Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn more about ettins. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (Nature)

DC Result

16 This two-headed giant is an ettin, a vicious and unpredictable nocturnal hunter. This result reveals all giant traits.

21 Though not particularly intelligent, ettins are skilled and cunning fighters. They are supremely strong and can fight very effectively with two weapons as each head controls one of its arms. Ettins speak a pidgin language of their own made up of a mix of Orc, Goblin and Giant.

26 Ettins have good senses and can see well in poor light conditions. They typically use ambushes to initiate combat, but then fight relentlessly until all enemies are dead. Ettins virtually never bathe and their stench is so strong that they almost always ambush from downwind to avoid being detected.


Monster Lore from WOTC Community Forums - Monsters and Races - Monster Lore Compendium. Copyright 2007-2008, Author: Evandar_TAybara

Environment cold hills
Organization solitary, pair, gang (3–6), troupe (1–2 plus 1–2 brown bears), band (3–6 plus 1–2 brown bears), or colony (3–6 plus 1–2 brown bears and 7–12 orcs or 9–16 goblins)
Treasure standard (leather armor, 2 flails, 4 javelins, other treasure)

Ettins, or two-headed giants, are vicious and unpredictable hunters that stalk the night. Their two heads provide them with unparalleled powers of perception, making them excellent guards.

Ettins superficially resemble hill or stone giants, although their tusked facial features betray orc blood in their lineage. They have pinkish-brown skin, but ettins never bathe if they can help it, which usually leaves them so grimy and dirty their skin resembles thick, gray hide. Adult ettins are about 13 feet tall and weigh 5,200 pounds. They live about 75 years.

Ettins have no language of their own but speak a pidgin of Giant, Goblin, and Orc. Creatures that can speak any of these languages must succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence check to communicate with an ettin. Check once for each bit of information: if the other creature speaks two of these languages, the DC is 10, and for someone who speaks all three, the DC is 5.

Though ettins aren't very intelligent, they are cunning fighters. They prefer to ambush their victims rather than charge into a fight, but once the battle has started, an ettin fights furiously until all enemies are dead.

Ettins lead solitary lives, establishing lairs in secluded rocky caves and hollows, often surrounded by pits and trenches. Ettins sometimes keep cave bears as pets and guardians for their lairs.

A particularly powerful ettin may attract a gang of a few followers, possibly with several goblin or orc allies. Such gatherings are the exception rather than the rule, however, and seldom last long, with individual ettins going their separate ways when opportunities for pillage and plunder decrease or if the leader is killed.

Mated couples usually come together to breed for only a short time before going off on their own again. Young ettins mature quickly, reaching adult size within a year, when they are kicked out to fend for themselves.