Kenshi - The Origins of the Skin Bandits

[@dongar2127]

Makes me wander if Skeletons in the First/Second Empire used to have a synthetic skin like in “The Terminator”. Used as an disguise for spys planted in human society, or just to negotiate with humans. But the process of maintaining and developing this skin was lost, like the creation of skeletons and many other technologies.

[@HeroInHisHead]

It's suggested that the skeletons we see now are essentially the inner workings only. The original models from the first empire had plating to appear more sleek and defined. Whether it be synthetic skin or just an outer metallic covering isn't known. But They used to be more sleek and armored than they are now.

[@ryaneftink7364]

Considering “The Guiding Light I” talks about finding Skeletons disguised as Humans, and the fact that The Holy Nation treats PCs with prosthetics like Skeletons, it’s entirely reasonable to assume at least some Skeletons had synthetic skin once upon a time.

[@varvarith3090]

@@HeroInHisHead I figured all in game skeletons in game are "second gen" - skeletons made by 1st gen skeletons, who might have look more human-like, but for some reason didn't feel a need to give 2nd gen same aesthetic. Alternatively, the reason skeletons we see today look so bulky and "industrialist" is the exact reason they still work - more sleek skeletons were more complex, making them unable to fix themselves.

[@st.dennie1149]

Just going to throw this out there, skeletons used to function in a hierarchy similar to hivers, behemoths commanded legions of skeletons, and while independently capable and intelligent, most of the overall agency of these skeletons were controlled by the behemoths. This control was similar in practice to how the queens exhibit control over their subjects, P4 units also functioned similarly to princes in this command structure. All of the older skeleton units in Kenshi are ones that were under Stobe's command, with the P4 MKII "upgrades", thralls, and finally the current iteration of hivers being the last gasps of a race who had lost their head (pun intended).

[@leaotz]

@@varvarith3090 This could also provide an alternative explanation for the Bugmaster.

[@SoOptic75]

With the recruit prisoners mod i made it a mission to "fix" the skeletons and save them. I took 150 days to train enough people for the encounter but we eventually stormed savant and got as many as we could carry. Now if only i can convince them to take off the skin, they're scaring the children. also i love your videos we don't have enough content creators discussing the amazing lore

[@treyflorek8592]

Lol

[@michiganmafia]

I've been using them to bulk out my army, I've captured at least 20 of them, and if you have a big base producing goods to sell like I do, 10-20k each for guys lvl 50-60 is well worth paying

[@hellxapo5740]

Minor spoiler ahead but I have this story of how I met these guys that I think would be interesting to share. I started as a Scorchlander in the Hub and spent some time wandering around that part of the map, and since it was my 3rd or 4th start I still was learning the ropes. Fast forward some days I have 2 followers in my group and I send my Scorchlander and one of the followers to the bottom right of the map, as I intended to see why it was grey. A bit before the grey area I look to the horizon and see brown fumes erupting from a mountain. I see a hill to the left and observe machine parts on the top of it. I decide to venture forth, hoping to find skeletons or some creatures that can withstand harsh weathers and get greeted by lightning bolts falling around my "main" character. The other character stayed a bit behind. As the main guy enters the "mountain" with the machine parts I see theres some devices spread around and see some guys with a pink-tan coloured outfit. From the distance it looks a bit off and the darkness doesn't help much. I decide to enter a building to try to see these people better and one of them invites me to where more of them are located. My other guy is by the edge of this mountain, observing these people. Guy who invited me keeps making conversation and offers me "human food". At this point something just feels wrong as I also observe how weird their outfit looks. It has holes in the face where human eyes and the mouth should be and the metal inside is clearly visible. Why are these skeletons (I assume) wearing human skin-like outfits? One of them is standing still but has his looks fixated on me as I move a bit. And then the reveal happens. "I want your skin". "Can I touch it?". This is where the madness truly unveils as they become hostile and try to knock me down. I make my guy run upstairs and I see the demented apparatus with my own eyes. This weird contraption that, although crude-looking, manages to do the difficult task of carefully removing the skin of the creature that is placed on it. I have no escape, I think. My character tries to run away but the skin wearers manage to clog the ramp leading to the machine and I am taken prisoner shortly after. And that spelled the end of this brave Ashlander who dared to wander into the Skin Bandits' house of madness. My other character is spotted shortly after and I manage to make a run for it, since he was well trained in running. As I am descending the mad mountain, I look back to a horde of these freaks following me at full speed in a single line fashion and there seems to be no end to them. I spot spider-shaped robots in the distance and manage to lead the skin bandits onto these robots. Chaos ensues and my character escapes alive into the Ashlands. And this is how I met the skin-stealing skeletons that terrorize creature of flesh that come into their territory. Truly one of the Kenshi moments I will hardly forget, for sure.

[@timpeetoom2199]

This story is so good, I had the exact opposite experience with them the first time, i found a mod that lets you start off as a fresh reset robot. You start in the Ashlands so I was wandering around exploring the area. And eventually found my way out of the Ashlands into an outpost. There they were, not violent, not agressive. Just freaky. They spoke to me off some man who I must speak with. Being a fresh reset skeleton I figured it would make sense for him to figure out who these people are and I continued wandering. Eventually finding their headquarters where I spoke with savant himself and he offered me to join them. Being a fresh reset, completely lost and un understandably mourning being, I gave in and joined the skin bandits. I was quested with finding a human to earn my own skin and a group of skin bandits were tasked to follow me, this is where the story comes short. I found a tower of some sorts. Here were other skeletons with harpoons and crossbows and since I was a new character I got one shot. Though anti climactic it is exactly the reason i love Kenshi. Such bizarreness and never did I expect to join these psycho’s

[@x-ani4061]

the fried cpu's and how they were kinda overiden by their emotions turning them insane might explain while sadneil (or any skeleton most of the time) is so meloncholic, living in such a boring place with a negative atmosphere

[@HeroInHisHead]

Sadneil is actually sadder than you think #kenshi #lore #kenshi2

[@BevvRatBites]

I've only ever played the demo, I was a crappy level one tourist who wanted to know what the black biome was so I made a grand danger filled pilgrimage. I then walked through the skin bandit door. It ended poorly.

[@_--Reaper--_]

do u have the full game now?

[@BevvRatBites]

@@_--Reaper--_ Nope, my big game has been barotrauma, I love multiplayer.

[@_--Reaper--_]

@@BevvRatBites well don't u wanna play the full thing?

[@BevvRatBites]

@@_--Reaper--_ Maybe one day

[@HolyApplebutter]

I remember yoinking Savant and running out with him without his bandits noticing. Hoping to do the same with the leader of the Skeleton Bandits. It's shame that I didn't keep him around long enough to put them into the peeler together, but considering my track record with remembering to feed prisoners he probably wouldn't have lasted anyway.

[@masonjohnson6180]

Didn’t even know you had too 😭

[@grimsgraveyard3598]

​@@masonjohnson6180nobody feeds me when I'm a prisoner and I was just fine lol. It seems like they merely wanted to add some annoyance to keeping prisoners.

[@Kysman95]

Love to see you upload more Kenshi lore! Thanks for the great video

[@HeroInHisHead]

It takes time due to the mass amounts of research and piecing together I have to do but noone else seems to really do it so im happy to. Lore is one my passions and I'm glad you enjoy my work!

[@sziklamester1244]

@@HeroInHisHead You need to upgrade you research bench also add ancient books aswell! :)

[@st.dennie1149]

@@HeroInHisHead One of the unfortunate parts of Kenshi's story telling is how little info is out there, and how little is reliable, the prequel sequel should be juicy for all of us.

[@Xaxp]

Maybe the reason they have the name "Skeleton" is because they used to have a sort of synthetic "skin" that withered away with time and damage. Since they don't have a means of reproducing it, some skeletons instead wished for... alternative ways to wear this outer layer.

[@HeroInHisHead]

Idk about synthetic skin persay. But it's actually implied that they did have an outer shell and likely looked much more sleek back during the 1st empire. Now that 1000s of years have passed and those outer shells have eroded away or broken off. All that remains is the bare frame or the skeleton of what once was

[@HeroInHisHead]

Infact if you look at the Behomoths in obedience, namely their faces, and Stobes corpse, you can see glimpses of this outer shell

[@Xaxp]

@@HeroInHisHead Thats actually pretty cool

[@Pwnicus187]

Sonorous Dark is deadlier than the Ashlands in a lot of ways. Blunt weapon only using Skin Bandits leaves even Skeleton characters in bad shape after a tough fight unless you have really high toughness. Acid also slowly eats away HP.

[@Spookspek]

Don't turn Savant in but peel him and let him starve in a cage. Got it.

[@HeroInHisHead]

Nailed it.

[@pipsqueakfirepaw8899]

I love these lore videos please keep making more of them!

[@HeroInHisHead]

Oh I plan on it!

[@drpretzel2086]

Ah skin bandits they and the southern hive were my major opponents in south lands. It was always a tough fight but surprisingly the skin bandits were easier than the Hivers but that’s mostly due to the Hivers having numbers on their side.

[@Agamemnon-w9x]

Just met these guys today, and then they kept coming. again and again, and again..

[@HeroInHisHead]

Once these hooman bois see your smooth skin they will pursue you relentlessly to aquire it

[@sziklamester1244]

Interesting story and I like the content you make. The sad thing this channel is underrated and you should have 10-20 times the subscribers.

[@HeroInHisHead]

My sub count has definitely been faster than most but slower than some. My content is kind of niche and unfortunately doesn't get pushed as much as some others. Is what it is and I just try to focus on putting out quality work for people to enjoy as when I started I felt like there wasn't enough higher quality cinematic kenshi content and almost noone was trying to really capture the lore and story of Kenshi beyond blanket statements and super vague speculation. The people wanted lore. And I wanted to give it to them

[@sziklamester1244]

@@HeroInHisHead The quality is more important anyway than the quantity but the more people listening these stories is the best for you also for them. You have a good story telling ability also you make the lore interesting. I personally like to do headcanons of any game where there is a slight chance to add lore. Also funnily the game originally was not any but the devs added a lot stuff in the game so it is rich and there are a lot of interesting characters. I just hope when Kenshi 2 will be released there will be more root story and origins of some species. What I think the Hivers just started out and the enforcers aka sheks will look alike what they are now, lorewise we will see if they will be any different or less specialized. I personally would add as hint the story could just be similar what the children of the wolf is. Basically skeletons and humans coexisted when they landed in Kenshi but the nature of humans and the less emotions from androids (skeletons) are a perfect mix for what we name fall of the first empire. I would like to see from you a similar origin story which is could be confirmed in Kenshi 2 or just be a nice theory. I personally like the gameplay more in most games but I also like the stories behind each individual or places.

[@redpilldredd9907]

Hey man. Love ur lore videos. The only good ones on KZbin. Keep it up! Thank you

[@HeroInHisHead]

I appreciate you and I am glad you like my work!

[@fumarc4501]

The multifaceted, or faces, of the factions and groups on Kenish are fascinating.

[@Rasengangstarr]

Every video you post seems to be better written and edited than the last. Great work :)

[@HeroInHisHead]

Thank you! I really try to improve my style and craft a little bit each time so I really appreciate that!

[@internettransient8525]

The skin bandits always reminded me of the flayed one necrons from 40k

[@willgnue2240]

A story well told. Watched and 👍 Liked

[@NerevariXStefPower]

dude your videos are great, your storytelling, the footage, the music... awesome work! just subbed

[@hironguyen1708]

It have been so long since you make a Kenshi video. I love it !

[@HalIOfFamer]

I really hope we get some big news on Kenshi 2 soon, I've done everything in base game 4 times over with and without mods.

[@Haru-spicy]

I always thought there was some kind of strange skeleton obsession with becoming human. You have the Skin Bandits trying to become human, but then you also have the Skeleton Bandits being brainwashed by a skeleton overlord into believing themselves skeletons. It all seems like a lot of vain attempts at resolving the human-machine conflict, like cognitive dissonance played out in flesh and blood.

[@arglebargle42]

Loving your Kenshi content, good voice over tone and good clips and editing. This is a work of love.

[@thirdworldgamer8717]

Always happy to see you

[@vortex_1336]

Hilarious that it seems like he's such a con artist that he's going to talk himself out of prison by claiming to have just been a prisoner.

[@Takayama-sama]

There is no other group of bandits or raiders I fear more than the skin bandits. My base is located far out of their range in the Boarder Zone, but even so the thought of one of their horrifying “skin harvest” events triggering drove me to kidnap Savant almost immediately after the skin bandits began hostile towards me! I’m not talking any chances with those monsters!

[@ClamMan1989]

Such a great storywriting idea from top to bottom. Beats any horror movie in concept.

[@imnotabeetleiswear6549]

I still genuinely can't go near the skin bandits, they horrify me lmao, my colony is over 1 ig year old and can take on almost anything

[@obamabinbideb2398]

More Kenshi vids, noice

[@aldrixlevy228]

savant is dream confirmed

[@mszdz1158]

God damn, that was nice to watch/listen

[@xIRHiiNO]

can you show us your shader preferences? i have tsuki and it doesn't look like this :') other than that great video dude

[@Morec0]

Based potato enthusiasts. Now if only you weren't the potato.

[@HeroInHisHead]

I've been called many things in my time... And a potato is one of them

[@elredgreenjester5147]

I found them on accident. I took shelter in their holds but they killed my squad.

[@HeroInHisHead]

We have all been there at least once. On a separate note that is some pretty fresh looking skin you have there fellow hooman. Mayhaps I can borrow it?

[@elredgreenjester5147]

@@HeroInHisHead please not again.

[@Drewisaname]

I just discovered your series of kenshi lore, it is my all time favorite game and i appreciate it so much, thanks for this content. currently binging your vids.

[@HeroInHisHead]

I've had to take some time off recently due to family stuff but I will be returning to YT soon so there will be more to come my friend. I'm glad you like my work!

[@oscarthemax7603]

another banger of a lore video

[@MauricioJimenez-y3d]

I have literally become SEVANT BY ACCIDENT. By stumbling on some ruins with error bots inside who decide to follow the first person they see as a bodyguard contract for 42,000 days becoming their NEW MASTER!!!!!

[@robertjethrogallano1053]

Hmmm alrighty duly noted, would go to thr Cannibal plains instead of Soundous Dark...XD

[@HeroInHisHead]

Which is Worse? #kenshi #lore #kenshi2 Cannibal Plains or Skin Bandits

[@t34r]

Ok, thanks for this information. If I ever go to his base I'm gonna make shure that he's dead.

[@HeroInHisHead]

Good

[@nanorurka8679]

from where is this hat that savant has?

[@HeroInHisHead]

I want to say the hat was part of the Kenshi "Genesis" Modpack. I used to use it a lot for asthetic reasons when recording but have since stopped as it kind of went downhill in terms of quality IMO.

[@Pradhan-ke7hi]

Commenting for engagement. Keep it up ✌.

[@zhugemeister8219]

Interesting video!

[@Vartrex5]

What is the name of the ambient music in the background please?

[@HeroInHisHead]

Off hand I can't remember as I use Artlist.io for background music so I have a pretty large catalog of music I use

[@mattk6343]

Wow, what is this game? The lore is pretty grimdark. I think I need to watch another video.

[@HeroInHisHead]

This be Kenshi lad. Approach with caution as it will consume you mentally and emotionally

[@thezanzibarbarian5729]

So we have the Skin Bandits in the far South East of the map. And we have the Cannibals in the far North West of the map. Both of these gruesome tribes have these horrific _peeler machines_ designed to remove limbs, skin and life from anyone unfortunate to get put into one. But my question is this. *_Neither of these tribes venture far from their areas, so how come they each have a peeler machine, but no one else in between does?_* How did they get the same technology being so far apart with zero contract between them and how come no one else has it? Were they given one each by some long past and extremely mad scientist? Of did they by pure chance, come upon or invent the same machine?

[@HeroInHisHead]

Are you using mods that may be adding them into the Cannibal plains such as Gensis or Cannibals Expanded? As far as I have seen the Cannibals don't have access to peelers as they were invented by Savant or at the very least he holds the only known blueprint of the invention.

[@thezanzibarbarian5729]

@@HeroInHisHead Nope. Not using any mods. I thought that if you took out the Cannibal boss, or one of them, and searched through his stashed goods, there were the plans to build a peeler. So I assumed, _probably mistakenly now,_ that they had one in use.

[@anegginthesetryingtimes7636]

Big fan of Savant. He may not be all there in the ethics/morality field. But what did he spend his gifts on? The greatest and only peeler Kenshi has ever seen.

[@AlaskafishStudios]

Pronounced "Hue-Man" not "hoo-man".

[@HeroInHisHead]

At the risk of shooting myself in the foot....you know that's the point right? The skin bandits often mispronounce human as hooman in their dialogue

[@cassiechildress1695]

okay u trying way to hard with your synonyms

[@HeroInHisHead]

Twas deliberate