Goatmen

Overview
The Goatmen are a race of savages, inhabiting mountainous regions throughout the world. They clad themselves in the bones of their enemies, and are a very ritualistic people. They can be anywhere from nine to thirteen feet. Goatmen also inhabit a large part of the Swamp, from which the cannibalistic savages called the Lizardmen emerged. These Goatmen wage a ceaseless war, as Lizardmen seek to take their land and devour them.

Society
The Goatmen are a divided society, though one constant remains that of what they worship: The Earth. Goatman rituals remain elaborate and tribal, some engage in acts of bloody sacrifice, tearing the hearts out of those who are being sacrificed with their bare hands. Goatman society is fairly caste based, though they are savages, they are not without some degrees of civility. Goatmen are primarily nomadic, living in small closely knit tribes, but some of these tribes assemble into mighty confederations. The societies of the marsh Goatmen have adapted to the constant war with the Lizardmen, every Goatman there being a fearless warrior, training constantly in preparation for the near ceaseless raids and assaults. They engage in bloody acts of sacrifice and ritualistic slaughter, devouring their enemies in an effort to absorb their strength, knowledge and bravery.

The Goatmen within the Imperial Mainland are far more civil and isolationist, however, they have recently went into the Rift, claiming to be serving some sort of higher power. These very same Goatmen have been seen in the Rift, clad in pelts made of human flesh and with glowing green eyes, their blood, instead of being a natural red, a black and unnatural ichor that is deadly to drink. These Goatmen engage in ritual acts of sacrifice and cannibalism, and drench their weapons in the venom of the spiders native to the Rift. These very same Goatmen have made a vile alliance with the Wildermen, and it is said that it will only be a matter of time before they emerge from that tainted and vile place to do war upon mankind, just as the Wildermen have done for thousands of years.

Strengths and Weaknesses
The Goatmen are possessed of a near unnatural strength, their legs are strong enough to shatter bone with but a single kick, and they are able to tear men limb from limb with their bare hands. Were the Goatmen to ever unite under a single army, and were they to invade the Imperium, the cost in life to stop them would be abhorrent. Goatmen have a strong immune system, in addition to thick hide and near unbreakable bones, they are adept at climbing and are possessed of a great respect for the earth, whether this is representative of being peaceful creatures, or savage warriors beyond compare, depends on the tribe itself.

The largest of the Goatmen are usually feared warriors, having survived countless battles, and stronger than all others of their race. Though rare, these Goatmen are near unstoppable on the battlefield, ignoring injuries that would fell lesser men. The Goatmen however, all share a great weakness. Though their immune system protects them against such things as disease, it does not protect them against poison, indeed their great immune system unknowingly aids poisons in their work, spreading them throughout the entire body. A poison that would render a man sick, would outright kill a Goatman if proper aid wasn't given.

Goatmen grow as they age, but they mostly stop before they reach the gigantic heights of their greatest warriors. The process in which these warriors grow to be such heights is unknown, even to this day of enlightenment and knowledge. There are many hypotheses as to why this happens, but it is mostly accepted that the stress and adrenaline of battle induces these large growths. It does explain why only their mightiest warriors get to such a size.

Goatmen are as intelligent as men, but they are possessed of an animalistic savagery that only the beast races know. Goatmen can live well over two centuries, but most die in battle, or of some sort of disease that manages to get past their immune system. Though Goatmen have a great resistance to pain, and resistance to injury, they are not without their weaknesses on the battlefield. They are not as agile as men, and though their charges may be comparable to cavalry charges, they cannot turn as fast as men can. They do not work steel, being clad in iron if they are the mightiest of their warriors, or if they are worthy of that privilege. The Goatmen that have sided with the Wildermen often find themselves outfitted with iron, or steel if they are worthy of it, and are fearless and completely without sensation. These Goatmen are the ones to be feared, for they have no respect for their own lives, and they will willingly slay themselves if it means serving their barbaric masters. What makes them do this is unknown, save that once they are under the thrall of the Wildermen, they may never be saved.

Historical Figures
Through history, several notable Goatmen have risen above the others in influence and power, having done acts for good or ill. However, there is the possibility of more influential Goatmen that none of us have known, yet.
 * Bhariwal: From what the Goatmen have known, Bhariwal was a chieftain of an unknown tribe within the swamp. He led his fellow tribesmen in war, and subjugated the other tribes under his rule, and for a time, he had the Goatmen of the swamp united under his rule, and he launched a massive campaign to try and destroy the Lizardmen, and remove them from the swamp once and for all. He led many battles against the Lizardmen, defeating them in most of the battles fought. He and his army then finally faced the Alpha and his lizards. It is said by legends that Bhariwal and the Alpha faced each other in a legendary and bloody duel, however the truth of this is disputed. Unfortunately, the lizard horde had overwhelmed the Goatmen, and Bhariwal himself was slain in the battle.

Religion
Most Goatmen practice a religion worshipping the Earth, and, many of them include the three different "Faces of Earth", which includes "Life" "Death" and "Rebirth". Their exact rituals are different depending on the tribe, some engage in bloody sacrifices, others are peaceful and invite others to join them on their tame rituals, mostly paying respect to the Faces of Life and Rebirth, whereas the more warrior-bound and savage tribes mainly respect Death and Rebirth, believing that if they die gloriously in battle, they will be reborn as greater beings, until eventually they become Gods. The Goatmen of the Rift, however, worship something far worse and far terrible.

The Rift Goatmen seem to have their own pantheon, worshipping the Wildermen as living demigods to be revered and praised, some worship the "Spider Goddess", yelling aloud praises to the vile beast. Others seem to show reverence to the Black Tower, yelling such things as "Blood for the Tower!" "The Tower demands sacrifice!", these Goatmen are truly the most savage. But most terrible still, some of the most savage and mightiest of them all, sing praises to the Sorcerer-King, performing the most barbaric and savage of rituals in his dark name. These Goatmen are the enemy of all men, living only to serve their savage masters until their inevitable death.

Excerpt from Aernos' of the South's Compendium of Monsters: Studies of the Beast Races.