[I was surprised at how difficult it was to find art for the Piltdown Man. Paleoart was not in vogue during “Eoanthropus dawsonii“’s time in the sun. I combined Piltdown Man with some other weird and inaccurate versions of paleoanthropology, like Raymond Dart’s killer australopithecines and the Neanderthal super-predators of Danny Vendramini]
Pilt This
bestial, hairy humanoid has an oversized jaw and muscular arms. It clutches a
rock, ready to throw.
Violent ape-like humanoids, pilts are
notorious for their aggressive tendencies towards other peoples. They have a
decided taste for meat—this mostly carnivorous diet is rounded out by some tubers,
insects and fruit. Pilts do some of their own hunting, but they are fond of
kleptoparasitism—stealing the kills of other creatures. They do this through
intimidation, thrown weaponry and sheer numbers.
Pilts live in open woodland and
savanna habitats, where they compete with lions, hyenas, griffons and other
predatory creatures. Pilts and gnolls despise each other and attempt to
exterminate the other whenever possible. Pilts have a poorly developed material
culture, but they excel at scavenging the cast-offs of others and understand
the value of metal weapons and armor. A pilt so equipped is likely to rise to
prominence in their tribe and lead raids against rival tribes of pilts or other
humanoids
Pilts are decidedly paternalistic—pilt
women are frequently belittled and disparaged, and rarely participate in hunts
or raids. This is not for any lack of strength or skill—female pilts are
ferocious in their defense of their children and homes. Pilts tend toward a
nomadic existence, making camp in depressions dug in the ground, lean-tos made
of wood and bone, and other temporary shelters.
A pilt stands about a head shorter
than the average human, but they appear much broader, due to their
well-developed muscles and hairy hides.
Pilts are native to the central regions of Koll. They lurk the savannas in small tribes, following the herds that they feed on. Their aggression towards other humanoids is strictly territorial; pilts will kill humanoid or primate intruders, but will not feed on their flesh. They revere great apes, such as gorillas and girallons.
Shores of Swords 