Aesir

**Aesir** is a god and the creator of Giantkin, ruling from the Halls of Aesir in the realm of Niflheimer. Like the old Dvati god, Mor-Rioghain, Aesir is a multi-faceted deity who possesses multiple divine facets. Each facet represents another responsibility of the god. The Father created the Giants and gave them their strength, the Seer created the Giant's laws and guides them into the future, and the Brother challenges Giantkin in life and leads them in death.

## Personality

Aesir is a deity with a trinity of personality, meaning that his behaviour at any given time is not necessarily a representation of his personality on the whole. However, each facet is known for a certain kind of behaviour. The Father is benevolent and kind as he asks very little of his worshippers. The Seer is wise and stern as he commands Giantkin of what will come and what they should do. The Brother is chastizing and confrontational as he challenges Giantkin to attain skill beyond themselves and humility.

## Worshippers

Worshipped by the likes of Giants, Goliaths, Firbolgs, and Dwarves, the faith of Aesir is a humble one which does not require grandiose temples. Fath is expressed through the honing of one's craft, as is required by the Seer. Deference is also part of Giantkin religion, as outlined by the Seer. The largest and first of the Giantkin are respected before the smallest and last of the Giantkin. Before size, however, skill and humility are respected above all things. A humble and skilled Dwarf is more respected than a boastful and unskilled Lightning Giant.

Among his worshippers, Aesir is known to appoint Paladins and Clerics. However, those who are truly the chosen of Aesir receive the boon of Titanhood. Titans are a kind of divine warrior whose spark originates from Aesir but whose power can only be honed and improved through their own training. While Aesir may ask many things of his Paladins and Clerics, Titans seem to be more pure instruments of his will. However, not even Aesir holds full control over these willful, giant-blooded warriors.

## History

Born as a primordial Titan, a force of nature within the world, Aesir's past is a long and storied one which no scholar could hope to chronicle. However, many things throughout the life of this divine being are of note.

### Gods Plague

During the Gods Plague, Aesir was one of the gods who escaped the jaws of Thelhem. According to arcane scholars of the planes, Thelhem invaded the Realm of Niflheimer in an attempt to devour Aesir and take control of his domains. However, Thelhem and her forces were met with a host of Giantkin spirits arrayed for battle. The battle raged across the endless expanse of highlands and valleys as Thelhem and Aesir struggled in the middle of it all. Once the fog had been blown away, a wounded Thelhem fled Niflheimer with her army, chased at the heel by Giantkin spirits. In retaliation for this act, the Seer gave the command to all Giantkin that Thelhem should be vanquished. Two of the heroes who helped to put an end to the Gods Plague answered this call, the Goliath Titan Xigi and the Dwarven Cleric Haddock Rockjoint. For their part, it is said they were granted seats on either side of Aesir in the Halls of Aesir.

As Thelhem was defeated and Dorian ascended to godhood, the gods released from within Thelhem attempted to reassert their domains. In this aftermath, Aesir had little involvement. He served as an onlooker as Dorian cemented himself as the God among Gods, ordering the gods into their pantheons and their domains.

### Dragons Bane

Unlike his initial passivity during the Gods Plague, Aesir was motivated to lend aid during the Dragons Bane from the very beginning. Holding a grudge against Thelhem and her new child Belhemat, Aesir commanded that all Giantkin should prepare for war against Belhemat and his followers. Anyone who opposed his order would be cursed to never enter Niflheimer nor could their children enter Niflheimer. This is believed to be the origin of Trolls, Ogres, Hill Giants, and Ettins among other cursed Giantkin.

## Relationships

Aesir is by his own choice a more isolated god. He rarely makes attempt to contact or to speak with other gods.

### Draconic Pantheon

Given their prominence and the acts of Thelhem which led to the Gods Plague, Aesir is cautious in his relations with Draconic Gods. However, Aesir respects both Bahamut and Vydiolat and views them in a fair light. In terms of the child of Thelhem, Belhemat, Aesir is openly adversarial.

### Dvati Pantheon

Of all pantheons, Aesir is most amicable towards the Dvati goddesses. He feels for the hardship inflicted upon them by Thelhem and parleys with them more often than other gods. The Morrigan is known to visit Niflheimer often and play games of skill and chance with Aesir.

### Goblinoid Pantheon

Despite the increasingly volatile nature of the Goblinoid Pantheon, Aesir views then neutrally as they have rarely affected his domains. Even the events of the Goblin Rising were of little consequence to Aesir. However, the fallout of the event has decreased the number of Titans that Aesir has appointed. Of the goblinoid pantheon, however, he most disliked Selvanac who leads the pantheon. As formerly stated, his opinion towards most of its members is neutral.

### Fey Pantheon

Like many of the gods of Tevian, Aesir views the Fey gods as unwelcome interlopers but has done little to discourage their spread. Aesir has in the past interacted with Eliswen, the head goddess of the elves, who convinced him to hold hand from attacking the Fey. Aesir's indifference towards the Fey has even manifested in his allowance of some Fey creatures to settle on the plane of Niflheimer.

### Human Pantheon

Being nominally subservient to the god Dorian, Aesir holds the Human Pantheon in good regards mostly for his part in defeating Thelhem during the Gods Plague while Dorian was still mortal. Given that many Giantkin, including Xigi and Haddock Rockjoint, have ascended as Saints within this Pantheon, Aesir tolerates their worship. Of the other gods within the Human Pantheon, Aesir holds the most respect for fellow gods of craftsmanship and the forge domains.

### Oceanic Pantheon

Aesir has little interaction or reason to interact with the heads of the Oceanic Pantheon. For this reason, Aesir is neutral to the likes of Nammu and Sirsis. However, he has been known to oppose evil deities within the Pantheon such as Euryale.

### Bestial Pantheon

Made up mostly of former demonic lords such as Yeaga of the Gnolls and Orbrino of the Minotaur, the Bestial Pantheon is mostly disliked by Aesir with few exceptions. The god of the Tabaxi, Felinus, is on neutral standing with Aesir when compared to the other races. Aedia, the goddess of Centaurs, shares the same position.

### Miscellaneous Gods

As lone gods and minor pantheons are few and far between, Aesir has little interaction with them. To this effect, he holds a mostly neutral stance towards their existence.