Page 28 - Volo's Guide to Monsters

0RDNING OF MIGHT duties are handled by the elderly of both sexes, not
Position within the frost giant ordning is determined by solely by females.) It is considered highly maug to at-
sheer, brute strength. Frost giants know that those that tack or challenge a pregnant female, even to improve
use cunning, agility, and magic are dangerous foes and one's standing, just as it would be to attack a frost giant
can sometimes overcome pure strength, but never in a as it slept.
straightforward, fair manner; enemies that act that way A frost giant that is innately weaker than its kin has
are maug, and strength alone is maat. a low rank in the ordning and practically no chance
Doubt or disagreement between frost giants over of rising any higher. At times, when a giant becomes
which is strongest is settled by a trial of strength. intensely frustrated with that situation, it turns to clan-
Such a contest typically involves wrestling but can destine worship of Vaprak, the deity of trolls and ogres.
also be a rock-throwing competition, a hunt, or one-on- An individual touched by Vaprak's favor is transformed
one combat. into an everlasting one-a giant with enough strength to
To show proof of their superiority, frost giants keep rival the leaders of the clan, but destined to be cast out
and display trophies of their victims. Mammoth tusks, or destroyed if its secret allegiance becomes known.
griffon beaks, and manticore tails adorn the walls of Because strength is their only standard of measure-
frost giant lairs. Formidable humanoid enemies are ment, frost giants are more likely than other giants to
memorialized in trophies, too, but only rarely do giants welcome a non-giant into their group. The might of a
put the heads or bodies on display. A human hero's human who hunts polar bears bare-handed as frost gi-
greatsword or a wizard's staff is a more appropriate tro- ants do, or who wrestles a frost giant into submission,
phy in such cases. can't be denied. Such a human could never become the
A frost giant's armor and weapons are as much a chieftain of a tribe but could earn a place of honor as
record of its battle honors as its trophy collection is, for one blessed by Thrym.
those who know how to read the signs. Notches carved
into the haft of a weapon show the number and type of RUTHLESS RAIDERS
foes it has brought down. Horns, feathers, claws, and Frost giant society has no industry to speak of. It takes
tusks affixed to helmets and armor serve as decorations what it needs from others, and if it can't take some-
commemorating the giant's greatest feats of strength. thing, it has no need for it. Frost giants do make leather,
The ordning is determined by strength and strength clothes, and bone tools and adornments from the ani-
alone, and there is no difference in physical prowess mals they hunt, but those activities account for almost
between the genders of frost giants. (Most child-rearing all of their craftwork.