Giant, Cacus

Family: Giant

Huge giant, neutral evil

Armor Class 14 (hide armor)
Hit Points 162 (13d12 + 78)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
25 (+7)	9 (-1)	23 (+6)	10 (+0)	14 (+2)	8 (-1)

Saving Throws Dexterity+4, Constitution+11
Skills Perception +7, Stealth +4, Survival +7
Damage Immunities fire
Senses darkvision 120 ft., truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common, Giant
Challenge 14 (11,500 XP)

Special Traits

• Labyrinthine Recall. The argus giant can perfectly recall any path he has traveled, and he is immune to the maze spell.

Actions

• Multiattack. The giant makes two greatclub attacks.
• Greatclub. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 28 (6d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
• Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target. Hit: 29 (4d10 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
• Fire Breath (Recharge 5-6). The cacus giant exhales fire in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw, taking 56 (16d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
• Smoke Cloud (Recharge 6). The cacus giant exhales a billowing cloud of hot smoke and embers that fills a 60 feet cube. Each creature in the area takes 11 (2d10) fire damage. The cloud lasts until the end of the cacus giant’s next turn. Creatures completely in the cloud are blinded and can’t be seen.

ABOUT

Terrible in both appearance and demeanor, this giant has stiff, bristly hair covering his head and face. Licks of flame and smoke curl from its lips.

Cacus giants are fond of stealing cattle, dragging them by their tails on their backs so that they are impossible to track. Cacus giants lair in labyrinths underground, further concealed by their smoke breath.

Some cacus giants have bright orange hair. An adult male is 12 feet tall, has a chest that measures 9 feet around, and weighs about 7,000 pounds. Females are slightly shorter and lighter. Cacus giants can live to be 350 years old.

Cacus giants wear sturdy cloth or leather garments colored red, orange, yellow, or black. Warriors wear helmets and half-plate armor of blackened steel.

Blessed of Hephaestus. The original cacus was a monstrous, fire-breathing giant who dwelt in a cave on the Aventine Hill in Latium. Hercules slew him when they crossed after dispatching Geryon. Cacus foolishly attempted to steal the bulls Hercules had in turn taken from Geryon, dragging them backwards by their tails. To Geryon’s dismay all of his defenses failed him and Hercules burrowed him out of the volcano.

Cacus giants heat their rocks in a nearby fire, geyser, or lava pools, so that they deal extra fire damage.