Eutun (Yut-on)

The first race of mortals, sprang into existence from the blood of the first giant Aurelmir

Basic Information

Anatomy

Characterized by their above average height, above average strength, dense bones and thick skin. The Eutunaz were depicted as rugged and more characteristically "barbarous" compared to mankind who they are related to.

Biological Traits

While many Eutunaz took shape similar to that of humans, this was not the only form the giants took, some were noted as being more animalistic for example Hradegmur, the tyrant of the sea who often took the form of a serpent or squid.

Genetics and Reproduction

Eutun often reproduced in the same manner as humans but sometimes their genetics mixed with those of gods and humans which can still sometimes be found in humans to this day.

Growth Rate & Stages

A famous saying is, "a giant grows for life" which was true of the Eutunaz as they never stopped growing in their lifetime.

Ecology and Habitats

Due to their size, dense skin and sometimes anti social behavior, giants preferred cold, wooded and isolated areas compared to hot, humid and wide plains which many avoided. Due to this, giant bones are found much more frequently the more north one goes.

Dietary Needs and Habits

While one might think that a giant would need constant food and hydration to fuel their size, giants were apparently proficient in magic which multiplied their food intake dramatically, allowing them to eat and drink a stunningly little amount given their size. Thought to be omnivorous, giants ate what they could find nearby.

Biological Cycle

Some think that more northern inclined giants may have hibernated in their snowy habitats in a manner similar to bears.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Eutuns have enhanced sensory capabilities mainly due to their size which forced them to have better hearing, sight, and touch compared to that of a human. The larger the size of a Eutun, the better they were at visualizing and moving in the space around them.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Many variants exist of the old tongue of the Jotnar, Gangleri Tunga as it is called in Iola is the dialect spoken by the giants now huddled among the mountains and fjords of the north. In their language, they refer to Fae as "Innrá" meaning invader, and call humans "Marnüm" which is vaguely thought to be a word meaning foe or stranger.

History

Sprang forth from the dying first giant Aurelmir, the Eutunaz or Jotnar, were the first mortals of the world, and from them came the first writing, tools, stories, and traditions the world had seen. Their name in their tongue, Eutunaz means "children of tears" and conveys the nature of their beginning, from the fallen tears of their slain forefather. Thought to have originally started as a large collection of giants in what is called the Dawn Kingdom of the Eutuns which lasted the lifetime of three Kings each said to have been the first three giants sprung from Aurelmir's blood.
From the great Eutunaz Dawn Kingdom, a realm ruled by three giant brothers, the first three sprung from Aurelmir's tears, the Dawn Kings built the great giant city of Mikilhuld. Mikilhuld was said to be as majestic and beautiful as the golden hall of Aeluala atop Tongaren and was the seat of power for the Dögun, or Dawn Kings. From their seat of power, the giants first scattered, hunted, and then enslaved mankind, setting them to work in their mines and to work their great fields. Before this, the giants had crafted the monstrous Kunkal to hunt and cull humanity as revenge for the murder of their forebearer, as humanity was the creation of the gods, eternal rivals of the giants.
However, as the Kunkal roamed the land, they began to gain a semblance of sentience, something the giants became fearful of. As such, the Kunkal were largely sent into dormancy, many were cast down into the deepest parts of the earth, or sent out into the sea in chains. Without the Kunkal, mankind grew in numbers and soon came into contact with a new arrival in the world, the Illani, or Fae as they became called. The Fae were strangers to the world, sailing on great ships in the expanse of the Western Sea, they came ashore in what is now western Areul and settled. The Huldra and Mainar were thus founded by the eldest two, the Fae kingly brothers Sylren and Thallan. Sylren built a splendid city and named it Tirmagall, while Thallan founded a city southward and named it Ydalvi.
Mankind befriended the Fae and soon, they formed an alliance to safeguard each other against the giants. However, by the time of the Fae's arrival to the world, the Dawn Kingdom of the Eutuns had fallen, as the last of the Dögun, Hrunir the Vain, unearthed the monstrous Gehn beneath Mikilhuld, only with the assistance of the Kunkal did the monsters fall. During the Nine Nights of Fire, the Kunkal laid waste to Mikilhuld and the Dawn Kingdom fell. The Eutunaz Dawn Kingdom was torn apart by infighting after the death of the third Eutunaz King and the murder of many of the Dawn King's children by one of their own, commonly called the Fourth of the Dawn Kings, Nidgram. Nidgram was one of the sons of Krónaðr, the first Dögun. Nidgram demolished the giant petty kingdoms and styled himself King of all the Eutuns, smelting the crowns of giant pretenders into one crown, the Iron Crown of the Eutunaz.
King Nidgram began the long wars with the Fae and Men, he stole the Laeomena gems, gems forged by Galerain, son of King Sylren, and the pride of the Fae. After the theft, King Sylren rode to Nidgram's keep of Balengar intent on retrieving them. The two kings dueled before Balengar's walls and while Nidgram was wounded, he slew Sylren, invoking the wrath of the Fae who swore to retrieve the gems and avenge their king. Thus began the first series of wars, the Wars of the Galerainil, the children of Galerain. Nidgram himself, after the death of Prince Eaforn, eldest son of King Galerain, marched to the walls of Tirmagall destroyed the city, and killed Galerain. However, the Galerainil had founded new realms of their own and defended them well against giant attacks. The next stage of the wars would see the emergence of the Géadine, a tribe of men, and the first High Kingdom of men founded by Meginil Geiachoir.
At about this time, the Fae also formed a High Kingdom, centered around the realm of Eregrinel, the Fae and Men were now at their strongest and they successfully threw the Eutunaz east of the Adwine River, the modern Rhor River. Also founded was the island realm of Siossein, ruled over by the Dhateah, the dual houses of Ealen, a Mainar prince, and Elmdùin a man of the Géadine. The enemies of the giants were now at their strongest and many wars would be fought between them, with disastrous results for the Eutunaz. King Nidgram himself was killed by a grandson of Galerain, Cerelian and his house would become the House of Doren, named after his son who built a great fortress on the Adwine, watching the east for giant activity. Many of the realms of men and the fae fell due to infighting. Siossein was plunged beneath the waves, the first Géadine High Kingdom fell to internal strife but was reforged by King Ceradairn, yet this too fell but with less destructive results for mankind. The Huldra High Kingdom fell as well, a brutal civil war was fought over ownership of the sole Laeomena gem in their possession. All of these factors led to a lull, as the heirs of Nidgram fought with the House of Doren in the east. As such, new nations of men were founded, the Tirdôla, the Teaghaisí, as well as the remnants of the Sureno and Aeiota tribes.
During the last war between the Eutunaz and Men, the human hero Gydwïyr slew the last King of the Eutunaz, Thared who was called Eldingar or "Lightning Bringer" at the Battle of Hautkrig. With King Thared's death, the direct line of kings was broken and the giants were nearly mortally wounded. In the aftermath of their defeat, the gods themselves directed their wrath on the giants. The storm god Rymr particularly was set against them and slew great numbers of them, called the Culling of the Eutunaz, in their own tongue they call it the Oehndefan or "The Calamity." Many retreated to the far north and dwelled in hiding, but some followed the path of Viðvandr who came to a new land and founded the refuge of Leirveiðr. King Viðvandr reigned in peace there for a time, but upon the betrayal of one of their own, the location of Leirveiðr was uncovered and the army of the Aleuai arrived and destroyed the realm utterly.
Now all that remains of the once proud race of the Eutunaz remains in the uppermost north, amidst the near eternal winter there they remain isolated and in solitude. Few outside of the Rókuri know of them, though many tales exist around the world of their existence.

Common Myths and Legends

Hradegmur- Great monster of the sea, depicted as either a serpent or a squid, sometimes a foe of the great giant Attagur who has numerous myths of interacting with Hradegmur in tests and journeys before submerging the sea monster beneath a far off trench.

Nidgram- The eldest son of Krónaðr, the first Dawn King of the Eutunaz, Nidgram was among the strongest, most powerful, and by far most cunning of his kin. After the death of his uncle Hrunir, he became the first king of the Eutunaz to rule after the destruction of Mikilhuld. Nidgram ruled in Balengar, the fortress of night and shadow where he became the ferocious enemy of the Fae and the Men who dwelled west of the river Adwine.
Attagur- Largest of the giants, said to be the son of Jord, wielder of the hammer Hristari, the twin weapon of the sky god Rymr's hammer Magan. Attagur now guards the entrance to the cave of the world tree and Nila herself.

Svakuðr- Eutun warrior and rival of the Iolan fire god Timur who in sagas, kills him only for Svakuðr to be enchanted to always resurrect, find Timur, and fight him again. Famously wields the flaming sword Elderstahl, a sword burning eternally via the primordial fires of the stars themselves, fires far outside the domain of Timur.

Genetic Descendants

• Draconids
• Koniguló
• Nagadár
• Synir

Related Myths

• Bruðmaðrsaga
• Dresirea "The Day of Wrath"