Jøtun

The Jøtun (Yo-tin) are a towering, powerful, and stony race of humanoids living to the north in the frigid cold of the Fjordlands. Jøtun are peerless warriors, masters of the sea, and unmatched shipwrights. The Jøtun, or Half-Giants, have traveled Vóreios far and wide can be found, albeit scarcely, all around the world. Jøtun love more than anything the heat of battle, fierce competition, and reveling in the glory of their victories amongst friends and loved ones. The Half-Giants are typically greeted with hesitation in the Kingdoms of Men and with outright hostility when in the presence of Elves. Though were you to greet a Jøtun it is customary to grasp them by their massive forearms and address them by their first name, followed by their title, or honorific name if they do not have a title, and lastly their surname. An honorific name is typically granted due to an act of heroism or great deed performed in service to their fellow Jøtun.

Masculine Example: Torvik Jarl, Rhognarsson; or Torvik Grønbrakari Rhognarsson

Feminine Example: Inga Jarl, Magnhildasson; or Inga Hålvhamar Magnhildasson

The Jøtun stand a towering 8ft – 9ft tall and dwell in the northeastern mountain ranges of the mainland continent. The Jøtun skin pigmentation typically range from a grey like slate or granite, to a greyish blue, like that of dark sea waters. The skin pigmentation can vary further ranging from an uncommon onyx to amber hue. They have symmetrical vertical lines bisecting across their body, believing these lines tell the story of their destiny. Their hair ranges between a dark black, mahogany brown, blood red, navy blue, and everything between those pigments. They, like the Dwarves, tend to have full, thick, and well cared for beards. Similar once more to the Dwarves they are known for their love of the drink and excellent blacksmithing and craftsmanship. Much like the Dwarves, they also share a love of mountains, though they typically choose to dwell atop or around them rather than within. The Jøtun are also a seafaring people, their massive longships are a terror to their southern neighbors, the Kingdom of Men.

Terrors of the Sea

The Jøtholmr, or in the Common tongue Giant-Ships, accompanied with their dreaded Tohrdenfalt Vikingr, which in the Common tongue loosely translates to Thunder-fell Warriors, harken death to all those whom cross their path. The Tohrdenfalt Vikingr are said to bring forth the wrath of the Jøtun god Golnir himself and their Jøtholmr ships ram through any barrier, ship or wall, that stand in their path. These feared ships and fearsome warriors have instilled fear within the hearts of Númarians for centuries.

The Jøtun have even sailed so far east they have come upon the Orc & Goblin lands that fall west of the Forlorn Mountains, raiding and pillaging as they went. It is for their love of felling Green Skins that the Dwarves consider the Jøtun allies, and likewise for the Jøtun allying with the Dwarves. While it is rare to see a Dwarf travel on upon waters, it is said some Dwarven warriors, even Grudgebearers, have been seen sailing, raiding, and pillaging alongside their Jøtun friends.

Slaughter of Island Jøtheim

Jøtun began their pillaging of Númenas after the conflict of Island Jøtheim where the Elves viciously slaughtered the Jøtun settlers living there. The Jøtun offered to share the island in peace with the Elves but the Elves refused and demand they leave their homes and return to Jøtvåhtn. The Jøtun refused and instead said they would remain in the lands which they had already settled and claimed.

The Elves refused this offer and maliciously slaughtered the innocent settlers of Island Jøtheim. The Jøtun, whom were previously friendly with the Kingdoms of Men, brought this transgression before the court of Númenas due to their newly forged alliance with the Elves. The Elves claimed the Jøtun attacked first and the Elves acted only in self-defense. The Kingdom of Men sided with their Elf friends and denounced the actions of the Jøtun.

In response to the Kingdom of Men accusing the Jøtun of such barbarism, the then Jøtun King Vodinbjorn Nørskaldsson declared open war against the Kingdom of Men. The many Jøtun Jarls began assembling they Vikingr and laying waste on the northern edge of Númenas and the New Elf land.

What at first began as retaliation, has now grown into a way of life. Raiding and pillaging have become an important and key role to the Jøtun economy. The current state of Jøtvåhtn requires the pillaging of food and resources to sustain their own population. The population of the Jøtun has grown beyond what can be supported by their farmlands alone. Without Jøtun Vikingr raiding, it is likely famine would sweep across Jøtvåhtn.

Settling of Northern Númenas

The Jøtun Jarls began establishing settlements and overrunning Númenas towns and villages along the northern edge. The Jøtun clans, after establishing themselves in northern Númenas, have begun overthrowing the Lords and nobles of many Númarian towns and cities to those more friendly to Jøtun-law. This has caused much disruption within the Kingdoms of Men's courts.

Much of the Jøtun raiding that takes places goes unimpeded due to Númenas being under constant siege from Gahldôrrim to the west and Half-Orc pirating from the south. But the Jøtun have no desire to conquer any of the lands of Númenas. To do so would bring the care of those lands and its people under the supervision of the Jøtun who are already struggling to maintain unity. Many of the Jøtun Jarls wish for more of their Vikingr to be sent slaughtering Elves instead of Men.