Half-Giant

“Mind of a child, strength of three grown men. I’ve seen a half-giant tear the walls out of a building because he wanted a better look at the tattoos on a mul inside.” ―Daro, human trader

As a Player Character:

• Giant: Large bonus to Strength, bonus to constitution, penalty to all other ability scores

• Cumbersome: Natural armor bonus, human-sized armor doesn't fit. Heavy character

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Half-Giants speak whatever their influencing (typically dominant) demographic speaks, although generally slowly and somewhat clumsily. It is rare for a half-giant to know more than 1 language.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The most powerful warriors on Athas, halfgiants seem content to dwell in humanity’s shadow. Halfgiants tend to be friendly and eager to please, adopting the lifestyles, skills, and values of those they admire. A half‐giant character who encounters a new situation looks around him to see what other people are doing. For example, a half‐giant character that happens upon a Dwarven stone quarry may watch the dwarves, and then start quarrying stone himself. If he can make a living at it, he will continue to quarry stone just like his neighbor dwarves do; otherwise he will move on to something else.
Half-Giants do not have a culture of their own. In the city-states, half-giants serve as soldiers, guards, or laborers. In the wilderness, they attach themselves to charismatic leaders or communities demonstrating tendencies that they admire. Wherever they are, half-giants have to deal with the fact that they are too big for the world around them, for things built for the use and convenience of humans don’t work well in the hands of half-giants.

History

Half-giants are a race of enormous demihumans who have adapted to a variety of lifestyles in the many harsh terrains of Athas. The origins of the race are unclear. While it is known that the race is spawned from the union of human and giant and the nature of that union was certainly magical, its original purpose is unknown. Left to themselves, the original half-giants have multiplied, especially near the shores of the Silt Sea.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

From the human side, half-giants get an interest in communication and cooperation, curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a general tendency toward kindness. They don’t gather in communities of their own, but instead tend to adopt the cultures of those they admire or have access to.

Lifespan

150

Average Height

9 ft

Average Weight

500 lbs