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Giants inDungeons & Dragonsare known to have several different types. Among them, the six most popular types of giants are represented the most in D&D. Each type of giant chooses to rank itself based on an individual factor chosen by the group. But how do you get these rankings, and what do they mean?
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With Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants, we finally have the answer to how these giants are ranking themselves in their own social hierarchy known as The Ordning. There’s also a hierarchy between the six major giant types themselves. So where did the ordning come from, and what affects these positions in the world of giants? Let’s find out.
What Is The Ordning
In the simplest explanation, the ordning isa pantheon of gods comprised of Annam and his children.Giants have used this pantheon as the archetype, and the ordning isa social ranking system for giants. The giants use it to organize themselves with a very strict ranking. The six giant groups in the ordning ranked in order are:
No specific giant can transcend this hierarchy. Storm giants will always remain at the top, meaning even the lowest storm giant will always rank higher than the best cloud giant. This also means the hill giants will always be at the bottom of this social hierarchy. These hierarchicalpositions cannot be transcended despite skill, strength, wealth, or any other factors.
Though other types of creatures are technically classified as giants, they are also not included in the ordning. You won’t see any ettins, trolls, or any other creatures classified as giants.
Within this hierarchy is another, in which giants determine the social hierarchy within their own ranks. Each different type of giant uses a different measurement. Here’s how they determine rank within their groups.
Do not rank themselves
Artistry and rock-throwing
Crafting skills
Hill Giant
Respect larger and stronger giants, they don’t care much about their own position.
Physical strength
Cloud Giant
Wealth
As mentioned, even the most talented and artistic stone giant will never be able to transcend above the weakest frost giant. A giant’ssocial standing in the ordningmay helpdeterminehow they react to others.
What Are The Origins Of The Ordning
Myths and legends surround the origins of the ordning, the most popular of those being ones that relate the giants and their ordning position to somethingas natural as the land surrounding them.
It’sa scale that moves from the bottom(thehill giants representing the low hills), thestones on the mountain(stone giants), thecold frozen peaks(frost giants), thetop of the volcano(fire giants), the peak of the mountain justthrough the clouds(cloud giants) and to thestorms up above(storm giants), creating the perfect explanation forthe natural order.
Conversely, there are stories that tell that the ordning is, in fact, not natural; in other stories, it’s the downfall of the giants. Annam is said to have either established the ordning based on the hierarchy mentioned prior, or it came about as a consequence or punishment. This punishment revolves around the giants falling from Annam’s grace, with his sons making the ordning as a distraction of sorts, aconsequence for their fall, and adistortion of Annam’s will.
How Do Giants Reject The Ordning
There are onlythree reasons a giant will reject the ordning, whether partially or entirely. This can come in many variations of the following forms:
How They Reject The Ordning
Hold Different Standards
Giants whohold different values and standardswill easily be seen as outcasts in their groups. If a fire giant is interested in strength, or a frost giant is extremely knowledgable, they’d be atthe bottom of their internal hierarchy and will want to find a way out.
In this instance, being skilled in anything other than what you’re supposed to be can be detrimental. Holding different standards will cause you to reject the ordning, mostly for your own benefit and maybe for your survival.
Revolutionary Individuals
These giants come to terms with being the best at their craft and will sometimeswant to surpass their own ordning level and exert their talentsover others, including those in a different ordning category. As mentioned, giants cannot remove themselves from this hierarchy, so their efforts will be in vain.
This cancause struggle and turmoil within that group’s social hierarchy, but a giant who cannot progress may end uprejecting the ordning altogether, instead choosing a life in which they can exert their dominance over lesser giants not in the ordning or other creatures altogether.
Religious Beliefs
Placing their belief in any other godsaside from Annam and his children means rejecting the ordning and the hierarchy put in place by the gods. In many situations, a giant may choose to ally with a religious group that puts them above their position in the ordning, whether that group be evil or good.
This is all to say that even within the ordning,giants are individuals who won’t always align with the established hierarchy,whether for good or ill. If you’re using giants in your game, be sure toinvest in their backgrounds by involving their history and the ordningand how it affects their decisions.
Who Is Annam?
Annam’s history is unknown, though he is most regarded asthe All father, whose children are the gods that comprise the ordning. In some stories, he is said to be the creator of worlds, with gods populating the worlds he created. Giants respect this Annam and his divine children and his ordning and hierarchy.
Most giants, however,respect Annam’s children more than him, as he’s seen as a distant figure, whereas his children are much more connected to the giants. They do not like that Annam has abandoned them.
Some stories report Annam as anall-knowing god who worked together to create other worlds. However, all agree that nowhe is no longer active in the affairs of his children, the giants on the Material Plane. Even still, some giants and regions do not recognize the ordning at all. You may find yourself in a region where giants do not respect the ordning or even have a separate social hierarchy not at all governed by the ordning.
Who Are The Gods Of The Ordning?
Aside from Annam, there are ten other gods of the ordning. These gods are revered by the giants, witheach representing a different qualityone of the giant factions respects.
God of the Ordning
Diancastra
Chaotic Neutral
Diancastra is the youngest of Amman’s children. She is revered for her clever deeds, most notably hercleverness, bravery, and trickery with the aid of magic. Giants who want something done or use their brains and cleverness over their brawn may worship her.
Grolnator
Chaotic Evil
Strength and prideexemplify Grolnator. The youngest son of Amman, his strength is one of his only redeeming qualities, as most of his siblingssee him as just a brute. He believes in strength above all and likes to disregard the ordning as it doesn’t place him where he thinks he truly belongs based on his ability.
Hill giants and frost giants who admire his strengthwill worship him, as will lesser giant creatures who think brute force is the way to go.
Hiatea
Neutral
The bountiful mother of the land, Hiatea is the god who most giants can pray to for hearth and home. As Annam’s second child, she is known asa source of bounty, agricultural blessings and a master of nature.
A protective mother figure whocares about community, many giants find themselves praying forharvest, bounty, and agriculturefrom Hiatea. Still, others pray forcommunity and educationregarding her other, more community-oriented side.
Iallanis
Neutral Good
Almost the opposite of Grolantor,Iallanis is sweet, kind, caring, joyful, and any other peaceful and positive adjective you’re able to think of. She believes in restoring the giant’s empire, but aspeaceful leaders and innovators, not tyrants.
Love, healing, and harmonylead her charge.Artistic giants, such as the stone giants, worship her for herlove of nature. Most wedding commencements are officiated by her priests as well, even between evil giants. Any giant who has good aligned qualities will find her intriguing.
Karontor
Neutral Evil
Grolnator’s older twin,Karontor is just as chaotic, if not more so. Anevil schemer, it’s said that Karontor wasbanished to a subterranean prisonafter inciting an assault against the Feywild.
Karontor is not worshipped in the open, as it’s believed that worshipping him may summon him from his prison and bring ill will to those above, or they’ll be pulled below to worship him where he sits.Even his name isn’t uttered aloud, with nicknames that refer to him taking its place. There will inevitably beevil cultsthat worship him, mostly in secret.
Memnor
Neutral or Neutral Evil
Probably themost manipulative of the gods, Memnor is seen as either Neutral or Neutral Evil based on who you believe regarding his nature.Duplicity, manipulation, and trickeryare his standards, whereasself-interest is his goal. He does usecunning trickery and intelligenceto enact these tricks, something giants may worship him for.
Memnor is said to not only get himself in trouble with Amman but also his siblings. Stories accuse him of wanting tousurp the ordning from Amman, with some even stating he’s the evil twin of Amman. He’s so good at his trickery that you may never know the truth.
Skoraeus
The wisest of the gods, Skoraeus is the fifth son of Amman. He’s sought out for hisknowledge, particularly his understanding of the earth and its secrets. Hisexpertise includes magic, wards, hidden items and treasure, and a true understanding of the earth and how to work with it.
Giants who regardedstonework and artistrywill worship him, as will those interested in his knowledge of magic. Fire and stone giants may find particular use in praying to him. Stone giants even have a nickname for him “Stonebones.”
Stronmaus
The oldest of Annam’s children, Stronmaus wasoriginally perpetually happy.He could only see the good in things, including his siblings (even the evil ones), just a total optimist. Once Amman backed away from the ordning however, Stronmaus was left in charge. He lost his sunny disposition, having it replaced byfrustration at his inability to restore the ordning.
Seen as just a substitute for Amman who isn’t doing the job particularly well,giants will worship him as a requirement as the head of the ordning. Mostly,the strongest of their hierarchywill send the required prayers to him while hoping and waiting for Amman.
Surtur
Lawful Evil
The older twin of Thrym, Surtur is known for hisamazing metalworking skills. Weapons, armor, and the forge are all parts of his expertise, and worshippers looking to create those items or work with a smith will send prayers his way.
Fire giants can pray for inspirationor blessings when creating weapons and armor for a large-scale battle.
Thrym
Often shown as thegreatest warrior of the ordning, Thyrm is the twin of Sutur. Most worshippers will pour a blood sacrifice from their kills to him.Before going to war or to hunt, Thyrm will receive prayersand requests for blessings.
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