. Eye color is invariably the color compliment to skin tone (meaning that on a color "wheel", the eye color would be on the opposite side of the wheel). They have powerful muscular builds, and are rarely outside their ideal weight range.

They have two sexes - male and female. The female gives birth to live young after a 420 standard (Terran) day gestation period.

Psychology:  The Giants are generally stoic and philosophical.  They enjoy learning new things (as long as things don't change), and accept that they learn slowly.  They are very good at repetitive tasks, and eventually will catch on to most things.  They are very forgiving, but when they decide they have been wronged, they never forget an injustice.

Racial Template: ST 28, DX 8, IQ 7, HT 16/26. idetic Memory +2, Enhanced Encumbrance, Damage Resistance +2, Damage Resistance +5 (total) v. Crushing, Extra Reach (+1 hex, both arms), Fit, Improved G-Tolerance +2, Increased Strength (already included above), Longevity, Passive Defense +1, Sanitized Metabolism, Strong Will +6.  Appearance (Ugly), Bloodlust, Inconvenient Size (over 8 feet tall, over 1000 unds), Quirk (Stoic and Philosophical), Quirk (Dislike change), Reduced Move -1. Apparently by genetics they have Electronics Operation (Communications) [4 points] and Philosophy [2 points].  There is a 310-point racial cost for Kharakan Giants.