WHAT STIRS IN THE DARKENED WOOD?
In The Lord of the Rings, a poem describes Aragorn with the lines “Not all those who wander are lost” and “From the ashes a fi re shall be woken,/A light from the shadows shall spring…” These lines inspire the following archetypes for the Ranger class, for characters who travel the wilds without fear – be they watchful guardian or cunning predator. Use the archetypes below to give your secretive wayfarers some tricks up their sleeves. Each offers a playstyle that suits melee or ranged combat, or shifting between the two, equally well.
These archetypes also make worthy and dangerous adversaries. A sinister Lanternbearer lures travelers to their deaths with the promise of safety. Some Stormcloaks turn back to the destructive ways of the fi rst of their kind. A Thornguard that gets to pick the fi eld of battle is a terrible foe indeed.