Language: Danish
General Information
Noted to be the smallest, weakest, and cowardly of the giant races. You wouldn’t be far off to call them crafting sheep, if you spook the biggest one the rest go running. Oh, and they are pretty good with crafting. It is noted that they may have learned blood magic at some point in history but had no clue how far the magic could go. As the crystal giants never used it for war, believing the art to be “useless” outside of the crafts. These giants while weak probably had the best chance of coming out on top with the civil war amongst the giants. But they wasted there lives away living peacefully. Truly an unremarkable race for the history books.
Signed
Donald “Long-Blower” Cartwright
Scribe of the Champions of Pyrus
Cities
Here we will show the maps of the kingdoms, duchies and lands throughout each of the ages.
Grunaga Bita
Translated to Grunaga’s Bite or Grunaga’s Rip Apart, many believe this was the largest of the four strongholds. With Pulpin’s direct descendants all living here. It is also believed to be the only stronghold at the time that allowed outsiders within its upper layers to buy goods directly from a minor caste of elderly who could no longer complete there craft. What was notable about this stronghold besides its direct relations to the founder of the race, is that the mountain itself was made of this dark oily rock that, when tasted by a young explorer, was depicted as bitter and acidic.
Eldi-Stokkr Godga (EL-dee-St-o-ker God-ga)
Translated roughly to common to mean “Burning wood Blasphemy”. A fortress that would trace its lineage to a crystal giant and cloud giant mix. This unique fortress was founded with Pepin’s blessing by a distant cousin of his. And would gain its name for a great fire that happened at its base after a young apprentice had lit a torch during a particularly hot summer. Though this stronghold would uniquely house the largest of the treant population. And was noted to be rich with iron veins and iron in its dirt. Giving it the secondary name of Red Mountain for its reddish orange dirt that covered the majority of it when the skies where clear.
Hoela Skala-Endi (Hoe-La Ska-La-end-ee)
Roughly translated to “Praise End of Hall” in common. This mountain was the smallest of the four and housed the lowest population. The elderly who had no family left in their strongholds were said to come here to take care of those where orphaned in conflicts. Thus passing their name and craft onto the children in hopes of rebuilding there family name. This mountain was known to have created the grandest of items ever seen amongst the nation. Though it would take years of work before a single piece would come from the stronghold.
Vagr Vigvollr (Vag-er Vig-vo-lore)
Translated into common as “Bay Battlefield” is noted to be the only mountain to have an underground river that allows access from the main river to the west. Thus making it both the scene of many raids, and the continuous flow of adventurers or merchants looking for a quick deal. Thus leaving many who inhabit this fortress to be well trained in combat even with their meek frames.
Technology periods
Here we shall discuss the main technological discoveries by this race.
Levende Skib (Lee-oo-nes-Skip)
Long ago it is believed that the last of the elder treants of the southern continent had been chopped down for nefarious needs by the united kobold kinship. However, it has recently been rediscovered as the lost city of the crystal giants was being examined, that a large treant population still existed in the underdark beneath the settlement. Believed to have lived together, a contract has been found that swore the treants to the crystal giant leader Pulpin in exchange for allowing them to re-root themselves deep beneath, by the warmer magma rivers that ran below the capital.
The treants themselves were found to be extremely pale and with blackened leaves. Uniquely though, this species of treant was discovered to be extremely fire resistant and many workshops have been discovered showing that the elder treants where being crafted into actual flying ships. These ships were said to be able to traverse the entirety of the underdark using the root system of all natural plant life. Thus making Pulpin one of the most powerful forces amongst the giant factions, as well as the most sought after. However, as was proven by history, these ships would be used for nothing other then ferrying other races across the world and offering trade to any nation who remained neutral during the giant civil war.
Hjartablod Fjolkyngi (He-Yar-Ta-Bl-od Fa-Yolk-ee-ga-ee)
Believed to translate roughly to heart magic, this is supposedly a magic that only the Krystal Kaempe had managed to master. Many believe this is due to the relations with the treants and the forges created from their deceased. This magic seems to allow the caster to create items that link to a bloodline to create an ancestral item. This art however seemed to have little practicality outside of crafting goods, thus would die out almost immediately after the first age it is believed.
Hierarchy
Here we shall discuss how the overall ladder of power is designed in this races territories.
Note
When research was done into the individual layers of the four mountain strongholds. A unique discovery came to fruition. The crystal giants had no actual structure to their lands. It seemed that besides elder craftsman being looked up to by the younger generation. The crystal giants for the most part acted with only clan elderly leading the way but without any difficulties amongst the youth.
Nobility
Here we shall discuss notable noble houses through the time periods.
King Pulpin
Though noted as not truly a king, the crystal giants believed in a spiritual way that Pulpin was their guide to a better life. Leaving many to declare him king, without his knowledge. King Pulpin was translucent of skin, and was noted for being half the size of his brothers. He had a slight green hue to him, and with bright emerald eyes he sparkled under the moonlight. However, his dainty appearance was not accurate to his ability. As when he was found working at a forge, the materials would sing out in a symphony that could be heard for miles. It is said to have driven any who heard it to tears for the sadness of the song being overpowering.
Military
King Pulpin
Noted as having an army of around 5,000 Vikingrs, 5 lesser apex creatures and around 100 sky ships, and 2,000 slaves that can be mobilized
Wars
Here we shall discuss the notable wars for each period and who they were against.
Note
The crystal giants never participated directly in any war in the history books. This is believed to be due directly to their fragile bodies. Thus causing many to have an immense fear of battle. Others believe that it was due to crystal giants' slowness of reproduction and that only a few were born with extremely solid bodies.
Events/Holidays
We shall begin to discuss notable holidays and events in this culture. Explaining further on where they come from and what goes on during them.
Viduligr Rynstr (Vid-ul-ger Ren-ster)
Translated roughly into common to mean “Grand Craft”. This was believed to be a celebration when someone would die as they finished their last item. This item would be put on display as a “clan heirloom” and would be forever on display until the family line died out and the items would be sold. However, upon the completion of a Grand Craft, the entire family would spend several days celebrating all the works the deceased had created. This was considered the greatest honor a family could offer to those who had passed on.
Reka (Re-ka)
Translated into common to mean “Sent into exile”, this was a time of sadness as a family would die off thus exiling them from the stronghold itself. The crafts that had been looked on as heirlooms would be sold out into the world. And if no children could take up the name of the deceased family, the clan would give the space in the stronghold to a new young couple to start a new family. Thus erasing any trace of the one before them.
This was also something used when an individual had committed a crime grand enough that the stronghold would not allow them to stay any longer. Though this was extremely rare, there are notes of it found throughout history that explain why crystal giants would later spread out vastly across the world.
Religious beliefs
Here we shall discuss the different religious beliefs in this races history throughout the periods.
Note
Giants on one of the few mortal species who have no pantheon they worship, although the five sons of Ogeron Grunaga are considered to be the closest thing to religious icons in the giant world. But even then, giants saw the gods themselves as nothing other than powerful enemies like the dragons they fought against time and again. Instead they worshipped at a trade of sorts, creating living sentient gods from items or the environment itself.
Due to the crystal giants introverted lifestyle no gods were ever created or worshipped. In fact, due to the solidarity it was not uncommon for crystal giants to never meet one another throughout their lifetime. Which caused many to believe they were alone in the world.
Known diseases
Here we shall discuss known diseases to be active and/or discovered or cured during the different time periods of these races
O-Saemd Mein (Oh-Say-mm-da Mine)
A disease that roughly translates today to Dishonor Disease. A disease believed to be especially common amongst the crystal giants. This disease however, when researched further, turned out to be simply dying of old age. Due to the battle like culture of the giants even amongst the crystal giants, dying of old age was considered taboo. This specific disease was believed to translate to “dying in ones own bed disease”. Which was a greater dishonor as many giants in old age would begin to become more violent and work at their craft until it killed them, to avoid such a dishonor.
Economy
Here we shall discuss the different economies during the different periods, from coinage to how the race did as a whole during each period.
Economic State
Here we shall find out how this races nation is doing in the current economic system of the world overall.
The entire economy of the crystal giants seemed to relate to their crafts. While it was uncommon to find a crystal giant who loved battle, it would be extremely uncommon to find a crystal giant who didn’t look at his craft as his or her individual war. Thus it was also believed that to have their equipment out on display for the world to see. Making the crystal giants one of the largest arms dealer nation in the first age. Also causing them to be one of the richest states in the time.
Coins
Here we shall find how the coins look, what materials they are made of, and what the value of the coins are on the overall market.
Note
The Crystal giants favored their siblings' coins as they were almost always accepted by the dragons, pirates, and many of the underwater nations.
Diamond Crowns
The first coin that replaced the common platinum that the dragons used for its shininess. Giants though, are not dragons, thus the more common material of liquid diamonds would be harvested from the cores of the volcanoes in the heart of the magma as it was believed. This material would be farmed to make coins and other magical items.
Ruby Volcanos
Believed to be equivalent to the gold piece commonly used by the lesser nations including dragons. Thus the Jotun-Modr pioneered the coin in the shape of their homeland to be used by those sworn to them. These simple coins are individually 5cm by 5cm like the other coins, however it is clear and seems to sparkle from its craftsmanship only possible by the Jotun-Modr who individually made each coin.
Sapphire Hills
Sapphire hills were thinner coins due to there higher rarity, though most giants valued sapphires less then rubies and only slightly more then emeralds. Thus most recognized this simple hill drawn with sheep grazing into the individual sapphires as a silver coin.
Emerald Plains
Lastly and most common in the Jotun-Modr volcanos were emeralds. As the material was farmed simply from their individual Rok-heap herds. Thus simple grass would be carved into the coins as apprentices practiced there arts on the coins.
Trade Goods
Here you shall find the trade goods this race has on offer in the nations they inhabit.
Custom Crafts
Being the only nation to unusually specialize in custom crafted orders or pieces of legend that are sold as grand inspirations. It is believed that the jewelry, armor, shields, and staffs to come out of the crystal giants mountain stronghold are legendary each in their own right. It is also believed that the items created by the crystal giants have a liveness to them that evolve overtime.
Ancestral Items
Being one of the only races that seems to have a complete understanding of the arcane of ones body. Many ancestral items have been custom ordered by the other leaders and nations. These items are said to be able to grow with each wielder of that bloodline. Making these items extremely powerful and also semi unpredictable. However, it is noted that the items where crafted to specifications beyond the means of a normal smith. Thus causing many to believe the items to be sentient.
Anatomy
Here we shall both provide a design as well as an explanation of the anatomy of the race in question.
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Ability score increase
Being the fragile type, a crystal giant takes a -1 to its constitution while taking a +3 to its intelligence.
Age
The average crystal giant is said to live for around 7,000 years from what our few discoveries have shown given mineral compositions in the stomachs of some long dead. The minerals inside seemed to date back roughly to the same period according to some of our newly created magical devices.
Phenotypes
A crystal giant appears as it is named, they come in all shades of gemstone and vary in shape and design. The eye color seems to match overall with the skin color to some degree.
Height and Weight
The height of a crystal giant tends to vary between 15ft to 22ft depending on the area they lived in.
Weight tends to be around 5,000lbs to 8,000lbs depending on the material that makes up the skin of the crystal giant.
Alignment
Crystal giants have a tendency to lean toward purely neutral. But what is interesting is that depending on the area and the amount of bloodshed, a crystal giant can be caused to lean toward evil due to the wandering souls of the fallen corrupting its home.
Speed
Crystal giants have a rather relaxed and sedentary lifestyle thus they move at a much slower pace even for the average adventuring sort, thus a walking speed for 10ft seems to be the average.
Founding
Here we shall explain when the race came to be, how it came to be, and whom it is credited to and where.
Each of the crystal, hill and stone giants start with the same tale. Their king Endrik descended from the clouds with a small host of warriors to settle in what we now know as the Selmica continent. Here he would marry three wives Elg “The Small”, Carmon “The Sturdy”, and Tehtra “The Fragile”. Each wife would bear king Endrik a son. From Elg came her son Balum the oldest of the three. He was strong, clever and loved the heat of battle. Next from Carmon came Bun the middle child who was said to be good with his hands, and loved to build and craft. Lastly from Tehtra came Pulpin who was extremely dainty and weak.
Each of these sons worked, trained and became the shining pride of king Endrik. But as time went on and Endrik grew older, he knew his time was coming. The old cloud giant could feel o-saemd mein and prepared for his battle against the dragon hordes of the west and east for giants were the sworn enemies of such beasts. He decided that his kingdom instead of being split and chancing war among his children, he would set a task for each of them.
The youngest child, Pulpin, would be granted the task of making a cloak to shield himself from enemies no matter their strength. Pulpin would head east and never return like his brothers. Although unlike his brothers, he would never appear again to history. All we know of him at this time is that the crystal giants of today are very shy. They prefer to hide deep down in caves and tunnels. Places of great darkness, for they are extremely fragile and refuse to deal with the modern races. This is also credited to why the crystal giants, although rare to find, are still around in the modern day.
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