The Giants

The giants are a mystery to most in Arlyss. The old sydonian word "Eoten" meaning "Giant" was used to describe the dragons of Dragon's end, but any real giants who once lived on that ruined island were destroyed in the wars between the dragons and the gods of men long before the awakening of man. The Vikingr have had the most contact with the Giants, whom they call Jötunn.
In the early days following the awakening of the Vikingr, giants and their kin (including their Kalaal slaves) came down from the frozen north beyond the mountains (which the Vikingr call Niflheim) and harassed the burgeoning tribes. But the Vikingr in their great numbers overcame the Giants and drove them back north (some say with the help of Thor). The Kalaal were freed, and while some remained and integrated intro Vikingr society, most disappeared into the frozen north.
Around the time of the Doom of Sydonia, Giants once more began traveling south. But their intent was not violence, and many settled into the caves and mountains of central Arlyss (and the depths of the Great Below). Something drove them south, along with the Kalaal who began settling the world's end mountains along with the Vikingr. Few frost giants remained beyond the mountain wall, and those who did became elusive and wary. Some believe the Giants foresaw the coming of the white dragon horde that would settle the northern reaches.
These Giants clashed frequently with the Elves and the Sydonians as the kingdom expanded across central Arlyss, but their fear of Dragons kept them well hidden. As the dragon horde was defeated, the giants began to stray further out from their mountain homes but their limited numbers prevented them from becoming a real threat to Sydonian expansion.
Today, Giants and their kin can be found throughout Arlyss. Hill Giants and Ettin are a constant threat to the villages of Sydonia, and feature in many adventurers' tales of glory. The cyclops of the marble isle are believed to be giant-kin who built ships and sailed across the sea (after sacrificing an eye to Odin for the knowledge of shipbuilding). Some were lost along the way and became sea giants. Many ogres found their way to the badlands and settled with the orcs. There are even rumours of sand giants in the vast desert beyond the badlands and fire giants in the caverns of Dragon's End. Wherever the giants found themselves, they adapted to their new homes and thrived in seclusion and secrecy.