Tribe

In the wildest reaches of dark jungles, hidden mountains, vast plains, frigid tundra, or innumerable other wild expanses live people with ways uninfluenced by civilized lands. Wary of intruders and defensive of their ancient traditions, tribal folk adhere to beliefs mysterious to outsiders and understand secrets of their lands beyond the savviest intruder. More than barbarians, such people are lords, servants, and kindred of their environments, and demand the respect of all who would trod upon their lands.

Cannibal CR 1

XP 400

Human barbarian 2

CN Medium humanoid

Init +1; Senses Perception +6

Defense

AC 13, touch 9, flat-footed 12 (+4 armor, +1 Dex, –2 rage)

hp 25 (2d12+12)

Fort +8, Ref +1, Will +3

Defensive Abilities uncanny dodge

Offense

Speed 40 ft.

Melee greatclub +6 (1d10+6) and bite +1 (1d4+2) or unarmed strike +6 (1d3+4) and bite +1 (1d4+2) or bite +6 (1d4+4 plus +2 bonus on grapple)

Ranged throwing axe +3 (1d6+4)

Special Attacks rage (9 rounds/day), rage power (animal fury)

Tactics

Base Statistics When not raging, the barbarian's statistics are AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14; hp 21; Fort +6, Will +1; Melee greatclub +4 (1d10+3) or unarmed strike +4 (1d3+2), no bite; Ranged throwing axe +3 (1d6+2); Str 15, Con 16; CMB +4 (+6 grapple); Climb +4, Swim +4

Statistics

Str 19, Dex 13, Con 20, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8

Base Atk +2; CMB +6 (+8 grapple); CMD 15 (17 vs. grapple)

Feats Improved Grapple, Improved Unarmed Strike

Skills Climb +6, Handle Animal +4, Perception +6, Survival +6, Swim +6

Languages Common

SQ fast movement

Gear hide armor, greatclub, throwing axes (2)

Boon A cannibal can assist the PCs by tracking a single sentient creature (or a single group of sentient creatures) through the wilderness for up to 3 days.

Cannibals are ferocious, savage humanoids, feral people with a taste for sentient flesh. In battle, they charge with savage war cries, often tossing their weapons aside to hurl themselves onto their foes with hunger and abandon, eager to taste the blood and flesh in the ecstatic heat of battle.

Cannibals can also be used as regular barbarian tribesmen. In these cases, they might have different rage powers (such as intimidating glare, powerful blow, or superstition), and their feats can be replaced with Endurance and Diehard, or Power Attack and Cleave. A cannibal with the scent rage power makes a skilled tracker, while one with swift foot can easily run down prey.

Cannibals are usually found in hunting parties of four to six (CR 5 or 6), often accompanied by an equal number of half-tamed large dogs (CR 6 or 7). Eight cannibals might accompany a shaman (CR 8) or a chieftain (CR 11).

Shaman CR 5

XP 1,600

Human adept 7

N Medium humanoid

Init –1; Senses Perception +1

Defense

AC 12, touch 9, flat-footed 12 (+3 armor, –1 Dex)

hp 31 (7d6+7)

Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +6

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee mwk sickle +4 (1d6)

Adept Spells Prepared (CL 7th; concentration +8); 2nd—cure moderate wounds, web (DC 13); 1st—bless, command (DC 12), cure light wounds, obscuring mist; 0—guidance, stabilize, touch of fatigue (DC 11)

Statistics

Str 10, Dex 8, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 11

Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 12

Feats Brew Potion, Combat Casting, Craft Wand, Improved Familiar, Self-Sufficient

Skills Craft (alchemy) +10, Heal +12, Knowledge (history) +6, Knowledge (local) +6, Knowledge (nature) +6, Knowledge (religion) +6, Profession (herbalist) +10, Spellcraft +6, Survival +13

Languages Common, Ignan

SQ summon familiar (smoke mephit)

Combat Gear wand of burning hands (CL 5, 50 charges), wand of cure moderate wounds (50 charges), alchemist's fire (2); Other Gear masterwork studded leather, masterwork sickle, wooden holy symbol, 4 gp

Boon A shaman can craft potions for PCs at a 10% discount or make up to three knowledge checks on their behalf. A shaman can also give them a sacred token that grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks with tribes within a 20-mile radius.

Shamans are the keepers of wisdom, myth, and medicine, the watchers over birth, life, and death within primitive tribes. They keep the ancient rites and appease the nature spirits, reading the signs in the smoke and tending the pyres of the honored dead while calling down a burning wrath upon those who would violate the tribe's territory and way of life.

Shamans may tend to good or neutral tribes with long histories and heroic traditions, or might be sinister witch doctors urging depraved cannibal tribes to darker evils. They are usually found in the wilds, but may be encountered in towns or cities, particularly if drawn there by visions or the voices of the spirits.

A shaman may keep a gladiator, monster hunter, or raider as her bodyguard (CR 7), or might have two doomsayers as apprentice shamans (CR 6).

Chieftain CR 10

XP 9,600

Human warrior 12

N Medium humanoid

Init +1; Senses Perception +2

Defense

AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +1 Dex)

hp 102 (12d10+36)

Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +3

Offense

Speed 20 ft.

Melee +1 human bane greatsword +17/+12/+7 (2d6+7/17–20) or +1 human bane greatsword+19/+14/+9 (4d6+9/17–20) vs. humans or handaxe +16/+11/+6 (1d6+4/×3)

Ranged longbow +13/+8/+3 (1d8/×3)

Statistics

Str 19, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 10

Base Atk +12; CMB +16; CMD 27

Feats Critical Focus, Diehard, Endurance, Improved Critical (greatsword), Intimidating Prowess, Lunge, Toughness

Skills Climb +7, Handle Animal +6, Intimidate +19, Perception +2, Ride +4

Languages Common

Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds; Other Gear hide armor, +1 human bane greatsword, handaxe, longbow with 20 arrows, belt of giant strength +2, 18 gp

Boon A chieftain can grant safe passage through lands within 20 miles; no tribes within that area will attack the PCs.

Chieftains lead cannibal tribes and other savage groups through raw strength, fierce cunning, and sheer force of will. A chieftain holds a mighty weapon as a symbol of his leadership and as a warning to those who would challenge him, for the blade has tasted the blood of as many rivals within the tribe as that of enemies from without.

As with shamans and cannibals, chieftains can rule either proud, noble barbarian groups or bestial, degenerate cannibal tribes. A chieftain who claimed his position by virtue of his heroic deeds might have a dragon bane or magical beast bane greatsword instead of the listed weapon, while a powerful cannibal chief might wear the heavier armor and wield the foreign weapons of defeated (and consumed) foes.

Chieftains can also be used as simple, direct gladiators, or even as high-level guardsmen, perhaps in charge of an entire castle's or city's guard force. Such guard generals wear heavier armor, usually banded mail or full plate (AC 18 or 20, respectively), and might possess the Power Attack and Cleave feats instead of Endurance and Diehard.

Chieftains are usually found with two raider bodyguards, a shaman, and a dozen cannibals (CR 12). A chieftain might also lead a raiding party of 10 raiders (CR 13) or nine vikings (CR 14).