The Ossentians are a race of Gaian peoples living in the far north of Great Gaia's central continent, Lamont. Long since split up from the original Overkingdom into two separate and somewhat culturally distinct nations (obligingly named Eastern and Western Ossentia), the Ossentians are unique among all the Gaian peoples of the rest of the continent, and indeed, the plane of Great Gaia in that they are considered the prime 'prototype'. The Heralds (the unknown entities that created the plane of Great Gaia and eventually allowed themselves to be subsumed into the Power to become, essentially, the benevolent gods of Great Gaia and the Gaians were once physical (although by that time they had already become so advanced as to transcend mortality), and in their creation of the Gaian race, their laboratories, facilities and production lines were situated in the far north of the central continent of Lamont. Although there were lands even further north (Great Gaia, being a dimensional plane with a portal into 'realspace', is essentially infinite - Lamont being 'central' is only from the perspective of the Gaians), the Heralds judged that the land that would become Ossentia would be a good place for the Gaians to begin - bitterly cold even at the best of times, and relatively agriculturally poor, it would encourage the Gaians to migrate south to find newer lands to colonise, and while Ossentia was a country rich in minerals, it certainly was not nearly hospitable enough to encourage 'softness' in the first Gaians either.
Thusly, from the Herald's laboratories in Ossentia, the first Gaians emerged. Most, as expected, migrated south to warmer and more fertile lands. A small and brave few however, defied the Heralds and nature, and instead found that the landscape and climate of Ossentia was far more appealing and beautiful than any other, deciding to settle themselves and build the first true settlements and cities, even as the other Gaians were still nomadic and finding their way. The Heralds had, of course, fully expected this, and while this was not what they had intended, they loved their children far too much to countenance it, and there they remained, building and organising themselves into great and innumerable nations and kingdoms.

Because they were the closest to the laboratories (although the Gaians are unaware that they are all descended from what are essentially test tube babies - instead believing they were evolved with godly might from animals already present before them), and because they did not migrate south into different lands with different climates, the Ossentians consider themselves (with some justification) to be the 'purest' breed of Gaian, and the closest to what the Heralds had intended - calling themselves the Firstborn (and conveniently ignoring that there had already been another race that had been created and present before them - The Malcantyrii, or what Gaians often call Dragonkind). This does not necessarily transform itself into a sense of superiority over the rest of Gaiankind, but the Ossentians are a proud and dignified people - and with good reason to be. One of their most notable traits is their height - eight feet is considered somewhat short, and nine or even ten foot tall Ossentians are the norm. Interestingly enough, said trait is known for being particularly dominant - Ossentians who mate with Gaians of other races transmit their height to their children, at least for the first few generations assuming no other Ossentian blood is subsequently introduced. This is a point of pride for Ossentians, and as a proud, strong and martial people they have flourished, being closer to the Heralds (in their eyes) and closer to the frigid lands of their home than anyone else can ever claim.

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Well well, finally, a piece of art that's more from the fantasy side of my worldbuilding than the Sci-Fi! I've been neglecting these aspects of Great Gaia, even though they also take place on the same canonical timeline (yes, magic - technically not magic, but very close - and space travel science fiction stuff exist on the same world and the same timeline. I need to elaborate more on that at some point, maybe with another commission). Admittedly, I'm better with the science fiction/neo-noir stuff, but that doesn't mean I can ignore this equally important part of my world!
The armor and weapons were inspired from a number of sources - the Faraam Set from Dark Souls 2, some images of Gothic plate armor I found, and a few others. The fur pelt around the neck was also inspired by the Faraam Set (although logically Ossentians would be wearing this sort of thing anyway) as well as the models of the Royal Huscarls unit from the Jutes faction in Total War: Attila. The axe and shield were taken from Norman knights and Anglo-Saxon Housecarls from the Bayeux Tapestry. I half considered adding a helmet, even had some designs in mind, but I was having quite a lot of trouble figuring out how to make the horns fit in a way that didn't look odd, so in the end I decided to just drop the idea and give both myself and the artist an easier time!

Needless to say, this is non-canon in terms of time period - while everything else is canon (armor, landscape, Ossentian lore etc.), Finnegan would never wear such armor for the simple reason that he is canonically only alive eight hundred years after this sort of armor was last used in the timeline - I just wanted to see him wearing it! xD

I really like the scenery too. This sort of scenery (foggy, cold and rocky) really appeals to me in a way I can't quite explain. Some people might call it dreary or drab or depressing - I beg to differ.


Art by the always amazing  Teragabba~ - I've never commissioned a fantasy piece from her before, but she did such a superb job beyond my wildest dreams! She's an artist I can always count to do such beautiful pieces of art - go check out her page and commission her right now! :D


Art (C)  Teragabba~
Character (and kinda the armor, maybe) (C)  AWandererfromtheEast