Homebrew Jotunn Species Details

Jotunn dwell in high peaks and glacial rifts where the sun hides its golden head by winter. Crops don’t grow in their frozen homelands, and they keep little livestock due to their strong inclination to hunt the wild game of the tundra and mountains. Like the Frost Giants they are descended from, their war horns can be heard for miles as they march from their ice villages and glacial rifts amid the howling blizzard. Unlike their ancestors of old, Jotunn are not known to raid the villages of the south, and instead take comfort in the subzero solitude of the north. Respecting brute strength above all else, a Jotunn's place in the ordning depends on evidence of physical might, such as superior musculature, scars from battles of renown, or trophies fashioned from the bodies of slain enemies.

Driven Competitors

Every day brings a new challenge to a Jotunn. Food and dry shelter are rare in the uppermost arctic reaches. A single mistake can bring doom to an entire kin-group, while an individual’s heroic effort can ensure the entire kin-group's survival.

Jotunn thus place a premium on self-sufficiency and individual skill. They have a compulsion to keep score, counting their deeds and tallying their accomplishments to compare to others. Jotunn love to win, but they see defeat as a motivator to become stronger.

This dedication to competition has a down-side. Jotunn are ferocious competitors and will even engage in 'infighting' within the kin-group. Despite the brutal life of a Jotunn, many grow to old age due to their incredible resilience and durability.

Respect

For Jotunn, respect is a paramount ideology passed down through the generations. A fair amount of respect is given to those a Jotunn may meet, but true respect is earned through battle and competition. Trials one meets on the battlefield or in competition measures talent, dedication, and effort. Those factors determine survival in their arctic home, and although Jotuun rely on their strength first and foremost, they are not above using magic, weapons or tools to accomplish victory.

This trait manifests most strongly when Jotuun interact with other folk. Everyone they meet is deserving of respect, but those who show true strength of will and of body will gain a Jotunn's friendship. Those who show cowardice and weakness will anger a Jotuun, due to the disgust they feel towards those lowly qualities. If enough cowardice, weakness or cruelty is shown, it can throw them into an unbridled fit of rage.

Resilience

Among Jotunn, any adult who won't contribute to the kin-group and is not an elder, is expelled. Jotunn have little pity for rebellious adults, but much respect for those who contibute to the strength and well-being of the kin-group as a whole. Any who can’t take care of themselves, whether they be sick, injured or an elderly individual is treated, as a result of the Jotunn's deep respect for the kin-group.

In some ways, the Jotuun are similar to their cousins the goliath, whose drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. However, unlike a goliath, who would much rather die in battle, at the peak of strength and skill, than endure the slow decay of old age, the resilience of the Jotunn keep them going like the harsh storms of the arctic. Many keep their strength even up till their inevitable death due to old age.

Because of each kin-group's population of elders, Jotunn are able to pass down much experience and wisdom to newer generations. What Jotuun make up for in resilience as they grow older, they lack when it comes to reproducing. Jotunn kin-groups often suffer from a chronic abundance of still-births due to the harsh conditions of the arctic, this in combination with their longevity keep their numbers rather small.

Jotunn Names

Every Jotunn has two names in life: a birth name assigned by the newborn’s mother and father, then a kin-group name assigned by the group Jarl (strongest and most accomplished Elder).

Jotunn see females and males as equal in all things, and they find societies with roles divided by gender to be puzzling or worthy of mockery, due to this every name has a male and female version. To a Jotunn, the person who is best at a job should be the one tasked with doing it.

A Jotunn's kin-group name is given by the Jarl upon the adolescent proving that they have entered into adulthood. This name usually has to due with a characteristic or trait that best suits the new adult.

Names: Male: Fulvragg, Helmskag, Oraldr, Oskorri, Skane, Svolm, Ulfur, Uttir, and Valkurl. Female: Folka, Gauthild, Geira, Grymra, Haelgra, Helmra, Hrimma, Imbra, Magra, and Vulkara.

Jotunn Traits

Jotunn share a number of traits in common with each other.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 3, and your Constitution score increases by 2. Your Dexterity decreases by 1.

Age

Jotunn have lifespans much longer than their Goliath conterparts. They enter adulthood in their late twenties or early thirties, and usually live around 300 years on average.

Size

Jotuun are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 300 and 500 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Natural Athlete

You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Arctic Fortitude

You can tense your muscular frame to occasionally stonewall incoming damage. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d8. Add your Strength modifier, to the number rolled and reduce the damage by that total. This trait can be used three times, however once depleted, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest. This trait cannot be used to defend against fire damage.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Frost Blood

You have immunity to cold damage. You’re also acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. Due to your harsh arctic upbringing, any distance that you would be blown or pushed back is halved. Any type of heat can be very uncomfortable for Jotunn, who suffer a weakness to flame.

Low-Light Vision

Due to your aversion to fire, Jotunn do not use artificial light sources and instead are adept at seeing in poor conditions.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Giant and one rare language of your choice, due to the knowledge of each kin-group being passed down through thousands of years.