Cloud Giants, known as Skyejotunen in their ancient tongue, are a noble and reclusive race of giants who trace their ancestry back to the powerful Elementaris of Air, particularly the powerful Ymir. These titans, beings of unfathomable power and ethereal majesty, once roamed the skies and the heavens during the Second Age: Twilight of Creation, their very essence embodying the primal forces of wind, storm, and sky. When the Dragon Realms and the elder gods sought to bring balance to the chaos that the Titans threatened to unleash, the Titans were vanquished, and from their scattered essence, the Cloud Giants were born.
Unlike many of their kin who inherited the fury and wrath of their primordial ancestors, the Cloud Giants sought to live dignified and serene lives, far removed from the wars and struggles of mortals and other giants. They embodied the grace and tranquility of the skies, favoring a life of contemplation, artistry, and introspection high above the world. Their connection to the Elemental Titans of Air granted them an innate understanding of the winds and weather, allowing them to shape the skies around their towering abodes.
The first Cloud Giants were born from the remains of the Air Titans, inheriting their celestial nature and desire for a peaceful existence. They were one of the few true giants who saw the futility of war and strife, choosing instead to create magnificent cities among the clouds where they could live in harmony with the world around them.
Cloud Giants are among the tallest of the giant races, standing at an impressive 24 feet (7.3 meters) in height. Their immense bodies, weighing around 11,500 pounds (5,220 kilograms), are marked by handsome and well-defined features, reflecting the regal and dignified nature of their race. Their skin varies in color from milky white to light sky blue, evoking the ever-changing hues of the sky. Their hair is typically silvery white or brass, and their eyes shimmer with an iridescent blue, mirroring the endless expanse of the heavens.
In keeping with their noble lineage, Cloud Giants favor clothing made from the finest materials, often adorned with intricate jewelry. Unlike their more warlike kin, they do not typically wear heavy armor, preferring instead to don or carry items enchanted with powerful protective magic. When they do wear armor, it is usually a chain shirt, light and flexible, allowing them to move with the grace of the wind.
One of the most distinctive features of Cloud Giant nobility is their collection of exquisite masks. These masks, made of precious metals and adorned with gemstones, are worn to emulate ancient depictions of their primordial gods. The act of wearing a mask is a deeply ingrained tradition among Cloud Giant nobles, symbolizing their connection to their divine ancestors. The masks are also used to reflect the wearer's mood, with the most skilled craftsmen able to create masks that capture even the subtlest of emotions. Nobles might change masks multiple times a day to express their feelings, with the richest among them owning dozens of masks to cover the full range of human emotion.
Cloud Giants are a people of refinement and dignity, preferring to live in majestic cities nestled among the clouds. These cities are often built atop floating islands or mountain peaks, unreachable by most mortals and even other giants. The architecture of Cloud Giant cities is a testament to their artistic sensibilities, with grand towers, sweeping arches, and delicate bridges that seem to defy gravity.
Their society is structured around a deep respect for knowledge, art, and the natural world. Cloud Giants are skilled artisans, musicians, and scholars, dedicating their long lives to the pursuit of beauty and wisdom. They are also known for their deep connection to the skies, with many Cloud Giants becoming powerful weather-mages or seers who can read the future in the patterns of the clouds.
Despite their reclusive nature, Cloud Giants are not entirely indifferent to the world below. They often act as benevolent overseers, quietly guiding the weather and the winds to ensure the prosperity of the lands they watch over. However, they do so from a distance, preferring to remain unseen and undisturbed in their lofty abodes.
The Cloud Giants stand as living reminders of the majesty and power of the Air Titans from whom they descend. Their serene and dignified way of life is a direct reflection of the Titans' desire for peace and harmony, a desire that has shaped the Cloud Giants' existence for millennia.
Though they have largely remained aloof from the conflicts that have shaped the world, the Cloud Giants' influence can still be felt in the gentle breezes and the calm skies that they oversee. They are a race that has chosen to rise above the chaos of the world, living in harmony with the forces of nature that they embody.
In the modern age, the Cloud Giants continue to uphold the traditions of their ancestors, guarding the skies and the winds with quiet dignity. They are a testament to the enduring power of the Air Titans and a reminder of the beauty and tranquility that can be found even in the most turbulent of times.