Manual: Mercenaries and Bandits (2024)

Ruffians are various ne’er-do-wells from across Calradia, containing peoples of all backgrounds. Among their number you have the desperate who turned to banditry with little more than the clothes on their back, those who fell in with various gangs and are on the run, those who lost everything, and those who sought to flee bondage be it slavery or serfdom. You even some not-so-bad-off folks that decided that a life of crime sounded exciting and were too young and/or stupid to realize the consequences.

They are of dubious military worth, with their only particular advantage lying in that they carry a bunch of stones to throw before they go into melee. It might help them out, but anything with a shield will be effectively immune to them… like most soldiers. And in melee, anyone with actual armaments will probably cut through them…

Lackeys are a step up from your common ruffians, consisting of those who have at least cut their teeth on a job - this might be cutting a purse, a bit of intimidation, theft, or just some cow tipping. They have basic armaments, often including a small shield and a weapon or something two-handed, but the light armor (if any) they might wear is not reliable and they will suffer if pitted against even levied warriors. They still tend to carry a few throwing stones, but those are of limited value.

Their next step is to become a proper rank-filler of a bandit group, the question however will be in what form they will become such. As Footpads, they can continue being general meat for the grinder and actually get some decent melee weapons. As Hurlers, they will throw an assortment of projectiles at the enemy and become skilled skirmishers.

Footpads are the rank fillers of any half-organized bandit group that has equipped itself. Although they have at least basic padded armor of varying qualities, they are not consistently armed due to the realities of running with bandits. They’re good enough to take on militia troops and some irregulars in open combat, but even well-organized levies will probably get the best of them. Still, they’ll make the levies work for it.

Though they all have at least some throwing stones out of old habit, they have downgraded to a single satchel. On the flipside, some carry something heavier to huck at a target…

There is one more step that these scum and villainy can take, and that is to fully organize. This allows them to become proper Brigands, either in infantry or cavalry form. Alternatively, they may move past being dedicated brigands and become mercenaries, specifically a Calradian style Lanciarius, if their warlord has the right leadership talent.

Bandit Hurlers are equipped with a variety of throwing weapons, an often confounding mixture of throwing axes, javelins, darts, and even throwing blades. Worse, they tend to forgo shields, making them much more vulnerable to return volleys. Nonetheless, they have the potential to even the playing field by ruining enemy shields.

If they wish to cement their skills, they will become Brigand Javelineers. If they instead choose to become true missile infantry, they will become Brigand Crossbowmen. Alternatively, a warlord with the necessary skill could instead get them out of their criminal life and have them become Mercenary Exculatores. After all, most of their predecessors were former brigands.

Standing somewhere between full-time raiders and mercenary soldiers of fortune, Brigands are decently equipped foot troops, if non-standard. They reliably have padded armor, and many of them are fitted with basic maille, which combined with good shields makes them a rather durable unit for a common bandit. For armaments, Brigand Infantry still vary but now their variance is between various one-handed weapons including spears, axes, maces, and swords as well as which projectile weapon they will carry. Shields further their resilience, even if they vary a bit.

Ultimately, they are a simple and straightforward all-in-one bandit who can be used to pad your ranks and actually engage organized troops with reasonable effectiveness. They are still going to lose against dedicated regulars if they take them head-on, but at least now they won’t be easily brushed aside.

These mounted brigands act as various forms of light horse, using speed to run down light enemies or better yet routed ones. They are armed fairly simply - spear, shield, and a sidearm - but they are somewhat easy to mass if you are able to get enough horses together. They have the same limitations as their infantry counterparts in terms of armor and should not be expected to fight knights and their ilk head on, but they are an excellent way for bandits to rush enemy archers before the rest of the ranks are turned into pincushions.

Armed with two satchels of javelins, these javelineers are excellent at destroying the shields of enemy infantry or outright killing lightly protected enemies. They are relatively consistently well armed for a group of brigands, but they also tend to be at the back of the line when it comes to having maille issued out, leaving them rather poorly armored for a combatant of their tier. Nonetheless, the damage they can do is important for any gang that wants a vague hope of being able to overcome regular troops.

Crossbows are not a weapon that most would expect brigands to be armed with, as it is something of a complex weapon. At the same time, it is also a very easy weapon to learn how to use meaning that there are few restrictions on training - after all, not all brigands come from a background that coincides with an archer culture. However, the relative rarity of crossbows among brigands means that only veterans are liable to be equipped with them, and only by the most successful of bandit gangs.

They can put the hurt on armored enemies, but heavy armor will still stall them out and rate of fire is already a weakness. Unarmored enemies, especially with shields removed, will not be so fortunate…

Forest Bandits
These brigands make their home in the woods, and while they might style themselves as goodly heroes such as the Brethren of the Woods or legendary robbers from Balion, in practice they have become little better than bandits. In combat, they rely on a mixture of longbows and spear infantry backed by a couple robber knights as cavalry… or are the retinue of the aforementioned robbers.

These outlaws are woodsy types who have been forced to make their way into the wilds, bringing with them a certain talent and irregularity. While the vast majority of them have acquired hunting bows for their own use (many of them being ex-poachers) arrows have been harder to come by. As such, this unit is really a melee unit that sometimes can shoot rather than a proper ranged soldier.

These brigands understand the need for effective spear usage, and while their shields are often smaller than is typical for spearmen they are relatively able frontline units. They should not be mistaken for true counter-cavalry, but they are a quite able option for those seeking a way to deter such.

With further training they can become proper Brigand Spearmen, with the addition of (light) maille armor giving them a good leg-up here. However, some under a warlord of sufficient skill might instead become a Mercenary Lanciarius.

Woodland Hunters are armed with bows, having been poachers or just sporting archers who are now turning it into a more profitable trade. These hunters are well on the way to becoming skilled longbowmen, but will need more time to really master it. In the meantime, they provide lethal ranged support against lightly armored enemies.

They may upgrade into Woodland Longbowmen, furthering their training as archers.

Brigand Spearmen are mail-clad frontline warriors who are, quite honestly, capable of handling themselves and even fighting regular troops. They still carry throwing axes to help handle shields, and add to it the option of using a good hefty axe in melee combat to hack into enemy shields if spears are not enough.

At this stage, they go one of two ways. Those that remain brigands will become Brigands-at-Arms, a full-coverage infantry unit with spear, a mace, and throwing axes extremely well suited for being melee warriors. Alternatively, they may become Mercenary Billmen in the model of those men-at-arms from Balion accompanying their longbowmen.

Woodland Archers are, well, self-explanatory. Double satchels of hefty arrows to cut into armor, their longbows, and some decent coverage in terms of armor. These men of the woods can make an ambush lethal, and honestly can do a good job at threatening even regular troops as long as shields are dealt with by their comrades.

At this stage, a choice is posed to them: in most cases, they will become Woodland Longbowmen to finalize their role by emphasizing their ranged potential. However, men from Balion sometimes come to the continent in mercenary companies, with longbowmen who are a bit better in melee. As such, a leader with the right knack might instead clear these men’s names so they might serve as Mercenary Longbowmen. The choice is up to their master.

Brigands-at-Arms are near-professional men-at-arms in service of a robber baron or other bandit leader. Equipped with a single-handed thrusting spear, throwing axes, and a mace to whack armored enemies, they are a good unit against more or less any threat they face and in some ways are a standout unit. Of course, getting them to this point is a difficult task as you need to be able to recruit the right brigands to train accordingly.

While attrition might be a strategic concern, in an actual battle their variety of weapons can get them confused as to which one is best for the situation at hand. That, and smaller shields than Imperial Skoutatoi or Vlandian Armored Sergeants. Still, for bandits? High quality.

Self-explanatory longbowmen from the woods. Decent maille armor, double satchels of some rather hefty arrows, and in melee they are armed with a sidearm. The sidearm might be a two-handed blade, though usually not. Maces also make a showing, though are uncommon.

Not all of Vlandia’s knights have remained chivalrous. Be it out of financial trouble, running afoul of their oaths, or simply personal desire these knights have taken to a life of banditry and become some easily fearsome foes. They are still nobles and if put to death would be executed as such in terms of dignities, but they are no longer recognized knights of Vlandia as they once were.

Under the guidance of the right warlord, however, they could become Vlandikon to fight as part of those mercenary knights instead, which could lead them back into grace with Vlandia’s chivalric brotherhood or the Empire’s adaptation of it.

Hillmen, despite the preconception, are not always bandits and raiders. However, most in Calradia are exposed to them by seeing them in such a role… after all, the Hillmen who are not busy being brigands are usually indistinguishable from other kinds of foresters!

In combat, these Hillmen act as pocket skirmishers with a satchel of javelins and then a hand weapon, sometimes equipped with a small shield. From here, they become Hill Warriors.

Hill Warriors are brawlers equipped with good sized shields, a hand axe, and throwing weapons not too dissimilar from Imperial Infantry. Indeed, many of them were former Imperial Infantry or descendents of such. They may not match their professional counterparts, but they are burly and able to handle a scrap.

From here, a choice arises: they can continue as “bandits” by becoming Mountain Warriors, or they may by the direction of a warlord with the right kind and quantity of leadership become Mercenary Cohors - these warriors would be where such were drawn from in the past, after all. If neither path is appealing, they may instead become javelineers as Mountain Skirmishers.

Clad with rough maille or scale, these warriors are more than a match for their counterparts in the Imperial Armies and mark a point where a band of mountain warriors are becoming the threat that the Battanians are held as. They still use relatively common patterns of throwing spears, but their melee weapons remain fearsome axes suited for cutting into opponents.

May upgrade into Mountain Infantry to cement their so-called ‘barbaric’ strength, or their experience can make them Veteran Cohors under the right leader.

Mountain Skirmishers are dedicated raiders and marauders, who have the job of getting in close to hurl a bunch of javelins before falling back to support the main push. They tend to wear much lighter maille, if any, compared to their warrior counterparts but make up for it by carrying fearsome angon throwing spears. This gives them a lot more impact in a short time as a skirmisher, though it does mean they need to get close to do it.

They may either become hardened Mountain Brigands to reinforce their protection, or could have their past experience used to mark them as Mercenary Veteran Exculatores if their warlord has the right leadership talent.

Mountain Infantry are essentially Skoutatoi, just barbarian. Well armored, well protected, and have traded the axes for maces and hurl Nordic style angons instead of pila. All in all, these men could spell a terrifying end for the Imperial Armies if such barbarians mass in enough numbers… which, of course, is going to be the issue in all likelihood, without the population centers of the Empire to draw on.

Mountain Brigands, armed with two satchels of Nordic-style angon throwing spears to devastate the enemy up close and well armored for the subsequent melee, are some of the most dangerous infantry skirmishers in Calradia over short bursts. Of course, they lack the numbers of more regular forces, so they need to make their spears count.

These bandits are men of the steppes with limited means, who despite needing to go into battle are unable to travel with a shield. Nonetheless, their desperation makes them dangerous and they are often armed with the tools to hunt for their food as well, making them rather versatile with a spear despite their lack of armor or shield for defense.

As they are men of low rank and status, it is easy enough to draft them into serving as Khuzait Auxiliary Spearmen with the right kind of leadership, a policy that wise begs and khans may wish to pursue in order to field sufficient infantry. Alternatively, they may become Steppe Brigands to more effectively organize their banditry.

Relatively well-organized bandits, Steppe Brigands are skilled javelin skirmishers who ideally will hit the enemy from an ambush and catch enemy cavalry with their javelins.

From here, they are going to find themselves being used as a proxy in some conflict. A sufficiently capable leader might reforge them into Mercenary Exculatores or Equites, trading a potential fate in some notable’s mines for mercenary work. Otherwise, one of the many factions interfering with the Steppes can retrain them as Steppe Raiders to mount them as a steppe raider should be.

Having acquired horses, these renegades and raiders are well suited for hit-and-run attacks with their throwing lances to wreck enemy shields before weaving through loose enemy formations to try and hack them apart. This makes them good as a supporting arm, particularly in clearing away enemy shields for other brigands they fight for.

They have made a career out of raiding and such, and as such are well suited to become veteran Equites under a commander of sufficient (and correct) leadership. If not, becoming Steppe Marauders is their alternative.

Equipped with throwing lances, these marauding warriors strike hard and fast with their throwing lances before withdrawing. Once they have depleted their thrown lances, they make use of hand axes to hack apart anyone they ride down. wHy not horse archers, you may ask? Javelins break and get lost less than arrows, and these bandits need to be mindful that they will not always have fletchers on hand…

Bedouin Raiders are often the younger members of a Bedouin tribe who seek to prove themselves in battle, and to that end often go looking for trouble in the form of intimidating (or attacking) caravans and travelers in the Nahassa. This practice is far from universal, but it does sadly contribute to the complicated relationship between the settled Aserai and their nomadic kin.

In combat, they prefer to fight as light infantry by hurling in javelins before closing into melee. Some carry a longer spear instead of more javelins, though the spear is always short as they have to carry everything.

These men may become Bedouin Warriors, essentially maturing as they already are, or they may be drafted as Auxiliary Skirmishers by a warlord of the right leadership talent.

Skill with the bow is no stranger to the Bedouin, even if it is not a weapon that is considered iconic to them compared to javelins or spears. Nonetheless, there are quite a few in their ranks who are talented with the bow, such as these trackers, hunters, and scouts.

With a bit of leadership, or at least the right kind, these men can be inducted into the new Aserai Master Archer’s Guild as Guild Archers, adding their expertise to the growing Aserai talent for archery.

Warriors of a Bedouin tribe can often be found in the Nahassa seeking to attack caravans, or preferably demand tolls from them. If not, then when battle commences they fight as skilled skirmishers who also tend to be handy in a brawl. Despite this often fraught relationship that has seen most write them off as bandits, they also often find themselves in cities where they can hire themselves out to anyone willing to pay them.

Much like the raiders who give them a bad reputation, they primarily fight as skirmishers though a few also carry short spears in lieu of a second satchel of munitions. Basic armor rounds out their protection.

These Warriors have a few paths before them, depending on the talent and desire of their leader. They can always continue their path as a warrior, either becoming a heavier footman for the frontline as a Bedouin Footman. Or they might mount up on a camel to become a Bedouin Camel Warrior and act as a counter-cavalry combatant.

Bedouin Footmen have shifted away from being skirmishers as they have gained the means to armor themselves effectively, and have now become heavy infantry units. Though their armaments are a mixture of swords, axes, and maces, they are all equipped with javelins to hurl into the enemy before melee begins and have acquired maille to protect themselves.

Bedouin Footmen are still considered to be bandits by many, but under a leader of the right capability they can become Bedouin Infantry to move past this entirely and become a true professional soldier to boot.

These desert infantry are well equipped and quite dangerous warriors that are not often associated with the Aserai. Hardy and skilled, they are more than a match for Calradian soldiers, though perhaps do not have the same level of heavy armor as the Skoutatoi bear. Nonetheless, at this point they have done well enough to no longer be considered brigands by most even if they never were such to begin with, and have taken well to the professional training available to them among the cities. They are a potent mixture of traditional honor honed by innovative training.

Camel Warriors are bedouin that have mounted up in order to serve and fight as anti-cavalry warriors. Their job is more or less to hunt down other horsem*n and put them in the ground, denying them the advantage of mobility. To this end, and taking advantage of being mounted and so able to better store extra equipment, they are armed with a long spear, and a shield with a sidearm in the event the spear breaks. They excel at dismounting other cavalry, but do not have the endurance to get into a brawl with infantry.

The best of them may become Bedouin Cavalry, professionalizing and forcing people to stop seeing them as desert rats… usually.

The Bedouin usually do not have professional soldiers as the Calradians may envision them or the settled Aserai with their new Mamelukes. On the other hand, those who fight for various lords often find themselves becoming professionals through simple duration and being exposed to it. Taking well to this training, these Bedouin have combined this into a fierce and potent counter-cavalry force.

Sea Raiders
While they are the iconic force of the Nords, referring to them collectively as ‘Sea Raiders’ would be like calling all Calradians legionaries - inaccurate to say the least. Nonetheless, these Nordic pirates regularly harass Calradia’s western shores, and for those seeking a Nordic host this could be a good place to look for recruits… with the right leadership, at least.

The youngest of the Sea Raiders, often joining a crew in the hopes of earning enough money to get out of poverty or just to make a name for themselves. They are often spear armed as many of them are too poor to afford better melee weapons, though frankly the spear is a perfectly respectable weapon all on its own.

They may become proper Sea Raiders or, under the right leader, become conventional Nord Warriors.

These are your mainline Sea Raiders, men with enough experience to be dangerous but are still a far cry from full time warriors. Their axes will make short work of shields, and if they get in close they can do a lot of damage. Do not expect them to be good at fighting cavalry, though.

Under the right leader, they may become companions and eventually Huscarls.

These bowmen provide a bit of reach to a Sea Raider party, though ultimately they are mostly youths that have a bow.

Under the right leader, they may become Nord Archers.

Whether they believe that their fate is in the hands of the gods and so they have no need of fear or armor, or more likely they deliberately style themselves as such legendary raiders for the intimidation factor, Marauders bring two-handed axes to the fray but not the armor to back it up. Well, if their fate is in the hands of the gods, it seems the gods are eager for them to die to the first arrow…

With the right leadership, these desires for glory - or the shocking reality - can hone them into fierce and fearless Nord Berserkers.