Halfling Partisans
"In a way, the Halflings who choose to fight are more noble than the men. Nobody expects them to defend the town, they are free of all obligations thanks to the efforts of their ancestors. I will not tolerate any talk about them being interested only in battlefield loot."
~Edler Gantor, Archedler of The Maecodian Confederation
Composition
Manpower
Halfling Partisan units can typically count on 5-30% of the adult halfling population of a settlement. In times of stress, they may recruit even more, and humans that mistreat their Undertown can expect little to no aid. To be particularly useful on a battlefield, they typically need at least 50 Halflings.
Equipment
Weaponry
Gladers - Curved shortswords weighted for throwing. In the hands of a proficient halfling, they can be thrown in such a way that on a miss they catch the air and return to the thrower.
Blowguns - Hollow tubes used to deliver typically poisonous darts. The poisons favored by Halflings are mushroom based, though the venom of a dire shrew is also used by particularly nasty individuals.
Light Crossbows - Halflings prefer older designs for crossbows, when they use them; more wood, simpler mechanisms.
Hornbows - Halflings sometimes use hornbows, though they prefer to poison these as they do with their blowguns.
Shortswords - Halflings use small cutlasses or thrusting swords.
Structure
Halfling Partisans are largely independent operators, coordinating with each other through birdcalls. There is usually one liaison with the human command tent, but this officer is responsible for relaying the desires of command rather than actual orders.
Tactics
Halfling Partisans spread out and hide. Given time, they will prepare blinds to initiate combat from, to maximize their surprise and impact. They will mostly use ranged and thrown weapons, then disengage and withdraw when the enemy gets close enough to respond. Their preference is to lead the enemy through booby traps while running from blind to blind, inflicting casualties until they finally retreat behind friendly lines. They may then retire, or sometimes they will sally out and conduct raids on enemy stragglers or scouts.
The exception to this tactical preference is the Beetlemug. Beetlemug Halflings are heavily armored and armed warriors that hold important locations and deny their use to the enemy. They lack the ability to run away due to their heavy kit, but are renowned for their stubborn tenacity.
Training
Halflings prefer thrown weapons for one reason: Skiprock. This game trains the arms of the halfling into effective weapons.
Logistics
Upkeep
A full partisan brigade is not expensive, only 45 GP per season in wages. Undertowns typically receive half this much per season where no mobilization has occurred, as part of typical agreements with the human overtowns.
Recruitment
Halfling Partisans are all-volunteer units, and they entice young halflings with promises of adventures and booty.
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Type
Paramilitary
Overall training Level
Semi-trained
Assumed Veterancy
Recruit
Parent Formation
Used by
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