The Unbroken, The Jaws of Winter
"The strong take. The weak serve. This is the first law, and the last."
When the Great Frost descended, it was not a curse to the ancestors of the Frost-Fang—it was a winnowing. In the chaotic years before the Burning of Haugaeldr, their proto-clans were already hardened survivors of the northern wastes. They saw the freezing of the world not as an apocalypse, but as a divine filter, separating the truly strong from those who relied on weak comforts like magic and stone walls. They believe the Great Growing that made them giants was a reward for their unwavering strength, a physical manifestation of their right to rule the new world. The destruction of the library in 1 AH was, in their eyes, the deserved end of a weak and complicated age.
Frost-Fang society is a brutal, transparent, and efficient meritocracy built on a foundation of absolute power.
"The Strong Take": This core tenet governs all aspects of life. Leadership, mates, food, and the best shelter are won through displays of strength, which can be physical, martial, or cunning. A chieftain rules only as long as they can defeat all challengers.
The Small Folk (The Protected Possessions): The Lítillfólk are not citizens; they are "The Herd." They are afforded protection from the elements and predators, but in return, they owe absolute obedience and labor. They are possessions that reflect a giant's power—a strong giant has a large, thriving Herd. To harm another giant's Herd is a challenge. To fail to protect your own is a sign of weakness.
The Nomadic Way: They build no cities. Their settlements are temporary "Longhall Camps"—collections of massive hide tents and semi-permanent stone structures erected in the lee of glaciers or mountains. They follow the migrations of the great ice-beasts, their entire civilization constantly on the move.
The Hunt as Worship: The pursuit and killing of a great beast like an Ice-Mammoth or a Frost-Wurm is a sacred act. It proves their dominance over the frozen world and provides the resources essential for survival.
Ancestor Veneration: They believe the spirits of the greatest warriors and hunters join the "Great Pack" in the afterlife, running forever under the aurora-lit skies. These ancestors grant strength to the worthy in battle.
Contempt for "Stone-Dwellers": They view the other giant nations as soft, stagnant, and weak. The Stone-Shields hide behind walls, the Sun-Splinters preen in their spire, and the Ashen Crest bow to machines. Only the Frost-Fang live truly free.
In the centuries since Haugaeldr fell, the Clans have remained the unchallenged masters of the frozen tundras and glaciers. They are the terrors of the Crystal Highroads and a constant threat to outlying settlements. Their recent, secret pact with the Cambion @Nefarian has caused a schism—some see it as a clever use of a new tool; traditionalists see it as a corruption of their strength-based philosophy. Regardless, they stand as a relentless, primal force in a world that is, in their view, still being tested by winter. To survive them, you must be stronger, or you must be prey.