24

Guerrilla

A halfling, painted brown to blend in with the mud, huddles beneath the brush. He counts the pairs of feet belonging to the orcs as they pass along the trodden path. Satisfied and ready for battle, he whistles for his comrades and initiates the ambush.

Cackling, a half-dragon strolls out of the cow barn that was just set ablaze. Without skipping a beat, the inconspicuous farmer dashes into the fire to secure his preferred weapon, a trusty steel shovel. Noiselessly, he sneaks up behind the half-dragon and whacks it over the head.

While the wizard was raining lightning upon the vampire lord and the cleric was uttering a prayer, the guerrilla was doing the unthinkable – running straight forward with a torch and a pitchfork.

Guerrillas are humble folk that aren't afraid to take up the mantle of duty when their way of life is threatened. They use strength in numbers and subversion of expectation to level the playing field against more powerful foes.

Down to Earth Guerrillas begin their lives like many others do in Vernestus, as average folk in countryside hamlets, mud and brick desert communities, or in the boondocks of the bayou. They work as farmers, potters, smiths, ranchers, miners, gravediggers, weavers, and a whole slew of other mundane professions, never particularly striving for greatness, fame, or wealth. What sets a guerrilla apart from the rest is their determination and stubbornness in the face of difficulty. Guerrillas don't back down when they're told that they can't do something, and instead take it as a challenge.

Atypical Technique In a realm stocked with cogwork rifles, flaming swords, and magic wands, not many adventurers opt to fight in the manner of a guerrilla. Those who do become guerrillas do so because of necessity, often because they don't have enough wealth to purchase high grade weapons and are unable to find a conventional master to teach them proper technique. Thus, the fighting style of each guerrilla is unique to the individual. Veterans that think that they've seen it all are confounded when introduced to a guerrilla that was forced to train on their own.

Village Threat The motivation for many guerrillas to uproot themselves from their ordinary lives is a threat to their village that puts those around them at risk. You noticed this threat and decided to do something about it with the tools you have at hand. Village Threat d6 Village Threat 1 A coven of hags has been stealing children from your village under the cover of nightfall. 2 Orcs in your area occasionally come by and demand all of the food in the storehouses of your village. 3 The king's military withdrew from your area, leaving your village susceptible to the enemy. 4 Roving sundrians enjoy using your village as target practice. 5 Goblins harass merchants coming into and out of your village, stifling trade in the area. 6 A strange portal opened up by your village and began spewing out all sorts of demonkind.