Goliath (Hu-Charad)

Goliath Traits

Goliaths share a number of traits in common with each other.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

  • Age. Goliaths have lifespans comparable to humans. They enter adulthood in their late teens and usually live less than a century.

  • Alignment. Goliath society, with its clear roles and tasks, has a strong lawful bent. The goliath sense of stewardship and protection, pushes them toward good.

  • Size. Goliaths are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 280 and 340 pounds. Your size is Medium. Height 6' 2" +2d10". Weight 200 lbs +Height Modifier x2d6 lbs.

  • Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

  • Natural Athlete. You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

• Dual Nature. You have the nature of either Chi-Julud or Si-Karan. Each nature grants a different ability. After you use a ability from this trait, you can’t use this trait again until you finish a short or long rest. You can change your nature after a long rest.

  • • Chi-Julud. You can focus yourself to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll 1d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled, and reduce the damage by that total.

    • Barbarians: Goliath with the Rage class ability have their nature change to Chi-Julud while raging.

    • Si-Karan. Your presence helps allies recover from ongoing conditions. As a bonus action, you allow a adjacent ally to make another saving throw to end a ongoing condition. This condition must allow a save each round normally to end.

  • Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

  • Mountain Born. You’re acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. You’re also naturally adapted to cold climates.

  • Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Giant.

Goliath

Goliaths can prove useful allies, but never turn to them in weakness. They are as hard and unforgiving as the mountain stone, as cold and pitiless as its bitter, cold winds. If you approach them in strength, they might consider you worthy of an alliance.

- Tordek, A Guide to the Peaks

At the highest mountain peaks in the Forest of Spirits - far above the slopes where trees grow and where the air is thin and the frigid winds howl - dwell the reclusive goliaths. Few folk can claim to have seen a goliath, and fewer still can claim friendship with one. Their bodies look as if they are carved from mountain stone and give them great physical power.

Appearance

Goliaths call themselves Hu-Charad, which means "the stewards," but everyone else calls them goliaths - and for good reason. Goliath are massive creatures, standing up to 12 feet tall. Except for their size, they look like normally proportioned humans. To them, humans appear like children. In fact, young goliath are indeed the size of adult humans. Only through ritual can a goliath achieve his full height, which can reach 10 to 12 feet. Males often wear beards. Both males and females keep their hair short.

History

An ancient race, the goliath’ history in the Forgotten Realms goes back only a few hundred years. Tales say, a dying goliath - a prince - crawled into a ancient forest and made a pact with the Kami. His own world was dying, ripped apart in a elemental war. No one knows what he promised the Kami, but in trade for his people's service, a passage from his dying world was opened to the Forest of Spirits. Following this passage between worlds, many goliath entered Kara-Tur and found a land under the insidious grasp of the Oni. 

Dual-Nature

As a race, goliath possess two distinct natures. One, when they are under the sway of the ritual known as Chi-Julud (Wardance), makes them warlike, territorial, and deadly. As is the nature of goliath, the discovery of a new land invoked many of the goliath with a powerful sense of responsibility. Many of the goliath in the Forest of Spirits live under the mantle of the Chi-Julud. Under this nature, they are brutal, violent, and quick to battle. They seek to defeat the Oni and conquer all of Kara-Tur, so they can oversee and protect it.

The other nature emerges when they act under the effects of Si-Karan (Caretaker); then they are calm, cautious, and gentle unless driven to anger. In this nature, they are wise, warm, good-natured administrators, caretakers, and protectors of all their lands and the people who live there.

They are not frivolous, but they value humor (but not practical jokes), stories, songs, rituals,  as much as they value food and air. They do not dance.

Ritual and Ceremony

The goliath have no gods of their own. They do believe, however, that the dead go to Houses of the Eternal and watch over the living, influencing actions. Those who were evil in life continue to work woe after death, and those who were noble and true attempt to aid and protect those still living. Thus, goliath pay homage to the dead, particularly those worth honoring.

Mostly, however, goliath believe in the literal power of ritual and ceremony. They believe that through rituals, one can attain a higher level at which great blessings can be gained and great deeds accomplished. Their entire culture, even their physical maturation process, revolves around ritual. In the past, the goliath have changed their entire racial outlook through ritual.

The life of a goliath revolves around ritual and ceremony. Even goliath' growth to their massive size depends on rituals called the Shu-Rin ("attaining the essence"). There are three stages of Shu-Rin, and at the third goliath achieve their full growth potential. Since not every goliath goes through all three stages of the ritual, goliath heights can vary considerably.

Goliath rituals are solemn, quiet, and introspective. They do not involve chanting or dancing like elvish rituals, but they do occasionally incorporate beautiful, meaningful songs.

Protectors

Goliath look upon themselves as the stewards of all the lands. They are destined to rule, to be sure, but in their view they protect rather than exploit. They give more than they take. They see themselves as patrons and guardians, guiding others to do the right thing and protecting them from danger. Of course, not all members of the other races appreciate this sentiment - it garners resentment from some humans, dwarves, and quite a few others.

Goliath value order, safety, and peace. They are not power hungry, but they do have a deeply ingrained feeling of responsibility. So deep does this sense run that they take it upon themselves to protect everyone and everything. Although they would never use such terms, goliath see themselves as parents and all other races as children. While generous and kind under the nature of Si-Karan, goliath are also stewards and guardians - they do not allow themselves or their allies to be taken advantage of or harmed in any way. They are slow to anger, but once incensed can become temporarily engulfed in Chi-Julud, the Wardance. In such a case, they attack without mercy and become difficult to calm.

Goliath do not like to be taken advantage of, nor do they take it lightly if someone physically threatens them or puts them in physical danger. This sentiment extends to those close to them as well: To wrong the friend of a goliath is to wrong the goliath. Goliath are long-suffering and tolerant regarding insults and harsh words. They rarely use them themselves, however.

Goliath usually go on adventures out of a need to protect others from some menace or to prove themselves as good goliath (often as a part of Shu-Rin). Proving oneself as a goliath means not only strength of back and bravery in battle, but strength of will as well. It also means collecting and relating great tales and forging bonds of friendship. They want only what’s best for everyone. It’s natural for a goliath to assume a position of leadership (although it’s not always natural for everyone to accept that). However, a goliath normally does what’s best for the group - whatever that may be. Goliath are often more willing than members of other races to put themselves at personal risk to help someone else, but they don’t take foolish chances. In fact, goliath are usually quite wise and consider their actions carefully.

Goliath Names

Unlike in some cultures, goliath are not given names - they choose them for themselves when they are old enough (goliath children have only nicknames until then). Goliath names are always compound structures. The first part of the name shows a special link to an ancestor or chosen hero who has passed on. The second part involves a personal identifier. Normally, female goliath take linking names to their female forebears (these contain only vowels), and males link to male forebears. Here are some sample names:

• Male Names: Li-Coraon, Na-Filaris, Ro-Paterik, Lo-Kag, Za-Aukan, Di-Eglath, Gae-Al, De-Gauthak, Je-Ilikan, Vo-Keothi, Ja-Manneo, Me-Orilo, Tel-Paavu, Ko-Thotham, Ra-Uthal, and Ye-Vimak.

  • Female Names: Aoe-Derrel, Iu-Medora, Ue-Kuori, Ie-Maveith, Ae-Nalla, Oe-Pethani, Eo-Thalai, and Ue-Vaunea.