Cyclops

Cyclops are a type of giant notable for their singular eye and prophetic abilities. Cyclops once inhabited great cities across the world but are now relegated to small communities on the margins of civilization.

History

City-builder period

The history of the cyclops is usually considered to be divided into three periods. In the ancient past of the city-builder period, magnificent cyclops cities stretched across Hellea and Thadria, as well as into the eastern coast of the Chaska Sea and north of the Sentinel Peaks. Cyclopean sites (and modern cyclops) can be found across much of the world, but these regions were particularly densely populated. Today these once-great cities are slowly decaying ruins, their detailed stonework eaten by time, water, and wind. The last of these settlements are thought to have been established around eight thousand years ago. Very little is concretely known about the society, culture, and history of the ancient cyclops. Most modern cyclops do not know of this part of their history, and the few sages that do tend to dwell in remote locations - even when determined searchers of knowledge seek them out, the sages are exceedingly reticent to share. Rumors also exist of codices hidden in the cyclops cities, great repositories of ancient history and knowledge, but despite many attempts none have yet been found.

Contact period

The second phase of cyclops history is called the contact period, from roughly Y3000^* to Y6500^*. In this phase of their history, the cyclops were gradually pushed out from their lands by the steady growth of the nations and states of smaller folk. This was often a violent process - cyclops have long been feared across the world, often occupying an antagonist role in legends and cultural tales. Cyclops populations declined dramatically in this period. As they were pushed out of the cities and lands they knew, many cyclops communities fell to starvation and violence. The exception to this broad trend was in the Hellean islands - there, cyclops have long been seen as wise elders. As a result, the cyclops in this region managed to hold onto the traditions of far-seeing and trained foresight, practices that have been lost to their brethren in much of the world.

Contemporary period

From roughly Y6500^* to present is the contemporary period of the history of the cyclops. By Y6500^*, most of the remaining cyclops settlements across the world were no longer permanently inhabited, only visited on occasion by the descendants of their former inhabitants. Decaying and often overtaken by vegetation, these ruins have become popular among adventurers who wish to brave their dangers. Surviving cyclops populations have begun to recover somewhat. In some parts of the world, in particular Hellea, they have become more accepted into society, with much of the former fear and stigma slowly falling away. However, in many other parts of the world cyclops have inadvertently fallen to the exact behaviors for which they were feared, turning to preying on livestock and people in order to sate their voracious appetites.

Location

In the modern day almost all cyclops live in Hellea, and in particular on the islands of the Alyma Archipelago.

Religion

Cyclopean religion is highly varied. Many, particularly those in the Hellean islands, do not care for distant gods, and instead worship their ancestors or hero-gods. Elsewhere, cyclops living in broader society tend to adopt the faiths prevalent in their locations. Pre-contact cyclopean faiths have almost entirely disappeared, yet a small number of their followers continue to persist in isolated areas.

Foresight

The majority of cyclops, and certainly almost all outside Hellea, do not have advanced mastery of their gift of foresight. For most, the best they can manage is to see a brief glimpse into the future - while still incredibly advantageous, this falls far short of the greatest of their kind. Those born with this particular gift, and afforded the opportunities to study and perfect it, unlock the ability to focus days, months, even years into the future. As a result of their foresight, cyclops tend to view the world with a sense of fatalism; having seen what is to come, they see any attempt to change unfolding events as futile.

The oldest, and usually most adept, of the cyclopean far-seers often have a tenuous grasp on reality. Those with the best understanding of future events often become so consumed by their visions that they are no longer sure of what exists in the present, as in their minds potential events fuse with those that have actually occurred to the degree that they can no longer tell them apart. Cyclops with this level of foresight are sometimes sought out for their insight, but their inability to communicate with those grounded in the current moment often stymies any attempts to learn from the far-seers.

The far-seeing of the cyclops plays an integral role in the ascension of the Hellean hero-gods.