Average Weight: 900–1,100 pounds
Favored Weapons: Battleaxes, clubs
Cave giants would measure close to a dozen feet tall if they ever rose from their perpetual stoops. Their skin tones range from slate gray to a dark mossy green. Cave giants have manes of bristly black or gray hair that run from their heads down their backs. Their faces resemble those of orcs taken to monstrous extremes and framed with elephantine tusks. Cave giants clothe themselves in hides decorated with bones. As their name suggests, cave giants live in rocky underground tunnels and caverns, rarely approaching the surface during the day. They keep giant lizards as smaller humanoids keep dogs, but they are cruel and neglectful masters.
Cave giants survive as hunter-gatherers, subsisting on subterranean animals and plants, yet they’re intensely envious of the innovations and yields other races produce. Lacking both talent and patience necessary for creation or cultivation, they take what they desire by raiding other races or by enslaving them. Cave giants especially prize
metal weapons, as they’re always at war, either with their own kind or with other races.
Though not particularly religious, cave giants pay homage to Rovagug as the cause of earthquakes and eruptions. Their priests are mostly barbarians and rangers, though a few divine spellcasters exist. The latter are often devoted to grand but futile schemes, such as freeing the Rough Beast or blotting out the hated sun. The subterranean region of Nar-Voth is home to the majority of cave giants. Surface dwellers most often encounter them in caverns below the Kodar, Mindspin, and Tusk mountains. Cave giants are especially common at the intersection of these three mountain ranges in the dangerous Hold of Belkzen. The ubiquitous nature of the Darklands means that cave giants can be found beneath almost any part of the Inner Sea region.
Arlan 38/38 AC 21
Beltzer 27/30 AC 16 ** down 3 HP
Lys 33/33 AC 16
Mohs 33/33 AC 16
Nerak 24/24 AC 14
Wulfrum 18/27 AC 20 ** down 9 HP
Varin 38/38 AC 20
After identifying a cave giant, you set off toward the crumbled tower that was pummeled by a flaming boulder. You carefully pick your way through the rubble to stand atop the remainder of the Western Wall. From your vantage, the plain in front of the Western Wall is empty of adversaries. You see gentle rippling water of the edge of the Hopespring, which appears relatively untainted from the fighting. You remember the left side of the Hopespring is almost a sheer cliff fifty feet tall with the waterfall creating the Hopespring splitting the middle. The road to the town entrance is not yet visible and follows the right side of the Hopespring from the Western Gate. You remember but cannot see that the Beacon to ignite sits on the far side of the Hopespring.
Lys looks down onto the quiet lake and sighs. "Alright. Move by the lake, see if anything moves, and if it's an orc, kill it. If it's an ancient looking elf, we help him." Unshouldering her crossbow, she moves down the rubble and looks around.
Wulfrum followed along behind them as they went, the sound that he heard he knew he had heard before but couldn't put a finger on it so quickly. When Lys brought up cave giants he knew immediately what it was he had heard. He looked at the group and grunted "If we come up on one of those beasts stay behind me or behind it. I mean it on this one you hear, I may not look it but I was born and raised to kill these bastards and I'll let Torag's anvil shatter before I see one of you lot get in front of my shield around one of them." he said in a very serious tone.
Lys grins at Wulfrum. "I don't know, Wulfy, I reeally want to be really close to a massive maul swinging towards me. It's a lifelong dream of mine." Clearly indicating the sarcasm, she then continues in a slightly more serious tone. "We'll get your back if and when it comes to this. Don't worry."
Alright, you can have first crack at any giants. But for now, let's move. Keep along the water's edge and stay sharp.
With that the soldier begins walking, hoping the others will follow.
Mohs follows with the rest of the group. "Wulfrum, hold your blows until I can drop the beast in a hole. That way you can swing for the head instead of the kneecaps for a change."
"Or he can ride on my shoulders. It would be like wearing a massive armoured helmet that can smack things hard!" Beltzer ponders for a moment. "On second thought my shoulders will probably begin to bend after a while."
"Any body fought a giant while on their travels might have some clue on how to take one down if we end up meeting it? I don't have a ballista in my pocket so that's out."
Varin laughed at the good nature ribbing of the old Dwarf. "Seen Giants, obviously, and got flattened by one, but I ain't had a knock down drag out fight with one personally. I know what to do though, take this hammer one of his cousins saw fit to give me, and cave in its chest till it don't move no more!" Varin grinned, pushing along.
Arlan 38/38 AC 21
Beltzer 27/30 AC 16 ** down 3 HP
Lys 33/33 AC 16
Mohs 33/33 AC 16
Nerak 24/24 AC 14
Wulfrum 25/27 AC 20 ** down 2 HP
Varin 38/38 AC 20
At the top of Western Wall, you wait for Wulfrum to heal himself a bit more before following the bossy dwarf toward the cave giant. You carefully negotiate the rubble and hustle toward the known trail that is littered with orc miscellaneous. The stench of blood and smoke hangs thick in the air. In the darkness, the crackling of fires mingles with the war cries of orc raiders and the screams of townsfolk. You follow the trail toward the Clamor, when the old dwarf holds his fist up to silently stop your movement.
Wulfrum held up a his hand to hold up the party before whispering carefully back to them. "I think we ain't getting round that Giant. He got four orcs chained to him, Nerak you got that spell you were mentioning with all the stones and such? Be a pretty good time for it along with a few bolts from Lys and Mohs. Varin, you and Arlan intercept the orcs if they break free from the Giant and I'll intercept him and keep him from getting to the others. Beltzer, nail anything that comes close to our long rangers and help out Varin and Arlan..." he said looking to the others to see if they agreed to the idea.
Varin nodded his agreement with Wulfrum, before striding forward, moving in to a position that would allow him to see the creatures and give him a charge lane, and allow him to intercept the Orcs, or indeed the Giant, if the old Dwarf needed the help. Varin gritted his teeth and bit back on his need to simply charge the creatures and lash out at them. He needed to wait, bide his time.
Whispering quietly, Lys turns towards the front. "Do you think we can kill the orcs with the chains, then turn the giant against the orcs? I don't think they're the bestest of pals.", as she strains her eyes to see in the darkness ahead.
Arlan nods, spitting a red glob as he moves alongside Varin. He plants his spear butt into the ground and levels the point at the enemies.
Nerak cast a spell that rains down stones on the whole area before his comrades and upon his enemies.
Mohs unleashes a rain of boulder's and stones to cover the group as well.
"Sure sure" Beltzer says to Wulfrum.
"If I see the giant heading this way instead of for the heavily armoured I'll set down a cloud to give use cover to let us get away." Beltzer signals to the other back row combatants. "If that happens Lys I'll attempt to leave a firing line."
Beltzer looks concerned "If they're just waiting, do you think they have something up their sleeve if we move in?" He asks
Arlan 38/38 AC 21
Beltzer 27/30 AC 16
Lys 33/33 AC 16
Mohs 33/33 AC 16
Nerak 24/24 AC 14
Wulfrum 25/27 AC 20
Varin 38/38 AC 20
Wulfrum held up a his hand to hold up the party before whispering carefully back to them. "I think we ain't getting round that Giant. He got four orcs chained to him, Nerak you got that spell you were mentioning with all the stones and such? Be a pretty good time for it along with a few bolts from Lys and Mohs. Varin, you and Arlan intercept the orcs if they break free from the Giant and I'll intercept him and keep him from getting to the others. Beltzer, nail anything that comes close to our long rangers and help out Varin and Arlan..." he said looking to the others to see if they agreed to the idea.
Varin nodded his agreement with Wulfrum, before striding forward, moving in to a position that would allow him to see the creatures and give him a charge lane, and allow him to intercept the Orcs, or indeed the Giant, if the old Dwarf needed the help. Varin gritted his teeth and bit back on his need to simply charge the creatures and lash out at them. He needed to wait, bide his time.
Whispering quietly, Lys turns towards the front. "Do you think we can kill the orcs with the chains, then turn the giant against the orcs? I don't think they're the bestest of pals. ", as she strains her eyes to see in the darkness ahead.
Arlan nods, spitting a red glob as he moves alongside Varin. He plants his spear butt into the ground and levels the point at the enemies.
Nerak cast a spell that rains down stones on the whole area before his comrades and upon his enemies.
Mohs moves in front of Wulfrum and unleashes a rain of boulder's and stones to cover the group as well.
"Sure sure" Beltzer says to Wulfrum. "If I see the giant heading this way instead of for the heavily armoured I'll set down a cloud to give use cover to let us get away. " Beltzer signals to the other back row combatants. "If that happens Lys I'll attempt to leave a firing line. " Beltzer looks concerned "If they're just waiting, do you think they have something up their sleeve if we move in? " He asks.
Stones appear out of nowhere and rain down upon the giant and his orcs. They howl in pain. The beast tamers command everyone to go forward. The giant and orcs stumble forward over the difficult terrain littered with stones. They come into full view from Varin's sunrod. While moving, the beast-tamers draw javelins and thrown them wide at Varin.
Arlan 38/38 AC 21
Beltzer 27/30 AC 16
Lys 33/33 AC 16
Mohs 33/33 AC 16
Nerak 24/24 AC 14
Wulfrum 25/27 AC 20
Varin 38/38 AC 20
Nerak considers the giant the main threat and takes a bit of powder from one of his pouches. With a few whispered words, his tosses the powder while making a grasping motion. The powder swirls and darts towards the giant.
Wulfrum charges forwards banging his shield with his warhammer attempting to draw the giant's attention. He yells out profanities in giant at the same time from ridiculing his mother to calling him a eunuch.
Lys is right, Arlan says, seeing the lumbering beast being awkwardly led through the newly-formed rubble.
Let's kill the puppet masters and see what the puppet does on his own. Fall back a bit, right? He looks at Varin and Wulfrum before retreating towards the back line. As he goes, the berserker draws a chakram and hurls it at one of the injured orcs. The blade cuts deeply into the orc's neck and drops him to the ground in a crumpled heap.
Arlan smiles widely at his skillful throw and regrips his spear.
Wulfrum charges forwards banging his shield with his warhammer attempting to draw the giant's attention. He yells out profanities in giant at the same time from ridiculing his mother to calling him a eunuch.
"Let's keep that thing slow!" Mohs grips the shattered remains of his hopeknife and recalls to mind the spell that saved his master from the fire earlier that day. Grumbled words and hastily drawn runes dissolve the bonds of reality beneath the giant's feet. Hopefully, his minders fall in after him!
The giant falls but the orcs don't. The pit is ten feet deep, so there is enough length in the chain to allow the orcs not to fall into the pit.
That's nice. I'm in the dark, and they are in the light., thinks Lys as Varin lights up her targets. Crouching as she sees the orcs stagger around, she instead aims for the giant and the only part of his body still visible from the pit - the head.
Two bolts jam themselves with a loud thunk on the giant's head, one sticking in deeper than the other. "That skull's thicker than ours, people. And that's an achievement...", she remarks to Beltzer, who's next to her.
Varin moves back to beside Wulfrum, drops his hammer and draws his bow as he does, pulling an arrow from the quiver at his hip and drawing fletching to cheek, before exhaling slightly, and releasing, aiming for one of the beasthandlers.
"Shit, Varin, how many trees died to make that bow?", Lys asks, staring at the massive bow. "Because I'm pret-ty sure we can launch Wulfy from that.", she remarks, her smile barely visible in the darkness.
Nerak considers the giant the main threat and takes a bit of powder from one of his pouches. With a few whispered words, his tosses the powder while making a grasping motion. The powder swirls and darts towards the giant. Nothing appears to happen.
Wulfrum charges forwards banging his shield with his warhammer attempting to draw the giant's attention. He yells out profanities in giant at the same time from ridiculing his mother to calling him a eunuch.
”Lys is right,” Arlan says, seeing the lumbering beast being awkwardly led through the newly-formed rubble. ”Let's kill the puppet masters and see what the puppet does on his own. Fall back a bit, right?” He looks at Varin and Wulfrum before retreating towards the back line. As he goes, the berserker draws a chakram and hurls it at one of the injured orcs. The blade cuts deeply into the orc's neck and drops him to the ground in a crumpled heap. Arlan smiles widely at his skillful throw and regrips his spear.
That's nice. I'm in the dark, and they are in the light., thinks Lys as Varin lights up her targets. Crouching as she sees the orcs stagger around, she instead aims for the giant and the only part of his body still visible from the pit - the head. Two bolts jam themselves with a loud thunk on the giant's head, one sticking in deeper than the other. ”That skull's thicker than ours, people. And that's an achievement..." , she remarks to Beltzer, who's next to her.
”Let's keep that thing slow!" Mohs grips the shattered remains of his hopeknife and recalls to mind the spell that saved his master from the fire earlier that day. Grumbled words and hastily drawn runes dissolve the bonds of reality beneath the giant's feet. Hopefully, his minders fall in after him! The giant disappears as you suddenly realize into a pit that magically appeared beneath its feet. The chains that are attached to the orcs pull taut.
Varin moves back to beside Wulfrum, drops his hammer and draws his bow as he does, pulling an arrow from the quiver at his hip and drawing fletching to cheek, before exhaling slightly, and releasing, aiming for one of the beasthandlers.
”S@#~, Varin, how many trees died to make that bow?" , Lys asks, staring at the massive bow. ”Because I'm pret-ty sure we can launch Wulfy from that." , she remarks, her smile barely visible in the darkness.
The cave giant roars and attempts to climb out of the pit. The staggered orc attempts to aid him. Despite all efforts, the giant makes no progress and remains in the pit . Seeing their disadvantage, the two beast-tamers pull out loot potions and drink. Then, they drop prone.
In his struggles, the giant pulls the orcs on his left side into the pit with him. As Benny Hill music starts in the background, there's another roar from the cave giant that sounds different. Now, you have made the giant mad.
Arlan 38/38 AC 21
Beltzer 27/30 AC 16
Lys 33/33 AC 16
Mohs 33/33 AC 16
Nerak 24/24 AC 14
Wulfrum 25/27 AC 20
Varin 38/38 AC 20
"Do save me should this go badly."
With that he runs towards the group of orcs and giant, fighting his own thoughts of gravely stupid decisions he has made in his life. He comes up short, not lacking enough on his mental faculties to go toe to toe with the brutes. He speaks a word and makes a quick gesture as his hand plunges into a pouch, removing colored sand he blows it from his palm. The sand spreads outward as if his breath had been a strong wind and the colored dust ignites in a blast of colored lights that wash over his enemies.
Varin lets his bow fall in place of his hammer, as he moves up beside Nerak, and begins to aid in protecting him.
"Ooh! Just like fireworks!", exclaims Lys as she moves forward. Aiming her crossbow at the hole, she grins. "I'll bag them when they move out of there."
Beltzer runs to support Lys if some orcs begin to charge the back, standing defensively.
Mohs watches and listens with amusement as two of the orcs slip into a pit with an enraged giant, then turns his eye to the last one gripping the edge of the pit, desperate to avoid slipping within.
Acrid fumes waft over an outstretched hand, and with a few choice arcane syllables, Mohs takes a step forward and tosses an acid splash to make the greenie's life just a bit more unpleasant.
Wulfrum says a few words of prayer as his hammer glows once more. He steps up beside Nerak carefully, his shield leaning ever so slightly in his direction to help protect the man should something attempt to attack him.
"Do save me should this go badly." With that he runs towards the group of orcs and giant, fighting his own thoughts of gravely stupid decisions he has made in his life. He comes up short, not lacking enough on his mental faculties to go toe to toe with the brutes. He speaks a word and makes a quick gesture as his hand plunges into a pouch, removing colored sand he blows it from his palm. The sand spreads outward as if his breath had been a strong wind and the colored dust ignites in a blast of colored lights that wash over his enemies.
Varin lets his bow fall in place of his hammer, as he moves up beside Nerak, and begins to aid in protecting him.
"Ooh! Just like fireworks!" , exclaims Lys as she moves forward. Aiming her crossbow at the hole, she grins. "I'll bag them when they move out of there."
Beltzer runs to support Lys if some orcs begin to charge the back, standing defensively.
Mohs watches and listens with amusement as two of the orcs slip into a pit with an enraged giant, then turns his eye to the last one gripping the edge of the pit, desperate to avoid slipping within. Acrid fumes waft over an outstretched hand, and with a few choice arcane syllables, Mohs takes a step forward and tosses an acid splash to make the greenie's life just a bit more unpleasant.
Wulfrum says a few words of prayer as his hammer glows once more. He steps up beside Nerak carefully, his shield leaning ever so slightly in his direction to help protect the man should something attempt to attack him.
The prone beast-tamer pulls out and drinks more loot another potion. The giant roars a different tone and the beast-tamer looks very afraid and manages not to slide into the pit.
You see the dead orc yanked into the pit. Then both orcs (that are shackled to the giants arms) launch out of the pit attacking the living beast-tamer. The dead orc slams into the beast-tamer; its arm breaks clean through releasing the chain from the deadweight. The unconscious, blinded, and stunned orc dies while killing the beast-tamer.
After the orc eruption, the scattered stones that Nerak called evaporate into greasy mist. The pit that Mohs summoned slowly rises exposing the giant and the unconscious, blinded, and stunned beast-tamer. Lys's readied bolt sticks in the giant's broken breastplate.
Arlan 38/38 AC 21
Beltzer 27/30 AC 16
Lys 33/33 AC 16
Mohs 33/33 AC 16
Nerak 24/24 AC 14
Wulfrum 25/27 AC 20
Varin 38/38 AC 20
"Well I think I am done for the moment. Have at him fella's."
With that Nerak slaps Varin on the shoulder, a strange feeling of power washing over him from it. Picking up the hem of his robes in one hand he runs away. Lorn making a rude gesture at the gaint while remaining atop his bouncing head as he flees.
Arlan sees the giant and, though it is clearly in the orc's thrall, he has only contempt for the creatures who assaulted the city with stone and fist.
He steps up beside his companions and feels the blood rush to his head as his rage takes over.
His eyes focus on the lumbering foe and he drives his spearpoint at the ugly thing's face.