In
Michael Crichton's
Eaters of the Dead (and the movie adaptation
The Thirteenth Warrior), a rationalization of the
Beowulf saga, the Wendols are a group of primitive
Cro-Magnon-like warriors of great ability who terrorize
King Hrothgar's
village. They are spoken of in
legend and it is usually frowned upon to say their
name openly. They dress in
bear skins and body paint when attacking and take their
dead with them after
battle. They also are fond of taking the
heads of those they have slain. These sort of
tactics have the lead the
Vikings to believe they are "
beasts" or "
demons" and not
human.
This group of people is Crichton's rationalization for Grendel, the dragon. The name "wendols" itself can probably be traced back to the Vandals, the name of one of the barbaric Teutonic tribes responsible for the downfall of Rome.