Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

The fact that an elephant can usually lift around the 3/4 of his weight, and an ant 50 times its one, remains, HoneyBadger :D

Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

3/4th the weight of an elephant is a whole lot of ants, Tifone... So I think Niefels could do better than balsa wood and wicker weapons. Not to mention that Niefel Giants aren't as big as elephants.

As far as them fighting each other, who's to say they ever did? Unlike the humans and gods in the Norse sagas, the Jotuns themselves were quick to ally with all manner of beings. And I can't recall any specific instances of them fighting amongst themselves. And it was the Norse gods who started things by killing Ymir, the father of *all* Jotuns. It was also the gods who instigated Ragnarok, for that matter, by betraying Fenrir, beheading Mimir, burning Angrboda, and imprisoning and torturing Loki.

Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

Actually-to correct myself and prevent some confusion, it was the Vanir, not the Aesir, who beheaded Mimir. So not precisely the gods of the Norse, more like the cousins of the gods of the Norse, who were responsible for that particular act.

Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

This discussion seems immaterial.

C'mon you all. Jarls are almost gods themselves. They don't abide by any of the normal rules of physics. Give it a break.

Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

It's just fun to think about, Lingchih :) Postulating on the physiology of mythological creatures might seem irrelevant, but it's great for getting the mental gears turning. And the more mine turn, the more mod Nations I seem to come up with-and now that I'm making major progress on some of them, I don't have to feel too bad about that.

Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

There's that, and there's the mechanical properties of the metal. EA is bronze and some iron. Neither of those behave terribly well at Jotun temperatures, and they'd be likely to shatter under a heavy impact.

Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

Well, giants-Jotun or otherwise-were often depicted as wonderful smiths. The sword that slew Grendel's mother, for instance, was a giant-forged blade.

Iron-nickel alloys are actually pretty cold resistant, and although certainly rare (only found naturally on Earth in the form of meteors), they *were* available, and used, in ancient times. So who's to say they're not getting their metal from meteors stuck in Niefelheim's ice?

As Niefelheim isn't necessarily a terrestrial location, since it's outside the boundaries of atleast Midgardt, it's a possibility.

Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

Theoretical mythology! :shock:

Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

Yep! I'm working on my PH.D. :p

Re: Counters to Niefelheim
 

phd's are overrated anyway :D, I never could get myself to bother with it :D