I don't know if this is a bug or what's happening ....

Near Riften is an Orc stronghold named "Largashbur".
According to the Skyrim wiki, the first time the Dragonborn visits Largashbur, they will find it under attack from an angry Giant. Apparently, after you help them dispatch the Giant, you're supposed to talk to someone who guards the main entrance, and you'll get in and will get a Quest to help them solve their problems with Giants ....

Ok, here's my problem: When I visit Largashbur for the first time, I see the Giant and help kill huim, but it's ALWAYS too late to stop him killinmg the gate guards. As Largashbur is locked with an unpickable lock, and the gate guards are dead, there's no way to gain entry. There's one generic unnamed Orc standing on a platform above and behind the gate, but he/she has no dialogue options to allow you access.

I'm on my 3rd playthrough of Skyrim now, and this has happened ALL 3 times, exactly the same way, no matter how fast or slow or stealthy I approach ....

Is this a bug? Has anyone else had this problem?

I've searched all the dead Orc bodies that were killed by the Giant .... no keys. The Giant doesn't have one either ......

Hmm. Nope, no issues with this on my part. I've done it half a dozen times, always the guards are dead, and sometimes Ugor - but the gate is always standing open, and Atub is waiting for me there (the times Ugor is dead, Atub still does the "excuse Ugor" convo bit....) And things progress "normally" (considering it's orcs and giants....) from there.

The giant outside the gate keeps respawning even when the quest is over but, other than that, I never encountered this bug you speak of in 4 different playthroughs.

On my first character, that's the same thing that happened to me. Never went back, either. I killed the giants and the evil goats, too.

On my latest guy, I went there and the giant was attacking. The mage (?) was shooting back but she had LOS issues. The gate was open, and the guards, including the named one, were dead outside. So I sauntered in, climbed up to the mage and initiated dialog. She told me what she needed and that was that. Later, I was escorting Esbern from Riften to Riverwood and remembered I had the goods, and there she was, standing in the open gate. The quest that followed was somewhat amusing, as there were four of us together.

Sounds like you have a timing issue with the script.

yeah i had this same issue i had to reload 6 or 7 times for the gate to be opened

Had the same problem. Went back a couple of days later and then the gate was open.

OK, thanks peeps!

It seems some have experienced this, and some haven't.

It also seems the only problem I really have is that the gate is closed and locked in my game.

I'll try going back after a while.

If it's not open then, I'll wait for another playthrough.

I have also had this very same problem in both of my playthrough's. As soon as I get to Largashbur the three generic Orc's are dead outside the locked gate (for which you need a key) which seems to be a bug of some kind as these Orc's need to be saved in order to gain entry.
I need to gain entry to this Stronghold in order to complete the Malacath Daedric quest, and then unlock the Achievement for having 15 Daedric artifacts.

Is there a work around for gaining entry to the Stronghold and starting the quest?

Are you on a PC or Console? On the PC, you could just tcl to get through the gate & talk to Atub, which should initiate the quest. If you're on the console, then I would try going back later in the game as some above have suggested.

It happened to me too, you can run up the side of the mountain on the opposite side then jump in and talk to the lady in the robe

I've never been able to arrive in time to save Ugor, but Atub has never died.

This is what I did also.

Keep the guys alive.