hollowworld.uk

(art by https://www.artstation.com/gradyart)

Made of strongest stuff.

Description
Earthspawn are tall, broad, and strong. They have a reputation, well deserved when one examines their history, of being dumb brutes. Earthspawn range in height from 6'6 on the low end to 7'6 on the highest end.

Earthspawn & Ages

Earthspawn live for four ages.

Abilities

Earthspawn are possessed of immense strength, able to overpower all but exceptionally strong members of other races.

Earthspawn have a much reduced sensitivity to pain and touch in general. They are greatly hindered at any task that requires fine precision, and are uniquely vulnerable to their own strength turning against them. An Earthspawn who tries their strength against an obstacle greater than their strength can contend with will rip their own muscles, or break their own bones.

The tallest Earthspawn are not made for most dwellings. Unless they are in an open environment, their ability to maneuver and fight will be hampered.

The Lure
Some Earthspawn experience what is called the Lure. It is different for everyone. To some, a maddening hum; to others, a voice calling out from the edge of their awareness; for most, it is simply there. They are aware of it like a man standing over their shoulder, watching, waiting, compelling them to action for some unknown end.

The Lure may manifest as psychosis, as strange compulsions, as intense mood swings, among other things. Play with it how you like. Your Earthspawn, after generations of absence, is now possessed by the spirit of some ancient evil manifested from the deepest recesses of their ancestry. To your Earthspawn, it might manifest as a dour nature. To another, it may not manifest at all until some traumatic event triggers it.

History
From what peoples the first Earthspawn were made isn't known. Those who claim humans are likely right, but so much history has been lost in the great march of time this theory will almost certainly never be confirmed. For as long as can be remembered, Earthspawn fought on the side of Grief and on the side of uncorrupted Alterans.

Their particular mode of corruption made them stupid. The Earthspawn of yore could not count above twenty, was barely coherent, and was not intelligent enough to practice even the most basic trades. They could fight, pillage, and make more Earthspawn. That was about it.

When Grief was destroyed, it broke Corruption's hold over Earthspawn. The malaise that kept them unthinking brutes was no more. Overnight, previously dumb Earthspawn were as enlightened as any other race - or rather, had the potential to be. Stereotypes remained, even if now baseless, and so did once well founded prejudice against them.

For a time, things were relatively well and happy. Earthspawn attempted to form their own nation. Earthspawn spread throughout the world, largely welcome in civilizations that would have once turned them away. However, quickly the optimism that gripped all of Altera in the wake of Grief's demise slipped from Earthspawnian hands. A disease of unknown providence rendered all of them totally infertile.

It lasted for many long years before one Earthspawn, having devoted her life to the work, cured it. Those few Earthspawn still young enough to reproduce quickly expanded their ranks. Once again, Earthspawn were free.

And once again, the happiness of this unfortunate people was taken away again. The Daughter of Grief, a weapon of uncertain providence, pierced the veil between worlds and tore everything asunder. No strength could overcome it, not the Earthspawn's, not the gods themselves. So the wise fled, and some even survived. Now, they must contend with the Lure.