I am not entirely sure the history behind the different types of giants found in the various Bestiaries for PnP RPGs. Were they just the natural consequence of using multiple names for the same creatures to represent different monsters to fight? Or are there myths of Cloud Giants I’m unaware of? As far as I know the idea of giants is somewhat universal, although it seems the more Nordic interpretations of them are the most popular – outside of the general fantasy trope of big dumb man eaters.
Cloud giants seem interesting in that they’re depicted as focused rather heavily on society, appearance, and culture. Which is generally not the case, in my experience, with most ‘giant-kin’ races. I’ve found them usually presented as less intelligent, and more primitive. Although I can’t say that I really used those aspects in my ideas, per say. Although I really liked the idea of “giant floating sky cities”.
Also say hello to our first guest writer, Lev. His idea was really well done – dare I say better than mine.
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A small village which has no name lives in the shadow of a great mountain. Atop this mountain lives a peaceful ivory giant of great wisdom. The coming of age ritual for the men of this blossoming, yet primitive, community requires seeking out the giant, solving one of it’s riddles, and in exchange for a correct answer – they may ask it a single question. But they may not help those who have not yet attempted the trek towards the summit. The only thing the men will speak of, is the beautiful music they heard as they approached the giant’s dwelling high atop the frosted peak.
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The name Jhothe was heralded as a liberator, a mythical hero, upheld by all those who witnessed his triumph over the domineering giant. His foe had been victimizing Jhothe’s people for years, demanding tribute in exchange for their lives. Those who refused to pay his tax were wounded, killed, or had their homes and livelihoods destroyed by the foul creature. Until Jhothe slew the fiend, freeing his people from the giant’s grip. Jhothe the Hero, Jhothe the Giant Slayer, Jhothe the Great… Jhothe the Fool, Jhothe the Vile Wretch, The Cursed Slayer… All was not jubilant for long… After some time another giant appeared on the horizon, wailing out a name no one knew. His screams piercing the spirits of those who heard his shrieking. Jhothe met the giant in the field, but was quickly strewn about in pieces. Seeing their hero ripped asunder, the people hid in their houses as the weeping giant walled off their village with large stones and massive tree trunks. Those who tried to run were caught and maimed… The blue skinned colossus insures none can escape the prison he wrought, either through flight or death. Now the people pay a darker tithe of their children’s flesh and blood to their new self imposed god.
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A perpetual storm rages far off the coast of Paragyntha, like a white-gray mountain growing up out of the horizon. The storm’s clouds billowing and boiling, ever shifting their form. Lightning silently cracking reaching out from the center of the storm like the branches of a massive tree. Some have attempted to sail to the natural phenomenon, but none have been able to reach their destination without dying or needing to turn back. Some days, through looking glasses, people claim they can make out the gilded tops of spires poking out from the clouds. Perhaps distance and the ocean’s reflection playing tricks on the eyes. The mystery of the ever present storm reaching far and wide. One day the storm began to dissipate, the winds from it’s stationary front dying down. As the clouds fell away, a massive marble city adorned in gold and jewels floating over the ocean’s horizon came into view. That day a thousand ships set sail.
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Guest entry provided by “Lev”
The castle town of Denslith had once been renowned for its strong walls and ample resources, being a major stop for merchants on one of the country’s main trade routes. That was, until the Triumvirate arrived. Three particularly massive cloud giants came rumbling over the hillside, dressed in strange blue wool suits, embroidered in gold, adorned with white frills at the wrist and collar. The giants were unfettered by the great castle walls, and quashed any opposition raised by the townsfolk with brutal, unyielding force, before setting themselves as the new rulers of Denslith. The populace, terrified of meeting the same fate as the town guard, quickly submitted to their demands, which not only included total servitude, but new social and cultural rules and standards. Within a few years, the townsfolk dressed like their posh overlords, spoke like them, and revered them as their lords. Despite the great power the giants possess, it has been ages since they first arrived in Denslith. They have grown fat and complacent off of the towns livestock, have drained the towns coffers purchasing tea from the travelling merchants (who were nonplussed at the change in administration), and spend more time bickering amongst themselves over obscure philosophy texts from an age long passed than they do ruling their subjects. The townsfolk find themselves split on what the next course of action is to be; some advocate for overthrowing the stagnant giants, some suggest imploring them to try and help the town’s stagnating economy instead of leeching off of it, and almost as many believe that nothing needs to be done now; the giants no longer kill anyone, their demands are simple, and they have arguably made the town more “civilized” than it ever was before.
I found the artwork in a thread on /wg/ and don’t know who to attribute it to.
The Menagerie 