Goliath

the Ice-Giants

The Axeblade stuck deeply in the skull of the woolly mammoth. It had been made in Thorhjal, or Windskog or Orevik, Fregga wouldn't know or even care. The runes and wavy embellishments showed that coastal weaponsmiths had forged it though. The Forge was not the art of the Goliath, but the Hunt was and Fregga and her men excelled in it, which filled her with not just a little pride. The goliaths had roamed the Everice since the forefathers came through the great void on the backs of Father Wolf and Sister Doe, ready to claim this place for their own.
Lo-Ruk, one of her warriors, had began to cut away the fur, and started to separate meat from fat already, so the metallic scent of blood filled the icy air with it's characteristic odor. Other's helped him, loaded the spoils onto the sled that was, even for Goliath standards, enormous. Freggas men, many of them young, were laughing, for even for a Goliath tribe this meat would suffice for at least a months, and the ivory and fat would bring good prices in the human cities, and allow them to buy salt, hops and honey. And weapons, of course.
So why wasn't she feeling relaxed? There was this feeling in her gut that she had to be on guard. On guard for fiercer hunters that roam the Everice, fiercer even than a group of hunting goliaths. Later that day she would tell her daughter that it was this feeling which saved her, that a good hunter always has to have an open ear for the gut feelings. But now this heightened state of alertness made her realize the inconnuously shifting ice and the slight rumour underground.
Now it made her pull her axe from the mammoth's skull, turn around and yell: "FROSTWORM!!!"

— Goliath hunting party meeting one of the iceshields deadliest hunters

"So you fear not the sword, but a needle makes you wince? " spoke the pale goliath woman with auburn hair and eyes as bluish pale as the glaciers of the Everice. The other goliath, a young male who lay before her on the brownish furs that covered the floor of her tent, and who had just gotten the first honorable shave of his head, stared back at her and mumbled some unintelligible excuses which ended with ..."didn't win..."
She smiled and continued with the tattoo on his forehead. "it's not about winning. Its about taking the challenge. Did you whippersnapper really thought you could beat an experienced warrior like Cuathrog in a one on one fight just like this? Nooo... But you had to muster the courage, and that you did. Thats why you lie here now and let me torture you."
She smiled as she said that, even though he frowned a little over her remark, which not quite unintentionally indicated her enjoying this more than she probably should.
"Now hold still. This shall be honorable runes, shan't they? Otherwise i tattoo "wussy" on your forehead..."

— A Culmerian goliath getting his first tattoo after his initiation rite.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Descendent from Culmerians and Aes, or at least related to them, the goliaths evolved by adapting to the harsh and unforgiving climate in the Hammer of Ice. Their size ranges from 7 feet (215 cm ) to 8 feet (245 cm) and thus they usually tower over their human brethren. Goliath skin is extremely tough and usually whitish pale or grey, helping them camouflage in the snowy heights and plains they call home. Goliaths share territory with culmerian or aesgardian tribes and get along so well with them, that singular goliaths can even be considered part of their tribes.


Goliaths have noticeable bony supraorbital ridges above their eyes. The eyes are usually of clear blue, greenish or red color. Hair growth corresponds to that of standard humans although a little more intense on arms, legs and torso to protect them from the cold. Many tribes shave their heads though, and cover themselves in tattoos telling of their deeds, which leads to the legend that all Goliaths are bald and born with the tribal marks, which is of course nonsense.

Genetics and Reproduction

Goliaths, just like dwarves, are a subspecies of the Humans , and thus belong to the seeding genotype, like Wolven and Yuan-Ti and a good quarter of species which live on Ardu.
This gives them two ways of procreation, the so called seedbirth, which is unique to creatures of the seeding genotype, and the faebirth.

The Seedbirth

All goliath males, provided they are healthy, are able to create seed, which, when injected into the sex of a goliath female during intercourse, can fertilize her and sire a child. This seems to be possible only at a certain timewindow per month, during which the female is fertile, usually about 10 to 16 days after the woman has had her period. Unlike the Faebirth, this way of procreation is entirely independent of the actual will to procreate: There are known incidents of pregnancies, where both parents believably affirm to not have intended to sire a child, which, with a Faebirth would be impossible.
For this way of procreation to work, both partners must be human or of human subrace (humans, dwarven or goliath) or be at least partly human halfbreed, such that a goliath can conceive via Seedbirth not only with another goliath but also with a human, a dwarf, or any half human (half Goliath / half Dwarven) halfbreed.
The conception via seedbirth with orther races is not possible, not even with other species of the seeding genotype, like Wolven or Yuan-Ti.

The Faebirth

Just like any living being on Ardu, goliaths produce fae. This personal fae, also called Ki by some monks, plays a central role for the conception via faebirth:
During the act, if triggered by the will to procreate, the personal fae of both partners join, sample genes of both partners and create a new life in the female body. The will that drives this process is usually the will of both, however, if the will of one partner is strong enough, or enhanced by magical means, the singular intention of one partner might suffice to trigger the process. This, however, is considered a crime by most goliath, but also human and dwarven societies.
For this way of procreation to work, both partners must have at least comparably complex thought processes, as the personal fae of both partners must interact with each other, and thus needs enough structure to work on. If the minds of both partners are self conscious, a bridging between species is possible.
As such, half breeds between almost all self-conscious creatures on Ardu, yet also with pure fae creatures, like demons from the counterrealm, are a possibility. An exception to this rule are the Yuan-Ti and Saurians. Halfbreeds which are half Yuan-Ti or Saurian are not possible, because of the severed connection both races have to the Fae, leaving them unable to conceive via faebirth.
For further general information regarding procreation and halfbreeds see also:

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Goliath have noticeable supraorbital ridges above their eyes. This gives them a somewhat brutish look, which only strengthens the preconceptions of uneducated humans about them. With some of them, albeit rarely, this rigde extends a somewhat bony ridged noseguard down the back of their noses, which, beneath the skin, gives them an alien look that even enforces the belief of the uneducated populace that goliaths are a separate race.
As sages have noticed however, the capability for seedbirth with human partners must mean that they are related to them at least. But this in-depth knowledge, just like the knowledge about the theory of the relation between goblins and gelf, is rare and in between, and isn't helped by the fact that there is basically no way to distinguish between a faeborn Half-Goliath and a seedborn one.
Eye color The eyes of a goliath go from an icey pale blue, over light green tones to a full green. Brown eyes are rare and only present in those, who have humans in their genealogy.
A rare sight are the "red eyed giants", goliaths who, due to a freak of nature, show blood red pupils. Their skin is usually even more pale, and their hair is white, making them resemble the Snow Beasts they hunt. As it turns out, they have an even higher intolerance to sunlight, and are more probable to be afflicted by sunburns. This being a weakness that makes it harder for them to hunt in the high ranges of the mountain, but also ill equipped to do the transport runs down to the human cities where it is warmer, they tend to be, oftentimes embittered, loners, exiled by tribes that value competitiveness above all, and are responsible for more sightings of Yetis than actual Yetis. At least with humans.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Goliath populations are centered around two regions: Culmeria and Aesgard . The Difference between both kin is the marginally taller size of aesgardian goliaths, and the tendency of aesgardian goliaths to stay among themselves and get in contact with humans mainly for trade, where singular culmerian goliaths, or even small groups, are much more likely to be found as part of a culmerian tribe.
Pure and mostly pure goliath tribes in both cultures inhabit the upper regions of mountainragnes, and remain close to the Hammer of Ice and the Dragon Stones, where they usually dwell close to the Iceshield that covers the northern Hemisphere and to which they refer as "Everice". Here they hunt for giant game, like Wool Mammoth or Snow Beasts , which provide them with huge amounts of edible meat, but also fat, fur and leather and bone, which they trade in the aesgardian and culmerian cities of the "lowlands" for salt, steel, weapons and most importantly, honey, the base ingredient for the legendary goliath mead .

Average Intelligence

Not particularly less intelligent than the average human, goliath oftentimes suffer from the cliché of the giant brute. Most often this is due to the misconception of civilization and intelligence being the same, usually held firmly by those who never contributed much to their own civilization, with humans being the most notorious offenders. Hence the craft and art of trained goliaths craftsmen, despite being no less beautiful or artistic than that of their human counterparts, still motivates comments like "Oh... how beautiful... and you created this despite your big hands..." and similar nonsense.
Goliaths however believe firmly in the ability to learn as a necessity to stay competitive, and being highly competitive beings through culture, value the ability to outthink the opponent just as much as the ability to beat him in a fight.
This shrewdness however is often overshadowed by their ability for sheer strength, such that they rarely get to show their full potential in this regard, at least in mixed groups, as they are appointed to "other tasks". At he same time, in order to grasp a concept humans are used to by upbringing, they also often miss necessary cultural background information, or , even if they get it, lack the cultrural means to properly convey their understanding of them.
Thus, trained humans still have a slight edge over goliath sages, at least in things regarding culture and technique.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Goilath names are threefold. Goliaths get their first name from their parent, their second , clan name, is determined by their clan. Goliaths have no concept of family names but each goliath will eventually acquire a deed name, given to him or her by the clan elder, and representing the goliaths biggest victory or greatest defeat. Goliaths don't refer to each other by given names, this is reserved to the parents alone, but by usually the most actual deed name, as the deed name can change over life.

Given Names

Given the Goliath belief that women are more pure and blessed due to the lack of naturally ocurring facial hair, this also reflects in the naming traditions. The language attributes purity to double vocals and consonants, such that one can find such kind of double sounds in almost all female names, and the names of legendary goliaths. They basically symbolize a purer version of the given name.
Male names Uthal, Othouk, Travak, Cuathrog, Nevak, Telgud, Orkres, Drogun, Loruk, Manner, Vimak, Thour, Rognur, Kriss, Vaukon, Aughro, Lor-Khal
Female names Suraa, Novaa, Ranaa, Ruvaa, Oora, Rooda, Graane, Baraa,Vaavia, Raani, Gaara, Saaria, Ataari, Foora, Frigga, Egga, Hakka

Deed Name

Bearkiller, Dawncaller, Fearless, Flintfinder, Horncarver, Keeneye, Lonehunter, Longleaper, Rootsmasher, Skywatcher, Steadyhand, Threadtwister, Twice-Orphaned, Twistedlimb, Wordpainter

Clan Name

The traditional clan name of a Goliath is 5 syllables or longer, and ends in a vocal. Traditional goliath tribes who are living close to the mountain peaks of the dragon stones and the hammer of ice directly state it as a third part of the name. Tribes living closer to the culmerian or aesgardian lowlands have taken over the notion to claim "of Clan..." followed by the clanname. Goliaths not part of a goliath clan, but a human one, are known to take over their clan names.
Typical Clan names Lakumathai, Ar-Katano, Thakathakari, Noku-Ganita, Kala-Otovi, Koreegatabu, Salikaga-Ona, Thuliagaro, Thunukalathi, Vaimei-Laga, Rokumarkari

Major Organizations

Goliath Shamanism is the major religion of most goliaths which still inhabit the Hammer of Ice, and the Mountainranges in the northern parts of Culmeria or Aesgard. Goliath living in the Lowlands of these countries however have often adapted to the local religions, like the Aesgardian Starcult, or the Culmerian Pantheon. More about goliath shamanism can be found here:

Beauty Ideals

Baldness and a hairless facial skin are prevalent beauty ideals with the goliaths, mostly in consequence of the need to show the tribal facial tattoos. The body hair is less affected by this ideal, as goliaths often wear thick layers of hide to protect against the cold anyhow, so no one would see. While whitish tattoos in the face are present, usually with women, the same does not hold for body tattoos, which are always of a deep black in order to shine through the hair. Goliath's which can afford the time, also perform complete shaves of body hair after taking baths.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Society

Goliath society's key focus is competitiveness. Kaya is angry and thus stingy with her gifts. Each goliath has to work for his part and every tribe member has to contribute to the clan. Even permanently injured or crippled goliaths are not spared and still have to carry their weight in the tribe. But Goliath also hold fairness in high regard, and do not believe in shifting the rules of the competition, as this would, in the long run, be to the detriment of the whole clan. Some humans believe that this competitiveness even extends to the ill and wounded, yet this is of course nonsense. Although every tribe member has to contribute to the clan they of course threat their wounded or injured.

Competitive Lifestyle

Because being competitive runs deep in the culture of the goliaths, some goliaths see everything as a challenge, and therefore keep track of their and their friends achievements and failures and occasionally repeat them, sometimes over and over, to the point when it is almost annoying. This however happens not out of innate arrogance or envy, but just out of the goliath nature to keep track of such things.
Apart from the persons around them, a goliath's biggest rival is him- or herself. They often try to outdo themselves to reach higher goals, which ocassionally leads to their doom. Goliaths also have little time or patience for cheaters, and can hold a grudge against these kind of persons for a very long time.
However if they have been beaten in a fair competition, it is very unlikely that they hold a grudge against the competitor, which is mirrored by their saying: “Todays rival is tomorrows teammate”.
Fighting Pits
One of the famous "hobbies" of all goliaths are fighting pits in which goliaths compete against each other. The battles usually end either in surrender (rarely) or unconsciousness (most of the time) of one of the combatants. It is strictly forbidden to kill the opponent, as it would rid the tribe of a valuable member. During battle if the goliath wears little or no armor at all he might gain more praise, also unarmed battle seen as one of the most noble and pure forms of battle. An unarmed goliath with no armor, who can beat an armed and armored enemy, would, rare as it is, gain a high reputation in their clan and often in clans as well. There are and have been quite a few goliaths which achieve a high status due to these fights.

Magic and the Goliath

Contrary to many human wizards, except probably war casters, Magic users train their bodies well, for they take the magic powers they wield not for granted, and, in case they were stripped of them, would still have a chance to fight their way through the world. Also, as magic in the fighting pits is prohibited, it would be very challenging, bordering on madness, for a magic wielder who didn't train his physique, to expect to win there.

Tribal life

Goliaths live in small tribes, which they call clans, that number between forty and sixty goliaths. They are usually made up of three to five extended families. Most goliaths live in the same tribe their entire life. On rare occasions, a tribe that got too large would split into smaller tribes or smaller tribes would merge together. Very rareley some goliaths change their tribe out of free will.
Goliath tribes have several key roles, which have to be filled by the most capable members. There is few nepotism in a goliath tribe, and if there is, Goliaths deilight in taking those down who try to corrupt their ideals. In the fighting pit usually, which quickly leads to the social demise of those who try to cheat their way "up". The most important role in the tribe is of course the
Chieftain
often referred to as the “Chief”. He or she is the shot caller. The chief decides when it is time to move the tribal village to new lands or when or against whom war was declared. They also allot most of the other jobs in the tribe. Tribe chieftains however only maintain power as long as they can prove they are suitable for that role, which leads to constant leadership changes, where new leaders are chosen by contests, in which any goliath can challenge the chieftain and attempt to replace them.
If such a challenge is uttered, the chieftain and the challenger compete in three tasks, of which two are chosen by the current chief and one is chosen by the competitor. The challenger has to win all three to become the new chieftain, the chieftain has to beat him in only one, which leads to at least some stability in the "management". The new chieftain then has the right to banish the old chieftain if he wishes to do so, albeit this being rarely done, as a former chieftain can still be a valuable warrior, hunter, or other part of the tribe. As this way of "management" replacement definitely favours the young, and because very few goliaths live to old age or are well read, goliath tribes consider "wisdom" an innnate trait, and not something gained from years of experience.
One of the jobs assigned by the chief is the job of the
Captain
Each morning, one or two captains (depending on the tribe’s size), are assigned to the important tasks of the day, often before dusk. Some of those jobs are hunting, gathering, cooking, and scouting for example. The captains then choose their team of goliaths based on the skill for the appropriate task. Exempt from being chosen to these teams is the so called
Skywatcher
who interpets the will of the spirits. The Skywatcher is the most experienced druid or shaman, and in general the spiritual leader of the tribe, although they also perform some secular tasks. Amongst other things they make sure that resources are not depleted, animals not needlessly slaughtered and spirit animals (wolf, bear, fox, mammoth, doe, raven, eagle) given the proper burial rites. They are also overseeing festival rituals and celebrations and act as a spiritual guide for the seeking goliath.
Another important task alloted by the Chief is the
Dawncaller
The Dawncaller is responsible for guarding the camp at night, and to alert the tribe in case of any trouble. The Dawncaller is assigned each day and is given less work during the day so he/she can rest and be ready for the task at night. Another one of his tasks are big announcements like heroic deeds of another goliath, which they announce at Dusk to make everyone in the tribe aware of the goliaths success and possibly new title.
Adjudicators
The Adjudicators are responsible for settling disputes. If the dispute isn’t too urgent he or she can hear the dispute after the evening meal, yet they are usually tasked to have an open ear and open tent throughout the whole day. If the decision is hard to handle fairly or just, due to both parties having a jsutifiable claim, it is not uncommon to settle these kinds of disputes by a contest of the adjudicators choosing. Of course, every goliath has the right to raise an objection against these decisions. If this happens the chieftain has to settle the dispute in the second instance and is free to, in case of disagreeing with the Adjudicator, remove them from their position. Adjudicators are also chosen usually to act as referees during sports events or “friendly” competitions.
Tentmother
The only gender specific task in the tribe are the so called Tentmothers, who acts as wet nurses and teachers. Declared by the chieftain on a two weekly basis, the tentmother is responsible for care and teaching of the tribes infants, toddlers and children, for their parents are often tasked with other responsibilities and the tribe can’t afford them to stay at home all day. Tentmothers also have the task to propose to the Chief when they consider it time for a young goliath to start contributing to the tribal life, usually when goliaths enter their teen years. It is the task of the Chief to decide if the tentmothers are right about that however, a decision usually preceded by a challenge or test of the chiefs choosing.
Circle of Banishment
One of the most unwanted jobs for any goliath is to be part of the Circle of Banishment. The circle is reformed once every six months and consists of three goliaths, whose job it is to ,apart from their normal day task, to determine when a member of the tribe is no longer contributive or acceptable, be it either due to increased age, weakness or due to unacceptable crimes against the goliaths code, wnd who thus has to leave the tribe to find an honourable death elsewere. The circle has to unanimously decide this for any given goliath of the tribe, and then present that decision to the chieftain and the skywatcher, if it was due to age or ailment, or to the Adjudicators, in case of criminal misconduct, who can all veto the decision. In case no veto was spoken however, the "Bannermen" (or -women) have to approach the individual and explain their decision.
A chant song then has to be prepared to honor the previous deeds of the goliath, even in case of banishment due to crimes, and in case of exceptional former deeds the expelled goliath is given the last honor to carve his or her name into a totem pole, such that their names will stay with the tribe as an example to not be forgotten.
Some goliaths who are exiled do not find an easy death however and rather find a fate in another place, where they settle with humans or other races. Some try to achieve an almost unachievable heroic act however, to prove that they should be taken into the tribe once more. As such things often include fixed ideas like killing a dragon, or killing a frostworm all alone, they usually result in death however.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Goliath Calendar

Goliath's do not use the imperial ring calendar, but have developed their own, based in their nomadic lifestyle and their experiences with short summers and harsh and cold winters.

The "good Goliath"

The competitive nature of goliaths means, that the attitude and achievements of one would quickly inspire others in the whole tribe. Inspire them to outdo them that is. Hence, Individuals within tribes constantly try to outdo each other's good deeds, which leads to the human stereotype of them being heroic, goodhearted and woefully naive.

The Morning and Evening Meal

Something the goliaths care very much about are the morning and evening meal, which is a social event. If you are in the village and not on a hunting trip or some other task which keeps you elsewhere, you must attend the morning and the evening meal. This holds for all goliaths of the tribe, but also the guests. To not attend is seen as a grave insult to the chieftain, who assigned the tasks and therefore provided everyone with food. Do not miss this!

Totems

In or close to the center, each goliath village has seven totems which resemble the seven family animal spirits. Thery are arranged in a circle and in their midst lies single stone carved to the form of a star to resemble Kaya herself in the midst of everything goliath.
When the village is moved the totems are always moved last, and arriving at a new place of settlement, they are always placed first, with the village then being built in a circular fashion around them. Sometimes moving them is turned into a trial of strength and endurance. The competing goliaths will carry the heavy totems from their old location to the new, while setting the totem on the ground, or dropping it, is considered a bad omen and will result in punishment. If the goliaths need a rest because the travel to the new settling ground is too far, they have to find a way to rest the totem without it touching the ground. And of course there are some legends say, that the greatest of the goliathsl where able to carry all seven totems plus the stone all at the same time.
Whenever a goliath merited of great deeds leaves for exile, or in case a goliath performs an exceptional act of heroism, these goliaths are allowed to carve their marking in one of the totems that resembles the field of their achievement the most.

Law and Order

Although there are no written laws or codes, there are a number of mostly unspoken rules which are followed by almost every tribe to discourage theft and cheating. The most important rule is obedience to the chieftain and his assigned captains. Since there is rarely any money exchange within the tribe there are also no punishments like fines, and rather direct measures are taken at hand.
The most common punishment is beating. This is reserved for goliaths that are caught stealing, cheating or disobeying, as pain is considered a very healthy motivator in the goliath society and one that also has the additional purpose of hardening.
The next stage is the shunning. During the shunning the whole tribe is acting as if the chosen person does not exist. They are also not picked for hunting teams or sports, and not provided food or shelter. A milder form of the shunning is the so called half shunning. During this treatment the goliath is then simply treated as a second class member and given worse food for example.
To make matters worse, the duration of the shunning is never declared to the affected Goliath, and it's end is rather communicated via body language or gestures, the so called "thawing". Goliaths who break the shunning risk to be shunned themselves, for doing this is seen as a threat to the goliath society.
The last and considered worst punishment is of course exile. Sometimes the exile is preceded by the assingment of a new middle name, which shows what the last great failure of the respective goliath was. Exile is also the fate of tribe members who no longer can contribute to the tribe due to age or weakness.
Some goliaths "know" when they have failed their tribe and chose to leave before the exile is spoken out, to not put the tribe in the position to go through the whole official exile process. This is an attempt to keep at least a bit of honor and dignity, yet it has also led to some sad goliath songs about goliaths who deliberately left their tribe, with the tribe then finding out that "it" was not the goliaths fault all along. Depending if it is a merry or mournful song the respective tribes then search and either find him, or only his corpse.

History

The word goliath, which goliaths use for goliaths, and which subsequently found its way into the common tongue, appears also in one text of the Records of R'hyll regarding the Cataclysm, and there in exactly one sentence which refers to an obscure legend about a giant human being.
Given that goliaths didn't appear in the first edition of the Codex Cartensis , which is the central work of classifying species into those agreeable to the Creator , and those abominable to him, and because no other legend speaks about giant humans present during the cataclysm, one must wonder how these brutes have adapted exactly this word to describe themselves, and when exactly they came into existence. They didn't get the word from us, as we, when adding them to the Codex as humanlike and thus agreeable to the Creator, called them Colossi first, while the oldest legends of the culmerians and aesgardians called them Ice-giants. It took several centuries before the rest of the world adapted their term. Are they just a lost tribe of humans which separated from the rest, even before the Age of Cataclysm? Is their tongue probably a reminiscence of how we once spoke at the beginning of time?

— Excerpt from the forbidden issue of the “Monster Manual, Edition of Conscious Species”, stored in the vault of black books in the Church library in High Haven.

Being a culture of oral tradition upheld by the goliath shamans, the "recorded" history of goliaths is oftentimes a mixture of legend and fact, with details or even broad strokes differing from tribe to tribe, while the general picture, painted by the oldest goliath myths and legends remains the same over all tribes.
That said however there is fortunately also the history of the humans of Haven, Culmeria, Aesgard and the Gelf of the Undermountain, whose own histories are, by pacts or conflicts, interwoven with the goliaths.
So while there may be no recorded history of the goliaths, there sure is one about them, with most of it being found in the archives of High Haven.

The three ages

Contrary to human history, goliath do not belief themselves to live in the sixth age of Ardu, but actually its third age. While humans count all shadow wars as relevant, the goliath only count every second, which, admittedly, have proven to be much worse in comparison. Together with these "Great" Scourges, goliath legend has, that a pair, a warrior and a wise, one female, one male, emerge during these times of turmoil to lead the goliath on and protect them against the Plague. The goliath argue that the souls of the Wise and the Warrior are called back to Ardu in times of need, and that the first of these pairs was the pair that actually arrived on Ardu together with the seven animal ancestor spirits. Sadly the goliath admit that the original names are lost, and thus they refer to them as Sa-Ooruk the Warrior and Ruvaa the Wise, under which names they appeared during the first "Great" scourge at the end of the (human) second age, which was the end of the goliath first age.

The first Age

Goliaths during the first Age (human counting)

Goliaths during the first Age (human counting)

If goliaths had been present during the first age after the cataclysm, there is yet no proof for this. Haven hadn't yet expanded northward enough, and the tribes that later became the basis for the culmerian or aesgardian countries had not yet developed a common identity or even language, not to speak of common myths, such that, even if they existed, any proof about goliath existence during the first age is now lost.

Goliaths during the second Age (human counting)

Goliaths during the second Age (human counting)

The first mentioning of Goliaths, albeit as so called Ice Giants in havenian sources, happens during the so called Expanse, also known as the second age. First disregarded as a stupid superstition of the "barbaric" northmen, who were to become the Culmerians and Aesgardians one day, this notion changed when Haven tried to invade new territories in its north.
The Records of R'hyll contain a few reports of Havenian generals about giant fierce white or grey skinned warriors, strong and hardy and formidable foes, who came down from their mountains to aid the "barbarians" against the southern invaders. As there are so few written records left however, it is impossible to say what motivated northmen and goliaths to fight alongside each other, but for some reason the goliaths seemed to share a healthy aversion against the "Church" which was the dominant faith in Haven.
Goliaths were also known to take part in raids on coastal cities of the Inner Sea. It is also known that they were part of the first human settlements in the region that is now Caldaven, for they became part of the legends of the local Norn and Sitha. Some sages argue that the general bigger average height of Culmerians , Aesgardian, Oskrajans and Caldavians could, at least party, be blamed to goliath blood intermingling with human blood.
It took until the end of the second age though, before Goliaths were admitted as a subspecies of the humans, and added as "Colossi" and agreeable to the creator to the Codex Cartensis, also because their strength was needed in the fight against the Great Scourge.

The Great Scourge

The Great Scourge

During the second shadow war, also called the Great Scourge, the division between Havenians and their northern neighbors blurred, as suddenly, for the sake of all, the Culma and Aes, and by extension the goliath population of said regions, had to work together with the Havenians in order to protect their own kin from the monsters of the Underdark. This is the time of Sa-Ooruk the Warrior and Ruvaa, the wise woman, which, together, managed to join the goliath tribes against the dark flood, and which are, to this day, well reknown in human and goliath legends. Human sources however oftentimes remain quiet about the goliath heritage of both, and rather turn them into noble culmerian barbarians.

The Second Age

Goliaths in the third age (human counting)

Goliaths in the third age (human counting)

The Third human age for goliaths was mainly governed by their ongoing resistance against the rising influence of Haven, which took root in the common effort of humans and goliaths to hold back the scourge during the second shadow war. Some goliath tribes even left their former territories on the backs of the Dragonstones and the Hammer of Ice and settled in the culmerian lowlands to prevent Haven, and thus by extension the Church to gain major influence, a task which they were doomed to fail.
Instead these tribes were assimilated over time by the tribes of Culma and are, to this day, the main reason why goliaths are more prevalent Culmerian lowlands than in Aesgardian. The exact reason why goliaths were so allergic against the churches attempt to colonize them is lost in time though, as the Records of R'hyll remain silent about this topic, and the resistance of the tribes of Culma ended at the height of power of the ring empire during the human fourth age. Even the goliaths do not remember it, yet most clung to the old shamanistic ways.

The third shadow war and the age of the Ring empire.

The third shadow war and the age of the Ring empire

During the third shadow war the tribes of Culma once again joined forces with the Havenians, as did the Aes under the leadership of Rogar the Bald. The goliath population followed suit to battle the Plague, and many a hero from this time has been of their kin. When the war was over though, and the regions that today form Culmeria and Aesgard joined the Ring Empire, these deeds were soon forgotten, or attributed to "true" human heroes, while the goliaths became disenfranchised and reduced to simple brutes which were better guards and laboreres at best, an image that, sadly, clings to them to this very day.
This heavily backfired on the Empire, when the Gelf reppeared in the latter half of the fourth age, challenging the empire close to its center, which was Haven. The Empire was not able to rally the goliaths against the Undergelf threat, whereas the sly, insightful gelf became very successful in exploiting the goliath dissatisfaction, finally inciting the Goliath rebellion in Culmeria , which only ended once the fourth shadow war broke loose and the dark age began.

The Dark Times and the Third Age

The Dark Times

The Dark Times

Due to the lack of written sources, little is known about the goliath during the time that encompasses the fourth shadow war, the fifth age, and the fifth shadow war, only that the shamanistic traditions, upheld by some culmerian goliath and many remote aesgardian goliath tribes, filled the void the Church of the Creator left, when its power waned. This also gave rise to a renewed skepticism towards the Church, albeit one that does not ground in initial mistrust in the motives of the Church , but more in it's inability to protect it's followers from the horrors of the Plague. At the same time the relation to the Undergelf only strengthened, reinforced by the totally different advantages that goliath and Gelf bring to the table. This connection is, from goliath side, even stronger, because the goliath believe that, at the beginning of the Scourge that initiated the third age, Ruvaa the Wise returned to Ardu in the form of Prillokriss Tefnogud, an undergelf sage, while Sa-Ooruk returned as warrior queen Ranaa the Strong.
Human sages of Haven doubt these legends as original however, and attribute them to "undergelf meddling" with the goliath myths, in order to stengthen the bond between goliath and gelf.

Goliath of the sixth age (human counting)

Goliath of the sixth Age (human counting)

During the ongoing sixth age of Ardu, goliath didn't really step into the limelight yet. They supported the tribes of Culma and Aes when they founded Culmeria and Aesgard respectively, and helped defend these countries against Haven and Oskraja , when the Church of the Creator tried to reinstate its claim over these territories.
Goliath shamans are sure though that this is about to change however, reporting the spirit animals speaking of a return of Sa-Ooruk and Ruvaa (under new names) and subsequently the begin of another terrible scourge soon.

Common Myths and Legends

Creation Myth

In the beginning there were the wise and the warrior. They traversed the dark void of Kaya the Sky together with the ancestors of wolf, bear, eagle, fox,mammoth, doe and raven. After ages of travel through the endless void, Kaya found pity for them and created Ardu as a haven for them to live in.
Father saw the world, and found that it was bountiful with prey to take home, so he chose the form of a hunter, and taught pack tactics to the wise and the warrior such that they could provide for the family they were going to have. Thus Wolf became father wolf, the provider.
Mother saw, that the world was full of fertile fields, and places to settle in, but also cold and dangerous, so it took the form of a protector and taught the wise and the warrior to stay close to each other and form families. And thus bear became Mother Bear, the caretaker.
Brother saw saw the dangers of the new world and the forces of nature they would have to face, and realized that the family woulď need eyes to look out for these threats, and so he took a form with sharp eyes and wings to stay aloft. And he taught the wise and the warrior to always stay observant and vary of the forces beyond their control. And so he became brother eagle, the scout.
Sister saw that there was plenty of space in the new world, and took the form of the fertile doe, and showed all others how to be male and female, different but same, and find joy in each others arms and use this joy to populate the world. And thus doe became sister doe, the lover.
Uncle saw that the world was full of secrets and knowledge, and so he took a form which could remember it all. And he taught the wise and the warrior how to teach their children, how to not forget about their past and everything they ever learned. And so he became uncle mammoth, the Memory.
Aunt saw that the world was full of beautiful things and also opportunities, and so he took a form that knew how to take them unnoticed or unchallenged, and taught this qualities to the wise and the warrior. And so fox became aunt fox, the Sly.
The friend saw beyond the things, he saw the secrets of the new world and even of the death that could be found here. So he sat down with the warrior and the wise and taught them to see beyond the things, to accept death as part of life. But what he spoke was, although necessary and true, frightful and unconvenient. And albeit the other animal ancestors accepted his truth, they still were uncomfortable in his presence, and thus he became Friend Raven, the Outsider, the keeper of secrets and guardian of death door.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Humans

Lifespan

70 Years

Average Height

7 - 8 ft (2.15 m to 2.45 m)

Average Weight

115 to 150 kg

Average Physique

"Built like a goliath" is a common human proverb, at least in Haven, Culmeria, Aesgard and Oskraja, but has found its way to almost all cities around the Inner sea. Compared to the average human, Goliaths are taller, heavier and, due to their lives full of physical hardship, generally very well built. A human may train, but once he has reached the limits of the physically possible, a goliath with similar training will still prove to be stronger and more resilient. This is even enforced by the size of the goliaths and their ability to carry things way to bulky for the average human.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The skin of goliaths is usually of a lighter tone, almost greyish to white, with a tanned goliath sporting a healthy...beige. This skintone gives them an edge on the snowy and icey mountainridges they call home, as even their face does not stand out. In ordere to capitalize on it, and not freeze to death, which could happen to a goliath albeit much later than it would to a human, they prefer coats of whitish or grey fur over those of other colors.
Many Goliaths also shave their heads to baldness and shave their beard (so they have one) every day in order to allow others to see the tattoos they got for their deeds.
Contrary to the stupid human belief that goliaths are born with these "markings", they actually have a long tradition of tattooing, with the most honorable, or important, tattos, being depicted on the face. They even developed a complete scripture of simple forms and their relations to each other to "inscribe" deeds. This being honormarks, once a goliath falls from grace with his tribe, he must not shave his hair, until the honor is restored. Many goliaths misinterpret this even as "must not cut their hair" at all, with the length of their beard and hair then becoming a clear sign of how long the respective goliath has been fallen from grace. Not a few chieftains even enforce this belief in order to get a clear indication how long a particular goliath has been "without honor".
Yet sooner or later it becomes inpractical, and the hair has at least to be shortened. In that case the few centimeters make no difference anyhow, at least thats how the rationalization goes.
Natural Baldness is seen as a sign of the Spirits to be chosen for a higher purpose. As is, to a lesser degree, the inability to grow a beard that exists with some male goliaths. The inability of any females to grow a beard enforces the goliath notion that they are "more pure" which also expresses itself in their ability to give life.

Geographic Distribution

• Aesgard
• Culmeria
• Dragon Stones
• Hammer of Ice

Related Ethnicities

• Aes
• Culmerian

D&D 5e Stats

Goliath

Ability Score Increase +2 Con, +2 Str

Size Medium

Speed 30ft

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Size: 7 - 8 ft (2,15 - 2,45 m)

Goliath Traits:

• Natural Athlete: You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.
• Stone’s Endurance:You can focus yourself to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled, and reduce the damage by that total. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
• Powerful Build: You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
• Mountain Born: You’re acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. You’re also naturally adapted to cold climates, as described in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide.
• Survivalist: You know how to read your environment, to find food and orient yourself in the wilderness. You have proficiency in survival skill.
• Combat inspired: Whenever you fell an enemy in one on one combat, or while being personally outnumbered, you gain Inspiration

Languages. You can speak, read and write Goliath, Common, and either Culmerian or Aesgardian.

Pathfinder 2e Stats

See also the Feats at the Bottom of the page

Hit Points

10

Size

Medium

Speed

30

Ability Boosts

Strength,
Constitution,
Free

Ability Flaw

Dexterity

Languages

Common
Goliath
Additional languages equal to your intelligence modifier (if it's positive). Choose from any other languages to which you have access to which are prevalent in your region (Culmerian, Aesgardian)

Traits

Goliath
Humanoid

Impressive Physique:
You can carry twice the normal amount of bulk

Cold Resistance
You’re acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. You’re also naturally adapted to cold climates, granting you cold resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1). You treat environmental cold effects as if they were one step less extreme (incredible cold becomes extreme, extreme cold becomes severe, and so on).

Ice Giant Heritages

Crag Giant
Your ancestors lived on the surface of the mountains, hunting for achievements and honor amongst the heights of the world. You are practiced in traversing treacherous ground. Whenever you critically fail an athletics check to climb, high jump, or long jump, treat it as a normal failure. A high jump does not require a stride and a long jump requires only a 5-foot stride.

Ice Waste Giant
Traversing the wastes north of the Hammer of Ice is remarkably dangerous, and your ancestors have passed down techniques to help. Your skin is pale to almost white. You have a +2 circumstance bonus to stealth when in snowy terrain. You are trained in the survival skill and have the forager skill feat.

Stoneblood Giant
The knots in your skin are as tough as rocks. You have found this makes bare-knuckled brawls significantly more dangerous for those facing you. You have a resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1) to Bludgeoning Damage.

Storm Goliath
You have seen thunder break mountains, lightning shatter trees, and rainfall wash everything away. You know that the only response to losing everything is to rebuild yourself stronger. You gain the Rebuild Yourself reaction.

Rebuild Yourself[Reaction]

Frequency: once per day
Trigger: You take damage due to a strike

Recover 1d8 HP after the damage from the strike is taken. Increase the number of healing dice to 2 at 5th level, 3 at 10th level, and 4 at 15th level.

Goliath Ancestry Feats

At 1st level, you gain one ancestry feat, and you gain an addtional ancestry feat every 4 levels thereafter (at 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th level). As a Goliath, you select from among the following ancestery feats.

Level 1

Charging Shove - - Feat 1 -

GOLIATHSINGLE ACTION

Description You stride at half your movement speed or make a long jump attempt then make a shove attempt. If you moved more than 10 ft with your stride or long jump gain a +2 circumstance bonus to the shove attempt.

Combat Inspired - - Feat 1 -

GOLIATH

Applications Your victories in battle fill you with pride and imbue you with the energy to fight better. When you have 0 Hero Points and you fell an enemy in one on one combat, or while being personally outnumbered, you gain 1 Hero Point back.

Ice Giant Lore - - Feat 1 -

GOLIATH

Description You learned from the stories and the poems passed from generation to generation. You have memorized, contemplated, and considered the stories on starry nights when the ground below you thrumbs with the mountain's heartbeat. You are trained in Goliath Lore and you are trained in Athletics and Survival. If you would automatically become trained in one of those skills (such as from your background or class) you instead become trained in a skill of your choice.

Goliath Weapon Familiarity - - Feat 1 -

GOLIATH

Description You have taken the time and practice to learn the excessively sized weapon of the goliath. You are trained with all weapons that have the goliath trait.
For the purpose of determining your proficiency, martial Goliath Weapons are Simple weapons, and advanced Goliath Weapons are martial weapons.
Goliath Weapons are: Greatclub, Greataxe, Shortbows and Longbows, also Spears, Longspears and Javelins

Long strider - - Feat 1 -

GOLIATH

Description Even among goliaths, your height and stride are impressive. You have an additional 5 feet of movement when striding on foot.

Mountains Beckoning - - Feat 1 -

GOLIATH

Description You can feel the direction of your homeland just by listening. If standing on solid ground on the same plane of existence as your homeland (not in the Counterrealm or Fae worlds), you have a +4 circumstance bonus to survival check to sense direction, and you do not need a compass. A minimum proficiency for unusual or unfamiliar locales may still be necessary.

Ancestral Patron - - Feat 1 -

GOLIATH

Description You are said to have an ancestor who has taken a liking to you and will help you when they can. Choose one cantrip from the occult spell list. You can cast this spell as an occult innate spell at will. The cantrip is heightened to a spell level equal to half your level rounded up.

Animal Familiar - - Feat 1 -

GOLIATH

Description As a child, you made a connection with an animal and the two of you have been inseparable since. You gain a familiar using the rules found on page 217 in the Core Rulebook. The type is up to you, but most goliaths choose something with a fly speed.

Ressourceful Brawler - - Feat 1 -

GOLIATH

Description You spent your time as a child fighting. You learned how to fight with your fists and exploit your environment, getting proficient with the use of Rocks during a fight too, as in the moountainous Environment they were a tool available to you. Now, you can reliably hit things... with fists and rocks too.
If you attack unarmed with your fists you can deal 1d6 Bludgeoning Damage. Your fists are in the "Brawling" Group and have the unarmed trait.
You have trained proficiency when striking with a rock and can treat rocks as goliath weapons. In areas where rocks are common, such as mountains and forests, a strike action can include picking up a rock to be used as a weapon. This does not change the traits of the strike.

Level 5

Mental Impact - - Feat 5 -

GOLIATHFLOURISHCONCENTRATEEMOTIONFEARMENTAL

Description Where a goliath fists lands, no grass grows, and those at the recieving end soon learn to fear the strikes, even if they just witness the effect on others. Make a strike, if it succeeds roll damage as normal and then choose a target within 30 ft of you. Make an intimidation check with a +2 circumstance bonus against the targets Will DC.
Critical Success: The Target becomes Frightened 2.
Success: The Target becomes Frightened 1.

Goliath Weapon Marauder - -Feat 5 -

GOLIATH

Requirements Goliath Weapon Familiarity

Description You have learned the subtleties that can come from the biggest of weapons. Whenever you critically hit with a Greatsword, Greataxe, Longbow, Shortbow, or weapons you have familiarity with due to Goliath Weapon Familiarity , you apply the weapon's critical specialization effect.

Victorious Vigor - - Feat 5 -

GOLIATH

Trigger You bring a foe to 0 Hit Points.

Description Your victories in battle fill you with pride and imbue you with the energy to fight a bit longer despite your wounds. You gain temporary Hit Points equal to your Constitution modifier whenever you fell an enemy.

Stone Warrior - - Feat 5 -

GOLIATH

Requirements Stone Proficiency

Description You begin to see how each rock will fly, just based on its shape. Whenever you critically hit with a rock, you apply the hammer group weapon specialization. Additionally, you treat rocks as if they had Thrown 30ft trait. If you are a monk, treat rocks as if they had the monk trait.

Level 9

Relentless Beating - - Feat 9 -

GOLIATHFLOURISHDOUBLE ACTION

Requirements Charging Shove

Action

Description Make a Melee strike a target who is standing. The target can choose to make a Fortitude saving throw against your athletics DC to remain standing after the hit or a Reflex saving throw against your athletics DC to step 5 ft away.
If the Target suceeds: The target stays standing or steps 5 ft away.
if the target fails: The target is knocked prone and takes 2 additional dice of damage from the attack.
if the target fails critically: The target is knocked prone and takes 4 additional dice of damage from the attack.

Stone Rain - - Feat 9 -

GOLIATH

Requirements Stone Proficiency

Description Increase the damage die for rocks to d6. When you do enough damage to a target with a rock that it exceeds the rocks Hardness (7), the target must make a fortitude saving throw against your athletics or be stupefied 2 for one round.

Level 13

Goliath Weapon Chief - - Feat 13 -

GOLIATH

Requirements Goliath Weapon Marauder

Description Your innumerable hours practicing with the weapons of your people have given you insights that few others know. Whenever you gain a class feature that grants you expert or greater proficiency in a given weapon or weapons, you also gain that proficiency in Greatsword, Greataxe, Longbow, Shortbow, Spear, and all Goliath weapons named in Goliath Weapon Familiarity

The Call of Life - - Feat 13 -

GOLIATH

Description The impulse to survive and continue fighting resonates deep within you. You gain a circumstance bonus to damage rolls on your melee Strikes equal to twice the sum of your wounded and doomed conditions (to a maximum of a +8 circumstance bonus to damage) whenever you have one or both conditions.

Stone Storm

GOLIATH

Description You understand rocks. You may understand them better than anybody else. You are a fine-tuned calculator of where rocks will go when you throw them. Whenever you gain a class feature that grants you expert or greater proficiency in a given weapon or weapons, you also gain that prociency with rocks. Increase the damage die for rocks to d8 & rocks also have the agile trait for you.