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The ordning was the social structure to which all giants adhered, dating back to the ancient empire of Ostoria. It was similar to a class-based society, but was much more specific, assigning a social rank to each individual. Therefore, each individual giant knew which other giants were inferior and superior to himself, and no giants were equal to other giants.[1]

Description[]

The ordning strikes me as something between a god-ordained hierarchy and a true meritocracy.
— Bigby.[2]

Each type of giant used a different combination of skills or qualities to determine the ordning.[1] Giants believed excelling in these skills to be the purpose of their lives. Annam All-Father, creator of giants, was seen as the ultimate in each of these skills.[3] In all cases, advancement was made by challenging a superior, but different types of giants used different systems and restrictions upon advancement. It was considered an evil (maug) act to show disrespect to a superior giant. This could be mocking, betrayal, disobedience, or a number of other behaviors.[1]

Organization[]

The ordning applied to individual tribes, but it was an insult to treat a higher-ranked giant from another tribe as an inferior. Between different types of giant, there was a totally separate system, and even the lowest ranked giant of one type was superior to the highest ranked giant of an inferior type, but importantly, it was not considered evil to betray a giant of another type, merely rude.[1]

Ranking[]

Ordning

In the hierarchy of giant-kind, those of lesser rank were obligated to offer deference to their superiors. Storm giants were among the those at the top of the ordning.

The types of giants were ranked as follows, in descending order:

History[]

Around the Year of the Iron Dwarf's Vengeance, 1485 DR, the Cult of the Dragon and their chromatic dragon cohorts plotted and schemed to loose Tiamat upon the world of Toril.[4]

As events played out, the "small folk" wound up defeating the cult and stopping their plans, rather than the giants of the world. Annam saw this as complacency in his children. Annam broke the ordning, thereby allowing giants to create their own social structures and see who would come out on top.[4]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ray Winninger (September 1995). Giantcraft. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-0163-2.
  2. James Wyatt et al. (August 2023). Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants. Edited by Janica Carter et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 24. ISBN 978-0-7869-6898-5.
  3. Ray Winninger (September 1995). Giantcraft. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 26. ISBN 0-7869-0163-2.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
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