Giant Species in Uto Daeg | World Anvil

Giant

Giants exist in many parts of the world, usually secluding themselves to their preferred habitat. Unlike most other mortals, the giants never had their spark taken away and so were never Raptured, though some may argue All-Father Annam's departure is tantamount to having their spark taken.  

Long History

Giants have seemingly always existed in the world. Indeed, they are said to predate even some deities. They were in constant war over the first dragons. It was during this time that they made the behir to take on the dragons. In the eyes of mortals they are seen as the heroes of the old sagas and legends, those very, very distant tales. The exception to his reverence is Jour.   Jour was a cloud giant who used the nascent school of necromancy to raise armies of the dead to overtake the world. This soured many other mortals to giants in general, not seeing the differences between them such as between cloud and storm giant. At the time of Jour's downfall most giants had no interest in mortal affairs anyway, so the two groups, giants and non-giants, went their separate ways.  

The Archetypes

According to their founding myth, the species of giants are descended from the children of Annam and mothers collectively called Manywives. These Manywives birthed a son who went on to sire the whole species. These founding fathers are the embodiment of their kin, so each giant tries to emulate their maat (see below) qualities. The Archetypes are:
  • Stronmaus, the jubilant Storm Giant
  • Memnor, the crafty Cloud Giant
  • Surtr, the ambitious Fire Giant
  • Thyrm, the mighty Frost Giant
  • Skronaeus Stonebones, the wise Stone Giant
  • Grolantor, the hungry Hill Giant
  These archetypes serve as chief deities of their sired species.  

Ordning Rank

Since Jour, the giants' reverence of the ordning strengthened. The giants wish to recall their All-Father back to them, and adhere to this system that is ingrained in them.
  1. Storm Giant
  2. Cloud Giant
  3. Fire Giant
  4. Frost Giant
  5. Stone Giant
  6. Hill Giant
  7. Fomorians, ettins, and ogres
 

Subspecies

Storm Giant

The most powerful of the giants, stormkin inhabit the highest peaks of storm-drenched mountains and the depths of stormy seas. They can breathe both water and air. They are reclusive and keep to themselves, solemn as a grave. They revere Stronmaus and his joyful comradery.  

Cloud Giant

The second rank in the ordning, cloud giants prefer the mountains above the clouds. Once, they had empires in the cloudtops, riding them across the world. They never forget those cities, and a few can still be found in the world today. They revere Memnor, the fluid parent of their kind.  

Fire Giant

The crafty and cunning of the fire giants never ceases to befuddle their twin cousins, the frostkin. They inhabit volcanoes and lava fields, crafting such beautiful jewelry and crafts as never before seen. Indeed these crafts raised Annam's brow to them solidifying them as above the frost giants. They revere Surtr and his cleansing flame.  

Frost Giant

Seemingly always second to their fiery kith, the frostkin prefer might over all. They inhabit the snowy crags and glacial rifts and mountainsides of the world, away from the burning sun. They revere Thyrm above others.  

Stone Giant

The benevolent stone giants are anything but when encountered by non-ordning folk. They live deep underground in lavishly cut stone homes, superlative to the dwarven artistry. They are so detached from the overworld they see it as a dream, and act above without thought of consequence. They revere Skoraeus Stonebones, the wisest of giants.  

Hill Giant

The lowest of the actual giants, hillkin are viewed with scorn from their superiors. They loaf around, taking what they wish and without regard for life. They revere Grolantor as their chief deity.  

Fomorians, Ettins, Ogres

These lesser giantkin are just that, only kin and of no substantial claim of giant heritage. Some may or may not follow the ordning, but all the giant kind can make them.  

Maat & Maug

The giants have a strict adherence to their ordning, and within the ordning a further layer exists. Maat is best described as "giantness," and maug is "ungiantness." Giants are judged on the quality of their actions chiefly on maat and maug. The inherent goodness or evilness are not seen, only how adherent were they to the ordning and the qualities their species upholds.   All non-giants are seen as maug and must earn the respect of the giants.
Origin/Ancestry
Terrestrial (created)
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities

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