Ape-men

The **Ape-men** were a tribe of humanoid primates. While violent and sadistic, they were remarkably advanced for Spear's corner of the world, constituting a true, if basic, civilization. They were led by a shaman-like leader.

## Appearance

Most members of this species were short in stature with limber features and white-colored fur. Some exceptional individuals such as the tribe's warriors appeared to be several feet tall with muscular, gorilla-like features such as conical heads and dark fur and skin. In particular, the ape men resemble the biped ape-like hominids, Australopithecines, which includes the well-known *Australopithecus* and the larger cousin *Paranthropus*. They are considered to be the ancestors / cousins of the *Homo* species like *Homo Neanderthalensis* and *Homo sapiens*.

## Culture

It is notable that they are the only beings in Spear's portion of the world (the Vikings came from across the sea) to possess an outright civilization, as they display organized leadership, as seen by the presence of the hooded figure, social gatherings, in the form of the ritual tournament, and a knowledge of logistics, showcased by the abduction of creatures like Spear and Fang for said ritual, as well as architectural masonry, with the Colosseum they built, some degree of rudimentary science, as seen by the level of magical and/or chemical expertise that they are implied to have to manufacture their enhancement liquid, and an implied means of establishing hierarchy aside from strength alone (the powerful gorilla-like warriors are a class beneath the frail-looking Ape Shaman).

The anthropoids were apparently capable of producing tools and primitive clothing, which points to the sociocultural and technological sophistication of their civilization, at least in comparison to the other tribes of Spear and Fang's lands. They used a large ceramic saucer-plate for housing their enhancement liquid, as well as water-skins for carrying water. Their shaman wore animal pelts as ceremonial coverings, as well as a bone-necklace. One of their warriors also wore a necklace, this one being comprised out of teeth.

They also had some knowledge of military technology, judging by their stockpiling of mega fauna skulls from among their many previous victims to use both as armour, using the large skulls as a full-covering helmet, and as weapons, by making use of the skulls' bony protrusions, (the triceratops skull's horns and presumably, the mammoth skull's tusks and tyrannosaurus rex skull's fangs) as armaments,

## History

After Spear and Fang are captured, a tournament is held in which five of the ape-men warriors fight to determine which one will have the honour of killing them. The winner drinks a drop of a black liquid that makes him stronger. The champion almost beat Fang to death, but Spear breaks free and drinks the black liquid himself, causing him to transform into a behemoth, go berserk and kill every ape-man in the arena. ("Rage of the Ape-Men")

## Other tribes

It was later revealed that there were other tribes of similar Ape-men (the Monkey-men) these tribes possessed better weapons and the implied ability to enslave other species. (" Slave of the Scorpion")