Giant

All true giants on Aether can trace their lineage back to Votan and Elfriede. Votan’s children were not children in a conventional way. His children were carved out of stone by Votan’s hand and given life by Elfriede.  Votan and Elfriede would go on to have many children, the first four of these children are the progenitors of the four primary Giant races that populate Aether.

* Sky Giant
* Fire Giant
* Ice Giants
* Earth Giant

### **Ecology**

Giants have superior senses in general. They can see, hear and smell twice as well. The Sky and Earth Giants have an incredibly good sense of smell. Some even can see well in low or no light as well. Much like humanoids Giants are individuals, and the above can vary Giant to Giant. Giants are also immune to most diseases and have a slight resistance to poison.

A female Giant has a gestation period between nine and 15 months, depending on the type of giant. A giant’s offspring takes around 50 years to reach maturity.

Giants, now, are believed to live between 300 to 400 years dependent on race. Some sources claim Sky and Fire Giants can live several centuries on average. As the Generations have passed amongst the Giants, their lifespans have shortened. Giant saga’s claim the 1st giants were immortal and that their offspring lived well over 1000 years. Because of a Giants long life span, they are much slower at making decisions and will not be rushed.

### **Society**

Giants are intelligent with their own set of cultures and customs. Intelligence varies amongst the Giant races, most are at least on a human level of intellect, except for Earth Giants. Most see themselves as superior to all other creatures. The Rekkefølge was a reason for this. But Giants being much larger than others would belittle and patronise smaller race, regarding them as unimportant. Giants live in small tribes or families. Their numbers are limited, due to their size, it is challenging to find plentiful food.

Ancestry is vital amongst Giants. All true Giants can trace their lineage back to Votan The All-Father. When two Giants meet, they will introduce themselves by reciting their lineages to each other. Once a relationship between lineages has been established, this relationship will continue down the lineage. Therefore, the recounting of lineage is to help dictate the relationship between the two Giants. Such Lineages would be included in the Sagas told by Giant skalds (bards).

#### **Mortality**

Morality among Giants is different from that of most other races. A “good” (hyvä) act is an act that honoured the Giants family, displayed bravery or honoured a “good” giant, regardless of consequences. An “evil” (paha) act is an act of cowardice, thievery, betraying a Giants family or trust. Violating Rekkefølge is also considered evil.

#### **Rekkefølge (Social Structure)**

The Rekkefølge is a social structure to which all Giants adhere. Dating back to Votan, it is like a class-based society but was more specific. Each Giant was assigned a social rank, everyone knew who was inferior and superior to themselves, and no one was equal.

The Rekkefølge applies to individual tribes and families. However, it’s an insult to treat a higher-ranked Giant from another tribe or family as an inferior. Between races of Giants, there are separate systems. Even the lowest-ranked Giant of one race is superior to the highest-ranked Giant of an inferior race. Importantly it’s not considered evil to betray a Giant of another race, merely rude.

The races of Giants are ranked as follows, in descending order: Sky Giants, Fire Giants, Ice Giants, Earth Giants.

Each race of Giant uses different criteria to determine the Rekkefølge. Each race uses a different combination of qualities and skills, believing that excelling in these is the purpose of their lives. Votan The All-Father, Creator of Giants, is seen as the ultimate in each of these skills. In every case to climb the Rekkefølge, a Giant must challenge their superior. Different races use different systems and restrictions upon advancement.

#### **Religion**

The Giant Pantheon is a group of deities worshipped by Giants. Votan, Elfriede and their five children make up the pantheon. Giants differ in their religious views between race and even tribes. Giants have been known to argue and even war over the desires of a specific deity. Generally, all accept Votan The All-Father the top of the Giant Pantheon.

### **Physical Description**

The appearance of giants is varied among the different types of Giants. However, all can be described as humanoid in appearance, just much larger. Their bones are denser, giving them extra toughness but making them slower.

### **Festivals**

A grand feast is celebrated on the first day of the Giant new year. On this day Giants will hold a massive feast celebrating Votan, thanking him for bringing Giant life to Aether.

### **History**

When life was bought to the Scales, and Aether was brought into existence. Not all races shared the same fate. The humanoid races awakened in the centre around the Dragon Spire, later claiming it as their own and calling it Aramoor.

For the Giants, awaking in Aether was not as simple, for there were no Giants. There was but one, Votan The All-Father. Votan stood 50 feet tall, with long hair and a full braided beard. Votan wandered Aether alone for decades. Almost after two centuries of roaming, he had concluded that he was truly alone in this world. Votan had seen and interacted with other sentient races on his travels, because of his size he’d deemed them unimportant.

Defeated, Votan climbed the tallest mountain he could find to await his demise, alone. He saw no value in this world or its people. It was at that moment atop the mountain his outlook was shifted. Within the sheltered cave, a female voice spoke out to him. Elfriede appeared as female-like Votan; she stood 40 feet tall. Elfriede had a pale grey complexion and wispy light hair. Votan was shocked and astounded to see another that resembled himself finally.

Elfriede was no Giant; she was the spirit of the mountain. She had taken an interest in Votan, sensing his pain and loneliness. She sought to comfort him; over time, love would blossom between them. Votan and Elfriede would go on to spend many centuries together.

#### **Exile**

There are many theories among Giants as to why Votan turned his back on Aether and his children. Some say he simply grew tired watching over his children and their conflicts. Some theories that despite Elfriede and his children, he could never shake the loneliness and left to find himself.

The truth is that, Elfriede tired from bringing the children of Votan to life fell into a deep slumber that she would not awake. Votan, distressed by the sudden loss of his wife, left their home, He went in search of a way to wake her from her sleep. Unable to face the world again without her.

Since his departure, the mountain has been claimed by a tribe of elves. They refer to what was once Votan’s home and the birthplace of Giants as Tar-Culu.

Giants have been awaiting the day of his return. They claim that when Votan returns, he will bring about a golden age for Giant’s, placing them where they belong in this world.