Introduction:
Fire giants, called ildjotunen in their own language, were master craftsmen giants that lived in volcanic and mountainous environments.
Appearance:
Fire giants had very broad bodies, making them sort of dwarf-like in appearance, and bulky. They stood roughly 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall, but they weighed over 7,000 pounds (3,200 kilograms), much heavier than a human of that height would weigh. Their skin was very dark, reminiscent of coal, and the color of their hair tended towards a spectrum of flaming orange or red, with similarly colored red eyes. Their clothing was usually flame-colored or black and singed. They also tended to wear armor that was forged from steel or dragonscales.
History:
Structure and Hierarchy:
Like all giants Fire Giants are part of the strict social hierarchy known as the Ordning. Within this heirarchy Fire Giants rank above Frost Giant but below Fog Giants. In the context of the entire Ordning, the Fire Giants are considered within the upper classes of giant society.
Within Fire Giant communities, a similar hierarchy is applied. Fire Giants divide their society into the nobility, including the priest class and commoners. The highest noble title is Archduke or Archdutchess and the lowest is Baron or Baroness. Priests have their own hierarchy but societally they are considered to be equivalent to Barons unless otherwise granted higher title. Among the commoners the highest social status is held by Knights in direct service to a noble. Beneath knights the social structure is divided between warriors, craftspeople, and laborers. Being a laborer as a Fire Giant is considered dishonorable as they believe menial physical work should be completed by lesser creatures such as Ogres and Hill Giants.
Most Fire Giant communities can only sustain a few hundred Fire Giants thanks to the large amounts of food and land they need to live. A Fire Giant Hmalet may be as small as 40 Fire Giants. The largest Fire Giant community is made up of approximately 3000 Fire Giants.
Like most Giants, Fire Giants are extremely dismissive and prejudiced toward Humanoids which they call small folk. In their eyes all small folk are beneath even the lowliest Ogre. Despite these views Fire Giants are known to keep Dwarves and Goliaths in their service and have begun to elevate some smallfolk to the level of knight within their courts.
Fire Giants do not have family names though some gain honorifics in life. This is particularly common among the knight class who distinguish themselves based on mighty martial deeds. Each Fire Giant is expected to rise or fall based on his or her own competancy. Noble titles are not hereditary and it is considered in most cases to be in improper to name one's own child as a successor. The exception to this rule is when a noble's child has clearly demonstrated their own abilities. There is a fair degree of social mobility within giant communities both upward and downward. But this mobility is slow and it is rare for a Fire Giant to move from being a commoner to part of the upper nobility. Movement from commoner to the title of Baron is fairly common.
Homelands:
The Fire Giants originally hailed from the Elemental Plane of Fire until the great migration. When they first came to Thinia they settled along with the other giants in the Aisles of Annam. During the wars with the Dragons some Fire Giants refused to return to the Aisles of Annam. Most settled in mountains of Penglai. The largest Fire Giant Domain is in the Pyroclast Islands off the northeastern coast of Penglai.
Notable Members:
- Archduke Volkanox: The leader of all Fire Giants outside of the Aisles of Annam. He has ruled from the Pyroclast Islands for the last 100 years.
- Countess Inixia: A Fire Giant Countess in service to the Duke of the Cinderhold Mountains. The Countess is known to be a great elemenatlist.
- Countess Embergar: A Fire Giant Countess in service to the Duke of the Cinderhold Mountains. The Countess is a great warrior said to have single handedly broken a charge of Relian Knights.
- Count Vulkan: A Fire Giant Count in service to the Duke of the Cinderhold Mountains. The Count is known for his work with metal and enchanting. He received his title after creating an exceptional suit of armor for the Duke he serves.
