Goliath

The Harmonized Legacy of Giants

Goliaths are towering, nomadic warriors descended from the giants of old and created by the elemental lords. Standing between seven and eight feet tall, they are known for their incredible physical strength, deep respect for tradition, and love of competition. Upon reaching adulthood, every Goliath chooses a giant ancestry such as Cloud, Fire, Frost, Hill, Stone, or Storm, which subtly alters their appearance and grants them supernatural abilities. Constantly on the move across Erenel’s wild places, Goliaths live in tightly knit clans, guided by the wisdom of Pathcallers and bonded through feats of strength, honor, and the ever unfolding Sky Road of their ancestors.

In the Era of the Architect, the Lords of the Elemental Planes crafted their own mighty species to rival the Architect's favored creations. Fueled by pride and a desire to outdo Al'Madoon, the Architect, they shaped colossal beings in their own image. From the burning heart of volcanoes, the crushing depths of the sea, the sweeping tempests, and the rumbling stone came forth ogres, ettins, cyclops, and the elemental-blooded Alvaldi.
Yet amidst these varied forms, the Goliath was born. A towering and resilient people not of a single element, but formed as a balanced convergence of all. Where the Alvaldi were marked by the chaotic tides of one elemental plane, the Goliath were forged to embody strength, clarity, and focus. They were designed with fewer flaws, built to survive, endure, and grow. Not a prototype, but a culmination.
Goliaths are a living testament to the Elemental Lords’ raw ambition. While their creators turned to more favored frost, fire, cloud, and stone giants, the Goliaths endured, carving their own legacy into the cliffs and crags of Erenel. They are not heirs to a throne or servants to an ideal. They are survivors born of elemental design, thriving long after their creators turned their attention elsewhere.

Rite of Ancestry

Goliaths may be born of elemental convergence, but their true identity is not fully realized until they complete the Rite of Ancestry, a sacred tradition marking the passage into adulthood. Upon reaching maturity, each Goliath must climb to a sacred height such as a mountain summit, volcanic ridge, glacial wall, or sky-splitting cliff. Here, they meditate for three days under the open sky and commune with the essence of the giants who came before them.
During this rite, a Goliath chooses a giant lineage to emulate, believing that by aligning with one of the six ancestral giant paths, they honor the legacy of their creation while forging their own. Once the choice is made, the Goliath receives a supernatural gift, an echo of their giant-kin’s power that flares when the Goliath calls upon their strength. In addition to this gift, their body subtly shifts, adopting physical characteristics that reflect their chosen lineage: eyes that spark like lightning, skin with a stony texture, hair streaked with frost, or veins that glow with molten fire.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Goliaths are towering humanoids, standing between 7 and 8 feet tall, with massive, athletic builds that speak to their elemental and giant-blooded origins. Their sheer size and presence command attention in any gathering, with physiques sculpted by harsh climates, long treks through mountainous terrain, and rites of strength passed down for generations.
As Goliaths undergo the Rite of Ancestry, their physical features shift subtly to reflect their chosen lineage. A Frost-lineage Goliath might develop icy blue veins that shimmer in the cold, while a Fire-lineage Goliath’s skin might glow faintly in dim light, warm to the touch. Regardless of lineage, every Goliath carries the weight of ancient strength in their step, carved from stone and storm to walk the mortal world as living echoes of their giant forebears.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Goliath names are carved into their Stone of Legacy, a sacred stone tablet each Goliath carries or leaves behind with their community. These names evolve throughout a Goliath’s life, gaining new elements based on deeds, ancestral choices, and significant victories. A name is not just a label, but a chronicle with each part of the name telling a story of who the Goliath is and what they have accomplished.
At birth, a Goliath is given a short, simple name by the tribe’s elders. Upon declaring their chosen giant ancestry during adulthood, a second name is added, reflecting the nature of their choice (such as "Frosthide" for a Frost Giant lineage or "Cinderstep" for a Fire Giant lineage). Additional names can be earned through feats in athletic contests, personal trials, or leadership.

Masculine Names

Brekk, Dorrun, Halvek, Kuthan, Thorran

Feminine Names

Eshari, Harka, Sula, Thalga, Venra

Example Full Names

Thorran Cinderstep Ironknee, Sula Frosthide Cloudwatcher, Halvek Stormheart Cliffrunner

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Goliaths live in tightly bonded clans that wander the mountains, high plains, and storm-swept ridges of Erenel. Rarely settling for long, they are a nomadic people by tradition and necessity, following ancestral trails and migratory patterns across the wild and harsh terrain. Each clan travels with purpose, chasing seasonal game, performing sacred pilgrimages, or participating in athletic trials hosted by neighboring clans.
A Goliath clan is typically made up of several extended families, guided by a council of elders and a designated Pathcaller, a leader chosen for their wisdom, strength, and ability to read the signs of the land. Though hierarchies exist, all members are expected to contribute according to their skills, whether through hunting, crafting, scouting, or storytelling. Children are raised communally, and a clan’s triumphs or failures are shared as one.
Despite their movement, Goliaths have deep spiritual ties to places they've passed through. It’s common for a clan to return to the same sacred summit or valley once every few years, leaving behind Waystones to mark their presence. These stones act as memory altars, carrying carved names, deeds, and messages to future generations.

Goliath Beliefs

The Goliaths of Erenel hold a deep spiritual reverence for the Primordial Giants, seeing them not just as ancestors but as the perfected embodiments of strength, endurance, and elemental harmony. Though the elemental lords created giantkind out of spite, the Goliaths believe that their species, refined through hardship and choice, has transcended that original malice. They view their connection to the giants not as a curse, but a divine gift that must be honored through action and discipline.
Every Goliath carries a stone of legacy, a carved token embedded with runes that tell the tale of their deeds, trials, and ancestry. These stones are buried with them upon death or returned to their tribe, where they are displayed among the tribe's Waystones. Ancestral spirits are believed to linger near these Waystones, whispering guidance to those who visit in quiet reflection.
While many Goliaths do not worship deities in the traditional sense, they honor the elemental aspects that shaped their kind; fire, earth, water, and sky. Some offer daily rituals of balance, such as standing in rain, bathing in ash, or meditating beneath mountain winds.

Lifespan

About 100 years

Average Height

Medium (about 7-8 feet tall)

The Pathcaller

Among the nomadic Goliath clans, few positions carry as much weight and reverence as the Pathcaller. Chosen not by bloodline, but through merit, the Pathcaller is a spiritual and practical guide, responsible for leading the clan's travel. They are not a chieftain, but a living connection to the elemental forces and giant heritage that shapes Goliath existence.
A Pathcaller must excel in endurance, wisdom, and foresight. They are trained in ancient traditions of weather reading and the interpretation of omens found in flame, ice, cloud, or stone—depending on their own giant ancestry. In times of plenty, the Pathcaller ensures the clan honors the land and does not overstay its welcome. In times of hardship, they are expected to remain calm, to recall forgotten trails, and to inspire unity through decisive action.
When a Pathcaller’s time nears its end, they begin the Final Pilgrimage, visiting the sacred sites their clan has traveled over a lifetime. Their successor is named before they begin this journey, usually a younger Goliath who has shown promise during previous rites and trials. Once chosen, the successor walks the Final Pilgrimage alongside the Pathcaller, absorbing wisdom and preparing to lead as the Pathcaller takes their final steps.

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Physical Excellence

From a young age, Goliaths are taught that physical endurance and athletic prowess are sacred. Strength is not only a survival trait but a cultural pillar that reinforces their connection to the giants who came before them. Every Goliath tribe hosts seasonal Great Trials, a series of grueling physical competitions designed to test the limits of speed, stamina, and precision. These trials include foot races across sheer cliffs, wrestling matches on high mountain ridges, stone lifting contests, and long distance hunts with nothing but a handmade spear.
Victors of the Great Trials are granted titles such as Boulder-Breaker, Wind-Chaser, or Flame-Strider, names that become part of their identity and are added to their stone of legacy. The champions are expected to mentor others and uphold the balance of strength and humility within the clan.
In times of hardship or transition, such as choosing a giant ancestry, a Goliath undergoes a personal rite called the Striding, where they ascend a sacred peak, navigate a storm tossed ridge, or endure the heat of a fire forged cavern to prove their resolve. Success brings not only physical affirmation but spiritual clarity, believed to strengthen the connection to their chosen giant heritage and elemental path.

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The Sky Road

To the Goliath people, life is a journey along the Sky Road, a mythical path carved among the stars that connects the mortal realm to the ancient heights of the elemental giants. They believe the Sky Road was once tread by the first true giants, who strode across Erenel and returned to the elemental planes after helping to shape the world. In the time since, only those with the heart, strength, and will of a Goliath may walk this path again.
The Sky Road is not a literal road, but a spiritual calling and a metaphor for the Goliath's lifelong pursuit. Each milestone in a Goliath’s life is seen as a step forward along the Sky Road. To climb the highest mountain, defeat a worthy opponent, lead one’s clan with wisdom, or forge an alliance between warring tribes. Each is a stone laid upon the invisible path.

Goliath Traits

As a Goliath, you have these special traits.
Show Goliath Traits

Goliath

Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 7-8 feet tall)
Speed: 35 feet
Large Form. Starting at character level 5, you can change your size to Large as a Bonus Action if you're in a big enough space. This transformation lasts for 10 minutes or until you end it (no action required). For that duration, you have Advantage on Strength checks, and your Speed increases by 10 feet. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
Powerful Build. You have Advantage on any ability check you make to end the Grappled condition. You also count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity.
Giant Ancestry. You are descended from Giants. Choose one of the following benefits—a supernatural boon from your ancestry; you can use the chosen benefit a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest:

Cloud's Jaunt (Cloud Giant). As a Bonus Action, you magically teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see.

Fire's Burn (Fire Giant). When you hit a target with an attack roll and deal damage to it, you can also deal 1d10 Fire damage to that target.

Frost's Chill (Frost Giant). When you hit a target with an attack roll and deal damage to it, you can also deal 1d6 Cold damage to that target and reduce its Speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn.

Hill's Tumble (Hill Giant). When you hit a Large or smaller creature with an attack roll and deal damage to it, you can give that target the Prone condition.

Stone's Endurance (Stone Giant). When you take damage, you can take a Reaction to roll 1d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled and reduce the damage by that total.

Storm's Thunder (Storm Giant). When you take damage from a creature within 60 feet of you, you can take a Reaction to deal 1d8 Thunder damage to that creature.