Bandit-Lords
Bandit-Lords lead a distinct formation of bandits that you only find in the Little Countries. Bandit-Lords are more stationary than regular groups of bandits and make their living by staying near settlements and driving off raiders from neighbouring lands and cultists as well as the ones in border countries taking out any creatures wandering in from Kandar. The rationale behind this is that the armies and cultists actually have money and items worth stealing, unlike the poor villagers, and creatures from Kandar could be butchered and parts sold for a lot in many other countries. Also, the villagers often send baked goods and food in thanks, and a number of them start doing odd jobs or sex work around the encampments. However, the Bandit-Lords will still take their own interests into account over that of whatever settlement they are near most of the time; if their camp's location becomes too well known they will usually move on, leaving whatever villagers don't come with them to their fates. Despite this, those that have had experience with Bandit-Lords will often trust them more than militias or military. After all, at least the Bandit-Lords are upfront about their selfish motives.
Perception
Purpose
Bandit-Lords fill a power vacuum in many of the Little Countries where the ordinary people have been left to fend for themselves while the nobility have fled or holed up in the cities.
Social Status
Views of Bandit-Lords vary wildly. More stable or traditional countries tend to view them far less favourably than the countries where they generally operate, and clashes with militia or the remnants of the military are fairly common where the Bandit-Lords don't manage to avoid it. However, those that actually have Bandit-Lords set up near them view them favourably and often trade with their encampments or even join them.
Demographics
Bandit-Lords themselves are somewhat rare, but their camps often include over a hundred bandits and at least half that of other people helping to support the encampment.
History
The first Bandit-Lord wasn't known as such, but after around a decade people began to take notice of how well their encampment was doing and more enterprising bandit leaders began to do the same kind of thing. They are now a significant power struggling for control of parts of the Little Countries and all have uneasy truces with each other. So far there hasn't been cause for any of them to ally, but it seems more than possible.
Type
Illicit
Legality
Despite their often useful actions, Bandit-Lords are illegal in every corner of the Little Countries (or at least the ones that still have formal, functioning legal systems) and are not considered militias at all.
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