The Dirty Faces

In the forsaken corners of Nulb, the Dirty Faces represent a stark testament to the harsh realities of life in a town riddled with vice and violence. More than just orphans, these children are survivors molded by the brutal environment that surrounds them, developing skills and allegiances that belie their tender years.

Orphans of Nulb

In the abandoned Grammarly East, a group of twelve orphans has found a precarious sanctuary amid the crumbling relics of a once-promising educational establishment. Known colloquially as the "Dirty Faces," these children symbolize the resilience and forgotten casualties of Nulb's turbulent struggles. A notorious gang of orphaned children, are led by Matty and structured into a tightly knit group with specialized roles, including clerics and thieves. Each member brings unique skills and perspectives, contributing to the group's survival in the tough streets of Nulb.

Survival and Society

The Dirty Faces navigate their world with a blend of innocence and street savvy, born from the necessity of survival in a community that often overlooks the weakest among its ranks.

• Daily Life: Their days are filled with scavenging for food and usable materials throughout the village, transforming the detritus of Nulb into life-sustaining resources.
• Community Interaction: To supplement their scavenged finds, the orphans perform odd jobs for the villagers, exchanging labor for food, though often only receiving minimal sustenance.

Social Dynamics

Despite their visibility when scrounging or working in the village, the Dirty Faces exist largely on the periphery of Nulb's social consciousness.

• Public Perception: The local populace, struggling with their own hardships, largely ignores the orphans, whose dirty and disheveled appearances reinforce their marginal status.
• Lack of Support: Few villagers are in a position to offer substantial help, as the pervasive poverty in Nulb limits the community's capacity to provide for additional dependents.

Shelter and Security

Grammarly East provides more than just a roof over their heads; it offers a semblance of a home that the orphans have adapted to their needs.

• Secret Entry: The orphans use a crawl space beneath the school to enter and exit, keeping their living quarters hidden from most of the village.
• Makeshift Living Conditions: Inside, the space is divided into crude sleeping areas marked out with old blankets and salvaged furniture, creating a patchwork of personal spaces.

Relationship with Yatik

Yatik, the village lama, stands as a singular figure of benevolence—or manipulation—depending on one’s perspective, in the lives of the Dirty Faces.

• Patron and Protector: Yatic provides the orphans with food, clothing, and basic medical care, asking for nothing more than recitation and memorization of the scriptures of Elemental Evil in return.
• Hidden Motives: Beneath his acts of kindness, Yatik’s intentions involve grooming the orphans into future acolytes for his cause, seeing them as seeds for the resurgence of his beliefs.

History and Formation

The Dirty Faces are not merely products of poverty; they are born from the tumult of conflict and survival. Their past is intertwined with the darkest chapters of Nulb's history, including the catastrophic events at the Temple of Elemental Evil.

• Origins in Chaos: Many of the Dirty Faces were born into the violent upheavals associated with the Temple, learning to navigate a world that offered no sanctuary but that of sheer survival.
• Formation as a Group: Bound by their mutual need to survive, these orphans formed a pact, turning to each other for protection against the backdrop of a town overrun by brigands and worse.

Relationships and Social Structure

Despite their young age, the Dirty Faces have developed a complex social structure, heavily influenced by the anarchic environment of Nulb.

• Intra-group Dynamics: Loyal to each other out of necessity, their relationships are a mix of brotherhood and the pragmatism of survival. However, the chaotic doctrine they are exposed to threatens to destabilize their bonds.
• Leadership and Hierarchy: Leadership within the group is currently held by Matty, a boy whose early experiences have marked him with a blend of trauma and resolve.

Motivations and Aspirations

The motivations driving the Dirty Faces are as varied as their backgrounds, yet a common theme is the desire for security and power, shaped by their vulnerabilities.

• Search for Stability: Each child, in their way, seeks the stability they have never known, whether through power, knowledge, or escape.
• Aspiration for Power: Led by Matty, the group is collectively driven by the ambition to never feel powerless again, pushing them towards potentially perilous paths.

Future Uncertainties and Strategic Decisions

As they stand at a crossroads, the Dirty Faces face several critical decisions that will define their future: Stay in Nulb or Leave: The safety and familiarity of Nulb are waning, pushing the group to consider venturing beyond.

• Exploring the Temple: The old Temple holds both danger and the allure of forgotten powers that Matty and the group might seek to harness.
• Alliance with Lama Yatik: Aligning with Yatik could offer immediate benefits but at the cost of becoming pawns in his broader schemes.

Conclusion

The Dirty Faces of Nulb are a poignant symbol of resilience and the loss of innocence. Their story is a stark reminder of the impact of environmental and societal chaos on the youngest members of society, forcing them into roles and decisions far beyond their years. As they navigate their precarious existence, their choices will not only shape their destinies but also the fabric of Nulb itself.

"Trust Binds, Betrayal Blinds"

Matty and the Dirty Faces by 3orcs

Matty Cleric of Air Temple
Born in the Temple of Elemental Evil and exposed to horrors from a tender age, Matty's leadership is fueled by his traumatic past and a deep-seated need to protect his makeshift family.

The Dirty Faces

Cleric Lieutenants

Bledsoe
A robust teenager with broad shoulders and an unyielding gaze, Bledsoe embodies the strength of the earth he venerates.

• Personality: Stoic and resolute, he speaks rarely but with gravity, believing firmly in the stability his strength brings to the group.
• Motivation: Seeks to protect and stabilize the Dirty Faces, ensuring their physical and spiritual fortitude.
• Stats: 16 years old, 9 HP, wears padded armor and wields a hammer.
• Note: Earth cleric with notable strength (STR 17) and constitution (CON 16).

Demus
Slight of build but with a magnetic presence, Demus has an intense gaze that can both challenge and inspire.

• Personality: Charismatic and fiery, he often takes the lead in discussions and is passionate about the causes of the Dirty Faces.
• Motivation: Aims to ignite change and empower the Dirty Faces through fiery rhetoric and bold actions.
• Stats: 14 years old, 5 HP, uses a club.
• Note: Fire cleric with a compelling presence (CHA 16).

Libby
Young and agile, Libby moves with a fluid grace, her eyes reflecting the depth of the waters she represents.

• Personality: Calm and thoughtful, she often serves as the mediator within the group, balancing out the more extreme tendencies of her peers.
• Motivation: Strives to provide emotional and logistical support to the gang, ensuring their needs are met and their cohesion maintained.
• Stats: 12 years old, 4 HP, clad in leather armor, wielding a club.
• Note: Water cleric known for her adaptability and insight.

Thieves: The Scouts and Resource Gatherers

1. Ebert
With sharp eyes and nimble fingers, Ebert excels in stealth and surveillance.

• Stats: 14 years old, 5 HP, armed with a dagger.
• Role: Acts as the primary scout for the gang, using his high dexterity (DEX 17) to navigate and gather crucial information.

2. Lysarus
Quick and wiry, Lysarus is adept at slipping in and out of shadows, his skills complementing those of Ebert.

• Stats: 13 years old, 3 HP, also armed with a dagger.
• Role: Works closely with Ebert, focusing on acquiring resources and spying on potential threats or opportunities.

Trainees and Prospects

1. Clerical Students (Ygenar, Vesher, Baenna, Ratlo)

• Common Goal: These younger members are in the early stages of their clerical training, learning to harness their innate abilities.
• Baenna: Notably wise for her age (WIS 16), showing potential for deep spiritual insight.

2. Thief Students (Siros, Jodo)

• Training Focus: Both are honing their skills under the tutelage of Ebert and Lysarus, preparing to take on more active roles in reconnaissance and theft.

Type

Illicit, Gang

Leader

Matty

Location

20. Grammarly East

Controlled Territories

• 20. Grammarly East

Notable Members

• Matty

Related Species

• Humans of Greyhawk

Related Ethnicities

• Oeridian Oerid

Grammarly East by 3orcs