The Ordning

The ordning is the social structure to which all giants adhere, dating back to the ancient empires of Xen'drik. Similar to a class-based society, but much more specific, assigning a social rank to each individual. Therefore, each individual giant knows which other giants are inferior and superior to himself, and no giants were equal to other giants.

Each type of giant use a different combination of skills or qualities to determine the ordning. Giants believe excelling in these skills to be the purpose of their lives. In all cases, advancement is made by challenging a superior giant. However, different types of giants use different systems and restrictions for advancement. It is considered an evil (maug) act to show disrespect to a superior giant. This could be mocking, betrayal, disobedience, or a number of other behaviors.

The ordning applies to individual tribes, and it is an insult to treat a higher-ranked giant from another tribe as an inferior. However, between different types of giants, there is a separate system, and even the lowest ranked giant of one type was superior to the highest ranked giant of an inferior type, and thus it isnot considered evil to betray a giant of another type, merely rude.

The types of giants are ranked as thus, in descending order: titans • storm giants • cloud giants • fog giants • fire giants • frost giants • stone giants • mountain giants • hill giants • ettins • giant-kin • ogres