Rangers of Shadow Deep: The Story Begins

Rangers of Shadow Deep: The Story Begins 

Kati and I have finally decided to post some of our fantasy exploits and in our typical way we had to start a whole new project to do it.

Frostgrave has been a game we have dappled in for years.  It is fun and captures that campaign-feel I want, in everything I do.  We started playing the scenarios out of the Rise of the Lich King supplement for I think the third time now a few weeks ago.  I enjoy wizards and magic and Kati is just ok with the idea that she has to be a wizard in the game and kept commenting on how much fun it would be if we were working together. That got me thinking about a post I had seen a about a year ago and I jumped on the internet and did some research.  Enter Rangers of Shadow Deep

It had everything we were looking for.  It is a coop game, it is fantasy, its by the same gent who gave us Frostgrave, and Kati gets to be a ranger which is her favorite fantasy class. We gave it a look-over, ordered some miniatures to flush out our collection, and were on our way.

With our posts we are going to try something different.  Instead of just giving the world an AAR we wanted to do it in a more narrative form. Hopefully from here out this will be a series of exciting and fun interlocking short stories about our rangers.  

So without further ado here are our fearless bands.

Phil's Band

Hoffgar Graniteslicer

 Hoffgar being a Dwarf is not a native of Alladore but this makes him no less a loyal and devout ranger of the realm.  Having arrived in Tallis as a hired hand for a trade convoy from Tollonian he was taken in by an old ranger of Alladore named Ishra who was looking to pass on his knowledge to an edger "blank Slate" with no political leanings to any of the major houses of the realm. Two years later Ishra, Hoffgar and a band rangers were ambushed by a band of Gnolls they had tracked into the wastes of the north.  With his dying breath Ishra handed Hoffgar his silver star pendant and asked him to carry on his work.  Hoffgar vowed to serve the realm and continue to guard Alladore from all foes.

Soon after this Hoffgar was made an official ranger this joyful event was quickly overshadowed by the coming of the shadow deep.  Hoffgar is preparing to go on his first mission as a ranger and leader of men, it seems another veteran ranger has gone missing and Hoffgar has already had his fill of rangers being taken before their time. 

Molly of Raindale

Molly has had a blessed life up til now.  She grew up happy in her little village of Raindale.  As a child she was smart and soft spoken. Raindale is home to a few wizards who have taken it upon themselves to search out anyone that might have a knack for the magic arts.  Molly was an obvious choice and she quickly caught on.  Realizing that in a small town with multiple wizards already well established her skills would not help her make a living she traveled to the capitol and was recruited by the royal army and added to the ranks of conjurers that are on stand-by to aid the ranger corps.  

She is packing for her first mission it seems that she will be assisting a newly promoted ranger on a search and rescue.

Bruce of.....

There is not much to know about Bruce.  He was an orphan that grew up in the streets of Tallis.  Fighting and stealing most of his life he has made him a hard and un-trusting person.  Around what was assumed to be his 20th birthday he picked a fight with an off duty Sargent of the guard.  After the Sargent bested him he presented Bruce with two options: either join in the ranks of the army or hang.  It was an easy choice and Bruce has been among the rank and file every since.  The regular soldiers of the kingdom draw straws to see who will get stuck trudging across half the damn kingdom following a ranger on some errand or another.  Bruce is convinced it was a rigged lottery but either way, here he is packing his meager belongings and reporting to the ranger corps.  His boot has had a hole in it now for a month so hopefully they wont have to go to far. 

Kati's Band

Tem-Sin

When Tem-Sin was born he had no idea he would spend his life in virtual servitude to a country he had no loyalty to. From the edges of the Forest of Nar to the south, the young Tengu was born the third son of a minor chief of the village of Ack-Tar, he was volunteered to Alladore at a young age to be taught the ways of the Ranger, to reinforce the amiable relationship between the peoples of Nar and Alladore. While in service, Tem-Sin became a master of the forest, delving into his studies with vigor in the Ranger corps, hoping to one day return to his people and bring honor to his proud lineage. He has finally been given a mission of his own, a search for a fellow missing Ranger...does it involve the sinister forces that have appeared out of the East? The mysterious Shadow Deep?

Hasson Hart

Hassan Hart has had a pretty mundane life, from a poor family in a city where there weren't many options. After his families bakery burned down, his options became even more narrow. Either become a street thug or join the army. One night while drinking too heavily, he was approached by an army recruiter who promised to pay for his drink. Little did he know he had just been indebted to the King and earned a life in the service of the crown. 

Derrick son of Robin

Derrick takes his bow everywhere he went, he loved his bow, he even named it Nora. Nora could hit the eye of rabbit on a black stormy night at 50 yards...so Derrick claims. In truth he grew up hunting from an early age to provide food for his family, but found his boasting got him in a spot of trouble with the local law. When the sheriff had to nominate men for service, all eyes were on Derrick and Nora, whom he had said could vanquish all foes. Now Derrick keeps his head down and speaks softly to Nora, he tries to keep his boasting to himself. He has been chosen to assist the Ranger Corps. He's not looking forward to it.