Species Si-Te-Cah
Order Giant
Classification Humanoid
Family Huge Giant
Sphere Water
Origin Keserel formed them out of guano
Lifespan 70-100 years
Habitat Open ocean and massive lakes
Food Large amounts of seafood.
Description Si-te-cahs stand about 17' tall at their greatest height, but they often change it. They always have red hair.
Procreation Follows the mother with other giants. With other humanoids or pseudohumans, mixed nations people are possible if size permits.
Esoterica Si-te-cah are beings of currents aether and mijjit. They primarily practice the arts of these energies, but they also use winds aether, pattern aether, fundamental aether, Damaskian power, gebvel, kor, yahas, mana, arnum, infernum, blood energies, and vile energy.
Body The energies of mijjit, thaw aether, and currents aether make the bodies of si-te-cah very malleable. They can adjust their heights with ease, going from 17' to 6'6" and back, but only once they are fully grown. These energies also make them supernaturally strong, agile, and regenerative (they heal from wounds slightly faster than others, especially if they are near water). Using the art of tuka, they can alter their bodies even further. Bear fur, mammoth tusks, sharp fangs, gills, fins, and paddle-like extra limbs are not uncommon. They also sometimes alter their eyes so they can see in the dark. They never, ever change their hair color, though this is culturally driven. Tuka consists of eating bone-marrow (often of other si-te-cah), drinming 300 gallons of water per week, swimming 300 miles per week, lifting 200 lbs. nine times a day, and doing stretches and jumping exercises.
Farming Si-te-cah are primarily tule farmers (tule being a common water plant) and duck hunters. They grow this on the edges of their lakes or up river from their near-oceanic raft cities. Those who have moved underwater are fish-herders. Those very few who remain on land are mammoth herders and cave bear hunters. Regardless of their tribe, they have an innate ability to know the needs of their crops and livestock. Their tule beds are multicolored and beautiful. Their fish-herds are mostly cetus and other large fish. Their mammoth herds are known for wild variations like extra heads and eyes.
Special Powers Alongside the above-mentioned powers of size changing strength, agility, healing, crop and livestock tending, and tuka, si-te-cah can breath and survive underwater in the high pressure and cold. They can see underwater, and they can sense changes in weather. They are stronger in the season of thaw than the rest of the year. Si-te-cah will leave their bones to the community for the marrow to be eaten if they are not sick.
Weaknesses Si-te-cah are especially susceptible to being dried out by smoke. If their enemies capture their hair and use it to trim their clothing, their enemies will be invisible to si-te-cah. They are terrified of caves.
Culture

Si-te-cah live in four different kinds of communities: lake raft cities, ocean raft cities, underwater communities, and land communities.

The si-te-cah are called panunudu si-te-cah. They are the descendants of those driven to the lakes to escape their enemies who had all donned dresses trimmed with si-te-cah hair and become invisible. This war began when the si-te-cah were found to practice ritual cannibalism, which was misunderstood. The oceanic si-te-cah live mostly near the mouths of rivers flowing into the ocean and are called kassa'a si-te-cah. They drifted here from the lakes when the lake communities got too big. Those who live underwater are called tukapu si-te-cah, and they went there from the kassa'a communities out of exploratory curiosity. The land dwellers, the rarest si-te-cah, are called padooa'a si-te-cah, and they live amongst the cave bears and mammoths.

The commonalities between their cultures are how they raise their children, come of age, and their social structures. All si-te-cah children are raised communally, though mostly by the women, until they are old enough (about eight) to take part in the work of the community. At around the age of eight, they apprentice under an uncoupled member of the tribe who teaches them a skill. If they take to the skill, they remain, but if they do not, they switch after a few months. By the age of 15, they are expected to know what their role in the tribe will be. Their next few years before adulthood are spent training and learning with greater focus. At their last growth spurt (around the age of 18 or so), they become adults. (If they do not have their growth spurt by the age of 20, they force it through ritual cannibalism.)

As adults, si-te-cah begin coupling (similar to dating, but less formal). Some few si-te-cah choose permanent partners, but most live with the emotional flow and have many partners over their lives, some at the same time. There is no division of labor by gender except when it comes to childcare.

Each tribe is led by a council of elders. Elders are elected by the adults in the tribe every nine years in a complex political ceremony involving aetherial metapolitics, ritual cannibalism, and debates.

Among the panunudu, the three main occupations are fishers, duck hunters, and tule farmers. The fishers sail out on the lakes and bring back fish every day. The tule farmers go to the shore, where they risk harassment by other local nations, and gather tule from the tule beds, which are massive and colorful and tended with care. The duck hunters go both on shore and out on the lake, using nets, bows, spears, and tule-duck decoys to hunt the massive flocks of ducks in their area. There are also many basketweavers among them.

Among the kassa'a, they practice similar occupations, but their fishers go further into the oceans to fish and some are merchant sailors who trade around the world. There are fewer duck hunters and more fishers among them. They fish using lines and spears more often, and their basketweavers are also barrel makers.

Among the tukapu, the primary occupations are fish-herder, shark hunter, and explorers. They are known for their varied bodies, colorful and giant fish, and ferocity in battle.

Among the padooa'a, the primary roles are cave bear hunter, mammoth herder, and sandalmaker. The former are the warriors of the tribe. They prefer to wear cave bear furs and go even into caves, where their people are said to fear. The mammoth herders live along rivers and keep their herds safe from those around them who hate them. And the latter are the women of the tribe, mostly, who trade with others.

The biggest festival in a si-te-cah community is the season of thaw festival, or Pamaka. This festival honors the flowing of the water, the tides, the currents. Other festivals are all seasonal and involve different harvest, hunts, and anniversaries. The most somber is among the non-padooa'a (who do not celebrate it), and it is the anniversary of being forced off the land. This ceremony is called Namatsatsepogge. During the life of a si-te-cah, the major feasts are birth, first swim, first fishing/hunt, first harvest, first coupling, and ascension to the elder council.

Notables  
Sample statistics PRO 9
ATH 10
STR 25
AWA 9
WIL 8
ROG 9

Farming 11
Special Powers [See Above]
Topic revision: r6 - 15 Feb 2020, SallyJaneBlack
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