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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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Giant, Smog

Corrupting magical storms and the interference of unethical gearsmiths birthed the first of the so-called smog giants. These hot-tempered behemoths all originate from a clan of unfortunate hill giants which became so attuned to their strange environment they developed unique mutations and incredibly violent dispositions. For all their physical abnormalities, it's still fair to say the violent confrontations common along the Western Ravage are the true cause of smog giants' monstrous nature.

Smog giants can eat meat and bone, but they prefer diets of black powder and the raw materials that make up this alchemical concoction. Their bodies store repositories of the stuff infused with the unstable occult energies that lace their flesh, granting them the ability to “crack” these pockets of subdermal explosives when they attack, much like a tough cracking their knuckles during a fight. In this case however, the results are much more violent—especially when coupled with the large quantities of weaponized body piercings and adornments smog giants often wear.

Recall Knowledge - Humanoid (Society): DC 28
Unspecific Lore: DC 26
Specific Lore: DC 23

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Smog GiantCreature 7

Legacy Content

Rare CE Large Giant Humanoid 
Source Pathfinder #179: Cradle of Quartz pg. 83
Perception +13; low-light vision
Languages Common, Jotun, Kelish
Skills Athletics +17, Intimidation +15, Survival +13
Str +6, Dex +2, Con +4, Int -2, Wis +2, Cha +2
AC 23; Fort +17, Ref +15, Will +13
HP 145; Immunities ingested poisons; Resistances fire 10, poison 10
Attack of Opportunity [reaction] Catch Rock [reaction]
Speed 35 feet
Melee [one-action] headbutt +18 [+13/+8], Damage 2d10+8 bludgeoningMelee [one-action] fist +18 [+14/+10] (agile, reach 10 feet), Damage 2d8+8 bludgeoningRanged [one-action] shrapnel +16 [+11/+6] (range 30 feet, versatile P), Damage 2d4+8 bludgeoningExplosive Headbutt [two-actions] The smog giant cracks their neck, triggering pockets of black powder at the base of their skull to impart additional power to their attack. The giant then attempts a headbutt Strike. This counts as two attacks when calculating the giant's attack penalty. If this Strike hits, it deals 2d10+8 bludgeoning damage and the creature struck must attempt a DC 25 Fortitude save.
Critical Success The creature suffers no additional effect.
Success The creature takes an additional 1d10 bludgeoning damage.
Failure The creature takes an additional 2d10 bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone if it's Large or smaller.
Critical Failure As failure, but without a size limit.Shrapnel A smog giant has a dozen implanted knives, rocks, chunks of metal, spikes, and other adornments that they can fire from their body with great force to make ranged shrapnel Strikes. Once a smog giant has used all 12 shots, they must replace them one at a time using a 1-minute Interact activity.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Brow Beating

Smog giants are fond of smashing their craniums together to establish dominance, under the logic that whoever's the strongest is usually right, with the first giant knocked prone being declared the loser. This simple ritual is used to determine rank, settle disputes, impress a mate, or even as a greeting between friends. Smog giant arguments are explosive, loud, violent, short, and sometimes fatal.

All Monsters in "Giant"

NameLevel
Cave Giant6
Cloud Giant11
Desert Giant9
Fire Giant10
Frost Giant9
Hill Giant7
Marsh Giant8
Plague Giant14
Rune Giant16
Shadow Giant13
Giant, Smog7
Stone Giant8
Storm Giant13
Taiga Giant12
Tomb Giant12
Wood Giant6

Giant

Source Bestiary pg. 170
Giants are massive humanoid creatures who live in remote regions throughout the world. They are divided into a number of subtypes.

Sidebar - Treasure and Rewards Giant Bags

Giants often keep an eclectic collection of treasures in their knapsacks or bags. Among these can be found a staggeringly wide range of unexpected and odd treasures and valuables.

Sidebar - Locations Giant Locations

As oversized as they are, giants tend to dwell in remote regions of the world, where they have the luxury of claiming larger territories of their own.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Giant Pets

As with many people, giants enjoy keeping pets. Yet for giants, what constitutes a pet is often categorized as beast to others. Large animals like bears and lions, and megafauna like woolly mammoths and dinosaurs are popular, as are more magical creatures like hell hounds, manticores, griffons, and the like.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Other Giants

Beyond the giants detailed here, many others dwell in remote regions of the world. Marsh giants are cultists who worship strange sea deities, shadow giants have ties to the Shadow Plane, and mountain giants are horrific butchers even other giants fear.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Oversized Themes

Giants are larger-than-life foes. While many giants have themes that tie them to elemental or magical forces, the primary theme giants share is that they embody a classic cultural trope as their basis. Fire giants, for example, can be seen as oversized smiths, while hill giants should evoke the flavor of an oversized bully.