Cyclops

Cyclops (plural Cyclopes) first appeared during the Age of Legends. These giant humanoids defining characteristic is their single eye. Since that time cyclops have evolved to several different species, but all cyclops have a single eye.

Cyclops all have a single eye instead of the two more common among humanoids, in other respects they resemble a giant.

The average cyclops will stand between fifteen to twenty meters (50-65 ft)

A cyclops are gifted with foresight. How it works differs between each cyclops, but all of them are gifted. For most it only offers vague insights into what has the possibility of happening. Magicians believe that they accomplish this by understanding changes in the natural flow of the Shadow Realms as it flows over the world. This would normally be opposed by those who understand free will of all mortal creatures, but the vagueness of their visions make them useless except in the most general terms.

A cyclops is a very long-lived individual with a natural lifespan into their seventh century (700 - 800). Much of this time is spend in a semi-hibernation state.

A cyclops female will only give birth to a single child at a time. She will carry the child for three years before giving birth. She will not enter her semi-hibernation state during this time. Once she gives birth she will remain active for two more decades (20 years) until the child is fully weaned. The child will remain in an active state, growing for the next century until they reach adulthood. Adulthood is determined by the first hibernation state.

Cyclops will be sexually once waking up from their first hibernation for the next four hundred years. It is very difficult for cyclops females to conceive often trying for decades before successful pregnancy. It is rare however for a pregnant female to suffer a miscarriage or other problem during their pregnancy. This difficultly means that it is rare for a single woman to bear more than three (3) children in her lifetime.

An adult cyclops will have periods of activity, followed by longer periods of semi-hibernation. A cyclops in this state is aware of their surroundings, but do little activity. These states become longer and longer as the cyclops ages. Most cyclops dies a natural death during their hibernation state.

The Permuthian species is these most numerous cyclops currently in the world, accounting for 80% of all cyclops.

The Permuthian Cyclops subspecies has the eye ridge and indentation where a pair of eyes would normally be located. Their central eye is located further up on the forehead that other cyclops. It is believed that Permuthian Cyclops are the truest decedents of the cyclops that lived during the Age of Legends.

The Janus Cyclops subspecies no longer has the eye ridge, but instead a protective pair of bone ridges above the central eye. The smallest of the Permuthian Cyclops, the Janus typically only stands eight to eleven meters (8-11m).

A Gargantuan Cyclops is not simply the largest member of the Permuthian genus, but also the most massive. With a large body, shorter legs and two enormous tusks from their lower jaw. A gargantuan cyclops spends most of its life in a semi-hibernation state. Many once thought these were just enormously fat cyclopes, but are a distinct subspecies. They have adapted to feeding off the Shadow Realms and are usually found near a ley lines.

Thought to have branched before the end of the Age of Legends, the Corrindian Cyclops has adapted to life in the oceans. With a protruding lower jaw that unhinges to swallow food, a nictitating membrane protecting their eye, and bones in their head to allow for echo location. Instead of legs a corrindian cyclops has a single whale-like tail. Corrindian cyclops are able to breath both in (gills) and out of water (lungs). They must keep their skin moist, so rarely go farther than the waters edge.

Unlike other cyclops, a corrindian only has fine hairs along their body - instead of full hair atop their head.

The only subspecies of the Corrindian Cyclops is the White Corrindian Cyclops. This subspecies has adapted to live under the northern ice caps. Thick layers of blubbler and enough hair to trap oxygen keep them warm under the ice. They will semi-hibernate for decades pushed up against an ice pack.

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