Giant, Cave

Bestial tusks jut from the jaw of this hunched-over giant. It is clad in armor patched together from the bones of past victims.

Giant, Cave (CR 6)

Large Humanoid (Giant)
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Initiative: +0
Senses: Darkvision 120 feet, Low-Light Vision; Perception +5

Speed: 40 feet (30 feet in armor)
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 19, touch 9, flat-footed 19 (+4 armor, +6 natural, -1 size)
Hit Points: 67 (9d8+27)
Saving Throws: Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +3
Ferocity, Rock Catching
Weaknesses: light sensitivity

Offense

Melee: battleaxe +12/+7 (2d6+9/x3) or 2 slams +11 (1d8+6)
Reach: 10 feet
Ranged: rock +6 (1d8+9)

Special Attacks: Rock Throwing (100 ft.)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
23 (+6)	10 (+0)	17 (+3)	6 (-2)	10 (+0)	7 (-2)

Base Attack Bonus: +6
CMB +13 (+15 Sunder)
CMD 23 (25 vs. Sunder)

Feats: Cleave, Powerful Maneuvers, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (Battleaxe)

Skills: Climb +7, Intimidate +7, Perception +5

Languages: Giant

Special Qualities: axe wielder

Special Abilities

Axe Wielder (Ex)

All cave giants are proficient with handaxes, battleaxes, and greataxes.

Ecology

Environment: Any Underground
Organization: solitary, gang (2-5), band (6-8 plus 1-2 monitor lizards), raiding party (9-12 plus 1-4 monitor lizards), or tribe (13-20 plus 30% noncombatants, plus 1 barbarian, fighter, or ranger chief of 3rd-5th level; 2-9 monitor lizards; 1-4 giant frilled lizards; and 10-15 dwarf, orc, or troglodyte slaves)
Treasure: standard (battleaxe, hide armor, other treasure)


Stooped over in a perpetual crouch, cave giants move as if they had never mastered walking erect. Their faces mix the worst features of ogre and feral orc. The largest would measure 10 feet in height if they ever stood straight. The typical cave giant weighs 1,000 pounds. Though few survive past 60 years, cave giants can live as long as 150 years. While they prove remarkably adept with axes of all varieties, cave giants lack the patience to work metal. What metal a cave giant possesses was likely stolen from other giants or worked by enslaved subterranean smiths.

Slaves such as dwarves, orcs, and troglodytes do most of the labor in cave giant settlements. Poor treatment and the need for meat keep slave populations small and ever-rotating. New slaves are brought in whenever raiding parties remember to reign in their blood lust. Any prisoners who fail to submit to their new masters find themselves served on the dinner table or tossed screaming into the giant's cave lizard pens.

Giant lizards of all types serve as both guard beasts and sport for the cave giants. Giant frilled lizards are rarely pets, as most cave giants opt to keep less dangerous monitor lizards instead. Kept in check only by fear and brutal beatings, such pets turn on their handlers at the first sign of weakness. At feeding time, live captives are tossed into the pens, a festive event filled with boisterous cheers and spirited betting.