The Wildermen

The Wildermen are a group of cannibalistic humans who live in primitive societies scattered in the most remote areas of the Crucible.

Overview

The origin of the Wildermen is unknown. Legend says that they predate the arrival of the Bricians and the Dwarves both. The Elves don't speak much on the matter, but some students of anthropology believe that they were originally slaves of the Elven Empire who were reduced to their current status by the lack of support caused by the Empire's collapse.

No matter what their origin, the various groups seem to share no distinguishing features in terms of ethnicity. It is sometimes thought that they attract the outcasts of human society and integrate them, ensuring that their bloodlines do not grow too inbred. Alternative theories suggest that they have ties to some underground monstrosities that are the reason for their disturbing mental traits.

Wildermen tend to live at the entrances of large caves or in deep forest crevasses where they can hide their population. Their men arm themselves with simple weapons and raid nearby farms and settlements for food, stealing crops and sometimes the people themselves. More than one group of adventurers has come back with tales of find half eaten people in Wildermen camps that have been "purged".

The Bricians see the Wildermen as a nuisance that should be wiped out, and the leaders of various town will sometimes commission Wildermen hunts, paying for each verified kill. These never seem to fully get rid of the Wildermen, whose numbers seem to return to normal after a few years.

The Geir lords, on the other hand, see them as unwitting allies. The fear of Wildermen keeps the Bricians and Andari from venturing too far into the less developed regions of the Crucible. Sometimes, too, they will capture a number of Wildermen to use in live sporting events for their entertainment.