Summary

The broos of the Elder Wilds differ from those found in more civilized parts of Glorantha due to differences in the breeding choices made by local broo’s.  The first is that there is a lot less human stock within local area leading to the broos being more bestial than usual.

The other is that the lack of domesticated animals means that the animals stock of broo within the Elder wilds is much more varied, goats and sheep are still present but are less significant as bison, elk, all kinds of deer, hyena or even rabbits make up the lineage of many of the broos of the Elder wilds.

The broos are also surrounded by enemies on all sides, none of the elder races or the local humans wishes to treat with them in any way. This has two effects the first that they are even more aggressive and more hostile to outsiders  than others, the second is that they are a little more likely to co operate with their own kind than normal.

Broos have been in the Elder Wilds since the dawn. Most are descendants of broos who were part of the devils army that crossed Balazar in the great darkness. Others are the descendants of humans who have been corrupted by the Chaos rift at Festering Isle.

On more than one occasion in history Balazarings have cleared Festering Isle of chaos, only to find the guards they left at the site have become foully mutated servants of chaos not a season later.  It has also been noted that the clans which dwell at Festering Isle seem to accumulate a greater range and strength of chaotic characteristics than those normally expected.

Within balazar Broos have become stronger in periods of conflict between the Elder Races, their numbers have waned in periods of structure peace.

Two historical events allowed for a particular spike of Chaos activity within the Elder wilds,

The first was the conflicts end of the Arkat stories created great devastation and voids that chaos creatures managed to fill. It took 3 or 4 generations after that point that broos and chaos numbers returned to a normal level.

The second was only a couple of centuries ago when a particularly virile Broo by the name of Happy Jack impregnated thousands of herd beasts over a 30 year period, this brought a large increase in broo populations and made the Dangerground incredibly dangerous for the next 70 years.

Elves, Troll and the Tribe of Dykene raged specific campaigns against the broos through this period and it was and Uzko hunter by the name of Nahum Longchuck who eventually killed happy Jack.

Legends & Myth

All of the Broos of the Elder Wilds know of Festering Isle and have a good idea that is situated on the river of the Damned and the location of the river. However access to it jealously guarded by the strongest leaders and gangs in the Elder Wilds.

It is seen as the centre of  broo power in the area and is often fought over by the  gangs. When other chaos creatures take possession of the island broos will fight hard to regain it.

Cacodemon is much more important and prevalent in legends in the Elder Wilds than anywhere else. He is the most notable chaos entity who left permanent marks upon the region, which means the worship of Cacodemon  to a certain extent challenges the worship of Thed within the broo population of the Elder Wilds.

The Chaos Holy Ground is a well know site in the Elder Wilds which is known to broos, orgres, chaos, trolls, humans and elves.  It is where a wounded Cacodemon fell to the ground and cursed it with his blood.

However a secret known only to the worshippers of Cacodemon is a place called the cave where Cacodemon crawled to recover from his wounds. It is a place and safety and sanctuary for chaos, deep magics of concealment  and wardings are in action and strangely for  Cacodemon by tradition  it is a place of peace.

The final legend is of the broo vampire of Gork hills, this story has done the rounds like many of the other stories of the vampires of Gork Hills. There were stories for a good 100 years regarding a Broo vampire in the Gork Hills but new stories seemed to have ceased about 200 years ago. Though other vampire stories relating to Gork Hills have continued since.

Distribution

The broos of the Elder wilds dwell in the spaces left by the major races, and in small clusters around the Chaos sites of the elder wilds.

This means they dwell round the river of the damned as a central location, but also across the danger ground, the north plain, Nandwood, the Redlands borders  and some of the foothills of the Rockwood Mountains.  They tend to avoid aldyrami woods, troll hills and human populated portions of Balazar as being too dangerous for permanent residence, however they often travel into such areas for raiding.

Key Groups

Broos gangs do not tend to be large organised or stable due to their nature, but a number of the more notable and long standing gangs of the Elder Wilds are;

• Half Horns – A prominent larger raiding group, much travelled across Balazar and other human lands. They are worshippers of Thed and have a wide mix of animals types represented. They have been the broo gang who have been controlling festering isle for most of the last 10 years.
• The Damned – River of the damned based broo gang with, newtling, aquatic and frog broos, these broos have lots of unusual chaotic features. They usually ally with key festering isles broos of any particular time. These broos mainly worship Malia and monster of the river. They are in conflict with Lady Seronde the river spirit.
• The Muthas – A cacodemon worshipping band of broos who raid across the North Plain and into the Redlands. They are known to be willing to act as guides for ogres searching for the Chaos Holy ground found in the wilds.
• Mad Dogs -A gang of vicious and violent hyena based Thed worshipping Broos, who raid across the dangerground and occasionally into Balazar proper. Brother Dog hates this gang with a passion and hunters will seek this gang out whenever they can.
• Blood Monkeys – The blood monkeys are a band of Cacodemon worshipping broos who stay close to the chaos holy ground and try to hire themselves out as guards and mercenaries to any chaos priests trying to use the site. They also are very keen on taking sentient captives which they can trade with the priests, usually for magic.
• Bison Boys – A group of large broos from bison stock who wander the north plain without any real purpose or goal. They are not the brightest of creatures, and recently after meeting one have decided they are minotaur’s not broos.  They have historically worshipped Thed, but have now appointed a confused minotaur called Mantan as there gang leader, but he is as much as mascot and prisoner as a leader.
• The Scarred Hand – A group of incredibly old and powerful broos who operate out of the cave. Some are over 200 years old and incredibly powerful as a result. They all worship Cacodemon.

They are unknown to humans , elves or trolls and only a legend amongst the broos and chaos of the Elder Wilds. They are cautious and wily and will sneak out in ones and twos take sentient victims captive.

Key Leaders

Leadership amongst the broos is a fluid thing, however a number of Leaders have been in place long enough to be notable.

• Gargood Halfhorn

The leader of the half horns and notable broo raider. He has progressed since stated in Griffin Mountain, he has gained 2 or 3 new chaotic features and is a Runelord of Thed.

• Kassa Mad Dog

Leader of the Mad Dogs and a prodigious tracker. Kass ensures that his gang is always on the move and hard to find.

• Tibirus the Dragon

A sable headed broo and leader of the Blood Monkeys. Tibirus positions himself as the ranking talon of Cacodemon in the Elder Wilds. He is somewhat reasonable and willing to deal and negotiate for a broo.

• Farahic Puskin

This newt headed broo is the Leading shaman of Malia in the Elder wilds area, does not have his own gang but works with and for numerous broo gangs when he feels the need.  He haunts the lands around the river of the damned.

• Niza the Black

This 200 year old broo is a Talon of Cacodemon and guardian of The Cave. Very few know of its of his existence and he wishes to keep it that way. He runs his pack with a rod of iron and great discipline as he demands the Cave be kept secret.

Summary
The Baboons we speak of here are not the primates that we know but larger creatures with the same levels of intelligence as humans. They have full language, magic, the abilities use tools and to worship their own Gods.

Usually native to Prax Baboons are not native to the Elder Wilds, but are imports which have prospered within the environment.

There are currently about 4,000 baboons within the Elder Wilds. These exist in about 70 family troops, but also a  good 30% mostly younger males are either alone or working in much smaller groups.

There has historically been no social structure other than the troop, but two or three leaders of larger troops are now trying to exert their influence over a number of troops.

Though they have no particular enemies with the Elder Wilds. They also have no particular friends either and will often skirmish with other races over territory and hunting rights. Recently the balazaring Orlanthi have put a price on the head of all baboons.

History
Baboons are not native to the Elder wilds but migrated here at some point early in the third age. they were not brought her by a  third party, or driven here by famine or catastrophe.

One praxian troop alpha by the name of Kageerki Ka , received a vision from the Great Monkey about a land of plenty and bounty where he should lead his people to. He was mocked and ridiculed by the other baboons of Prax, but he lead his troop north through the wastes on the path he had been shown.

Eventually passing through Gon Ortas pass and into the Elder Wilds, where he found his vision to be true.

All the baboon troops in the Elder Wilds descend from the Kageerki Ka and his troop, they initially hunted on the plain just to west of Troll Hills originally without problem, but as their numbers grew so did the friction with the trolls and after a short brief and bloody fight, the surviving baboons moved west.

Choosing to live in the woods next to the major rivers whenever possible the baboons have been happy to live on the edges of the northern plain and the Dangerground since.

Legends & Myth
The great myth of the baboon race is the Great Monkey Kingdom. However it is seen very differently by the Baboons of the Elder Wilds compared to those of Prax. In Prax the Kingdom is perceived as something which has past and was destroyed and the baboon waits for it to return.

In the Elder Wilds they see the Great Monkey Kingdom as something to come, a future promise where Baboons will have a place and a role that no one can deny. Where the injustices of Elf, Troll and Human will be no more and baboon justice will make all things right.  They also believe that every baboon should be working to make this dream a reality though many differ in how.

There are three traditions working within the Elder Wilds baboons which players many encounter;

• Enforcers – They believe that great baboon kingdom should be introduced by force and see it as a place where baboons will rule over the other races, by force. They tend to believe that the Great Monkey kingdom is for the benefit of baboons and the other races should be servitors to them.
• The faithful – These wait for the Monkey Messiah who will come and establish the great Monkey kingdom, it is a baboons responsibility to prepare for this by worship.
• Mystics – They believe that the great monkey kingdom is a mystical state of being , and the monkey kingdom is within you, and that if baboons are able to grasp hold of this truth, they will be free and able to enjoy being rulers of their own destiny.

Disagreements between these groups can be bitters and the enforcers have been known to be violent with the other groups

Distribution

Most of baboon troops can be found in the woods along the rivers Seronde and  Malara, in the Dangerground or across the North Plain. A smaller number can be found in Balazar proper or closer to the troll hills in the Elder Wilds. They tend to avoid elvish and troll strongholds.

Smaller parties of young males can be found much further afield and can be found causing trouble anywhere  in Balazar or the Elder Wilds.

Key Groups
There are a number of notable troops within the Elder Wilds which are worth noting;

Badhead Troop  – A very vicious and violent troop who hunt towards the north of the Dangerground.  They consider themselves to be alpha troops within the area, and are trying to bring other troops under their control. They also have a great dislike of humans and will drive them away from their hunting grounds with violence.

Silverface  Troop – The largest troop of baboons  hunting in the woods near Malaras river, they are not as violent as the Badhead troop, but are still trying to create a network of troops, and more dominate structure.

Blacktooth Troop – A troops that still hunts near the troll hills, They have reached accommodation with some of the local trolls and are worshippers of Argan Argar and Zong the Hunter.

Monkeyface troop– this troops hunts in the same lands as the Balazarings on the east of plains, they have developed the ability co-exists with the local humans and have friendly relations with a number of clans

Key Leaders
The four most noted baboon leaders are;

Gareeki Chaz – Alpha of the Badhead troop and strong believer in the cause of the great Monkey kingdom. He is vicious and deceitful individual who malevolent to anyone who is not in his troop and not of immediate use. Most baboons in the elder wilds are in fear or awe of him.

Iaecha Khan – Alpha of the Silverface troop and strong rival or Gareeki Chaz, he is nowhere near as treacherous as Gareeki, but is larger and more physical. His troops tends to control monkey springs through darks season.

Kemka Argan – Alpha of the Blacktooth Troop, Kemka comes across as weaker alpha, but he uses his position near the grave of  Kageerki Ka to spend a lot of time in communion with the Great Ancestor, he is much for mystical and magically orientated than his rivals.

Farikki – Most notable shaman of the baboons in the Elder Wilds and personal enemy of Gareeki Chaz, he makes his home at the footstool .

Notable Locations
There are three sites of interest to baboons with the elder wilds;

Grave of the Kageerki Ka – A mound to the west of troll hills houses the body of Kageerki Ka, which is protected from harm by the Blacktooth Troop. Most troops will try to visit the site once every 7 years to pay respect to the revered ancestor.

The footstool – This ruined Ziggurat whose origins are unknown, but it predates the EWF, has developed a significance in the mythos of the Baboons of the Elder wilds, They believe it is the reason they were led here and will be the foundation upon which the great Monkey Kingdom will be built in years to come.  It is placed in the woods to the north of Seronde river

Monkey Springs – In the middle of the north plain, there are warm spring that bubble up to form a tributary of the Malaring river, these hot springs attract baboons all year round, but especially in dark and storm seasons many will troops congregate  here to keep warm in the cold weather.