Western Rangers

The Western Rangers were a multi-ethnic militant group in Kalzuranur and Chalparna during the Imperial Civil War which began its existence as a group of bandit raiders, but turned to the pursuit of ruthless demon-hunting in the service of the Imperial Inquisition after being foiled and apprehended by Inquisitor Daqbar Koranet, and offered the choice between being hanged or putting their skills to better use.

The Western Rangers, acting on information from the Inquisition, hunted and slew an unknown but certainly vast number of Dreadfolk, typically venturing into the countryside, which was far less protected against demonic incursion than the cities. The eccentric band quickly became known for their near-suicidal courage, and whilst those who met them typically commented unfavourably on their behaviour, their dedication to defending from extradimensional threats the people they had once robbed and plundered propelled them to celebrity status once their deeds became widely known after the war.

Upon their apprehension by Inquisitor Daqbar Koranet, the Rangers numbered eleven members, though it is known that they lost two of their group before this point; one through unknown causes, and one at the hands of Inquisitor Daqbar. In the following years of their service, they gained two new members and lost four, one of which was one of the newcomers. Though the Western Rangers initially reviled Inquisitor Daqbar - after all, he was forcing them to follow him under pain of death, and had killed one of their number already - they quickly gained a strong respect for him after fighting alongside him against the Dreadfolk, and accepted him as their leader.

Although Inquisitor Daqbar released the Rangers from their service at the end of the war, pronouncing their atonement complete, several of them continued to follow him until they became too elderly to serve.

## Equipment and Outfit

The Western Rangers, even before they became a group in service of the Inquisition, had developed something of a uniform for their members. The most important parts of this were the iconic slouch hat and jacket, both khaki in colour. Eventually, Inquisitor Daqbar did procure a standardised uniform for the Rangers, similar to their previous semi-official uniform but produced to an officer-grade standard and emblazoned with Imperial insignia.

Each Ranger carried their own favoured equipment, but a signature piece of equipment which virtually all of them carried was the state-of-the-art six-shot Deathrain revolver, both the 1841 model and the significantly improved 1844 model, which had a much sturdier construction and was capable of firing more powerful powder charges. Most Rangers carried several of these, since these early revolvers had an extremely lengthy reload process, and it was much faster to carry several pistols rather than reload the same one.

All of the Rangers were mounted on horseback. Some of them rode on different breeds, but the majority of them rode Elwaquri Roamers, a highly versatile breed famed for its stamina and resilience to harsh desert conditions, but with the capacity for bursts of impressive speed when necessary.

## Members

Details of the two members that the Rangers lost before coming under the orders of Inquisitor Daqbar are unknown, possibly because their memory was deliberately destroyed, but all subsequent members have been meticulously documented by the Imperial Inquisition. They are listed below in no particular order.

* Inquisitor Daqbar Koranet, Elbaqar (Sand Elf) from Nimraqur, leader of the group after arresting them for banditry
* Reshar Baqan, Kalzuranuri Human from Elwaqur, childhood friend of Amika
* Amika Lanet, Kalzuranuri Human from Elwaqur, childhood friend of Reshar
* **†** Chotek Motechka, Quahesto from Akkanur, killed in action
* **†** Mahik Gorana, Chalparni Human from Lahamaja, elder brother of Sadhir, killed in action
* Sadhir Gorana, Chalparni Human from Lahamaja, younger brother of Mahik
* Keska Yekess, Hawk Harpy from Tessi Dekaa
* Wuklan of Tuakla, Kuahi Orc from Kuateoha
* **†** Ferikan Noamani, Ruawi Orc from Keloruela, died of wounds
* Eloba Dorui, Black Elf from Ribalouse
* Miko Tashiniwa, Onshian Weaver from Rishi
* Tehauin Paquatl, Quahesto from Suqohayn, joined after Inquisitor Daqbar's intervention
* **†** Jaizar Denkari, Urilian from Rulkhar, joined after Inquisitor Daqbar's intervention, killed in action