The Beastmen roamed the entirety of Olenara in the early years of the First Cycle. Scarcity of food during the First Winter led the other races to resort to hunting them for pelts and food, as they were the closest thing to animals that could be found. That, and the discovery that the tusks and horns of certain subraces could be ground to create addictive magic-enhancing substances. Consequently, the Beastmen fled to the continent of Onamos to avoid being poached. They flourished on the beautiful tropical continent until the First Summer, when The Inferno reduced much of the continent to desert wasteland.

With their kingdoms and cities reduced to charred foundations and ash, many Beastmen became nomads, searching for resources and stability in tribes of subraces that could endure similar temperatures and environments. These days, tribes can be traced by the colors, shapes, patterns, and number of their markings. Some of these markings are tattoos, some paint, some scars, and some are even self-administered brands. Though the tribes may disagree about many things, they all unite together against the poacher and slaver networks that span Onamos.