giants of the north
Far to the north and to the west of the Land, in the Jangobi Mountains, there live the giants of the north. The only other permanent residents of these mountains, humans, generally avoid them for they fear their size and strength. However they maintain neutral relations, with some trading going on. Between some settlements there is even regular trade of knowledge and goods. For the most part however, the giants keep to themselves.
Although few know and even less care, they are descendants of the trolls, who's homeland are the Fire Mountains in the south-eastern part of the Land, many thousand miles away.
Trolls however, being an extremely peacfull species, argued long over what course to take. In the first years many argued to simply wait it out. Even later most would argue to submit to avoid bloodshed. But with the passing of years, even the most peaceminded troll's mood turned darker. The human solders noticed the change in attitude towards them and responded with violence. Soon the first small fights broke out. Especially young trolls would attack human solders to scare them away. Many of them, young and strong as they were, overestimated the sturdiness of humans.
With the appearance of the first bodies, the human soldiers became even greater in number and even harsher in behaviour. They would round up whole clans like slaves, put them in chains and lead thm off, never to be seen again. Those who resisted where killed. Due to the often great distances or rough paths between clans, news of these incidents were always delayed. But still, clans soon began to come together for safety in numbers. Not that a single clan couldn't have easily fought of a whole regiment of human soldiers in the mountains. But still the trolls preferred to keep the peace, counting on the fear of the humans which kept them from attacking the larger settlements.
Within these settlements, councils were held. It had become clear that the godking sought to enslave all trolls. With no help coming from the other races, they had to choose between fighting and running. To keep the peace, many chose to leave their homeland behind to seek another home where they could live in peace. And so it came that two hundred years after the end of the great demonwar, the majority of the remaining trolls left their ancestral homeland.
For many years they wandered. At first the went to the hunchback hills but the humans there were unwilling to share their land. Then they went to the bordering hills but found the place barren, deserted and dead, the ground still soaked with the blood of many battles. So they turned north to the Grey Mountains with their deeply cloven valleys. But they found the slopes too steep even for their own kind and the northern side - where slopes where less steep - already settled by humans. Those would turn in fear at the sight of a wandering bands of trolls, calling them giants and monsters from afar and throw stones at them. This was not the first time the trolls had been called giants, especially by humans. As they moved on and where called this over and over again, the name finally stuck.
Turning east again they crossed the plains of grief where now light elves dwelt in sorrow. Whilst they at least did not fear the trolls and throw stones at them, they bade them to move on, for their sorrow and loss was too deep. So they came to the Red Rock Mountains, but they found the place haunted by lost souls that watched their every step with evil eyes. They continued into the Sundering Mountains. But here already many people had settled, mountain folk, refugees, dwarves. The humans here feared them as well for their size and appearance, whilst the dwarves would hunt them to keep them away from their secret valleys.
Leaving the sundering mountains they reached the Eastlands, wher wide plains stretched out seemingly forever and large caravans of gnomes and even larger herds of animals roamed freely. here tthere might have been enough land, but trolls had ever been mountain dwellers and they felt ill at ease in this wide and open land.
The moved on until they found another small mountain range, already teemig with humans and once more they were hunted with sticks and stones, called names such as demons or giants. They fled as quickly as their heavy legs would allow them.
At last they reached the Jangobi Mountains, a cold and hostile land, but untouched by evil or other mortals. Here the giants settled, those that still remained of them starting a new life. For many generations they would continue to tell tales of their ancestral homeland, where hot springs came gushing forth from mountain cracks, creating small pockets of warm and lush plant life. They would tell of the hot summers and cold winters where water from the hot pools was great for bathing and swimming. But they also made a new home where they were now, knowing that nature is harsh and unforgiving and cares little for whining and moaning.
Some decades after the giants arrival, the first humans began to settle on the southern slopes on the mountains as well, but they accepted the giants as part of the land now and kept their distance or neutral relations.
Although few know and even less care, they are descendants of the trolls, who's homeland are the Fire Mountains in the south-eastern part of the Land, many thousand miles away.
history
Long ago, during the days of the early Second Age, the trolls were only just beginning to recover from their losses they had suffered during the great demon war. And yet, when the messengers arrived from the Godking with the plea for help, some villages send help down to the lowlands. As the years passed, few returned, and those that did so telling of mistrust and maltreatment. And the pleas for help kept coming, every year less pleading and more demanding but never lessening in number. After some decades had passed, there was no more pleading. Soldiers would appear and demand the trolls pay their tribute to the godking in workers. Any questions after others that had gone before remained unanswered. Wandering trolls begann to disappear more and more often. Some trolls began to grumble at the treatment. Especially when the rumors spread of trolls being forced into war service.Trolls however, being an extremely peacfull species, argued long over what course to take. In the first years many argued to simply wait it out. Even later most would argue to submit to avoid bloodshed. But with the passing of years, even the most peaceminded troll's mood turned darker. The human solders noticed the change in attitude towards them and responded with violence. Soon the first small fights broke out. Especially young trolls would attack human solders to scare them away. Many of them, young and strong as they were, overestimated the sturdiness of humans.
With the appearance of the first bodies, the human soldiers became even greater in number and even harsher in behaviour. They would round up whole clans like slaves, put them in chains and lead thm off, never to be seen again. Those who resisted where killed. Due to the often great distances or rough paths between clans, news of these incidents were always delayed. But still, clans soon began to come together for safety in numbers. Not that a single clan couldn't have easily fought of a whole regiment of human soldiers in the mountains. But still the trolls preferred to keep the peace, counting on the fear of the humans which kept them from attacking the larger settlements.
Within these settlements, councils were held. It had become clear that the godking sought to enslave all trolls. With no help coming from the other races, they had to choose between fighting and running. To keep the peace, many chose to leave their homeland behind to seek another home where they could live in peace. And so it came that two hundred years after the end of the great demonwar, the majority of the remaining trolls left their ancestral homeland.
For many years they wandered. At first the went to the hunchback hills but the humans there were unwilling to share their land. Then they went to the bordering hills but found the place barren, deserted and dead, the ground still soaked with the blood of many battles. So they turned north to the Grey Mountains with their deeply cloven valleys. But they found the slopes too steep even for their own kind and the northern side - where slopes where less steep - already settled by humans. Those would turn in fear at the sight of a wandering bands of trolls, calling them giants and monsters from afar and throw stones at them. This was not the first time the trolls had been called giants, especially by humans. As they moved on and where called this over and over again, the name finally stuck.
Turning east again they crossed the plains of grief where now light elves dwelt in sorrow. Whilst they at least did not fear the trolls and throw stones at them, they bade them to move on, for their sorrow and loss was too deep. So they came to the Red Rock Mountains, but they found the place haunted by lost souls that watched their every step with evil eyes. They continued into the Sundering Mountains. But here already many people had settled, mountain folk, refugees, dwarves. The humans here feared them as well for their size and appearance, whilst the dwarves would hunt them to keep them away from their secret valleys.
Leaving the sundering mountains they reached the Eastlands, wher wide plains stretched out seemingly forever and large caravans of gnomes and even larger herds of animals roamed freely. here tthere might have been enough land, but trolls had ever been mountain dwellers and they felt ill at ease in this wide and open land.
The moved on until they found another small mountain range, already teemig with humans and once more they were hunted with sticks and stones, called names such as demons or giants. They fled as quickly as their heavy legs would allow them.
At last they reached the Jangobi Mountains, a cold and hostile land, but untouched by evil or other mortals. Here the giants settled, those that still remained of them starting a new life. For many generations they would continue to tell tales of their ancestral homeland, where hot springs came gushing forth from mountain cracks, creating small pockets of warm and lush plant life. They would tell of the hot summers and cold winters where water from the hot pools was great for bathing and swimming. But they also made a new home where they were now, knowing that nature is harsh and unforgiving and cares little for whining and moaning.
Some decades after the giants arrival, the first humans began to settle on the southern slopes on the mountains as well, but they accepted the giants as part of the land now and kept their distance or neutral relations.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Trolls in general use very few spoken words. To complement those, they heavily rely on signs, gestures, facial expression and body language. Whilst words, signs and gestures often change slightly between clans, body language and facial expression are usually widely understood.
Shared customary codes and values
peace
Trolls value peace. They believe in the glory of nature, where struggle and violence only exist in order to maintain natural balance, not for the unnatural gain of personal power and wealth. Early on in the history of the mortal races, trolls discovered that nature thrives on mutual support and have made this one of their core cultural principle. When during the Second Age some of them left their home, it were those who still kept this principle closest to their heart and it remained so in their new settlements in the north.Thoughtfulness
Whilst many consider them simple minded and dull, trolls are great listeners and consider each of their actions carefully, weighing all options with reason rather than flaring emotions.observation
Besides being great listeners, they are also great observers. This comes so naturally to them, that they even use very few spoken words but communicate rater by signs, gestures, facial expression and body language. And beyond observing each other, they also have a keen eye for observing nature, seeing patterns and understanding connections.respect
All trolls commonly have a low hierarchy and they care little for politics. In order to keep society functioning anyway, politeness and respect are pillars of the community.Average technological level
Although the first giants of the north still had the great skill in working obsidian as did all trolls, due to the lack of raw material this skill was nearly lost. Luckily for them, they discovered flintstone within some decades of their arrival, just in time for the skills to be passed on to the next generation.
Common Etiquette rules
Altough there are few ranks within giant society - or just because of that - there are some very important social rules:
do not stare
talk little but say much
respect your elders - if unsure always show respect as if the opposite was an elder
Art & Architecture
Trolls are masters in blending in with their surroundings. Most troll settlements can be passed through without noticing them as long as their inhabitants remain quiet and still. They often build small shelters from wood, stone and earth or inhabit small caves. This is less done as an intentional defence but more out of an internal believe that it one should rather blend in and become a part of nature than shaping and changing it to ones will.
Foods & Cuisine
Whereas trolls of the fire mountains had developed their cooking methods greatly with the common existence of hot water springs, the giants of the north had to return to cooking on fire. And whilst in the fire mountains the soil was poor and the climate harsh, it was by far even worse in the Jangobi mountains. Especially for the first generations, life was hard and food often scarce. But as so often, the trolls perseviered and through their skills of observations soon learned the trails of game and rather than just hunting them down they observed where and what they ate, soon cultivating the most promising plants for thei own food.
For their achievements, they take great pride in their food, yet remaining humble enough to greatly appreciate each meal. Wealth of clans in the north is often counted by the amount of food they have at the end of the long winter.
Common foods include:game
fish
grains
nuts
fruit
Whilst variety is often low, these giants of the north have learned to prepare a great variety of meals with them, making use of different processing ways and herbs and spices.
For their achievements, they take great pride in their food, yet remaining humble enough to greatly appreciate each meal. Wealth of clans in the north is often counted by the amount of food they have at the end of the long winter.
Common foods include:
Whilst variety is often low, these giants of the north have learned to prepare a great variety of meals with them, making use of different processing ways and herbs and spices.
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