The Gilk were one of the clans within the White Face Barghast, led by warchief Spax. They wore their hair cut in stiff, narrow wedges and armour assembled from the plates of some kind of tortoise. They were considered to be distinctively short and stout for Barghast. Captain Paran noted that they looked to be a match for any heavy infantry they might face. They were also particularly skilled against mounted soldiers having fought interminable wars against such enemies on the plains where they lived.