Frost Giants
The Frost Giants, or Jotuns, are a species of Giant native to Jotunheim. They consider themselves to be the direct descendants of Ymir, the first being. If this is true, it would make them a sister species to the Asgardians, which is born out by their ability to interbreed.
They are uniquely adapted to the extreme cold of their home realm, capable of surviving temperatures which would kill most other species, though as a result of this adaptation they are highly vulnerable to heat and fire. Long exposure to warm climates causes them to shrink in size.
Like other Giants, they are inherently magical, capable of using some kinds of magic instinctively from birth.
Despite the mother of Odin, Queen Bestla, having been a Frost Giant, the Aesir and Frost Giants have traditionally been enemies, especially during Odin's Conquest of the Nine Realms, and have fought a number of wars.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
Unless infertile, all Jotuns are capable of both becoming pregnant and impregnating others.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
With a few individual exceptions, Frost Giants live exclusively on Jotunheim.
Civilization and Culture
Gender Ideals
Jotun are hermaphroditic, and possess natural shapeshifting abilities. Aesir records have historically applied a binary gender model on to Jotuns, using gendered pronouns and language, however, this is an anachronism. Jotun society does not recognise gender, and the Jotun dialect had only one pronoun (usually translated as they/them).
Major Language Groups and Dialects
They speak a dialect of All-speak, characterised by a lack of gendered pronouns, linguistic tenses, and the ommission of conjunctions.
History
According to Frost Giant myth, Jotunheim was the second of the realms to be inhabited, after Svartalfheim. It is said that the first sons of Ymir were the giants, who settled first in Jotunheim before spread out to the other realms.
In 965 A.D, an army of Jotuns, under the command of King Laufey, invaded Tønsberg, Norway. They attempted to use the Casket of Ancient Winters to bring about a new ice age on Earth, however they were opposed by the Aesir, lead by Odin. The Aesir were victorious, and the Casket was claimed by Odin, robbing the Frost Giants of much of their military power, and forcing them to sign a treaty. This treaty was framed by the Asguardian Rulers as being simply a peace treaty, but in practise it brought Jotunheim under the control of the Asgardian Empire on extremely unfavourable terms.
During the signing of the treaty, Odin found a Jotun baby in the ruins of a temple on Jotunheim. This baby was Loki, the child of Laufey and Fárbauti who had been left to die due to his small size. Odin chose to adopt the child, raising him alongside his biological son, Prince Thor.
The absorbtion of Jotunheim into the Empire lead to a sharp decline in the power and wealth of Jotunheim, and in the standard of living of the Frost Giants. Though Laufey was able to retain the throne, there were several attempted uprisings in the years that followed.
When Odin fell into the Forever Sleep during Prince Thor's exile to Earth, Loki, then acting King of Asgard, made a deal with Laufey, in which he offered Odin's life and the return of the Casket of Ancient Winters in exchange for a lasting peace. However, this was a ruse to allow Loki to kill his biological father.
After Laufey's death, he was succeeded as King of Jotunheim by Skrymir, who recognised the futility of challenging Asgard's supremecy, and agreed to abide by the treaty.
Since the creation of the Congress of Realms, one of the two Members of Congress representing Jotunheim has been a Frost Giant, Congressperson Helblindi, the oldest surviving child of Laufey.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
10,000 - 11,000 years
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Average Height
20'0" - 25'0"
Average Weight
1,250kg - 1,400kg
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
Bestla
Farbauti
Helblindi
Laufey
Loki
Skaði
Skrymir