Geography Dangers of Jotunheim

“One of the kingdoms I strode along was Jotunheim, land of
the Jotnar. Whether they are storm giants or frost giants, cursed
be this race.” Harbard started. “May Thor send them back home,
to the East!” Bjorn and Thorbrand answered as one, laughing.
“May he hear you!” their host replied, smiling. “We should
not forget that god’s mother is one of their kind though…” The
two men stopped suddenly and lowered their heads toward the
bowl of smoking soup the old man had given them.
“No matter what type they are, giants are wild creatures
and it takes a god to deal with them.” he resumed cheerfully.
“However they are primordial forces. They were standing next
to the gods at the beginning of the world, and will also be present
at the end of everything. They cannot be ignored, or forgotten.”
“Let’s also not forget” the impish skald added, “that they
are the cause of Thor’s most bitter failure”.
“Who then learned that magic and cunning always
overcome brute strength” the old man replied. On that note,
Bjorn the berserker grunted and everyone busted out laughing.
Forest, Jarnvior, where giant wolves, winter wolves (see
the Yggdrasill Core Rulebook, page 183) and their mother
Arnvidia live. Arnvidia (the ‘giant-witch’) is one of the
names of Angrboda (the one who brings grief), mother of
Fenris, Hel and Jörmungand.
The storm giant caves can be found in the north-east
mountains. These mountains form a chain, the peaks of
which are forever covered in snow. There, pine trees are as tall
as sequoias (150 to 240 feet). The flora is mostly composed
of primordial forests. Days and nights end abruptly, with
barely any dawn or twilight. Frequent and violent storms as
well as rainfalls often catch travellers by surprise. It is best
to find shelter as fast as possible. Large cities such as Utgard
stand on top of Jotunheim’s snowy mountains. Rumour has
it that many beings from the Nine Worlds meet there (alfar,
gods, dvergar, jotnar, and so forth) to feast, brawl and do
business. No human being has ever witnessed this.
Dangers of
Jotunheim
Geography
“In the east sat an old woman in Iron-wood
and nurtured the offspring of Fenris”
–Voluspa
Jotunheim is located to the north-east of Midgard.
To the North live the frost giants, to the East lies the Iron
Jotunheim is not as cold as Niflheim, but the conditions
are harsh nevertheless, especially during thunder and snow
storms. If characters are unprepared and fail to seek shelter
(especially in northern and eastern Jotunheim) they may
not survive. For cold damage, use the rules in the Yggdrasill
Core Rulebook on page 138.
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Old Worlds - Jotunheim
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Jotnar and
Hrimthursar, the
Children of Ymir
Just like the cold they embody, they are adversaries of
life. Because of this Thor (men’s favourite god) hates and
fights them, ever pushing them back to the North and East.
It is neither possible to converse nor negotiate with
them. Hatred blinds them, and their famed might is of
divine nature. Female hrimthurs are just as wild and behave
similarly toward both gods and men.
Typical Frost Giant
Conflict 20/10
Mental 4
“How fare the Aesir, how fare the Alfar?
Why comst thou alone to Jotunheim?”
– Thrymskavida
The jotnar (also called storm or mountain giants) and
the hrimthursar (or frost giants) are all descendants of Ymir;
the primordial being who was killed by Odin and whose
body was used to create Midgard, the Sky and the Earth. The
jotnar are more sociable, to a point, than the hrimthursar.
Although they do often fight the Aesir and especially Thor
(who pushes the eastern borders of Jotunheim ever farther),
their women sometimes marry the gods, but rarely make
meek or obedient wives!
The hrimthursar are more primitive and violent, and closer
to the original primal chaos (making them somewhat hostile
to life). The jotnar are more down to earth and enjoy good
food, ale and mead. It is important not to forget the great size
of these creatures (between 3 to 12 metres high) and that the
jotnar despise humans by nature. Keep in mind that giants are
primordial deities who embody the nature’s savagery.
Frost Giants, the
Deadly Cold
“Fares Hrym from the east,
holding his shield…”
– Voluspo
Relationships 5
Mystical 8/12
Physical 13
Vitality 30
Traits: Armed, Aura of Cold (2), Multiple Attacks (2),
Multiple Defences (2), Natural Armour (9), Immunity
(Cold), Terror (6), Ravager, Vulnerability (Fire).
Powers: Breath of Ice, Frost Armour, Frost Storm, Ride the
Mist, Seidr (3), Shape the Ice.
Frost Giant Chieftain
(For example Bölthorn (Odin’s grandfather on his mother’s
side), or Bergelmir, Ymir’s grandson)
Body: Strength 13 Vigour 13
Agility 4
Spirit: Intellect 4
Perception 4
Tenacity 13
Soul: Charisma 3 Instinct 6
Com. 3
Reaction: 14
Movement: 17
Encumbrance: 39
Physical Defence: 23 Mental Defence: 23
Hit Points: 129 (64/32/-32)
Furor Pool: 11
Armour: 12 Armour
Skills: Athletics 10, Eloquence 6, Dodge 8, Intimidation 10,
Languages (all), Sagas 11, Search 10, Tactics 6, Vigilance 7,
Seidr 10, Long Weapons 14, Pole Arms 12, Throw 8.
Combat Feats: Impetuous Charge (1), Knock-out (2),
Smash the Shield (2).
Traits: Armed, Aura of Cold (2), Immunity (Cold),
Multiple Attacks (2), Multiple Defences (2), Terror (8),
Ravager, Vulnerability (Fire).
Powers: Breath of Ice, Frost Armour, Frost Storm, Ride the
Mist, Seidr (4), Shape the Ice.
Equipment: Ice Axe (Dmg 20 + 1D10).
Enemies of the gods, the frost giants or hrimthursar
(singular hrimthurs), have the negative rune for their
symbol. They live in the northern part of Jotunheim and
sometimes venture into Niflheim and Midgard (in the
northernmost part of Norway). They are descendants of
Ymir and nourish their hatred of the Aesir who murdered
their ancestor. This hatred extends to mankind, which was
created by those same gods.
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Old Worlds - Jotunheim
Jotnar, the
Mountain Giants,
the Devourers
The name of these giants originates from the word
‘devour’, and their appetite is on a par with their size.
Although they do not mind eating human prey, they are not
solely anthropophagous.
More sociable then their frozen cousins, they do not
hesitate to attack if they are made suspicious or disrespected.
Jotnar women, less gregarious than the men but just as
dangerous, are often quite pretty. They dress in more civilised
styles and can actually be quite graceful. They are the gods’
first choice for spouses, whereas Aesir and Vanir goddesses
are reluctant to marry a giant (see insert about Thor and his
feats). Be wary not to irk or underestimate them though,
as they wield an axe just as well as their male counterparts.
Giants are between 3 and 12 meters tall. Their physical power
alone makes them fearsome adversaries, however they are
also feared for their guile. Their bouts of anger lead them to
ravage everything in their surroundings. While some jotnar
can be civilised they are all primal and passionate creatures.
Do no depict them as stylish or urbane, they are far from it.
Typical Jotnar
Conflict 14/8
Mental 2
Relationships 2
Mystical 2/4
Physical 14
Vitality 22
Traits: Armed, Multiple Attacks (2), Multiple Defences (2),
Natural Armour (6), Terror (6), Ravager.
Powers: Invisibility, Ride the Mist, Seidr (3), Shape-shifter,
Runes (3).
Jotnar Chieftain (For example, Bergfinn or Thrym)
Body: Strength 14
Spirit: Intellect 3
Soul: Charisma 2
Vigour 10
Perception 2
Instinct 2
Agility 2
Tenacity 10
Com. 2
Reaction: 7
Movement: 13
Encumbrance: 38
Physical Defence: 15 Mental Defence: 15
Hit Points: 117 (58/29/-29)
Furor Pool: 11
Armour: 10 Armour
Skills: Athletics 10, Dodge 7, Intimidation 8, Runes 12,
Sagas 9, Search 10, Tactics 5, Vigilance 7, Seidr 14, Long
Weapons 12, Pole Arms 12, Throw 8.
Combat Feats: Impetuous Charge (1), Knock-out (2),
Smash the Shield (2).
Traits: Armed, Multiple Attacks (2), Multiple Defences (2),
Terror (6), Ravager.
Powers: Invisibility, Ride the Mist, Runes (5), Seidr, (5),
Shape-shifter.
Equipment: Long Axe
Thor in Jotnar land
Although he is the son of the giantess Jörd, Thor
relentlessly attacks the Jotnar, but not always without
good reason. Here is one of the many tales of his
adventures and battles with the giants:
One morning, Thor notices that his famous hammer
Mjolnir has disappeared. He asks Loki about this, and
they both ask Freya to loan them hawk feathers so as
to be able to take the form of birds and search for the
hammer. Loki takes off and flies to Jotunheim in order
to locate the missing weapon. He finds Thrym (the
Noisy), a Jötunn, bragging about the theft who claims
he has buried it deep underground. He will only give it
back if he can marry the beautiful Freya, whom gods
and giants alike lust after.
Loki reports the news to Thor, and the two of
them ask the beautiful Freya to marry Thrym. She, of
course, refuses, and is somewhat angered by so much
insolence. Heimdall suggests that Thor disguises himself
to impersonate the goddess and recover the hammer.
Afraid of the ridicule and opprobrium surrounding
men dressing as women, Thor initially refuses. However
the other Aesir know that Mjolnir must be recovered to
protect Asgard from Jotnar invasions.
So, under protest, Thor, disguised as Freya, leaves
on his flying chariot, with Loki who is disguised as a
handmaiden. Upon their arrival, Thrym is fooled by
the disguise and delighted to see them, welcoming
them warmly. He organises a wedding banquet right
away. However, during the feast, he is surprised by his
bride’s gluttony (who eats an ox, eight salmons and
drinks three barrels of mead) and by her fierce stare
through her veil when Thrym tries to kiss her. As usual,
Loki has a good answer for everything and saves the
situation. He tells Thrym that Freya’s desire to come to
Jotunheim is so strong that she has been very nervous
and unable to eat, drink or sleep for eight days.
Desiring to settle his bride’s nerves before their
marriage, and to seal the union, Thrym lays Mjolnir
on his bride’s lap. Unable to hide his joy in recovering
his hammer, Thor unveils himself and slaughters the
whole Jötunn family that had gathered for the wedding.
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