Giants

Giants, or "Jotunbrud", were humanoid creatures of exceptionally large size. They were the children of the Primordial, known as Annam the All-Father, the father of all giants and giant-kind.

ECOLOGY

Most Giants had superior senses to most humans. In general, they could see and hear twice as well. Some had the capacity to see well in low light or total darkness as well. They were immune to almost all diseases and had a slight resistance to poison.
A female Giant had a pregnancy of between nine and fifteen months, depending on the type of giant. Their offspring reached maturity in around 50 years.
Although their ancestors were immortal, giant life spans decreased with each generation. The life expectancy of a giant in the 9th Century P.D, seven or eight generations removed from Annam, was believed to be between 300 or 400 years depending on race. Though Storm and Stone Giants are said to be able to live several centuries longer on average. The oldest giants were well over 1000 years old. Because their lifespans were so much longer than humans, giants were slow to make decisions and would not be rushed.

SOCIETY

Giants were intelligent creatures with their own set of cultures and customs. The intelligence varied according to the type of giant (and as with humans, with the individual) but most were at least on a human level of intellect, with the exception of hill giants. Most giants saw themselves as superior to all other creatures. The Ordning was one reason for this, but they were also much larger than many other species, so they would talk down to and patronize smaller folk, but their numbers were limited because of their size, and the difficulty of finding plentiful food.
Ancestry was important to the Giants. Most giants could trace their lineage back to Annam All-Father, and it was recited formally when introducing oneself to other giants. Once a relationship had been established between giants, whether it was amicable or hostile, this would be continued further down the lineage. Therefore, reciting one's lineage helped to dictate the relationship that would be established.

GOOD AND EVIL:

Giants had a different sense of good and evil than most other creatures. A 'good' (Maat) act for a giant was an act that honoured a giant's deity, or family, displayed bravery, or honoured another 'good' giant, regardless of the consequences. An 'evil' (Maug) act was one of cowardice, stealing, betraying a giant's deity, family or trust, or an act that forced a giant from its natural terrain type. Violating the Ordning was also considered evil.

ORDNING

The Ordning was the social order to which all giants adhered to and assigned a rank to each individual giant so that there were none who are equal to one another, only inferior or superior. Similar to a class-based society, but was much more specific, assigning a social rank to each individual. It was regarded as an act of evil to go against the Ordning.
Each type of Giant used a different combination of skills or qualities to determine the Ordning. GIants believed excelling in these skills to be the purpose of their lives. Annam All-Father, the creator of the giants, was seen as the ultimate in each of these skills. In all cases, advancement was made by challenging a superior, but different types of giants used different systems and restrictions upon advancement. It was considered an evil (Maug) act to show disrespect to a superior giant. This could be mocking, betrayal, disobedience, or a number of other behaviours.
The highest-ranked were the Titans, then the True Giants up until the Hill Giants, then the bastard ettin, then the Giant-Kin and the lowest of the low were Ogres.
Parley
Although the Ordning dictated the leader of a tribe and the leader's will had to be ordinarily obeyed, it was possible for the priests or shamans of two conflicting tribes to conduct a parley in which their consensus was binding for the leaders of both tribes. The intention of the parley was for both parties to agree upon the will of Annam All-Father is the situation at hand, but often the party with more power simply asserted his own will. This system had been further abused in the past, where tribal priests or shamans engineered conflicts to fulfil desires that they would not normally be able to. In modern Aetheus, the number of giants was so low that tribal conflicts, and therefore parleys, were rare in addition, inter-tribal relations were improved compared to the past.

TRUE GIANTS

A true giant was one who could trade its lineage back to Annam All-Father. They all had a defined place in the Ordning (Highest at the top, lowest at the bottom - here is the order below):

• Collossai: The first and now extinct primordial children of Annam All-Father.
• Titans: (Not to be confused with Primordials - Machjotunen) The largest of the true giant races, following the fall of Ostoria, were found within the Outer Planes.
• Storm Giant (Uvarjotunen): A wise and noble giant race that lived mainly in mountains, enchanted cloud islands or underwater. Their leaders were a Paramount.
• Cloud Giant (Skyejotunen): A clever giant race that prioritized the accumulation of wealth and power. The first great rune casters and their appearance was considered reflective of one's station in life - thus beauty and wealth dictated their power, and expectation to share their victories with all.
• Fire Giant (Ildjotunen): A militaristic craftsmen giant race that looked somewhat like a huge red dwarf. Considering bravery to be the highest virtue one could and should have. Living in regions with hot temperatures, or volcanic regions.
• Frost Giant (Isejotunen): A giant race who lived in areas frozen year-round and participated in raids. They determined their place in life by physical might, wrestling and boasting, or forms of musculature, scars from battle or trophies fashioned from the bodies of their enemies. Due to this violent life, many died in battle rather than passing away peacefully. Led by powerful and intelligent individuals known as Jarls.
• Stone Giant (Steinjotunen): A reclusive and artistic race that was nevertheless dangerous when aroused to anger, living underground and in mountainous environments. The ordering of their society was based on an individuals artistic ability.
• Hill Giant (Haugjotunen): A selfish, voracious, primitive and gluttonous race that inhabited hilly regions. Shortest in stature, weakest in mind, and lowest in the Ordning of True Giants. They believed self-gratification was the purpose of life.
• Ettin (Runtjotunen): Two-headed giants, to which each head fought for dominance against the other.

GIANTKIN

Most of the original giant-kin were the half-brothers, bastards or illegitimate children of the original giants through the matrilineal line, but their father was not Annam All-Father. They were considered last in the Ordning by True Giants.

• Cyclops: One-eyed giants with the power to hold and capture lightning. Claiming to be true sons and daughters of Annam, but this has always been questioned by true giants and other giant-kin.
• Firbolg: Intelligent and reclusive giant-kin with a deep connection to nature, they rejected the Ordning for their own code of conduct focusing on community.
• Fomorian: Once the most beautiful of the Giants, they were cursed by the Fey for trying to dominate the Feywild to become hideous and malformed giant-kin exiled into the Underdark & Feydark.
• Goliaths: A race of nomadic giant-blooded humanoids, believed to be somehow related to the stone giants.
• Ogre: Smaller, lazy but brutish descendants of Hill Giants. Their avaricious nature and notorious quick tempers often lead them to distrust one another.
• Trolls: Ravenous predatory giants that can be found in almost all regions - uncivilised, monstrous and known for their voracious appetities.