Comrade (non-player character)

Comrades are non-levelled combatants that have received a small amount of combat training, so that they are more threatening than commoners. They do not need to make a morale check in order to enter battle. They possess standard morale.

Though still of the social status of commoner, comrades can be viewed as a peasant-turned-soldier, in that they're mentally prepared for the mental challenge that would provide. Some have actually witnessed the noise, chaos and brutality of warfare, and have trekked to distant parts in order to take their place on the battlefield. As such, their perception of outsiders, and their understanding of their place in the world, is very different from that of a serf.

As Hirelings

Nearly all will possess an amateur or authority-status in some kind of sage ability, most commonly farming, foraging, sailing, fishing, woodcutting, herding and the like. Hirelings that are artisans or heavy labourers are nearly always comrades.

As Combatants

Comrades possess hit points according to their body mass, +1. Their negative hit points are much reduced from that of levelled persons, such that they will die if damage reduces them to below -3 hit points.

In combat, they're serviceable in large numbers. They have a THAC0 of 21. They possess one weapon proficiency in club, though they can use a spear with a penalty of -1 to hit — though in some cultures and with some races the spear may be replaced with a quarterstaff, javelin or a machete. Their non-proficiency penalty with all other weapons is -5.

They are trained to fight with shield and in padded armour, and can make use of a helmet.

Ability Stats

A comrade's stats are generally less than those of better educated artisans, scribes, educators, artists and so on, largely because the individual's dreadfully hard life has wrought damage on his or her health over many years. When rolling the ability stats for a commoner, use 2d6+1d4. Add 1 point to both strength and constitution, to a maximum of 18. See experience, below.

Experience

Comrades can gain experience (they receive one-fourth share of the x.p. bonus after combat). If they accumulate as many as 600 points (including those they may have gained as a commoner), they may be considered equal to a soldier-at-arms, regardless of training. They cannot advance beyond this training to become levelled persons without special training.

However, any comrade with sufficiently high stats, the financial means, a tutor and sufficient time may become a character class. This is rare for an adult, and requires many years; it's far more likely for a commoner to propose one of their children for the privilege (who, still in the flower of youth, roll 3d6 for their ability stats).

See The Adventure