Outsiders
“Outsider” is a term inclusive of anyone living outside of the city’s immediate vicinity. Though the people of the Annex don’t typically consider themselves Outsiders, plenty of Boomtown’s residents would define an Outsider as anyone outside the outer wall.
We have witnessed interactions with four groups of Outsiders so far:
In Prologue, a Keeper was wounded by a small group of mostly-naked Outsiders adorned with animal bones and wielding spears. The Captain of the expedition referred to them as “savages” and “curs”.
In Savages! we encounter the Hangman’s Horde, who raze a slum and kill every person in it except for Ricky.
The attendees of the Ruckus and Abarth, an adversary of Hank’s.
The distant tribe - a superstitious group who ingest hallucinogens and seek a connection with an entity they call Ata-Atsu.
Of the four interactions we have seen, half have been violent. Ricky sums up the average slummer’s apathetic attitude toward the harshness of life on the frontier, saying, “the Outsiders can’t kill us all,” indicating the slummers tend to regard those who would live in the Wilderness as fatally dangerous. However, he also includes among the residents of the Annex “Outsiders who can’t get in.” The Annex clearly sees its share of non-confrontational Outsiders, suggesting the perception of them as murderous savages may not be universal.
Also providing a more favorable light is the gathering that takes place on each full moon, the Ruckus:
The Ruckus
The Ruckus is a large, peaceful Wilderness gathering attended by thousands of Outsiders from various tribes. Some members of the Hangman’s Horde are said to have been thrown out for unspecified aggression, suggesting violence is prohibited. At this gathering, a wide variety of Outsiders gather around several large bonfires. They dance, meditate, eat, drink, smoke, fornicate, debate, and play music and games. It seems reproduction is a major goal of those attending the gathering.
Superstitions
There are already several distinct mentions of the Outsiders’ superstitious beliefs, the most general being Ricky’s blunt assessment of the Hangman Horde’s purpose when he says, “So… what? You’re just here to rough us up a little bit? Maybe spook us with your superstitions?” We can see it is expected that an Outsider would hold superstitions.
Following this exchange, the Hangman goes on to speak on the message of the vision they follow. It is a prediction of the future and provides the Horde with a sense of divine purpose. It is only said that they “have been given” the vision. No more is clear.
When Hank and the Hangman’s Horde travel to the distant tribe where The Demon has been found, the leader speaks briefly about the existence of ghosts or monsters in the world - “things which are not man nor beast.” Some of the Horde verify that they know of these things and seem to believe them. Before Hank cuts him off, the mystic leader also begins to speak about a woman named Semele, “who was buried with child, then rose from her grave unblemished”.
When Hank cuts off the mystic leader, he calls these discussions “Wolf of the World stories,” in a seemingly trivializing way. We can deduce the “Wolf of the World” may be a boogeyman of this world.
The distant tribe participates in a ritual in which they venerate an entity called Ata Atsu, who their tradition teaches was a man who transcended the cycle of death and rebirth. They entreat Ata Atsu for gifts of wisdom and strength.
The opening scene is also worth mentioning here. Though no superstitions are explicitly referenced, when the Captain and the Maker come upon the sinister structures in the woods they attribute them to the Relegy, whatever it may be, then speak their own protection charm (of sorts) before heading into the darkness.