The Forgotten & Unknown of the East

     Early on, I wanted to do lesser known content and while most of the Warmachine player base was aware giants existed in-world, not much was widely known about them. The only real art for the giants was published in the 3.x DnD era of books and almost entirely in the two volumes of the original Monsternomicon (or even just the one, the second, depending on one's perspective). This was nevertheless fun to do and it covers the race I want to see more directly featured in the narrative, even if they don't see a minis release line. That they were included in the Monsternomicon felt more like 'hey, look at these cool-if-tremendously-tragic guys over here' rather than something which could be reasonably incorporated into a campaign, given their location in Immoren. With the Skorne being featured in the three (so far) DLCs of the 'Book of the East' series, the chances the Giants of Bemoth getting 'screentime-in-reference' (can't think of a more suitable turn of phrase) in the foreseeable future seems slim, which is a pity, but somewhat understandable. Nevertheless, I wouldn't mind getting to read more on them (nor would I mind getting to write something on them(!)).

    Welcome to Immoren - the Forgotten & Unkonw of the East [Bemoth], uploaded 4th August 2020

    Original script link - (Google doc)

    While the Khards of Khador have fanciful tales about how the blood of giants flows through their veins, they would not be so quick to boast of such things if they ever encountered a real one. Indeed, the Giants share more features with the Trollbloods than any human would consider comfortable knowing. Among mankind, only Professor Victor Pendrake, perhaps rather unsurprisingly, has had any direct encounter with a living giant. And it is through this Giant’s tales that much of what we know has been brought back to Western Immoren. However, Pendrake was already aware of the existence of the Giants from a donation to the Department of Extraordinary Zoology at the University of Corvis, which was the remains of Kohlasa. This Giant was once buried in a holy Morrowan tomb but subjected to necromantic forces thanks to the pure malevolence that resulted from the defilement of the church below which his mausoleum lay. Though now on display, he is honoured once more as he should have remained, surrounded by holy sigils as befits the remains of a Knight of the Prophet. An outcast of his people, Kohlasa came to Corvis having fled his homeland because of a dispute with his clan. Found to be of exceptionally mild demeanour, he impressed the people with his strength and will, carving out the land that became the city’s harbour with his bare hands. As he continued to reside in Corvis, he became a devout follower of Morrow and served as the city’s faithful guardian before dying, protecting his new home and neighbours from a titanic painted Tatzylwurm that he defeated with the last of his strength. Regrettably, such is his account, fifty years of life among the humans of Corvis, that it has gone by almost forgotten despite his uniqueness, a mere fable which would be laughed off as a child’s fairy story were it not for his remains that may be readily viewed.

    As for other such instances of Giants in the Iron Kingdoms that Pendrake happened upon, it’s not known whether Gorgolorbaramamiatt is related to the Giants or not, and if he is, how. A strange mutant of stature equal to the Giants, with the same distinctive thumb and two fingered hands, this Guardian Giant was markedly different for having six eyes on his head and one in each of his palms as well as being armoured in a style reminiscent of the Orgoth fashion.

    Thus, Pendrake’s first true encounter with a living Giant of Bemoth was with Chilon, when he ventured east and found himself among the Skorne. Chilon was a slave to these eastern Immorese, captured by northern warbands who previously had unsuccessful encounters with Giants, but managed to ambush Chilon and bring him to the Empire’s capital of Halaak where he remained as little more than a beast of burden. Thanks to many a long conversation with Pendrake, Chilon recounted much of his people’s history, society and legends.

    The fate of the Giants as they are now, in the Modern Era, is inexorably linked to dragons and the elves of Ios, though perhaps not in ways that we fully understand. The Cataclysm that destroyed the Empire of Lyoss not only devastated central Immoren and the Iosan ancestors, but also the Giants. While the elves and Giants were not known to have come into conflict that might have had lasting effect on either of their peoples, they both evolved in much the same way. After the Cataclysm, the elves enclosed themselves within the realm of Ios while the Giants coalesced in Bemoth, the last of their great cities, situated in north-east Immoren, in the shadow of the Suneater Mountains to the north and the Grinding Teeth Mountains to the west. It lay separated from the Skorne Realms by the Valley of Kornash, which was sparsely populated, except by scattered groups of Efaarit and even more scattered Skorne, due to the presence of the Shroudwall Mountains which served as the natural northern frontier for the newly settled Skorne people. However, while the elves were still able to prosper, the Giants were less fortunate as they have forgotten just how long they have persisted while declining in numbers. Pendrake estimated that there are no more than a few hundred of them left, rendered on the verge of extinction by some unknown affliction that made many infertile and female births heartbreakingly rare. Effective immortality is no comfort to them, and more so is the case that they are one of the only races in Immoren capable of fighting dragons with any chance of defeating them, even if on still unequal terms.

    But the defeat of a dragon is something they have indeed accomplished. One of their greatest heroes is Hekor, whose legendary deeds date back to something along the lines of 2800 BR. Led by Hekor, the Giants fought and vanquished Erdross, known as the Oceandrinker, the Baleblight, or, more pertinently to the Giants, Bemoth’s Curse. This dragon had been plaguing the Giants for up to three millennia, as far back as when Toruk first divided his heartstone to spawn his progeny. Thus, it is understandably a legend without peer among the Giants that they brought Erdross down. However, here, Hekor’s legend is tainted by tragedy as the Giants could never have known the true nature of a dragon’s athanc. After almost countless attempts to destroy it, Erdross’ athanc was finally cleaved in two by Hekor at the cost of his sword. Ignorant of what its consequences might be, the Giants threw the athanc fragments into a volcano, from which were born Charsaug and Ashnephos. Though the destruction these new dragons wrought was terrible, Hekor marshalled the Giants defences and remained a stolid bulwark against this new threat. And despite earning the title of Champion of Bemoth, Hekor cuts a tragic figure armed with sword and pila, clad in worn splinted armour and bearing his plain round shield#. Thus equipped, Hekor has, for three and a half thousand years or so, stoically and diligently led the defence of his people not only against the draconic threat posed by the twins, but also against the Great Chimera, a morphing beast of shared draconic origin whose athanc was irreparably damaged by the Cataclysm. It is thus fortunate for him that he is loyally aided by his brother-in-arms, Ajaxus.

    Whether or not Ajaxus and Hekor are indeed blood brothers or instead oath sworn brothers, we may never be sure, owing to our general ignorance of Giant culture’s more intimate details and their lingual nuances. Nevertheless, these two Giants aid each other as their relationship would suggest, not only through respect and trust, but necessity. Where these two lead, the Giants will follow. But while Hekor is the Giants’ Champion, it is Ajaxus who is their lord and king. He is also their chief priest, the chosen representative on Caen of their god, Monloeth, the Masked Giant Above the Mountains. In Giant lore, Monloeth was first recorded battling a great serpent and the peaks of the volcanoes through which their conflict passed cut open his feet for fifty steps. The blood that issued from his wounds spilled onto the earth below, where, blessed and cared for by the Earth Mother, Shebess, it became the first fifty Giants. Their mythical name of Hekatonkheires has been passed down on to Ajaxus as a title of honour and respect. This marks a great deal of commonality with the creation myths of humanity and other races of Immoren who worship Menoth, Dhunia and the Devourer Wurm. However, the Giants firmly believe that the Great Serpent is the ultimate creator of the dragons, something unconfirmed among human theologians and scholars. No matter how their beliefs may coincide with those of the Western Immorese though, Ajaxus stands side by side with Hekor, his only purpose and desire being to protect his people, but having done so for so many millennia, he has become a tempestuous individual, the subject of his followers’ love and fear. But as the chief priest of the Giants, where he goes, he is accompanied by a retinue who ensure his safety, though he is adamant in sharing the perils that face his people in battle.

    Separate from their leaders, the Giants have their more solitary heroes too, those who prefer direct action because of their unquenchable hatred towards dragons that remain a threat after so many years. One such hero is Oulixes, a tracker and hunter of incomparable renown among the Giants. When Erdross was defeated, Oulixes retrieved a tooth from the fallen foe, crafting it into a spearhead that he uses on his hunts even now, complimenting a keen and remarkable bow, also of his own making. He is driven by vengeance, for his village was destroyed by Ashnephos when he arose from the remains of his progenitor Erdross. To better hunt his draconic nemeses, Oulixes learned every peak, every valley and every contour of the Suneater Mountains, able to take advantage of the shadows and the light to come and go undetected by other creatures of the slopes. No individual living creature appears to have quite the ability or even willingness, however eager, to hunt the dragons as him. Like Hekor and Ajaxus, Oulixes is counted by Chilon as one among a select group of Giants who possess what he calls the Blessings of Shebess.

    As for Chilon himself, he does not regard himself a hero in the least. Rather, like his counterpart, Pendrake, he is a scholar, and also an archaeologist. He was studying the lost cities of the Empire of Lyoss and the many ruins of eastern Immoren when he was captured a little north of the Shroudwall Mountains, possibly in the southern parts of Scyfylar in the only recorded victorious encounter the Skorne has had with Giants. In him, we learn of the diversity of Giant culture, but also their great intellect. When Pendrake first sought to speak with Chilon, the Giant impressed the human by attempting to communicate in a multitude of languages that Pendrake, of all people, did not understand or even know existed. Shockingly, they settled on Shyr, the language of the Iosans, mixed with the Skorne language when Pendrake was sufficiently fluent in it. It is from this and the lack of elven lore on conflict with the Giants that we can reasonably gather that the elves of Lyoss and the Giants had no lasting enmities, if any enmities at all. But generations of Iosans have lived and died while many of the same Giants of those ancient days persist, so it should come as little surprise to any that the language of the Giants is unknown to all but themselves. Nonetheless, Chilon is an example of the studious professor, better suited to the lecture hall or dig sites, who prefers his research over the company of his peers. He nonetheless displays characteristic Giant stubbornness and resilience, for try as they might, the Skorne cannot tempt, goad or coerce Chilon to serve them in war and it is well for all that he does not take up arms.

    In aggregate, his stories and anecdotes to Pendrake, tell of a besieged people doomed to destruction and while the Blessings of Shebess imbue great power and magic to their heroes, there is only so much they can do to protect those they fight for and alongside. These Blessings reflect the heart of each Giant, manifesting in what is required from them most such that they are clearly supernatural, even for such a race as the Giants. Ajaxus possesses divine magic with power over stone and earth, Hekor becomes an irresistible force in battle with sword, shield and javelin while Oulixes can channel his hatred of dragon-kind to become a peerless ambusher, his every attack piercing all they touch. But this is not to say that those without such Blessings are easy pickings for an intrepid monster hunter. Even Chilon, though no fighter, is a creature of great strength, courage and endurance despite his indentured servitude. Giants, without exception, are three to four times the height of a normal human, and almost immune to lasting injuries in the same manner as the Trollbloods, able to swiftly and fully recover from the loss of a limb with little apparent cost. Similarly, they are unaffected by many magics that would be debilitating to smaller denizens of Immoren. And even though they themselves have no idea about their own life expectancies, they are as immortal as the gods as far as humans are concerned. Hekor himself is the better part of six thousand years old, and the others are of comparable age. Chilon, too, has no indication, however vague, of his own age, this being a seemingly alien concept to Giants in general. Despite this, and perhaps because of it, the lack of young Giants is a source of great concern to them, and the consequence is an overprotectiveness that borders on paranoia about the safety of Bemoth, their home, and the people within. And thus, like their former elven neighbours, the Giants do not take kindly to uninvited visitors, killing any and all who stray too close to Bemoth. And also like their former elven neighbours, their efforts may, eventually, all be for nothing.

    One must wonder, then, at what Immoren would look like, if they could, by some miracle, recover their numbers and venture abroad.