Bruteborn
Last updated
Last updated
Bruteborn are smaller and lack the elemental attunement of giants. However, they are still larger than the other humanoid races. With the exception of cyclopes, they are violent and primitive, and their splinters are motivated primarily by hunger, survival, and dominance.
The races of bruteborn are:
Instead of a pair of eyes, cyclopes have a single, oversize eye centered in the area between the scalp and nose. Their skin and hair are generally earthy tones. One of the smallest subtypes of giants, they average 3 meters (10’) tall and live to be about 120 years old.
Because of their single eye, cyclopes have poor depth perception, and most prefer melee to ranged weapons; however, their great strength allows them to hurl massive boulders and other large projectiles that don't require precision to be effective. Many have a natural affinity for magic as well, and some scholars theorize that this comes from prescient qualities of their eye.
Birthing has an extremely high mortality rate for cyclopes' mothers, and most only have one child. Subsequently, the population of cyclopes remains low, and threats like disease, famine, and war have resulted in a decline in their numbers over the years.
Cyclopes generally live in nomadic tribes and prefer the open spaces of plains and deserts, with many inhabiting the and its . They usually remain in one area until the supply of game and sustenance begins to dwindle, which is oftentimes predicated on the seasons.
A large number worship Mnephrea, the cyclopean Goddess of Knowledge and Wisdom. Their culture is typically one of neutrality, instead preferring to watch and record events from a neutral perspective. However, they will defend themselves and their lands if threatened.
Ettins have two heads, each with its own distinct personality. They average about 3.6 meters (11.8') in height, with broad shoulders, long arms, and beige to dark brown skin that is typically deeply tanned. Most are muscular and incredibly strong; sometimes, one side of an ettin's body will be dominant and more muscular than the other. They can live for up to 75 years.
These polycephalic giants are typically of low intelligence and easily confused, leading to frequent bickering between their two heads. Consequently, they are quick to anger, often turning to violence when they cannot reach a common understanding or agreement with themselves.
Most ettins have little regard for hygiene or grooming; they dress in worn and tattered cloth or leathers and, as a general rule, would rather be flogged than bathed. It is said that the arrival of an ettin is preceded by both its thunderous footfalls and stomach-churning stench. Their ears and noses are often pierced and adorned with crudely carved bones. They typically favor makeshift weapons like clubs and spears fashioned from stone and wood, although they have been known to use more refined martial weapons if they acquire them. In battle, they are slow and ungainly, yet their powerful attacks are quite deadly if they connect.
Females tend to be more dominant and controlling of their mates. They typically select a partner and attempt to win them over through a colorful display of trinkets and jewelry. If that fails, they will resort to a swift blow to the head to claim their mate. The male will then serve as the female's and brood's guardian, providing food, shelter, protection, and other needs.
Having said that, Ettin are hermitic by nature, and aside from their mate and brood, they rarely congregate in tribes or settlements. When they do gather, these brief affairs usually descend into squabbling and violence.
Ogres average about 4 meters (13.1’) in height and can live up to 100 years. Their skin is thick, leathery, and ranges from pale to brown, often blemished by warts and other lesions. They are usually bald, although some have a sparse, coarse growth of black or dark brown hair. Their small, dull eyes can be orange, yellow, or red.
Ogres are crude, gluttonous, and violent, driven almost entirely by aggression. They are indiscriminate carnivores, and their massive jaws and thick teeth can crush bone with ease. Their stomachs allow them to digest rotting meat and even toxic substances that would sicken or kill most creatures.
In combat, ogres rely on overwhelming brute strength rather than skill or strategy. They wield makeshift weapons or use their fists to pummel their foes into submission. While slow-witted, they possess a cunning, predatory instinct, often using ambush tactics and overwhelming force. Their thick hides and immense stamina make them difficult to bring down, allowing them to shrug off injuries that would incapacitate most creatures.
Trolls average about 3.4 meters (11’) tall and weigh roughly 1,200 kg (2,650 lbs). Their tough, rubbery skin—typically a shade of gray, green, or greenish blue—secretes a slime-like substance, which many scholars believe is related to their remarkable regenerative abilities. Trolls are able to rapidly heal severe wounds fatal to most races, even regrowing lost limbs within hours. Their coarse hair is usually green, black, or brown, growing in sparse patches and tangled mats, and their eyes are typically black or green. They can live up to 200 years.
While trolls possess low intellect, they exhibit remarkable adaptability and a keen instinct for survival. In combat, most use primitive but effective weapons—clubs, stones, and jagged branches—or tear their enemies apart with their elongated, clawed hands. Trolls are solitary by nature, gathering only to mate, and will violently defend their territory from intruders, including their own kind.
They primarily inhabit the . Most are nomadic and travel in search of food, treasure (they are particularly fond of shiny trinkets and baubles), and battles in which they can show off their great strength. As such, they typically live in caves, crude makeshift huts, or anywhere else they can find shelter.
Primarily inhabiting the and , they are mostly solitary, though some join or form warbands and other violent splinters, with a considerable number found among the . However, most ogres lack discipline and, without a strong leader to check their aggression, these groups often collapse into infighting and betrayal. Few ogres build civilizations, forge lasting alliances, or engage in meaningful trade. Instead, the vast majority raid and pillage, preying on the weak, taking what they want, and leaving destruction in their wake.
Trolls thrive in wet, marshy environments and dense, dark swamps and are found primarily in the and its Bog of Wails. They have an insatiable hunger, driven by their regenerative abilities, which requires the constant consumption of flesh, almost always raw. Much of their time is spent hunting; they often lurk within murky waters and thick vegetation, waiting to strike unsuspecting prey.