Giant
Giants are humanoid creatures, usually of great strength and size.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Giants are roughly 43 times larger than a human, but otherwise have similar strcture, with variations deoending on the type of giant. They have thicker and tenser bones, making them slower but sturdier.
They are immune to almost all diseases and have a slight resistance to poison.
Genetics and Reproduction
A female giant has a pregnancy of between nine and fifteen months, depending on the type of giant. Their offspring will reach maturity in around fifty years.
Growth Rate & Stages
Although their ancestors were immortal, giants' life spans are getting shorter and shorter with each generation. Giants in modern Faerûn have a life expectancy of between 300 and 400 years, although there are thousand-year-old giants still alive. Because their lifespans are so much longer than humans, giants are slow to make decisions and will not be rushed.
Additional Information
Average Intelligence
Giants are intelligent creatures with their own set of cultures and customs. The intelligence varies according to the type of giant (and as with humans, with the individual) but most are at least on a human level of intellect, with the exception of Hill Giants. Most giants see themselves as superior to all other creatures. The Ordning is one reason for this, but they are also much larger than many other species, so they will talk down to and patronize smaller folk, regarding them as unimportant.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Most giants have superior senses to most humans. In general, they can see and hear twice as well. The cloud giant, hill giant and stone giant species have a particularly good sense of smell. Some have the capacity to see well in low light or total darkness.
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
All giants speak, of course, Giant. Some, especially those at least as important as Hill Giant chief, choose to learn Common as well. A few of the more elemental giants learn languages particular to creatures that live around them.
Common Etiquette Rules
Giants have a different sense of good and evil than most other creatures. A "good" (maat) act for a giant is an act that honours a giant's deity or family, displays bravery, or honours another "good" giant, regardless of the consequences. An "evil" (maug) act is one of cowardice, stealing, betraying a giant's deity, family or trust, or an act that forces a giant from its natural terrain type. Violating The Ordning is also considered evil.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Giants live in tribes, but their numbers are limited because of their size, and the difficulty of finding plentiful food.
Ancestry is important to giants. Most giants can trace their lineage back to Annam All-Father, and it is recited formally when introducing oneself to other giants. Once a relationship has been established between giants, whether it is amiable or hostile, this will be continued further down the lineage. Therefore, reciting one's lineage helps to dictate the relationship that will be established. Frost giant skalds (bards) will include lineage in the sagas they write.
Genetic Descendants
Scientific Name
Giant
Comments