Cloud giant

Cloud giants, called Skyejotunen in their own language, were a race of giants who preferred living among the clouds.

Description
The bodies of cloud giants often displayed handsome and well-defined features. Their skin ranged in color from milky white to light sky blue. Their hair was silvery white or brass, and their eyes were iridescent blue.

They often dressed in clothing made of the finest material and jewelry. Rather than wearing any form of armor, they preferred to wear or carry things enchanted with protective magic.

Personality
Cloud giants considered themselves to be above all other giant races, with the exception of storm giants whom they considered their equals.

Cloud giants were highly creative, masters at strategizing, and had great appreciation for music. Many of them considered appearance to be reflective of ones station in life, thus the more clothing and jewelry that was owned the more prestigious one was thought to be by cloud giants.

Biology
Cloud giants had vision that extended into the infrared, (although this was not infravision,) which allowed them to see particularly well through fog and cloud. They also had an excellent sense of smell.

Abilities
Cloud giants all possessed some control over their namesake, being able to summon forth a cloud of fog and mist at will.

Cloud giants were known to innately have a high affinity for runecasting as well as traditional sorcery.

Combat
As they were often skilled in strategizing, cloud giants often fought with other creatures in well-organized units under a carefully developed plan of attack. A typical tactic among them was encircling an enemy and barraging them with rocks to distract from the spellcasters among them.

When it came to close quarters combat, they were known to favor the use of greatclubs and morningstars that were appropriately sized for their use.

Society
Cloud giant clans were typically led by older individuals who possessed talent in spellcasting. They were often familiar with other clans in their area and would join up with them to engage in trade, throw celebrations, or battle against other threats.

Because of their appreciation for music, the majority of cloud giants were known to be capable of playing one or more instrument. Harps were one of the most favored instruments among them.

Diet
Many have been known to hunt for wild game, such as elk. However, they preferred their food to be carefully prepared with a variety of spices and sauces. Giant clouds were also known to have a fondness for finely aged wine.

Lairs
These giants preferred to live in the tallest mountains or even higher if possible. Those with magical talents often create floating castles or cities in which to dwell, held aloft in the sky atop a mass of clouds.

Languages
Cloud giants spoke the general giant language Jotun, their own specialized version of it known as Jotunskye, as well as common. They were often illiterate, though to a lesser degree than giant races whose cultures put little value on education, such as hill and fire giants.

Names
Common given names among cloud giants included the following:
 * Males: Ahdaug, Arltulk, Durvaskr, Krokr, Kurruk, Lhammurt, and Vorskar.
 * Females: Agatra, Dagna, Dakkra, Dyrdiss, Eistla, Faena, Faenra, Haelda, Laugra, Yastra, and Ystrid.

Religion
Cloud giants were generally known to worship Stronmaus, though many were patrons of the giant goddess Iallanis. Those that typically had evil tendencies were known to worship Memnor. Beyond the giant pantheon, some cloud giants were known to serve the goddess Aerdrie Faenya.

Relationships
Clouds giants often traded with humans and demihuman communities for clothing, food, jewelry, and even wine. Though those of a more evil alignment were liable to simply raid them. Some communities established such good relations with nearby cloud giants that they would come to their aid if endangered.

Cloud giants were known to often keep spotted lions, griffons, hippogriffs, giant eagles, and dire lions as pets or guardians. The more evil-aligned members of their race were known to keep wyverns, as well as both human and demihuman slaves.

Notable cloud giants

 * Fracto-Nimbuli
 * Zephyros

Rumors & Legends
Some folktales spoke of cloud giants mining small chunks of pure silver from the clouds their castles sat.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Hoard of the Dragon Queen • Princes of the Apocalypse • Storm King's Thunder
 * Board Games:
 * Assault of the Giants
 * Card Games
 * AD&D Trading Cards
 * Novels:
 * Death Masks • The Titan of Twilight
 * Video Games:
 * Pools of Darkness • Secret of the Silver Blades • Treasures of the Savage Frontier