In the Ilk, only the strong survive. Whether it be a quick wit, brute strength or a silver tongue, no individual has a chance of survival without some innate advantage over those who wish to consume his flesh.
During their incarceration, the ancestors of the Ilks current populace frequently found themselves malnourished, and were often left with no choice but to supplement their meager rations with the flesh of their fellow inmates. Stories tell of entire divisions being consumed in a single sitting by ravenous trolls, and of ritual genocide and orgiastic consumption of the weaker, tastier races. Little has changed in the modern society of the Ilk, and the tradition of consuming thy neighbors flesh still runs strong. While there are numerous sources of food in the Ilk, they are often unreliable, and shortages have often led to the wanton slaughter and butchering of entire towns.
It is this cycle of blood lust and horror that has consumed the souls of many who call the Ilk home. The concepts of right and wrong have long ago been pushed aside by the all too urgent concepts of life and death, but still the faint glow of compassion lies in the hearts of a few. The family who rescues a starving orphan from the streets, and those who fight the clandestine war against the might of slavers; these are the tentative seeds of good that are sewn every day in the Ilk. However for every deed of compassion that takes place, a myriad acts of brutality are committed wantonly and without repent. For it is the way of the Ilk for the weak to fall victim to the strong.
The Slave Trade
Drakov cursed, then spat loudly in to the old brass spittoon that sat in the corner of the dilapidated inn. He pulled another clump of chewing weed from his pouch and stuck it between his teeth. Outside the distant rumble of Aysatha gave warning of an imminent eruption. The great mountain had been quiet for nigh on a decade now. Some read its rumblings as a prophecy. But Drakov cared only for the kings bounty in disenfranchised slaves to be that would flee towards Durale once the lake of lava broke its banks.
In the centre of Talas-Ka, under the shadow of the great colosseum, lie the infamous slave markets. It is here that slaves captured from both the Ilk itself and from far off lands, are brought en masse, and auctioned daily. They are marched in to the fenced off grounds with their arms and legs shackled, and herded in to huge cages. From here prospective buyers can browse the selection and bid on those who they wish to purchase. Generally the bigger and physically stronger races such as ogres, gnolls and bugbears are purchased for manual labour, whereas smaller and more intelligent races are preferred for tasks such as cooking and bar tending.
