Raging Cannibal (Barbarian Archetype)
Most civilizations view the act of cannibalism, whether it be viewed as the consumption of one’s own species or the consumption of other sapient beings by sapient beings, as a vile act, something that robs sapient beings of their dignity by reducing them to food, in addition to murdering them.
Some societies, namely those living on the fringes of the known world, view it differently. To them, devouring others, namely those they defeat in battle, represents an act of proof of combat superiority, as well as symbolically (or perhaps literally in a world of magic) adding their strength to the victor’s own.
That being said, such a literally bloodthirsty viewpoint unnerves others at best, and outright terrifies many more. Such a cultural tendency with these “raging cannibals” makes it hard for them to make friends with members of other cultures, and can lead to many a faux pas.
However, there is no denying that few can match the vigor of a raging cannibal with blood on their lips.
Used to taking a chunk out of foes in the middle of a fight, these warriors are quite adept at using their jaws as weapons in a fight. What’s more, they eagerly swallow down the flesh of those they slay with said bites, which only seems to invigorate them, increasing their reserves of stamina for their battle rage.
As one might expect, their bloodthirsty displays are quite alarming, and they capitalize on this in combat.
Eventually, the vigor they regain from their bites also bolsters their pain tolerance, allowing them to take more punishment.
Going for the juiciest blood vessels, eventually these warriors learn to aim for such soft spots and tear them with their jaws, accelerating blood loss.
The rage powers associated with this archetype include those that bolster fortitude (need to resist those blood-bourn illnesses) and intimidation.
As you can imagine, this archetype is extremely aggressive, even compared to other barbarians. Your general strategy will be to rush in and attack up close with both jaws and your weapons of choice, Trying your best to finish off foes with the bite for all the benefits. As such, consider buffing up your heal skill to better judge the liveliness of foes. In addition, find ways to buff up your bite damage as well, since you’ll be using that a lot too.
Even other tribes may seek to avoid those that allow these cannibals into their midst, especially those that comprise mainly of such individuals. Furthermore, the burial rites of such cultures may vary a bit, as I can imagine that a higher percentage of their dead rise as ghouls compared to other cultures, for the obvious reasons. All of these things are unique challenges a character of this archetype will likely face.
Half-feral and utterly alone, the changeling that answers to Harqa was cast out at a young age when the village shaman recognized her as daughter of an annis hag. Now a grown woman, the curious slag may wanders the wilds, though she has inherited a form of dark magic from her mother, devouring the flesh of prey and predator alike to invigorate herself.
Named for its crimson stone, Wounded Gorge looks just like a tear in the flesh of the earth, and the nomadic tribes give it a wide berth, as it is home to the Fang Tribe, who often go raiding just to face the defenders of the caravans and feast upon them.
The orcs of the Ringing Caves live near a colony of destrachan, and though they are too strong for most orcs to face, those seeking to become chieftain must face one in combat and devour its flesh in the ritual of foe feasting, so the new chieftain may have a voice capable of commanding the whole tribe.