Half-Giant
While the towering forms of true giants are mostly relegated to ancient ruins and the darkest corners of forgotten tales, there are whispers, and indeed, documented accounts, of a people who carry the undeniable hallmark of those ancient titans, yet walk among the 'lesser' races with a distinctive grace. We speak, of course, of the Half-Giants of Sarlona, particularly those found scattered across the sun-drenched plains of Syrkarn and the rugged peaks of Tashana. They are not as common as humans or kalashtar, nor as ubiquitous as the Inspired's influence, but their presence is an undeniable echo of an age long past.
Do not be fooled by the 'half' in their name; these are not mere hybrids, the unfortunate progeny of a giant's dalliance with a human or elf. Nay, the Half-Giants are a people unto themselves, a true-breeding race with a deep-rooted lineage that predates the common era. Their very existence is a testament to the arcane mastery of the ancient giant empires, who, in their twilight years, sought to forge new paths, new forms of life perhaps, to endure the coming cataclysm. It is believed that these formidable beings were shaped not through simple crossbreeding, but through the profound and often terrifying art of magebreeding, their very essence crafted to bear the wisdom and might of their titanic forebears, yet suited for a world no longer dominated by their kind.
Though not colossal as their distant ancestors, a Half-Giant still stands head and shoulders above most men, possessing a formidable build, often with skin tones ranging from deep earth to sun-baked ochre, and eyes that seem to hold the wisdom of ages. Their presence in Syrkarn and Tashana is not merely that of scattered individuals, but of established communities, enduring through the millennia. They are a living echo of an age long past, a testament to magic so potent it could reshape the very foundations of life itself, and a constant reminder that Eberron holds more mysteries, and more wonders, than any single scholar could ever hope to unravel.
Basic Information
Anatomy
An Analytical Study: The Anatomy and Morphology of the Sarlonan Half-Giants
From the vast, windswept plains of Syrkarn to the rugged borders of Tashana in Sarlona, a unique race stands tall—literally. Known colloquially as Half-Giants, these beings represent a fascinating paradox in the tapestry of Eberron's sentient races. While their name suggests a simple hybrid origin, closer observation reveals a stable, true-breeding lineage whose physical characteristics speak to an ancient, perhaps even engineered, heritage. This report aims to meticulously detail the known anatomical and morphological attributes of these enigmatic people, separating observed facts from popular misconception.
I. General Classification & Distribution
The term "Half-Giant" often leads to the erroneous assumption of direct human-giant progeny. However, unlike the often infertile or unstable offspring of such pairings, the Half-Giants of Sarlona exhibit remarkable genetic consistency across generations, strongly suggesting a distinct, self-sustaining race. Their primary populations are concentrated within the nomadic communities nestled between the crystalline spires of the Dhakaani ruins and the nomadic holdings of Syrkarn, with smaller enclaves found along the western fringes of Tashana. They are intrinsically tied to these lands, remnants of a forgotten epoch.
II. Gross Anatomy: Stature and Build
- Height and Mass: The most immediately striking feature of a Half-Giant is their imposing stature. Adults typically range from 8 to 10 feet tall, with some exceptional individuals approaching 11 feet. Their average weight easily doubles or triples that of a human, reflecting their dense musculature and skeletal structure. Despite their height, they are not merely scaled-up humans; their proportions are distinct, suggesting a unique evolutionary or developmental path.
- Musculature: Half-Giants possess exceptionally dense and powerfully corded musculature. This is most evident in their limbs and torso. Their shoulders are broad, chests deep, and limbs long and thick, providing immense physical strength. This strength is not merely for raw power; they display remarkable endurance, capable of sustained exertion, a trait valuable in their nomadic lifestyles.
- Skeletal Structure: Examination of Half-Giant skeletal remains reveals bones that are proportionally thicker and denser than those of humans, tailored to support their increased mass and resist the stresses of their powerful muscles. Their joints—knees, elbows, and especially the spine—are robust, designed for high impact and heavy lifting. The ribcage is noticeably broader, providing ample space for larger lung capacity, essential for their physical endeavors.
III. External Morphology: Features and Adaptations
- Craniofacial Features: Half-Giant crania are large and robust, featuring a pronounced brow ridge and a broad, often square jawline. Their eyes are typically deep-set, and while they share a common range of human eye colors (brown, blue, green), they often possess a keen, far-seeing gaze, perhaps an adaptation to the wide Sarlonan plains. Noses are generally prominent and broad, and lips are full. While some might detect a 'roughness' reminiscent of true giants, their overall facial structure is more refined and expressive than their colossal cousins, allowing for a wider range of human-like communication.
- Skin and Hair: Skin tones vary widely, from deeply tanned to lighter shades of brown, often reflecting their exposure to the elements. Their skin tends to be thick and resilient, offering natural protection. Hair is typically coarse and thick, commonly black, brown, or auburn, often worn long or braided. Facial hair is common among males, growing into thick beards that further accentuate their powerful jawlines.
- Limbs and Digits: Their hands and feet are proportionately large, with thick, strong digits. Their hands are capable of both immense gripping strength and surprising dexterity when needed for intricate tasks, a blend of power and precision. The soles of their feet are often calloused and broad, providing stable footing on varied terrain.
IV. Developmental and Genetic Stability
- Growth and Maturation: Half-Giants experience an extended period of growth compared to humans, typically reaching full physical maturity in their late teens or early twenties. This prolonged development allows for the ossification and strengthening of their massive skeletal and muscular systems.
- True-Breeding Lineage: The most compelling evidence regarding the Half-Giants' unique status is their consistent reproduction. Unlike the variable offspring produced from giant-human unions, Half-Giant parents invariably produce Half-Giant children, who in turn exhibit the same consistent morphology. This genetic stability strongly suggests an ancient, non-hybrid origin, or perhaps, more intriguingly, a lineage that was purposefully refined or 'magebred' in a bygone era. Their uniform traits across generations point away from a natural, spontaneous hybridisation and towards a deliberate establishment of their race during the twilight of the ancient giant empires, a testament to the arcane prowess of that age. This stability implies a complete and integrated genetic code, not a simple, unstable mix.
V. Functional Morphology & Lifestyle Implications
The anatomical and morphological traits of the Half-Giants are ideally suited to their challenging environment and traditional nomadic lifestyles. Their immense strength and endurance make them formidable hunters, laborers, and guardians. Their resilience allows them to traverse vast distances and withstand the harsh Sarlonan climate. While not as agile as humans, they possess a powerful, ground-eating stride, and are surprisingly capable in close quarters, leveraging their reach and power. Their robust build also contributes to a generally healthy constitution and resistance to common ailments.
Conclusion
The Half-Giants of Syrkarn and Tashana are not merely larger humans, nor are they simply diminished giants. They represent a distinct, robust, and fascinating race, whose anatomy and morphology are a testament to their unique place in Eberron's history. Their consistent physical traits, from their towering height and powerful musculature to their distinctive facial features and, critically, their true-breeding nature, paint a picture of a people purposefully shaped and enduring. Their existence serves as a living echo of the arcane mastery of ancient Sarlona, a testament to a time when even the very forms of sentient life could be sculpted to purpose. Further study into their ancient origins would undoubtedly reveal even more about these magnificent people.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
The Half-Giants of Eberron present a striking tableau of human likeness tempered by immense scale and raw, elemental power. Their faces, while recognizable in their fundamental human arrangement, are built for strength, characterized by broad, rugged features, substantial jawlines, and often pronounced brow ridges that hint at their formidable stature, typically soaring between seven and eight feet tall. The most common visage, reflecting a strong Hill Giant heritage, involves skin tones from a healthy, sun-kissed tan to a deep, ruddy brown, often accompanied by coarse brown or black hair and earthy, determined eyes.
However, their diverse giant ancestry paints a far richer tapestry of facial characteristics. Half-Fire Giants typically boast bronze skin, crowned with vibrant red hair and eyes that burn with a distinctive yellow intensity. Conversely, Half-Frost Giants often present with starkly pale, sometimes even subtly bluish complexions, framed by light blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Those descended from Stone Giants display visages of black or gray skin, remarkably free of hair on their heads or bodies, giving them a smooth, austere appearance. The most unsettling variations emerge from Marsh Giant lineage, where facial features might take on a mottled, rough texture, perhaps with wide-set eyes and an almost aqueous or decaying cast that evokes the very swamps they inhabit—a look truly born of nightmares. Thanks to the pervasive influence of their human genes, the Half-Giant population exhibits a remarkable spectrum of these traits, ensuring that while all carry an undeniable aura of power, each face tells a unique story of its dual heritage.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
the Half-Giants are largely confined to the untamed fringes of Sarlona, primarily within the sun-scorched plains and fractured badlands of Syrkarn, and extending into the dense, primeval wilds of Tashana. In these remote regions, they typically exist as nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes, their movements dictated by the availability of resources and the migratory patterns of their colossal prey, embodying a self-sufficient existence far removed from established civilizations. Their survival and unique cultural perspective are profoundly shaped by their extraordinary sensory capabilities. Their towering stature grants them unparalleled panoramic vision, allowing them to survey vast stretches of Syrkarn's open terrain for distant threats or game, and to peer over Tashana's glacial landscape, identifying paths and landmarks hidden from lesser beings.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The Foundation: Scale and Resonance
At the heart of the Half-Giant's perception lies their sheer scale. Standing twice the height of most common folk, their very existence redefines spatial awareness. Their sensory organs, though proportioned, are often larger and more robust than human equivalents, allowing for a wider range of input. Furthermore, there's a subtle, inherent resonance with the earth – a faint echo of their giant heritage – that influences their proprioception and connection to their surroundings.
Acuity of Vision: The Far-Seer's Gaze
One of the most striking aspects of Half-Giant perception is their exceptional visual acuity, particularly at distance.
- Panoramic Scope: From their elevated vantage point, Half-Giants naturally possess an unparalleled panoramic view. In the rolling dunes of Syrkarn, this allows for early detection of sandstorms, distant travelers, or the subtle movements of prey. In Tashana's dense jungles, while canopy can obscure, their height often allows them to peer over undergrowth that would blind smaller humanoids.
- Distant Detail: Their eyes, larger than human, are finely tuned to resolving details over great distances. A Half-Giant scout might discern a specific banner from miles away, identify a particular animal track where a human would see only vague impressions, or spot a lone explorer traversing a mountain pass long before they are visible to the naked human eye.
- Low-Light Adaptation: Generations spent navigating moonlit deserts and shadowed forests have imbued many Half-Giants with superior low-light vision. While not true darkvision, they can discern shapes and movements with remarkable clarity in conditions that would render most humanoids virtually blind, making them formidable patrols or hunters after dusk.
However, this specialization for distance can sometimes mean a slight trade-off in microscopic detail or rapid focus on very close objects, though this is often compensated by their other senses.
Attuned Hearing: The Whispers of the Land
The Half-Giant's auditory senses are remarkably sensitive and attuned, capable of picking up subtle cues that escape most other races.
- Long-Range Detection: Their larger ear canals and auditory structures allow them to capture fainter sounds from further away. The distant howl of a desert beast, the faint rustle of clothing in a strong wind, or the distinct creak of a distant caravan's wheels can be distinct signals to a Half-Giant, providing ample warning or opportunity.
- Environmental Filtering: Perhaps more impressive than their range is their ability to filter and categorize sounds within their environment. In the cacophony of a jungle, a Tashanan Half-Giant can often isolate the specific call of a rare bird or the distinct snapping of a twig underfoot from the background chorus of insects and wildlife, demonstrating an intuitive understanding of their aural landscape.
- Subtle Vibrations: There is anecdotal evidence, especially among the nomadic tribes of Syrkarn, that Half-Giants possess an enhanced ability to perceive vibrations through the ground. This isn't seismic analysis, but rather an intuitive ‘feel’ for the subtle tremors caused by approaching mounts, large animals, or even distant avalanches, a faint echo of their giant ancestors' deep connection to the earth.
Keen Scent and Palate: Navigators of the Natural World
For a people who often live close to the land and rely on natural resources, scent and taste are vital navigational and survival tools.
- Elevated Olfaction: Half-Giants possess a more developed sense of smell than humans, crucial for identifying water sources in the arid regions, tracking game across vast distances, or discerning the presence of dangerous predators or hidden settlements. Their ability to pick up pheromones or the unique scents of different plant life aids in understanding their environment.
- Discriminating Palate: Their sense of taste is not merely for enjoyment but for survival. They can often detect subtle toxins in food or water, discern the freshness of provisions, or identify specific plants by their taste, a skill honed by generations of foraging in unforgiving lands. This heightened sensitivity ensures they can properly evaluate the often-scarce resources available to them.
Tactile Awareness and Proprioception: The Giants' Intuition
The Half-Giant's colossal physique fundamentally alters their sense of touch and body awareness.
- Robust Touch: While their skin is thick and resilient, offering natural protection against the elements and minor abrasions, their tactile sense is not dulled. Instead, it seems calibrated to their scale. They are acutely aware of pressures, temperatures, and textures, especially on larger surface areas.
- Inherent Balance and Stability: Their immense mass provides an inherent stability. Half-Giants possess an exceptional sense of proprioception – their body’s awareness of its position and movement in space. This allows them to navigate uneven terrain with surprising grace for their size, maintain balance in high winds, or exert precise force without overbalancing.
- Pain Threshold: While not insensate to pain, their robust physiology grants them a significantly higher pain threshold than most humanoids. They can endure injuries that would incapacitate a smaller being, allowing them to push through adversity and continue functioning even when grievously wounded, a testament to their survival instinct.
Implications for Interaction and Survival
The unique sensory landscape of the Half-Giant profoundly impacts their daily lives and interactions:
- Environmental Mastery: Their senses make them natural masters of their respective environments. They are expert trackers, navigators, and survivors, capable of thriving where others would perish.
- Cultural Nuances: Their world is richer in subtle detail. They might find the sensory input of densely populated human cities overwhelming, yet find profound beauty and meaning in the vast, open spaces or the quiet complexity of a natural ecosystem.
- Communication Challenges: Sometimes, the sheer difference in sensory input can lead to misunderstandings with smaller folk. A Half-Giant might interpret a distant tremor as a clear sign of danger, while a human would be oblivious. Conversely, a human's close-range visual cues or quiet whispers might be lost on a Half-Giant focused on the broader environment.
- Half-Giant Racial Traits
- Abilities +4 Strength, -2 Dexterity. Half-giants are powerfully built people, but their bulk makes them a little clumsy.
- Medium-Sized Half-giants are medium creatures and take no bonuses or penalties due to their size (but see the Powerful Build trait below).
- Low-Light Vision Half-giants can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
- Giant Blood Half-giants are treated as humans and giants for effects related to race.
- Powerful Build The physical stature of half-giants lets them function as if they were one size category larger. Whenever it would be advantageous to do so, a half-giant treats his size category as if it were Large instead of Medium, such as during bull rush, trip or opposed grapple checks. Half-giants are also treated as one size category larger when determining how a creature’s special attacks would affect him, such as the improved grab or swallow whole abilities. Half-giants may also use weapons one size larger than their size category without penalty. However, his space and reach remain the same for a medium-sized character (or whatever his current size category is). Half-giants also calculate their encumbrance as if they were large creatures instead of medium. This ability stacks with spells or special abilities that can alter the half-giant’s size category.
- Thick Skin Half-giants receive a +1 natural armor bonus.
- Throwing Arm Half-giants retain some of their giant parent’s ability to throw weapons and rocks. They gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls to hit with thrown weapons and slings.
- Languages Common and Giant. Bonus Languages Dwarven, Draconic, Gnome, Goblin, Terran, Undercommon.
Random Starting Ages
| Adult | Intuitive | Self-Taught | Trained |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | +2d6 | +3d6 | +4d6 |
| Middle Age | Old | Venerable | Max Age |
| 60 | 80 | 120 | +4d% |
Random Height and Weight
| Gender | Base Height | Base Weight | Modifier | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 6'4" | 220lbs | +2d12 height | x2d6 |
| Female | 6’1” | 180lbs | +2d12 height | x2d6 |
The Half-Giants of Eberron, true to their name, possess a physique that speaks volumes of their immense strength and formidable presence. They are notably taller and broader than most humanoids, boasting frames that are thick with dense muscle and heavy bone. This robust, powerfully built constitution grants them an almost unparalleled physical might, making them appear like living fortresses. However, this very bulk, while contributing to their impressive strength, also lends them a certain unwieldiness. Their movements, though capable of immense force, can sometimes be surprisingly deliberate or even a little clumsy, a minor trade-off for the sheer raw power they effortlessly command within their impressive, brawny forms.
Half-giants of Eberron present a powerful physique, typically ranging from seven to eight feet in height and weighing between 250 to 400 pounds, with males generally being taller and more heavily built than females. While their human lineage ensures a remarkable variety of appearances, their giant blood profoundly dictates their unique coloring and markings. Most half-giants, stemming from hill giant ancestry, exhibit robust skin tones from a healthy tan to a deep, ruddy brown, often accompanied by brown or black hair. However, this commonality breaks with lineage.
Half-fire giants frequently boast fiery red hair, bronze skin, and piercing yellow eyes, while those with frost giant heritage tend towards very pale, almost bluish complexions, paired with blond hair and striking blue eyes. Individuals descended from stone giants often possess formidable black or gray skin tones, with scant to no hair across their head or body. Half-marsh giants, by contrast, are said to resemble figures from a sailor's nightmares, suggesting a more grotesque or mottled appearance. Due to the diverse nature of their human parentage and the myriad giant types across Eberron – from the sun-kissed to the shadow-touched, the mountain-dwelling to the deep-sea inhabitants – half-giants display an impressive spectrum of features, making each one a unique blend of their formidable and mortal heritage.
Alternate Racial Traits
- Small Build: You’re not as powerfully built as other half-giants, but you have an easier time melding into human society. You do not need to make disguise checks to pass for a normal human, and your integration into human society has paid off: you gain a bonus feat, similar to what humans get at character creation. This replaces the Powerful Build trait.
- Human Versatility: You weren’t born with the might of the giants, but you’ve got human adaptability instead. You gain a +2 bonus to one ability score of your choice. This alters and replaces the half-giant ability scores.
- Hulking Half-Giant: Rather than throwing projectiles, you prefer to get up close and personal. You gain a +1 bonus on all melee attacks. Your focus on melee comes at a price, however, and you take a -2 penalty on all ranged attack and damage rolls. This replaces the Throwing Arm trait.
- City Giant: You aren’t as tough as your wild cousins, but you’re more adept at navigating civilization. You gain a +1 bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy and Perception checks. In urban environments, these bonuses becomes +2. This trait replaces Thick Skin.
- Stone Giant Heritage: Your natural armor increases to +3. Your shale-grey skin also grants you a +2 bonus on stealth checks when in rocky or mountainous terrain. However, your penalty to Dexterity becomes -4 instead of -2. This replaces the Throwing Arm and Thick Skin traits.
- Fire Giant Heritage: You gain Fire Resistance 5 and may add Ignan to your list of bonus languages. This replaces the Throwing Arm trait.
- Frost Giant Heritage: You gain Cold Resistance 5 and always treat Intimidate as a class skill. This replaces the Throwing Arm trait.
- Storm Giant Heritage: You display some skill in arms, similar to your Storm Giant parent. You gain proficiency with a number of martial weapons equal to your Intelligence modifier. If you are already proficient with all martial weapons thanks to your class, you may instead become proficient with a single exotic weapon. This replaces the Throwing Arm trait.
- Wood Giant Heritage: Once per day you may cast Speak With Animals as a spell-like ability. Caster level equals your character level. You gain a +2 bonus on Stealth and Survival checks when within forested terrain. This replaces the Throwing Arm trait.
- Taiga Giant Heritage: Once per day you may use the following spell-like ability: Bless (if you are good-aligned), or Doom (if you are evil-aligned). Morally neutral half-giants may choose whichever spell-like ability they want, but once chosen, the choice cannot be undone. Caster level equals your character level, and the DC is Wisdom-based. This replaces the Throwing Arm trait.
- Rune Giant Heritage: You have a rune carved into your flesh that enables you to tap into your Rune Giant parent’s ability to control people. Once per day you may cast Charm Person as a spell-like ability. Caster level equals your character level, and the DC is Charisma-based. However, you take a -4 penalty on all Charisma-based skill checks (except for Intimidate) when dealing with giants who see your rune, and their attitude instantly shifts one degree towards hostile.
- Marsh Giant Heritage: You are a freak of nature from the deepest hole in the sea. Your type changes to “Aberration”. You are not subject to spells that normally affect humanoids, and you are no longer treated as a human or a giant. You also gain the Amphibious special quality. However, your hideous visage means you take a -2 penalty to your Charisma score. This trait alters the half-giant’s ability scores and replaces the Giant Blood and Throwing Arm traits.
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