Legend of the Giant Tyrant
A legend from the Dawn Age about an incredibly large, powerful, and cunning Hill Giant.
Summary
Ograth Godsthief, Tyrant of the Hill Giants, listened to the whispered secrets of Vecna. With arcane vision he led a gathering of tribes to the City of Heaven of Moradin, Soulforge. The horde of giants battered at the defenses and were slain in droves by the stout dwarven guardians of the Smith God, but with subtle dark magic Ograth was able to sneak into one of their many vaults. Treasures, artifacts, and relics beyond imagining laid ripe for the taking within. Taking as much as he could stuff into a gargantuan bag, the mischievous giant fled with what was left of his horde.
The flight of the giants took them across the entire span of the Worldspine Mountains, persued at every step by the determined dwarves. Led by Moradin himself, whose fury at this slight was unfathomable, the dwarves couldn't chase fast enough to catch the giants, who were aided by more of Vecna's secrets. Frustrated by this ongoing embarrassment, Moradin called upon his fellow gods to help him.
Pelor and Yondalla, whose cities bordered the lands Ograth had fled to, joined Moradin's cause. Together, the trio of gods and their followers trapped the giant horde in the Jewel Peaks. There they were finally cut down, and Ograth's corpse was flung from the highest mountains into the Solus River below. By the time of his death, his body was so large and swollen with arcane mysteries that it temporarily damned the river when it reached a narrow ford. Thus ended Ograth Godsthief.
Historical Basis
While the basics of the tale are indeed true, many of the details have been debated by scholars and treasure hunters who attempt to follow up on the legend. In particular, the list of treasures stolen from Soulforge varies widely, with new claims brought up or seemingly debunked every few years. The Jewel Peaks are often rumored to be full of secret giant treasure caches dating back to the time of the legend, and indeed some are occasionally found. Dwarves are fond of claiming that the losses from Ograth's raid were not so great, that they pursued so earnestly out of honor. They also claim if the loss had been as significant as others say, they would not have risked calling for aid, as the danger of their priceless relics falling into a nominal ally's hands would have been too great.
Spread
Regions near the Worldspine and Jewel Peaks often tell versions of the legend. It is a favorite of would-be treasure hunters, as well as those who would make humor out of the tales of gods.
Variations & Mutation
An alternate name is sometimes used: The Legend of the Jeweled Giant.
As a legend covering a vast geographic scope, there are innumerable localized variations, with many focusing on the felling of individual giants and the fates of their treasure over the course of the cross-continental chase. People living in the cities of Moradin, Pelor, and Yondalla naturally emphasize the relative importance of their particular god's involvement in Ograth's fate.
Dwarven versions of the tale tend to glance over the raid on Soulforge and focus on the efforts to avenge their relics. Unless the retelling is being used to stir up anger or remind the audience of past grievances, in which case the raid is heavily embellished.
Cultural Reception
Ograth's raid is considered one of the greatest embarrassments by the people of Soulforge, and the dwarves have been distrustful if not outright hostile towards all giant-folk ever since.
The town of Fellbridge is built around the area where Ograth's body came to rest after being tossed from the Jewel Peaks, and forms the basis of the town's founding and early history.
Date of Setting
Dawn Age
Related Locations
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