Exile of the Fire Giants

A campaign of near-extermination that extinguished a fiery race in their frozen homeland.

The War against the Fire Giants marks a pivotal and tragic turning point in the history of the Lands Between, occurring during the Age of the Erdtree under Queen Marika's rule. Seeking to eliminate the Fell God's influence and prevent the Erdtree from being burned, Marika led a military campaign of near-extermination against the giants in their homeland, the Mountaintops of the Giants. The last surviving giant was forced to tend the Flame of Ruin, sealed under the Erdtree's power, rather than being banished as a race.

Quick Facts

Subject: War against the Fire Giants
Catalyst event: Marika's campaign to eliminate the Fell God's opposition
Outcome: Near-extermination of the Fire Giants; last survivor forced to tend the Flame of Ruin

Lore & Background

This war created a permanent rift between the Golden Order and the giants. In their homeland, the Mountaintops of the Giants, the giants were nearly exterminated, their great fire dwindling into embers as the cold of the mountain seeped into their bones. The event is remembered not just as a military conquest but as a cosmic suppression, where the Flame of Ruin was sealed under the Erdtree's power. It set the stage for future conflicts, including the incursion of the Tarnished and the enduring legacy of the giants' curse.

Reader's Guide

The sequence begins with Marika's decision to seal the Rune of Death, requiring the destruction of Stormveil Castle. Fire Giants are summoned or forced to ignite the castle, causing catastrophic damage that threatens the Erdtree itself. In retaliation and to prevent further harm, Queen Marika commands their immediate banishment from the central Lands Between. The giants are driven northward across treacherous terrain until they reach the Mountaintops of the Giants, a frozen wasteland far beyond the protection of the Golden Order. This exile isolates them for centuries, leading to a state of perpetual starvation and cold, while their hatred for Marika and her order festers in the silence of the snow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the last survivor of this race?

One Fire Giant remained after the slaughter and was forced to tend the Flame of Ruin under seal. He acts as a living ward against the fire that could otherwise consume the Lands Between.

Why were the giants considered a threat?

Their allegiance to the Fell God posed an existential danger to Queen Marika’s Golden Order and its central symbol, the Erdtree. Eliminating them was necessary to prevent the world from being returned to ash.

Where did this historical event occur?

The battle took place primarily on the Mountaintops of the Giants, which served as the ancestral territory for the fiery race. This area remains frozen and desolate due to the aftermath of Marika’s invasion force.

What is the outcome of this timeline entry?

The war ended with the Flame of Ruin sealed beneath the Erdtree, ensuring its power could not be easily used again. This victory solidified Marika's control but left a lingering curse upon the surviving giant.

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