Frost Giants

Giants of the north, a feared and deadly race. 
Throughout all of Nibmu, the north is considered the largest single kingdom. The lords of that kingdom are shared between the dwarfs to the west and the Giants to the east. Other towns exist between them, but those are the two main powers. Of those two, the giants are the more feared. They carry no magic, no light, but within the shadow of their mountain both god, and dragon walk with fear.
Their leader is a giant known as Ymir. He sits on a throne that had to be carved from the side of their mountain and stands as tall as it. It is said when he stands Nibmu quakes and even the Fates turn away from whoever he marches towards.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The average giant stands sixty feet in height. They stand on two feet though they are large with width and look more like stone pillars.
Most giant's skin is pale. Their skin is thick and hard to cut. During wars between the dragons and gods, both races found it near impossible to tear through the skin. Many dragon's claws broke off in the attempt, and several teeth broke. Though whether or not that was because of the bones of giants is unknown. The bones of giants are near impossible to break. If in a battle you have to cut through the skin to even have a chance to bring down the creature.
The head is large, with two large tusks within the top level of teeth. Most giants stand upright through the older the giant is the more likely for them to be hunched their back unable to hold up their head. It is believed that giants are low IQ creatures because of their weapons. This is not true, anyone who gains access to their city knows the giants are well-spoken, poetic creatures. 
The warriors have little need for anything more advanced than the weapons they use. Their size and strength grow with every generation.
Ymir is unique among all giants. He is the first giant and holds more secrets than any. His body is as large as the mountain he sits at. Many who come to him believe himself a part of that mountain. His skin is light blue, hard as blue ice. He moves faster than any opponent believed possible. For the most part, though he only sits on his throne.

Growth Rate & Stages

After birth, a baby giant grows rapidly. During this period the child needs to be protected. His skin will be soft, his bones brittle by giant's standards. Anywho hold the child can crush it without intending. This will only last a few months years.
Those years will be painful for the child. The tusks coming in alone will bring the child to tears for several months. The pain can be helped with special potions, though rare in the giant's regions. 
The giant will grow the most during the first twelve years of their life. Those years are considered a giant's childhood. After they are taught, normally by their fathers, how to function in a giant society. All giants know how to wrestle with one another, and the basics of how to fight. The bulk of their training will consist of their job in the future.
The giant will finish growing at age twenty. This will be his entrance into adulthood.
The average giant will survive at its peak for fifty years before its decline starts. Giants rarely live long enough for their body to stop functioning. Once they reach the point where they can no longer function in society they take a weapon and leave. It is not uncommon to find a Frost Giant traveling south. Even older giants tent to find work with other races. They will normally die a few years after leaving the safety of the city.
The average lifespan of a giant is eighty-five years.

Ecology and Habitats

Frost giants live their lives in the freezing cold of the northernmost areas of Nibmu. They prefer to be surrounded by their own kind and inhabit a large city within the mountains. They hold large amounts of domesticated Mammoths. This is the main diet for Giants who otherwise would need vast amounts of other food sources.
Throughout Nibmu they are considered the wardens of the north. The regions they control tend to grow wild, and the snows are heavy. The trade routes they create sit at the edge of their territory. When any group goes further into the region they find the winds growing harsher and the snows deeper. The Frost Giants watch this with interest. If the snows get too deep or wind to soft it is marked. It is unknown if the giants have reason to keep such records.

Dietary Needs and Habits

With such a large creature, food is a constant issue. Mammoths are the main source of meat. They also fish off the coast. For the majority of their fruits and wheat, they rely on trade from both the orcs and elves. The constant snows of the region make it impossible to plant crops.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Mostly unknown to outsiders. 
Giants grow to the full size at about eighteen years after they are born. Until that their size compared to others around them are their biggest pride. The larger the giant the more respect you get. The reason for this is before you are fully grown you are expected to fight one another. Giants are warriors renowned, the more wins you get the better chance you have a being part of the warrior class. 
Of all the social classes the warriors are considered the elite. They protect the boarders and spend most of their adult lives outside of the walls of the city. They are first called to defend the Frost Giants, and are expected to fight until death if necessary. The only way to gain entry into this class is with a high victory rate when you're young. If you lose too often you are sent to the laborer class.
The second class is the artisans. The sculptures and writers are the highest class that lives within the city. They live within the final ring and are constantly working for others within the ring. The works of great artists are displayed in every section of the city. In rough times, when the winter is harsh and nights long the singers within the city will sing around campfires creating a song that goes throughout the city.
Artisans are not the only second class in the structure, craftsmen are also prized. These giants build weapons, tan furs, butcher mammoths, and do most of the work maintaining the city walls. Only rarely do they get to leave the city. Even the worst craftsman in a giant's hall is prized throughout Nibmu. Their work is considered the greatest in the Middle Kingdom.
In the third class is the caravan workers. These workers spend months outside of the city in the southern section of giant territory. They are considered by some to be the smartest giants in the entire world. These giants bring in special objects and make requests from the artisans and craftsmen. When inside the city they go from craftsmen to craftsmen to see what they need and keep an eye on the food stores. It falls to the caravan workers to stay prepared for winter.
The final class is the laborers. These are giants that work throughout the city. They keep the city clean and assist the craftsmen with the larger projects. This is normally the class that only the young preform. The laborers are normally taken as apprentices for either an artist or labor.

Domestication

Mammoths are used as both food sources and as a riding animal.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Gods will sometimes use giants as mercenaries. They did this to great effect during the Dragon Wars and have a standing want to dragon pelts.

Facial characteristics

The heads of giants are round and boxy. Their forehead is a little extended over their eyes. Their teeth contain two fangs that hand down below their skull.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

concentrated on the northernmost corner by choice. It is not uncommon to see a giant farther south, but normally those are exiled or older giants.

Average Intelligence

This is up to some debate. 
Giants that trade with elves are said to be dullwitted, or slow. They find it difficult to understand anyone they negotiate with. 
The orcs tend to think them quick to anger and will intimidate the far smaller race.
The dwarfs know of the intelligence of the creature. The dwarfs are the only trade partner the giants have that the fought a war against. The dwarfs earned their place among the north, but found the giants to be a powerful foe, and speak to their intelligence.

All three groups only see small glimpses of the race. The traders that come to the trade stations are often spotted miles from the station. The look of the caravan is noticeable, and the giants always know who is coming. They change their tactics depending on who they are about to trade with.
The elves are known for acting superior to all they trade with, High Elves especially,  so they act dullwitted. The elves oftentimes ask for too much for their goods, but often the giants stomp around like children and they get the product at the price they want.
The orcs honor strength. If they sensed their caravans are getting taken advantage of then they would stop their trade. The giants rely on them for wheat. They intimidate the orcs and will often battle for cheaper prices. They will even go as far as to fake losing those fights to gain better deals.
The dwarfs are one of the few that trade books with the giants. The truly good books are kept in their city.
There they show their society in all its glory. Each level of the city within the mountain is a marvel of engineering all built by the hands of giants or yetis. They live closer to nature than most civilizations and build great stone carvings. Their artwork is not well known, but any who grace the halls of the great city will see some of the most beautiful statues. Any that walk through their library will hear the most beautiful poetry.
Among Nibmu there is no race more crafty.

Civilization and Culture

Beauty Ideals

Size is the main way to attract a mate. Smaller giants tend to have to prove themselves in a war before they are able to gain a true mate. Aside from height male giants like females with more muscle. Women value the strength and power of their mates.

Courtship Ideals

Unlike most species, male and female giants tend to be more equally sized. When young two giants fighting may force a wager. The male and female will battle the victor may take the loser for a mate. This can be declined by either participate.
Giants that wish to gain the affections of a taken mate may challenge the prospective mate's mate. The victor will take the spoils.

Average Technological Level

Stone age technology,

Common Dress Code

Animal furs and leather.

Common Taboos

It is taboo to kill another giant. All battles between giants are to be unarmed and are to submission. Grievous injury is also frowned upon.

History

The first giant is believed to be Ymir. His origins are not known, even the Fates will admit the Ymir is an unknown to them. The dragons believe that Ymir's origins began in a distant time before the formation of Nibmu. A being known as Ithaqua roamed the world creating destruction. One of his children is Ymir. The only evidence for this is a set of drawings on a cave wall that shows the elder god standing before a mountain that came to life. Others believe that after losing his status as an elder god Ithaqua became the first giant. All that can be confirmed is that the city Jotunheimr formed around his throne.
The first contact between the giants came from the dragons. That contact erupted into one of the first conflicts in Nibmu. The giants won the first war in a decisive fashion. The second war was more back and forth. The giants found the dragons more evolved to the northern climate. The war shifted as another tribe arrived bringing a numbers advantage to the dragons. This resulted in one of the few times Ymir stood from his throne. The negotiations between dragon and Frost Giant ended the war with favorable conditions being given to the giants.
After that conflict, the dragons began seeing the Frost Giants as wardens of the north. Each new Dragonlord in the region came before them and asked permission to remain within the region. The fact that dragons still existed in the north frustrated some giants though. Centuries later, the dragons came into conflict again. This time against a new species known as gods.
The Frost Giants stayed out of the conflict for the most part. When the gods came to them and asked some giants began appearing on the battlefield. The gods saw these creatures as little more than brutes thinking of them as nothing more than the first line to keep the dragons off their troops. As soon as the giants attacked the gods pulled back.
During the Dragon Wars, the giants got a feared reputation. Their power equaled none. After the war the went into isolation. The god established Heaven's borders. They ventured out into the Middle Kingdom and hunted dragons. Facing extinction they appeared at the giant's gates begging for sanctuary. Ymir granted it.
Dragon's pelts became an export for some giants, but Ymir gave his word that the dragons would be safe within his walls. Giants still stood by his word. The gods demanded the giants to break that word. They marched an army into the frozen north to attack the giants. 
The war that began between the giants and gods only lasted a few months. The gods beat the giants back to their city, but every attack against the walls was repulsed. The gods lost thousand, and their army broke. They asked for terms. Ymir took a god into his throne room, the gods asked for the giants to never give sanctuary to a dragon again. Ymir granted the request as long as the gods left the north never to return. Heaven's borders pushed further within the Middle Kingdom, but never did they enter into the northern lands again.
Centuries of peace passed over Nibmu. New species like the orcs and elves fought against each other, but no major wars began. The giants sent out envoys to the blossoming new species. The giants requested traders to head north to the edge of giant territory and trade. They brought with them furs of superior quality, along with ice, and oils. These goods were received and the races began crafting convoys to head north.
Throughout much of the next centuries, the Frost Giants grew more isolated only venturing out to the border to trade and allowing none of the other races any further into their regions. Explores from the west challenged this. Dwarfs explored in the unknown regions within the Frost Giant's territory. The giants found these expeditions and attacked them. The dwarfs responded with any army heading out of their mountain.
The Frost Giants laughed at the idea of such a small creature able to take down even one Frost Giant. The dwarfs armored themselves and created powerful crossbows. Their bolts made special for giants pierced the skin and killed the larger creatures. The dwarfs then used spells woven to take the spirit energy of the fallen and bring them into weapons. The weapons proved effective. The war only lasted a few engagements.
The dwarf king Vestri met with Ymir. Ymir wished to learn the power the dwarfs employed, but Vestri refused to teach. A deal would be struck. The dwarfs would learn from many of the stonemasons while the giants would allow the dwarfs to explore the region without harassment. To this day dwarfs are some of the only peoples to venture regularly into Niflheim.

Historical Figures

Ymir - First Giant, leader of the Frost Giant.

Common Myths and Legends

There exists a legend of the becoming of Ymir.
Once in the north, there existed a mountain with two peaks. In this world a great cataclysm and the Fate Life shot her energy across the world. One landed onto the peak of one of those mountains. The mountain quaked and life sprung. The mountain stood, and arms sprouted from his wings. Ymir was born and became the first giant, but felt lonely. He prayed for the Fates to give him others and cried every night. From those tears, rivers were born, and from the rivers, the first children of Ymir emerged.

Scientific Name

Giant

Origin/Ancestry

Unknown

Lifespan

85 years

Average Height

60 feet

Average Weight

500,000 lb

Average Physique

Large. Giants grow to 60 feet in height. Their muscles and bones make up the majority of their weight. The giants can be some of the most intimidating figures in all the world.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Most giants are pale white. They wear furs all around their bodies mostly made from mammoths pelts.
Growing up with other Frost Giants tend to result in gaining a few scars across your body. Most giants are capable warriors. Those that go to war will return with small cuts across their bodies, especially their legs. These can heal into scars, though most aren't deep enough to require tending to.