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paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015
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PLAYERS GUIDE
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CREDITS
Written and Compiled by Adam Daigle and Rob McCreary
Cover Artist Robert Mangano, Matias Tapia, and Fernanda Suarez
Contributing Artists Ekaterina Burmak, Jorge Fares, Fabio
Gorla, Ian Llanas, Robert Mangano, Maichol Quinto,
and Vicky Yarova
Cartographer Robert Lazzaretti
Publisher Erik Mona

Paizo CEO Lisa Stevens
Chief Operations Officer Jeffrey Alvarez
Director of Sales Pierce Watters
Sales Associate Cosmo Eisele
Marketing Director Jenny Bendel
Vice President of Finance Christopher Self
Staff Accountant Ashley Kaprielian
Data Entry Clerk B. Scott Keim
Chief Technical Officer Vic Wertz
Software Development Manager Cort Odekirk
Senior Software Developer Gary Teter
Campaign Coordinator Mike Brock
Project Manager Jessica Price
Licensing Coordinator Michael Kenway
Creative Director James Jacobs

Editor-in-Chief F. Wesley Schneider
Managing Editor James L. Sutter
Development Leads Adam Daigle and Rob McCreary
Senior Developer Rob McCreary
Developers John Compton, Adam Daigle, Mark Moreland,
and Owen K.C. Stephens
Associate Editors Judy Bauer and Christopher Carey
Editors Joe Homes, Andrea Howe, and RyanMacklin
Lead Designer Jason Bulmahn
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andMark Seifter
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Lissa Guillet, Erik Keith, Chris Lambertz, and Scott Spalding
Managing Art Director Sarah E. Robinson

Senior Art Director Andrew Vallas
Art Director Sonja Morris
Graphic Designers Emily Crowell and Ben Mouch
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REFERENCE
This book refers to several other Pathfinder Roleplaying Game products using the following abbreviations, yet these additional
supplements are not required to make use of this book. Readers interested in references to Pathfinder RPG hardcovers can
find the complete rules of these books available online for free at paizo.com/prd.
Animal Archive
Bestiary 1
Bestiary 2
AA
B1
B2
Bestiary 3
Bestiary 4
Ultimate Magic
B3
B4
UM
This product makes use of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook, Pathfinder RPG Advanced Class Guide, Pathfinder RPG Advanced Players Guide, Pathfinder RPG Advanced Race Guide, Pathfinder RPG
Ultimate Combat, and Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Magic. These rules can be found online as part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document at paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd.
This product is compliant with the Open Game License (OGL) and is suitable for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game or the 3.5 edition of the worlds oldest fantasy roleplaying game.
Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game License version 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open Content: All trademarks,
registered trademarks, proper names (characters, deities, etc.), dialogue, plots, storylines, locations, characters, artwork, and trade dress. (Elements that have previously been designated as
Open Game Content or are in the public domain are not included in this declaration.)
Open Content: Except for material designated as Product Identity (see above), the game mechanics of this Paizo game product are Open Game Content, as defined in the Open Gaming
License version 1.0a Section 1(d). No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission.
Giantslayer Players Guide 2015, Paizo Inc. All Rights Reserved. Paizo, Paizo Inc., the Paizo golem logo, Pathfinder, the Pathfinder logo, and Pathfinder Society are registered trademarks of
Paizo Inc.; Pathfinder Accessories, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Pathfinder Adventure Path, Pathfinder Campaign Setting, Pathfinder Cards, Pathfinder Flip-Mat, Pathfinder Map Pack,
Pathfinder Module, Pathfinder Pawns, Pathfinder Player Companion, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, and Pathfinder Tales are trademarks of Paizo Inc.
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PLAYERS GUIDE
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GIANTSLAYER PLAYERS GUIDE
he Giantslayer Adventure Path begins in

the besieged town of Trunau, a stubbornly
independent town within the orc-held land of
Belkzen. The adventure begins on the eve of a Hopeknife
Festival, an important ceremony held for local youths when
they come of age. The PCs arrive in town and get to know
the townsfolk, but then disaster strikes!
of the town is provided starting on page 7 of this guide.

This gazetteer can help you figure out what growing up
in Trunau would be like and introduce you to some of the
towns most important people.
If your character is not from Trunau, but is familiar with
the town, she could still gain this familiarity from frequent
visits. Your character could be part of a caravan that regularly
supplies the town, or belong to a group of scouts who patrol
southern Belkzen and stop by the town to rest and resupply.
For characters with no previous association with
Trunau, it could be that your character is part of a
merchant caravan that just arrived in town the same day
that the adventure begins, or perhaps the party formed
in another bordering nation and started its adventuring
by setting off through southern Belkzen. Your character
could be a half-orc cast out of a nearby tribe and looking
COMING TOGETHER
Since this Adventure Path starts in the small town of Trunau,

its best for at least one character to be from Trunau, or at
least a regular visitor of the town. One of the campaign
traits in this players guide helps root characters who select
it in Trunau, and the rest of the traits also make sense
for characters from that region. To help players of local
characters familiarize themselves with Trunau, a gazetteer
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CHARACTER TIPS
for civilized company, or an envoy from Lastwall whos is

part of a group charged with checking in on the besieged
town. It also wouldnt be out of the ordinary for your
character to be a Shoanti wanderer who came across the
town and has been enjoying the safety of its walls and the
townsfolks hospitality.
Whatever the case, the Adventure Path works best if you
plan for your character to visit the brave and independent
town of Trunau. For more information on neighboring
nations and nearby settlements, as well as advice for a
personal backstory, see the Origins section on page 4.
Youre starting the Giantslayer Adventure Path, but what

kind of character should you play? Whats the best way to
make a character who will fit with the theme of fighting
giants in the mountains and be well prepared to survive
the campaign? The following hints, suggestions, and
character options are designed to help you create characters
perfectly suited to conquering the threats and challenges
the Adventure Path has in store for you and your party. The
following suggestions are not exhaustive, and there are
thousands of viable character
concepts that can shine in
this campaign. For more
discussions of characters in the
Giantslayer Adventure Path, visit the
messageboards at paizo.com and share
your experiences with others who are playing
through this campaign.
Archetypes and Class Options

The majority of the Giantslayer Adventure Path involves
trekking through the Mindspin Mountains, f ighting
giants in their lairs, investigating powerful artifacts,
and encountering dragons and other dangerous beasts
along the way. All character classes are suitable for the
Adventure Path, but some classes have more thematically
appropriate options a player could choose. Also, since
most of the campaign deals with f ighting giants on their
home turf, character classes that gain mounts might have
an easier time navigating the many giant-sized corridors
of this campaign than they would dungeons made by
smaller humanoids.
Some potentially useful archetypes are listed below.
Beast rider (cavalier) from Ultimate Combat
Goliath druid (druid) from Pathfinder Player Companion:
Giant Hunters Handbook
Infiltrator (ranger) from Advanced Players Guide
Mountain druid (druid) from Advanced Players Guide
Mountain Witch (witch) from Advanced Class Guide
Mouser (swashbuckler) from Advanced Class Guide
Titan fighter (fighter) from Pathfinder Player Companion:
Titan mauler (barbarian) from Ultimate Combat
Underfoot adept (half ling monk) from Advanced
Race Guide
Vexing dodger (rogue) from Pathfinder Player Companion:
Advanced Race Guide also includes the order of the paw,
a cavalier order made specifically for half ling cavaliers.
Those playing druids who use the animal and terrain
domains from Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Magic should consider
the mountain domain if they want to make characters with
strong ties to the mountains.
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PLAYERS GUIDE
Characters interested in pursuing a prestige class have

many options. The following suggestions are among the
most thematic for the Giantslayer Adventure Path: half ling
opportunist (Pathfinder Player Companion: Half lings of Golarion),
horizon walker (Advanced Players Guide), Pathfinder delver
(Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Seeker of Secrets), and skyseeker
(Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Paths of Prestige).
Want to R ead M ore?

A number of other books can help enhance your Giantslayer
Adventure Path experience. Listed below are other sources
that, while not necessary, may prove useful or inspiring
while playing through this campaign.
For Game M asters
Bloodlines and Mysteries
To learn more about the wild and dangerous lands of southern

Belkzen (where the first part of the Adventure Path takes
place), check out Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Belkzen,
Hold of the Orc Hordes. To bolster your giant lore, read
Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Giants Revisited. For use in
visualizing encounters with giants, check out Pathfinder
Flip-Mat: Giant Lairs.
While most bloodlines are good choices, the following

suggestions fit the themes of the Giantslayer Adventure Path:
deep earth (Advanced Players Guide), draconic, elemental, orc
(Pathfinder Player Companion: Orcs of Golarion), or stormborn
(Advanced Players Guide).
The oracle mysteries with the strongest ties to the
themes of the Adventure Path are battle and stone, and
shamans can select the spirits of the same name for f itting
character options.
Of course, these limited suggestions arent the only ones
a player can choosemost bloodlines, mysteries, and spirits
would work well in the Giantslayer Adventure Path.
For Players
For a primer on fighting giants, pick up the invaluable
Pathfinder Player Companion: Giant Hunters Handbook.
Since player characters are also going to be involved in
all manner of exploration, check out Pathfinder Player
Companion: Dungeoneers Handbook for tips on survival
while out adventuring.
Players who want to find more options for half-orc
characters in this Adventure Path should look to Pathfinder
Player Companion: Bastards of Golarion, while players who
want to play dwarves should check out Pathfinder Player
Companion: Dwarves of Golarion.
Familiars and Animal Companions

Since characters can come into this Adventure Path from
many different backgrounds and far-off locations, they
can bring along exotic animal companions and familiars.
However, characters from the region or who want to pick
an animal that fits the environment well might want to be a
bit more selective. The following familiars are good choices
given the terrain and climate of this Adventure Path: bat B1,
cat B1, giant f lea B4 , goat B3, hawk B1, house centipedeUM, lizard B1,
owl B1, raven B1, scarlet spiderB4 , and weasel B1.
The following animals can be found in the Mindspin
Mountains and Belkzen and would be good choices for
companions (or even mounts in some cases): aurochsB1,
bearB1, bird (eagleB1, hawk B1, or owl B1), small cat (mountain
lion B1), dire bat B1, dog B1, elk B3 , horseB1, lizard (giant geckoB3),
lizard (monitor lizard B1 or cave lizard B1), llama AA , ponyB1,
ram B2 , rocB1, stagB4 , giant vultureB3, giant weasel B4 , and wolf B1.
In addition to the animals mentioned here, the bestiary
of Pathfinder Adventure Path#91: The Battle of Bloodmarch
Hill features a selection of animals native to Belkzen and
the Mindspin Mountains that PCs could take as animal
companions. Talk to your GM about these possibilities.
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Origins
For the purposes of the Giantslayer Adventure Path, it
doesnt matter where your character originated. The
Mindspin Mountains stretch through the Hold of Belkzen,
Varisia, Nirmathas, Nidal, and Molthune, and Lastwalls
western border is less than 50 miles from them. All of
these nations could make great homelands for characters
in this campaign.
The Mindspin Mountains attract visitors from all across
the Inner Sea, and many of these have founded settlements
either in the mountain range or only a few days travel from
the foothills. The orc-dominated city of Urglin in Varisia is
nearby and could be the hometown of a half-orc character.
While not necessary, it is strongly advised that at least
one member of the party be from Trunau, or at least be a
regular visitor whos familiar with the town. Packed full of
criminals, Freedom Town could be a great hometown for a
character with a checkered past. Dwarves in this campaign
could hail from Janderhoff, Glimmerhold, or Kraggodan.
On either side of the Bloodsworn Vale sit the lumber and
mining settlement of Skelt and the Varisian city-state
of Korvosa, both of which make good hometowns for
characters in this Adventure Path. A little over a hundred
Favored Enemies and Favored Terrains

The majority of the Giantslayer Adventure Path takes place
in the Mindspin Mountains, though a few adventures take
the PCs into underground, hilly, and marshy environments.
The best first choice for favored terrain is mountains (which
includes hills), and a strong second choice of terrain is
underground. Solid favored enemy choices include humanoid
(giant), dragon, humanoid (orc), and magical beast.
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miles west of the northern end of the Mindspin Mountains

sits Kaer Magahome to easily the strangest mix of people
in the Inner Sea and a perfect point of origin for unusual
charactersand just south of Kaer Maga lies the Korvosanheld hamlet of Sirathu. In the Nidalese portion of the
mountains, Brimstone Springs, a small town famous for
its strange mineral hot springs, which reportedly provide
magical benef its to those who bathe in them. Molthuni
characters could come from Braganza, a small city ruled
by a priest of Abadar.
While all of these nearby settlements make good places for
characters to come from, they can also serve as locations for
characters in this campaign to rest, sell treasure, and resupply.
mountain paths, and remaining upright when moving

through rubble or scree. Climb is useful for ascending
mountains, and also comes into play when moving about
within a giants lair. Being informed in the field is important,
and a few Knowledge skills stand out as good choices to focus
on: Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (dungeoneering), and
Knowledge (local). Survival is a strong choice for helping
the party deal with the wild and navigate the mountainous
terrain found in this Adventure Path, and Perception is
always a good skill to prioritize in any adventure.
Hundreds of feats are available in Pathf inder, and a
number of those can really give a character an edge when
f ighting giants. The greatest wealth of such feats can
be found in Pathfinder Players Companion: Giant Hunters
Handbook, which includes 15 feats designed specifically for
f ighting large foes. In addition to that resource, Ultimate
Combat includes two chains of style feats specif ically
designed to give dwarves and gnomes even more of an
edge against giants. These include Earth Child Binder,
Earth Child Style, and Earth Child Topple, as well as Twin
Thunders, Twin Thunders Flurry, and Twin Thunders
Master. Advanced Players Guide includes a pair of feats
for Small or smaller charactersUnder and Over, and
Underfootand both are helpful defenses when f ighting
giants. Finally, Spring Attack and Strike Back both help
combatants deal with a giants long reach.
R aces
Western Avistan is still a thinly inhabited frontier in many
places. While it is home to humanoids of all types, humans
are the most common race found in this region. Halforcs are also fairly common, as are dwarves, half lings,
gnomes, elves, and half-elves. Dwarves and gnomes
defensive training racial trait makes both of these races
strong choices for this Adventure Path. In addition, players
making half ling characters for this campaign should
check out the underfoot alternate racial trait, which gives
them bonuses when f ighting foes larger than themselves.
Among the humans, Varisians, Chelaxians, and Taldans
are the most common ethnic groups in the region. However,
it wouldnt be out of place to find Kellids or Ulfens who have
followed adventure south and made their way to Trunau
on their journey. Likewise, characters can come to this
campaign from anywhere in the Inner Sea region.
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Traits
In addition to the campaign traits below and those found in
Giant Hunters Handbook, many other traits are also suitable
for characters in the Giantslayer Adventure Path. Dwarves
of Golarion includes two regional traits for characters from
the Mindspin Mountains: blooded and coin hoarder.
The highlander regional feat from the Advanced Players
Guide helps a character stay stealthy in rocky areas, and
the Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Players Guide
includes the giant slayer traitbecause this is a campaign
trait from another Adventure Path, see how your GM feels
about allowing this trait in the Giantslayer Adventure Path.
Characters from Varisia could also choose the regional
recluse trait from Pathfinder Player Companion: Varisia,
Birthplace of Legends.
Religion
Religion doesnt play a huge part in this Adventure Path,
but that doesnt mean you should go adventuring without a
cleric. If your character is from Trunau, he might worship
Iomedae or Abadar, as both of those faiths have a presence
in town. Since hunting is important to Trunau (and the wild
lands of western Avistan as a whole), followers of Erastil
would also be common in the region. Because of the travel
element in this Adventure Path, Desna is an excellent deity to
worship, and Gorum is a good choice for a cleric concerned
with warfare. Torag is a good option not only for dwarves,
but also for any righteous characters who value protection,
strategy, and creation.
CAMPAIGN TRAITS
Although the Giantslayer Adventure Path takes characters

to a variety of locations within the Mindspin Mountains, it
begins in the human town of Trunau in the orc- controlled
Hold of Belkzen. Player characters created for this campaign
should be residents of Trunau or recent arrivals to the town.
It would be helpful if at least one player picks the Trunau
Native trait for her character, but regardless of which
campaign traits the PCs have, all should be interested in
battling giants and their allies wherever they may be found!
Skills and Feats

There is no single skill that comes into play more often than
others in this Adventure Path, so PCs should select skills
that generally help with adventuring, especially adventuring
in the mountains. Acrobatics not only helps a character
move about unscathed while in a giants extended reach, but
also helps in jumping across wide gaps, navigating narrow
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Artifact Hunter: Youve always had an interest in magic,

but youre fascinated with those legendary magic items
known as artifacts. Youve spent years researching these
mythical relics and committed the stories and legends about
them to memory, making you something of an expert on
the subject. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Spellcraft checks to
identify the properties of magic items and a +1 trait bonus
on Use Magic Device checks, and one of these skills (your
choice) becomes a class skill for you. In addition, whenever
you first encounter an artifact, there is a 50% chance (+1%
per level) that you recognize the artifact and know its name,
origin, and something of that artifacts powers, abilities, or
dangers. Exactly how much knowledge you possess is left
to the GMs discretion.
Dragonfoe: Youve always hated dragons. Perhaps one
of your ancestors was a well-known dragonslayer, or a
rampaging dragon killed your family or friends. Maybe the
stories you grew up hearing about knights rescuing captive
princes and princesses from the clutches of evil dragons
inspired you to slay dragons. Whatever the reason for your
obsession, it has driven you to study how to fight dragons
and defend yourself against their fearsome attacks.
You gain a +1 dodge bonus to AC against creatures
with the dragon type and a +2 trait bonus on Ref lex
saves against breath weapon attacks.
Dwarf-Trained: Dwarves are well acquainted
with the threats posed by giants and orcs, and
they have spent centuries honing their
techniques for fighting these foes. You have
trained with the dwarves and have learned
some of the tactics they use against their
hated enemies. You gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC
against creatures with the giant subtype (this
does not stack with the bonus granted by the
defensive training racial trait of dwarves and
gnomes) and a +1 trait bonus on attack rolls against
creatures with the orc subtype (this does not stack
with the bonus granted by the dwarf hatred racial
trait). Dwarves and gnomes cant choose this trait.
Giant-Blooded: Your family has always been
dogged by rumors that a bit of giant blood got into
the familys veins at some point. Whether this was
through alchemical or magical experimentation, or
because your great-great-grandfather married a giant, it
has made you big for your race, and may have given you
other minor cosmetic features of giants, such as f laming red
hair, a bluish tinge to your skin, or oversized hands. When
you wield a weapon that is larger than your size, the penalty
on attack rolls for using inappropriately sized weapons is
reduced by half. In addition, you gain a +2 trait bonus to
your CMD against awesome blow combat maneuvers. If
youre a dwarf, your stability racial trait applies to awesome
blow combat maneuvers as well.
Giantslayer Scion: You grew up listening to tales of a

famed ancestors mighty battles against giant foes. Just the
mention of your ancestors name is enough to strike fear
into the heart of the most stalwart giant warrior, and youve
resolved to follow in your forebears footsteps. You take no
penalty on Intimidate checks against creatures with the
giant subtype that are larger than you, and you gain a +1
trait bonus to the DC of any fear-based effect you use against
a creature with the giant subtype.
Orphaned by Giants: You grew up in a tranquil, happy home
near the mountains, but that peace was shattered when giants
came down from the mountains to raid your settlement. The
giants killed your parents and left you a young orphan, and
since that day, youve sworn to avenge the deaths of your kin.
You gain a +1 trait bonus on attack rolls against creatures with
the giant subtype, and a +2 trait bonus on rolls to confirm
critical hits against creatures with the giant subtype.
Roll With It: Youve trained with some of the best
giantslayers out there, and have learned how to avoid the
worst effects of a giants powerful attacks. You gain a +1
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trait bonus on Ref lex saves. In addition, once per day, when
a creature with the giant subtype successfully confirms a
critical hit against you with a weapon or a slam attack (not
a spell or special ability), you can roll with the attack. You
take normal damage from the blow, as if the critical had not
been confirmed. You must be aware of the attack and able
to react to itif you are denied your Dexterity bonus to AC,
you cant use this ability. If you are a dwarf or a gnome, you
can use this ability twice per day.
Student of Giantkind: Youve always been fascinated by
the giant races, and have devoted a considerable amount of
time to studying their history and societies, gaining insight
into the way they think and use their abilities. You gain a
+1 trait bonus on Diplomacy checks against creatures with
the giant subtype and a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (local)
checks regarding creatures with the giant subtype, and one
of these skills (your choice) becomes a class skill for you. In
addition, you know the Giant language (this does not count
toward your number of languages).
Trunau Native: You were born and raised in the town
of Trunau, one of the few human settlements in the orcdominated Hold of Belkzen. Orc attacks are an ever-present
threat, and like all Trunauans, you have made the Standing
Vow: to hold Trunau against all attackers, orc or otherwise, to
stand your ground, and to live free or die trying. Upon coming
of age, you were given a hopeknifea small, sheathed dagger,
usually worn on a chain under your clothesand taught how
to use it to take your own life to avoid capture by orcs, or to
grant the mercy of a quick death to the wounded. As a native,
you have served in Trunaus militia, and fought alongside
Patrol Captains Kurst and Rodrik Grath. You begin play with
a hopeknife (a masterwork dagger), and your tenacity in the
face of adversity grants you a +1 trait bonus on Will saves.
Vexing Defender: Youre trained in fighting opponents
that are larger than you, and you are skilled at keeping them
on their toes, pestering them from all directions. You gain a
+1 trait bonus on Acrobatics checks, and Acrobatics becomes
a class skill for you. In addition, you gain a +4 trait bonus
on Acrobatics checks to move through an enemys space
without provoking an attack of opportunity, provided that
enemy is larger than you.
through the grace of the gods, the remarkable tenacity and

ingenuity of their leaders, and a simple, soul-deep refusal
to be driven from the land of their ancestors.
Trunauans know sacrifice in all its forms. Though their
lives are far from easy, this band of idealists, scoundrels,
and outcasts takes great pride in the independence that
comes from being all on their own in hostile territory. For
them, every day of the towns continued existence is an
enduring example of civilizations unconquerable spirit
and the prodigious strength of hope.
History of Trunau
Since its border was first established after the defeat of
the Whispering Tyrant in 3828 ar, the Hold of Belkzen
has steadily expanded south into Lastwall, pushing back
line after line of crusaders and leaving countless miles
of shattered border fortresses to rot within the orc-held
territory. In 4515, beleaguered soldiers and farmers pushed
to the limit by nearly 300 years of active war since the
fall of Harchists Blockade crafted a new border dubbed
the Hordeline, a sad affair consisting of little more than
earthen ramparts and wooden palisades, and made their
stand along the Kestrel River. Still, it held long enough for
those communities behind it to feel some measure of hope
that the orc menace had finally been halted.
It was not to be. Shortly after the Hordelines construction,
its western stretch fell, and orcs f looded south into Lastwall.
The commanders of Lastwall reluctantly ordered yet another
general evacuation, pulling back to a new border farther east,
and leaving those residents in the relinquished territory to
f lee to safety with whatever they could carry, desperate to
stay one step ahead of the rampaging orcs.
Yet not everyone f led. Enraged by what they saw as
Lastwalls cowardly betrayal, the farmers and retired
crusaders in the placid settlement of Trunau refused to run.
Positioned on top of a rocky, naturally defensible plateau
called Bloodmarch Hill, the community dug in, sharpening
stakes and digging pits, their numbers swelling with refugees
and soldiers unwilling to retreat and abandon their friends.
When the orcs inevitably arrived, they found their ferocity
more than matched by that of Trunaus defenders, and after
taking heavy losses assaulting the cliffs and log palisades,
the invaders retreated south to loot vacated settlements.
Heady with victory, the surviving residents made a pact,
known today as the Standing Vow (or simply the Vow): to
hold their land against all comers, paying tribute neither to
raiding orcs nor to the armies of neighboring nations. They
would stand their ground and live free, no matter the cost.
For the last couple centuries, the people of Trunau have
held to this oath, and its a matter of great pride that despite
catastrophic raids and the rigors required by life in hostile
territory, the town has never fallen. Even more important to
some, however, is that unlike Freedom Town to the northa
TRUNAU GAZETTEER
The Giantslayer Adventure Path begins in the town

of Trunau. A gazetteer of the town is presented below,
reprinted from Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Towns of the
Inner Sea.
Trunau
One of only two non-orc settlements in Belkzen, Trunau is
a predominantly human community of sturdy farmers and
resolute warriors adrift in a monstrous sea of orcs who would
as soon kill them as trade with them. Its people survive
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town of criminals and exiles settled just inside the Hold of

Belkzen in order to avoid Lastwalls strict lawsthe people
of Trunau have never lost their fundamentally civilized
nature, nor have they resorted to paying for protection from
an outside entity.
While many have come to Trunau over the years looking
to escape shadowy pasts, Trunau accepts no dead weight;
only those who are willing to work and contribute to the
community can share the safety of the town walls. When
the orcs come, every man and woman, regardless of wealth
or profession, is expected to aid in the defense. Those who
acquit themselves well and conduct themselves with honor
find that Trunaus residents care little about who newcomers
may have been in their lives beforeonly who they seek
to be now.
Notable People in Trunau

The following are some of the more well-known
citizens of Trunau.
Chief Defender Halgra of the Blackened Blades
Councilor and Banker Lessie Crumkin
Councilor Agrit Staginsdar
Councilor Sara Morninghawk
High Priestess Tyari Varvatos
Hopespring Warden Silvermane
Master of Stores Kessen Plumb
Patrol Captain Kurst Grath
Patrol Captain Rodrik Grath
Patrol Leader Jagrin Grath
Life In Trunau
Living under constant threat, the people of Trunau have
come to embrace death as simply another part of life. This
doesnt mean that all of the inhabitants are totally at peace
with their own mortality, but simply that they recognize
theirs is a dangerous existence, and thus strive to live their
lives to the fullest without worrying unduly about which
raid or unfortunate accident may f inally claim them.
Perhaps the best symbol of thisand certainly the one
that most captures the imagination or outsidersis the
tradition of the hopeknife. Carried by every resident of
Trunau, a hopeknife is a small sheathed dagger, usually
worn on a chain underneath ones clothes, though
young adults recently come of age often display theirs
ostentatiously. The tradition of the hopeknife comes out
of Trunaus understanding that capture by orcs is often
far worse than a quick death, and thus all residents need
to be prepared to take their own lives or offer mercy to
the wounded in the event of capture. Ironically, what
was originally a grim necessity has become a symbol of
adulthood and independence, and many children wait
impatiently for their twelfth birthdays, on which theyre
presented with their own hopeknives and shown which
arteries to cut should they or their loved ones fall into
enemy hands. Hopeknives are always kept well sharpened,
and never used for anything but their intended purpose,
though spouses often trade knives as part of a marriage
ceremony.
After defense, and with water already handled by the
Hopespring, food is the biggest issue in Trunau. The town
maintains many f ields, with border patrols and guards
posted in temporary watchtowers at their edges, and focuses
on crops that can be stored for long periods, allowing them
to maintain extensive stores so as to be ready in case of a
siege. Since fields are easily burned, however, the town also
relies heavily on its hunters and trappersduring periods
of more active conf lict with the orcs, these often join with
more traditional f ighters to counter-raid and steal food

and livestock from the orcs themselves.
Perhaps most important to the towns survival is the
siegestone. Early on after Trunaus decision to stand and
fight, the town leaders recognized their vulnerability to
starvation and made a decision to pool resources in order
to find a magical solution. A trading group was sent east
to Ustalav with most of the towns easily carried valuables,
and they returned with the siegestone, a huge cauldronlike
altar that in times of trouble can produce gallon upon gallon
of tasteless porridge, keeping the residents from starving
completely. The stone resides in the Longhouse and is never
used except in direst need both out of fear of exhausting
its magic, and because no one in town is eager to taste the
f lavor of desperation during peacetime.
Folk in Trunau are independent by nature, yet all bow to
the wisdom of the Council of Defenders. Chosen from the
peoples own ranks every 2 years, these six individuals devote
themselves to managing the towns logistics and defense,
making sure that laws are obeyed and no one endangers the
community. One of the six councilors holds the title of Chief
Defender, who has the final say in all matters relating to
the towns safety and is commander of the people in times
of crisis. Outside of that, the six councilors are theoretically
of equal power in matters of the towns prosperity, laws,
arbitration, and so on.
For the last 20 years, the position of Chief Defender has
been held by Halgra of the Blackened Blades. A Trunau
native, Halgra left the town at a young age to become
an adventurer, f ighting and raiding her way from the
Skittermounds to the Broken Shore and beyond, up into
the Realm of the Mammoth Lords. She finally returned at
the age of 42 with a veritable throng of children in tow, all
from different fathers, and settled in to spend the rest of her
life defending her home. Though Jagrin Grath now guides
the patrols and raiding parties, Halgra is still a mountain
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of a woman and quick with her trademark lamp-blackened

the lower portion of the village, f itted so tightly that not
swords, and her deft politics and tactical acumen mean that
even light passes between them. Their bases are driven
no one can honestly challenge her fitness to lead.
another 5 feet into the earth, and the bottom half of the
Trade is a crucial part of life in Trunau. Though far
wall is encased in a rough but sturdy stone foundation.
from most established trade routes, Trunau still receives
Trenches f illed with smaller spikes create a deadly briar
the occasional merchant from Lastwall or Nirmathas
patch guarding the wall from assault. Also incorporated
eager for the valuable salvage the townsfolk still pull from
into the palisade are several rock outcroppings that rise
abandoned settlements (as well as the inf lated prices
even higher, forming the bases for several wooden
the merchants know they can demand from such
watchtowers, including those on both sides of the gate.
an isolated community). Most common among
Past the gate, the town rises up a steep switchback
these traders are caravans of ethnic Varisians
in the cliff face to an exposed stone plateau 40
attempting to cross the Hold of Belkzen, or Shoanti
feet above the rest of the hill. These cliffs are the
raiding parties come east from Varisia to prove
towns true defense, as even a handful of defenders
themselves against the orcs or the chitinous
can easily pick off any invaders attempting
horrors of the Skittermounds. Trunau
to scale the sheer cliffs, allowing the
also sends its own caravans to Lastwall,
townsfolk to concentrate the bulk of
trading valuable information on orc
their defense on the lower palisades.
movements to the crusaders in Castle
Stone watchtowers stand in the towns
Everstand in exchange for supplies.
higher levels as well, with fortif ied
The town even maintains ties with
structures crowding between normal
a select few orc traders from Urgir,
houses and shops. While the barns
though the common wisdom is that
and other working structures are kept
Grask Uldeths current infatuation
outside the walls, and many of the residents
with trade and civilization wont last
spend their days and even nights in those
SARA MORNINGHAWK
for long.
buildings, all residents must either maintain
Orcs are naturally despised in Trunau,
personal quarters in the town or pay a siege
yet ironically, half-orcs bear less stigma here than in most
fee to rent a room or a patch of f loor in someones house
places. As Trunau knows what horrors orcs perpetrate on
inside the walls, to be used only during orc attacks. The siege
those they capture, and with Halgra herself having two
fee is a set rate established by the Council of Defenders in
children from half-orc lovers during her adventuring years,
order to discourage profiteering.
halforcs are viewed with sympathy, and more than one
Below are a few of the more noteworthy locations in the
half- orc raised in orc captivity has escaped to earn a place
town of Trunau.
within Trunaus walls.
1. Main Gate: Trunau has only a single gate, as anyone
Trunau is a hardworking community, but also one that
needing to exit or enter during a siege could simply use
understands the value of celebration and taking comfort
a rope ladder dropped down from the cliffs at the towns
wherever it can be found. Families are tightly knit, with most
higher end. The gate is built to overlap the stones to either
families at least mildly related by marriage at some point
side, allowing the rock of the hill to reinforce it against
over the generations. Residents are encouraged to find love
battering rams. Atop each rock stands a wooden watchtower
wherever they can, and there are few social or sexual taboos
large enough for a dozen defenders to fire bows or pour
as long as residents respect the freedoms of others. Perhaps
boiling water down on attackers from relative safety. Both
the best example of Trunaus philosophy is the holiday of
to intimidate the orcs and to guard against fiery arrows,
Holdfast, commemorating the towns first victory over the
the towers sides and roofs are armored with the shields
orcs, which begins with a solemn recitation of remembrance
and breastplates of orcs whove assaulted the walls and died,
and the burning of a wicker sword, followed by games,
their various clan symbols prominently displayed. The
dancing, ale, and more than a few romantic liaisons.
town council sets a precise watch schedule to make sure
that plenty of eyes are on the wall both day and night, and
Trunau at a Glance
all adults in the village are required to take regular shifts.
The most immediately visible feature of the town of
2. Ivory Hall: The seat of power in Trunau, the Ivory
Trunau is its palisade. Originally, the palisade was a hastily
Hall was originally festooned with the skulls of the most
constructed fence of sharpened branches, but over decades
ferocious orc champions and chieftains felled in Trunaus
of strife, the Trunauans have built it into something
first siege, their hollow eye sockets mute testimony to both
considerably more lasting and deadly. Ten-foot-high tree
the constant threat under which Trunau exists, and to the
trunks, their tops sharpened into wicked points, surround
residents unwavering commitment to surviving it. Later
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generations of councilors found the display too grisly and

to be allowed inside the communitys walls, but over time
similar to the orcs own trophy-keeping traditions, however,
the towns farmers and herders found it easier to meet here
and discarded the bones. Today, the hall gets its name from
than to try and guide wagons and livestock through the
the brilliant white of its walls, and serves as the home of
towns steep and narrow streets, and now the vast majority
whoever is Chief Defender. Halgra puts the manor to good
of local trade occurs at the Barterstones as well, with
use, allowing several of her grown children to house
market days coming twice a week (and more often
their own families in its many rooms. The only part
when traders arrive).
off-limits to the rest of her rough-and-tumble
6. Plague House: Before the fall of the
clan is the Meeting Roomwith commanding
Hordeline, this was a small church of Iomedae
views of the surrounding countryside, she uses
serving the local farming communities.
it to host war councils and entertain visitors
When Lastwalls forces retreated and Trunau
such as traders, emissaries from Vigil or Castle
decided to stand and fight, the priests of
Firrine, or the Pathfinders who often use
Iomedae joined themyet unlike the other
Trunau as a launching point for expeditions
residents, head priest Arthuris Bain and his
into Belkzen.
two assistants refused to retreat within the
3. Flame of the Fallen: Trunauans are
fortified walls, confident that Iomedaes
all too familiar with the orc practice of
wrath would strike down any raiders who
gathering the bones of slain foes and
dared to come for them.
creating grisly monuments out of the
Though the priests fought valiantly, the
remains. To honor the fallen dead and
church was burned to the ground almost
deny their enemies the opportunity
immediately by the rampaging orcs, and all
to turn them into skeletal mockeries,
three of its residents were slain. The church
Trunauans go to great lengths to retrieve
stood as a burned-out husk for decades, then
HALGRA
the body of any citizen slain in battle. Those
50 years ago was hastily reconstructed as a place
recovered are burned in a great pyre along the cliff at
to hold those aff licted by a plague sweeping the
the towns crest, their light and smoke traveling up into the
town. Though removing the sick from inside the town walls
endless freedom of the sky. During times of siege, the beacon
doubtlessly saved many, the plague house burned down in
is kept burning day and night to hearten the defenders and
a mysterious fire only a few nights after its completion,
challenge to the orcsthough some cynics say that its kept
taking with it a score of patients and healers. Whether the
lit to keep townsfolk from noticing and despairing every
fire was an accident or the work of an arsonist attempting
time a new corpse is added.
to stop the plague for good, no one knows, but no one ever
4. Commons: The central feature of Trunaus community
proposed building on the site again.
is a wide amphitheater with a stone f loor and a raised
Today, the siteknown as both the Burned Church and
stage at one end. By day, the Commons serves as Trunaus
the Plague Houseis left alone, save for the occasional
training ground, upon which its residents engage in
childrens dare to stand in the center of the blackened beams
martial training under Jagrin Grathdepending on
at sunset. However, lights have recently been seen moving
their primary role in town, some dedicated warriors train
about in the church at night, but even the best trackers
nearly every day, but even those more valuable in other
unable to find any evidence of tracks there the following
capacities are expected to train at least 1 day per month.
morning. The whole town buzzes with wild speculation
By night, however, the Commons transforms into a place
after each new sighting.
of relaxation and celebration as townsfolk meet to conduct
7. Sanctuary: A year after the loss of Trunaus old church,
hopeknife ceremonies for their youth or indulge in any
missionaries from the church of Iomedae arrived and began
other cause for festivity. Childrens school lessons are often
constructing a new house of worship to honor their goddess
conducted on the rows of tiered seating, the stage is used for
and minister to the people of Trunauthis time wisely
announcements and the occasional theatrical performance,
building it inside the towns walls. The new sanctuary houses
and in general the Commons represents a pleasant outdoor
half a dozen clerics and paladins who, in addition to helping
meeting point for all residents.
with the towns defense, staff a large prayer hall and a hall
5. Barterstones: While Trunau hosts some more
of respite where the wounded can be tended after battle.
established shops within its walls, most of its general trading
Though some citizen look askance at the Iomedaeansall
is conducted at an open-air market held atop several low,
of whom still officially claim allegiance to Lastwall, and
broad slabs of f lat rock just east of town. Originally, the
see their presence here as helping maintaining diplomatic
market was only used for trading with orcs and suspicious
ties with the outpost until the border can be expanded
outsiders who hadnt yet earned the peoples trust enough
once moreno one is willing to actually turn away such
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hardworking and valuable residents, especially as they refuse

to serve in any governmental capacity.
The current matron of the sanctuary is a young cleric
named Tyari Varvatos, the younger sister of the Second Sword
Knight of the Sancta Iomedae in Vigil. Speculation abounds
as to why she toils here in Trunau instead of alongside her
prominent sister, with most presuming shes out to create
her own name rather than live in her sisters shadow. Her
staunchest ally is an errant paladin named Brantos Calderon,
formerly stationed at Castle Firrine, who forsook his post
to pledge his blade (and, rumormongers claim, his heart)
to the resolute young cleric who toils on this harsh frontier.
The sanctuarys longest-standing resident (and patient)
is a gnarled old half-orc named Katrezra. Raised among the
Empty Hand tribe, he suffers from a terrible aff liction of the
lungs and weeping sores on his face and arms, gained when
his jealous chieftain sent him to the Brimstone Haruspex
to experience painful visions of the future. Fed up with the
barbarity of the orcs, he managed to convince Halgra to grant
him sanctuary, and has since found rebirth in the light of
Iomedae, and proven his loyalty time and again on the towns
walls. He still occasionally has visions, and though many
write them off as hallucinations or attention- grabbing, Tyari
has begun privately recording them on the chance that they
may point toward some important revelation.
8. Ramblehouse: Before its founding as an independent
town, Trunau had little call for an inn, and for many
generations after, the towns rare visitors would stay wherever
there was space. Nearly 30 years ago, however, a handful of
escaped half ling slaves from Molthune f led north all the
way to Trunau, determined to start new lives. One of them,
Cham Larringfass, decided to build not just a place for
herself and her friends, but an entire inn and boardinghouse.
She got the rest of her crew in on the endeavor, and before
long a sprawling, eccentric manor packed with rooms of all
shapes and sizes sprang up in the towns lower end. Though
guests are still rare, the aptly named Ramblehouse now
houses a sizable chunk of the towns half ling population, as
well as many boarders of other races. Cham, still the head
innkeeper, also makes a good living off siege fees, and is
thus fond of cutting deals to other half lings and members
of right-sized races with the only annoyance being her
tendency to play matchmaker for available guests.
9. Longhouse: The largest structure in town, the
Longhouse is the central meeting house of Trunau, hosting
both council meetings and, on days when the weather is foul,
all of the various training sessions and celebrations normally
held in the Commons. In addition to its great common room
for feasts and meetings, the structure also contains several
barracks where young unmarried warriors of either gender
can live in order to focus more on their militia training.
Chief among these is Jagrin Grath, who despite his simple
chosen title of Patrol Leader is the councilor in charge of
Belkzen Dates
The Hold of Belkzen, where the Giantslayer Adventure Path
begins, has a long and storied history, and the orc hordes
have on several occasions pushed the knights of Lastwall
southward, forcing the humans to repeatedly redraw their
nations borders. Unfortunately, the multiple retreats have also
resulted in some contradictory dates across multiple products.
In particular, Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Belkzen, Hold
of the Orc Hordes lists an erroneous date for the fall of the
Hordeline. The correct date for the fall of the Hordeline is
4517ar, not 4524 ar, as listed in the print volume. The pdf of
that product has been updated to incorporate the correct date,
and the Giantslayer Adventure Path uses that date as well.
The dates in the updated Pathfinder Campaign Setting:
Belkzen, Hold of the Orc Hordes pdf also supercede those
originally given in The Hold of Belkzen article in Pathfinder
Adventure Path #11.
training and leading the towns militia. After the death

of his wife also a talented ranger and warriorat the
hands of an orc raiding party, he and his sons moved into
the Longhouse and devoted themselves to protecting the
town, counter- raiding the orcs who would victimize them,
and training all Trunau residents in the soldiering arts, to
ensure that no more families are sundered. In addition to
personally leading patrols, hes in charge of organizing and
posting the watchtower rotations and helping Councilor
Kessen Plumb make sure that the vast stores of siege rations,
weapons, and potions in the longhouses extensive basement
remain viable. With the exception of the siegestone, which is
far too heavy to be moved without a block and tackle, all of
the stores beneath the Longhouse are kept under lock and
key, with only the six councilors having copies of that key.
10. Trunau Countinghouse: When Lastwall f irst
abandoned Trunau, an Abadaran tax collector in the region
named Barran Crumkin decided to go rogue and cast his lot
with the Trunau residents, whom he saw as epitomizing his
faiths struggle to promote civilization in the face of barbarity.
He gathered other like-minded merchants in the town and
founded the Trunau Countinghouse, a bank where the locals
could safely deposit their wealth and earn interest instead of
hiding it in their houses and potentially losing it to orc raids.
Today, the Trunau Countinghouse has grown into a
large, stately building that sees to both the banking and
spiritual needs of locals and traveling merchants alike.
Its proprietor, town council member and banker Lessie
Crumkin, can proudly trace her lineage all the way back
to the banks founder, and takes to her job well enough,
though several people have noted not only that her skill at
arms in the training arena, but also the way she sometimes
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longingly watches the patrols leaving particularly their

leader, Jagrin Grath.
11. Hopespring: Originally named simply Hillspring,
this trickle of fresh water is the reason the town was founded
in this spot, and the key to its existence. Welling up from
deep within the stone, this astonishingly prolific stream
provides the town with a waterfall of pure water, filling
the town reservoir before filtering down through cracks
in the stone once more and running underground before
resurfacing in a creek miles away.
Whether the spring is natural or magical, none can
sayyet that doesnt mean no one knows. A mute elven
druid, whose weathered features mark his age as venerable
even for his timeless race, quietly watches over the
spring and its reservoir, though what purpose his quiet
contemplation serves is anyones guess. Dubbed Silvermane
by the townsfolk, he has resided on this hill and slept near
the spring since before the town was settled. He rarely
communicates with anyone, but on occasion has been seen
conversing with Halgra via some form of sign language. He
generally holds himself aloof from the towns proceedings,
yet the few occasions upon which he performs magic
healing a dying child or calling lightning down on raiders
earn him respect from most residents, albeit mixed with
questions regarding his inscrutable motives. The most
common rumor is that hes the only survivor of the Council
of Thorns, a fierce druidic circle whose members ended their
lives with the prodigious blood rite that gave Ghostlight
Marsh its name.
12. Inner Quarter: Trunau has two stone inner walls
blocking off the sloping area leading up to the top of the
plateau. These inner walls are designed to allow citizens
to retreat to the higher town in the event that the main
palisade is breached, and having a gate at either end of the
slope allows defenders to better choke the invaders and turn
the whole ramp into a killing ground, firing arrows down
from the walls and cliff above.
13. House of Wonders: Most visitors looking to purchase
spellcasting or trade in magical items are surprised to be
introduced to Agrit Staginsdar. The only daughter of a long
line of warriors who left Janderhoff and came to Trunau for
undisclosed reasons, she disappointed her family greatly
when, after only a few years of studying the arts of war, she
insisted on turning her attentions to arcane magic.
Though shes built quite a fine business for herself, her
family still feels strongly that her place is on patrols outside
the townand her relations are none too pleased that her
childless marriage to Sara Morninghawk has ended the
Staginsdar line. Agrit tends to be violently defensive about
her life choices, but lights up when talking about her work
or teaching the towns other burgeoning arcane casters.
Shes always eager to examine unfamiliar magic items, and
anyone who appeals to her sense of wonder and mystery (and
succeeds at a DC 15 Diplomacy check) can convince Agrit to

identify a magic item for free.
14. Clamor: Though technically Morninghawks Fine
Steel, this smithy is better known by its nickname Clamor
due to the constant pounding of hammers that thunders
from it during the daylight hours. Its owner, Councilor
Sara Morninghawk, is the daughter of a Shoanti woman
who arrived in the town already pregnant and uninterested
in talking about her past. Sara cares little about her mixed
heritage, save to note that it gives her proper shoulders to
work the forge.
Morninghawk oversees all of the metalwork for the town,
including several apprentices specializing in different
aspects of the trade. She also never goes anywhere without
her mothers axe, which she generally keeps strapped to her
back. Saras well aware of the eyebrows some folks raise about
her marriage to Agrit, but she cheerfully responds with a
f lexed biceps and the question of who else but a dwarf would
be equipped to handle her.
15. The Killin Ground: Named for its position on the
sloped ascent between the towns two inner gates, this
bar started as a way for Rabus Clarenston to finance the
production of his beloved moonshine. Despite the vocal
disapproval of Tyari and some of the towns more straightlaced residents, Rabus does a brisk businesswith the only
law governing his trade being that, should someone show for
a patrol or watch duty drunk on his product, Rabus himself
must share in the punishment. As a result, Rabus knows
the shift schedule better than anyone, and despite his own
near-constant inebriation, he never allows anyone to drink
in his bar within 4 hours of his or her next shift (or 6 or
even 8 hours, for those he knows cant handle their drink).
The Killin Ground itself is a strange structure, with walls
that begin a foot off the ground and a roof made entirely of
canvas. When the furious local storms roll in, Rabus pulls
back the canvas and lets the rain and the slope of the hill
wash the filth of the bars constant partying awaywhich
greatly annoys his downhill neighbors.
16. That n Such: Yet another business known by its
nickname rather than its official nameMeesons Goods
& SalvageThat n Such is the closest thing Trunau has to
a general store. Its proprietor, Jess Crazy Jess Meeson, is
a shrewd businessperson in most matters, but unreserved
in her passion for salvage from the days before Lastwalls
border retreated, and her shop is a clutter of both mundane
goods useful to townsfolk and treasures purchased from
patrols and adventurers.
Her husband, Gorkis Meeson, is equally obsessed with his
own pursuits as the towns only resident apothecary. From
his workshop in the back of the store, he crafts potions and
curatives both magical and mundane for those residents
too embarrassed or ornery to seek out the towns religious
healers with their ailments.
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Mountain Terrain
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSIDERATIONS
The three mountain terrain categories are alpine meadows,

rugged mountains, and forbidding mountains. As characters
ascend into a mountainous area, theyre likely to face each
terrain category in turn, beginning with alpine meadows,
extending through rugged mountains, and reaching
forbidding mountains near the summit.
Mountains have an important terrain element, the rock
wall, that is marked on the border between squares rather
than taking up squares itself.
Gradual and Steep Slopes: These function as described
in Hills Terrain.
Cliff: These terrain elements also function like their hills
terrain counterparts, but theyre typically 2d6 10 feet tall.
Cliffs taller than 80 feet take up 20 feet of horizontal space.
The Giantslayer Adventure Path will take your characters

deep into the Mindspin Mountains. When traveling
through the mountains, keep in mind the dangerous
conditions you might encounter. Hone your skills,
bring the right gear, keep your eyes open, and consider
the following environmental rulesreprinted here to
provide quick and easy reference, but originally found in
the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook.
Hills Terrain
A hill can exist in most other types of terrain, but hills can
also dominate the landscape. Hills terrain is divided into
two categories: gentle hills and rugged hills. Hills terrain
often serves as a transition zone between rugged terrain
such as mountains and f lat terrain such as plains.
Gradual Slope: This incline isnt steep enough to affect
movement, but characters gain a +1 bonus on melee attacks
against foes downhill from them.
Steep Slope: Characters moving uphill (to an adjacent
square of higher elevation) must spend 2 squares of
movement to enter each square of steep slope. Characters
running or charging downhill (moving to an adjacent
square of lower elevation) must succeed on a DC 10
Acrobatics check upon entering the f irst steep slope
square. Mounted characters make a DC 10 Ride check
instead. Characters who fail this check stumble and must
end their movement 1d2 5 feet later. Characters who fail
by 5 or more fall prone in the square where they end their
movement. A steep slope increases the DC of Acrobatics
checks by 2.
Cliff: A cliff typically requires a DC 15 Climb check to
scale and is 1d4 10 feet tall, although the needs of your map
might mandate a taller cliff. A cliff isnt perfectly vertical,
taking up 5-foot squares if its less than 30 feet tall and 10foot squares if its 30 feet or taller.
Light Undergrowth: Sagebrush and other scrubby bushes
grow on hills, although they rarely cover the landscape. Light
undergrowth provides concealment and increases the DC
of Acrobatics and Stealth checks by 2.
Other Hills Terrain Elements: Trees arent out of place in
hills terrain, and valleys often have active streams (5 to 10 feet
wide and no more than 5 feet deep) or dry streambeds (treat
as a trench 5 to 10 feet across) in them. If you add a stream
or streambed, remember that water always f lows downhill.
Stealth and Detection in Hills: In gentle hills, the
maximum distance at which a Perception check for detecting
the nearby presence of others can succeed is 2d10 10 feet.
In rugged hills, this distance is 2d6 10 feet.
Hiding in hills terrain can be diff icult if there isnt
undergrowth around. A hilltop or ridge provides enough
cover to hide from anyone below the hilltop or ridge
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Chasm: Usually formed by natural geological processes,

chasms function like pits in a dungeon setting. Chasms
arent hidden, so characters wont fall into them by accident
(although bull rushes are another story). A typical chasm is
2d4 10 feet deep, at least 20 feet long, and anywhere from
5 feet to 20 feet wide. It takes a DC 15 Climb check to climb
out of a chasm. In forbidding mountain terrain, chasms
are typically 2d8 10 feet deep.
Light Undergrowth: This functions as described in
Forest Terrain.
Scree: A field of shifting gravel, scree doesnt affect speed,
but it can be treacherous on a slope. The DC of Acrobatics
checks increases by 2 if theres scree on a gradual slope
and by 5 if theres scree on a steep slope. The DC of Stealth
checks increases by 2 if the scree is on a slope of any kind.
Dense Rubble: The ground is covered with rocks of all
sizes. It costs 2 squares of movement to enter a square with
dense rubble. The DC of Acrobatics checks on dense rubble

increases by 5, and the DC of Stealth checks increases by 2.
Rock Wall: A vertical plane of stone, rock walls require
DC 25 Climb checks to ascend. A typical rock wall is 2d4
10 feet tall in rugged mountains and 2d8 10 feet tall in
forbidding mountains. Rock walls are drawn on the edges
of squares, not in the squares themselves.
Cave Entrance: Found in cliff and steep slope squares and
next to rock walls, cave entrances are typically between 5 and
20 feet wide and 5 feet deep. A cave could be anything from
a simple chamber to the entrance to an elaborate dungeon.
Caves used as monster lairs typically have 1d3 rooms that
are 1d4 10 feet across.
Other Mountain Terrain Features: Most alpine meadows
begin above the treeline, so trees and other forest elements
are rare in the mountains. Mountain terrain can include
active streams (5 to 10 feet wide and no more than 5 feet
deep) and dry streambeds (treat as a trench 5 to 10 feet
across). Particularly high-altitude areas tend to be colder
than the lowland areas that surround them, so they might
be covered in ice sheets.
Stealth and Detection in Mountains: As a guideline, the
maximum distance in mountain terrain at which a
Perception check for detecting the nearby presence
of others can succeed is 4d10 10 feet. Certain peaks
and ridgelines afford much better vantage points, of
course, and twisting valleys and canyons have much
shorter spotting distances. Because theres little
vegetation to obstruct line of sight, the specifics on
your map are your best guide for the range at which
an encounter could begin. As in hills terrain, a ridge
or peak provides enough cover to hide from anyone
below the high point.
Its easier to hear faraway sounds in the mountains.
The DC of Perception checks that rely on sound
increase by 1 per 20 feet between listener and source,
not per 10 feet.
5418882
5418882
1075190
Mountain Travel
High altitude travel can be extremely fatiguingand
sometimes deadlyto creatures that arent used to it. Cold
becomes extreme, and the lack of oxygen in the air can wear
down even the most hardy of warriors.
Acclimated Characters: Creatures accustomed to high
altitude generally fare better than lowlanders. Any creature
with an Environment entry that includes mountains
is considered native to the area and acclimated to the
high altitude. Characters can also acclimate themselves
by living at high altitude for a month. Characters who
spend more than two months away from the mountains
must reacclimate themselves when they return. Undead,
constructs, and other creatures that do not breathe are
immune to altitude effects.
15
5418882
PLAYERS GUIDE
Altitude Zones: In general, mountains present three

possible altitude bands: low pass, low peak/high pass, and
high peak.
Low Pass (lower than 5,000 feet): Most travel in low
mountains takes place in low passes, a zone consisting
largely of alpine meadows and forests. Travelers might find
the going difficult (which is ref lected in the movement
modifiers for traveling through mountains), but the altitude
itself has no game effect.
Low Peak or High Pass (5,000 to 15,000 feet): Ascending to
the highest slopes of low mountains, or most normal travel
through high mountains, falls into this category. All nonacclimated creatures labor to breathe in the thin air at this
altitude. Characters must succeed on a Fortitude save each
hour (DC 15, +1 per previous check) or be fatigued. The
fatigue ends when the character descends to an altitude
with more air. Acclimated characters do not have to attempt

the Fortitude save.
High Peak (more than 15,000 feet): The highest mountains
exceed 15,000 feet in height. At these elevations, creatures
are subject to both high altitude fatigue (as described above)
and altitude sickness, whether or not theyre acclimated
to high altitudes. Altitude sickness represents long-term
oxygen deprivation, and affects mental and physical ability
scores. After each 6-hour period a character spends at an
altitude of over 15,000 feet, he must succeed on a Fortitude
save (DC 15, +1 per previous check) or take 1 point of damage
to all ability scores. Creatures acclimated to high altitude
receive a +4 competence bonus on their saving throws
to resist high altitude effects and altitude sickness, but
eventually even seasoned mountaineers must abandon
these dangerous elevations.
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a

The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright
2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (Wizards). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a) Contributors means the copyright and/or trademark owners
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which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) Distribute
means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit
or otherwise distribute; (d) Open Game Content means the game mechanic
and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such
content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the
prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content
by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including
translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes
Product Identity. (e) Product Identity means product and product line names,
logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts, creatures, characters,
stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language,
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names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities,
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creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols,
or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly
identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which
specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f ) Trademark means the logos,
names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself
or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License
by the Contributor (g) Use, Used or Using means to use, Distribute, copy,
edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open
Game Content. (h) You or Your means the licensee in terms of this agreement.
2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains
a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in
terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content
that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except
as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied
to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.
3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your
acceptance of the terms of this License.
4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License,
the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive
license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.
5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original
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6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE
portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of
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must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holders name to the
COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.
7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including
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Open Game Material so affected.
13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply
with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming
aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.
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provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc; Authors:
Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax
and Dave Arneson.
Giantslayer Players Guide 2015, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Adam Daigle and Rob
McCreary.
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1075175

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

Publisher Erik Mona

Creative Director James Jacobs

Customer Service Team Sharaya Kemp, Katina Mathieson,

Managing Art Director Sarah E. Robinson

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

GIANTSLAYER PLAYERS GUIDE

he Giantslayer Adventure Path begins in

of the town is provided starting on page 7 of this guide.

Since this Adventure Path starts in the small town of Trunau,

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

for civilized company, or an envoy from Lastwall whos is

Youre starting the Giantslayer Adventure Path, but what

Archetypes and Class Options

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

Characters interested in pursuing a prestige class have

Want to R ead M ore?

For Game M asters

Bloodlines and Mysteries

To learn more about the wild and dangerous lands of southern

While most bloodlines are good choices, the following

Familiars and Animal Companions

Favored Enemies and Favored Terrains

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

miles west of the northern end of the Mindspin Mountains

mountain paths, and remaining upright when moving

Although the Giantslayer Adventure Path takes characters

Skills and Feats

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

Artifact Hunter: Youve always had an interest in magic,

Giantslayer Scion: You grew up listening to tales of a

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

through the grace of the gods, the remarkable tenacity and

The Giantslayer Adventure Path begins in the town

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

town of criminals and exiles settled just inside the Hold of

Notable People in Trunau

more traditional f ighters to counter-raid and steal food

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

of a woman and quick with her trademark lamp-blackened

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

generations of councilors found the display too grisly and

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

paizo.com #3807853, Mikey Vasilatos <mvasilatos81@gmail.com>, Dec 25, 2015

hardworking and valuable residents, especially as they refuse

training and leading the towns militia. After the death