Utgard

Utgard was a major giant fortress and city in Jotunheim, the land of giants in the plane of Ysgard.

Government
This city was ruled by King Utgard-Loki,  an incredibly powerful cleric and illusionist,  as well as a son of the Giant power Thrym. The city was additionally ruled over by a council of jarls. This council was kept in-line by the King through a combination of sheer force of will and cunning wit, rather than the tactic of mere brute strength that many other frost giants relied upon. One of these jarls was Habrok Icecaster, a nephew of Utgard-Loki.

The ruler sat upon the Skull-Throne of Ymir, a throne that had been carved from a tall skull carved, though it had once belonged to the city of Meerrauk. The throne held great symbolic significance to the giants of Jotunheim, imparting a sense of authority upon those that owned it.

Defenses
Utgard was a heavily defended and well camouflaged city, owing to the powerful divine magic and arcane illusions of its ruler.

History
In the, a deva was being held captive within the walls of Utgard. One of the feathers from its wings of made it into the possession of the frost giant Brimir. Torheim, a proxy of the Norse power Thor, came to learn about this imprisoned deva and scouted the area around the city in hopes of infiltrating it and rescuing the angel. Around this same time a group of adventurers from the city of Ravens Bluff on the world of Toril traveled to Ysgard in search of the legendary Well of Mimir. While traveling through Jotunheim they heard of Utgard and its ruler from both giants and Torheim alike. The latter asked of the heroes if they could break into Brimir's hall and steal the deva feather from him, as having it would make it much easier for Torheim to track the deva down inside the city.

Inhabitants
Utgard was primarily inhabited by giants, who did not act too friendly to smaller races. Notably, the deity Thrym's own personal court of jarls occasionally stopped by to visit the city.