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Pictish Pictish Shaman
The Pictish Wilderness, or Pictland, is the last remnant of the
great uncivilized West which remains after the Hyborian
invasion. This region, which once stretched from the Western
Ocean to the borders of ancient Acheron, now is reduced to a
strip of wilderness a tenth its original size. Pictland is bounded on
the north by the Eiglophian Mountains, on the east by the Black
River, on the west by the ocean, and on the south by Zingara.
The Pictish Wilderness is virgin forest, filled with oaks and
maples, and haunted by creatures thought extinct by the
Hyborian world. Hyborian scouts have reported saber-tooth
tigers, giant pythons, apes and stegosaurs, as well as the more
usual wolves, bears and elk. Nearly any forest creature (either
modern or prehistoric) might be found somewhere in Pictland
and the Pictish forests could conceal anything.
In addition to the wide variety of normal animals, there are
many creatures in the Pictish Wilderness who "remember" the
worship of Jhebbal Sag. Such animals are slightly larger and
more intelligent than normal, and are more easily controlled by
Pictish shamans. The Picts worship the Animal Gods of the
pantheon of Jhebbal Sag.
Picts are a non-civilized people, short and swarthy, with broad
shoulders, deep chests, and black eyes and hair. Their culture is
focused around sustainable living, stone and bone tools, and only
occasional us of "modern" weapons either bought from the
Zingarans or stolen from Aquilonian troops.
The Pictish tribes are very independent of one another. Each tribe is named for its totem animal, such as:
Eagle, Hawk, Turtle, Bear, Wolf, Wildcat and Raven. Tribes are ruled by a chief, who is usually the best
warrior, with the cooperation and support of the tribal shaman, although every individual has a say in
decision making.
Picts are consummate hunters and trackers. They have no agriculture or animal husbandry; their dinners
are brought in through their hunting skill alone. They are also nearly invisible in the woods; western
Aquilonian fortresses have a large ring of bare "killing ground" to prevent Pictish ambush.
Picts have no understanding of Hyborian chivalry. To a Pict, there is nothing wrong with sneaking up on
your enemy and slitting his throat before he knows you are there. On the other hand, Picts in pursuit of
an intruder run screaming through the forest as they get close, to bring fear to their enemies.Pictish
weapons are the bow and the cast spear, the war club and the hatchet. They have little use for Hyborian
swords and battle axes, although they prize steel daggers and hatchet heads. They wear no armor.
Not all Pictish relations are hostile. Zingarans occasionally sail north, trading Kushite ostrich plumes,
jewelry, and weapons for skins, copper ore, and gold dust. Such trading is not without risk. A careless
captain can quickly find himself on a sacrificial altar with Pictish hands at his ship's tiller.
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