I’ve been working on the Dispute, my own homebrew fantasy setting I’ve been creating with for use with the Sword of Cepheus, the fantasy RPG by Stellagama games.
I think it’s a good idea, if you’re making your own world, to make your own custom careers to better match the themes and flavor of the setting.
With that in mind, I’ve made a career for the Janissaries, the soldiers of the Legion Unending, the ancient fighting force of the Empire Immemorial
It’s loosely (very loosely) based on the Janissaries of the Ottoman Empire.
The Legion is made up of a number of orta, a unit roughly equivalent to a battalion
In this particular world, firearms exist, so I’ve added Gun Combat as a skill.
I’ve also made this in PDF format – JanissaryCareer (PDF)
Janissary of the Legion Unending
Career for Sword of Cepheus
Qualification END 8+
Survival STR 7+
Advancement SOC 8+
Re-Enlistment 5+
Janissaries start off at the age of 12. They undergo years of martial training and indoctrination.
They will be assigned to a particular orta (battalion). Each orta has its own unique insignia, which will be tattooed onto every recruit. An orta is more than a military unit, it is a cultural and economic entity, with it’s own rich and ancient history. Ortas tend to be rivals of one another.
All recruits will start off with skill of 0 in all of the following skills: Recon, Melee Combat, Archery, Gun Combat, Survival, Carousing, and History
Starting Languages: Imperial Common, Janissary Cant
| Rank | Title | Skill or Bonus |
|
0 |
Acemioğlan (Cadet) |
Steward-1, Archery-1, Medicine-0 |
| 1 | Janissary | Tactics-1, Melee Combat-1 |
|
2 |
Odabaşı (Lieutenant) |
|
| 3 | Boluk-bashi (Captain) | Leadership-1 |
|
4 |
Binbashi |
|
| 5 | çorbaçı (Colonel) | |
|
6 |
Serdar |
Skills and Training
|
1D |
Personal Development |
Service |
1D |
Specialist |
Advanced Education |
|
1 |
+1 STR |
Recon |
1 |
Craft |
History |
|
2 |
+1 DEX |
Melee Combat |
2 |
Medicine |
Liason |
|
3 |
+1 END |
Archery |
3 |
Tactics |
Leadership |
|
4 |
Melee Combat |
Gun Combat |
4 |
Artillery |
Art |
|
5 |
Archery |
Survival |
5 |
Stealth |
Deception |
|
6 |
Athletics |
Carousing |
6 |
Gun Combat |
Rulership |
Mishap
|
1D |
Mishap |
|
1 |
Wounded in combat. Roll on Injury table. |
|
2 |
Your orta is disgraced. Lose 2 SOC and lose one benefit roll |
|
3 |
Training Accident – Roll on Injury table. |
|
4 |
You dishonor your orta – lose 1 SOC, all future advancement rolls are 11+ |
|
5 |
Politics! Legion politics are byzantine. You make an Enemy inside the Legion |
|
6 |
Distant Post – You are posted to a distant fortress on the Barrier. The leaders of your orta forget you exist. Next advancement roll is SOC 12+ |
Events
|
2D |
Event |
|
2 |
Disaster – Roll on Mishap |
|
3 |
You guard the herds of your orta. Gain a level in Animals |
|
4 |
Serve in the general staff of an Agha – Gain a level of Liason. Roll a SOC 8+ roll. If successful, your next advancement roll has a DM of +3 |
|
5 |
You work for the cebeci (armorers) of your orta – Gain one level in Craft |
|
6 |
Duel – You fight a fellow Janissary. Roll Melee Combat 8+. If you succeed, you Get a DM+2 on next Advancement roll. If you fail, roll on Injury table. |
|
7 |
Life Event – Roll on the Life Event table |
|
8 |
Expedition Beyond The Barrier – Your orta travels into the Dispute. Gain a level in Survival |
|
9 |
You serve as the poet for your orta, relating ancient tales of your orta’s glorious history. Gain a level in Art & History |
|
10 |
Volunteered with the serdengeçti (‘Lost Children’) – a near-suicidal assignment. Roll STR 9+ to survive. If you succeed, gain one level in Melee Combat |
|
11 |
You ride with the Sipahi, the elite cavalry of the Legion and rivals of the Janissaries. Gain 2 levels of Riding, 1 level of Animals, lose two benefit rolls |
|
12 |
Win glory for your orta – Automatic advancement one rank. |
Here’s a alternate Life Event Table that can be used specifically for Janissaries
Life Events – Janissary Life
|
2D |
Event |
|
2 |
Roll on the Injury Table |
|
3 |
Study with orta historians – gain a level of History |
|
4 |
You impress an officer – gain one benefit |
|
5 |
You fall into debt. Gain an Enemy and lose one benefit |
|
6 |
You join a scouting detail – Gain a level of Recon |
|
7 |
Brothers in Arms – gain an Ally |
|
8 |
Your orta is assigned to a distant province – gain a Language |
|
9 |
You distinguish yourself in battle – gain +1 SOC |
|
10 |
You win big wagering with your fellow Janissaries – Gain 1d6*10 GP |
|
11 |
The agha of your orta takes an interest in you – Gain an Ally |
|
12 |
While serving on the frontier of the Empire, you encounter something uncanny. Roll on the Unusual Event table. |
Mustering Out Benefits
|
1D |
Gold |
Materials |
|
1 |
10 |
Weapon |
|
2 |
50 |
Weapon |
|
3 |
50 |
Mount |
|
4 |
100 |
Armor |
|
5 |
200 |
+1 SOC |
|
6 |
200 |
Retainer |
|
7 |
500 |
Holding |
Weapons for Mustering Out
Yataghan (short sword) – Bone handled, inlaid with the insignia of your orta. If you served more than three terms, assume you get an extra +1 to hit when using this particular weapon, due to long practice with this blade.
Damage: 2d6 Slashing Weight: 1
Kilij (sabre) – Ornate sabre
Damage: 2d6 Slashing Weight: 1
Musket – Ornately carved flintlocks of wood and steel.
Range: ranged (assault weapon) Damage: 3d6 Weight: 5 Recoil: 1
Reload Time: 4 rounds – Gun Combat Skill
Sources
The Janissaries – Godfrey Goodwin – ISBN: 978-0-86356-740-7
The Janissaries (Elite) – David Nicolle – ISBN: 1 85532 413 X
Polyhedral Nonsense 