Kollossae"They call us haughty. They call us arrogant. But by the wisdom of Ethene, we will save their lands, we will drive out this darkness, we will bring a new dawn to Amalur!" ~ General Colicos, rallying his troops to liberate Port Myria.
Overview The Kollossae have undergone a profound physical and cultural transformation over the course of their history. From coarse, primitive beginnings in the wilds of Jentilak, the giants rose to become noble, elegant masters of a vast and powerful kingdom. Physically imposing and highly magical, the they are emissaries of wisdom, renowned as teachers and philosophers. Though they can be prideful and sometimes arrogant, the Kollossae live in service to their beloved goddess, Ethene, and endeavor to shape themselves in her image.
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Society Politics Over the ages, Kollossae government has changed as dramatically as its people. During their early years, the giants were subject to warlords and despots who fought for control over shifting tribes. Later, when the Kollossae rose to prominence in Jentilak, they established a monarchy led by the Premos--or "first"--who often wielded religious authority along with secular control. Following their exodus to the Teeth of Naros, the giants adopted a representative democracy, and the Premos became the public voice for the senate. At the height of their power during the Hyperian Age, the Kollossae abandoned democracy for imperial rule. The Premos abolished the senate and assumed the title Autokrator of the Empire of Hyperia. The empire endured just over five centuries, after which time the republic was restored and the power of the Premos curtailed. Culture Devotion to Ethene unites the Kollossae people in a passionate pursuit of wisdom, order, and beauty. Floating above the landscape, their cities are marvels of engineering and centers for art and culture. Master stonemasons create delicate sculpture and towering architecture, and performing artists gather from across Amalur to enact ancient dramas in acoustically perfect amphitheaters. Though some giants are satisfied with individual success, many feel obligated to raise their race to greater heights through philanthropy and civil service. This ethic extends beyond the bounds of their own society. Quick to assume command--and eager to share knowledge or render advice--the Kollossae think of themselves as noble world leaders. At times, however, an air of superiority mars their benevolence, and their gestures of goodwill are met with suspicion and resentment by the other kingdoms of Amalur. Economy Controlling the rich lands of Othyris and the Teeth of Naros, the giants are ideally positioned to trade in stone, minerals, and gemstones. Kollossae quarries are a chief source of granite and marble for their allies. Impressive in both scope and efficiency, these massive stone-works often employ Jottun laborers who are overseen by Kollossae engineers. Their significant geomantic knowledge allows these engineers to extract rare minerals from the rock, and the giants are one of the few reliable sources in Amalur for these precious substances. Kollossae workmanship is highly prized, and expert masons and artisans have been known to travel vast distances to oversee particularly ambitious endeavors commissioned by foreign sponsors. Although the giants engage in other forms of trade, they enjoy relative self-sufficiency when it comes to the fundamentals of survival. The giants are adamant in maintaining this independence, which has allowed them to retreat behind the walls of Idylla in times of turmoil. Magic During their existence as savage hill giants in the frontiers of Jentilak, the Kollossae possessed little magical ability beyond primitive shamanistic rituals. But with the dawn of the Age of Arcana and the reinvention of their culture, the Kollossae blossomed into one of the most magically potent civilizations in Amalur. Following this transformation, a powerful mage named Mariskos formed the Oraculum, an arcane society dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of magic. The organization has since become a cornerstone of Kollossae society, providing military support and playing an instrumental role in many of the race's greatest achievements. Religion The Kollossae are fervent followers of the goddess of wisdom, Ethene, who acts as an oracle of prophesy for their kingdom. She appears to her people at the Festival of Ethene, where the Premos of Idylla may ask her a single question. When the goddess answers, her response is often subject to interpretation. Ethene's temple in Idylla is tended by mysterious, shrouded figures called the Thrones, whose presence in the area predates the Kollossae. While normally content to stay within the temple grounds, the Thrones may leave the compound as messengers of the goddess during times of extreme crisis. On such rare occasions, the giants are quick to gather at the temple to hear Ethene's guidance. The Kollossae high priest, known as the Voice of Ethene, is the first to speak with the goddess under these circumstances. In honor of their ancient traditions, the Kollossae revere the earth goddess, Gaea, from whose womb it is said the Titans were born. The Titans are demigod figures to the Kollossae, legendary beings of great power whom the giants claim as their forbearers. The air goddess, Ohnshan, is also honored by the Kollossae, and they believe the Lady of the Winds has helped Ethene lift their culture to its destiny in the skies. History Barbarians of Jentilak During the era of the Early Kingdoms, an ettin warlord called Geera-Karud gathered together the disparate giant-kin of Jentilak to form the Ouranos. Among the early members of this coalition was a tribe of hill giants who called themselves the Mairu. Though simple and often savage, the Mairu were a spiritual people who practiced rituals in honor of the earth goddess, Gaea. The Mairu and their allies fiercely defended their lands against outside incursion, and refugees from early elven expeditions into Jentilak returned to Alfaria with grisly tales of ruthless slaughter. In response, the Alfar sent warships to assess the threat. Enraged by what they saw as a declaration of war, the Ouranos stormed the elven beachhead. The giants' ferocious onslaught broke the Alfar ranks, and the massacre that ensued left no survivors. Unsatisfied by this victory, a contingent of Ouranos forces, led by ettins and Deinir, commandeered the elven fleet, strung the mangled bodies of their foes from the masts, and sailed for Alfaria. These forces were eventually destroyed, but this vicious reprisal convinced the Alfar to abandon their designs on Jentilak. Although many Mairu joined the invasion of Eldrith, others stayed behind to gather spoils from the Alfar camp. Amid the debris they discovered manuscripts written by Scion Caladrah, high priestess of the Justicars. While they did not immediately comprehend the meaning or significance of these texts, the Mairu hid the documents from the Ouranos, preserving and studying them in secret. Over the centuries, the Mairu adopted certain principles passed on by the Scion and gradually came to admire the Ljosalfar ideal of justice. The Corthian Conflict Early in the Corthian Age, the Mairu participated in Ouranos raids into the fertile lands of Adelia. The fledgling Corthian Republic was peaceful and ill-equipped to oppose the overwhelming strength and brutality of the giant-kin. Rising to the defense of their human neighbors, the noble Raghosh--a physically imposing race with animalistic features--sent their greatest warriors out from their jungle homes to engage the Ouranos forces. A legendary warrior among the Raghosh--Tomina Osya, known to her people as Sureclaw--challenged the leader of the invaders in single combat. Sureclaw's battle against the ettin warlord left onlookers awestruck; for every blow landed by the massive ettin, the Raghosh answered with a vicious slash of her claws. After hours of this heated battle, the two champions could endure no more, collapsing and dying as one. As the crowd stood silent and stunned, a Mairu shaman declared that no people in all of Amalur possessed so courageous and true a spirit as the Raghosh. The shaman decreed that the Mairu would battle the were-kin no more, and even the ettins agreed that their war party should return to Jentilak. Though Ouranos invasions of Corthian lands would continue as the republic grew into a dominant world power, the hill giants refused to fight against the Raghosh again. Forging a New Path The fall of Corthis, and the Weeping Eyes plague that followed, profoundly destabilized relations between many of the kingdoms of Amalur. In this climate of fear and mistrust, the Ouranos eyed the rich lands beyond Jentilak's shores as ripe for the picking. The giant-kin launched a series of raids against the Apotharni of Elgea, confident that their overwhelming numbers would carry them to an easy victory. But the ettin leadership was shocked when the centaurs mounted a formidable resistance, and the giant-kin soon found themselves embroiled in a bitter war with no end in sight. Although the Ouranos invasion of Elgea was led by ettin generals, the Mairu formed the bulk of the actual fighting force. Many among the hill giants learned to respect the bravery and prowess of their opponents and began to whisper that the long and futile campaign should end. A series of atrocities against Apotharni women and children, orchestrated by the ettin commander Gorven, provoked the Mairu into action. Under the cover of darkness, a young warrior named Brecht Boarmasher left his camp and surrendered to the centaurs. Brought before the Apotharni chieftain, he pledged that in the coming battle his people would open a gap in their lines, exposing Gorven to attack. Warily, the centaurs agreed to this plan. The next day, Boarmasher and his tribe kept their word. Gorven was slain, and the leaderless Ouranos forces were routed. After the battle, Boarmasher returned to the Apotharni chieftain, and the pair talked late into the night. Greatly moved by the centaurs' faith in the goddess Ethene, Boarmasher returned to Jentilak intent on spreading her wisdom to his people. Within a few short years, the hill giants adopted her as their patron goddess. Boarmasher, convinced that the Mairu would never fulfill their potential while under the yoke of directionless, barbaric ettin warlords, laid the groundwork for revolution. His vision and charisma won support from the ogre tribes, and with their backing he led an uprising against the ettin regime. After a brief and bloody battle, Boarmasher defeated the warlord Geera-Maruk in single combat and claimed the title of Premos, first among the Ouranos. In honor of the grand destiny they sensed stretching out before them, the Mairu adopted a new name: Kollossae, taken from ancient legends of Titans who walked among the gods. Aware that the war-like traditions of their past would prevent the Ouranos from ever winning respect as a civilized nation, the Kollossae halted further invasions of neighboring lands. They extended diplomatic overtures to other kingdoms, and in spite of initial skepticism, eventually established trade with the Apotharni, Almain, and Massariol. Although the Ljosalfar refused to parley with the Ouranos, as a gesture of goodwill, the Kollossae returned the carefully preserved writings of Scion Caladrah--a conciliatory first step towards healing the old wounds of the Eldrith Invasion. The Deinir and ettins scorned these efforts as weakness and folly, but the Kollossae held firm to their vision of an enlightened Ouranos. With the aid of their ogre allies (who, mirroring the giants' example, renamed themselves Jottun), they began construction of Ethenias, a grand capital city worthy of an aspiring world power. Transformed by Magic As Amalur entered the Age of Arcana, magical forces began to stir and many races discovered new or more potent abilities. The Kollossae were particularly affected, gaining significant arcane powers. In tandem with this newfound control of magic, they also experienced a profound physical transformation, shedding the coarser aspects of their appearance and becoming more refined and noble. Many giants attributed this metamorphosis to the divine hand of Ethene herself. Kollossae culture and values also began to evolve. They began to espouse learning, art, and the study of magic--the Oraculum was founded during this period--and became increasingly aloof toward their primitive allies. The volatile Deinir, enraged by this arrogance, enlisted disenfranchised ettins and trolls to overthrow the giants. Behind the walls of Ethenias, the Kollossae and Jottun weathered a long, difficult winter under siege. As spring approached, the priests of Ethene prayed for guidance. In answer, the goddess delivered an ethereal vision: far off in a distant land, perched atop the crags of towering mountain ranges, stood a shrine guarded by regal and beautiful beings that resembled the Kollossae. Upon hearing this vision, the Premos decreed that his people must leave Jentilak to search for this shrine. Stationing a small garrison to cover their retreat, the Kollossae and Jottun abandoned Ethenias and set sail for Alfaria. The journey was long and perilous; the giants and ogres wandered the wilds of Alfaria for many years, seeking the shrine shown in the priests' vision. During this great exodus, many among their Jottun allies grew restless, preferring to break away from their cousins and make their own settlements throughout Alfaria. The giants discovered relics of great power, reaffirming their faith that Ethene was guiding them to their new home. As the years wore on, the giants became more insular, focused on their singular goal of finding the sacred shrine. Many Kollossae born along this journey had little or no contact with other races, as some questioned whether dealing with outsiders would lead to conflict the way that it had with the other members of the Ouranos. When at last they came to the Teeth of Naros, the priests declared that they had found the holy ground they had sought for so long. In the shadow of the sacred shrine, the giants encountered the mysterious figures from their vision, the Thrones of Ethene, who welcomed them in the name of the wise goddess. Their pilgrimage complete and their faith affirmed, the Kollossae vowed to construct a new city surrounding a grand temple to Ethene. With the aid of the relics discovered on their journey, the Premos personally oversaw the final phase of construction, as the gleaming city of Idylla was lifted into the clouds, a floating monument to the power and wisdom of the Kollossae and their beloved goddess. As the Crystal War broke out across the Faelands, the Kollossae kept their focus turned inward, preferring not to take sides in a distant conflict while they were still struggling to establish a new homeland. Tensions with a nearby Jottun tribe and the failure to integrate a mystical relic called the Hyperian into their new city left the giants facing a crisis of faith. Ultimately, only the intervention of one from outside their insular kingdom would allow them to fully embrace their new destiny. The completion of Idylla and subsequent founding of the Hyperian Republic caught the attention of the gnomes. Intrigued by the potential of this fledgling kingdom, they provided support and guidance in hopes that Hyperia would blossom as a world power. Though they faced trials and tests of faith during the Age of Arcana, Kollossae society began to flourish as their influence expanded throughout the Teeth of Naros and neighboring Othyris. Saviors of Amalur When news of the destruction of Adessa, the capital of their gnomish allies, reached the Kollossae, the giants considered the attack an isolated incident. But as their Jottun cousins made war on the Almain, the grim implications of this dark time began to take hold--the Age of Ruin had begun. Eventually even Idylla itself was besieged by forces of great magical power, and the Teeth of Naros seemed destined to be torn asunder. The Kollossae retreated behind the walls of their floating stronghold and watched from high above as Amalur was overrun. After enduring centuries of death and darkness, the flames of hope flickered to life once again. The Thrones of Ethene dispersed through Idylla and called the giants together. The Voice of Ethene led the same prayer of supplication offered centuries before during the siege of Ethenias, and once more it was answered. This time, however, Ethene provided no mere vision; she appeared in physical form, a Kollossae-like countenance of incomparable nobility, grace, and beauty. The goddess decreed that, as the most enlightened of Amalur's children, the giants must drive back the darkness that shrouded the world. Filled with a grand sense of purpose--and certain that the time had come to assume their rightful place as leaders of Amalur--the Kollossae broke the siege of Idylla and purged the forces of chaos from the Teeth of Naros. They quickly moved to liberate the Eldrith lands and then Port Myria, gathering support from the Ljosalfar and Almain. General Colicos, commander of the Kollossae forces, even managed to convince many of the Jottun that joining their cause was the right path; the ogres turned against their savage Tyrgash allies and pushed them back to the Vale of Scars. After almost a half a millennium, the Age of Ruin finally ended. The Hyperian Republic inherited the task of rebuilding a devastated land, and the giants began restoring roads and defenses across Amalur. Hailed as saviors, the Kollossae leveraged this well-earned goodwill to establish the Concordance, a formal alliance that unified the kingdoms of western Amalur under a single banner. As the backbone of this new power, the Kollossae were finally poised to seize their destiny and lead the world into the Age of Enlightenment. Pride and the Fall Not all of Amalur welcomed Hyperia's ascension. The Dokkalfar in particular grew increasingly wary as Hyperian relief efforts expanded into Fortenmar and Adelia. Over the centuries, the Kollossae adopted an air of superiority, treating their allies like wards rather than equals. Regional governors gradually wrested control from "lesser" native peoples. Kollossae power reached its zenith with the coming of the Hyperian Age in 612 AE, when Pelios, a particularly ambitious Premos of Idylla, used public outrage over a series of Tyrgash attacks to consolidate power in the name of defense. Citing divine right, Pelios abolished the senate and named himself Autokrator of the Hyperian Empire. In 857 AE, the emperor Argonus decreed that a second floating city, Colicos, would be built in Adelia above the region known as Phoebas. The Thrones of Ethene warned that, without Ethene's blessing, such an endeavor was doomed to failure. Undeterred, Argonus searched for magical relics equal to those that held Idylla aloft. The Dokkalfar, sensing an opportunity to undermine the giants, approached the emperor with a gift: a vast harvest of prismere crystal, capable of channeling the necessary magic. With the successful completion of the southern capital, in 979 AE a third city--Pelios, named after the first emperor--was raised above Sindir in Fortenmar, again made possible by Dokkalfar crystal. Though the regional capitals were completed, corruption and a series of weak emperors sent Hyperia into decline. Resources were squandered on ego-driven monuments to Kollossae superiority, and traditional allies--the Ljosalfar and Jottun in particular--were alienated by the giants' burgeoning arrogance. Convinced that their chance to bring down the Kollossae had arrived, the Dokkalfar made their move. A beautiful ambassador named Sivana seduced the vain emperor Oromestes, whispering that the giants could only achieve true greatness by casting out the grotesque Jottun. Believing himself a god whose will could not be questioned, Oromestes was all too eager to accept such reasoning and brashly announced that Ethene herself had demanded the ogres be exiled. The Dokkalfar moved quickly, forging an alliance with the enraged Jottun by offering revenge against the giants who had shamed them. Combining the ogres' forces with those of another ready ally--the brutal Tyrgash--the dark elves ordered their forces to surround Pelios. With Kollossae reinforcements held at bay on the Plains of Erathell, powerful dark elf mages dispelled the magic from the prismere crystals keeping the city afloat. To the horror of the embattled giants, the great city of Pelios fell to earth. Their defenses broken and militia overwhelmed, the Kollossae who survived the city's collapse retreated to Idylla. Convinced his enemies would move on the southern capital of Colicos next, Oromestes ordered the city abandoned and the magic released from the prismere. With the fall of Colicos, the once-great Hyperian Empire had crumbled. The vain Oromestes hid himself in the palace at Idylla, where his own people hunted him as a traitor. Facing arrest for his crimes, witnesses saw the last emperor leap to his death--though his body was never found. Diminished People As the Age of Heroes began, the Kollossae were a wounded people. Profoundly humbled, they cut diplomatic ties with allies and adversaries alike, all but disappearing from the daily affairs of life in Amalur. While the Almain assumed tacit leadership of the Concordance, and the Amaranthine alliance unified Fortenmar, the Kollossae brooded behind the walls of Idylla. The downfall of their empire drove home that they were not infallible as they had imagined, and many giants believed their hubris was a betrayal of Ethene. As the senate was restored and a new Premos chosen, the leaders of the Kollossae worked to restore the republic. Over time, their society's wounds healed and a measure of dignity was restored. The Kollossae gradually reestablished their presence in the Concordance, standing proudly beside their allies once again. Though careful to limit their role on the political stage, the giants were eager to once more prove their worth in the eyes of Ethene. |
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