Dervish

Fanatically religious, nomadic people who wander steppes and desert regions, living in tents

human nomadic lawful mounted desert religious

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy

Armor Class	6 [13] or 4 [15]
Hit Dice	1 (4hp)
Number Appearing	0 (1d6+1 × 10)
Attacks	1 × weapon (1d6 or by weapon)
THAC0	19 [0]
Movement	120' (40')
Saving Throws	D12 W13 P14 B15 S16 (1)
Morale	10
Alignment	Lawful
XP	10
Treasure Type	A

Fanatically religious, nomadic people who wander steppes and desert regions, living in tents.

Special Abilities

Mounted: On warhorses.

Arms: 50% of group have: leather armour, shield, lance; 25% have: leather armour, shield, shortbow, sword; 25% have: chainmail, shield, lance.

Camps: Groups commonly combine and live in a camp or tribe of up to 300 dervishes, plus women, children, and animals. 25% chance of a wood or brick enclosure.

Camp leaders: Led by 10th level cleric.

Intolerant: Of other religious views.

Holy war: Occasionally wage war against other religious factions. Will slay people of different faith, or take them prisoner. Prisoners must convert; otherwise killed or used as slaves. Characters of Lawful alignment may be asked to join the holy war. Dervishes are highly suspicious of those who refuse (without good reason).

Other Sources

OSRIC

Armor Class	Determined by armour worn
Hit Dice	1d6 hp
Number Encountered	30d10
Attacks	1
Damage	By weapon
Move	120-ft
Alignment	Lawful good
Intelligence	Mean
XP	Variable
Size	Man-sized
Frequency	Rare
Lair	5%

Dervishes are highly religious desert nomads. They will always be led by higher level fighters and clerics as follows. They are fanatical devotees to their religion. As a result they are at +1 to combat and never need to check morale.

Dervishes are always mounted on light or medium warhorses.

Special Abilities

Fanatical: +1 to combat and never need to check morale.

Mounted: Always mounted on light or medium warhorses.

Variants

Fighter (3rd level) (for every 30 dervishes)

For every 30 dervishes: 1 additional 3rd level fighter

Fighter (4th level) (for every 40 dervishes)

For every 40 dervishes: 1 additional 4th level fighter

Fighter (5th level) (for every 50 dervishes)

For every 50 dervishes: 1 additional 5th level fighter

Cleric (10th level with assistants) (if under 125 dervishes)

If under 125 dervishes: (1) 10th level cleric and 2 assistants (4th & 5th level clerics)

Cleric (11th level with assistants) (if under 250 dervishes)

If under 250 dervishes: (1) 11th level cleric and 2 assistants (6th & 7th level clerics)

Cleric (12th level with assistants) (if more than 250 dervishes)

If more than 250: (1) 12th level cleric and 2 assistants (both 8th level clerics)

Magic User (15% chance per 50 dervishes)

There is a 15% chance per 50 dervishes that a magic user will be present. The magic user will be of 7th or 8th level (if more than 200 dervishes are present) and his two assistants of 3rd or 4th level.