Barrowmen

Forgotten by the God-King

CobaltDM - July 4, 2022
Edited May 19, 2023

"I have rarely been so terrified as I was during my trek into the southwestern region of the great Genesis Woad. The forest was alive in more ways than felt natural; vines would often move on their own like snakes and wind would rustle the leaves of the trees to sound like quiet voices urging us deeper into the shadows. But I would not allow my quest to be stopped by trees, whispering or silent. Trees were the least of our worries, anyway. The Barrowmen saw me before I saw them, of course, and had me surrounded before I could react. The leader--a woman named Orhiel--spoke with me while the blade of her bearded axe was pressed against my neck. When she finally decided that a lone, unarmed scholar was not a threat, we were able to talk." - An excerpt from "The Travels of Hafrick Moriarty"

Barrowmen are half-giant variants created accidentally by Cadros while he was populating his hills and mountains with more followers. Preferring not to have a glaring mistake around him at all times, he banished the Barrowmen into the woads of Atheles and Isatis where they would be out of sight and thus, out of mind. They resented Cadros for his prideful dismissal of them and actively work to strike at the Dwarven kingdom whenever they get the opportunity.

Intimidating Stature

Barrowmen stand over 7 feet tall on average and have hefty builds, generally weighing between 250 and 300 pounds. They have stony gray or bluish skin that is incredibly tough and leathery, allowing them to withstand a substantial amount of punishment before falling in battle. They often decorate themselves in tattoos and trophies, such as the pelt of a great beast or jewelry taken from slain enemies. They rarely grow facial hair, and their hair is often short. It can be any grayscale color from black to white, and can sometimes have a blue tint to it. Their eyes usually are a multicolored hazel, with flecks of stony gray or green.

Guerilla Fighters

Barrowmen took a vow from the day they were banished to make Cadros' reign as bloody as possible. Since their exile, the Barrowmen have discovered an almost unexplainable connection to the divine magic within the woads. The terrain seems to shift and fight with them, offering them cover to escape or shadows from which to ambush patrolling Dwarven soldiers. Many times have Cadros' armies attempted to hunt them down, and every time they have failed. Barrowmen take great pride in their continual victories and celebrated the Silence, instead calling it the "Death of the God-King."

Isolation and Distrust

Very few Barrowmen have attempted to integrate with civilization, and are often strongly distrusted by the other races of Mytkora due to their warmongering ways. Many cities refuse them entry, and those that do often close up their shops when one comes around. This has caused most Barrowmen to prefer life within their clans, hidden away in the woads away from prying eyes. Although Cadros' Second Campaign ended many years ago, the Barrowmen have found adjusting to peace time to be difficult. Some clans continue to raid and pillage settlements near the woad, further darkening their reputation.