Giants are powerful beings that are native to the continent of Xen'drik. Once the rulers of a mighty empire during the Age of Giants, their civilization was destroyed by the dragons. They still roam the continent of Xen'drik, but their power has been vastly reduced.[2]
Description[]
Giants resemble humanoids in appearance but are much larger in size. The smallest modern giants stand about 16 feet tall, while the tallest reach up to 26 feet.[1]
Types[]
There are many different kinds of giants. These include:
- Cloud giants
- Death giants
- Fire giants
- Frost giants
- Hill giants
- Jungle giants
- Stone giants
- Storm giants
In addition, creatures like ogres and trolls are considered to be kin to the giants, but not true giants.[1]
History[]
Age of Giants[]
The giants first emerged as a major power about 80,000 years ago at the start of the Age of Giants, when they established a major civilization on the continent of Xen'drik.[3] These giants were much more powerful than modern-day giants, closer to titans than their modern counterparts.[4] Their civilization was large and powerful, but was also built on the backs of slave labor. The giants enslaved eladrin from the feyspire of Shae Tirias Tolai, creating the modern day race of elves.[5]
A giant performs an arcane ritual using elf blood.
About 60,000 years ago, the dragons made contact with the giant kingdoms and began teaching them the arcane arts. The giants gained mastery of the arcane, creating wondrous cities and items through their skills.[2][3][4][5] Modern magical techniques like Elemental binding and the creation of warforged can be traced back to giant magic.[6][7] The giants also established outposts on other continents, including in the Shadow Marches and Sarlona.[8]
Giant Empires[]
Scholars disagree over whether the giant kingdoms unified into a single empire, or had multiple empires and kingdoms existing at the same time.[9] Records of the ancient giants include the following groups.
The Cul'sir Empire was unique in creating an integrated society consisting of both cloud giants and storm giants, ruled by the titan Cul'sir from his throne in current-day Stormreach. They focused their resources on developing a thriving society, with large infrastructure projects and civil arcane research, leading to it becoming the preeminent civilization in Xen'drik for millennia leading up to the quori invasion.[10]
The Su'lat League were a group of fire giant mages skilled at elemental binding and other arcane techniques. They are credited with creating the drow and the Sulatar drow seek to imitate their magical skill.[11]
The Cor'dan Empire was one of the mightiest giant civilizations before the quori invasion. They were masters of schemas, docents and constructs.[12]
The Eshtarn Empire are noted for fielding cabals of storm giants against the quori that were capable of calling down lightning strikes on their foes.[13]
The Group of Eleven was a faction of giants that battled the quori.[14]
Fall of the Giants[]
40,000 years ago, the quori invaded the plane of Eberron from Dal Quor, the plane of dreams. After a war between the quori and the giants, the giants used their tremendous magical powers to sunder Dal Quor from Eberron, severing the invaders from their prize, but also causing terrific devastation to Xen'drik and one of Eberron's moons in the process.[2][3][4][5]
Despite their success, the giants never recovered from the war with the quori. Their elf slaves seized the opportunity to rebel against the giants, causing centuries more of conflict. In desperation, the giants turned once again to the magic they used to shatter Dal Quor, but they were stopped by the dragons, who eradicated their civilization and cursed the continent of Xen'drik. The elves fled to Aerenal, while the drow remained behind on Xen'drik.[2][3][5]
Present Day[]
Giants battling intruding adventurers in present-day Xen'drik
Today, the giants remain on Xen'drik, but as a shadow of their former selves, living among the jungle ruins of their own once-great civilization.[2][3] Most giants are organized into tribes, but a few larger factions of giants exist, such as the Battalion of the Basalt Towers, the Dominion of Purity, the Giants of Rusheme, and the Scriveners of the Sky.[15][16] In 946 YK, the Battalion of the Basalt Towers attacked the city of Stormreach but were repulsed.[17]
While most giants remain in Xen'drik, a few giants have made their way to other continents. Hill giants are among the residents of Droaam, while some stone giants live under the dragons in Argonnessen.[18][19]
Legacy[]
While the great days of the giants are over, their legacy can be found across Xen'drik in the form of ruins and artifacts. Their skill in magic also lives on with the elves of Aerenal and the drow, who learned magic in secret while slaves to the giants.[3][5][20]
Religion[]
Giants worship their own gods, but followers of the Sovereign Host and the Dark Six believe some of these gods are aspects of the Fury and the Mockery.[21]
Other giants make offerings to their ancient titan ancestors.[22]
Notable Giants[]
- Antaegus, an ancient giant imprisoned by Cul'sir who survived the destruction of Xen'drik.[23]
- The Arnaaracaex, a clan of stone giants who defend the city of Io'lokar in Argonnessen.[24]
- Gaulronak, a hill giant druid residing near Stormreach.[25][26]
- Gorodan Ashlord, a fire giant warlord in Droaam.[27][28][29]
- Jargret Gristrock, a stone giant guide in Stormreach.[30]
- Skyfather, the cloud giant patriarch of the Ancient Ones family in Pra'xirek.[31]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
- For the creature type, see Giants
External Links[]
- Giant article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014). Monster Manual (5th Edition). (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 149–156. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 139. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 224. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 76. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 101. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- ↑ David Noonan, Rich Burlew, & Frank Brunner (2005). Explorer's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 0-7869-3691-6.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 152. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 158. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 53. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
- ↑ David Noonan, Rich Burlew, & Frank Brunner (2005). Explorer's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 59. ISBN 0-7869-3691-6.
- ↑ David Noonan, Rich Burlew, & Frank Brunner (2005). Explorer's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 0-7869-3691-6.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 154. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 60. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 124–125. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 10. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 164. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Nicolas Logue, & Amber Scott (2007). Dragons of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-4154-5.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Stephen Schubert, and Chris Thomasson (2005). Magic of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 28–30. ISBN 0-7869-3696-7.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 33. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 158–159. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Nicolas Logue, & Amber Scott (2007). Dragons of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 43. ISBN 0-7869-4154-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 19. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 50. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 166–167. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 128. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 198. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 129–130. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
- ↑ David Noonan, Rich Burlew, & Frank Brunner (2005). Explorer's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 126–132. ISBN 0-7869-3691-6.