Grog Strongjaw

Race:Goliath
Class:
Barbarian (Path of the Berserker)
Fighter (Battle Master)
Age: 56 years old
Alignment:
Chaotic Neutral
Languages
English, Giant Dwarvish
Family
Stonejaw Strongjaw[25] (deceased father)
Kevdak (deceased uncle; ex-leader of former herd)
Zanror (cousin; former herdmate; leader of former herd)
Skyhaal (niece/cousin once removed)
Connections
Pike Trickfoot (close friend)
Scanlan Shorthalt (close friend)
Kern the Hammer (honored rival)
Herd of Storms (former herd)
Shale (former herd member)
The Wing (former member)
Earthbreaker Groon (mentor)
VM Icon, Infobox Vox Machina (member)

{{char}} is a goliath barbarian/fighter and a member of Vox Machina.

When he was young, {{char}} was exiled from the Herd of Storms by its leader, 's uncle Kevdak, for taking pity on a helpless old gnome the tribe was attacking. He was then taken in by that same gnome, Wilhand Trickfoot, and raised alongside his great-great-granddaughter Pike.

During his adventures with Vox Machina, he became the wielder of the legendary Titanstone Knuckles, acquired by taking down his uncle, to fight against the Chroma Conclave. He forged the Prime Trammels and was the wielder of the Sword of Kas in the fight against Vecna.

Grog, being a goliath, has grey skin resembling that of a stone giant, with black tattoos adorning his upper body and the top of his bald head. With a massive, muscular build, he weighs over 645 pounds and stands 8 feet 7 inches tall. After a phylactery was removed from his body, a scar formed on his chest, marking the lingering darkness within him. Grog bears the brand of the Slayer's Take guild on his right arm, which he received upon joining. Whenever he enters his rage, his eyes appear to glow red, as seen in the Vox Machina Campaign Intro. The Belt of Dwarvenkind allowed Grog to grow a thick black beard, a feat thought impossible for him, as male goliaths have no body hair.[43] While it was growing, it appeared translucent. During Vox Machina’s one-year break, Grog took the skin with the bear tattoo, which he had flayed from Kevdak’s chest, and had it tanned. He then had an exact copy of the tattoo inked on his back as a symbol that Kevdak and the events surrounding him are now behind him.
Typically shirtless, Grog wears fur-trimmed pants and secures the large Belt of Dwarvenkind, adorned with a golden face emblem, around his waist. A leather strap stretches across his chest, supporting a fur pelt draped over his shoulder, which is decorated with a large skull. After growing his beard, he added a metal band around his neck, featuring fang-like objects at each end. On his arms, he now wields the Titanstone Knuckles, massive stone-textured gauntlets forged from the heart of an earth titan.
For a brief time, while attuned to the Sword of Kas, Grog’s stone-grey skin turned pale white, his body became gaunt, and his jowls slightly sunk. His eyes turned blood-red around the irises. However, after completing the mission to seal Vecna and breaking free from the sword's influence, Grog returned to his usual appearance.
When Bells Hells encountered him in Vasselheim about thirty years after the adventures of Vox Machina, Grog was still incredibly muscular and bearded

Jokes have been made occasionally about Grog being smarter than most barbarians when the group plays, as Travis does mathematical calculations faster than the other players. Travis has jokingly called his character "Professor Grog". Grog's low intelligence score has proven problematic for the group in the past. He has been completely incapacitated by creatures that made psychic or intelligence attacks, particularly when an intellect devourer's attack put Grog into a catatonic state. Because of his low intelligence, Grog is illiterate and cannot read or write in any language. After being unable to read any of the runes written in Giant within the City of Brass, Grog expressed a desire to learn how to read, and asked for Pike to help him learn the Common alphabet. Since then, Pike has managed to teach Grog how to read words in Common that are up to five letters long. Grog has shown himself to be rather impulsive, as seen often when he charges ahead of the group into an unknown area of a dungeon or map. He was also the only chaotic-neutral group member at the start of the campaign, and he is often more aggressive and less merciful than some of the other characters. He does not like being bested in single combat, as seen in "Hubris" (1x17). He is willing to cheat to win, as seen when he drank a potion of Stone Giant Strength to defeat the half-orc Kern in "The Rematch" (1x23). Despite this, Grog has a sweet, happy side that often comes out when he is around his friends. Grog is physically the strongest member of Vox Machina and often attempts to take the majority of damage, acting as the party tank, due to his high armor class and constitution.

Grog was raised in the Herd of Storms, a band of nomadic raiders consisting mainly of goliaths. When Grog was younger, he and his group encountered a helpless old gnome and attacked him, but Grog took pity on the gnome and protected him. Because of this, Grog was beaten nearly to death by the leader of the herd, his uncle Kevdak, and he was exiled and left for dead. His father, Stonejaw Strongjaw, watched and did nothing to help his son. However, the gnome he had saved, Wilhand Trickfoot, sent his great-granddaughter Pike to his aid. She saved him from death, and Grog was welcomed into the Trickfoot home. He and Pike became best friends. Grog was a member of The Wing with Scanlan Shorthalt, Vash, Arnicor, and Thurista to recover an artifact from a temple in the swamp near Stilben. They fought a giant frog as well as the cult of fish-like people who inhabited the temple. They cut off the ruby eyes off of the statue of a fish god, then headed into town. Vash, the party wizard, identified some of their loot, but couldn't identify a vial of clear liquid they had found in the swamp. The party headed to an alchemist's shop to ask about it, but were met with assassins of the Myriad, who said they had interfered with their plans and demanded the vial. The assassins killed Vash before the rest of the party managed to kill them. Grog followed his party to a tavern. There, he noticed Scanlan was talking to Tiberius Stormwind and joined them. The dragonborn expressed interest in the vial, which he recognized as a potion of Aqua Caedis, and bought it from Scanlan.

Later, Grog and Scanlan overheard an alchemist mention the Mockingbird, a ship arriving in the morning with a shipment. They walked in and Scanlan put him to sleep with magic so they could take a book he was guarding. As they investigated the room, Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia jumped out of the shadows and attacked them, asking for the book they just got. Grog and Scanlan fought with the twins, but they were interrupted by a group of assassins who walked out of a mirror - the same ones that they had fought and killed earlier. Grog, Scanlan and the twins worked together to fight the assassins. Mid-battle, Tiberius walked in with Keyleth, and joined them in the fight. After all the assassins were killed, Iselda also walked out of the mirror and attacked the party. Grog tried to fight her, but he was trapped in a magic bubble that only dissipated once Iselda retreated.

Grog followed Scanlan when he decided to go help Vex instead of leaving for Whitestone with Arnicor and the cleric, and they met up with Vex'ahlia, Keyleth, and Tiberius at the docks. There, Scanlan pointed to the Mockingbird, and they all witnessed an explosion as Vax'ildan jumped out of a hole in the side of the ship, where he was being held captive. The group decided to work together this time, and boarded the Mockingbird. Grog fell overboard before they even made it on deck, but later reappeared, covered in seaweed, when the others were about to be overpowered by Iselda. Grog killed her by pushing her into a magical sygil that had been carved in the floor, and she burned alive. The group escaped through the previously made hole in the side of the ship. Afterwards, they all headed to a tavern together.

after doing some odd jobs in Stilben for a while, Grog left the group and traveled back to Westruun. After not hearing from him for a while, the rest of the party traveled there as well and met Pike Trickfoot for the first time. She told them that Grog had been acting strangely and had marched on his own through the Bramblewood Forest towards Gatshadow Mountain. Deep within the mountain, they discovered a mind-controlled Grog, the reanimated corpse of his father, Stonejaw Strongjaw, and a dying mage attempting to become a lich. The party slew the mage, but not before he embedded his phylactery into Grog's chest. The party later realized the phylactery was going to activate very soon, and split up to find ingredients for a ritual that could save him. Grog went with the twins in search of the heart of a nymph. While in the Frostweald, they found a pond where a nymph, named Nahla, lived. Instead of attacking him, she invited Grog to follow her into the pond, which was a portal to the Feywild. After a while, Grog returned looking quite satisfied with himself while holding the item the group needed. He refused to tell the twins what happened on the other side. With the help of Eskil Ryndarien, the phylactery was successfully removed from Grog, although it left behind some lingering necromantic energy. At some point, Grog inadvertently almost killed Trinket when he hit the bear's backside with the flat side of his axe, causing Trinket to charge through a heavily trapped area of a dungeon. Vex was not amused.

Grog was the one who decided to keep one of the penises of the trolls, that his teammates shot off, as a souvenir; it was later used as a distraction in an encounter. Grog has previously been mentally dominated by another opponent, which caused him to turn against his group and almost kill a few of the party's members.

During a mission, Grog was fighting an umber hulk just like in "Into the Greyspine Mines" (1x02). He ended up getting confused and, in an attempt to bull rush the creature, he fell 170 feet to the cavern floor. He was knocked unconscious and almost killed by the impact.[56]

Grog and Scanlan managed to intimidate a group of hostile mages in a fighting pit when Scanlan summoned a pony, that Grog abruptly decapitated and smeared its gore on his body while screaming.

Grog was responsible for a blue dragon, Brimscythe, turning against Vox Machina when he found a treasure room and went into a "rage loot";[57] when the dragon emerged, Grog paused to acknowledge it before he continued looting the room. Grog's choice almost cost some members of Vox Machina their lives, but it also significantly increased their party funds.

Grog convinced the group that in order to find good security for their new keep, which they named Greyskull Keep, the potential guards would have to fight each other to the death.

On the road from Emon to Kraghammer with mission to aid Kima, Grog successfully prevented a fight between a roving band of goliath barbarians, led by his uncle Kevdak's son, Zanror, and Vox Machina after he recognized his cousin. The truce was only temporary, though, and Grog left with the understanding that their next meeting would almost surely be their last—though this later turned out not to be the case.

After Grog successfully prevented a fight with his cousin Zanror and his former Herd, the party made their way into the city of Kraghammer. Upon arriving at the Iron Hearth Tavern, Grog, being a half-giant, had to duck slightly to avoid hitting his head in the cramped space. A group of dwarves quickly offered him a drink, which he gladly accepted before sitting down with them. Meanwhile, Scanlan inquired about rooms from Adra, the innkeeper, and upon learning the price, he and Grog decided to share a room. Shortly after securing their accommodations, Grog, much to Scanlan's frustration, asked Adra about the tavern's fighting champion. The innkeeper directed him to Balgus, the reigning champion. Later, Grog and Scanlan grabbed some ale and approached the drunken Balgus. Grog asked how often he was challenged to fights and sought information about the city. The half-giant then pointed Balgus toward Keyleth and Vex, thinking they might have better luck getting information from him. That evening, the party split up, with Grog and Scanlan heading to The Stone's Pillow in search of lady companionship. Later that night, they regrouped with the rest of the party back at the tavern. When they heard that Trinket was in the fighting ring with Balgus, Grog rushed downstairs with the others and, without hesitation, placed a bet on Balgus winning. This offended Scanlan, who couldn’t believe Grog would bet on the enemy.

The next day, the party ventured into the Greyspine Quarry, where they were attacked by a group of goblins. Scanlan expressed his hatred for goblins and ordered Grog not to leave any of them alive. As the battle progressed, the barbarian noticed the goblins weren’t charging at them but seemed to be fleeing from something. Despite this, Scanlan insisted that he kill them anyway, and Grog continued his attack.[59] After defeating the goblins, the party also managed to defeat the naga that had been chasing them out of the mine.

As the rest of the party followed Nostoc Greyspine to continue their conversation, Grog was eager to delve deeper into the mine. However, the others reassured him that they would return later. After speaking with Foreman Hieris to gather information about the creatures they might encounter, Grog offered him some rotten meat from the Bag of Holding as a thank you and to free up space in the bag.

The next morning, the party returned to the mine. A couple of hours in, they were attacked by umber hulks. When one of them nearly struck Grog, the half-giant retaliated but was caught by its Confusing Gaze, nearly hitting Tiberius with his axe. Once Tiberius dispelled the effect, Grog leaped into the water after one of the umber hulks, killing it by plunging his axe into its forehead. After the fight, while the others wanted to take a short rest, Grog, still in a frenzied rage, ran toward a light in the tunnel. There, he found a campfire and began attacking it. Before the others could reach him, he was shot multiple times by duergar. As the battle intensified, an intellect devourer accompanying the duergar invaded Grog's mind, and due to his low intelligence, the barbarian immediately fell unconscious. Despite Keyleth and Scanlan’s efforts to wake him, the barbarian remained unresponsive.

Grog was born into the Stonefist Tribe, a Goliath clan located high in the Cliffkeep Mountains. Like all Goliaths, Grog was raised in a harsh, physically demanding environment where strength was paramount. The Stonefist Tribe’s way of life was centered around survival, combat, and gaining respect through physical prowess. From a young age, Grog was taught to fight, to defend, and to show his strength, traits that were embedded deeply into his very being. However, despite this militaristic upbringing, Grog found something more personal: a deep bond with his uncle, Kevdak.

Kevdak was the leader of the Stonefist Tribe, and Grog idolized him. The bond between Grog and his uncle was one of familial love, respect, and admiration. Kevdak’s role as a father figure allowed Grog to rise through the ranks of the tribe, learning from him and developing a fierce loyalty to him. In Grog's eyes, Kevdak was a paragon of strength, someone whose commands and actions were beyond reproach.

However, as Grog matured, he began to notice discrepancies in his uncle's leadership. While Kevdak presented himself as a strong and wise leader, he also exhibited traits of cruelty, selfishness, and unchecked ambition. As Grog witnessed these troubling behaviors, the young barbarian struggled to reconcile his love and respect for his uncle with the growing understanding that Kevdak's methods were harmful to his people.

The pivotal moment in Grog's life came when he was forced to confront the reality of his uncle’s tyranny. In a brutal act of betrayal, Kevdak led the tribe into a series of violent and self-serving decisions that ultimately alienated many of the tribe’s members. He began enslaving weaker tribespeople to build his power, focusing on his own growth rather than the wellbeing of his people. His leadership, once admired, became tyrannical.

Grog’s disillusionment with his uncle reached its peak when Vox Machina, the adventuring party that Grog would eventually join, confronted the Stonefist Tribe. The party was tasked with stopping Kevdak's dangerous schemes, and it was during this conflict that Grog learned the full extent of Kevdak’s cruelty.

In the climactic battle between Grog and his uncle, Grog was forced to make a heart-wrenching decision. Despite his deep love for Kevdak, Grog realized that his uncle was not the man he had once admired. Kevdak’s lust for power and disregard for his people’s welfare left Grog with no choice but to kill him. This act marked the end of Grog's ties to the Stonefist Tribe and set him on a new path, one where he would no longer be defined by the tribe's bloodlust and brutality.

After Kevdak’s death, Grog was left without direction. With his tribe decimated and his uncle gone, Grog wandered alone for some time, grappling with guilt, anger, and confusion. His world had been shattered, and he was uncertain of his place in it. His once clear sense of identity, built around loyalty to his tribe and his uncle, was now in ruins. During this period of self-doubt, Grog struggled to find a purpose outside of violence.

This period of wandering brought Grog to Vox Machina, a group of adventurers who would change the course of his life forever. Grog’s first encounter with the group came when he joined them during one of their larger quests. Vox Machina, led by figures like Vex’ahlia, Keyleth, and the charismatic bard Scanlan Shorthalt, was composed of highly skilled individuals from different backgrounds, each with their own motivations and stories. Grog’s immense physical strength caught their attention, and they quickly saw his potential as a valuable ally.

Initially, Grog was impulsive, unpredictable, and driven largely by his violent tendencies. He sought out fights and often let his emotions dictate his actions. The team was initially wary of Grog's reckless nature, but they soon saw past his brutish exterior to recognize his deeper qualities. While Grog may have been a barbarian in terms of combat, he was also an individual capable of immense loyalty and heart.

As Grog spent more time with Vox Machina, he developed close friendships that would become central to his character arc. The most significant of these was his relationship with Pike Trickfoot, the gnome cleric of the group. Pike’s kind-hearted nature and deep faith in the divine helped Grog begin to examine his own beliefs and motivations. Pike taught Grog to value empathy, self-reflection, and the importance of not just physical strength, but emotional and moral strength as well.

Though Grog’s violent nature sometimes led to conflicts, he was slowly learning that there was more to being a hero than brute force. One of the most formative moments in this process was when Pike healed him after a near-death experience. In this instance, Grog was deeply humbled by Pike’s unwavering belief in him, and he began to consider the possibility that there was something more important than his desire to fight: the bonds of friendship and the need to protect those he cared about.

Grog’s bond with Scanlan Shorthalt, the group’s bard, was also crucial to his development. Scanlan, with his wit and humor, acted as a sort of mentor to Grog, helping him navigate situations where combat wasn’t the solution. Through Scanlan, Grog learned the importance of thinking before acting, using strategy in conjunction with his raw strength. This relationship taught Grog to embrace his own potential, not just as a fighter, but as a valued member of a team.

Grog’s story took another major turn when he discovered the Titanstone Knuckles, magical gauntlets tied to the divine being known as the Titan. These gauntlets, which had been lost to time, enhanced Grog’s already formidable strength, making him a near-unstoppable force in battle. The gauntlets were a representation of Grog’s growing connection to something larger than himself. They symbolized not just his personal power, but the potential for him to become a force for good.

The discovery of the Titanstone Knuckles also marked a turning point in Grog’s journey, as he realized that his strength was not for mere destruction, but for protection. He no longer sought power for the sake of being feared or admired; instead, he sought power to defend his friends and stop evil from overtaking the world.

Death and Resurrection: A Test of Loyalty

One of the most harrowing moments in Grog’s journey was his near-death experience at the hands of the villainous forces they were fighting. During a particularly dangerous mission, Grog was fatally wounded in a battle and left on the brink of death. His friends, knowing how important he was to their success and how much he meant to them, worked tirelessly to save him. Pike, in particular, played a pivotal role in Grog’s resurrection, using her divine magic to heal him.

This near-death experience changed Grog in profound ways. He had always been driven by a need to prove himself, to show that he was strong and capable. But after coming so close to losing everything, he began to appreciate the value of the relationships he had built with Vox Machina. Grog realized that true strength came from protecting those he loved and that he no longer needed to face the world alone. His survival was a reminder that strength was not just about physical power, but about the emotional and moral support of those around him.

One of the most crucial events in Grog’s journey was the final confrontation with Vecna, the ancient and powerful lich who sought to bring ruin to the world. This battle marked the culmination of everything Grog had learned over the course of his adventures. He wasn’t just a brute fighting to destroy; he was now a champion fighting to protect the world and his friends.

The battle was long and grueling, but Grog’s strength, combined with his newfound sense of purpose and the support of his companions, played a crucial role in turning the tide of battle. With the Titanstone Knuckles and the lessons he had learned from his companions, Grog faced Vecna with unrelenting resolve. Though the battle was difficult and the stakes were high, Grog proved that his true strength lay in his loyalty, his heart, and his unwavering belief in the importance of protecting others.

The Legacy of Grog Strongjaw

By the end of Critical Role’s Vox Machina campaign, Grog Strongjaw had transformed