"We are the mortar between the great stones. Without us, the wall falls."
The Lítillfólk are the normal-sized people of Niflheimar, a single, unified race of countless clans and cultures, bound by their shared scale and the universal experience of living in a world built for titans. They are the foundation upon which all giant civilization is built.
Appearance and Unity: A Lítillfólk with the stout frame and thick beard of a dwarf, the graceful features and sharp ears of an elf, or the vibrant hair and keen eyes of a gnome might all be cousins in the same settlement. Their diverse appearances are marks of clan and lineage, not of separate species. Their shared identity is defined by their relationship to the giants.
Society and Role: The Lítillfólk are the engineers, farmers, soldiers, and artisans who make giant society function. They are not a conquered people but an essential partner in survival, though the terms of that partnership vary wildly under different giant rulers. Their lives are a constant ballet of adaptation and ingenuity.
Life in the Shadow of Giants:
The Ever-Present Danger: A giant's world is not built for them. A casual gesture can sweep them from a rampart; a misplaced footstep can erase a city block. This constant peril is a fact of life, breeding a culture that is both resilient and deeply aware of its own fragility.
The Ingenious Builders: They build their homes in the lee of giant-sized structures—clustered around the warm base of a geothermal forge, nestled in the scaffolding of a giant's armor, or dwelling in entire villages suspended from a giant's belt. Their cities are marvels of vertical engineering and clever space-saving.
The Keepers of Function: While giants provide the raw power and large-scale construction, the Lítillfólk maintain the delicate, essential parts of civilization. They operate the pulleys and gears of giant gates, stitch the colossal fabrics for giant clothing, maintain the intricate runes on giant weapons, and harvest the resources that feed the great hearths.
The Delicate Balance of Power:
The relationship between Lítillfólk and giant is a complex calculus of fear, respect, and necessity.
Under a Tyrant: They obey out of paralyzing fear, doing the bare minimum to survive. Innovation dies, and silent resentment festers, sometimes leading to desperate sabotage or a quiet exodus into the frozen wilds.
Under a Protector: They may grow hopeful and prosperous, but this hope can be dangerous. They may begin to test boundaries, make demands, and even rebel, calculating that a kind giant will not massacre them for their defiance.
The Unspoken Truth: Every Lítillfólk knows that their survival is inextricably linked to their giant, but they also know that the giant's survival is equally dependent on them. This mutual, if unequal, dependence is the true engine of Niflheimar. The Lítillfólk are not merely subjects; they are the bedrock. Without their labor, a giant's armor would rust, their weapons would dull, and their great halls would fall silent and cold.