GOLIATHS
CHAPTER 3
capable warriors, so the goliaths might offer the PCs all the September: The autumn season begins with as much treasure they can grab if they join the raiders. hunting as Akala can manage, because the month ends with another trading visit to the Brightdagger clan. The nature of the weather determines how successful the hunting is, and IMPORTANT KATHAAL MEMBERS thus how long the tribe tarries among the dwarves. Even if The following NPCs are important members of the Kathaal the hunting has been poor, Akala makes at least a brief visit tribe. to the Brightdaggers to offer some token trades. Whether encountered before or after the Brightdagger visit, the tribe Akala Fishstringer Kulie-Kamana tends to be hospitable in September; everyone knows that a Akala is getting old, and he knows it. But he still believes long winter is coming, so any diversion is welcome. that he’s the best hope of the Kathaal tribe’s surviving (and, Adventure Hook: The characters encounter a contingent of indeed, thriving) for another year. Unlike most goliaths, Kathaals on their way to visit the Brightdaggers. The PCs are Akala fi nds that he’s getting bolder with each advancing invited to travel along and meet the dwarf clan. year. His wife, Ithikea Charmweaver, tells him he’s being October: This month marks the best hunting of the reckless because he wants to die in combat or by accident, year, because the herd animals are rutting and easier to rather than suffering the gradual decline of old age and approach. The tribe focuses on getting as much hunting exile. Akala says she’s half right: He knows his time as and skinning done as possible this month, in preparation chieftain is running out, and he wants to make sure the for the long winter. If hunting is particularly good, Akala tribe is in the best possible shape before he walks away from either sends a contingent back uphill to trade one last the campfire one last time. Akala also knows that the tribe time with the Brightdaggers, or he sends food downhill has no clear successor to his position, so he’s starting to eye to be buried in caches for winter. How the Kathaals react potential candidates. to strangers this month depends on how the hunting is Akala earned his honorific when the tribe first found the going. They react poorly to anything that threatens their path along the Leviak River. Young Akala proved adept at ability to hunt, but PCs who can help bring back game are net fishing and brought back a string of salmon so heavy he quickly befriended. could barely carry it. Adventure Hook: The PCs come across a team of goliath Akala Fishstringer Kulie-Kamana: Male goliath hunters brandishing weapons in their general direction. If barbarian 12; CR 13; Medium monstrous humanoid; HD the characters don’t attack right away, they notice the brown 12d12+24; hp 107; Init –1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19, touch 10, flatbear behind them—the goliaths’ true target. footed 19; Base Atk +12; Grp +20; Atk +18 melee (3d6+7/ November: The snows fall in earnest this month, so 19–20/×3, Large +1 greataxe); Full Atk +18/+13/+8 melee the descent from the high country becomes a race to stay (3d6+7/19–20/×3, Large +1 greataxe); SA greater mountain ahead of the high-elevation blizzards. Akala relies heavily rage 4/day; SQ fast movement, fortification, goliath traits, on advice from Thuliana, the tribe’s skywatcher, to avoid illiteracy, racial substitution levels (barbarian 1st, 5th, 7th), getting the whole tribe foundered in heavy snow. The tribe skin of stone, trap sense +4, uncanny dodge; AL CG; SV Fort tends to be inhospitable this month, since they have a pace +12, Ref +5, Will +10; Str 18, Dex 8, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, to keep and they’re trying to eke every last morsel of food Cha 16. out of their environment. Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Diplomacy +8, Gather InformaAdventure Hook: A heavy snowfall has left a column of tion +6, Intimidate +11, Jump +8, Listen +8, Sense Motive the Kathaal tribe unable to outrun a rampaging pair of +9, Survival +12; Cleave, Iron Will, Improved Critical remorhazes. If the PCs defeat the remorhazes, Akala and (greataxe), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (greataxe). the rest of the tribe are exceedingly grateful. Greater Mountain Rage (Ex): Four times per day, Akala can December: As part of a promise Akala made years ago to enter a greater mountain rage that lasts for 8 rounds. The his now-deceased uncle, the Kathaal tribe sends a war party following changes are in effect as long as he rages: Large east as soon as they reach lower elevations. They stealthily monstrous humanoid; hp 131; AC 16, touch 7, flat-footed march to a rift valley held by a frost giant jarl who impris16; Grp +23; Atk +20 melee (3d6+11/19–20/×3, Large +1 oned an entire tribe of goliaths years ago (see the History greataxe); Full Atk +20/+15/+10 melee (3d6+11/19–20/×3, and Folklore section earlier in this chapter). Each year, the Large +1 greataxe); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SV Fort +15, Kathaals raid the frost giants’ fortress, then retreat into the Will +13; Str 24, Con 20; Climb +11, Jump +11. Akala can snowy foothills before the giants can retaliate. Sending a still wield only Large weapons. At the end of his rage, Akala war party this year is one of Akala’s most controversial deciis fatigued for the duration of the encounter. sions, because last year a frost giant tracker followed the Fortification (Ex): Akala’s tough hide negates critical hits raiders back to the Kathaal camp. She was slain only at the or sneak attacks that successfully hit him 25% of the time. cost of nine tribe members, and many Kathaals worry that Damage is instead rolled normally. the frost giants will be waiting for the raiders this year. The Goliath Traits (Ex): Akala’s physical stature lets him functribe will be grateful to PCs who want to accompany them tion in many ways as if he were one size category larger, on this raid. including using weapons designed for a creature one size Adventure Hook: The PCs encounter the raiders on their larger. Akala can make standing long jumps and high way to the rift valley. The tribe is somewhat depleted of jumps as if they were running long jumps and high jumps.
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