Beastmen

Beastmen
Setting:	Age of Fantasy
Games:	Age of Fantasy, Age of Fantasy: Skirmish, Age of Fantasy: Regiments, Age of Fantasy: Quest
Species:	Beastmen

Beastmen are a coalition of different species of bestial humanoids, which rely on ambush tactics to overwhelm their enemies.

For centuries, the Beastmen coexisted peacefully in the southern savannah of Tyria, where they established imposing cities and prospered through trade. However, the emergence of the Rift brought widespread devastation, reducing many of their cities to ruins and forcing them to flee as Daemons invaded their homeland. Today, most Beastmen have retreated northward, surviving through raiding and scavenging as they continue their search for a new home.

History

Era of the Sacred Tree

In the southern region of Tyria stretched a vast, untamed savannah where wildlife developed freely since ancient times. This land, shaped solely by the natural rhythms of its environment, remained untouched and wild for millennia. Beneath its surface, however, latent magical energies existed, whose most significant manifestation was the emergence of the Sacred Tree.

This colossal and anomalously growing tree appeared at the heart of the region’s largest watering hole. Its shade provided shelter, its fruit sustenance, and from its roots flowed a magical essence that caused profound transformations in the creatures exposed to it. The tree's sap possessed properties capable of granting intelligence, spiritual awareness, and sentience to those who consumed its fruit or absorbed its influence. Over time, its power spread in concentric patterns across the savannah, creating zones of awakening with varying intensity.

Over countless generations, the creatures affected by this influence began to develop consciousness, language, social organization, and culture. Distinct tribes eventually emerged, each with its own cultural and physiological identity: the proud Ndoli, the cunning Waheni, the nomadic Hapari, the formidable Ndwarī, and the elusive Silombi. Initial interactions among these groups were marked by territorial conflict, but they gradually established coexistence through shared rituals, trade, and cooperation. This process led to the formation of the first organized societies of what became known as the Beastmen.

During this stage, the Beastmen developed a complex culture that combined survival skills with refined symbolic expression. Notable achievements included woven textiles, advanced steelwork, and oral traditions passed through generations, all reflecting a deep connection with both the natural world and the magical forces of the Sacred Tree.

A shared reverence for the Tree enabled cultural and spiritual unification, resulting in the rise of a flourishing civilization. A capital city was constructed around the Tree itself, harmoniously integrated with its living structure. From this center, the civilization expanded through satellite cities connected by trade routes and vital water sources. Their architecture, organic in nature, included stone fortresses and temples adorned with runes that pulsed with the Tree’s magical energy.

Significant technical advances were made during this era, particularly in metallurgy, which allowed the production of high-quality weapons and ornaments. A sophisticated textile tradition also developed, transforming wild fibers into garments used for both everyday life and spiritual ceremonies. A strong social structure emerged, guided by a class of shamans who preserved ancestral knowledge through chants, carvings, and oral epics.

At the heart of this civilization stood the Holy City, built beneath the Sacred Tree’s canopy. The city featured stepped temples, winding paths aligned with the tree's natural growth, and subterranean canals that distributed its magical essence throughout the settlement. There, shamans conducted rituals, led ceremonies, and safeguarded the collective memory of their people. The Holy City served as the spiritual and cultural core of the Beastmen, and its very foundations were believed to be imbued with sacred power.

This historical period is regarded as a golden age for the Beastmen, defined by a balance between spiritual growth, social organization, and respect for the natural and magical world. Their civilization reached a high level of sophistication, rooted in the blessings of the Sacred Tree and the unity of its people.

The Collapse

The collapse of the Beastmen civilization began with a sudden geological and magical event of catastrophic proportions. The incident is historically known as Skarenda, or the Rift. Without prior signs, the landmass beneath the central savannah fractured violently, producing multiple fault lines that expanded rapidly in all directions. The terrain split apart with enough force to destroy longstanding infrastructure and alter the region’s geography permanently.

At the epicenter of the rupture, the Sacred Tree, previously the spiritual and political center of the Beastmen civilization, was uprooted and fell into the newly formed abyss. Its once-pure waters, which had sustained both the land and its people, became corrupted as they poured into the depths. The resulting contamination rendered the surrounding region inhospitable.

Structures that had stood for centuries, including fortresses, temples, and residential districts, collapsed as the ground gave way. The magical balance that had previously maintained the stability of the region was broken, giving rise to unpredictable and violent energy surges. These manifestations caused spatial anomalies and unstable magical zones across the former heartland of the savannah.

From within the most affected rifts, hostile entities later referred to as Daemons emerged. Described as skeletal, horned beings, they wielded unknown weapons composed of dark magical energy capable of neutralizing both traditional and enchanted defenses. Their arrival marked the beginning of a prolonged and systematic assault on the remaining Beastmen population.

Survivors of the initial disaster found themselves confronted with both environmental collapse and a coordinated external threat. The Daemons advanced steadily across the savannah, destroying settlements and displacing entire populations. The Beastmen, once unified under the guidance of the Sacred Tree, were quickly fragmented. Within a short period, organized resistance became impossible, and the survivors were forced into exile.

The site of the former Holy City, once the cultural and religious center of the Beastmen civilization, was reduced to ruins. A few partially standing structures remain, including broken archways, collapsed towers, and fragments of stone altars. These remnants, while architecturally significant, are no longer in use and are considered highly dangerous due to residual magical instability in the area.

In the aftermath, the Beastmen diaspora took two distinct paths. One group remained attached to their ancestral beliefs and traditions, often returning to the ruins to conduct clandestine rituals in an attempt to preserve their cultural identity. These efforts are considered symbolic rather than effective, as no known divine response has been recorded since the fall. The second group adopted a pragmatic approach, abandoning traditional customs and integrating into new socio-political roles as mercenaries, raiders, or survivalists, often repurposing sacred relics for warfare or commerce.

The fall of the Sacred Tree and the subsequent loss of the Holy City are now viewed as a turning point in Beastmen history. The event illustrates the vulnerability of even the most spiritually and technologically integrated civilizations when confronted with large-scale natural and magical upheaval. The Wild Savannah, once a thriving center of culture and sentient life, remains depopulated and unstable. The question of whether the region or its people can ever recover remains unresolved.

Notable Conflicts

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Notable Locations

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Society

The Beastmen are a species composed of multiple tribes and subgroups, currently fragmented and in a state of diaspora. They once maintained a structured and peaceful civilization focused on communion with nature, spirituality, and artisanal craftsmanship. Following the catastrophic event known as the Rift, their society collapsed, resulting in a cultural, territorial, and political crisis.

Tribal Structure

Several distinct species exist within the Beastmen population, including the Ndoli, Waheni, Hapari, Ndwari, Kemba, and Silombi. Historically, these species coexisted in balanced tribal communities, each contributing specific skills. For instance, the Hapari traditionally served as scouts, while the Ndoli specialized in hunting. This interspecies cooperation has weakened due to the fragmentation of groups, leaving many modern bands without the functional diversity of the past.

Some bands are now dominated by a single species, often leading to internal tensions and power imbalances. These groups are frequently viewed by others as having deviated from the traditional values of unity and mutual respect.

Keepers and Wanderers

Contemporary Beastmen are broadly divided into two main groups:

• Keepers: These remain in the ancestral territories, working to preserve ruins, temples, and cultural traditions. They face frequent threats from looters and Rift Daemons. Their situation is exacerbated by resource scarcity and geographic isolation.
• Wanderers: These groups have left the savannah, either out of necessity or by ideological choice. They seek new ways of life in foreign territories, often already claimed by other factions. Some become raiders, while others adopt a nomadic lifestyle or attempt to establish new settlements. Permanent settlements are rare.

Cultural Transformation

The collapse of their civilization brought significant changes to Beastmen culture. Their former emphasis on peace, intellectual development, and environmental harmony has been replaced by a survivalist mindset. Most have adopted aggressive practices such as deforestation and crude metalworking. Although often seen as necessary, these actions are widely regarded as a betrayal of their original values.

Political and Religious Organization

Traditionally, Beastmen tribes lacked a single central leader. Their governance was consensus-based, with spiritual guidance provided by shamans. Their religion centers on the Sacred Tree and a pantheon of deities believed to be the ancestors of each species. Despite recent upheaval, this structure remains partially intact.

In the current context of widespread conflict, warrior chiefs have gained increased influence. Decision-making is still typically collective, with each species represented in tribal councils. However, governance structures vary: some bands function as militarized warbands under strong leadership, while others maintain traditional forms of consensus rule.

Nomadism and Subsistence

Despite their urban past, the Beastmen retained nomadic practices that have aided their survival since the fall of their cities. Many bands now live as hunter-gatherers, mercenaries, raiders, or itinerant refugees. Some Wanderers seek remote natural environments to live in isolation, while others aim to reconstruct stable social structures.

Among the Keepers, certain groups are focused on exploring ruins to recover artifacts believed capable of reactivating the Sacred Tree, considered by some as the key to the people’s cultural and spiritual renewal.

Military Overview

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Miniatures

• OPR Beastmen (Official)
• Beastmen (Warhammer Fantasy, Games Workshop)
• Beasrmen (Age of Sigmar, Games Workshop)
• The Herd (Kings of War)

For a detailed look for the different units see: Beastmen Miniatures

Age of Fantasy factions

Beastmen - Chivalrous Kingdoms - Dark Elves - Deep-Sea Elves - Duchies of Vinci - Dwarves - Eternal Wardens Ghostly Undead - Giant Tribes - Goblins - Guilds of the Nexus - Halflings - Havoc Dwarves - Havoc Warriors High Elves - Human Empire - Kingdom of Angels - Mummified Undead - Ogres - Orcs - Ossified Undead - Ratmen Rift Daemons - Saurians - Shadow Stalkers - Sky-City Dwarves - Vampiric Undead - Volcanic Dwarves - Wood Elves