Hey folks, I'm just pondering as to whether or not TES bandits actually organize themselves into large factions much in the same way that other fantasy based bandits do. I know that there are some gangs, like the Black Bow Bandits, but is there any lore or are there any books relating to bandit clans or kingdoms? Any info would help, thanks.

This is purely my own speculation, but I believe the Black Bow Bandits actually train other bandits in the art of banditry. You see regular Bandits guarding Telepe, and a Black Bow Bandit is inside that one cave that's otherwise only Bandits of the non-Black Bow type. Then there's Rockmilk Cave - why else would Marauders invade a Black Bow Bandit lair if not to try and stop them from spreading Banditry as opposed to Marauderism? I don't know of any other Bandit lairs that get attacked by Marauders.

Fort Nikel does, and there's one other that I've heard of. And there is the Renrijra Krin, remember. They're guerrillas by name, but bandits by action, and seem to have a somewhat structured leadership. S'Razirr, a member of the Renrijra Krin, seems rather bandit-like, imo.

I don't think they're having an ideological struggle in the criminal world. One gang just wants the other's cave.

Yes, I was being rather silly when I posted that. It's what happens when I watch stuff like the Bargonian Adventures

Oblivion's assorted creeps and trash mobs don't really have much to do with lore. Morrowind had a lot of enemies which didn't make that much sense, but it was mainly a matter of there just being too many of them in too many caves. The way Oblivion has factions of generically-labeled evildoers, racially segregated according to ethnic skill bonuses, using all the same equipment like members of some strange martial cult, rings far too hollow. It's not even worth making something up.

I always wondered why every hedge wizard I met along the road would feel it necessary to fight to the death with a small dagger.

god even bandits warned us of a fight before hand,

You actually make a point.



I actually rofld to this.

However, besides the Oblivion butchery, are there any sources of lore that are based on this subject?

Morrowind featured a number of organized gangs, the Camonna Tong under Orvas Dren being the largest and most coherent, but also notably the gang of smugglers being harassed by Goris the Maggot King.

Well, of course you've got the Comonna Tong, but they're organized crime. I'm thinking more along the lines of bandits, marauders, pirates, rouge mages, and even smugglers.

That smuggler bit you mentioned seems really interesting. Do you by any chance have a link or a referance to it?

The Camonna Tong seem to be connected to many Vvardenfell smugglers, because of the Ash Statue trade.

Pick up the trail in Nerano Ancestral Tomb, where you'll find a http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Note_from_Bakarak.

Hey, thanks.

This is a little random, but...

In Oblivion, I am wondering:
How the hell did a bunch of wolves get into a cave with a DOOR? I didn't see any holes to the outside world when I was in that cave, dangit

I think the more important question here is, who is going around fitting doors on all these caves? Also, Wolves are able to open doors/pass through load doors, I've seen it happen many times.

O.o

Anyway, I'd think that most bandits would be independant groups formed either before becoming bandits or during the course of upcoming banditry. As to larger groups of bandits, I'd think that either: A)the legion could get rid of something large enough to be considered organized, like the mafia, while not being like the Dark Brotherhood or B)you don't talk to the bandits, how do you know they aren't all working together (or at least some of them)?

Seeing as how bandits rarely write books, settle down for an interview, or likewise inform us of their intentions. Until you can join a bandit group in TES, they really can't be proven or disproven :shrug:

As to the strange caves, no one said they were logical, nor are wolves, but it is far more convenient for AI and the building of caves that you can't just fall into one. If you really want a more realistic experience, try a mod^^.

IMO as far as the cave doors go, it'd be more immersive if they were solid black (representing impenetrable gloom) rather than looking like doors. But that's a discussion for the various Oblivion-specific forums, not the Lore forum

They did that in Bloodmoon. All the cave entrances were holes

the only sign of organization amongst bandits groups I've found is the note in vilverin and from that it seems like just a group of people that get together to do whatever bandits do.

That seems to be the case unfortunately.

The Black Bow Bandits were probably more organized than most, however, since they had an actual leader and a presence in at least three locations.