Giants of Ahlus

Giants are several races of exceptionally large humanoids found throughout Ahlus.

## Physical Description

While varying significantly depending on their type, most giants were humanoid in appearance, albeit much larger in size. Most possessed bone and flesh stronger than the smaller humanoid races, granting them additional resilience against the strains of their surroundings - something that several of the races further augmented with use of armour.

## Society

Shaped originally from stone by Aita alongside the dwarves and gnomes, some giants have taken this to be proof of their right of domination - after all, the Dawn Matron utilised the majority of the material to create their forms, and so they are deserving of fealty and praise. This sentiment is particularly rife in the races that have become increasingly predisposed to evil alignments by the standards of the other Principal Races, consumed by these selfish and egotistical thought. Giants, with the exception of most Hill Giants, are typically intelligent creatures and respond when confronted about 'evil' acts with their own sense of morality. Good acts in giant society are those that bring honour or prosperity to a giant *huslyder* (family/tribe in the Common Tongue) whereas that of evil would be a deed inspired by cowardice or betrayal. Depending on the goals and intentions of a specific *huslyder*, the concept of good and evil could vary wildly - and in such place them in conflict with the other races often considered too minor or unimportant to consider when weighing up the consequences of their actions.

A strict hierarchy once existed within giant-kind, referred to as the Ordning. In it, all Giants knew their place in the hierarchy set upon them, acting with discretion towards those above and with little regard for those beneath them. Through the machinations of forces from the Abyss, chaos was sown through the Realms with the dissolution of the Ordning, spurning all manner of wars between now competing giant tribes. Since then few matters have unified different types of giants, save perhaps the machinations of the followers of the Undying Queen or the sighting of one of their wretched kin, the Fomorians.

## Religion

Many giants keep to the faith of the Ahlusian Pantheon, albeit interpreting the teachings in ways that may seem foreign to other races. Of key worship are:

* Aita, who carved them from stone and taught them the importance of community
* Emes, with the moon being a central symbol in Giant culture. The moon is thought to be a greater sign of strength than the sun, because it stands watch in the night when danger is often greatest
* Iotl, seen as the patron of isolated places and thus inherently linked to the way of living for most Giants
* Kroai, for encouraging honourable and measures shows of strength and power
* Vyra, near exclusively favoured by Cloud Giants for her charm, persuasiveness, curiosity and proclivity towards trickery

Other deities not directly associated with the Ahlusian Pantheon were also met with reverence by some giants:

* Dur, who matches their hatred for the draconic races for they seek to steal what the giants have wrought
* The Battle Chief, revelling in his teachings of strength and mastery, and those communities built upon such ideals
* Carcharodon, embracing the commandment of self-sufficiency and taking their fate and survival into their own hands

## Notable Huslyders & Settlements

### Anuthas

A legendary Storm Giant city said to be in the depths of the Allreach Sea. A few mages of the Ten Guilds were said to know the teleportation circles required to visit the Halls of the Paramount Galkaros, but the city is said to walk along the ocean flow freely, making conventional navigation techniques all but impossible.

### Gulch

A steading located in the foothills of southwestern Lylcairn, Gulch is the largest single steading of Hill Giants, a settlement of rough timber and squat mud-and-wattle huts large enough to accomodate the bulk of their residents. It is the bloodline of Bolwog that rules Gulch, their cloak of golden-dragon scales their claim to power.

### The Molten Gates

A roaming huslyder of fire giant dreadnoughts providing their military prowess to the highest bidder, the Molten Gates found conflict in a number of wars, but most notably so during the War of the High Tide between Tulis and Halholm, in which the Bank of Tulis offered each giant their weight in gold in return for their services. When the price was raised to include their plow-blade like shields in the sum, they fought relentlessly for the entirety of the campaign - and those that survived were well compensated for their might.

### Jernvegg

Led by Lord Hozedun, the Fire Giants of Jernvegg reside within an obsidian citadel beneath Mount Durnach, utilising slave labour to collect iron, coal and other ores for use in their great forges. When they were visited by an adventuring party in Vluk-Amberlight 5WD, they had just finished construction of the monstrous construct Maskindodtillyndrage, having utilised it to capture the Ancient Red Dragon Balzanok, as well as possessing a portal to the Elemental Plane of Fire from which much of their azer workforce was sourced.

### Pilskold

A Stone Giant Kingdom located somewhere in the southern tail of the Ironfangs, Pilskold was a settlement of countless entrances hidden upon winding mountain passes and valleys. Their proximity to the dwarves of Mol Boramm often sparked collaboration and conflict alike over the years, but more often that not a silent amnesty of peace existed between the two settlements.

### Solvkongheim

The Silver King's Hold, Solvkongheim is the frozen citadel of the Silver King himself, the Frost Giant Slorstag. Almighty warhorns call out across the Hoarfrost Expanse when they ride to test their strength against the orcs of Whitetusk Point, the wyverns of Courrak Lake or the monstrosities of the eponymously-named Remozhaz Wilds. The old Silver King is blind, delivered a near mortal wound by Gelidrax, known also as the Cloud of Frost and the Ivory Prince, but his fury towards the white dragon burns hot to this day.

### Tuv Galoril

Located somewhere in the Underdark, the Stone Giant colony of Tuv Galoril acts as a site of refuge for all manner of races that find themselves hunted by the more sinister creatures of the gloom. Built around a central pillar that emits a warmth and light akin to the new dawn - giving the colony its name "Stolen Gleam of Sunlight", the radiance itself wards against most threats, but cunningly-shaped series of walls, pits and other defences carved fancifully by patrolling Stone Giant Dreamwalkers stand fast against those not so easily dissuaded. Tributes of hides and furs from large beasts, exotic foods and fine works of arts are acceptable payments for those to find respite within.

### Ulding's Keep

Reaching some nine-thousand feet into the sky in the northwestern edge of the Ironfangs, Ulding's Keep is the highest known mountain in Ahlus. Runekeeper Cirrus serves as the ambassador of the Cloud Giants that reside in the city located there, said once to have been able to move from place to place in the skies - but now run aground upon the towering peak.