The Brobdangeon are a race of giant humanoids found in the the northwestern regions of Idryllia. Created by Dangorm during the Primordial Wars to counter the Khazadryn and Mordrakryn, they are incredibly powerful physical specimens, though not exceptionally coordinated or intelligent. During the Age of Knowledge, Khazad attempted to bend the Brobdangeon to his purpose, resulting in the more forward thinking and cunning Brobdangeon Truebloods, who have since assumed control of the main Brobdangeon society.
Physical Characteristics[]
Brobdangeon stand eight to twelve feet tall, and are a mass of dense bone and heavy muscle. For their size, they can still be remarkably agile. Many Brobdangeon have ridges of scales on them, likely a legacy of Dangorm. These are the same pale colours as the Brobdangeon's skin though, and in-obvious without close inspection. Their eyes cover the normal tones.
Truebloods have a much darker tone, of a red brown akin to rich earth. Their scale ridges are more pronounced, giving them a dragon-like appearance to their faces. They also have hair, unlike the regular Brobdangeon, forming loose manes about their head. Their eyes are brown or yellow, with golden whites.
A distinct tribe of Brobdangeon, pale white or bluish in coloring, also exists in the Frostfangs. Their origin is unclear, and they are simply referred to as the Coldar (a stylization of "Colder Brobdangeon").
Culture[]
After the Primordial Wars, the original Brobdangeon were a simple tribal people. While usable in war as dangerous minions by outside influences, they remained uncoordinated and relatively primitive. Prone to raiding in defence or simply to acquire food, they could nonetheless be bargained with, outside of an inborn hatred of Khazadryn and Mordrakryn. The exiles, those Brobdangeon who were pushed out of Crimson Crest by Truebloods, generally remain in this mold, despite their near genocide of the Plains Halflings when they first emerged onto the western plains to compete for food and resources.
Soon after their creation, the Truebloods took charge of Crimson Crest, and established a hierarchy amongst the Brobdangeon there. Those darkest of tone (beginning with the Truebloods) were considered the pure race, favoured by the "Mountain Father" (whom they venerate as Dangorm, despite Khazad's intent), with the paler Brobdangeon being outright cast out to wander the plains. The Truebloods sorted the remaining Brobdangeon into castes, with each assigned duties. Only a rare Trueblood that was born amongst the lower Brobdangeon can hope to ascend, and even those are carefully watched.
Architecture was no longer a shelter built only to suit need, but an elaborate effort to stand permanently as a monument to Brobdangeon greatness. At the same time, new techniques began to emerge in weapon and armour crafting, as the Truebloods began to seek to defeat the Khazadryn in more organized fashion.
Under the Truebloods, Crimson Crest is now a war machine built and improving on itself to bring about the Trueblood's rightful rule of the entire world, and enslavement or destruction of all others.
Religion[]
The simpler Brobdangeon merely offer occasional prayers to ward off bad weather or ill luck. The Truebloods in contrast, have a heavily ritualized church following the Mountain Father, who is in turn the source of their divine right of rule and authority. All priests of the Mountain Father are Truebloods, and the Grand Dome in which Crimson Crest praises him includes a central section reserved for Truebloods only.
Locations[]
The only Brobdangeon city is Crimson Crest, located in the south-southeast of the Forge Mountains. A settlement of common Brobdangeon is known to exist on the south shore of the Lake of Fury, the remnants of the Brobdangeon led by Lord Jabal.
Relations with Other Races[]
Brobdangeon are most frequently a threat to other races. This ranges from serious menace to invading army in potential. Special mention goes to the Khazadryn and Mordrakryn, the races they were created to defeat, and have pursued the destruction of ever since. Due to the near genocide of the Plains Halflings when the common Brobdangeon burst into the plains, the halflings hold little tolerance of them as well, though they haven't pursued major action against the fledgling village of refugees by the Lake of Fury.
History[]
Primordial Wars[]
Dangorm first brought forth the Brobdangeon in the Primordial Wars, seeking (successfully) to halt the rapid advance of the Khazadryn and Mordrakryn armies. Crafted for sheer physical dominance, he gave little thought to their continuation as a society or coordination without him, leading to their shortcomings.
Age of Settlement[]
Deprived of their patron, the Brobdangeon nonetheless continued to gather at their birthplace of Crimson crest, erecting crude, but effective defences, and continuing to raid against Khazad-Mor.
Age of Knowledge[]
Khazad would meddle with the Brobdangeon, seeking to pacify them into new servants, or at least tolerable neighbours for his people, resulting in the Trueblood Brobdangeons. They would quickly assume control of Crimson Crest, making the race an even greater threat.
Age of Wars[]
The lesser Brobdangeon cast out of Crimson Crest rampaged onto the western plains, pillaging heavily, and killing many of the tribes of unprepared plains halflings. An exiled lower-born Trueblood, Jabal, would assume control of a large force of these and drive eastwards pursuing the halflings, before being stalled at the battle of Delwyn's Vale by the counter-charge of Tel-Kabal (who had been lured out by the halflings, while they seized Telholme).
Age of Cataclysm[]
Lord Jabal would be felled by Kalen Stormwind and his minions in order to gain the trust of Delwynvale and steal the Skull of Alexander Tumyich. Afterwards, the former Aergosian outpost Jabal occupied would be destroyed by the Night of Falling Stars, scattering those Brobdangeon. The much more fortified Crimson Crest resisted the cataclysm well enough, and rebuilt quickly.
Age of Reclamation[]
The New Companions would run into battle with the forces of Crimson Crest after leaving Khazad-Mor, but largely the Brobdangeon remained out of the events of this age.
Age of Mortals[]
The Brobdangeon Truebloods stand battle ready as ever, locked in their battle with Khazad-Mor, and with Valdrent slowly infringing into the eastern Forge Mountains. Tentative and wary relations have begun between the Brobdangeon lake village and Delwynvale, though the halflings are reluctant to aid their ancient foe in any way. Dangorm remains as the last Primordial sealed, and while the Truebloods put little effort into freeing him as he might usurp their rule, some of the common Brobdangeon have begun to seek him, hoping for just that effect.