Jötunn

* Ymir
* Loki
* Hel
* Skoll & Hati
* Hrimgandr
* Fenrir
* Jörmungandr
* Surt
* Bergelmir
* Skadi

The **Jötnar** (ON: "Devourers" or "Eaters"; pronounced "YOT-nar"; singular Jötunn, pronounced "YO-tun"), erroneously known as **Giants**, are a race of primordial entities who personify wild, chaotic, primordial forces of nature set to appear in *Little Witch Academia: Witches of Midgard*.

## Description & Characteristics

All Jötnar were originated from the progenitor of their kind, the first Jötunn Ymir. Ymir himself was born from mythical substance Eitr, formed by combination of sparks of Muspelheim and frost of Niflheim along with Audhumla, primordial cow that acted as the source of his nourishment. Being a hermaphroditic Jötunn, his body conceived numerous smaller Jötnar when he slept. Things eventually changed when Buri, the first Æsir and progenitor of Gods of Asgard, was conceived from a salt lick consumed by Audhumla. Buri then had a son named Borr, who sired three children with Bestla, one of Ymir's descendants, and named them Odin, Vili, and Ve.

The Æsir's presence sparked a tension between them and Ymir's brethren which soon escalated into a battle culminating to Odin and his brothers slew Ymir, flooding the whole world with the first Jötunn's blood and killing most Jötnar in process. Only Bergelmir and his wife who managed to survive the ensuing disaster and subsequently repopulate their kind as the three gods further shaped the world with Ymir's remains and undo the damage from such epic battle. Settling at Jötunheim, children of Bergelmir promised to avenge their ancestors, thus starting the rivalry between Jötnar and Gods of Asgard.

In their natural appearance, Jötnar mostly appear as 8-foot tall humanoid beings (some can grow bigger than the rest) with pointy ears, jagged mouth, and four clawed toes on their feet not unlike those of Titan. Their resemblance to trolls, particularly Icelandic breeds, indicated both races related in some ways that early mythological accounts addressed them belonged to the same type of entities for such reason. Being embodiment of primal, untamed and destructive aspects of nature, their physiology is not uniform throughout their races as some are born with non-human features ranging from merely sporting claws, fangs, misshapen faces, extra body parts, etc. to outright non-humanoid appearance (ex. Jörmungandr and Fenrir born with/adopted the form of wyrm and wolf respectively).

Contrary to misconceptions which depicted them as savage, ferocious-mannered man-eaters who prone to fight against each other even over the smallest matters, Jötnar are just as intelligent and civilized as mankind. Seemingly around Iron Age culture-wise, their craftsmanship and magic, subpar and somewhat archaic they might be in comparison both Dvergar's and Myrkálfar's own, proved more than enough to match those of Gods of Asgard. In fact, this inspired both races to covet each other's secrets, further fueling their rivalry. It's even speculated that Jötnar were responsible in advancements of Scandinavian people throughout Viking Age as much as Gods of Asgard given to their jarring cultural similarities, particularly in terms of architecture, weapons, and clothing.

## Variations

### Frost Jötunn

*"The most ancient of Jötnar race, Hrimthur aka. Frost Jötnar — called as such thanks to their affinity with the element of ice — were among firsts of their kind who came to being when the world began, symbolizing the time before the gods existed. Many people nowadays erroneously perceived Jötnar in general, Frost Jötnar included, as "barbaric, stupid, and unruly man-eating savages" but, these primordial, transcendent entities have long outgrown such image in favor of living a rustic and simple yet civilized lifestyle reminiscent to Vikings of the old and still advancing. It's even speculated that they were just as responsible as Gods of Asgard in shaping and advancing Scandinavian people throughout early years of Viking Age judging from cultural similarities shared between them, particularly in terms of architecture, weapons, and clothing."*
― Description of Frost Jötnar.

Also known as **Hrimthur** (plural: **Hrimthursar**). The most ancient of Jötnar race, Frost Jötnar were among the first of the Jötnar created when the world began, symbolizing the time before the gods existed.

### Fire Jötunn

*"Also known as Eldthur (plural: Eldthursar), Fire Jötnar are eager participants at Ragnarok and believe in the fiery destruction of the cosmos. While very distantly related to Ymir as with Bergelmir and his descendants, Fire Jötnar are not necessarily descendant of the first Jötunn for related more to Ymir's half-sibling Surtr. Surtr himself is the guardian of Muspelheim, the home realm of Fire Jötnar."*
― Description of Fire Jötnar.

All Fire Jötnar's defining characteristics are their affinity with the element of fire and their arms which glow in searing reddish yellow color while in their natural form whose intensity relative to both age and strength.

### Mountain Jötunn

Also known as **Bergrisr** (plural: **Bergrisar**), Mountain Jötnar lived in mountainous regions of Jötunheimr as well as those in Midgard and the most common type of their kind. Unlike previous types, they lacked specific elemental affinities but their physical and mystical capacities just as great, enabling them to compete with Gods of Asgard.

### Beast Jötunn

The unofficial fourth classification of Jötnar, specifically referring to ones who adopted/born with beast-like appearance and viewed as monsters despite their divine lineage. Many of them resemble animals in physiology and appearance, but still as powerful as their humanoid brethren. Notable well-known Beast Jötnar are Fenrir, Sköll, Hati, and Jormungand.

## Etymology

Old Norse *jötunn* and Old English *eóten* developed from the Proto-Germanic masculine noun \**etunaz*. Philologist Vladimir Orel says that semantic connections between \**etunaz* with Proto-Germanic \**etanan* makes a relation between the two nouns likely. Proto-Germanic \**etanan* is reconstructed from Old Norse *etall* 'consuming', Old English *etol* 'voracious, gluttonous', and Old High German *filu-ezzal* 'greedy'. Old Norse *risi* and Old High German *riso* derive from the Proto-Germanic masculine noun \**wrisjon*. Orel observes that the Old Saxon adjective *wrisi-līke* 'enormous' is likely also connected.

Old Norse *þurs*, Old English *ðyrs*, and Old High German *duris* 'devil, evil spirit' derive from the Proto-Germanic masculine noun \**þur(i)saz*, itself derived from Proto-Germanic \**þurēnan*, which is etymologically connected to Sanskrit *turá*- 'strong, powerful, rich'. Several terms are used specifically to refer to female entities that fall into this category, including *íviðja* (plural *íviðjur*) and *gýgr* (plural*gýgjar*).

## Notes and Trivia

* Rather than from linen, wool, and silk, Jötnar magically weaved their clothing from elements they have affinity most, providing comfort as much as tactical advantage (the clothing can be immediately warped into armor for defense at moment's notice).
* The concept of humanoid Jötnar being a giant horned monster with little to no resemblace to either humans or human-like Gods of Asgard was loosely inspired by design of Titan, the giant monster featured in *Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade*.
* Because of diversity of their forms, Sucy stated that it's inaccurate to refer Jötnar as "giants".

## Articles and References

1. ↑ https://www.deviantart.com/bsoulstone/art/Hrimthursar-Illustration-LWA-WoM-962147403
2. ↑ https://www.deviantart.com/bsoulstone/art/Eldthur-Design-LWA-WoM-927491132