Ettin Monster Card art by Victor Sanchez

Ettin Culture, Psychology, and Lore

by Vassar Oenbring

“Ettins bestest because more brains.”

“No, stupid, Ettins bestest because big and strong.”

“You stupid! Ettins smartest and bestest.”

“No! Ettins bestest and strongest! Your head ugly.”

– Ripak-Kipar, Ettin, shortly before headbutting himself.

Culture and Psychology

Ettins are crude and cantankerous creatures, but have developed tribal societies of remarkable sophistication based on their ability to argue. Groups of Ettins, known as rackets, can organize themselves into a disturbing level of competence.

A racket of Ettins is noisy, chaotic, and dangerous. While they argue and harass each other constantly, they quickly band together to face outside threats. With a great many eyes and ears among them, they are difficult to sneak up on and to hide from. Ettin rackets excel at problem solving, despite, or perhaps because of, their perpetual bickering.

Ettins possess a robust ability to retain information and can accurately mimic voices and sounds. Elder Ettins have a remarkable wealth of knowledge stored in their brains, but especially as they get older, an Ettin’s heads will not always agree.  The heads may possess different recollections of the same event, which can lead to amusing debates. Along with arguing, storytelling is revered as an art among Ettins.  Gifted Storyweavers tell hysterical tales while cavorting about and speaking as many distinct characters. Some Ettins are gifted singers, able to play two instruments and sing in harmony with themselves.

Ettins enjoy insulting each other in argument competitions. These competitions, called Ettinoots, are a focal point of Ettin culture and a source of great joy. Possessions and status are wagered on the outcomes, which are usually judged by a panel of Elders. A pair of sharp tongues is the main prerequisite for success in Ettin society.

Another pastime enjoyed by Ettins is a game called Head-Knocker. Head-Knocker is played on a patch of flat ground with net goals at either end. Mead-drunk Ettins take to the field with a ball, usually the severed head of a Giant.  They stand on their hands and headbutt the ball downfield, attempting to score into the other team’s net. The rules are few and vague, cheating is the norm, and pretty much everything appears to be legal so long as a player’s feet do not touch the ground. Head-Knocker is frequently used to resolve disputes.

Ettins are mezmerized by glittering baubles and gemstones, and will trade with other races to obtain these prizes. They are inveterate cheats and liars, always angling for the best bargains. Ettins are suspicious of those who do not bend the rules to get what they want, and will betray any confidence given enough time.

Special Tactics

Ettins encountered alone will often charge into melee against creatures smaller than themselves. Ettins do not fear being surrounded, as they can keep watch and attack from both sides of their bodies. When fighting creatures their own size, Ettins insult their opponents to provoke mistakes. They will flee from larger creatures, and from combats that have turned against them.

Ettin rackets fight with remarkable cooperation, and sometimes employ military tactics such as pincer attacks. They carry huge 20’x20′ nets into battle, and use them to capture up to 4 Medium-sized foes at a time for later consumption. Larger rackets often have a Storyweaver behind the front lines who casts magic, provides song and dance for the troops, and peppers the enemy with copious insults.

Qualities

Gluttonous. Eating to excess is an Ettin’s favorite vice, and they are easily distracted by good food and drink.

Hyperalgesia. With twice the sensory organs, Ettins are very sensitive. They have Advantage on Perception checks and Disadvantage when resisting magic that causes deafness or blindness.

Mulish. One must convince both of an Ettin’s heads in order to persuade it of anything. Ettins have Advantage on Insight checks made to resist ideas that are not in their immediate best interest.

Quarrelsome. Ettins argue with themselves and other Ettins constantly, and are easily distracted by insults from any creature that speaks their language. Ettins have Disadvantage on checks made to resist Taunts.

Slothful. Given a choice in the matter, Ettins will happily spend their days eating, napping, and arguing. Many adventurers have survived an Ettin encounter by casting down their possessions and fleeing, as most Ettins will happily abandon the chase to rummage through their packs.

Wanton. Ettins have few morals or guiding principles and are naturally sadistic. They give no quarter to helpless creatures and find amusement in torture and betrayal. They lie and break bargains with no regard for honor or truth.

Watchful. Ettins cannot be flanked in combat.

Weaponry

Melee 1. Tree Trunk (3d12+5 bludgeoning, reach 10). Some Ettins use logs as two-handed clubs.

Melee 2. Kick (2d8+5 bludgeoning, DC 15 STR save or fall prone). By lashing out with a hairy foot, an Ettin may attempt to knock a Medium-size or smaller creature prone. This replaces one of their weapon attacks.

Ranged 1. Net (No damage, DC 15 DEX save or be restrained, range 20/40). When hunting, many Ettins carry nets to capture prey. Nets require both hands.

Ranged 2. Stone (2d10+5 bludgeoning, range 30/60). Ettins throw stones or other objects at creatures they cannot reach with melee. A Stone attack replaces one of their weapon attacks.

Special Units

Debater. Clever Ettins that have mastered the art of argument, Debaters have Advantage on Persuasion, Deception, and Insight checks. They may attempt to Taunt opponents by making a Persuasion check opposed by their opponent’s Insight. If the Ettin succeeds, its opponent must focus its next attacks on the Debater.

Elder Ettin. These gray-haired Ettins are pot-bellied and bellicose. Elders have maximum hit points and an additional +2 to hit with their attacks. Their fellow Ettins obey them without hesitation.

Epicure. Some Ettins are obsessed with finding new or rare ingredients for their meals. These Ettins have +5 to Survival checks made to track or identify creatures and plants. Wielding large cleavers and meat tenderizers, Epicures will doggedly pursue creatures they consider tasty.

Ettinette. These female Ettins are manipulative leaders. They gain Advantage on Persuasion and Insight checks made in conversation with Ettins and other Giants. Ettinettes will be defended by male Ettins if attacked.

Storyweaver. These robed Ettins wear elaborate headgear fashioned from horned animal skulls. In addition to possessing the accumulated wisdom of their tribe, they cast magic as a 3rd-level Druid.

Trettin. Rare and grotesque, these mutant creatures possess 3 arms, 3 legs, and 3 heads. They gain an additional attack with their 3rd limb. Shunned by other Ettins, Trettins are more often encountered alone, or in the company of Ogres or Orcs.

Special Abilities

Doublethink. Two heads are better than one against magical confusion, charm, and fear. An Ettin may re-roll a failed Wisdom save 2 times per day.

Headbutt. An Ettin may attack with a headbutt in place of a weapon attack, dealing 2d10+5 bludgeoning on a successful hit. Creatures hit by a headbutt must make a DC 12 CON save or be stunned until the end of the next round.

Orcfriend. Nearby Orcs may come to an Ettin’s aid. Ettins usually carry an ox horn that can be blown to summon Orcs. 1d10 Orcs will arrive 1d6 rounds after the horn is blown, at the DM’s discretion.

Squash. An Ettin may use a full-round action to attack a single creature with both of its attacks at once. If it hits its opponent with both attacks, it deals an additional 3d10 damage as the creature is caught between the crushing blows.

Spin. Ettins can use a full-round action to spin in a circle, making a single weapon attack against every creature within reach.

Wishbone Pull. An Ettin that successfully grapples an opponent may forgo any attacks in order to pull its unfortunate victim in half. The Ettin must succeed on an opposed STR check, dealing 5d10 damage each round it wins the check.

Movement

Run. Average. Ettins take large steps but tire easily.

Climb. Average. Their great strength is negated by clumsiness and a lack of motivation..

Swim. Poor. Ettins do not enjoy water, loathe baths, and rarely learn to swim.

Burrow. Poor. Some Ettins will scrape hovels in soft earth, but they rarely dedicate themselves to serious excavations.

Fly. n/a

Grudges

Ettins are not popular with most other races, but have a particularly poor relationship with the more intelligent and civilized races of Giants. Ettins regard Giants as simple-headed cousins, lacking the refined physique of Ettins. In turn, most Giants look down on Ettins as uncouth savages, although occasionally Ettins and Hill Giants work together (one of the few circumstances in which an Ettin is the brains of an operation).

Trolls and Ogres often occupy the same habitat and pursue the same prey as Ettins. While these creatures do not bear each other any particular animosity, they often fight over food and shelter.

The flesh of humanoids is quite tasty to Ettins. Elves and Halflings they find particularly delicious, and Ettins hatch harebrained plots to capture large numbers of them for canning and roasting. Ettins pride themselves on their cooking and create unique recipes from horrifying ingredients. By way of warning, even Orcs are known to say, “Never stay for Ettin stew,” though in truth Ettins hate the taste of Orc flesh, and eat it only in a pinch.

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