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Giants in the Steel Realms
The Colossi (giants) of the Steel Realms have vanished from the eyes of most. They feel betrayed by the other species, especially the Ducateon whom they believe actively planned the near-extinction of their clans. Giants still living in the populated lands live in smaller groups and in difficult to reach places. High up peaks, shores with no landings, dense forests, even the edges of the darklands where no other races make settlements. They resent intrusion, and only wish to exist in peace and quiet. When actively challenged though, they fight to kill so savagely that it is a deterrent to most – though they do not use fighting as a point of leverage in negotiations… it simply is their last resort and when it happens, they prefer to settle scores quickly and with no remorse.
The Frostbody Giants are a construct of the Lich Lords and their betrayer ally Frostlock – the undead Frost Giant warlock in service to the Lich Lords. They are not real colossi, and do not speak Etinvir.
The Awakening of the Giants
First Coming: Originally, some giants found their way to Helca by the Aelfpaths when the Aelves first made their way across the stars to Helca. Not all the clans were represented in this “first wave” – only the Colossi of Chaos and Storms. They settled in the high peaks, mined clouds and peaks for the tears of the elements when thay cracked the sky open and traded with the Aelfs and Dragons. They were ‘lost in mirth’ (according to the Aelf records, that say no more), and faded quickly.
Born of the Broken Earth: When the forces of darkness descended on all living things of Helca, the great woken world stirred for the first time, inspiring the great power of Gaia to bear children. From her own form she brought forth the giants. They are made from a deep gash in the earth itself, and their bones knitted with the soil of Helca from the womb of Mother Gaia. They would fight for her, but after that were not bound to her. Some found their way to dark, others to the light. Most simply tried to live and over thousands of years, their kind – feared and misunderstood – would be hunted to near extinction by the other races… mostly humans and elves. Outside of this, giants are, for all intents and purposes, immortal. The hierarchy (Etinin Syn) has little meaning in the Steel Realms. Giants of the realms formed from the blood of the earth. Not born into clan, family, or hierarchy, they were left to find their own way after the war.
Giants Characteristics
Dust to Dust: When a giant dies in the realms, it is said that their spirit returns to the earth, to then become cold, fire, cloud or whatever material form associated with their giant one… and to deliver unto Mother Gaia all that they have seen and done so that she may see herself through her children’s eyes. This close link to the earth-mother imbues their bones, skulls, heart and flesh even with mystical vitality. The bones and remains of giants are prized by practitioners of magic for their power that can be tapped – but it is dangerous. The wild spirits may haunt despoilers of its remains in strange ways.
- Angry Memories: An intact giant skull can project violent memories to evoke fear in those seeking to despoil it. Enough brushes with such projected thoughts can cause insanity. Many seek to use such an object on a war totem or battle standard to project fear into the enemy and inspire rage in followers.
- Ritual of Rest: If a giant’s spirit is prevented from rejoining the earth, a ritual (DC 19 unless giant lore is possesses; DC 14) to “ease the passage of the restless dead”
Giants of Intellect and Stone
Children of the Frost Clan on Helca: When the giants of Frost were fighting against the Lich Lords, their fallen were called upon by their shamans in a last ditch effort – their bones became covered by stone and the stone giants were born. The amplified power of the lich lords was used against them. The stone giants were actually alive, and had only affinity for their brethren – fighting the lich lords army to a standstill as long as they stayed in contact with the earth. The frost giants would eventually retreat to the far north and then beyond the blue wall, the stone giants would disperse across the lands – most of them alone and near immortal. Each stone giant has with it the memories of all the fallen Frost Giants of the ceremony – these are called Olde Bones.
The most enigmatic of the giants, the Stone Giants are master masons and crafters (mostly learned from Ducateon). They are one of the few giants to still be found in the realms, as they do not anger others and have not antagonized the Ducateon who dwell under the earth and share space with them as well. They prefer caves near the surface, where they find sustenance. They are bitter enemies of the Twisted Colossi (Formorians) – arrogant and spiteful. The Stone Giants always seek massive cave complexes with pure water sources underground for them and their cave bear brothers in arms.
Kanwae Bas: The Stone Giants decorate their throwing stones and personalize them with messages to strike into the ranks of their enemies.
Brief History of the Colossi in the Realms
CY 4499; The goddess Elancil bred with one of the last of the Storm Lords of the Giants and a lineage of evil, The Rhodim (female only), was established, and eventually was bred with humans to form many champions of the sea king clan houses. The true blooded ones eventually embarked on a jihad to eradicate their evil brethren and it succeeded – though at great cost. They faded from contact. Like many giants, over zealous adventurers eventually hunted them down and they retreated into hidden places and became extinct.
CY 3950-3989; The giants declare the leadership of the dominion flawed and forswear all bonds of fealty made in the past with anyone/everyone.
CY 3949; Giants retreat – All giants retreat to the far north, north of Dundaria, They swear eternal hatred to the Ducateon – whom they blame for their near-extinction. They withdraw from the bonds of sanctuary and declare the wintery north to be theirs and their chosen allies; “Death Awaits all Southlanders”…
- Final Fate of the Giants of Frost and Strength: The, like those of fire, would come to side with Unholy Trio after the war. They eventually betrayed their masters when a hundred were destroyed in a backlash of magics when leading orrishai old lands tried to carve a pass through the frost covered peaks into Dundaria. The remaining giants and their shamans attacked the orrish legions in rage for revenge. Both sides lost large amounts of their populations, but the invasion was stopped when the remaining brought down mountains and fled to the coldest peaks nearby. By this time, the Dundarian army lay in wait to the west and the orrish could not focus on revenge. The frost giants would again be pushed to extinction by fighting the lich lords. Believing they could stop them as they ground the unholy trio’s advance to a halt by combining their might, they fought a massive battle at ____. Unlike the Unholy Trio, bound by the Godspeak Accord, the Lich Lords unleashed their power directly. Seeing that their defeat was inevitable after days of fighting the endless legions, they gambled on a solution requiring occult and divine fortunes to go their way. They left the Giants of Stone in their wake, protecting the flight of the few remaining.
CY 3516 – 3947; Troll Wars – The Orrish allies organize a concerted attack upon only Ducateon defenses. Trolls devastate Ducateon forces in the darkness of deep earth no other species can help. The Giants of the west band together – for they can see heat in the darkness and have the strength and size to follow the trolls into their tunnels and into the under-dark. Many a clan of giants is driven to extinction through the constant hundreds of years of warfare. In 3947 the Ducateon bargain with the sibling of a dragon house and end the war – the dragon cleansing their homes and rooting out the trolls – the blood line of trolls is nearly wiped out, while the Ducateon collective is safeguarded forever more with the draconic alliance.
Breaking Apart: The lines of giants begin to war with each other, with dragons, with ogres, and cannot seem to find a place to live in peace except by fear and intimidation. Many of the lesser giants flee east, south, or into remote places. Ugly events such as the Siege of Boar-Vrotland in CY 3441 sweep hundreds of giants to their deaths, as if mother Gaia is calling them home.
- Final Fate of the Giants of Fire and Passion: These giants sided with the unholy trio after the days of war. Over time though, they proved too independent, and often took orrish away from the armies in their own desires for conquering and treasure. Eventually, the unholy trio waged war upon them, rewarding loyal shamans of the Orrish to turn their followers against them. Rather than hunt them all to extinction, many were left to scatter and become problems in the lands of light. Over time, most have died, and only the most remote or fortified lairs have been raided and wiped out.
The Drawing of the Clans: Gaia knits the bones of Firm, Storm, Mountain and Frost giants to fight against the unholy trio. They integrate into the Age of Dominion as best as they can after the Sun Bane is enacted. Most begin a long slide into extinction.
Before Records: The Colossi of Chaos and Storms find their way to Helca along the Aelfpaths. They die out, though a few chiefs of their kind will live in isolation into the ages of recorded history, though most of these original will die by the Sundering in CY 5000 (that act was said to somehow kill those that were left up to that point).