Cimmerian Bandit Clans

[Water Bob]

Here's a question for those of you more learned of the ins and outs of Conan's Hyborian Age....

We know that the Cimmerians fight regularly amongst themselves. Do you think that bandits exist in Cimmeria? Are the roads only dangerous because of the enviornment and the wildlife or by those of an opposed Clan?

If Cimmerian bandits do exist, then how would they be different than what we normally think of as bandit-kin?

Speculation?

 

[Hand of Evil]

I would see them as outcast of the clans, people that do not follow the rules and laws of the clans. Reasons for this:

1. Kin-slayers - someone that has killed member of their clan.
2. Malcontent - not happy with the way things are in the clan, this could be current leader selection to marriage but they got kicked out by the clan to keep the peace.
3. Bad Seeds - these are the ones that maybe have gone too far in something the clan sees as evil...worship of an evil god.

 

[Water Bob]

Can you think of any logical reason for a ruin of a citadel or a fort to be in Cimmeria? I don't think ancient Acheron stretched up that far, did it? My only thought is to place such a structure in the northeast of the kingdom, reasoning that it's an abandoned Hyperborean (and maybe ancient) structure.

Besides natural caves, I can't think of too many reasons to place "dungeons" in Cimmeria.

Thoughts?

 

[Hand of Evil]

Cimmerians are direct decendantas to Atlantians, that could mean that their land could have Atlantian ruins, outpost and such.

Oh, other reason for bandits: half-bloods.

 

[David Howery]

I never really saw their internal conflicts as 'banditry'... more like 'clash of clans', cattle raiding, and feuding between assorted families; think of them as the assorted Highlanders or Irish. Plus, a place that is so dang poor as Cimmeria has little incentive for banditry. But, whenever some outside power threatens any of them, the whole people unite to fight it.