Storm Giants

Storm Giants have long considered themselves superior to the other subraces of giantkind. Possessing strong magic and a special affinity for weather, they have come to be known as the elves of giantkind, with the arrogance to match. Making their homes on the Skytooth Plateau, the Storm giants most elevated strongholds rise above the clouds, amplifying their magic further. The strongest of storm giants are able to modify the weather in a region for an indefinite amount of time, but luckily for the local flora they already like the weather of their home region. Still, they have the ability to do things like prevent flooding and divert or increase rainfall in a small area and use these when necessary, which allows them to grow crops that otherwise would be unable to survive in the harsh weather of the plateau. They have a very sophisticated method of terrace farming that allows them to farm on the slopes of mountains, transforming them into lush paradises. On the peaks of such mountains they build opulent palaces from which their lords administer the lands. Storm giant lords generally favor subjugating their enemies, leaving local traditions in place before slowly integrating them as opposed to forcing their administration on foes, and any powerful nation will be guaranteed to have at least a few vassals and marches on their borders. This practice prevails mainly because of the iron honor code that is universal to their people. They are honor bound to resist invasions, and should they fall in the end their lands will be spared. They treat defeated enemy with honor, but only if they swear undying fealty (Storm giants do not lightly break such an oath). Still, Storm giants rarely extend such customs to other races, or even other giantkind, considering others lesser and therefore untrustworthy. Their arrogance leads them to assume the worst of other races, as they assume that because such races cannot match their power that they also are dishonorable ruffians. They are especially distrusting of Outland giants, who, it must be said, are pretty much dishonorable ruffians.
Since Storm Giants are so sure of their might, it is considered an insult to attempt to treat with them on equal footing. Addressing them as one's superior and always ensuring they feel that they have gotten the better end of a bargain are essential, lest their anger be provoked. However, it must also be said that being too placating can cause them to assume the negotiator is weak and therefore untrustworthy. Essentially, the key is to make fair deals while always honoring the Storm giant's inherent superiority, something especially difficult when two nations try to negotiate.
Socially, storm giants are very structured. Highly patriarchal, each clan is headed by a proud Staršyn who is trusted to oversee the extended family. In turn, patricians bow to local Gačelnik who report to the lord. In the case of the lord being a subject of another, they authority runs up the chain to the head of a sovereign nation, whose word is law. As conquering a nation leaves their previous command structure intact, these chains can be quite long and unwieldy, as custom dictates that each successive member must be informed. This is why, when possible, sovereigns try to reorganize their realms over time. A storm giant's place in society is determined entirely by their titles, which can get complicated as various unraked members of any family hold important titles nonetheless.
Main Storm Giant Titles

• Bo'stava: The gods, who are above all
• Kxsara: The Emperor of all Storm Giants; a position that none have claimed in thousands of years
• Kxah: A powerful sovereign who commands respect (equivalent to a king)
• Jahčov: A lesser, though independent, sovereign (equivalent to an independent duke)
• Makaza: An especially powerful lord who is under a Kxah, being nearly equal in power to a Jahčov but without being independent
• Gos'pud: A lord under a Kxah or Jahčov
• Gos'pud jedt 1, etc: A Gos'pud jedt 1 is a lord under a Gos'pud, and on down (theoretically) forever. Any Gos'pud, even a Gos'pud jedt 100, is higher ranking than the below
• Gačelnik: An official who governs an area on behalf of a Gos'pud
• Staršyn: The head of a family

Other Storm Giant Classes and Titles

• Nasylč: A male heir to something. Ranks equal to one level lower than their father.
• Cžen: A female equivalent for any title. Used for wives and/or daughters depending on the situation. Ranking only as a representative and all powers are granted to a regent in case of the male equivalent being vacant. For example, should a Gos'pud's wife die, his eldest daughter, should she be of age, would then become the Cžen Gos'pud until he finds another wife. Should there be no available daughters, the female succession will be followed, but Cžen can be empty if there are no clan women.
• Regent: A complicated position which represent, and ranks equivalent to what they are regent as. For example, if a widowed Cžen Staršyn marries another Staršyn, that Staršyn would then be Staršyn Regent for her clan while their son would be Nasylč Staršyn.
• Šef'ančov: A leader of the Bančov. Šef'ančov can have a ranking similar to Gos'pud, and even the lowest Šef'ančov is higher than all Bančov. Essentially a lieutenant of the Staršyn. Šef'ančov are considered at least one ranking below a Nasylč. Comparing Šef'ančov to Gos'pud can be comlicated, especially when their titles look like the following: Šef'ančov jedt 3 of a Makaza vs. Gos'pud jedt 6 of a Kxah. Only a storm giant could understand such complex rankings. However, most Šef'ančov are ranked lower than Gos'pud.
• Bančov: An clan member who performs an important task. Bančov are always lesser than any Staršyn except those of a Kxah, Jahčov, or Makaza.
• Duborzc: Lesser members of a clan who are not considered important. They are part of a clan but are not considered for higher positions except in extreme cases. Most clans above Staršyn, except the poorest and most removed of Gos'pud, do not have Duborzc.
• M'lasya: Those without a clan, the servant class
• Račd: Slaves, completely without rights
• Ausadaj: A non-storm giant. Ausadaj are outside the storm giant hierarchy. They are typically treated better than Račd and M'lasya (unless they are Ausadaj Račd) but do not have the right to order about such classes or buy Storm giant Račd.

Lifespan

175 years

Average Height

23'

Related Organizations

• Kxahite of Durumzend

Magical Aptitude
Average
Physical Strength
Extreme
Societal Organization
Average
Birth Rate
Low
Lifespan Classification
Above Average
Technological Progress
Average