| Category | Tribes |
| Region | Northern Hordelands |
| Race | Theegan |
The Theegan tribe Grimyat originated on the world Osâchar. When certain members of the tribe delved into the ancient crypt of Gurapulax, the resting place of potentially the most formidable Durkoth necromancer, they became afflicted with shadow-based energies, transforming into Shades within a matter of days. Unbeknownst to them, they disseminated this curse throughout the entire tribe, infecting everyone within a week, all of whom became Shades. The most peculiar aspect of this curse was their retained ability to procreate, with their offspring being born as Shades.
The Shadow Curse of Gurapulax is no longer contagious. Attempts to remove the curse commonly prove unsuccessful; most Grimyat regard it as a valuable endowment.
Because the entire tribe are shades, they pose a formidable threat to those who dare to confront them. Fortunately for the surrounding settlements, they generally maintain a peaceful disposition. During the Athenian Crusade (1539 - 1551), they served as allies to the Holy Quinary. As a mercenary group, they were the highest paid soldiers on the battlefield. They demonstrated their worth by stealthily infiltrating enemy encampments, unleashing a barrage of arrows and attacks on their targets, and then vanishing into the shadows.
The Grimyat warriors executed a stunning display of coordinated shadow stepping at the Battle of Hound Wash. An entire unit of Theegan berserkers vanished into the nether realm, only to swiftly reemerge behind the ponderous bone troops of the skeletal warrior Ingu'palos and amidst his ranks of ju-ju archers. They swiftly rent the archers asunder before the front-line could comprehend the situation. This daring tactical maneuver proved pivotal in securing victory.
Balas Thangad, Tragaran military professor from the Blutium Citadel - "Grimyats Shadowsteppers"
Like other Theegans, the Grimyat arrived in Bal-Kriav aboard the Spire of Krak-Oth. They were not slaves like the other Theegan tribes; instead, they were stowaways. By blending into the shadows or stepping into the nether, they managed to sneak into the departing Helas Vessel, evading the archon guards and patrols. When the ship's crew entered the incubation tanks, the Grimyat did the same. Three centuries later, upon reaching Bal-Kriav, they once more utilized their abilities to vanish into the darkness. They then ventured far to the southwest, distancing themselves from the slaves, archons, and Durkoth gaining control of the land surrounding the Spire.
When the Divine Empire came to power, they were compelled to retreat deeper into Kuli-Cir. Emissaries of the group attempted to resolve the matter peacefully by asserting that other Theegan tribes were conducting the raids and they were unaffiliated with the Witch Horde, but their pleas were ignored. The trackers of the Divine Empire believed they had driven the Grimyat out of the forest, but the tribe retreated into the shadows and then underground. The tribal chieftain declared, "They label us raiders, so we must live up to that name." Consequently, the Grimyat remain a persistent nuisance to the Divine Empire.