Through the story of Fellmir, Giants have always been a sore spot for those who sought a peaceful life. While the Giants mostly are found in the north-western Fellmir, their raiding parties often reach far, and the damage done shows. The western area, known as Grunnmr, is almost entirely inhabited by Giants, and is considered as the most dangerous place to live, even more hazardous than the Salt Fields and the Ice Wastes. Smaller incursions and uprisings have been recorded, but in general only three of these, are considered as outright wars.
The First War – years 216 – 124, Before Civilization (B.C.)
It was never written anywhere that a Human named Karan, would end up leading the first insurrection against the brutal rule of the Giants. Karan earned his living by stealing and mugging people. While serving time in prison, the complex was attacked and overrun by Hill Giants, who slaughtered and ate most of the guards and other prisoners. Escaping to an upper part, along with a wounded guard and another prisoner, the group found the commander for the Giants along with five other Giants in the stable, killing the guardsmen’s horses. The three barred the door and burned the stable down, with the Giants stiil inside it. Thus began the tale of Karan the Flame, people revered him as a hero, and Karan found his new lifestyle to be safer than stealing. Known for his shrewd tactics, Karan was said to, in disguise, visit the foot soldiers and low ranked fighters. Claiming to be “just another man-at-arms”, Karan got insight in how commanders before had used the low ranked units as cannon fodder against the large stones, hurled by Giants in combat. Karan’s philosophy of war was simple; minimize losses so that most warriors are up for the next fight. Many officers considered this to be cowardly, but the common soldier revered him. With this tactic he slowly managed to wrestle territory from the Giants, even building small fortresses and fortified outposts to maintain his position. Karan was getting old, a leg injury had taken it’s toll on him, no longer able to take charge, but Karan’s closest officers led the army by his example. A few days before Karan died, he received a strange visitor. Clad in golden scales, but with no weapons, the legendary Elven general, Delvinerre, sought an audition. Karan thought he was dreaming, but the Elf was real. A friendship began between Humans and Elves after this day. Karan died about a week later, and was burned on a massive pile. Karan himself wished no monument, claiming that his past was still clinging to him, if people would just remember his deed as a commander and his name as such, then that would be the only monument he could ever ask for.
Karan’s tactics were part of the reason why the first war almost lasted a hundred years, clearing out large parts of central and northern Fellmir of Giants, and even today, Hill Giants are a rare sight in the north. Frost Giants are more common, though they mostly reside of the other, frozen side of the Ebonheart Mountains. The First War caused bad blood between Hill Giants and Frost Giants, as the Frost Giants were among the first to seek a peaceful life, even giving up their weapons for safe passage north. However it is widely believed that, had Karan rushed his armies, his need for troops and the losses amongst the ranks, would have risen significantly. Amongst the greatest of Karan’s battles was a skirmish against one of the most notorious and dangerous warlords amongst the Giants; Gemalog Red-Fist.
The Second War – years 1 – 23, Abborgardian Year (A.Y.)
The second war began as a group of mages (along with a large army of foot soldiers), marched upon the lands of Grunnmr, where Giants had their homeland and strongholds, not even degenerate generals like Shollstan of Sidara had dared going far into this mostly plain and open land. With only few forests and mountains, the armies would be out in the open. And the Giants here were dug down. One thing was fighting Giants on open ground, a completely different one, was to fight Giants with defensive means and materials. The arrival of the mages significantly changed the tide of battle, as their leader was none other than Abboran Knodd, who would found the Abborgardian Empire after the Battle of Grunnmr. Like Karan, Abboran believed in making the public’s opinion, and thus support of the armies, despite pushing far into Grunnmr, Abboran felt the luck of war changing, and ordered an exhausted and battered army to return. Many felt betrayed, but fact is that many able-bodied people were in the army, had the army been defeated, the central Fellmir would have been next to defenceless, and the Giants were ruthless in their vengeance. A smirch of dishonor was still clinging to them after the first loss.
Instead of building a new army, Abboran decided to strengthen the defenses, letting the Giants come. Several clashes back and forth over the next years did little to change the power-balance, but most of them ended with a victory over the Giants. After more than twenty years of battle, the Giants too faced exhaustion and great losses, no longer receiving reinforcements and make very little to no progress defeating their foes. For a long time, the Giants were licking their wounds, and peace reigned in Fellmir once more.
The Third War – years 481 – 518, Abborgardian Year
For nearly five-hundred years, no-one saw or heard much from the Giants. But suddenly the hills west of Abhelm became dark, line upon line of Giants, with massive iron weapons, siege engines and even their own Shamans. The Giants were coming to fight, and this time, it would be a final fight. Many cities and fortifications had already fallen, quicker than word could reach Abhelm. The siege itself lasted for six long and grueling years, but Abhelms walls stood firm. Meanwhile mages and legendary warriors from afar came swarming to fight the Giants. Many heroes fell, and it’s said that the hills were crimson with blood for the next several months. Finally an army from the south, consisting of Tielfing, Dragonborn, Aarakocra, Kenku and Tabaxi forces liberated Abhelm, by splitting the largest of the Giant armies, getting the slow and stupid Giants to follow this new threat, only to fall into ambushes near Fokal Jungle. The natural habitat of many of the races in this distraction army became the death of several thousand Giants, wandering into the jungle, but almost never out again.
With the main army of the Giants now weakened, and with Dwarven Siege engines pummeling the shores of Grunnmr, slowly but surely the Giants was pushed back, taking heavy losses in almost any struggle. Before perishing to a Fireball, High Shaman Dukkûr, swore to return, with a new army of Giants. His swear, it’s said, should have been something along the lines of “Wait, O foe, belittle and foul, for Grunnmr will rise, and Grunnmr’s folk will rise, no safe place shall ye find, no wisdom of this battle shall you have!”
The Giants have since then remained in Grunnmr, but with the Fall of Abborgard, it seems likely that they will make old Dukkûr’s promise come true…
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