AEGOSPOTAMI
When the Great Aegospotamus tired of his
journeys, he lay down by a fast flowing river to rest. He soon
fell into a deep slumber, and saw a vision of a mighty fortress
constructed next to this river. When he awoke, he was full of
vigour for the task ahead, and, taking up the Aegos Hammer,
headed into the mountains to seek the foundation stones for the
fortress that he had foreseen. Thus the construction of
Aegospotami began...
- Excerpt from The Journeys of Aegospotamus,
the main hero of Giff history.
Aegospotami is a towering fortress constructed by the Giff several centuries ago. It is one of the dominant features on the landscape, and houses the majority of the Giff population that is not out working as mercenaries or other similar employment. The lands surrounding Aegospotami are farmed by some of the Giff or by those from other races that have settled there to benefit from the protection of their more powerful neighbours.
Aegospotami is ruled by the Herd Leader, who is chosen every five years through a series of Challenges. All those that wish to become Herd Leader must survive these Challenges, which consist of a mixture of physical and mental tasks. If more than one Giff survives the Challenges, they must compete in unarmed combat using a certain type of combat [GM Note - this combat is similar to Earth wrestling, although without all the play acting and fallacies]. The victor then becomes the next Herd Leader. If the Herd Leader is doing a poor job, he can be re-elected if enough of the Giff agree, and thus the Challenges begin anew.
Aegospotami itself is an easily defensible fortress constructed from huge stones that were floated down the river from the mountains, thanks to a mining agreement with a dwarven clan made by the Giff hero Aegospotamus, after whom the fortress was named. The Giff are supposed to have migrated to follow Aegospotamus once he had completed the fortress, glad at last of a permanent racial home.
Aegospotamus had been somewhat of an exile amongst his people - considerably brighter than most, even when separated from his kin, for it is the oddity of the Giff race that makes them of a reasonable intelligence in large groups, and progressively less so as their numbers dwindle. Aegospotamus was different - touched by the Gods, some say - and his many great deeds are recorded through the tales of the wise ones of the Giff tribes.
The Aegos Hammer is a weapon that few know anything about. That it existed is almost certain, but beyond that, details are scarce. It would have had to have been of a great size and weight for a Giff to consider it a suitable weapon - being a race of famed smithcraft and a love of weaponry, it would have had to have been nigh on exceptional craftsmanship - but unfortunately not enough is known. The eventual fate of the Aegos Hammer is unknown, although it is popularly assumed to lie with the body of Aegospotamus himself, causing many over the years to go in search of the mighty hero's tomb.
