Ettin

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Ettin
Species giant
No. Appearing 1–4
Behaviour subsocial
Range barrens, taiga, tundra
Size 13 ft. tall
Weight 1,770 lbs.
Intelligence 5 to 6
Armour Class 3
Hit Dice 10
Action Points 5
Max. Stride 11
THAC0 15
Hp/Die d12
Attack Forms 2: greater and lesser club
Damage right arm club (3-18); left club (2–16)
Special Attacks incidental damage, strength,
surprised only on a 1

Ettins are fearsome giantish humanoids with two heads atop a massive, lumbering body. Despite their two heads, they share a single body, with a single set of arms and legs — and though they have two brains, and each head has its own personality, the ettin learns as it becomes mature not to pursue conflicting thoughts or actions.

Ettin.jpg

They are typically covered in matted, dirty fur and can be found dwelling in dark, desolate forests or in great wide open spaces. They make their lairs in caves that they dig in the earth, which are often surrounded by piles of rocks that are built into loose walls and massive cairns. In battle, they wield massive, primitive weapons like clubs, tree trunks, or other improvised instruments, displaying raw power and their magnificent strength.

Behaviour

Ettins have no structure society, nor land of their own, though they are sometimes found in association with bugbears, ogres or hill giants. They're never a leader in such groups, as the ettin's intelligence is insufficient for such a role. On the whole, they live in solitary, sometimes raiding human settlements for food — though locals may deliberately set out great stores of food to dissuade ettins from coming near.

Within a campaign, they're nearly always encountered as a wandering hazard, searching for food or victims. Ettins have a taste for humanoid flesh, particularly human and demi-human; they find orcs, goblins and other folk of those races to be somewhat distasteful. They especially enjoy eating small children.

Advantages

Ettin don't throw stones as do other giants, preferring to rush their enemies from among trees or rocks.

Incidental damage. These creatures are so big that they're able to cause an addition 1-2 point of damage to nearby defenders, merely by overrunning or kicking out at them.

Surprised only on a 1. Ettins are difficult to take unawares, so that they are surprised only when rolling a "1" on a d6.

20 Strength. Possessing a strength roughly equivalent to stone giants, the ettin receives a +3 to hit bonus with either club that it wields, adding 8 damage to either its left or right club.


See also,
Badlands
Bestiary