Fire Giants, also known as Ildjotunen in their ancient tongue, are a race of giants descended from the powerful Elementaris of Magma and Fire. These titans, embodiments of the raw, destructive forces of fire and molten earth, were once towering figures of chaos and power during the Second Age: Twilight of Creation. When the elder gods and the Dragon Realms sought to bring order to the world, they waged a great and terrible war against these primordial titans, eventually casting them down to prevent the world from being consumed by their elemental wrath. From the scattered and burning remains of these titans arose the Fire Giants, beings of immense strength, fiery temperaments, and a deep connection to the destructive power of flame.
The Fire Giants are the direct descendants of the Elemental Titans of Magma and Fire, who once roamed the earth during the early ages of creation, sowing destruction and chaos wherever they went. These titans were forces of nature, their very presence capable of igniting wildfires, causing volcanic eruptions, and boiling the seas. The elder gods, seeing the threat they posed to the fledgling world, banded together with the Dragon Realms to defeat these titans in a cataclysmic battle that reshaped the world.
Though the titans were ultimately defeated, their essence was too powerful to be entirely extinguished. Instead, their remnants, still brimming with elemental fury, gave birth to the Fire Giants. These giants inherited their forebears' strength and destructive capabilities, along with a deep-seated desire to dominate and reshape the world in their image.
Unlike some of their giant kin who sought peace or isolation, the Fire Giants were relentless in their pursuit of power and conquest. They waged numerous destructive raids on the Solir Empire to the south, seeking to expand their territory and subjugate those who lived under the sun. The Fire Giants' raids were marked by scorched earth tactics, leaving nothing but ash and ruin in their wake. They were feared across the lands for their brutality and the unstoppable infernos they brought with them.
Central to the Fire Giants' culture is the worship of Surtur, the ancient elemental titan who became a god after his banishment to the Unknown. Surtur was one of the mightiest of the Fire Titans, a being of pure, unrelenting flame. When the elder gods sought to rid the world of his influence, they cast him into the Plane of Fire, believing this would weaken him. However, the opposite occurred; in his banishment, Surtur's power grew as he became one with the flames he so revered.
Surtur is often depicted as a colossal fire giant, with flames crackling where his hair and eyebrows should be, and eyes that burn with the intensity of a thousand infernos. His weapon of choice is a greatsword wreathed in flame, said to be 15 feet (4.6 meters) in length, capable of cleaving mountains in two. He wears armor forged from molten magma, a testament to his dominion over the destructive power of fire.
To the Fire Giants, Surtur is more than just a god; he is the embodiment of their ideals. Surtur teaches that fire is pure, cleansing, and strong. It is a force that tests all, burning away the weak and leaving only the strong to survive. Fire is both a tool and a master, one that must be respected and feared. The Fire Giants believe that through fire, they can achieve greatness, purging the world of weakness and impurity.
The influence of Surtur over the Fire Giants is immense, particularly through figures like Unknown, a fervent worshipper of the fire deity who commands legions of Fire Giants in Surtur's name. The connection between the Fire Giants and Surtur is further strengthened by the thinned veil between The Sun Realm and the Plane of Fire, allowing Surtur's power to directly influence the mortal world. This connection is most evident in the volcanic and mountainous landscape of the Unknown that the Fire Giants call home, where the very earth itself seems to tremble with the god's fiery wrath.
Fire Giants are among the most imposing of the giant races, standing around 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and weighing over 7,000 pounds (3,200 kilograms). Their massive, broad bodies are reminiscent of dwarves in their stockiness, but their sheer size and power set them apart. Their skin is dark, almost coal-like in appearance, with the color of their hair ranging from flaming orange to deep red. Their eyes glow a fiery red, a reflection of the inferno that burns within them.
Fire Giants typically wear clothing that is either flame-colored or blackened by soot, and they often don armor forged from steel or the scales of dragons, further emphasizing their connection to fire and destruction. Their armor is not just for protection but is a symbol of their craftsmanship, as Fire Giants are renowned for their skill in forging weapons and armor of exceptional quality.
Fire Giants value strength and bravery above all else. To them, bravery is not just a virtue but a requirement for survival. They relish opportunities to test their mettle against formidable opponents, whether it be in battle or through trials of strength and endurance. Their society is hierarchical, with the strongest and most skilled warriors holding positions of power and influence.
Master craftsmen, Fire Giants take great pride in their ability to forge weapons and armor that are both beautiful and deadly. Their forges, often located deep within volcanic mountains, are legendary for producing some of the most powerful weapons known to the world. These weapons are not just tools of war but symbols of the Fire Giants' mastery over fire and metal.
The legacy of the Fire Giants is one of destruction and conquest. Their raids on the Solir Empire left a lasting mark on the world, burning entire cities to the ground and sowing fear in the hearts of their enemies. Even after the fall of the Elemental Titans, the Fire Giants continued to be a force of chaos, driven by their belief in the cleansing power of fire.
Today, the Fire Giants remain a formidable presence in the world, their numbers bolstered by their devotion to Surtur and their unyielding belief in their own superiority. They continue to wage war against those they deem weak, seeking to expand their dominion and spread the flames of Surtur's wrath across the world.