Greater Dwarf aka Dwarf Giant [Archive] - Wizards Community

Greater Dwarf aka Dwarf Giant [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
lordalm
08-01-07, 07:10 PM A favorite little idea of mine that I got from a fantasy book. Was Dwarves on the same level as giants, size wise. So essentially Dwarves descended from Giants or Dwarves that grew or were altered from regular dwarves. In Eberron I could see this happening. Starting out as a slave race and increased in size to better fit into the Giants world. Probally predates the Elves as slaves. Most likely a minor rebellion that saw them break free, and unleash the childern of Kyber upon the giants as pay back. They, and thier smaller cousins, make a perioulious journey through Khyber to those continets that they can be found on or existed once upon a time in relation to the current time line. I see the giant dwarves being few in number, essential twice the size and living twice as long as normal dwarves. Receiving the stat adjustments for taking a creature up one size class. Reason they are not part of the Mror hold clans? Broke from regular dwarves, feeling out of place or unatural. Probally went somewhere remote to die, and didn't quite get around to it. Generations pass, and now they are starting to poke thier head out, so to speak. I am debating where to have them reside though. Not Xendrix since they went to all the trouble of fleeing it. Sarlona, not a good choice, nor is Khorvaire. An island? Kind of a lost world, where the knowledge held by the giants would not have been lost, for the most part. Probally being kept under a watchful eye by the Dragons of Argonnesse.

Thoughts, comments.
Mojo_Rat
08-01-07, 07:13 PM If you look at the pictures of Fire giants along with their description in the monste rmanual they are for all intents and purposes Giant Dwarves. Along with the appearance there is also the traditional association with fire elemental types and Smithing.

Although admitedly in the themeatics for fire giants they have no conection to dwarves beyond appearance and a desire to crush them underfoot
lordalm
08-01-07, 10:55 PM Fire giants? Hrmm....

Didn't think that, always assumed they were like Fire Gensai for giants.
Alex_
08-02-07, 01:38 AM A favorite little idea of mine that I got from a fantasy book. Was Dwarves on the same level as giants, size wise. So essentially Dwarves descended from Giants or Dwarves that grew or were altered from regular dwarves. In Eberron I could see this happening. Starting out as a slave race and increased in size to better fit into the Giants world. Probally predates the Elves as slaves. Most likely a minor rebellion that saw them break free, and unleash the childern of Kyber upon the giants as pay back. They, and thier smaller cousins, make a perioulious journey through Khyber to those continets that they can be found on or existed once upon a time in relation to the current time line. I see the giant dwarves being few in number, essential twice the size and living twice as long as normal dwarves. Receiving the stat adjustments for taking a creature up one size class. Reason they are not part of the Mror hold clans? Broke from regular dwarves, feeling out of place or unatural. Probally went somewhere remote to die, and didn't quite get around to it. Generations pass, and now they are starting to poke thier head out, so to speak. I am debating where to have them reside though. Not Xendrix since they went to all the trouble of fleeing it. Sarlona, not a good choice, nor is Khorvaire. An island? Kind of a lost world, where the knowledge held by the giants would not have been lost, for the most part. Probally being kept under a watchful eye by the Dragons of Argonnesse.

Thoughts, comments.

I would suggest Duergar, aka Gray Dwarves from the Monster Manual as a starting point.

They too started out as slaves, and eventually rebelled and now live deep under ground where they come into little contact with other races. In addition to being closely associated with the Underdark (which is replaced with Khyber in Eberron) they also have the magical ability to cast Enlarge Person on themselves once a day: a very useful ability for any race meant to server as slaves for larger masters. They also have an even stronger work ethic and sense of utilitarianism than normal Dwarves.

You'd also be following the theme of Giants making "dark" and "light" versions of their slave races. Like when they took the normal Elves as slaves and from them made the Drow, who were essentially darker Elves with more magical abilities and more loyalty to the Giants.

Likewise they could have enslaved Dwarves, and made the Duergar as the darker, magical, and more Giant loyal equivalent.

I'd also suggest putting them in Frostfell. It's an island continent that not many people visit or explore very often, and is where the Dwarves are believed to have originally come from. The Giants living in Frostfell could be colonists descended from the Giants of Xen'drik who found the frail Elves ill suited for the harsh arctic conditions, so they enslaved the Dwarves.

This would also help explain why Dwarves get a racial bonus against Giants.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
lordalm 08-01-07, 07:10 PM	A favorite little idea of mine that I got from a fantasy book. Was Dwarves on the same level as giants, size wise. So essentially Dwarves descended from Giants or Dwarves that grew or were altered from regular dwarves. In Eberron I could see this happening. Starting out as a slave race and increased in size to better fit into the Giants world. Probally predates the Elves as slaves. Most likely a minor rebellion that saw them break free, and unleash the childern of Kyber upon the giants as pay back. They, and thier smaller cousins, make a perioulious journey through Khyber to those continets that they can be found on or existed once upon a time in relation to the current time line. I see the giant dwarves being few in number, essential twice the size and living twice as long as normal dwarves. Receiving the stat adjustments for taking a creature up one size class. Reason they are not part of the Mror hold clans? Broke from regular dwarves, feeling out of place or unatural. Probally went somewhere remote to die, and didn't quite get around to it. Generations pass, and now they are starting to poke thier head out, so to speak. I am debating where to have them reside though. Not Xendrix since they went to all the trouble of fleeing it. Sarlona, not a good choice, nor is Khorvaire. An island? Kind of a lost world, where the knowledge held by the giants would not have been lost, for the most part. Probally being kept under a watchful eye by the Dragons of Argonnesse. Thoughts, comments.
Mojo_Rat 08-01-07, 07:13 PM	If you look at the pictures of Fire giants along with their description in the monste rmanual they are for all intents and purposes Giant Dwarves. Along with the appearance there is also the traditional association with fire elemental types and Smithing. Although admitedly in the themeatics for fire giants they have no conection to dwarves beyond appearance and a desire to crush them underfoot
lordalm 08-01-07, 10:55 PM	Fire giants? Hrmm.... Didn't think that, always assumed they were like Fire Gensai for giants.
Alex_ 08-02-07, 01:38 AM	A favorite little idea of mine that I got from a fantasy book. Was Dwarves on the same level as giants, size wise. So essentially Dwarves descended from Giants or Dwarves that grew or were altered from regular dwarves. In Eberron I could see this happening. Starting out as a slave race and increased in size to better fit into the Giants world. Probally predates the Elves as slaves. Most likely a minor rebellion that saw them break free, and unleash the childern of Kyber upon the giants as pay back. They, and thier smaller cousins, make a perioulious journey through Khyber to those continets that they can be found on or existed once upon a time in relation to the current time line. I see the giant dwarves being few in number, essential twice the size and living twice as long as normal dwarves. Receiving the stat adjustments for taking a creature up one size class. Reason they are not part of the Mror hold clans? Broke from regular dwarves, feeling out of place or unatural. Probally went somewhere remote to die, and didn't quite get around to it. Generations pass, and now they are starting to poke thier head out, so to speak. I am debating where to have them reside though. Not Xendrix since they went to all the trouble of fleeing it. Sarlona, not a good choice, nor is Khorvaire. An island? Kind of a lost world, where the knowledge held by the giants would not have been lost, for the most part. Probally being kept under a watchful eye by the Dragons of Argonnesse. Thoughts, comments. I would suggest Duergar, aka Gray Dwarves from the Monster Manual as a starting point. They too started out as slaves, and eventually rebelled and now live deep under ground where they come into little contact with other races. In addition to being closely associated with the Underdark (which is replaced with Khyber in Eberron) they also have the magical ability to cast Enlarge Person on themselves once a day: a very useful ability for any race meant to server as slaves for larger masters. They also have an even stronger work ethic and sense of utilitarianism than normal Dwarves. You'd also be following the theme of Giants making "dark" and "light" versions of their slave races. Like when they took the normal Elves as slaves and from them made the Drow, who were essentially darker Elves with more magical abilities and more loyalty to the Giants. Likewise they could have enslaved Dwarves, and made the Duergar as the darker, magical, and more Giant loyal equivalent. I'd also suggest putting them in Frostfell. It's an island continent that not many people visit or explore very often, and is where the Dwarves are believed to have originally come from. The Giants living in Frostfell could be colonists descended from the Giants of Xen'drik who found the frail Elves ill suited for the harsh arctic conditions, so they enslaved the Dwarves. This would also help explain why Dwarves get a racial bonus against Giants.