Ranger

## Introduction

The Ranger has been tasked by Celeste the Valkyrie to find and train the last remaining member of the Eldreadi tribe. She takes her job seriously even if she doesn't like it much.

Trained in the ways of survival amidst the dangers of the wilderness, stealth and attention to detail make her an excellent tracker and long range attacker. With her trusty companion at her side the Ranger will hunt you down, you can't hide from them, they will find you.

## Backstory

Read it in beautiful .pdf format here, or in plain text below:

"Kid! Over there.” Dhenuj bobbed her head in the general direction of the orc marauder heading for the traveling wagon. The thing was massive and ugly, a sickly green monster with rage in his eyes. It

Eldread ran forward and jumped between the family and the orc, brandishing his axes. He bowed. “Good sir orc, I don’t believe we’ve met.” The orc growled at the performance but held his ground, eyeing the axes warily. Eldread growled back, trying to mimic the sound as best he could. “My name is Eldread.” The orc stayed put, glancing between them, uncertainty crossing its features.

"Could you not have fun right now?” Dhenuj shouted. “I'd actually like to have dinner tonight, not be dinner!" She danced between two smaller orcs attemping to cut her down. She flicked her wrist, slashing the throat of the slower of the two. She twirled toward the second orc, parried its blade wide, and delivered a quick thrust through its heart. It dropped like a stone.

Eldread saw Dhenuj dispatch her foes and immediately sat down on the ground across from his opponent. The larger orc stared, confused, waiting for the trick or—

A twang sounded. A sharp sharp pain shot down the orc’s back. He crumpled to the ground. As his lifeblood poured out of him, his gaze passed over a chicken waddling behind the softskin still sitting in front of him with a grin on his face. He wished he had been able to eat one more chicken.

"You know kid,” Dhenuj said, lowering her bow, “we might want to go over a few strategic pointers.”

Eldread remained sitting, watching the orc on the ground bleed out. "You ever wonder what orcs think about?"

“No, and I couldn’t care less.”

"I reckon they think about the same things we think about; friends, family, shelter. You know, all the things that matter.”

“Either get off your butt or get to the point.” He was always like this—making jests out of their battles and prattling on in poor humor.

Eldread saw a chicken milling around the broken crates that fell off the wagon and a small tan cat behind it, faux stalking it. It made a sad pounce at the chicken and fell spread eagle on the ground. The chicken's head bobbed as it made its way toward the fallen orc. It pecked at the orc’s head a few times and wandered away, the cat still eyeing it. Eldread chuckled, then stood and headed toward the family that was emerging from under the wagon. “At least I called him by his name."

Dhenuj sighed and shook her head. It had been a decade since that day in the forest when she adopted the last remaining member of the Eldreadi tribe. He’d been a continuous pain in her backside ever since.

She wasn't interested in a little brother then and she still wasn’t today. Celeste better be singing her praises to the Gods of Life, or whatever they were.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t at times proud of him—he was a fine warrior and a good man—but his constant philosophical meanderings and stupid jokes grated worse than an untuned harp.

"I'm getting too old for this." She sat on a stump, spat, and watched Eldread work. The front end of the wagon had dropped into a trap set by the orcs. Thankfully they’d been close enough to hear the screams and interrupt the subsequent ambush. The Mad King's roads were barely safe for travel anymore, and his corrupt knights were perfectly happy with the arrangement.

Eldread hefted the front of the wagon out of the ditch and dragged it to the side. The father practically prostrated on the ground thanking him. A little girl waved her hand like a flywheel in Dhenuj’s direction. She smiled and flapped hers back.

Once they were underway, Eldread walked back, something clutched against his chest. It was the chicken.

"What's with the bird?”

"It's a gift for our kindness and bravery in the face of mortal danger.”

“I don’t like gifts.”

“Then consider it payment.” He petted the chicken on the head. It tried its best to peck his hand. "Hey now. None of that if we are to be friends."

Dhenuj looked at him with skepticism. “I don’t usually make friends with my dinner, but to each their own.”

"Eat this poor helpless thing? For dinner? What kind of monster are you?" He stroked the chicken again. "We just recently became the best of friends. I shall call her Dhenuj, the friend I wanted but never had. And the head bobbing reminds me of you."

“Keep it up kid.” Dhenuj leaned back on her stump. “I’m taking a nap. Take care of things.”

"Aye-aye not-chicken Dhenuj."

Dhenuj listened to the sounds of Eldreadi dragging the bodies out of the road and setting up camp. She dozed off not long after.

She stirred later, then yawned. Something picked at her brain through the haze of her nap. It was quiet.

She shot up, eyes wide. She was no longer in the forest. Her dark surroundings reminded her of something else, but she couldn't place it.

A bright light exploded in her view, blinding her. A presence hung in the light, warm and vibrant. A soothing voice washed over her. "Behold, fair ranger. I am Celeste, Valkyrie Captain of the Gods of Life, the Domini Esse, the creators of existence. I have come to—"

"Cut the drama, lady,” Dhenuj said. “Where the hell have you been? You descend from on high, tell me to go find this kid, so I do. You tell me to watch over him, so I do that too—for ten damn years! And nothing from you, not one word, not so much as a whisper. You want to explain yourself maybe?”

The Valkyrie cleared her throat and coughed. "I am Celeste, Valkyrie Captain of the Gods of Life." Dhenuj sighed and rolled her eyes. "By the will of the Gods of Light I am here to commend you on your diligent training with Eldread of the Eldreadi tribe, last of his name. I now have a task for you."

"I don't want another task! I figured you’d finally take this kid off my hands so I could go back to—"

"SILENCE!" Celeste’s voice boomed through the void around them. "The world is in peril, okay? I’ll spare you the details since you seem to have no care for them. Take Eldread and go to Serene Island with haste. When you get there, seek out the Druid twins for further instructions. We had tea the other day, they’ll be expecting you.”

“I get the philosopher-warrior boy wonder for ten years. They get tea and crumpets.”

"No crumpets Dhenuj, just tea. And yes, we all have our roles to play in what is coming." Celeste held up her hand. “Go with haste, servant of light. The Gods of Life bless you...even if you are cranky."

Light flashed again, and Dhenuj awoke, blinking. The sky was faint with pre-dawn light. She was covered with a blanket, and a pillow had been placed under her head. Despite the somewhat rough sleeping spot, she felt refreshed and ready for a long day of travel.

She glanced over at the sound of chanting and saw Eldread dancing with the chicken around the embers of their campfire. Her stomach growled. She felt a soft warm weight sitting on her lap and looked down to see the funny looking kitten curled up sleeping.

Dhenuj grumbled and lifted the cat up and sat it down on the ground. She got to her feet and headed for their bag of dried jerky. Breakfast would have to be cold. She felt a light push against her leg and looked down to see the cat staring up at her, she dropped it a piece of jerky.

"Get your stuff. We’ve got a mission. The Valkyrie came to me again last night.”

“Explains why you were glowing. Haven’t seen that in a while.”

“You and me both,” Dhenuj grumbled. “Thanks for the blanket. But for the sake of the damned gods and my sanity, leave the chicken.”

They broke camp, arranged their bags, and headed west to Serene Island.

(Eldread stuck the chicken in his shirt.)

(Dhenuj grabbed the cat.)