Goliath

Article by Shpjokk.

At the highest mountain peaks — far above the slopes where trees grow and where the air is thin and the frigid winds howl — dwell the reclusive goliaths. Quite few in number, not many can claim to have met one, though a few half dozen are scattered across the Barrens. Goliaths wander a bleak realm of rock, wind, and cold. Their bodies look as if they are carved from mountain stone and give them great physical power. Their spirits take after the wandering wind, making them nomads who wander from peak to peak. Their hearts are infused with the cold regard of their frigid realm, leaving each goliath with the responsibility to earn a place in the tribe or die trying.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Goliaths are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 280 and 340 pounds. Your size is Medium

Growth Rate & Stages

Goliaths have lifespans comparable to humans. They enter adulthood in their late teens and usually live less than a century.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

Though other races might find a Goliath to be of lesser mind, they have just as much potential for knowledge as the average human; their society simply doesn't implement education. Often, they also share a sense for the literal much like half-orcs, and as a consequence Goliaths and Half-Orcs often get along, to the chagrin of other races.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Every goliath has three names: a birth name assigned by the newborn’s mother and father, a nickname assigned by the tribal chief, and a family or clan name. A birth name is up to three syllables long. Clan names are five syllables or more and end in a vowel.
Birth names are rarely linked to gender. Goliaths see females and males as equal in all things, and they find societies with roles divided by gender to be puzzling or worthy of mockery. To a goliath, the person who is best at a job should be the one tasked with doing it.
A goliath’s nickname is a description that can change on the whim of a chieftain or tribal elder. It refers to a notable deed, either a success or failure, committed by the goliath. Goliaths assign and use nicknames with their friends of other races, and change them to refer to an individual’s notable deeds.
Goliaths present all three names when identifying themselves, in the order of birth name, nickname, and clan name. In casual conversation, they use their nickname.
Example Birth Names. Aukan, Eglath, Gae-Al, Gauthak, Ilikan, Keothi, Kuori, Lo-Kag, Manneo, Maveith, Nalla, Orilo, Paavu, Pethani, Thalai, Thotham, Uthal, Vaunea, Vimak
Example Nicknames. Bearkiller, Dawncaller, Fearless, Flintfinder, Horncarver, Keeneye, Lonehunter, Longleaper, Rootsmasher, Skywatcher, Steadyhand, Threadtwister, Twice-Orphaned, Twistedlimb, Wordpainter
Example Clan Names. Anakalathai, Elanithino, Gathakanathi, Kalagiano, Katho-Olavi, Kolae-Gileana, Ogolakanu, Thuliaga, Thunukalathi, Vaimei-Laga

Major Organizations

Goliaths are spread into tribes across the North, and do not have a unified government.

Gender Ideals

Goliaths do not differentiate between gender; If you can pull your weight, you are good enough, regardless of gender or stature. In fact, the better you can pull, the better your social stature in the tribe.

Courtship Ideals

As Goliaths are all about strength, trophies from exceptionally powerful prey are items that often are a good icebreaker when courting.

Relationship Ideals

Goliaths look for strong huntpartners, seeing strength as something very coveted. They want to be with people that are strong, and can help them become even stronger.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Goliaths speak Giant, and can at times use it to communicate with giants in the mountains. Other than this, they also speak common so as to be able to trade with villages and cities around their vicinity.

Common Etiquette Rules

For goliaths, competition exists only when it is supported by a level playing field. Competition measures talent, dedication, and effort. Those factors determine survival in their home territory, not reliance on magic items, money, or other elements that can tip the balance one way or the other. Goliaths happily rely on such benefits, but they are careful to remember that such an advantage can always be lost. A goliath who relies too much on them can grow complacent, a recipe for disaster in the mountains.
This trait manifests most strongly when goliaths interact with other folk. The relationship between peasants and nobles puzzles goliaths. If a king lacks the intelligence or leadership to lead, then clearly the most talented person in the kingdom should take his place. Goliaths rarely keep such opinions to themselves, and mock folk who rely on society’s structures or rules to maintain power.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Every day brings a new challenge to a goliath. Food, water, and shelter are rare in the uppermost mountain reaches. A single mistake can bring doom to an entire tribe, while an individual’s heroic effort can ensure the entire group’s survival.
Goliaths thus place a premium on self-sufficiency and individual skill. They have a compulsion to keep score, counting their deeds and tallying their accomplishments to compare to others. Goliaths love to win, but they see defeat as a prod to improve their skills.
The goliaths' dedication to competition has a dark side. They are ferocious competitors, but above all else they are driven to outdo their past efforts. If a goliath slays a dragon, he or she might seek out a larger, more powerful wyrm to battle. Few goliath adventurers reach old age, as most die attempting to surpass their past accomplishments.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Goliath society, with its clear roles and tasks, has a strong lawful bent. The goliath sense of fairness, balanced with an emphasis on self- sufficiency and personal accountability, pushes them toward neutrality.

Common Taboos

Fleeing is seen as the ultimate act of cowardice, and Goliaths do not like cowardice.

History

It's disputed by many scholars whether they are half-giants, or if they are simply descended from giants, having evolved in a different direction. But Goliaths have wandered the mountains of the North for a long time, and has held their territory for a long, long time.

Origin/Ancestry

Humanoid, Giantkin

Lifespan

Up to approx. 100 years

Average Height

Between 1.8m and 2.5m

Average Weight

90kg to 170kg

Average Physique

Goliaths are the bulkiest and have the easiest time building muscle among the sapient species.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Goliaths are pale, almost white as the snowy plains they live on, and almost all tribes have their own tribal markings that are etched over their bodies.

Goliath

Ability Score Increase +2 Str, +1 Con

Size Medium

Speed 30ft

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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.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Giant.