Jotunn

Legend

“They are the nameless, the void-kin Fylgia or Fylgin shadows of astral divines.”

Skjald Ulrich

 

Description

They are almost human in shape, but each and every one have variations to such a degree that no generalisation fits. Not even the horns, is a thing all their kin share. But they do have two legs, two arms, and a head sticking out of their bodies. Some have thick skin, others almost plate hide, or scales. A few of them even have tails.

Some legs are humanlike, but with hooves or cloves instead of feet. Other legs are not human, but animalistic, some even ending in humanlike feet. Toe digits range from one to many. Their arms are the most uniform, with a shoulder, upper arm, elbow, lower arm, and wrist. Hands have a range of fingers, from three to six.

They generally wear furs and skins. Belts, amulets, and greaves are also worn.

Skjald  Valgrif

 

They generally use no names of those of their kin, but they do have truenames.

Skjald Ulrich

 

History

Dark Ages

When some embraced the tainting of astral leakings or left the void entirely, others scuttered away, seeking shelter in the shadows of the void. These primal beings, untainted by the astral, were at first considered monsters. But both thursar and wickeryadi realised these were sentient in a different way than those tainted by the astral.

Slowly Jötunn emerged as a race in their own right, skilled in magic, crafting, and alchemy. One of the most peculiar things about them, is that the Drakk Alfar Wilderness Stallion, seemingly originates from Jötunn culture, but they abandoned it when the world was formed. Theres still statues, monuments, and carvings of jötunn origin, depicting the wilderness stallion, around the world that survived till this day. These are held sacred by both races, although jötunn dont frequent, or tend them anymore.

Skjald Valgrif

 

Many of the jötunn were forced into tainting by the boriac, even more were slain as they would not submit to the ‘astral blessing’. But some managed to stay unnoticed, or fight back atop mighty warstallions, destroying encountered boriac trying to taint them. Thus, their way prevailed the world reforming, but they lost their stallions.

Skjald El Mary

 

First Age

When the divines shaped our world, the powers of some void creatures were so great that they managed to slide onto our world along the void gardens being hauled around and stitched together. These void beings, managing to slip onto our world, are of power almost rivalling the divines—power they used to form realms of their own, and their branch of void weaving and arcane weaving is a much-sought treasure.

Some have stated that it was neither gods nor wickeryadi that birthed the vampires, but in fact it was the Jötunn. If this is true, it makes so much more sense that the divines acted as they did to rid our world of the unplanned vampire abomination. Just as Jötunn slid through the dark ages shadows and onto our world in the chaos, they managed to steer through the 1st Cataclysm.

Skjald Sigurd

 

Second Age

One of them, now dead but known to me as Rănāldōr Fërătõ, once told me that despite their worry about the possible collapse of everything, their kin did have a laugh as the boriac and vornir stood as loosers. It was not the first time a divine had a ‘bloody nose’. But, it was a first seeing the lot defeated, and divine opponents, although decimated, stood victorious. If it was Jötunn parenting or the general animosity amongst many towards things astral, the answer is unanswered, but Jötunn has always had a thing against divines.

Up through the second age, Jötunn was more often seen by humans and n-erectus, either alone, with their kin, or with thursar or wickeryadi. Slowly, legend spread about these mysterious beings, and individuals began tracking them and seeking them out to learn their lore about fylgia. Maybe it was all their spirit practice and praise that led to a new factor on the scene, as curtains was brutally torn aside.

Skjald Ulrich

 

Third Age

The Bullheaded God came roaring from south of the rim, and with it came the wanderers. If it was jötunn, vampire, or something else, is still unclear, as it quickly fought both kinds and then was gone again. Some claim it was slain, others say it lives with a vampire bride somewhere in Midgard. If so, then rest assured; as Jötunn is looking for it, should you ever gain knowledge, they will reward any such information. Because that one, they hate even more than they do boriac.

But as it was but a brief wind, Jötunn kept evolving and existed alongside things planned, almost like combat herbs tended by the wickeryadi. The difference was that herbs didn’t strike back if uprooted, and since world creation, no new vornir, boriac, or god had been born. Jötunn was generally left alone, and since they also had enough of a taste of total chaos in the 1st cataclysm, they restrained themselves from most things. Its said they found the godly instigated Vular War moronic, and predicted utter chaos.

Skjald Vinotis

 

Fourth Age

The jötunn was right, and as Ljostari became a fountain of uncontrollable Paths and spirits. They gave one collective sigh when Mt. Vula erupted and the Deep Blue Tsunami swept the world’s shores.

The Thursar, known as Juglatmul Snaqqalat once said that a Jötunn told her, that was why the Jötunn used so much energy to create the Rim in the first place, but seemingly failed. If that’s the case, jötunn would be able to see the future in ways not even the Vornirs can, and then why wouldn’t they avoid their deaths than? That is a mystery I would like to solve.

Skjald Sejrik

 

Jötunn did not interfere at all with arisen nor liches, and when these began to roam, jötunn began retracting from all races. At first it was humans, then n-erectus, and finally also wickeryadi. Yet, a few jötunn were seen standing beside Kanziganthir at the crowning of the first High King.

At the time of The Great Invasion they only dealt with Thursar, and they did not interfere in the war or in the Cleansing Crusade. They did though clash with invaders at various places, when those came stomping into jötunn realms. Like when a fleet of Kinoblin ships, in the Bhukahal Bay in Remas, landed a contingent of Pigryn and Romasai at the shores of the almost circular peninsula of K'haktala.

It was a quick visit as the pigryn vanguard were destroyed by the local jötunn tribe surging forth. Killing every invader on their shores, and its told, throwing the heads of their foes at the incoming reinforcements. Making them turn around, just to see the romasai force the kinoblin to hoist anchors and set sail, leaving them behind. Some say the pigryn rowed to the other side of the bay, and there was swallowed by the jungle.

I’d for sure like to meet one of those jötunn, and over a mug of ale or whatever food they do, ask questions till it get bored. Apropos food and ale, waiter!

Skjald Yell'a'Beard