Giant, Desert

''Five times the size of a normal man, this giant is almost a caricature of the human physique, with oversized, nearly comical features. The giant is all but naked, save for a leather loincloth, and great braids of dark hair swing halfway down the monstrosity's back.''

Tactics
Giants fight in two basic modes: defensively or offensively. When fighting defensively, such as when protecting their island homes from uninvited guests, their favorite tactic is to hurl boulders at the enemy from as great a range as possible.

Offensively, giants like to get to the heart of the matter as quickly as possible. They will charge into the fray swinging their weapons and use Awesome Blow to quickly disperse any resistance.

Description
Desert giants resemble massive humans; their features are exaggerated in some way: many have huge noses, mouths, brows, chins, or ears. Desert giants usually refer to themselves as Saram giants.

Desert giants do not usually trust other races, keeping to themselves whenever possible. On occasion when they leave their islands to trade, they quickly return once their business is complete.

Desert giants eat most anything, preferring meat to plants and vegetables. Many clans domesticate herds of erdlus, kanks, and other creatures. Because their islands have limited vegetation, desert giants eat little in terms of plant life.

A typical desert giant stands between 20 and 30 feet tall and weighs around 12,000 pounds. Their skin is most often dark red, but some specimens have jet-black skin, providing excellent protection against both weapons and the elements. The hair of desert giants is dark, coarse, and very strong; they often grow it in braids that are eventually cut and traded as rope. They all wear a crude figure of his clanʹs totem - a sheep, goat, erdlu, or similar domestic animal — tattooed on their sloped brow. Most wear a minimum of clothing, no more than a loincloth and sandals.

Society
Desert giants gather in clans that live on arid islands in the Sea of Silt. They subsist by raising herds of erdlus, kanks, or other creatures. They maintain a limited amount of trade with inland communities of other races. They often share ground with their more aggressive relatives, beastheaded giants (ToA 53), who call themselves Joorsh giants.