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Giakdon, Giants of the Axe
KaromarocThe mightiest Giakdon was known as Karomaroc, and was alive while Renin and humans were young. He was so powerful that many thought he was a general of The Enemy's armies. When Lyte was in its infancy and its defences were very small, great beasts threatened the people. The Enemy had unleashed a determined band of Giakdon which were thought to reside deep in caves at the southern point of the mountains of Nor Vastin. These Giakdon were unlike any other; their raids are coordinated and they seek to kill as many people in a short amount of time without suffering too much damage at the hands of the defending Hireos humans. These raids went on for an uncomfortable number of years until Renin obtained a white gem encased in a golden brooch. Immeditely he recognised that the gem amplified and attracted light energy, so with the help of Lyte's best blacksmiths he took out the gem and had a sword made where the blade's metal was combined with the molten gem. Upon cooling, the sword shone with great brilliance and indeed the Giakdon cowered from this weapon which Renin called Evamahti. He slayed one Giakdon and they retreated with cautious bravery. The Giakdon had a weapon of their own. At their next raid, they were accompanied by a Giakdon mightier than the rest. This one that towered above the buildings and had a black axe in each hand. Such was his fearsome mane that it was mistaken for a tail, and his helmet was scarred and burned and seemed as old as the soil. Renin called him Karomaroc and they fought one another. Karomaroc did not cower from Evamahti but it was his own undoing as Renin cut off three the mighty giant's fingers of his left hand. Karomaroc quickly drew back with his Giakdon. Renin gathered any brave men and they chased the Giakdon to the caves. The giants retaliated with great fury -- such fury that it's said they covered the sky with black clouds and pulled rain from the heavens. Even from within the caves, where the fighting unfolded, there was a deep rumbling. In another epic battle, Renin struck his blade through the eye hole of Karomaroc's helmet, but the blade snapped from the handle and Karomaroc tumbled backwards into an abyss. The remaining Giakdon were either slain there and then by Renin's stunted weapon or were hunted later by replenished and well-equipped soldiers. After Karomaroc was defeated, Renin tossed his broken weapon into the abyss. NameThe name "Giakdon" was used by the first noble Hireos humans, and, like most of their divine terminology, soon spread to common use. Linguists believe that the name is actually Manamor because of its short, punchy sound, though its spelling has varied many times. Normally written as giakdon, it can also be written as geakdon or geakdun. The presumed original Manamor transliteration is believed to be "giakhdon". Most of those who believe it is Manamor also believe it has a meaning. The most common meaning has been "axe giant", which giak meaning 'giant' and don meaning 'axe', or possibly vice versa. Despite this, there are disputes against the assumption of the word's meaning, calling it a blatant stab in the dark. It is usually capitalised unless referred to in general.
BehaviourThough many a Giakdon have been defeated outside Carson's Wall, they are monsters of a primitive nature and will persist in fighting something to the death. They have little knowledge of what not to waste time on and what to concentrate their efforts towards. This is the main tactic humans use to defeat them. A Giakdon is easily distracted by something that potentially bothers it, such as a single archer on a hillside or tower out of reach. That said, Giakdon have been known to hurl enormous boulders great distances. As it is not a clumsy creature, it has little trouble removing infantry from its immediate area with swings of its axe.
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