Adventure:Bandits

Description

As the economies of different countries rise and fall, the people of D'hennex will always need to sustain themselves. While rarely an issue for the rich in the poorest of times, the lowest commoners often struggle just to stay alive. From this abysmal situation arise two main, dangerous life choices: military service, or highway robbery. Being in the military is clearly the more moral choice, and pays better than farming, but only scarcely so. Often, a family must send most of its adult makeup away to serve their country in order to stay in the blue, and it is not uncommon at all for soldiers to die in clashes with neighboring nations -- especially with the undead. So, those of weaker moral anchoring find themselves drawn to the infinitely more interesting and profitable trade of a cutthroat.

For the most part, the families of rogues and bandits are unaware of their true activities. The piles of gold they draw home are often explained as being the turnover from a surprisingly successful business venture in the big city ... which, really, is not very far from the truth. They gather in gangs, and often strike when it is to their tactical advantage. That said, bandits are not genius war generals; frequently their idea of a strategic ambush point is simply a place where they can all hide, strike without outside discovery, and get away. Bandit strategy rarely includes such things as covering up evidence, preservation of life (their or their targets'), or even ensuring the loyalty of their own men. They are often armed to the teeth, and generally consist of strongarms and ki-knowledgeable fighters. A rogue mage might occasionally be found amongst them, but mages and psions more frequently posess sufficient brains to think of better (and healthier) ways to earn a strong coin.

Interestingly, of all the dangers of D'hennex, bandits are the most likely to leave you alive after an attack, if your attempts to defeat them are unsuccessful. While some are the evil sort who lust for blood, others have families and appreciate the value of life. They are mostly in it for the money. At least, that's the case if you're not a foreigner, alien, or other non-human. Cutthroats sometimes tend to be rather strong bigots (it goes with the low intelligence average).

Despite the despicable nature of the mass of highway robbers, some are actually in it for the good of the ill-fallen. There are those very few who would emulate Robin Hood, though none of them have come close to reaching his level of success. Some of them have even fallen victim to the pitfalls of their lacking conscience, twisting the scheme to work more for their own favor -- in the end, becoming the same brigands as everyone else.

Purpose of Conflict

The purpose of a bandit attack is quite simple: to take all of your valuables and/or women. Some are in it for the thrill, and some simply wish to kill people with less chance of retribution, but ultimately, it's all about the shiny gold they get in the end. They will take not only money and jewelry but any expensive-looking weapons and armor you may be in posession of. D'hennex has a strong arms market; Good wares can sell for a fortune.

Bandits usually strike where people are frequent to go. Rarely do they wander away from the roads and cities, except for one particular kind -- the waterfaring ones -- pirates!

Battle Strategies

The common bandit doesn't really know what the word "strategy" means. However, common sense dictates that they will get you in a place where you will find it difficult to call for the authorities, and where they can easily conceal themselves, both before and after the attack. While they have no particular death wish, they usually attack in such a disconcerted, unorganized manner that retreat is an option taken on the individual level.

Most bandits are power wielders, either of physical or ki prowess. If there are mages, they tend to assume a more intelligent position away from the chaos, supporting their allies and picking off threats while the others do the dirtier work. Psions are rare enough in D'hennex; bandit psions are truly a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit.

Bandits will flee if it seems certain that they will all be captured or killed. Their courage is about as strong as a pile of hay. Their camaraderie only typically goes as far as not stabbing the next guy in the back when he finds something juicy. There is usually a leader figure who tries to reign them in, but compliance to orders typically makes them seem more like insistent suggestions.