Scrounger
When one thinks of the Kandoran military, one generally thinks of one of two things: Either necromancers using their dark magics to control large masses of undead warriors lurching forward in an unstoppable wave or skilled and highly maneuverable cavalry from the nomadic desert tribes.
What they don’t imagine are fast, infiltrating foot soldiers that can squeeze anywhere and find anything. This is mainly because large-scale combat is usually fought by the more recognizable troop types when Kandor goes to war.
However, smaller bodies of troops often have a need for someone who can slip into places others may not be able to go or to infiltrate unseen onto a battlefield in a position that gives Kandor the advantage.
This is where the Scrounger, as they are often called, comes into play.
While Kandoran cavalry is fast and very maneuverable, they aren’t easy to conceal. Undead soldiers have true shock value and pay no attention to battlefield psychology, but they are not sneaky and are more of a blunt instrument. The Scrounger gives Kandoran commanders a measure of finesse on the battlefield and allows them to search for and find objects that may be the goal of their own forces or to deprive the enemy of them.
Scroungers come primarily from the cities of Kandor. They use their urban experience to find ways to move onto a battlefield undetected by their enemies. They work on foot where they can easily move ahead of the main Kandoran forces.
Once there, the Scrounger calls upon their real talents: their knack for finding important items on the battlefield and securing them for their freeband. Though lightly armed and armored, they are fast and can position themselves to take advantage of their strengths. They avoid most of the combat, something they’re more than happy to leave to the undead contingent or trained soldiers.
Scroungers are drawn from different sources, but many are recruited straight off the streets. Young waifs in large cities survive by being able to navigate the maze of back alleys and people-choked thoroughfares, often using their light fingers to steal food and supplies. They make great recruits, putting those skills to work on a battlefield.
Other scroungers come from archeological sites. Though unrecognized by many outsiders who focus on their use of necromancy and slavery, Kandor has a long fascination and expertise in archeology going back to the Great Khan Telrat.
It was Telrat that discovered and exploited the ruins of Krai Jan cities below the surface of Kandor City. There, the remains of a necropolis beckoned and called to him. Its discoveries led to the dead being integrated into Kandoran life.
Now, the deserts of Kandor are scoured for more ancient sites that hold clues to the power and art of necromancy. Kandoran archeologists find these sites and then hire small, flexible Kandorans to squeeze through the rubble to map out the site and bring back anything of interest. Their success will determine whether they will unearth the site or leave it to gather sand in the unforgiving desert.
Kandoran freebands recognize that the same people that are sent to infiltrate into the rubble of ancient ruins are often useful on the battlefield. They serve much the same role, getting into places quietly without others noticing and making sure they have the first choice of riches to bring back to camp.
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