On Giants

The various giant tribes have existed far longer than the smaller humanoid races and likely descended from a common titanic ancestor. The six types are Forest, Fire, Ice, Stone, Cloud and Thunder. Their primary god is Primordius, who looks upon them with his aspects in much the same way as the primordians. Worship of the other gods varies depending on the Tribe.

Forest Giants are the shortest of the giant tribes, measuring only 15 feet at the tallest. Primordius looks upon them with his aspect of Socius, which grants them a fierce and undying kinship among each other and their allies. Elves often take advantage of this to form defensive pacts with Forest Giants, who are eager to halt intrusions from those they consider outsiders. These pacts stretch beyond the grave, and Forest Giants will often allow elves to infuse their bodies with enchanted stone that empowers them in life and will even bring them back from the dead to protect their homelands.

Thunder Giants stand 30 feet at the tallest and live an average of 60 years. They reside on floating vessels of stone and metal that hover several miles up in the air. Many Volt primordian cities are former Thunder Giant crafts, but Volt Primordians can't survive in altitudes nearly as high as the giants. They are unique in that Primordius chose to allow the celestial figure of Stetol to shine upon them instead of one of his aspects, which instills in them the instinct to hunt the mightiest beasts of the sky. They are the shortest lived of the giants mainly because of their incredibly dangerous lifestyle and disdain for the weak among them. Injuries go untreated and those that live beyond 100 are eager to end their lives while their legacies are intact. This is done by feeding their life energy to the titanic turbines that keep their ships afloat. It is strength that powers their crafts, and nothing is valued more.

Fire Giants are the rarest and most powerful of the tribes. They stand 39 feet at the tallest and live for 501 years exactly. They live within active volcanos, with one family claiming each volcano. They bind themselves to the Heart of the world and use its power to fuel powerful, near godlike magics. Primordius looks upon them with his Aspect of Logos, although they do not worship him per se. They believe that Primordius owes a great debt to them, but the reason has been lost to time. Because there are so few of them they rely on a steady supply of indentured servants to support their lifestyles. Fire Giants readily grant boons to mortals in exchange for the usage of their souls, and occasionally souls sacrificed to them. When the mortal dies their spirit is claimed by the Giant who infuses it into living magma, which then serves the giant family for one thousand and one years. During this time a servant can rise through the strict slave hierarchy by impressing their patrons, and at the end of their contract they can choose to make another pact for even more power and another thousand years of servitude.

Stone giants are the longest living of the tribes, and spend most of their lives deep within mountain ranges amidst the unchanging earth. They stand 28 feet at the tallest and live on average to 800. Primordius looks upon them with his aspect of Ars, and as a result they value art and craftsmanship above all else. Fafph is commonly worshiped within this tribe, and Stone Giants will spend lifetimes mastering a craft. The leader of any colony of Stone Giants is always the greatest artist among them, decided by popular vote. Stone Giants do not see surface dwellers as "real" because they change too quickly for them, along with everything else the sunlight touches. They refer to visitors as "Dreamwalkers" and treat them as pests.

Cloud Giants stand at most 80 feet tall and live for 600 years on average. The largest of the giant tribes, in ancient times they lived on the peaks of mountains and plateaus, but once they learned the runes required to anchor objects to the fabric of reality, they raised these peaks high into the atmosphere and built cities among the clouds. Primordius looks upon them with his Aspect of Ethos, and they spend their days philosophizing and pondering the nature of existence. It is said that Cloud Giants do not die, but in fact ascend to another phase of life, freed entirely from the bindings of Glade. With the Lightning Giants neutralizing all threats to their way of life they are able to achieve enlightenment in peace.

Ice Giants sail among the glaciers and icebergs of the far north and south, and emanating from their homeland; the island of Frostheim. They stand 21 feet at the tallest and live for 200 years on average. They are sailors and warriors who worship Pep, the goddess of winter, and are looked upon by Primordius' Aspect of Pathos. If you spot an Ice Giant vessel approaching your coastal village you are equally likely to be aided or raided, depending on which seems more entertaining. Ice Giants can be placated with alcohol and songs, and bards sometimes seek them out to chronicle their adventures in exchange for merriment. This is welcomed by the giants who love to brag about themselves as much as they love to dance aboard their ships.