Background: Beast Herds

Factions & Magic

To the Beast Herds there is a strength to each herd,
which is focused upon their totem. The belief of each
member of the herd gives the totem a significance
which a Soothsayer can tap into and bond to a group.
But whether Beast magic comes from totems or the
Soothsayer’s own skill, there is always a focus on gaining
advantage in the hunt – moving swiftly, ambushing
and seizing their prey by the throat.

Sources

Oft depicted as mere lackeys of Chaos, the Beasts have occasionally found themselves used as pawns of the Dark Gods, but their main similarity is the dread they inspire among civilised peoples. Theirs is a distinct history, and perhaps a tragic tale.
Though choosing blade over bow, they are the equals of the Sylvan folk with whom they contest for they contest for the woodland realms.
All the enmity and revulsion of the Elves at the per- ceived violation of nature has not brought an end to these beasts – on the contrary they thrive and often turn the hunt into the hunted.
Shamanic rituals lie at the heart of their culture; their soothsayers are venerated above all others, gnarled and bent, but tough as an old oak. Among the warriors, strength is prized as one would ex- pect, yet their leaders also need cunning to sur- vive. Coordinating packs of ambushers through tangled thickets appears to be an important skill, and a tactic used to great effect against adversar- ies who think of the beasts as their quarry.

The Sage was busy yesterday when I vacated his study. I thought he had
warmed to my presence but it seems he is not as appreciative of my company as
I thought. Nevertheless, I was privy to a conversation between him and what
looked to be a journeyed Captain yesterday…
How intelligent are the Beast Herds? Are they purely driven by primal instincts
or is there a grander plan for their herds? Are minotaurs just big wildhorns,
or do they have their own tribes and agendas?
In the current day, the herds are found on every continent, and contest those
lands with their other inhabitants. The herds are diverse in culture and appearance
across the world. Of the two general types of herds, the warherds are
led by bestial chieftains. They are autocratic but prone to leadership challenges
- sometimes resulting in the death of chief or challenger. Leaders gain favour
if they demonstrate martial prowess and accumulate great stories told about
them.
While minotaurs sometimes have their own tribes, most times they are found
living in and with the other beasts of the herds. Like all tribal peoples, individual
tribes have their own goals, agendas, and concerns. The question of the
intelligence of beast-men is a harder one to address, for while the beasts all
have similar intellect to humans, their behaviours are governed by their nature
differently than that of human people. Beast-men are quicker to violence than
humans, and less likely to use missiles because of reasons of biology more than
any condition of intellect. That said, it would be a mistake to disregard them
as mere creatures of instinct, the beasts and their leaders are very cunning and
discerning.