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.
