Giants

Shiroken Tome - A Study on Giants

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Overview and Origins

Born of union between man and god, these beings walk amongst us, a unique

paradox of immortal and mortal, divine and ordinary. The best of both

worlds.

In the Beyond where the Gods dwell (a place that, this author readily

admits, Mortals know exceedingly little about) only the Gods known to

Algoron exist. Thus, it is difficult for the children of the great unions

(Austinian/Taliena, Kwainin/Zandreya, and Necrucifer/Drakkara) to find

suitable mates on par with their own power and immortality. Save those of

the other divine Houses, of course, which has naturally led to more conflict

than copulation (the incident regarding Devion, and Siccara, is perhaps an

example of this). Because of this, on occasion, the Gods will descend to

Algoron in Avatar form (becoming, essentially, Mortal) and take on humanoid

spouses and lovers (varying depending on the God in questions temperament).

The children from such unions are Giants, the paradoxical mortal and

immortal in one. The best of both worlds.

If the mother is the Goddess, she must remain as an Avatar on Algoron until

the giant is born. Returning to the Beyond seems to have harmful effects on

such beings. No living Giant has ever seen the Beyond, as explained under

Death and Dispersal later on.

Since the God or Goddess in question must assume a humanoid Avatar when they

come to Algoron, the Giant begins its life as a normal child, seemingly the

same as its parents, with the typical features associated with its parent

races. It is not until it reaches the age of twelve (or the equivalent, in

longer-lived races such as the elves) that the child begins to manifest

unusual abilities, a gift from its divine parent. Most prominent amongst

these is a rapid growth spurt, which brings the newfound teenager to a

height rivaled only by the giant ogres, and then only rarely. Once a giant

reaches maturity (that is, adulthood) their aging ceases entirely, and the

only way they can die is to be killed, which will be covered later.

Society and Social Behavior

Many Giants have difficulty coping with the stress of such a

transformation, and quickly find themselves outcasts, either by their own

choice or by their community. Few Giants can claim any humanoid family

after a few years, and almost universally identify themselves by their

divine parent. Sons of Nadrik and Daughters of Turpa, for example.

They do, however, often form good friendships with other like-aligned

organizations, such as the Knighthood, the White Robes, Valor and Justice

for Frost Giants, and Bloodlust or Shadow for many Fire Giants. Cloud

Giants can form friendships with virtually anyone, and frequently do.

Slayers universally consider Giants to be unnatural in the same vein as

vampires and dragons, and hunts and slays them indiscriminately, regardless

of their subtype or parent. Giants, in turn, rarely turn down an

opportunity to crush a Slayer whom they encounter.

Divine Power

As the children of Gods born Mortal, Giants are unique in the world of

Algoron. For the most part, they act as humanoids would, eating, sleeping,

making friendships and enemies. They are strongly influenced by their

parentage to be kind-hearted and good individuals, and lean more readily

towards this mindset. And, as children of Gods, they bear a fraction of

their divine parents power. Unlike most mortals, whom must study spellwork

and meditate to amass the mana (or magical energy) to use it, a Giant knows

with near instantaneous instinct virtually any spell in creation. And,

moreover, this includes both clerical and lunar magics, thus dissolving the

line between priestly power and magi power.

Beyond that, they have no limit to their mana reserves, and can cast spells

from dawn until dusk without the slightest fatigue. Because of this, a

Giant is considered a very formidable foe in battle, almost if not equal to

engaging a dragon.

Each subspecies of giant also enjoys a unique form of resistance to a given

form of energy, protecting them from such attacks. These will be covered

later under the different giant races. However, with this immunity comes a

price, for they become vulnerable to the other two energies that they are

not immune to.

Death and Dispersal

However, this influx of power brings with it a drawback. Like their divine

parents, a Giant living on Algoron (no living Giant has ever been accepted

into the Beyond) is effectively an Avatar state of being. A young Giant

growing up lives and breathes and dies as a mortal, if such should come to

that. And can assume a ghostly state, and be resurrected after a short time

just as a human or humanoid can.

However, once they reach maturity and their powers manifest, they behave

much as a God on Algoron would do. That is, if someone manages to kill one

(a feat more than a few Slayers can claim is their lifes ambition) their

essence disperses throughout the multiverse, and the Giant in question is

dead and gone forever, never to return. For this reason, Giants tend to be

rather cautious in their dealings with others, and rarely if ever permit

themselves to be vulnerable, despite their vast power.

Because of this, many Giants have rather unique outlooks on life and death.

Some find their own lives meaningless, their existence a curse, and continue

on aimlessly without a goal until their time comes to an end. Others seek

to make the very most of their time on Algoron attaining true immortality

with a legacy left behind in peoples memories. Still others give the matter

little thought, devoting themselves to one cause or another. Many champion

their Gods as their divine servants the Angels, Demons, and Balanx do.

Giant Races - Frost

Children of the Gods of Light, Frost Giants lean towards cool and calm

personalities, being slow to anger and benevolent as a general rule. Due to

the morally upstanding nature of the Light Gods, these Giants are the most

uncommon, and usually only arise after one of the Gods takes on a mortal

spouse, for however long such a union lasts (usually until the mortal passes

on).

Frost Giants, when matured, display arctic and icy features, pale blue skin,

white hair and beards, and the like. They are fundamentally resistant to

extremely low temperatures, shrugging off frost spells and perpetual

blizzards as if they were nothing more terrible than a cool breeze. Because

of this, they often make their homes on Icewall. However, they suffer a

crippling vulnerability to both lightning and fire, both of which are

commonplace weapons on Algoron. Thus, Frost Giants, moreso than any other

of the giant races, find their lives in danger.

Giant Races - Cloud

Children of the Gods of Twilight, Cloud Giants tend to be aloof and

scholarly, viewing the world with a detached sort of air. More than a few

Cloud Giants have surfaced over the years, leading one to wonder why so many

of the Twilight Gods have been active in the world of Mortals.

Cloud Giants, when matured, display foggy and stormy features, pale or dark

skin, black or white hair and beards, and the like. They are fundamentally

resistant to electricity. Bolts of lightning that would fell lesser beings

merely tickles them. As such, they often make their homes high atop of

mountains where storms frequently break out. Extremes in temperature,

however, such as chilling cold or flickering fire, are very dangerous to the

Cloud Giants.

Giant Races - Fire

Children of the Gods of Darkness, Fire Giants are violent, short-tempered,

and dangerous. Haughty and arrogant, they believe themselves superior to

virtually all other forms of life on Algoron. Fire Giants appear more

frequently than their Frost cousins, but much less so than their Cloud

brethren.

Fire Giants, when matured, display firey features, dark black skin, red hair

and beards, and the like. Some are rumored to even have fire for hair.

They are fundamentally resistant to heat and fire, bathing in molten lava as

if it was a hot spring. Because of this, they often make their homes in

Volcanos or the depths of Hell. However, Fire Giants suffer terribly at the

hands of both cold and lightning, and thus have their share of weaknesses.

Listing of Giants

The following is a partial list of the Frost Giants sighted over the centuries:

Frost:

Ixile

Jthian

Hauruck

Tsenij

Tannistha

Renwolf

Artureus

G'uldton

Fire:

Vorkai

Solvagor

Endlayn (deceased)

Tyhi (deceased)

Cloud:

Trytan the Titan

Aeonus

Veliaze

Lerance

Judica

Karthyas

Enochim

Roglim

Thrudglemir

Buorn

Briganta

Senros

Shaphina

Rindstrim the Behemoth