Giant

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A Giant

Giants are a large, lumbering and highly unintelligent race of brutish nomads that roam the Warhammer World seeking battles and food both large and small.

Overview

Descendants of the long-forgotten Skytitan civilization, Giants are extremely few in numbers but they make up for this disadvantage with bone-crushing strength. To most Greenskins, a Giant is a bellowing, cursing display of raw might, ruthless aggression and mindless savagery -- traits that are highly respected and sought after within Greenskin society.

As such, many tribes would often fight each other over the possession of a Giant. In their part, Giants are quite happy to join an army of Greenskins, as it would significantly increase their chances of eating regularly and getting their hands on plunder and strong liquor. To keep a Giant within a tribe, the Greenskins would often have to regularly feed him considerable amounts of food, as should the Giant become too hungry, he would usually wander off into the wilderness and never return.

Giants are solitary creatures that tend to wander the lands, settling for short periods of time when they find a rich food source. A Giant can consume an entire herd of livestock in a sitting, and will devastate any village he comes across, pulling out and eating anything he can find amidst the stomped and splintered structures. Breweries are especially favoured targets, as Giants are notorious drunkards. On occasion, a Giant will be persuaded to join a passing army, often Chaos-worshipping men from the north or marauding Greenskin tribes, who lure the lummoxes with promises of fighting and food.[3a]

Living a solitary and nomadic lifestyle, Giants can be found in many locations within the Old World, terrorizing the countryside of Human kingdoms and eating up many of its peaceful inhabitants. Once a Giant has cleaned up all the available food within a region, he would move on to find more fertile and unspoiled lands, often leaving behind the bones and husk of many ruined villages in his wake. On occasion, Giants can be compelled or persuaded to joined rampaging warbands of Greenskins, Beastmen or Warriors of Chaos. [4a]

History

In ages past, the Giants were the direct descendants of the Sky Titan civilization, who ruled benevolently within the highest peaks of the Mountains of Mourn. They were far larger than any Giants of today, and were also considerably more intelligent. Unlike the Giants, the Skytitans didn't interfere with the lands below; instead, they kept to themselves, secure in their ancient fortresses surrounded by a sea of clouds. For the most part, they only ventured from their fastnesses to tend to their flocks of Mammoths, aloof from the conflict of the world below. As with all things, however, this peace was destined to end, and the Skytitans were eventually destroyed by the destructive migration of the Ogre race.

The Ogres came to the mountains after their homeland was destroyed by the Great Maw, a malevolent entity that supposedly obliterated much of the Eastern Steppes and killed a large portion of the Ogre population. Both fearing and worshipping the Great Maw, the Ogre race sought a new homeland to call their own. Eventually, the Ogres reached the Mountains and it was there where the great war known as the "War of the Heavens" began between the Ogres and the Skytitans. [7a]

The Skytitans fought this monstrous race with tremendous ferocity and massive strength. However, they could not match the numbers of the Ogres, and like a pack of wolves taking down a bear, the Ogres crushed the Titan race, breaking down the great masonry of their fortresses and hurling them down to the lands below. One by one, the Titans fell, and soon their great civilization was nothing more then mere ruins.

The Skytitan's children were taken and beaten into submission, becoming the slaves of many Ogre tribes. The once flourishing great flocks of Mammoths which once roamed the lands were mercilessly hunted by their new Ogre overlords. The few surviving Sky Titans fled. Forced into small tribes, they became inbred, their intellect dwindling until they eventually became the Giants that they are known as of today. [7a]

Notable Giants

Variants

Bonegrinder Giant - Bonegrinder Giants are very old and an incredibly rare variant of the Giant Race. These days they're thought to have been almost completely vanished from the Old World, though there are a few, persistent rumors of a handful of Bretonnian mountain villages where Bonegrinders have eaten all the local knights and claimed the villages (and peasants) as their own. Bonegrinder Giants are at least twice the size of their lesser cousins, who themselves stand many times the height of a Man.[3a]

Chaos Giant: Those that dwell in the far north are often warped and mutated by the Chaos Wastes, vast quivering masses of body parts. [4a][7a]

Greenskins and Giants: Perhaps the happiest of their kind, Orc and goblin warlords welcome the presence of such a mighty individual as many of their followers consider them living embodiment of Mork or possibly Gork. Some giants become to regard themselves as huge orcs, strapping enormous jaws to their own and marking themselves with tribal markings. [7a]

Dogs of War Giant: Small roaming bands of Giants can sometimes be persuaded with huge amounts of food and booze to join armies. [8a]

Slavegiant - Slavegiants are Giants indentured into servitude for Ogre tribes. Unlike the Giants that accompany the other races of the world into battle, those who look down on their smaller comrades and pick fights as and when they choose, the Slavegiants of the Ogre Kingdoms live a life of forced servitude.[5a][7a]

Tyrants seek them out taking their Ironguts and heaviest chains to beat them into submission - although this can result in death for the Tyrant and his boys. The brutal enslavement fills Ogre tribes with pride, reminding them of the ancient days when they devoured the Skygiants. [5a][7a]

They are heavily chained, branded and on occassion forced into battle with pikestaves - allowing the tormented creature to take out its humiliation on their enemies. [5a][7a]

Weapons and Equipment

In battle, Giants wade in with their tremendous bulk, crushing the foe beneath their slab-like feet, or sweeping any before them into the air with clubs fashioned out of uprooted trees. Sometimes a Giant will select a particular target and reach down to pluck the unfortunate up. These victims are sometimes bitten in two, hurled far, far away, squished into paste or simply stuffed into a secure Of smelly) place to be retrieved later for a snack.

In combat, Giants would often charge mindlessly into the enemy front-lines, using a massive club or a tree as his weapon. Wearing little to no armour, Giants are highly susceptible to either a concentrated volley of missile troops, or a well-placed shot from a Great Cannon. Should the enemy lack missile capability, it is extremely hard to take down a Giant in close-quarters combat.[3a]

  • 6th Ediiton: Ogre Slavegiant: Chains, Manacles.[5b]
  • 6th Edition: Orc Giant: Big Club.[6a]
  • 8th Edition: Hand Weapon. [3a]

Gallery

Miniatures

Quotes

They're big. Really big. But there's lots of us and few of them. I seen the boss take one down by himself. Giants were never a match for us Ogres - too thick in the 'ead.

~[5a]

Notes

In the old background books Giants uses in battles the so named Giant pitching balls - a huge spheres of lead used by them also to play Giant Skittles (a game where were requared a dozen captive travellers (preferably Dwarfs)[2]

Sources

Beastmen
Units Beast Lord - Bestigor - Bray-Shaman - Centigor - Chaos Giant - Chaos Ogre - Chaos Spawn - Chaos Troll - Chaos Warhound - Chimera - Cockatrice - Cygor - Doombull - Dragon Ogre - Dragon Ogre Shaggoth - Ghorgon - Gor - Great Bray Shaman - Harpy - Jabberslythe - Khorngor - Minotaur - Pestigor - Razorgor - Razorgor Chariot - Shaggoth - Slaangor - Tuskgor Chariot - Tzaangor - Ungor - Wargor
Characters Brrak Gorehorn - Ghorros Warhoof - Gribbleback - Gorthor - Kartok Great-horn - Khazrak - Malagor - Moonclaw - Morghur - Ograh - Rurkhar Festigor - Slugtongue - Taurox - Ungrol Four-Horn
Images - Miniatures - Quotes
Dogs of War
Units Dark Emissary - Dogs of War Giant - Duellist - Fenbeast - Halfling Hot Pot - Hireling Wizard - Hireling Wizard Lord - Irongut - Leadbelcher - Manbiter - Maneater - Mercenary Cannon - Mercenary Captain - Mercenary Crossbowman - Mercenary Dwarf - Mercenary Dwarf Sapper - Mercenary General - Mercenary Halfling - Mercenary Heavy Cavalry - Mercenary Light Cavalry - Mercenary Ogre - Mercenary Paymaster - Mercenary Pikeman - Mourngul Renegade - Norse Marauder - Ogre Bull - Paymaster's Bodyguard - Truthsayer
Characters Ahmed Shufti - Alphonso Garracha - Aranessa Saltspite - Asarnil the Dragonlord - Arnulf Schwarz - Beorg Bearstruck - Borgio the Besieger - Bruno Hauptleiter - Deathfang - Bjorn Irongrim - Edvard Van Der Kraal - El Cadavo‎ - Ennio Mordini - Fernando Pirazzo - Fleugweiner Sonderblitz - Ghazak Khan - Golgfag - Golthog - Gossippa Lotta - Hrothyogg - Ignatius - Isrogdal - Jack O'the Sea - Jacopo d'Arezzo - Jaego Roth - Jeremiah Tusk - Lars Mortensen - Lietpold the Black - Long Drong - Louis di Burgundum - Lorenzo Lupo - Lucciano Soprania - Lucrezzia Belladonna - Lucky Levi - Luka Silvaro - Malakai Makaisson - Mann Hirsch - Marco Colombo - Lumpin Croop - Marquand Volker‎‎ - Matthogg - Mengil Manhide - Muhannad Ru'af - Mydas the Mean - Oglah Khan - Otto Steinroth - Rienzi - Roque Santiago Delia Fortuna - Ruglud Bonechewer - Sheerglas - Torgoch - Toxote - Ulli Leitpold - Varis - Willi Ziege - Wolfgang Von Neuwald - Zara Bok
Notable Mercenary Companies Al Muktar's Desert Dogs - Alcatani Fellowship - Anakonda's Amazons - Bearmen of Urslo - Birdmen of Catrazza - Bloodaxe Alliance - Blue Herons - Braganza's Besiegers - Bronzino's Galloper Guns - Cursed Company - Giants of Albion - Golgfag's Maneaters - Grevenfeld Company - Gorskull's War Trolls - Grudgebringers - Leopold's Leopard Company - Long Drong's Slayer Pirates - Lumpin Croop's Fighting Cocks - Manann's Blades - Marksmen of Miragliano - Matthogg's Payswords - Mauls of Morr - Oglah Khan's Wolfboyz - Pirazzo's Lost Legion - Red Talons - Reivers - Ricco's Republican Guard - Ruglud's Armoured Orcs - Schmidt's Renegades - Star of Victory - Tichi-Huichi's Raiders - Toxote's Hellmounts - Torston Treehaka's Sea Axes - Van Klumpf's Buccaneers - Vespero's Vendetta - Voland's Venators - Von Kragsburg Guard - Wythel Warriors
Images - Miniatures - Quotes - Vehicles
Orcs & Goblins
Units Arachnarok Spider - Black Orc - Black Orc Big Boss - Black Orc Warboss - Cave Squig - Colossal Squig - Doom Diver Catapult - Forest Goblin Warboss - Goblin - Goblin Archer - Goblin Big Boss - Goblin Fire Kobold - Goblin Great Shaman - Goblin Shaman - Goblin Wolf Chariot - Goblin Troglagob - Goblin Warboss - Goblin Wolf Rider - Hill Goblin - Mangler Squig - Nasty Skulker - Night Goblin - Night Goblin Big Boss - Night Goblin Fanatic - Night Goblin Great Shaman - Night Goblin Netter - Night Goblin Shaman - Night Goblin Warboss - Orc Arrer Boy - Orc Battle Chariot - Orc Big Boss - Orc Big Un - Orc Boar Boyz - Orc Boar Chariot - Orc Boyz - Orc Great Shaman - Orc Shaman - Orc Warboss - River Troll Hag - Rock Lobber - Savage Orc Big Boss - Savage Orc - Savage Orc Boar Boy - Savage Orc Great Shaman - Savage Orc Shaman - Savage Orc Warboss - Snotling - Snotling Pump Wagon - Spear Chukka - Spider Rider - Squig Herder - Squig Hopper - Troll
Characters Argor Foespike - Azhag - Big Red 'Un - Black Tooth - Borgut Facebeater - Borzag - Brak Batwing - Cragtooth - Crazy Spider - Cruzzik Cacklespit - Dagskar Earscrapper - Dork - Durgath Spine Cracker - Durkol Eye-Gouger - Funglus - Git Guzzler - Gobbla - Goggrul Skarlug - Gorbad Ironclaw - Gorfang Rotgut - Gorgog - Grabnatz Sourbelly - Grimgor Ironhide - Grom the Paunch - Grotfang Skab - Grua Gribbleback - Grulsik Moonclaw - Gulag - Little Gork - Masked Chieftain - Morglum Necksnapper - Oddgit - Ogdruz Swampdigga - Oglok the 'Orrible - Radzog - Ratscrote Boggobbler - Roglud - Skabend - Skumwort Skabbad - Slygit - Skarok Gnawrock - Skarsnik - Slygit - Snagla Grobspit - Spinecracker - Squatting Troll - Taugrek the Throttler - Torgoch - Urk Ironskull - Vagraz Head-Stomper - Vish Venombarb - Wurrzag
Strongholds Black Crag - Iron Rock - Mount Bloodhorn - Mount Grimfang - Red Eye Mountain - Thunder Mountain - Black Pit
Images - Magic Items - Miniatures - Vehicles
Warriors of Chaos
Units Bile Troll - Chaos Champion - Chaos Chariot - Chaos Warhound - Chaos Chosen - Chaos Goblin - Chaos Hound - Chaos Knight - Chaos Lord - Chaos Marauder - Chaos Ogre - Chaos Siege Giant - Chaos Sorcerer - Chaos Sorcerer Lord - Chaos Spawn - Chaos Thug - Chaos War Mammoth - Chaos Warrior - Chaos Warshrine - Daemon Prince - Dragon Ogre - Flayerkin - Forsaken - Giant - Gorebeast Chariot - Hellcannon - Hellstrider - Marauder Champion - Marauder Chieftain - Marauder Horsemen - Mutalith Vortex Beast - Skin Wolf - Skullcrusher - Skullreaper - Slaughterbrute - Troll - Wrathmonger
Characters Abrax the Bloody - Aekold Helbrass - Agellor - Arbaal - Archaon - Arek Daemonclaw - Asavar Kul - Bayl - Baudros - Beorg Bearstruck - Caramon - Lothar Bubonicus - Dechala - Dónalegur - Drusil Spittletongue - Egrimm van Horstmann - Elrion - Ferik Kasterman - Festus the Leechlord - Feytor - Festak Krann - Festasmus - Galrauch - Gilberion - Grimjack - Grulmak Deathmonger - Grungni Ironhand - Grydal - Gurni Ironarm - Haargroth - Hakka - Harald Hammerstorm - Helgrim Darkblade - Iskard Lustviper - Karadok - Kastragar - Kayzk - Khagul Bloodfist - Kholek Suneater - Kordel Shorgaar - Kormak - Krakanrok the Black - Mawhrin Skell - Merga - Melekh - Merroc - Mordrek - Morkar - Mortkin - Ngaaranh - Olaf Wolfhound - Oxblood Foulgrim - Ryðklumpur - Sapir Redwolf - Saardis Vaarn - Sargath - Sayl - Scyla Anfingrimm - Semjaza - Sigvald - Skarr Bloodwrath - Sog'Kog - Styrkaar - Tamurkhan - Thorgar the Blooded One - Throgg - Tuula Bloodhair - Urak Soulbane - Valgar - Valkia - Valnir - Vandred - Vardek Crom - Vilitch - Werner Flamefist - Winter King - Wulfrik - Yevgeny Yefimovich - Yrlman
Tribes and Warbands Aesling - Beasts of Telldros - Dolgan - Draghar - Gharhag - Graeling - Hung - Iron Wolves - Khazag - Kul - Kurgan - Mung - Sarl - Schwarzvolf - Skaelings - Skaramor - Snaegr - Sons of Nifflecht - Sortsvinaer - Swords of Chaos - Tormentors - Wei-Tu - Yusak
Images - Magic Items - Miniatures - Vehicles