This installment of the My First Monster Manual blog series is a Four Armed Jötunn, The Gladiator.
Environment: Gladiator Arenas, Cities, World Adventures
Monster Type: Friendly Adventurer
Color: Light Pale Skin, Dark Brown Leather and Gold Armor
Features: Four Arms, Giant Size
Abilities: Combat Expert, Tough Skin, Low-Light Vision
Recommended Equipment: n/a
Introduction:
The Jötunn, more commonly referred to as the Giant, refers to a group of monsters that range in size and ability depending on their origin. The group often aligns with powers of nature such as wind, earth, lightening, thunder and the sea.They can range from being beautiful to the most grotesque, from being dumb to highly intelligent, and from being friendly and good to evil and hateful. Without fail, each type of Jötunn will be powerful in its own way.
Investigation:
The weather was cold and unpredictable making travel across the Northern Augurim Mountain peaks bleak and treacherous. A typical day started with a clear sky, thunderstorms in the evening, and freezing sleet falling at night. We slipped on rocks and hiked the challenging elevation changes. It’s strange to think; but, the dark and enclosed space of an underground passage going down into the depths of a mountain became more appealing with each passing day. Following the directions from Roseilin, the Ranger, we arrived at last at the entrance to a wide cave. The remains of forgotten and abandoned camps littered the perimeter with tracks of all sorts of beasts and humans stamped into the ground. Many creatures and travelers made use of this cave coming in and out of the mountain passages. As we arrived, we encountered one such traveler marching out of the cave and smiling to himself as he peered high into the open sky.
Observations:
Standing twice as tall as a man, the traveler was wearing leather armor strapped around his body with golden studs. His golden helmet and pauldron shone brightly in the sun. He carried a spear in one hand, a shield in the other, and two travel packs in his other two. The traveler was a Four Armed Jötunn! He greeted us with an enthusiastic wave. He asked to join us as we made camp just inside the cave entrance. In our exchange of stories over the camp fire, he revealed he was a gladiator champion. He was captured when he was very young and forced to fight for entertainment. Eventually his combat abilities were unmatched by any other gladiator contestant and he won his freedom. Having bested the gladiatorial arena and knowing no other life than constant combat, he now travels the world to further his skills and reputation. His mission was to seek out the strongest and most dangerous beasts and defeat them in single combat. If our paths were aligned, it would have been amazing to document his adventures. However, our travels took us in the direction he had come and his to the land we were leaving behind.
Conclusion:
The Four Armed Jötunn was kind and helpful, a significant contrast to his intimidating size and unmatched combat powers. We shared with him our knowledge of the surrounding mountain peaks and even told him about the fierce Cave Guardian that had sent Feldorg and his companions running. He related what information he could about the passages below and helped my assistant map out the safest path to the Mad Wizards labyrinth. When morning came, we wished him fair travels and he departed us with another enthusiastic wave. We readied our magic lanterns and descended into the darkness of the cave.
About:
The Gladiator, a Four Armed Jötunn, is part of our “My First Monster Manual” blog series where we will feature each of the monsters we are considering for inclusion in our new children’s book. Click here to learn more info on My First Monster Manual.
Artist: Daniel Johnson – squaredmotion.com
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