Larcenous rogues on the roads preying upon travellers...

BANDIT (#4/31, #4/365) [POT]

SKILL: 6

STAMINA: 6

ATTACKS: 1

WEAPON: Club, Sword or Bow

ARMOUR: Leather Cuirass or Small Shield

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Forest, Hills, Dungeons, Ruins, Caves

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 2-7 or 4-24

TYPE:Humanoid

REACTION: Unfriendly

INTELLIGENCE: High

BANDITS are robbers who specialize in waylaying travellers for gold and valuables in rural or woodland areas. They typically operate in small to medium groups led by a self-styled chief or 'Bandit King' (BANDIT CHIEF, SKILL 9 STAMINA 11, Sword, Leather Hauberk). In these groups "Might makes Right!" and some bandits, becoming disillusioned with the traditional hierarchy, switch to a life of wandering adventure instead.

Bandits can be found in almost any terrain that supports a living of robbing passersby, but prefer woods and hills for ambush opportunities, and also make their lairs in dungeons, caves or ruins. They will be armed with swords or clubs, and usually a a bow of some description, as well as scraps of armour such as a small shield or leather cuirass.

Experienced bandits and groups of similar fighters, such as mercenaries down on their luck, or soldiers on the losing side to a battle, are often known as BRIGANDS (SKILL 8 STAMINA 8) and are slightly tougher but otherwise identical in organization and armament. Brigands sometimes practice a warped code of honour, including dueling with the Brigand Chief for one's freedom or guessing the correct marked sword in a thrown pile of blades, for example, but can also be just as happy to resort to pure banditry as well.

Famous bandits from Allansia include the late Marg the Slaymaster of Ciarensia, or the infamous Agbar the Victorious, while elsewhere we have the bandit-adventurer Rudlak Ashkul of the Baklands, or the mysterious Mask from Ruddlestone, who not only wears an iron mask to hide their face but also wields a glowing magical sword to boot!

(See also: Air Brigand, Highwayman, Outlaw)

Bonus Item!

Dragonscale Shield (#5/31, #5/365) [EA:V2] (Enchanted Item)

This is a large shield whose outer protective surface is made from the largest scales from a Dragon. It can be used as a regular shield in combat, but also provides protection against the breath weapon of a Dragon of the same type as the shield's scales, or other magical attacks of a similar nature. When attacked in such a manner, the shieldbearer may use the shield as cover, allowing them to add 2 to the Armour Roll and reduce any STAMINA damage suffered by half.

Roll on the table below to determine the type of scale the shield has, and what it will protect against.

Roll Scale Colour Protects against Breath Weapon

1 Green: Fire attacks

2 Red: Fire attacks

3 Blue: Lightning or electrical attacks

4 White: Cold, ice or frost-based attacks

5 Black: Poison gas or acid-based attacks

6 Turquoise (from a Sea Dragon): Steam, boiling water or heat-based attacks

In order to make a Dragonscale Shield, the scales must all be taken from the same individual Dragon, and bound together using the Gum of an Amber Pine.

Not available for purchase