Jotunar

Structure

Each Jotunar clan is lead by a group of elders and shamans, typically odd in number, which make major decisions for the whole of their clan, the Ettin. Shamans are selected by the eldest among them to join such a group, while the other members are selected by the majority among the entire clan. The Elder Shaman is responsible for leading the clan spiritually, teaching other shamans, and selecting shamans they believe to be suited to the role of leading the clan. Shamans are the spiritual core of the Jotunar and serve as guides in rituals, pray, and aid the clan through a variety of other services. Members of the Ettin, including shamans, manage several major aspects of the tribe from trade, social relations, logistics, and infrastructure management.

Culture

The Jotunar are a deeply spiritual people and worship of the Wild Gods and the lesser spirits is paramount among the clans. They have a deep respect for the earth and always seek to repay what they take of it. This deep respect stems from their belief that the earth itself gave rise to their peoples. Much like the Sareni, community is an important value among the Storm Jotunn and every member of the clan is expected to aid it to the best of their abilities. This value has kept the Jotunar alive throughout the centuries and has bred a fierce loyalty to ones clan. The Jotunar are a humble and hardy peoples, placing the whole over the individual in many aspects but never to the point of sacrificing their individuality.

Demography and Population

The Jotunar are only found in Teldaran mountain ranges across the heartlands and the north. Jotunar settlements could be found in the southern regions but all clans were either driven out or eradicated by the Dominion centuries ago. While their clans stretch across much of Teldara their lands are not recognized legally by any province, despite this they manage their clans autonomously with no interference in how they govern themselves. The exact population of Jotunar is unknown as is the number of clans given the more isolationist behavior of some of the clans. Individual clan populations typically number in the dozens with the more affable clans nearing the hundreds.

Military

The Jotunar have no unified military force, instead most of the members of a clan are given rudimentary training in combat in the case of war or raids. When required it is expected of shamans to also aid in the defense of the clan and rarely, when permitted, venture out for battle.

Religion

Like their Jotunn kin, the Jotunar are among the few races that have had little to no contact with the Isran. Instead they they worship the "spirits", a blanket term for the Greater Spirits (Valkar in Un'gal), Spirits, and the Wild Gods. While the Jotunar have some knowledge of the Isran, for some unknown reason the Jotunn have not garnered any vested interest from the Isran. The Jotunar place these spirits above all and their faith is paramount. Those who lose their way or refuse the spirits become outcasts of the Adafar, the Spirit Scorn. Equally as condemnable as abandoning the spirits, is the worship of the Ventara. Those found worshipping these dark beings are executed swiftly to avoid corruption. Jotunar society and culture is heavily influenced by their faith, as are much of their daily activities.

Foreign Relations

The Jotunar are a rather isolationist people, rarely striking out beyond the confines of their clan. Some clans have more open relations but the degree in which they interact varies from race to race, province to province. The Jotunar are most active with the Sareni of Valaren and have established trade agreements and defense pacts. Relations with Nekova are the most complex. Some clans have been assimilated into Nekova, some actively wage skirmishes against the ever expanding nation, and somewhere in-between there are those that hesitantly trade and exchange with them. Besides the Felvithar, the Jotunar are instantly hostile to other Vithar races and while not as extreme in their measures as their giantkin, they are certainly less welcoming.

Agriculture & Industry

Over the centuries the Jotunn have become masters of connecting with the world and the magics that flow throughout it, as such they have beautifully carved through their mountain homes to make way for agriculture. Through their craft and techniques allow them to not only to harvest great bounties but also restore what is taken. The Jotunar are also fairly proficient metalworkers, not as skilled as their counterparts in Ankar but still of a respectable talent. Due to the limited amount of metals available to the clans smiths must take their time, making sure every motion and strike is purposeful.

Trade & Transport

The Jotunar mostly trade amongst themselves through small caravan bands that make use of the large Blackhorned Takin that call the mountains home. They trade in a variety of items from furs, leathers, food, tools and equipment, and on occasion, weapons. When trading with other races the Jotunar seek alchemical ingredients, materials not available to them such as certain metals, food, and higher grade weapons/armor/tools in exchange, they provide furs, small crafts, supplies, and on occasion rune carvings.

Education

An established, structured education system is a foreign concept to the Jotunar, instead it is expected of a child's parents/guardians to teach them the basics of survival among the mountainous terrain, their language and how to carve runes, and a base line skill set to ensure that later in life they can aid the clan in a variety of ways.

Mythology & Lore

The Jotunar's belief of the origin of the world stems from the ancient Jotunn Empire but has since been adapted to suite their proclivities. The Jotunar today understand the world through the tale of the Storm of Spirits. "In the age before time the world was empty and filled with rage, barren of all life. But from the earth's wrath arose those that could wield its power, the Valkar. These Great Spirits would bend the world's power to create a paradise worthy of their might and talent. For centuries the Valkar enjoyed the splendor of their paradise but grew forlorn in the absence of others." "It is said that the earth itself heard their pleas and from the ground came the first of the Jotunn, the Earth Born. And so from the earth the Valkar were given a gift and a test. They were blessed with the first mortals and were tasked to guide them in the ways of the elements that had created them." This encompasses the base of the ancient tale and its continuation contains some alterations fitting of the Jotunar. "For a time the spirits guided the Jotunn, with the Valkar Tormur leading both spirit and Giant kind. The Jotunn heeded his words with great care and learned to become one with the roaring thunder. In time the true followers of the tempests would be born, forever connected to Tormur and his domains. So the Jotunar emerged, humble students of the storm". In summation, the Jotunar believe that the world has always existed and serves as the bridge between the material and spiritual worlds.

Divine Origins

The Jotunar faith originated millennia ago in the time of the great Jotunn empire of old. Little, if anything, remains of their ancient, original faith but the more modern worship dates back to the schism prior to the Jotunn empire's collapse. When the now Jotunnar seceded from the empire their pantheon and faith altered, placing Tormur as their chief deity. Over time their rituals and minor beliefs would change but the Incursion of the Ventara would cripple their faith. After the near apocalyptic event occurred all of the Divines and Gods vanished, the Wild Gods all Jotunn worshipped included.

Type

Geopolitical, Clan

Alternative Names

Storm Giants/Storm Jotunn

Demonym

Jotunar

Government System

Tribalism

Power Structure

Autonomous area

Economic System

Barter system

Currency

Most Jotunar tribes rely on a bartering system, trading goods based on equivalent worth or on a basis of need. Some of the more social clans do trade with glimmer, shards, and/or ova when necessary.

Major Exports

Furs, leathers, crafts, trinkets, rune carvings, and miscellaneous supplies are the main exports of the clans.

Major Imports

The Jotunar primarily import lumber when their stocks are low, dried/cured/salted meats, metals that are unavailable to them, high-end tools and equipment, and ingredients for alchemical mixtures.

Legislative Body

Members of the Ettin and shamans set the laws of their respective clans. As a result clans typically have differing laws but a common few are used across all Jotunar clans.

Judicial Body

The Ettin is also responsible for enforcing the laws they enact and handing out the appropriate punishments to those rare few that break them. It is a responsibility and a burden they carry with the upmost fortitude.

Deities

Location

Teldara

Official Languages