Fire giant

Fire giants, called ildjotunen in their own language, were master craftsmen giants that lived in volcanic and mountainous environments.

Description
Fire giants stood around eighteen feet (five meters) tall and were dwarf-like in appearance. They tended towards orange or red hair and very dark skin. Adults weighed around 7,000 pounds (3,000 kilograms).

Personality
Fire giants often considered bravery as being one of the highest virtues anyone could and should have. They relished opportunities in which they could test their fortitude against formidable opponents.

Biology
Much like all giants, a fire giant could see and hear twice as far as the average human. Unique to their race were senses well adapted to high temperature environments. Their eyes in particular were capable of seeing through the hazes and shimmers often associated with such temperatures.

Abilities
Fire giants possessed an average affinity for runecasting as well as traditional sorcery. This affinity was superior to many of their kin, but paled in comparison to that of cloud and storm giants.

Combat
Although fire giants were immune to fire, some were particularly vulnerable to cold. A fire giant's vision was well adapted to cope with the shimmering associated with high temperatures.

Having had caltrops used against them one too many times, innovative fire giants developed boots made of either iron or dragonskin to protect their feet. These were typically covered in either fur or or leather in order to conceal the material from any crafty magic user that might think to use spells of cold or heat. It was rumored that some giants had become specialists in fighting with these boots.

Society
Fire giants lived in small family groups, called huslyder.

They preferred to dwell in hot environments like volcanic areas, either in caverns or castles, and existed in societies often led by a king or a queen.

Their clothing was usually flame-colored or black, and singed. Armor was generally made from steel. Fire Giants used magically flaming weapons whenever possible. They attacked with rocks heated in fire or lava to soften targets before engaging in melee.

Language
Fire giants were known to speak the general giant language Jotun, their own specialized version of it known as Jotunild, as well as common. However, they were often largely illiterate due to education being undervalued in their culture.

Religion
Like all giants, they were generally known to worship Annam All-Father and those that did viewed their lives as being one long opportunity to emulate him. But the chief deity of their faith was Annam's son, Surtur. Some many were also known to worship the giant goddess Hiatea.

Beyond the giant pantheon, many were known to worship to a lesser extent elemental fire, and by extension Kossuth, which they would show their devotion to by performing ritually performing complex and intricate dances along the edges of vast firepits and streams of lava. Tribes would sometimes invite visitors to join them in their dance, but the steam and heat involved often led other races to hallucinate and experience effects similar to that of the spell phantasmal killer.

Priests often held a role of leadership in fire giant communities, positions such as architect of forger. If such a position was not held then they were typically charged with making sure others in their tribe remained productive. This was largely achieved by composing inspiring tales that lauded the features of Gudheim, the crystal palace of Annam.

Relationships
Many fire giants, at least in the Ice Spires region, were known to enslave fomorians and verbeegs, as well as occasionally dwarves and gnomes. Slaves held the lowest role in their societal structures and were often treated with little dignity. They typically worked as laborers in their forges and strongholds.

Fire Giants were often hostage takers and took payments from less powerful creatures in their surrounding area in exchange for not attacking them.

They were known to occasionally forge alliances with, and even serve, red dragons. They were also known to domesticate hell hounds, keeping them as pets.

Notable Fire Giants

 * Gommoth, a cult leader who was shunned by his fellow giants for being so minuscule.
 * Zalto, the lord of the fire giants during the time of the ordning shattering.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Storm King's Thunder • The Pipes of Doom • Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage • Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
 * Card Games
 * Dragonfire (Shadows Over Dragonspear Castle)
 * Board games
 * Assault of the Giants
 * Novels
 * The Titan of Twilight
 * Video games
 * Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal • Gateway to the Savage Frontier • Icewind Dale • Neverwinter Nights • Pool of Radiance • Pools of Darkness • Secret of the Silver Blades