BEASTMEN (Lands of the)
Location: Northern portion of the continent of Iciria, south of the Bay of Gam. HW
Area: 1,413,353 sq. mi. (3,660,585 sq. km.).
Population: 100,000 living in small bands of 10-50.
Languages: Grruuk (a.k.a. Beastman), Neathar.
Coinage: None (barter only).
Taxes: None really.
Government Type: Independent family bands lead by a chieftain.
Industries: Fishing, hunting, trapping.
Important Figures: Krogada the Itchy (War Chieftainess, female, beastman, F13).
Flora and Fauna: Arctic tundra; seals, walrus, polar bears, white dragons, frost giants, ice toads, yeti, whales.
Further Reading: Hollow World boxed set, previous almanacs.
Description by Theukidikies the Historian of Corisa.
These are a brutal and barbarous race of twisted monsters living in an ice-bound land.
The Land
The lands of the Beastmen are, if anything, even more harsh and forbidding than those of the Azcans. They reside among the mountains and in lands of tundra and snow near the northern edge of Iciria. This is an icy land, often made even colder by strong winds and blizzards that blow out of the north.
The People
These are not people as such, they are beasts who resemble the form of men in some ways. Their features vary widely, however, with no two looking alike and none resembling even their parents. The Beastmen are true savages, being cruel and brutal in their ways and unsophisticated in their crafts. They have only three interests: surviving the severe environment they live in (and their still more severe fellows), demonstrating their physical might over others, and breeding more Beastmen. They do not seem to think about wider questions, and I doubt they have ever produced a philosopher or scholar among them. Some Beastmen wander into the southern lands to prove their mettle over others, but most are content to stay in their own lands.
The
Beastmen live in dome-shaped dwellings made out of ice, which there is plenty
of in their lands. They hunt and they
fish, and live simply. Though a cruel
people, if approached in peace they do not attack first. Instead, they often invite a traveller to
dine with them and stay for a sleep, in exchange for telling them stories. These often end up leading to challenges,
however. Still, this is the most
civilised custom the Beastmen have.