The Nine Realms Worldbuilding Project: Jotunheim

[foundlingmother]

There are a few things I ask that you keep in mind:

• What little canon information we have on certain species is often silly and nonsensical (they weren’t thinking about mechanics–they were just trying to make it all look cool/scary). I’ll adapt what I like, but most of it’s getting thrown out the window.
• I’m not a biologist, nor am I aiming for the most biologically sound creatures. I will take some biology into account (lucianalight convinced me that it makes more sense for the Jötnar to be warm-blooded, for instance), but where biology hinders my headcanons I will overlook it.
• Despite the fact that I’m pretty sure it’s nonsense to create a world with a consistent planet-wide climate, I’m still going to. A lot.
• I’m going to be using our scientific terms and classifications because that’s an easy thing to do.
• This is for fun, and it’s all personal headcanons.

 
Jotunheim

General Planetary Information

• There are two climate types across the planet: tundra and ice cap. Winters are long, and summers are short. In some areas the temperature never rises above freezing, not even in summer.

• Most of the species that live on land are large, carnivorous/omnivorous mammals. For instance, the Jotunheim Beast. 
• There a fish and aquatic mammals in Jotunheim’s oceans. (These creatures resemble whales, walruses, seals.)
• Berries, grasses, and tubers are among the scarce flora.
• The planet possesses vast mineral deposits, many still untapped, despite their worth being comparable to the resources of Nidavellir.

• After numerous invasions/assaults by the Æsir, the planet suffers from severe environment degradation. Several animal and plant species have gone extinct. The Casket of Ancient Winters can be used to rejuvenate the landscape.

Intelligent Life: Jötnar

• Jötnar are humanoid, bipedal, blue-skinned, and warm-blooded. (credit)
• They do not grow hair. A layer of tissue comprising their hypodermis allows them to retain and absorb heat. Utilizing this layer of tissue, ice manipulation and their frostbite touch abilities are possible. (credit)
• Their lifespan is similar to that of the Æsir.
• Average heights range from 12’ to 16’.
• The Jötnar are intersex. Their penis remains sheathed when not in a state of arousal. (credit)

• Jötnar are tribal and most commonly nomadic, though that didn’t prevent them from creating impressive architecture prior to invasions by the Æsir.
• Purely nomadic tribes will take shelter in caves, or create shelter out of ice. The more permanent works of architecture (the ruins scattered across the planets surface) are stonework.
• Some tribes form coalitions. Prior to Thor, Laufey is “king” of one coalition of tribes.
• Despite being omnivorous, the majority of their nutrition comes from meat and fish. When possible, they do gather and consume the scarce flora. Their diets consist of fish, fish eggs, squid, crustaceans, mollusks, birds, bird eggs, aquatic mammals, arctic seaweed, tubers, berries, and grasses.
• The Jötnar have alcohol. It is distilled from native tubers. It's a very bitter and acidic beverage that's outright toxic to the Æsir. (credit)
• There is a specific creature in Jotunheim's oceans based on the Greenland shark. It's a shark with urea (pee, basically) in its tissue. The Jötnar ferment it, and it's a delicacy, but they've also been known to consume it without fermenting it. When consumed without proper treatment, it functions as a recreational drug for the Jötnar, making them feel extremely drunk.
• Their markings are genetic. They speak to the lineage of a Jötunn. Assuming no genetic mutations, a Jötunn’s tribe and parents/ancestors can be determined by their markings. Jötnar who are adopted by another family/tribe will paint their markings on.
• Their spiritual/religious practices can broadly be classified under animism.
• The Jötnar do not bury or burn their dead. When a Jötunn dies, an ice cast is made of their face (focused on persevering facial markings), later these casts can be copied by being chiseled into stone. Remnants of long-dead Jötnar can be found within ruins. After the cast is made, they strip the meat and muscle from their dead, leaving it somewhere for the wild creatures to feast on. The bones are disposed of in a ceremony at sea. (credit)
• Their language does not have a written form. They pass on knowledge and culture through oral tradition.
• Different tribes/coalitions use varying dialects, but due to their diminishing population and encouraging interactions between tribes, most of the Jötnar are fluent in multiple dialects.
• We would likely consider them to be a vulnerable species.

(Re-posted and expanded from Tumblr)

Comments

[eisenvulcanstein]

I love this. It's internally consistent (step up your game, Marvel), it makes actual sense, and it feels like it describes a real planet, people, and ecosystem.

[foundlingmother]

Thank you! I based a lot of it on peoples who live in the Arctic, especially Inuit cultures. I think that helps it feel grounded, even when there are fantastic elements.