Bandits & Brigands
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Bandits lurk throughout the world. Whether they are persecuted peasants forced to make a life for themselves in the woods, freedom fighters struggling against a corrupt lord, or hardened criminals taking what they want, bandits are a danger to travelling adventuring bands.
Human Bandits
Human bandits are the most common type of bandit encountered—many peasants suffer at the hands of their lords and have no option but to take to a life of crime.
Eohric Frewer was a peaceful woodsman until goblins burned down his house. Left with nothing, he has turned to banditry to feed his family. Wracked by guilt, he apologises while collecting travellers’ tolls.
Osred Burch is well-used to scavenging and thievery. A thug-for-hire until recently, he fled a nearby town to escape (true) accusations of murder. He is an odious individual. He wears his black hair cut extremely short.
Avel the Jolly is an immensely fat individual. He is a coward and flees combat (slowly) if injured. Avel is an excellent cook and wears food-splattered clothing.
Kaia the Proud is a middle-aged woman who possesses an iron will. Forced from her home by a petty, wealth-obsessed landlord, she exacts her revenge on any travellers of means crossing her path. Expletives riddle her speech.
Akana Khmun is a young, impulsive woman who dreams of becoming an adventurer. When she meets the characters, she makes a snap decision to join them. She tries to act as a mediator between her fellow bandits and the party to avoid bloodshed.
Adjo Repo was forced to take to the woods after he was caught gutting a deer he had poached. He is dirty and coarse. Personal hygiene is a mystery to Adjo. He wears a patchwork rabbit skin cloak.
Ibba Lieno was a man-at-arms who fell catastrophically out of favour after his liege discovered him dallying with his lady. Forced to flee, he took to the woods. Ibba is a romantic, and he is handsome in a rough, ungroomed sort of way.
Adalvert Dol is unimaginative and lazy. Convinced he is special and the world owes him a living, he delights in terrorising travellers. Adalvert is a bully and quickly backs down from confrontations with adventurers and the like.
Kebi Edfu believes she should lead the gang and constantly works to undermine the current leader. She makes snide comments and rarely acts for the good of the group. She is blind to her faults and has no friends.
Eadith Gorze is a genuinely nice person forced into a life of banditry by circumstances of birth and the predations of a local lord. She is heavily pregnant and could go into labour during the encounter. She desperately wants to change her life for the better and takes any opportunity that presents itself. She is loyal to her friends and never forgets a favour (or slight).
Half-Elf Bandits
Half-elves are often outcasts, doomed to be ostracised and scorned as nothing more than mongrels. Such individuals frequently drift into a life of banditry, finding acceptance among society’s flotsam.
Dulannis Aldarrae is a troubled young man who was thrown out of his sylvan home after being found torturing birds and other small woodland animals.
Ilasual Evdrearn was abandoned as an infant and—remarkably—was taken in by a goblin tribe. This spiteful youth learnt much from his adoptive brethren and yet has friends among them. They, in turn, use him as a spy.
Naillae Sehiateir has long, pale golden hair and overly large luminescent eyes. She has known no other life than banditry and is comfortable in the wilderness.
Tahlys Aralivar is an emotional wreck. Her mother recently told her she regretted having a half-elven baby. Since then, she has been taking greater and greater risks. Given her last name, she fantasises she is related to the legendary bard and pirate captain Vilimzair Aralivar.
Half-Orc Bandits
Half-orcs often become bandits—the race’s natural tendency to violence makes them a perfect fit for the bandit lifestyle.
Ausk Life-Taker is a swift, savage warrior. He cares nothing for anyone but himself and enjoys painting sigils on his face using his foe’s lifeblood. His fellows fear him. He has no friends.
Ignen Swift-Strike has a pockmarked face and lank black hair. She hisses when angry or upset and glares angrily at everyone she meets. She finds it impossible to trust anyone.
Narka the Ugly was lucky; she grew up loved by her parents, but her orc mother was lynched, and her father slain while trying to rescue his wife. Narka escaped, but her mother’s screams yet haunt her. She is gaunt and pale-skinned.
Silug the Rampant considers himself a great warrior and lover. In truth, he is a passable warrior, and women terrify him. He attempts to be chivalrous but comes across as patronising.
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from Wilderness Dressing: Bandits by Creighton Broadhurst.
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