Ubantu:Contents:Peoples:Wazimwi

Wazimwi: Ogres

The Wazimwi are similar to the standard Ogres in GURPS Fantasy Folk. They have black skin, straight or kinky black hair, which is braided in females, red eyes and protruding canines. Males are 10' tall, females around 8', both sexes dense with muscle. Wazimwi traditionally practice ritual scarification, adding lines and chevrons on their cheeks and whorls on their foreheads. They are not as ugly as standard Ogres - their features are regular and they lack body hair, but they do have a distinct musky odor (the pheromones of young Ogresses can have a powerful effect on human males). Ogre-maidens are sometimes even beautiful by human standards, but the two races seem to be infertile. The telling difference between Wazimwi and Yrth Ogres is that the female Wazimwi are of average or better intelligence and practice magic. Their culture is deeply matriarchical and they are practitioners of polyandry, males being born in a 2 to 1 ratio with females.

The Wazimwi have their own villages in the hinterlands of Ubantu, often magically hidden. These villages are ruled by ancient Hags with powerful magic. These Hags gain power from eating Humans and other sentients - they are very fond of elephants.

The Ogre Hags are wise and foresightful. They have no intention of being left behind or crushed by advancing civilization. There are long established Wazimwi families in all of the large cities throughout the Empire, where the males serve as prestige bodyguards and caravan escorts. Young females, while still beautiful, are highly paid dancers. . Civilized Ogres are just that: civilized. They are well-spoken, immaculately clean and polite, and even courteous and respectful. They are known to sometimes eat people, but never at random. Their cannibal urges are satisfied by condemned criminals, and it has been found that the threat of being eaten alive by Ogres is a powerful deterrent. Wazimwi don't lie, cheat or steal. They are not, in short, openly dangerous. On the other hand, one doesn't cheat an Ogre, and trying to steal from them is recklessly insane. Wazimwi are not interested in human justice - people who die from poison trials are foul tasting, and anyone stupid enough to wrong an Ogre gets when they deserve. Ogres are also fond of gambling with humans, and if at the end of the game the human can't pay up, the Ogre will cheerfully take an arm or leg.

Male Wazimwi who commit crimes or somehow get lost or isolated go feral, turning into wandering monsters that terrorize the countryside until they are hunted down. Some are born as Atavisms - these mutants are even larger than regular Mzimwi and are forced to knucklewalk.

Males: Enhanced ST 20/12 (74), DX-1(-10), IQ-3(-20), HT+4(45), DR+3(9), Odious Racial Habit, cannibal (-15), Musk (-5), Inconvenient Size, Cast Iron Stomach, Appearance: Scary (-10)

Females: Enhances ST 16/12 (50), HT+3, DR+3, Odious Racial Habit, cannibal (-15), Musk (-5), Inconvienent Size, Cast Iron Stomach, Appearance - Ogresses start out as Attractive until they reach age 30, then loose one level every ten years until they reach Hideous - and then keep going.