Thegan

King Thegan is a literary hero in Samoran mythology. Most of the stories about Thegan can be found in the books Thegan, Legends of King Thegan, and Istria Houssir. It is unknown who is based upon if anyone. Many adaptations have been made from these stories including operas, plays, and multiple translations of the stories. Statues of Thegan appear all over Samoir and Losan.
His story is quite romantic. Thegan was born as a farm boy of no consequence when he met an old crone who prophesied that he would become the greatest king in the land. Even as a teenager, he showed considerable ability and resourcefulness as he fought off a pack of wolves with a flute, dug irrigation channels to divert a flood that threatened his village, and tried to woo a princess. As an adult, he entered a cave and found a holy orb. It was said that only the true king could lift it and that many men had died trying. Thegan picked it up with ease and marched it back to the castle. At first, the king refused to believe that it was real, but when he tried to hold it, the orb suddenly became like dead weight, and the king could not move it. Still reluctant to hand over his kingdom, the king sent Thegan on a quest to retrieve a crown from the bottom of an enchanted lake. On the way, he encountered Benhild, a hedge knight who rode a donkey instead of a horse. Benhild claimed to know the way to the enchanted lake, and along the way, they faced a multi-headed guardian, a bear with a dog face, and passed through a swamp that showed them their deepest fears. Upon reaching the lake, Thegan dived in to retrieve the crown, but as he swam back to the shore, the crown pulled him back to the bottom of the lake. Just as he felt sure that he would die, Thegan saw a beautiful woman embrace him. When he woke up, he was on the shore of the lake with the crown in hand. He returned to the king with the crown and was granted rightful rule of the kingdom and the princess' hand in marriage.
As king, Thegan continued going on adventures slaying dragons and helping the enchantress Siburg against her evil sister Aua. Thegan conquered many kingdoms and was known to be a wise ruler. He also amassed a number of followers who accompanied him on various adventures. The exact number of companions varies, and some are only mentioned in name. His final adventure was a quest for immortality where he had to pass a number of tests set before him by Death, but he could only return home empty handed. Thegan died shortly after that.