Verbeeg
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
roleplaying game, verbeegs are giant-kin
.
The verbeeg appeared in the second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989) under the "giant-kin" heading, and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993) under the "giant" heading. The verbeeg was presented as a player character
race for the Forgotten Realms
setting in Giantcraft (1993).
The verbeeg (half-ogre) appeared in third edition in Dungeon
#149 (August 2007). The verbeeg giant is presented as a player character race in the adventure Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk
(2007).
The verbeeg appeared in the fourth edition in Monster Manual 3 (2010). In this edition, verbeeg are giant-size fey
with a penchant for trickery and stealth.
A tribe of verbeeg dwells in the Vaults of Creation beneath Castle Greyhawk
.
more than any other giant race. In fact, Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk
defines verbeeg as the result of unions between humans and ogres
. Born with quicker, more human-like minds than most half-ogres, they are slighter of build than ogres (unusually thin for their heights), and often born with minor deformities, such as club feet, uneven eyes, hair lips, misshapen faces, or extra fingers or toes. Otherwise they are similar to other half-ogres. They typically range between eight and a half feet and ten feet in height, weighing between three hundred and four hundred pounds.
Verbeeg wear as much extra clothing as they can, and carry clubs and spears, or the best weapons they can steal.
as guards. In arctic climates, they use winter wolves
or polar bears for this purpose.
Verbeeg groups are ruled by warrior chieftains of great strength, responsible for matters involving the hunt, war, and negotiations with strangers. When the group contains a shaman, the shaman is considered a co-ruler responsible for all matters within the tribe, judging matters involving law and magic. Any magic items the clan owns are considered to belong to the shaman.
Named verbeeg include Jimmy Squarefoot and Jack-in-Irons, both rogues who prey on human victims.
, a deity also worshiped by the far more hideous fomorian
giants. According to myth, Karontor learned magical secrets from an ancient race of subterranean hags, and used his learning to twist some of the fairest of the giant clans into deformed monsters as ugly as he was.
Verbeeg shamans typically worship Karontor as well. They are rare, found only 2% of the time per tribe member.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
roleplaying game, verbeegs are giant-kin
Giant (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature, or "creature type." Giants are humanoid-shaped creatures of great strength and size.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
.
Publication history
The verbeeg first appeared in first edition AD&D in the original Monster Manual II (1983) under the "giant" heading.The verbeeg appeared in the second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989) under the "giant-kin" heading, and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993) under the "giant" heading. The verbeeg was presented as a player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
race for the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting in Giantcraft (1993).
The verbeeg (half-ogre) appeared in third edition in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
#149 (August 2007). The verbeeg giant is presented as a player character race in the adventure Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk
Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk
Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk is an adventure book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The adventure is set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting, specifically in and around Castle Greyhawk and its dungeons. As such, it is an update to the...
(2007).
The verbeeg appeared in the fourth edition in Monster Manual 3 (2010). In this edition, verbeeg are giant-size fey
Fey (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Fey is a type of creature, or "creature type". Fey are usually humanoid in form, and are typified as having supernatural abilities and a connection to nature or to some other force or place....
with a penchant for trickery and stealth.
Description
Verbeegs are also known as "human behemoths." Verbeeg are accomplished spearfighters.Ecology
Verbeeg eat almost anything, but they love flesh of any kind. They provide the intelligence and direction that ogres and hill giants lack, and the giants provide protection with their greater fighting prowess. Often, the overly literal way that the stupider giants interpret verbeeg directions infuriates the smarter giant-kin.Environment
Verbeeg are found in the same climate as ogres and hill giants, who often dwell with them. Verbeeg lairs are usually underground, for example caves or old ruins, and live in groups of six to thirty.A tribe of verbeeg dwells in the Vaults of Creation beneath Castle Greyhawk
Castle Greyhawk
Castle Greyhawk is one of the central dungeon settings in the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The Castle was originally developed by Gary Gygax for his own campaign and later detailed for publication...
.
Typical physical characteristics
Verbeeg resemble humansHuman (Dungeons & Dragons)
Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...
more than any other giant race. In fact, Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk
Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk
Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk is an adventure book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The adventure is set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting, specifically in and around Castle Greyhawk and its dungeons. As such, it is an update to the...
defines verbeeg as the result of unions between humans and ogres
Ogre (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, ogres are a lesser race of giants, rather being simply large brutes with clubs. An aquatic subrace of ogres is known as "merrow." D&D ogres are also closely related to the race of ogre magi, a smarter race with blue skin and great magical abilities...
. Born with quicker, more human-like minds than most half-ogres, they are slighter of build than ogres (unusually thin for their heights), and often born with minor deformities, such as club feet, uneven eyes, hair lips, misshapen faces, or extra fingers or toes. Otherwise they are similar to other half-ogres. They typically range between eight and a half feet and ten feet in height, weighing between three hundred and four hundred pounds.
Verbeeg wear as much extra clothing as they can, and carry clubs and spears, or the best weapons they can steal.
Alignment
Verbeeg are usually neutral with evil tendencies.Society
Verbeeg are typically smarter than most other types of giants, and are often found leading (bullying) hill giants and ogres. Their lairs usually include wolves or worgsWorg (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the worg is a wolf-like magical beast.-Publication history:The worg was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons....
as guards. In arctic climates, they use winter wolves
Winter wolf
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the winter wolf is a magical beast which lives in cold forests and plains.-Creative origins:The winter wolf is likely to be based upon the arctic wolf, and elements of norse mythology....
or polar bears for this purpose.
Verbeeg groups are ruled by warrior chieftains of great strength, responsible for matters involving the hunt, war, and negotiations with strangers. When the group contains a shaman, the shaman is considered a co-ruler responsible for all matters within the tribe, judging matters involving law and magic. Any magic items the clan owns are considered to belong to the shaman.
Named verbeeg include Jimmy Squarefoot and Jack-in-Irons, both rogues who prey on human victims.
Religion
Verbeeg primarily worship the god KarontorKarontor
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Karontor is the giant deity of deformity, hatred, and beasts. His symbol is the head of a winter wolf.-Publication history:...
, a deity also worshiped by the far more hideous fomorian
Fomorian (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the fomorian is a giant. Fomorians are hideously ugly, and grossly deformed behemoths. They may be loosely derived from the Fomorians of Irish mythology.-Publication history:...
giants. According to myth, Karontor learned magical secrets from an ancient race of subterranean hags, and used his learning to twist some of the fairest of the giant clans into deformed monsters as ugly as he was.
Verbeeg shamans typically worship Karontor as well. They are rare, found only 2% of the time per tribe member.