 GIAKAHN“I am bigger than you. I am better than you. I am willing to kill you for the slightest dishonor. Do not forget these things. Giakahn are the leader race of the Giak, the ‘One People’ made up of three races, and are known for their fierce courage, honor, and complete and total lack of a normal fear of death. The giakahn are intelligent, organized, aggressive, and perpetually at war with the other races, whom they view as “bahbran,” barbarians, and competition for ownership of the world. Personality: Giakahn have a dark sense of humor focusing on death and battle. The personal trait they most value is warfare, be it a skill with sword or a talent for strategy, though they can sometimes succumb to thirsts for power or wealth. Giakahn view battle as an art form and practice the sword diligently, making it part of both their daily exercise and religious practices. Giakahn view honor as essential to existence and allegiance to one’s superior as a natural part of life. Once a pledge is sworn, a giakahn would rather die than break their word. Physical Description: The typical giakahn is a burly humanoid standing on average 6½ feet tall. Their hairy hides range from dark reddish-brown to dark gray, and their faces show dark red or red-orange skin. Large males have blue or red noses. Giakahn eyes are either yellowish or dark brown and their teeth are yellow. Their garments tend to be brightly colored, often a bold, blood red, bright yellow, or rich blue. Any leather worn is always tinted black. Giakahn weaponry is kept polished and in good repair. Giakahn pride themselves on grace and beauty, as well as their physical prowess, though members of other race would dispute this. A pale complexion is considered best among giak culture, and both men and women powder their faces to give the best, palest color. Men highlight the color of their nose and women blacken their teeth to appear more attractive. Giakahn have short life spans, achieving majority at about 15 and rarely living even a single century. Relations: While the Giakahn get along well with no race, they hate the elves above all. According to Giak mythology, the world belongs to the Giak peoples. The elves, with their arrogance and mastery over magic and nature, dance in the face of this deep-rooted belief, and for this, they cannot be forgiven. On the other hand, Giakahn have a grudging respect for dwarves. While they are bahbran and consequently must die at the time of the “World Taking,” they at least die honorably, with curses on their lips and hatred in their hearts. Some giakahn have managed to gain acceptance among some of the more open-minded members of other races. By both keeping their arrogance in check and behaving in a reserved manner, or by demonstrating piety and being good-natured, giakahn have been able to become part of some adventuring parties. Of course, others simply act so tough as to leave others no choice but to accept them. Alignment: Giakahn are typically lawful, and they tend to be evil more often than not. Adventuring giakahn are less likely to fit the common mold, however, since they’re more likely to be those who did not fit perfectly into the rigid social structure of Giak society. Giak Lands: The nine clans of the Giak peoples have set up nine kingdoms, know collectively as the T’Ling. The giak live in many areas, but prefer plains and hilly areas in which to build their strongholds. No other race is actually welcome in the giak lands of the T’Ling, but representatives of other nations have been known to travel through after gaining permission from the local warlord. The Nine Kingdoms see almost constant warfare as the clans battle to determine which is most fit to lead the “World Taking,” where the Giak will rise, cleanse the world of the bahbrans, and take their rightful place as masters. As a consequence of this warfare, the Giak race are weeding out the weak among them and leaving their armies full of fierce, battle-hardened warriors. Giakahn in human lands are typically mercenaries, bodyguards or tourists. Giakahn are respected as fierce and evil, though honorable, warriors. Giakahn can be trusted so long as they have given their pledge to the employer. The giakahn have a deep understanding of both leading and following. Regents: Agryn is the Regent most frequently associated with the Giak peoples. The Giakahn have a loose religion based on the giving of respect to Agryn. While this does not represent actual worship in the common use of the term, the Giak peoples owe their supremacy to Agryn and try to demonstrate this in everything they do. All of the Regents, however, have made their mark amongst the Giak peoples. Amongst the Giak lands there is considerably more tolerance between the templars of the various Regents than there is throughout most of the rest of the world. Language: There are three languages in the Giak culture; Dhogia, the language of the Giakahn; Algiazsha, the common tongue of the giakho peasant race, and Gangiang, the language of the Giakahndra, the mediators who are employed to work out treaties between clans. All three of the giak languages have their own script. Giak language is renown for its treatises on war, warcraft, battle, and strategy. Generals and warriors of almost all of the other races have been known to learn the giak languages in order to read arguably the best books on their topics of study. Names: Throughout the life of a giakahn, he can expect to use at least two different names, quite often more. Each name is valid for the giakahn, depending on his age and situation. Giakahn naming convention includes both the common name of youth used by the clan at large, and the secret name given at birth, reputed to hold power over the warrior. The adult name is chosen at the giahkan’s “First Blood” coming of age ritual, and combined with the hereditary family name. Many also earn a nickname from their companions that only friends are allowed to utter. When a giakahn takes the journey into the next life, he is then given a posthumous name of honor, the “death name” which usually represents his greatest deed. The giakahn family name is always provided first when a name is offered to an outsider. For example, the fighter Gaho of the family Uboshita would provide his name as “Uboshita Gaho, warrior of the Akandra clan.” Male Names: Akahito, Baiko, Chikafusa, Daisetsu, Ebizo, Gaho, Hachemon, Ichibei, Jakuchu, Kadonomaro, Mabuchi, Naganori, Oda, Razan, Saburo, Tabito, Ukon, Waotaka, Yachi, Zenko. Female Names: Ai, Chiaki, Echiko, Fujiko, Gemmei, Hama, Ichi, Joruri, Kadiri, Machi, Mutsumi, Naho, Ochiyo, Raicho, Sachi, Suzuko, Tadako, Ume, Wazuka, Yae. Family Names: Abukara, Baisotei, Chikamatsu, Daishi, Ebisawa, Fugunaga, Genda, Hachirobei, Ibuka, Jippensha, Kagabu, Maehata, Nagahama, Obuchi, Raikatuji, Saeki, Tabuchi, Uboshita, Wakai, Yakuta. Adventurers: An adventuring giakahn may be motivated by crusading zeal to test himself against the other races, a love of danger and excitement, or simple greed. He will at all times work to make sure that his accomplishments bring honor to his kingdom, his family, and himself, and that his deeds earn him respect and status, and, perhaps a good “death-name.” Defeating ghastly horrors and claiming Powerful magic weapons are sure ways for a giakahn to earn the respect of other Giak.
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