Lifespan : 250-300 years
Diet: Mortal fare, but more of it
Habitat: Temperate to boreal montane forests
Wathites have the same range of appearance as human beings, but they are about 8' tall on average, and many have supernatural physcial forms based on the feats they have done.
Wathites have a commanding, intimidating presence. They have supernatural strength, speed, and prowess.
If a wathite attempts and succeeds at something that is at the highest level of difficulty for them (a feat--a 1 or 2 vs. a 10 or 11, for instance), they gain power and strength from it. A truly profound feat can alter their bodies as well as their powers. Often these are cumulative feats or results of cunning as well as strength. Most wathites achieve about five greater feats in their lives that give them a whole new power and/or alter their bodies, and dozens of lesser feats, which merely make them stronger, faster, more aware, etc.
A wathite can sense when someone they view as an enemy is near to them, even if they can't see them.
Failure at something that should be simple for them can reduce the power of a wathite.
Wathites are originally from a world called Wath, which was destroyed eons ago. They came to Shem and settled into a small country in the east.
Wathites have a complex view of strength and honor. Instead of a simple test of muscle or mind, they take a more holistic approach. A person who has no legs is not considered weak if they have other kinds of strength or skill. A person with developmental disabilities can still have great strength. What others might consider disabilities, wathites just consider different. They do not seek to accommodate those with different kinds of bodies or minds, but they do find ways to support them in adapting. Those who cannot adapt in any way to some important part of wathite life are instead asked to bring something new to the culture. For instance, a legend tells of a wathite known as Glass-cutter who had terrible eyesight and invented spectacles to improve their vision, or of a wathite named Longstep who was missing her left foot. She introduced into the culture a new way of movement that allowed her to compete with others and best them in her own way. This became a popular sport called longstep.
Wathites have a very different concept of honor, which is very important to them culturally. Honor is a major part of combat. Those who are stronger are considered honorable if they rely on their strength to win. Those who are clever are considered honorable even if they use trickery. Those who bully the weak are considered dishonorable, but those who command the weak are considered honorable. The differences can be nuanced and subjective, depending on the community. It is dishonorable to let someone suffer, starve, or go without if you have enough to share while still being able to care for those for whom you are responsible, but it is also dishonorable to insult someone by offering them food, drink, or shelter if they have no need of it. Knowing the right time to offer is a critical part of honor.
A wathite will take their last name from their greatest feat. Before they achieve a feat, they have no last name. As they grow, they gain new names as their feats grow. Some achieve a feat so great it is unlikely to ever be topped, or perhaps they simply find a name they like, and they stick to it. A name-giving feat will be one that alters the wathite physically, so all can see proof of it.
Wathites eat large amounts of normal mortal fare, but they tend to favor the meat of large and dangerous beasts (aurochses, bears, etc.), intense spices (very hot peppers or strong-flavored things like ginger), and potent alcohol (wathite ale is much higher proof than normal ale). To be able to handle one's drink is considered very important. Those who choose not to drink are also considered strong. Those who become addicted are considered sick. But those who drink to excess and misbehave are considered dishonorable, and if they blame the drink and do not take accountability, they are punished by law.
Sports are extremely popular among wathites, especially track and field. Athletic competitions are part of their upbringing, but also a chance to court and socialize.
In the imperial lands, Wathites can be of any social class or role except native.
PRO 11 ATH 11 STR 11 AWA 11 WIL 11 PRS 11 STH 11
One of these will be 14+, depending on the backstory of the Wathite.
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