Fomorian (/fəʊˈmɔːrɪən/)
Cursed Giants of the Feywilds
Obviously a race of giant-kin, yet hideously deformed. Its has purple-gray, hairless skin pocked with large warts. Its head is misshapen, with one eye larger than the other -- the larger eye with a cat-like iris. Its humanoid form has disproportionate and crooked limbs, a humpback, and a crooked mouth with teeth of various size.
The most hideous and wicked of all giantkind are the godless fomorians, whose deformed bodies reflect their vile demeanors. Some have facial features randomly distributed around their misshapen, warty heads. Others have limbs of grossly different sizes and shapes, or emit terrible howls each time they draw breath through misshapen mouths. Their wretched appearance rarely evokes sympathy, however, for the fomorians brought their doom upon themselves with the evil that rules their hearts and minds.
Fey Curse. The elves remember when the fomorians were among the most handsome of races, possessed of brilliant minds and unrivaled magical ability. That physical perfection did not extend to their hearts, however, as a lust for magic and power consumed them. The fomorians sought to conquer the Feywild and enslave its inhabitants, claiming those creatures' magic for themselves. When the fey united to defend their realm, the fomorians fought them and were subjected to a terrible curse.
One by one, the giants fell as their bodies were warped to reflect the evil in their hearts. Stripped of their grace and magical power, the wretched horrors fled from the light, delving deep beneath the world to nurse their hatred. Cursing their fate, they have ever after plotted vengeance against the fey that wronged them.
Giants of the Underdark. The fomorians dwell in eerily beautiful caverns in the Underdark, rarely venturing to the surface. Their lairs feature abundant access to water, fish, and mushroom forests, as well as to the creatures whose slave labor keeps the fomorians fed. When those slaves can no longer toil, they are slain and devoured. Wickedness and depravity are the cornerstones of fomorian society, in which the strongest and cruelest giants rule. Fomorians mark their territories with the corpses of their enemies, painting their cavern walls with blood or stitching together limbs and body parts to make mockeries of the creatures they have killed.
Ruined Flesh, Evil Minds. The deformities visited on the fomorians prevent them from hurling rocks like their giant kin, or wearing anything more than scraps of cloth. However, the grotesque positioning of their eyes, noses, and ears gives fomorians keen perceptive abilities, making it hard to surprise or ambush them. The greed and evil of the fomorians lies at the heart of their degeneration and fall, and continues to plague them. Fomorians make alliances with other creatures when it suits them, but they are disloyal by nature and betray their allies on a whim.
Curse of the Evil Eye. Fomorians can pass their curse onto others using a power called the evil eye-a last vestige of the giants' once-remarkable spellcasting ability. A creature cursed by a fomorian's evil eye is magically twisted and deformed, gaining a glimpse into the pain and malice that has consumed this evil race.
The Menagerie fought some as they got to the Spider Forest of the Feywild.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Fomorians were a race of giant-kin hideously deformed by an ancient curse, considered to be the most hideous and wicked of all the giant races.
Description
The deformities that fomorians had varied widely between individuals. These included such things as randomly distributed facial features (e.g., eyes on the sides of their head), disproportionate or crooked limbs, humpbacks, long pointed heads, flapping ears, large noses, or mouths that were either gaping or tiny. General features shared by all fomorians was a skin tone that ranged from purple-gray to pale-white, varying degrees of large warts scattered across their body, and one eye that was larger than other. This eye, known as their "evil eye," had a cat-like iris and varied in color. Hairlessness was relatively common among fomorians of both sexes though some were known to have scattered patches of hair that were as tough as wire. There was no single odor associated with them — some were completely lacking, while others smelled strongly due to having overactive sweat glands. Due to their deformities they largely wore mere scraps of cloth, though some were known to dress in kilts and tabards of fine quality. They tended to work any bits of metal or pieces of armor they could find and scavenge into their clothes for added protection.Biological Traits
Due to sometimes having enlarged ears and/or noses, as well as the grotesque positioning of their sensory organs, fomorians possessed keen perceptive abilities that made it hard to sneak up on them. Their deformities were also said to render them immune to all forms of lycanthropy.
Fomorians were capable of passing their race's curse on to other creatures, which was a remnant of their race's lost spellcasting abilities. This was done by staring at creatures within 60 feet (18 meters) of them with their "evil eye." Those afflicted would temporarily have their bodies twisted and deformed, subjected to the malice and pain they live with,[8] and in some cases even immobilize them.
Some fomorians became so obsessed with beauty that they took on the role of a witch. Such fomorians learned how to use their "evil eye" as a source of magic and how to alter bodies through alchemy. They primarily used these to alter their own bodies into more desirable forms, but being unable to perfect themselves these witches were often driven to using their powers to find or create flaws in other people.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Fomorians could live on little to no food for many weeks. Some typical foods eaten by those underground included fungi, lichen, various types of plants, bats, fish, and mice. They especially favored the taste of large mammals.
Behaviour
Personality
Fomorians were known to be very chaotic evil-aligned creatures, greedy and disloyal by nature.Combat
Due to their deformities, fomorians were incapable of throwing boulders the way other giants did. In combat they utilized all varieties of blunt weaponry. They were often known to wield greatclubs, flails, maces, and giant-sized bolas. The strongest among them would wield crude shields and typically had better armor. A typical strategy for them was to sneak up behind their opponents and hit them as hard as possible.Additional Information
Social Structure
Society
Fomorian society was based around viciousness, with the cruelest and strongest among them typically taking the role of leader. They were also highly patriarchal, typically treating their women and children no better than slaves. Acts of violence were common among them. In the Feydark, fomorian rulers were typically known to enforce their rule through fear and oppression. They were notorious for being incredibly paranoid, fearful of insurrection, and having extensive spy networks that they relied on to oversee their domains. This paranoia wasn't unwarranted through, for fomorians often plotted against one another and schemed to usurp the power of those who ruled them.Uses, Products & Exploitation
Harvesting
Instructions
Instructions: Because this creature is an Giant, the player should roll a Medicine Check using the DCs in the table below. On a success, the player is able to harvest the item. On a failure, the item cannot be harvested (either because the character is not skilled enough, or because the item is ruined). The DM should note that many of the items have an expiration, and can not be sold or used after the expiration has passed.
| DC | Item | Description | Value | Weight | Expiration | Crafting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Fomorian Puss | A fomorian is often covered in pustules, blisters and boils, which contain a thick yellow puss. Alchemists can use the disgusting liquid in various concoctions, including glues and salves. | 20 gp | 1 lb. | 7 days | Potion of Ruined Flesh (HHH) |
| 15 | Fomorian "Evil Eye" | The large, yellow, cat-like eye of the fomorian has a debilitating, curse-like effect on creatures. The eye can be difficult to harvest without popping, but has various uses. | 250 gp | 3 lb. | 2 days | Fomorian Crystal (HHH) |
This kind of creature may carry a decent amount of coins. This kind of creature may have a decent hoard. This character usually carries: 1 Greatclub (Large creatures tend to use larger standard weapons, like greatswords and greatclubs, but it is the DM's discretion if the items are usable or have a modified weight/value.)
Possible Trinkets
Possible trinkets
1d12 Item Weight Value 1 1 leather strap with 3 humanoid skulls 20 lb. 5 sp 2 1 crude, large stone dagger with a hilt wrapped in strips of cloth (stone shortsword) 4 lb. 2 gp 3 1 jar of thick, yellow pus 3 lb. 4 cp 4 1 waterskin full of cheap wine 5 lb. 4 sp 5 1 large necklace of colored stones 10 lb. 5 sp 6 1 slaver's collar (human-sized) 6 lb. 2 gp 7 1 pouch of large, dirty toenails 2 lb. 9 cp 8 1 crude, 2-foot stone statue of Karontor 30 lb. 10 gp 9 1 6-foot wooden crutch or walking cane 3 lb. 5 sp 10 1 flask labeled "skin ointment" that looks like red mud 5 lb. 5 sp 11 1 spool of bloody thread with a bone needle -- 1 sp 12 1d4 dried underground lichen ration(s) 2 lb. 4 sp
This creature produces 8-96 pieces of Harvested Meat, weight total of 32-384 lb. DC: 5, Expire: 1 day, Value: 16-192 sp There is a stigma to eating meat belonging to sentient creatures that have a humanoid form and features. Harvesting the meat may be frowned upon and even considered cannibalism. Some communities may refuse to buy the meat (and some evil communities may pay a premium). The meat may even be difficult to eat, or unedible. Of course, these are all up to the Dungeon Master to decide.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Homelands
Fomorians were primarily known to inhabit the Underdark and its counterpart in the Feywild, the Feydark. They could be found throughout the Underdark, but were most prevalent in the Middledark. Proper cities or holdings were unheard of to most creatures in the Underdark, though all-fomorian settlements certainly existed. Their lairs within the Underdark typically were abundant in fish, water, and mushroom forests. They marked their territories in a variety of macabre manners, such as painting their cavern walls with blood, stitching together limbs and body parts to make mockeries of the creatures killed, or simply by using the corpses of their enemies. Beyond these underground realms, solitary fomorians were occasionally found in mountain caves and abandoned mines. In northwest Faerûn, a clan of fomorians lived in the southern arm of the Spine of the World, near the Dungeon of the Ruins. In the region of Anauroch, they could be found in the Plain of Standing Stones. In Anauroch, they could occasionally be found in the fertile areas of the Plain of Standing Stones, where they competed with local hill giants for resources and would even resort to eating the flesh of other giants. In the Underdark they were known to inhabit Tethyamar and the kingdom of Xothaerin, the latter of which was home to scattered tribes. In the Feydark, fomorians lived in incredibly large caves full of glowing crystals and bioluminescent fungi. Those who lived in the Feydark could easily enter the Prime Material Plane through portals, fey crossroads, and their own ritual magic. Their largest domains on that plane were Harrowhame, Mag Tureah, and Vor Thomil. These domains had no central court organizing or ruling over them all. Besides the Feywild, fomorians could be found in the plane of Acheron and reclusive bands of them could be found in hidden caverns in the Elemental Plane of Earth.Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Abilities
Due to sometimes having enlarged ears and/or noses, as well as the grotesque positioning of their sensory organs, fomorians possessed keen perceptive abilities that made it hard to sneak up on them. Their deformities were also said to render them immune to all forms of lycanthropy. Fomorians were capable of passing their race's curse on to other creatures, which was a remnant of their race's lost spellcasting abilities. This was done by staring at creatures within 60 feet (18 meters) of them with their "evil eye." Those afflicted would temporarily have their bodies twisted and deformed, subjected to the malice and pain they live with, and in some cases even immobilize them. Some fomorians became so obsessed with beauty that they took on the role of a witch. Such fomorians learned how to use their "evil eye" as a source of magic and how to alter bodies through alchemy. They primarily used these to alter their own bodies into more desirable forms, but being unable to perfect themselves these witches were often driven to using their powers to find or create flaws in other people.Civilization and Culture
Courtship Ideals
Relationships
Within the Ordning, fomorians like other giant-kin were considered "maug". Among giantkind, the only races that were known to tolerate them were frost giants, hill giants, and ogres. A large number of the fomorians that inhabited the Ice Spires region were known to perform manual labor for them, jobs that were often dangerous or distasteful, in exchange for food and lodging of poor quality. They were known to forge alliances with other creatures when it suited them or when completely dominated. Such agreements typically lasted only as long as a fomorian feared their cohorts or until their interests no longer coincided. However, fomorians were also likely to just betray their allies on a whim due to their disloyal nature. Among the denizens of the Feywild, fomorians were almost never members of the Seelie and Unseelie courts. Throughout their existence, eladrin were one of the races most hated by fomorians due to their world views being such polar opposites. Along with their cyclops servants, fomorians were considered the Feydark's greatest organized threat to that race. Fomorians were often known to engage in slavery. With some of the creatures they were known to enslave including cyclopes, gnomes, xvarts, myconids, and spriggans. Other creatures that they were often known to keep within their lairs or settlements included boggles, derros, giant beetles, carrion crawlers, gorgons, ropers, and troglodytes. Out of all the dragon types in the Realms, they were most likely to ally themselves with deep dragons.Major Language Groups and Dialects
Fomorians were typically known to speak Giant and Undercommon.
History
The progenitor of this race was one of the four sons that the giant goddess Othea produced from her union with Ulutiu.
Fomorians were once an incredibly beautiful race, the most handsome of all giants. During that time they lived in the Feywild and were allies with the plane's elves.
However, over time the Fomorians' hearts became twisted by a lust for power and magic that drove them to try and conquer the Feywild. They sought to enslave its inhabitants and take their magic for themselves. The fey ultimately fought back against them and subjected their race to a curse. This warped their bodies to reflect the evil within their hearts and robbed them of their spellcasting abilities. The fomorians would then flee from the light of the surface world, down into the Feydark and Underdark.
Circa −2000 DR, after forces on the Moonshae Isles united against the unleashed Kazgaroth, Malar brought fomorians over from the Feywild to be its allies. The conflict dragged on for decades until the minions of Kazgaroth were driven to isolated corners of the Moonshaes. The fomorians conquered the firbolgs, forcing them into slavery.
Circa −500 DR, most of the fey, including the fomorians, abandoned their domains in the Moonshaes and retreated back into the Feywild.
In 1369 DR, fomorians were among the alliance of giant-kin that sieged the Wynn Castle to retrieve Queen Brianna and her newborn child.
Following the Spellplague, a group of fomorians loyal to Queen Connomae and their servitors entered parts of the Moonshae Isles from the Feywild, taking up residence in Dernall Forest and conquering Oman's Isle in 1479 DR.
Common Myths and Legends
Religion
Some claimed that fomorians held esteem for no deities, however, they were primarily seen to worship the deity Karontor and considered him to be their patron deity. Most fomorians believed that the prophesied king of giants would be born as a fomorian and would not realize his destiny at first, but when he did, he would be transformed into a giant larger than any titan, and subsequently transform the entire fomorian race also.Sources
Source(s):
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Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Animalia, Materia, Humanoidus, Bipedia, Gigantus (dryadalis Fomorian)
Origin/Ancestry
Giant (Monstrous Humanoid | Fey: Fomorian)
Lifespan
300 to 400 years
Conservation Status
No conservation in most places as they are considered a pest or a threat to humans, and they are not under any protection.
Average Height
13 ft (4 m) -13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Average Weight
660 lb (300 kg)-1,000 lb (450 kg)
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
5E Statistics
Fomorian
| Size | Huge |
| Type | Giant |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Challenge Rating | 8 |
General Information
| Vision | Darkvision |
| Activity cycle | Any |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Homeland(s) | Feywild (Feydark) and the Underdark |
| Language(s) | Undercommon, Giant |
| Favored Terrain | Mountains, Underground |
Appearance
| Average Height | Male: 13' 6" Female: 13' |
| Average Weight | Male: 1,000 lb. Female: 660 lbs. |
| Skin color(s) | Pale white or purple-gray |
| Distinctions | Varying degrees of deformities |
See Also: Fomorian on Forgotten Realms Wiki