The seventh chapter of Lineage 2's lore explores one of the most fascinating periods in the world's history—the Age of the Lower Giants. Following a series of disasters caused by the gods, the Giants began to question divine authority and increasingly relied on science, reason, and their own ingenuity. This shift led to extraordinary technological achievements, groundbreaking biological experiments, and ultimately the creation of entirely new races.
The Giants Turn Away from the Gods
The catastrophic events that followed the wars of the gods left deep scars on the world. Floods, divine punishment, and the suffering of entire civilizations convinced many Giants that the gods were neither infallible nor worthy of absolute trust.
Blessed with knowledge of Absolute Geometry by the goddess Maphr, the Giants rapidly advanced in science and engineering. They shared their knowledge with other races, teaching the Dwarves various technical disciplines and contributing to the development of civilizations across the continent.
Over time, however, scientific progress led to growing arrogance. Many Giants came to believe they were equal—or even superior—to the gods themselves.
The Discovery of Nebulite
A major breakthrough occurred when the Giants began studying meteorites that had fallen from the sky. Within them, they discovered a rare metal known as Nebulite.
When processed correctly, even a tiny amount of Nebulite could generate enormous amounts of energy. This discovery revolutionized both magic and technology, allowing the Giants to power machines, enhance magical capabilities, and create artificial life.
The power source used by many of these creations became known as Star Stones—fragments containing the energy of the stars themselves.
The Creation of Golems
Using Nebulite and Star Stones, the Giants developed artificial workers known as Golems.
Three major categories of golems existed:
Magical Golems
Animated stone constructs brought to life through magical energy and Nebulite.
Mechanical Golems
Advanced machines built for specific tasks and powered by Star Stones.
Susceptor-Type Golems
Highly intelligent modular constructs made of multiple floating cubic components. These golems possessed advanced artificial intelligence and could command other golems.
Many of the Dwarven golems encountered throughout the game are based on technologies inherited from Giant research.
The Giant Electric Project and the Great Bridge
According to concept materials and developer interviews, the Giants operated a massive automated manufacturing facility known as GE, short for "Giant Electric."
This facility produced mechanical equipment and construction golems that were intended to build an enormous bridge connecting Aden and Gracia. Early game maps even included roads leading toward this planned structure.
Although the bridge never appeared in the final game, it was originally envisioned as a large-scale PvP battlefield and remained part of the world’s background lore.
Floating Cities and Airships
The Giants also mastered the creation of floating stones, enabling them to construct airships, flying chariots, and even entire floating cities.
Among the most famous examples were:
Esagir
Grand Perion
Various flying battleships and transport vessels
Their technological mastery allowed them to travel freely across the world and even access the domains of the gods.
The Quest for Immortality
As their knowledge expanded, the Giants sought to overcome mortality itself.
Through advanced scientific techniques, they learned to enhance and partially mechanize their bodies, dramatically extending their lifespan. These developments further reinforced the belief that they could one day replace the gods.
To achieve this goal, the Giants began researching new forms of life and weapons capable of challenging divine beings.
Cruma Tower: Fortress and Laboratory
The centerpiece of these ambitions was Cruma Tower.
Built in the region that would later become Dion, Cruma Tower served both as a research institute and a mobile fortress. Ancient records suggest the tower originally floated in the air and was transported by enormous turtle-like creatures known as Krum.
The Giants captured two of these peaceful creatures, chained them to the structure, and transformed them into living engines for their fortress.
The tower was overseen by a powerful artificial intelligence known as the Core, which managed experiments, security systems, and the control of numerous golems.
Among its guardians were:
Karnakasos
The Susceptor Archon
Various Susceptor units
The magical guardian Martes
Biological Experiments and New Life Forms
Within Cruma Tower, the Giants conducted extensive biological research.
Countless experiments combined plants, animals, magical energy, and artificial enhancements. These efforts produced many of the strange creatures encountered throughout Lineage 2, including:
Torfe monsters
Dikor plant creatures
Premo trolls
Prime and Premo hybrids
Giant insects
Stakato species
Magical flowers and flying creatures
While many experiments failed, the Giants continued searching for a race that combined intelligence, strength, endurance, and loyalty.
The Full Moon Disease
One of the most important discoveries originated on the continent of Gracia.
There, a mysterious epidemic known as the Full Moon Disease infected humans exposed to spores from supernatural jungle spirits. Victims periodically transformed into wolf-like creatures, losing their sanity and attacking anyone nearby.
The Giants established laboratories to study the disease and eventually learned how to stabilize the transformation process.
This research led to the creation of the first Beast-Men.
The Origins of the Mahum Races
Werewolf Beast-Men
The earliest Beast-Men were based on werewolf genetics.
Although physically powerful, they suffered from mental instability, short lifespans, and poor controllability. The Giants attempted to eliminate them, but the creatures reproduced faster than expected and spread across the continent.
Ol Mahums
Seeking a more stable design, the Giants turned to hyena genetics.
The result was the Ol Mahum race, which possessed:
Greater intelligence
Longer lifespans
Better emotional stability
Improved social organization
Special commander variants were also created with enhanced abilities to mentally influence other Mahums.
Oel Mahums
The Giants later experimented with lion genetics, creating the Oel Mahums.
These powerful Beast-Men were:
Larger than Ol Mahums
Physically stronger
Recognizable by their distinctive manes
Many famous Mahum leaders originated from this lineage, including Nurka, Gato, and Shaka.
Om Tribe
The Giants also combined ogres with earth-dwelling gnomes to create the Om race.
These hybrids served primarily as laborers in mines and industrial operations.
Kel Mahums
The most successful Beast-Men were created using wolf genetics.
Known as Kel Mahums, they possessed:
High intelligence
Advanced social structures
Strong physical abilities
Distinct tribal identities
Several tribes emerged, each distinguished by different fur colors and cultural traditions.
Among all Beast-Men, the Kel Mahums became the dominant and most influential race.
The Gods Ignore the Threat
Despite the scale of these experiments, the gods largely ignored the Giants.
According to ancient records, many gods were aware of the research but considered the results insignificant. The creatures created by the Giants were viewed as imperfect copies of existing life rather than true rivals to divine creation.
Confident in their superiority, the gods paid little attention to the rapidly advancing Giant civilization.
This would prove to be a costly mistake.
Conclusion
The Age of the Lower Giants represents one of the most technologically advanced periods in Lineage 2 history. Through the discovery of Nebulite, the creation of golems, the construction of Cruma Tower, and the development of entirely new races, the Giants transformed the world in ways that still shape the game’s lore today.
Yet their greatest achievement also became their greatest flaw. As their power grew, so did their pride. Believing themselves equal to the gods, the Giants set humanity on a path toward one of the most significant conflicts in the history of Lineage 2.
