Jothun (Juːθʌn)

Also known as Half-Giants, the Jothun are a humanoid species who hail mostly from the Broken Coast, which they have divided up into dozens of tiny, squabbling chiefdoms. Ruled by Earls and Jarls, these states raid each other as much as they raid their wealthy, Southern neighbors. The Graylands in particular have been a constant target for Jothun warbands throughout history, and the great stone walls of Graylander cities deeply reflects that.

Around the beginning of the Imperial Age, it is said that a mighty Jothun empire once stretched from the northernmost tip of the Broken Coast all the way down through the Graylands and beyond. The Jothun called it the Heimmenthun empire (Literally "of the [Jo]thun") and it ruled the North for a period of about two centuries before the Daleheart campaigns of the Caleian Empire put an end to it. After their defeat in battle, the Jothun have become merchants and traders more than pirates, mostly due to the rise of Caleia and its brutal punitive campaigns against any threat to its trading routes. Even during the days of the Shadow Age, Jothun raids are nothing compared to what they once were. The centuries-old threat of Imperial legions sailing North has been enough to keep some of the more bellicose tribes in check, even decades after those legions left for good.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Humanoid in body and function, though far stronger on average than humans. The downside to their strength and greatly increased muscle mass is that the average Jothun is not very agile or dexterous, though this is rarely a hindrance as they tend to focus on strength regardless. Jothun are taller than most other races and heavier as well. Their pale blue and occasionally amethyst skin tone is unique among the sapient species of Allucimere. It's believed that they evolved this distinguishing color in order to better blend in with the northern glaciers and icy landscapes which they call home.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The vast majority of Jothun live in the Broken Coast, though there are significant minorities scattered throughout the Graylands as well, given the turbulent past of raiding that has connected the two regions. Though they are adapted far better to cold environments, there's nothing stopping them from living as far south as the Caleian heartlands as many known traders and merchants have shown.

Average Intelligence

Though the commonly-known image of a Jothun is that of a towering blue ape, that only emerged in Imperial propaganda posters during the early Fourth Age, when Caleia found itself at war with the Jothun chiefdoms. In reality, many Jothun by the end of the Imperial Age have focused far more on education, learning and economics than even some Caleian citizens. This is primarily due to the Jothuns' shifting focus from war and conquest to trade and economy while under Caleian rule. Now, with the legions retreating from the Broken Coast, this has slowly started to shift.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The Jothun live primarily in the North, and are subdivided into several Jarldoms, Earldoms and more. These coastal kingdoms tend to be far richer, more powerful and more connected to the southern Caleian markets than their tribal mountain brethren. As a rule of thumb, the farther away one gets from the coasts or the Fjords in the Jothun's lands, the quieter societies tend to get. While cosmopolitan marketplaces are commonplace in the seaside port cities, one would be hard-pressed to find exotic merchants in one of the mountain tribes. Also, the tribes tend to be far more xenophobic than the seaside kingdoms.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Jothun culture and society used to be extremely isolationist, even throughout their period of raiding. During the Imperial Age though, the previously closed societies and port cities have opened up. Though certain regional variants exist, Jothun cultures overall tend to hold a large focus on small, family units and create a sort of familial relationship between small warband groups. For much of the Silver Age, these warbands used to be extremely influential in court and politics, but with the rise of the Caleian empire, power has steadily been delegated away from the old chieftains and into the hands of bureaucrats and administrators, something which has caused tensions for centuries. Now, with the empire splintering, the old chieftains have begun to recover their old power, and with them, Juthun culture is shifting back to its bellicose, honor-bound self from before the days of the empire. Many chieftains and towns are seeing massive shifts, with the merchant class being removed and replaced with a reborn warrior elite. The old Jothun religion, that worshiped the old gods, of mountain, snow and thunder, is once again returning from the mountain tribes that kept it alive during the long Imperial Age. At the dawn of the Shadow Age, Jothun culture stands at a crossroads. Its past is twofold. Should the new chieftains choose to follow their honor-bound ancestors and resume their blood sacrifices and raids in the name of thunder and rain or should they choose to uphold the legacy of Caleia and keep the trade routes safe without the help of the legions is up to them and them alone. Whichever path they might choose though, fierce resistance from each other is expected. So like it has been for all of history, the Jothun chiefdoms' worst enemy is bound to be each other.

Lifespan

40 years

Average Height

2.0 meters

Average Weight

80 - 100 kg

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The Jothuns are known for their iconic blue skin, thought to be descended from the giants of old. Jothun skin can range from the common light blue to darker shades to even purple and, rarely, red. Red in particular is extremely rare in Jothun as it occurs from a genetic defect, like albinism. Many Jothun tribes and chiefdoms have a tradition of marking the bodies of their warriors and leaders with paint and dyes. This tradition continues on to this day, though it has evolved to include anyone and is a common practice among wealthier Jothun who can afford the dyes.