Homebrew Ettin Species Details

Inseparable Siblings

Ettins are a race of giantkin who are born with a unique sibling bond.  This is due to the simple fact that they are always born with two heads.  Each head has their own personality, and while they are known to argue, it is rare for an Ettin to desire separation from their lifelong companion.

Ettin Names

Because Ettins are two individuals who share a body, Ettins generally choose two simple names for their offspring that can easily be said together.

Male Names:  Abbot and Costello, Gibs and Gobs, Groucho and Harpo, Les and Lou, Ram and Rog, Zip and Zap

Female Names:  Aka and Ara, Efi and Eli, Fara and Vera, Kim and Kam, Lori and Yori, Mar and Mir, Zana and Zara

One Body, Two Players

Actions and Class:  You and the player operating your other head each have your own actions and class levels.

Armor:  If your other head has proficiency in armor, you can wear that armor without any detrimental effects.

Checks and Saves:  When making a Strength or Dexterity saving throw, or a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics or Stealth) check, you and your other head only need to roll once.  Choose who makes the roll.

Hit Points:  Creatures can only target you and your other head as one creature, they cannot choose to damage one head but not the other.  You each have your own pool of hit points, however, you only take half of it.  However, any time you or your other head takes damage, the other player takes an equivalent amount.  If a head gains resistance from a class feature, only that head benefits from it.  The same is true as it applies to healing, you only gain half the hit points from being healed, but your partner gains an equal amount.

Going Unconscious:  If one head goes unconscious, the other can continue to control the body.  You do not automatically fail death saving throws from taking damage until both you and your other head are unconscious.

Movement:  You have your own movement, though you and the other head move with each other.

Spells:  You and your other head are treated as one creature for the purpose of spell effects.

Weapons:  You only have control of one arm.  As a Large size creature, you can easily operate a two-handed weapon sized for Medium creatures with one hand if you have proficiency with it.

Ettin Traits

These are the traits of an Ettin

Ability Score Increase

You and your other head each gain a +2 to Strength and a +1 to Constitution.

Age

On average, an Ettin lives for about 75 years.

Size

Your body shared with the other head is treated as one size Large creature.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet.

Big Target

You cannot benefit from your Dexterity bonus to your armor class, even if you gain the unarmored defense feature.  If both you or your other head are benefitting from the unarmored defense feature, use the higher AC.

Giantkin

Your creature type is giant, rather than humanoid.

Shared Movement

If you do not take the movement action on your turn, your other head gains the benefits of the Dash action when moving your body until the end of their next turn.

Wakeful

When sleeping during a long rest, you and the other head can alternate between being awake, and still gain the benefits of the long rest so long as each head sleeps at least four hours each.  You can sleep while your other head moves your shared body, so long as they only participate in light activity.

Languages

You speak common, giant, and orc.