Stone giant

Stone giants are lean, but muscular. Their hard, hairless flesh is smooth and gray, making it easy for them to blend in with their mountainous surroundings. Their gaunt facial features and deep, sunken black eyes make them seem perpetually grim. The typical stone giant is 18 feet tall and weighs 9,000 pounds because of its dense flesh. They prefer to wear stone-colored garments. Stone giants can live to be 800 years old.

When possible, stone giants fight from a distance, hurling rocks as far as 300 yards. When stone giants are forced into melee combat, they use large clubs chiseled out of stone. They prefer to dwell in deep caves high on rocky, storm-swept mountains. They normally live in the company of their relatives, though such clans usually include no more than ten giants. Clans of giants do locate their lairs near each other, however, for a sense of community and protection.

Stone giants are crude artists, painting scenes of their lives on the walls of their lairs and on tanned hide scrolls. Some giants are fond of music and play stone flutes and drums. Others make simple jewelry, fashioning painted stone beads into necklaces. A small number of exceptional giants can also cast arcane spells. These giants are frequently able to rise to positions of power and are considered the leaders of several clans.

Stone giants are usually found in mountain ranges in temperate and sub-tropical areas. Stone giants are fond of cave bears and most of their lairs have them as guards. The few stone giants living in cold areas use polar bears as guards.

Stone giants are playful, especially at night. They are fond of rock throwing contests and other games that test their might. Tribes of giants will often gather to toss rocks at each other, the losing side being the giants who are hit more often.

Stone giants are omnivorous, but they will eat only fresh food. They cook and eat their meat quickly after it has been killed. They use the skins of the animals for blankets and trade what they do not need with nearby human communities in exchange for bolts of cloth or herd animals which they use for food. Many stone giant bands keep giant goats in and near their lairs so they will have a continuous supply of milk, cheese, and butter.

Note: Stone giants originally appeared in this form in the 2nd Edition Monstrous Manual for the AD&D game from TSR. Their use here is for the purposes of providing context for the campaign only.