Cartography by Johnda Estep

Cartography by Johnda Estep

JOTUNGRUND

Jotungrund is the icy homeland of the frost giants in the far, northwestern fjords of Aeralon. Frost giants have blue skin, red eyes, and are incredibly strong, even compared to other giants. Frost giants are surprisingly clever with an even mix of martial prowess and magical might.

Using arcane knowledge, the giants of Jotungrund bred with humans to create a slave race. They called these slaves ‘Jotunblod’, which means ‘of giant’s blood’, and forced them to labor over the menial, dirty work that the frost giants felt was beneath their station.

To guard against intruders, the frost giants built four, massive, city fortresses from rock and ice, Vesturheld (northwest), Nordurheld (north), Suderheld (south), and Austurheld (northeast). All still stand except for the southern fortress, which was destroyed during the Sudurheld Rebellion of the Jotunblod in the year - 11 ADR (After Dragon’s Reign). It’s an embarrassment, so the frost giants have not rebuilt it.

Interesting places include:

  • Aboleth Bay: Covered by an ice sheet most of the time, the bay was once used as a port by the Frost Giants. The Jotunblod of Varsheim attack the giant’s ships, and there are constant battles both on the ice sheet and in the water, so neither group uses the bay.

  • Storstein Chasm: Though miles long, the chasm is less than 200 yards across. It is so deep, however, passage is impossible.

  • Hand of Silke Lake: Named for the giant goddess of the cold sea, this is a salt water lake and is slushy when not frozen solid.

  • Sudurheld: The ruins of a Frost Giant fortress, it has been taken over by the tundra. The giants leave it be, but something dark and monstrous has taken up residence within its walls.

  • Storslangga River: Not particularly wide, the river is very deep. It is said that an aquatic race lives at the bottom.

Pronunciation Guide: note- sl = sounds like

Aeralon = AIR uh lawn

Aboleth = AB uh leth (sl death)

Austerheld = AH stir held

Jotunblod = YO ton BLOOD

Jotungrund = YO ton GROOND

Nordurheld = NOR dur (sl purr) held

Silke = SEAL kuh

Storslangga = stores LAW-ng (sl belong) guh

Storstein = store STINE

Suderheld = Sue dur HELD

Varsheim = VARS (sl cars) hime (sl time)

Vesturheld = VEST ur held