Legend of the First Half-Ogre

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Kendermage

When the First Races woke in the Age of Dreams, the stony ogres chose the mountain heights for their homes and enslaved the humans who were forced by default to live on the windswept plains. Gilean wept at the plight of the humans for whom their freewill had been usurped by the ogres. To bring freedom to the humans he went to Chislev and asked for a stout staff of Ironwood. The goddess gave to him the branch he requested, then Gilean enchanted it with powers to open that which is locked, be it literal chains, knowledge, or minds. Gilean posing as an ogre pilgrim traveled to Bloten and searched for one worthy to wield its power. He found a human that no matter how much he was whipped by his taskmasters refused to submit. This human's name was Ikaros. Gilean touched the staff to the man's chains and they fell away from him. He handed the staff to Ikaros and told him to use it to free the other slaves. Ikaros hurried about and set the other slaves free, but when he turned to return the staff; the ogre was gone.

Ikaros wielded the staff until just before his death, using it to free hundreds of slaves in Bloten. However, even the power of Chainbreaker could not keep Ikaros free forever. His freeing of slaves had aroused the ire of Takhisis, who sent numerous slavers to recapture the rebellious humans. The crafty Ikaros eluded the best of them, but he could not elude his heart.

During a raid to free a brace of slaves, Ikaros had a run in with an ogre priestess named Jorelia. He and the priestess locked eyes for several moments and without a word passing between them, Jorelia led her minions away from Ikaros and the fleeing humans. Several days passed in which Ikaros could not be found. He had snuck back to the temple to visit Jorelia. At the behest of the Dark Queen Jorelia feigned interest in the human. The Dark Queen had given her a special device to ensnare the human's heart; a heart shaped medallion called the Heart of the Temptress. Takhisis was counting on the weakness of love to do what all of her children had been unable to do; capture the rebellious human leader.

Jorelia charmed her way into Ikaros's heart with her apparent gentle nature and great beauty. Ikaros fell hard for the ogre priestess, and began to visit her often. One night he left Chainbreaker behind when he went to visit her. It would prove to be a fatal mistake. After coupling, Ikaros drifted off to sleep lulled by the power of Jorelia's medallion. As long as Ikaros had carried the staff given to him by Gilean; he was immune to the effects of the Heart of the Temptress; bereft of its protection he succumbed. He awoke in chains once more.

Security was tight around him in anticipation of his impending execution. Try as they might his friends could not free him. Ikaros was executed along with 100 other slaves as a warning against any further acts of rebellion. Those who remained took Ikaros's famed staff and fled, returning to the plains.

Jorelia is said to have given birth to a son several months after the death of Ikaros. She was shunned by the pureblood ogres for having coupled with a human and spawning a half-breed. Only then did she realize the full magnitude of her actions. She blasphemed against Takhisis when she prayed in the goddess's own temple for forgiveness for betraying Ikaros. Takhisis was outraged at her insolence. She was captured and taken to the temple of Takhisis where she and her half-ogre son were to be stoned. As the first stone flew, Jorelia bravely shielded her son with her own body. A flash of light momentarily blinded everyone in the temple. When they could see again, Jorelia was gone. Takhisis's rage is said to have shaken the temple to its foundation.

What became of Jorelia is not known. What is known is that Jorelia's son was the first reported half-ogre, but was certainly not the last. Rumors circulate that Jorelia's Son, was an ancestor of Ackal Ergot. If this is true, it would certainly explanation a bit of Ackal's character.

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