Goliaths were a nomadic race of humanoids native to the mountainous regions of Toril and the Bifrost Isles.
Description
Physical Characteristics
Goliaths are towering humanoids, standing between 7 to 8 feet (2.1 to 2.4 meters) tall, making them larger than both dragonborn and half-orcs. They possess prominent, bony supraorbital ridges above their eyes, giving them a distinct and rugged appearance. Their eyes, often a vivid blue or green, sometimes emit a faint glow.
Skin and Markings
Goliath skin is typically gray or brown, renowned for its exceptional toughness—often compared to stone. One of their most distinctive traits is the presence of dark, vertically symmetrical markings across their bodies. Goliaths believe these markings are tied to their fate and destiny, which is why they never tattoo themselves, fearing it may alter their path in life.
Additionally, their skin is embedded with small, coin-sized bony growths known as lithoderms, resembling studded pebbles on their arms, shoulders, torso, or head.
Personality and Psychology
Competitive Nature
The defining trait of goliath culture is competition. They meticulously track their accomplishments, viewing life itself as a constant series of challenges. To outsiders, their habit of recounting victories and statistics may seem boastful, but to goliaths, score-keeping is a natural way of life rather than an attempt to belittle others.
Above all, a goliath's fiercest competitor is themselves. Achieving personal milestones and surpassing past records brings them the greatest satisfaction. While they enjoy competition among their peers, they do not display arrogance or overconfidence.
However, failure to meet expectations—either their own or those set by past achievements—can weigh heavily on them. Many goliaths struggle with dissatisfaction if they fail to surpass their previous victories, and aging or permanently injured goliaths often seek death in battle rather than live in a state of decline.
Honor and Trust
Honor and trust are deeply ingrained in goliath society. They value fair competition, despising cheaters, gloaters, and sore losers. Goliaths do not hold grudges over a fair loss, instead embracing the maxim:
"Today's rival is tomorrow's teammate."
Their strong sense of honor, combined with their competitive nature, often leads them to heroic and valorous deeds. Goliaths are naturally fearless, drawn to feats of physical prowess such as scaling cliffs, leaping chasms, or facing overwhelming odds.
Resilience and Determination
Goliaths loathe complacency and take nothing for granted. Even those blessed with magical abilities continue to train their physical strength and endurance, ensuring they are never reliant on external power alone. They possess an insatiable curiosity and love of exploration, constantly seeking new challenges to conquer.
Society
Goliath society is built upon the pillars of competition, equality, and fairness. Every member of a tribe is expected to contribute, and leadership is based solely on merit rather than lineage or privilege.
Tribal Structure
Goliaths live in small nomadic tribes, typically consisting of 40 to 60 members, made up of three to five extended families. Most goliaths remain with their birth tribe for life, though in rare cases, large tribes may split, or smaller ones may merge for survival.
Leadership and responsibility are distributed among several key roles, each assigned to the most capable individuals:
- Chieftain – The tribe’s leader, responsible for deciding when to migrate and selecting individuals to fill key roles. Leadership is not permanent and must be continuously earned.
- Captains – Two captains are assigned to essential daily tasks, such as hunting, gathering, cooking, and scouting. They form their own teams, fostering healthy rivalry.
- Skywatcher – Often a druid or shaman, this individual ensures resources are managed responsibly and oversees festivals, rituals, and spiritual matters.
- Dawncaller – The night watch, responsible for protecting the camp and waking the tribe at dawn by recounting heroic tales. They receive lighter duties during the day to remain vigilant at night.
- Adjudicator – The tribe’s mediator and referee, settling disputes and overseeing competitions. If an adjudicator’s ruling is challenged, the chieftain must intervene—though doing so results in the adjudicator’s dismissal.
- Tent-Mother – The only role designated by gender, the tent-mother serves as a caretaker and teacher for infants and toddlers while their parents fulfill other duties. They also determine when young goliaths (typically around age 10) begin contributing to the tribe.
- Lamentor – Tasked with evaluating when an individual has become too old or weak to contribute. They consult with the chieftain and prepare a commemorative chant before the individual is exiled, a solemn but accepted part of goliath life.
Leadership and Challenges
A goliath chieftain serves only as long as they can prove their worth. Leadership is constantly tested, and any tribe member may issue a challenge. If this occurs, the chieftain and the challenger must compete in three trials, and the challenger must win all three to claim leadership. The defeated chieftain must then leave the tribe permanently.
Due to their short lifespans and high mortality rate, goliath tribes do not rely on wisdom gained from age, instead valuing innate leadership and strength. This ensures that only the most capable individuals guide the tribe forward.
Cultural Influence and Perception
Goliaths’ relentless pursuit of excellence inspires those around them. Their competitive nature pushes the entire tribe to new heights, as individuals strive to outdo one another in acts of skill, bravery, and generosity. Because of this, outsiders often perceive goliaths as heroic, honorable, and driven people, earning them a reputation as noble warriors and steadfast allies.