>gentlemen this is war

GO GO POWER RANGERS
MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS!

>Gentlemen. This is a war.
Gentlemen, I like war.

Rangers that specialize in parkour.

Parkour with bows.

That doesn't make any sense, but fuck it, D&D.

Is that a quote or some writefaggotry on yours or someone else's part from here? If the latter, it's good. And, the First Kin for your organizational name.

The Watchguard of the Hallas.

A secretive organisation, or rather, community of human ranger-folk, they live in mobile camps that range across the forest. Proficient at arms and scavenging, what little contact they do have with the outside world is conducted with trusted contacts in a few guilds near the forest, or with passing dwarven caravans who are contractually obligated to provide them with their finest quality arms and armour, in remembrance of their aid in rescuing the high king of the dwarves in ages long past. Long has their vigil kept the forests clear of the threat of vermin, their directive to protect mankind at large an important tenet of their secretive past.

The Free Man's Army

A group of former serfs, slaves and indebted men, loosely organized into a kind of medieval terrorist cell. These men despise all ideas of slavery, and attack slave owners and traders everywhere. However, some of the more extreme members also attack banks and churches, claiming that debt and faith are as oppressive as serfdom. Curiously, these extremists are almost never ex-slaves. Since they have such a foul reputation, most live in forests, mostly using longbows and knives. However, they are not opposed to mercenary work, and will gladly fight under the banner of a paying general. They are mainly human, but accept any race. They have no symbols.

>>13713031
Thank you. Yes, it's my work.
I do not understand the First Kin thing, though, because I am not a clever man.

>Wimentic ME

Captcha's being ticked by women! Somebody help!

>>13713103
I imagine the Rangers would be like scouts, as in first on the field, and Kin just to indicate organization.

>>13713114
Wait, I said the Kin part wrong. I imagine the Rangers would work in pairs, and thus their trust would have to be as strong as if their partner was of their kin.

>captcha: Ondsmi 1537, inSiam,

Captcha's letting us in on some conspiracy theory. I'm on the case!

(OP here, now applying name for simplicity's sake)

>>13713078
>>13713093
Good! Good, very good. Different directions, I like the idea of roving forest ranger bands, and freedom fighter rangers have a lot of potential.

>>13713150

Who the fuck is John Galt?

>>13713108
Oh oh oh! Tiny lead pills with kryptonite in them. Sprinkle them into his food. Super strength crushes pills, superman dies.

>>13713163

>>13713183
How do you not get his joke?

At least I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt in that that WAS a joke based on Atlas Shrugged.

>>13713150
First guy here, I was stealing VERY liberally from the Rangers of LotR-lore, because, let's face it, they're awesome.

>>13713183

I think it's supposed to be a joke. I hope.

Go with the Lookouts! Words cannot describe the boner I had for this concept.
I still hope to run a game of it some day.

>>13713183

How the fuck did you not get that troll? Everyone knows who John Galt is, I posted it out of rhetoric. Successful troll is successful, Jesus.

>>13713202
Leading by <possibly deadly> example. I love it. Reminds me of those years when we didn't coddle children like we do now.

>>13713183
It is funny because in horrible Ayn Rand book "Atlas Shrugged," a common question that is asked is who is John Galt.

>>13713195
I agree totally. It's weird, because the inspiration was obviously originally from Tolkien's stuff, yet, we don't see much of that anymore, just the general premise.

>>13713202

>>13713202
>I've got a boner for child soldiers

>>13713235
Start 'em young, they'll grow into it better.

The Routers (as in 'we rout foes')

Originally a unit of crossbowmen in the King's army, the Routers were essentially the sharpshooters of the army, positioning themselves in strategic positions, using large, cumbersome crossbows to spear heavily armed enemies from vast distances. Disgruntled at their low pay, they eventually deserted the army, taking their crossbows with them. They are excellent woodsmen, and are trained to pick out the enemy's leader from far away. They are called 'Routers' due to their knack for causing mass panic. After all, seeing your noble leader's head pop like a grape is not exactly encouraging to the average footslogger. They are strictly mercenary, and are well armed, well organized, and extremely professional. Their base is nestled in an area of dense forest, and is difficult spot from far away. They use camouflage to blend into their surroundings, and in close quarters fighting, they use a shortsword and a buckler.

You are now imagining Goblins as emergent Prussia. Tiny, irrelevant power with no real history of m-JESUS CHRIST WHY ARE WE BEING RAPED

>>13713247
Sneak attacking with a huge crossbow? Classy.

>>13713247
This is basically the best concept in the thread and is going to remain the best concept in the thread because I can pretty much tell it's based on Actual Rangers and not magic nature rangers. Just a bunch of skirmishers who know about terrain and camouflage.

Although I should mention that crossbows are much harder to maintain in the wild than bows are, so maybe that will factor into your concept.

>>13713248
That was the idea. I had to make goblins a threat, so I organized them. Then I needed an excuse for them not to wash over the civilized world like a cresting wave. So... Unkindlies.
And then I realized that these guys had turned out well, because organized rangers are seriously badass, so I figured I needed more. And here we are.

>>13713268

They are, as I said, very professional; each man is expected to take good care of his weapon, as they are almost as symbolic as they are expensive, and when not in combat, they wear them on their backs.

I've got some ideas but I'm intimidated by the writefaggotry. Is it ok if I post in a less in world voice?

>>13713313

I assume all ideas are welcome.

>>13713313
Absolutely, not everyone has time to write a three paragraph monologue and then edit it to fit exactly into one 4chan quote. In fact, very few people have time for that. I want ideas, as raw or as cooked as I can get them, and thusfar I'm very pleased with the quality of what I'm receiving.

>>13713328
Oh great, I'll get right on it then.

>>13713268
I think that's a bit premature. While I agree on the point that often times, the nature worshipping treehugger element of the Ranger is overemphasized, you cannot simply discard all of them out of hand who exhibit such behavior. Particularly not simply on dint of their magic. Magic is goddamn useful.

Pathfinder has the Sable Company, which is basically a military corp of nothing but griffon riding rangers.

>>13713356
Alright so here's my idea, an organization of dwarf rangers who function as a sort of combination of fortress architects and sentinels in the caverns that dwarves make their homes in. Since they have great skill in dealing with underground environments and natural dwarvish stone cunning they could craft superior secret doors and pitfalls, and fight like trapdoor spiders against invaders.

Call them the masonic order. ba dum tish.

>>13713391
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Rangers
ACTUAL LOGICAL RANGERS

>crossbow
>vast distances

Lolno.

Crossbows are incredibly powerful weapons, but they operate at much shorter distances than bows because bows can only get great range from being fired up and arcing, and arcing a crossbow bolt defeats the entire purpose of having a crossbow.

>>13713439
And while I respect and fear the United States' armed forces, those gentlemen would be greatly improved by the ability to summon clouds of locusts and eagles the size of sedans.

Which is something we have in D&D.

>>13713410
Were those the guys in Korvosa that Illeosa disbanded? And then one of them tried to off her? With unpredicted results?
Well, they were badass anyway.

>>13713436
You are >>13713313, yes?
This is very good. Dwarves being... Sneaky? In their methods of warfare? Nobody will be prepared to face the masons.
I say. If one of them were to break off from the primary organization, would be be a free mason?

>>13713518
Ya, that was me. Glad you like it. I have an uncle in the rl masons, and he's always laughing at the conspiracy theories and stuff, so this is for him. ;)

>>13713459
Well, let's be honest, the original point of the crossbow was that it was a lot stronger, and a lot less physically exerting to use than normal bows (or god help you, a longbow) and had much more power at short range.
As far as I know though, you could definitely arc them. The Genoese tried that at Crecy, it just didn't work because the mooks had let their weapons get wet.

What a senseless waste of good Italian blood. And crossbows.

>>13713489
Yes.

>>13713459

I imagine their 'crossbows' to be small Scorpion ballistas.

>>13713489
Wait, who actually fears the US military? Most people whiffle between believing that our boys are protecting their freedom, or else that they're horribly incompetent. I don't think anyone genuinely fears them outside of the middle east. And not even there most of the time.

>>13713588
There's the one.

Come on people, I need more ideas, I know you guys have more buried in there. Inside every man, there is a racially targeting serial killer trying to get out. In D&D, we call this a Ranger.

>>13713679
The world is not divided into Western Europe and the Middle East. I do not live in the part of Europe that has the luxury of comparing everyone unfavorably to the SAS. But if it would comfort you more for me not to fear your country's army, then consider fear for me to be synonymous with respect. Which I suppose it is.

Now come on damn you, more Rangers!

In Warhammer Fantasy, there are these units that the Wood Elves have whose duty it is to protect the forests while the rest of the elves go into hibernation. They're fucking terrible units on the tabletop, but they're kind of like rangers when you think about it. Actually, most of the Elvish stuff from WHFB are rangerish.

Okay I'll give it a shot...

A nameless group of elves (referred to by others as the huntsmen) who guard their territory against any and all intruders. They are highly organized and will harass intruders day and night with traps ambushes and skirmishes. They will stalk their target for days on end if necessary making sure they never get a moment of rest. Typically they initiate combat with a volley of poisoned arrows then retreat into the woods while another group opens fire driving their enemies deeper into the woods in an effort to get them lost. Only when their quarry is sufficiently exhausted will they finally engage in melee. They frequently take and keep trophies from their "hunt" which they display on their armor.

>>13713838
Yes.

>>13713839
YEEEEEEES!

Maybe something more original.

A group of Kobold "Gnome Hunters" who excel at mounted combat. Named the Gnomebane Bandits, these Kolbolds have an unrivaled hatred for Gnomes and will follow tracks for miles if there is a chance to slay another Gnome. Members are typically kolbolds who have suffered greater do to gnomes. When trying to find a well hidden gnome village, they will set a trap, taking advantage of gnomes curiosity, then allow their prey to escape so that they may follow his trail back to the village.

A MILITARY SPONSORED UNIT OF ELVISH ORC/GOBLIN/GREEN HUNTERS WHO BREAK THE MOLD BY BEING EXTREMELY LOUD TO DRAW THE ENEMY TOWARDS THEM, THEN HIDING AND GOING SILENT BEFORE EMERGING AGAIN SHOUTING AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS TO AMBUSH THEIR NOW CONFUSED ENEMY.
LED BY THAT NEVERTHELESS SMOKING HOT ANTITHESIS OF CHARISMA, SERGEANT ANDOSONA.

>>13713948
Dude. That's a really sweet idea. You put a carrot out there, a gnome WILL pick it up, even if he knows there's a spinning blade hidden there somewher.e

Back from elf thread what've we got h
>>13713948
ereYowza. I've just helped myself to two big scoops of fucking win by reading this post. Kobolds and Gnomes are natural enemies, upon casual reflection, it only makes sense. This is not only a good idea, this is a great idea. I've neglected kobolds thusfar, but no more!

>>13713955
I'm afraid I've beaten you to that one, pal. Already got a Shalelu parody/homage in my setting, and the poor goblins couldn't possibly survive another.

The Dead Men

To put it bluntly, this is a death squad. These men are the worst of the worst, the most cruel, uncompromising bandits, killers and monsters willing to sell their blades. Silent and brutal, this group was formed by a nameless escaped prisoner, who, upon forming this band of butchers, shed his previous identity, becoming, as far as the world knew, a dead man. Anyone who joins is essentially free of their past, and becomes a dead man. The Dead Men accept anyone, and will work for anyone. They specialize in terror tactics and lighting fast raids, working with a variety of weapons, and are often hired to preform the acts any other soldier would refuse to do, such as poisoning wells, spreading disease and blowing up buildings with gun powder or magic. They wear cloaks and masks, to hide their identities, and dwell in a secret fortress that only dead men have found.

The Order of the Knot
A mobile lynch mob, dedicated to the elimination of whichever pest the state has decided needs to die today. If you play Pathfinder, you could use the Guide variant, which can designate a specific target its Favored Enemy as a daily power. Have them ride around, trying to catch members of the designated "enemy" of the day, preferably alive, and then hang them. Makes for good enemies for the PCs at least, since they could be fighting anyone at any time.

Alternatively, make em Horse Lord rangers and have them use lassoes from horseback. The results of that are actually quite horrible if you've ever seen someone get dragged by a horse.

>>13712986
Stolen.
>>13713093
Stolen.
>>13713183
Saved.
>>13713436
Stolen.
>>13714049
Stolen.

>>13714020
But thou must.

>For Humanity, for Elfdom, for the Married Gods of both
What

>>13714049
This is untrodden ground, and also a cool idea. Alas, it also brings to mind Kane & Lynch. Such a good idea, so tragically misused.

That said, thank you sirrah, you are a prince.

>>13714107
Now that's unconventional. And dark. I like it, I love it, I want some more of it. The real question though is whether or not the lasso is a viable weapon in these kinds of games. It'd make for a good encounter at the least, since they could probably drag a character a hundred feet in a turn, and while not doing epic damage, that guy is now unsupported and surrounded by enemies.

>>13714159
I dunno about lassos, I don't play D&D. But I do know that getting wrenched out of your saddle while going full tilt is such a death sentence that the Poles started giving their cavalry these big ornate wings to get in the way of such attempts. A rope would grab one of those and it'd just break off instead of taking the guy with it.

>>13714194
That's totally a myth dude, I don't even think the Hussars could ride with those things on.

>>13714194
Would whips be more practical? And still incorporate the Rope motif.

>>13714194
>>13714207
Ah yes, I'm a big fan of the hussars. It's generally agreed that the wings weren't worn into battle, too cumbersome, too likely to catch the wind, etcetera.
Doesn't make them any less awesome though, and it's entirely possible that they had a better (maybe smaller) design that didn't screw with their riding so much, and we just don't have surviving non-ornamental examples.

>>13714245
Totally. Mostly it was the noose motif I was liking but really it's the rope that counts. I guess a whip is more practical than a lasso. Which is kind of saying something because whips are like the least practical weapon in the world.

>>13714245
Now whips, there's a weapon that doesn't get used enough.

>>13714278
To extrapolate on a theme, they could fashion their whips from the rope used to hang past victims.

>>13714278
For good reason, dude. It's a whip. It's not even so much a weapon as it is a motivational device.

>>13714301
DINGDINGDINGDING
We have a winner!

The Dreamweavers

Often used as assassins by nobility, those who have made powerful enemies often find difficulty sleeping at night. The Dreamweavers specialize in nocturnal missions and stealth entry, seemingly able penetrate enemy lines at will once the sun sets. Heavily-guarded individuals have been found in the morning with throats slit, with the guards outside being none the wiser. Entire platoons of soldiers are discovered dead in their bedrolls. Divisions operating in Dreamweaver territory are known to go through abnormally high amounts of caffeine and stimulants, and sleep-deprivation leads to decreased performance in combat.

>>13714324
You know you've got a keeper when you can destroy an enemy just by letting them know that you've hired them, and then not even order them to do anything.

There was one idea that I sort-of loved, even though it came from RA Salvatore. The Knee-Breakers were a bunch of gnomes, half-lings, etc. They rode battle-boars and fought primarily giants and larger monsters. Using charging attacks they would do things like break the knees (hence the name) or trip their larger prey with a rope between two riders. then they would swarm over their fallen target with stomping boar hooves and poisoned lances and flails.

The idea was to be something not unlike a swarm of bees: so many targets hitting with little blows that it was all but impossible to stop them.

I've got a few more ideas, that's just the first one that came to mind: Mounted combat is something that doesn't see enough use.

>>13714324
If you can't hire the sun, hire the boogiemen.

>>13714342

That and they had the best battle cry ever: "KNEE BREAKERS! KILL THA' FRAKKER!"

>>13714352
>>13714342

>Mayflies egici
Do mayflies bite? If so, related.

>>13714352
I am now picturing an entire squad of gnome guidos ready to kneecap the opposition mafia-style.

>>13714342
I like it. Cavalry rangers are a good idea. I've never read much Salvatore, but the man's obviously got some good ideas floating around in there. I like this one very much.
Which is not to say that I don't like all of these, because I haven't yet gotten a bad suggestion. Damn I love this board.

>Thissss one may be a stretch, but I haven't writefag'd in a while and I'm having fun with this.

The Brotherhood of the Vine

Well-known throughout the land for being excellent drinking companions, the Brotherhood are some of the most un-rangerly Rangers imagineable. Rumored to be inspired by an order of monks who devoted their lives to brewing, the Brothers are united by their appreciation of strong drink, good company, and a hearty brawl. Large, burly men, they are often recruited from the taverns they seem to never leave. On the battlefield the Brothers revel in unarmed melee combat, setting about themselves with whatever improvised weapons come to hand with loud guffaws of laughter.

In my head they're an entire order of drunken, good-natured Zangiefs.

"There are stories that you tell during the day when the sun is blistering hot and you want to take your mind of the sand, there are stories you tell during the night huddled arounbd a pitiful fire that can't keep you warm and then there is the story that you will hear only once. It is the story about what lies beneath these endless sands, about days long gone, about unspeakable secrets. It is the story about why we must slay all that come here, angels and demons alike. Tonight you will hear this story, tonight you will become a man!"

Any adventurer will tell you that the Afras dessert holds the last great treasure of this world. Any sane men will tell you that to go into the Afras dessert is suicide. Both are right.

The Afras dessert is home to the Angel Slayers, a secretive organization of nomadic hunters that guard something hidden underneath the sands. Some claim it's a ruined city, others will tell you that a demon sleeps there, yet others say it holds a portal to heaven. Whatever it may be, once you set foot in these desserts the Angel Slayers will hunt you down regardless of who or what you are...

>>13714545
Hmmm, thinking some more about it I think Angel Slayers is a bit to obvious, maybe Wing Breakers is better?

Wyrm Slayers

>This elite group, consisting mostly of rangers and mages exists for one purpose only: Dragon Slaying. More specifically, hunting and killing the sort of ancient monsters that none but the gods dare challenge.

The Crimson Legion

>Former members of scout troops and vanguards, they were brought together by a Blackguard champion of Mephistopheles. Proving himself to be cunning and vicious warrior, he promised all the carnage they could ever want and instituted the right of the blood-hunt: that any member, at least once, could call the hunt and the whole Legion must pursue the target until it dies, no matter the cost. Bound only by their bloodlust, they have but three rules: 1. Never attack a brother. 2. Bathe your blades in the blood of those who will not bow to Mephistopheles' will. 3. Obey the right of the blood-hunt.

>They are greatly feared, and rightly so. The call of a blood-hunt has killed at least three dragons, 2 wizards academies, and a small kingdom in the wild north.

Sorry, I was watching the RedLetterMedia Revenge of the Sith review.
Fucking hilarious. Alright, what've we got?

>>13714589
>>13714545
>>13714480
Wow. That's what we've got.

Brotherhood of the vine looks good, though it might be hard to tell that they're rangers. In a way, that's actually a point in their corner, because it makes them less transparent. Sure, you'd expect Zangief to piledrive you, but would you expect him to appear behind you like Rambo? No sir. No you would not.

Angel Killers, Angel Eaters, Wing Breakers, whatever you want to call them, this is an instance of an organization that I know nothing about besides what they (might) do, but already want to know something about. I guess the secret of what lies beneath the desert would be enticing enough, but that there's an organization dedicated solely to keeping people away from it? Oh yeah, pack your bags with an extra set of wing-splints, we're going on an adventure.

WyrmSlayers is pretty straightforward. But the Crimson Legion actually interests me more because, like many of these, it's unconventional. It's like one part Ranger, one part BlackGuard, and then one part... Huntsmen from the Chronicles of Pryddian. Or Prydian. Hell if I can remember how to spell that.

>>13714589

Damn, went though the effort of typing that up and the thread dies. Gonna give it one last bump before I leave, in case someone wants this.

>>13714726
Hey, I appreciate it anyway, Prof.

>>13714741

Want me to do a few more?

Organizations, concept work, and Fluff is what I'm good at, after all.

>>13714753
Sir, you have not disappointed me yet. I would be glad for more, and maybe we'll get more posters if we can keep the thread alive, too.

>>13714719
ROFLMAO, only realised I had consistently mistyped desert when I read your reaction (english is not my first language). And yes I think the hidden thing should be very impressive although even the Wing Breakers themselves do not really know what they guard, oral traditions are interesting that way! If I would personally ever use that idea there would probably be something hidden in there that was crucial to the campaign arc and the party would be sent to retrieve/find it, which would probably lead to some moral decisionmaking when after some vicious fights this groups is befriended or their story learned. Image is more or less how I imagine them by the way.

>>13714589
I really like the Crimson Legion, would be fun to have the party join them to try to harness the power of the bloodhunt for good purposes :)

>>13714719
For the brotherhood I just had an image of these big jovial guys who liked to get drunk and have a good bar brawl. Kinda like Friar Tuck from Robbin Hood, except all muscle. You'd be surprised that a guy that big could be that quiet...

>>13714781
I feel for you. Learning English is like juggling large pinecones that turn periodically into snakes.

Anyway, I like it as a premise. They don't sound like a very complex order of rangers, but rather the circumstances and the conditions nder which they are met are complex, and every dealing with them can come back to haunt you, because they're an actual organization that communicates with themselves.

Yes, the very people you need to help you find the secret of the sands are also trying to kill you! And that's if you can find them at all! And they're barefoot!
Speaking of which, is dat some Dashki? Oh yeah. Dat's some Dashki.

>>13714819
>I feel for you. Learning English is like juggling large pinecones that turn periodically into snakes.

Hey... At least it isn't French.

>>13714826
I don't speak French, so I couldn't tell you, but here's what I do know about English.

In English, you can ask a perfectly sensible question, like, "Hey, CH is kind of its own sound, you know? Could we maybe just make it its own letter?"
And you will receive the following answer:
"Well, no. You see, one of my grandparents was a viking pretending to be French, and the other was a Frenchman pretending to be a Scott, but both lived on an island once controlled by Gauls pretending to be Picts pretending to be Romans, so no, you can't have CH as its own letter."

Be sure to get the goblins before they tech up to sappers and zeppelins, or it's all over.

>>13714841
English: A language that lures other other languages into dark alleys, mugs them, and riffles through their pockets for spare vocabulary.

Also I'm working on some wf'ing for the Crimson Legion, I love the idea.

>>13714819
You're right, it's not a vey complex organization. The interesting thing about them is their rich culture. As a tightly related, probably kin-bound group they have next to no contact with outsiders. In addition to great combat encounters (being ambushed in the middle of the open desert, waking up to a strangely tactical swarm of scorpions crawling all over you, etc) they could provide for interesting social encounters in which, for example, you have to beat old men in storytelling contests!

Past membership also might make a fun background for a character...

Also: dashki?

>>13714841
It'd be more like one is a viking pretending to be french, and the other is a scott pretending to be a viking. Just saying.

>>13714781

The problem with the Blood-hunt logic there, is that they have to swear themselves to a Demon Lord in order to join.

>>13714769

The Silent Lancers

>Amongst the Death Cults of Orcus, one group is feared by it's enemies the most: the Silent Lancers. A special group of rangers, mages, and assassins trained for one purpose: killing the same sort of witch hunters trained to stop the vile plans of their brethren.

>They're lead by the gray horseman, said to have once been Sebastian Dawnforged, one of the greatest Paladins ever born, until Orcus caught him and twisted him over the course of a thousand years in a special demi-plane prison forged for this purpose alone. All he desires now is either a release for his damned state, or to watch the world burn.

Annnnnd.... That's it. For now anyway, I'm too tired to come up with anything else good. But, it looks like someone archived this, so if this is up later I'll post some more.

>>13714871
TACTICAL SCORPIONS.

Also, Dashki was a character in one of the Pathfinder adventures. He was a desert ranger, appropriately enough.
Hunted Gnolls. Also grew up around gnolls. Apparently these things were related.

>>13714826
Well there are worse languages. Had courses in various mesoamerican languages with 20 letter words and tonal differentiation. That really wasn't my cup of tea...

>>13714881
Every night, I thank Cortez for dealing with that shit before we got there. I hope my thankfulness comforts him in hell.

>>13714874
True you would have to have a pretty morally ambiguous part to have them swear fealty to a demon lord to do something beneficial. There is also bound to be a blood-hunt waiting list so that you first have to do all kinds of questionable shit before getting to your own hunt. And when you leave, you'll probably get the hunt after you as well. Never mind my dumb idea :D

>>13714904
There is no such thing as a dumb idea. There is only an idea that isn't finished yet.
I hold onto this theory vigorously because it does wonders for my faith in human industry.

>>13714874
Oh, also, thanks Prof. Good hustle.

>>13714912
That's a nice thought! So let me correct myself: Never mind my unfinished idea ;)

>>13714918

Good hustle? That took me like half an hour. i can do CHAPTERS in that time.

Damn, I'm more tired than I thought

>>13714912

I will have to disagree with this, as I know somebody who embodies the opposite of this ideal.

"Hey, you know what we should do with all this gold? Buy cattle. As much as we can afford. They'll graze along the way, we'll have a walking larder, if we need to we can carve them up and sell them at a profit, and we can start every encounter with a stampede!"

It's statements like that that make me wonder how Dave's lived as long as he has.

The Eparch of Rourove fled through the brush, brambles tearing away at what had once been ornate emerald robes, staining them burgundy with blood from his scratched hands. He could not see how it had come to this.
His position had been a comfortable one, the peasants of his Eparchy little trouble. They could ill afford to be, with the tiring work required to pay the tithes the Church demanded of them. And if the tithes they actually paid were a bit higher than what actually reached the Holy City... well none could deny him compensation for doing the work of the Chosen.
But then these, these, MADMEN in crimson had appeared! He payed his guards well, and they had not failed him in the past when peasants tried to cause trouble. Yet they had been torn apart, sometimes literally, in the face of these savage new foes. Lithe men wrapped in crimson, whose blades slashed and tore faster than the eyes could follow. The sprays of blood had been... copious, and the attackers were now stained red even where their robes did not cover. The Eparch had fled as they ripped their way through his estate. The clash of steel on steel had rang out even as he dropped the bar to seal his escape passage behind himself. Crashes which quickly turned to disquieting gurgles.
Now the Eparch stumbled as an upthrust root caught at his ankle, and he felt his elbow crack agonizingly as he tried to halt his fall. Lying on his side, he could only whimper as the lean figures emerged from the trees.

Assembling in a circle around the Eparch, one figure stepped forward to stand over him. Though dressed in darker colors than the rest, a long crimson scarf flowed from around its neck. Blood ran down grooves in the twin scimitars he held, dripping to pool beside the head of the quivering holy man.
"BROTHERS" his voice rang out, low and harsh and bearing a dark power "WHY HAVE WE COME HERE"
From all around the respond rang as one "WE COME TO HUNT"
Tilting its head back, the central figure called out to the sky "WHAT DRIVES US ONWARD"
"WE THIRST FOR THE BLOOD" came the reply in unison.
Finally, the figure dropped its head to gaze at the cowering Eparch "WHAT MUST BE DONE"
The assembled throng, covered in the blood of their comrades as well as their foes, did not hesitate in chanting the final response.
"WE MUST FINISH THE HUNT"
At this, the central figure raised both blades high above his head, and as he brought them down the last thing the Eparch heard was a roar of primal victory from a hundred throats.

My setting has a group called "Redcloaks".

They do pretty much what the Mouseguard does, but standardized the postal service and are sought after in times of conflict for quick information delivery. They offer their services for a price to private persons in extra-ordinary circumstances, but normally they just tend to the villages in their branches' area of influence, with payment being based on a honor system.

>>13714978
>>13714981

Huh.

This is..... interesting.

And good. Very good, considering it was spur of the moment.

I honestly though the Blood Hunt thing would be openly and publicly declared in defiance to gods and men 'This fucker is going to die, no matter what' sort of thing. Like an open dare to get between them and their prey. In some cases they might have to get through a small army to kill them, and sometimes they end up stalking some lone and freshly friendless fool across the country, hunting him down.

Now I'm tempted to write something, but I really need to be asleep like 4 hours ago..... Fuck.

In any case, good on you for contributing.

>>13715037
Hm I like that direction with it. Not really sure how they'd handle public relations, but they would probably get a better fight if they announced their target. Kinda like someone stepping up to the plate and calling their hit.

I just took it as they have some sort of communication system, probably magical/demonic, and through some hierarchy one of them gets to say "That guy. We're gonna kill him." And then they do.

If the way they work is well-known, I can see individuals who have lost all they have seeking them out and joining up, hunting down others's foes while they wait for their turn to choose the target and claim their revenge.

>>13714973
Have it your way my friend, have it your way. Mediocre hustle.

That said, I've got to go hit my evening shift. Hadn't expected this thread to go so well.

I'll read the archives to get everyone else's posts, which I'm sure will be of epic caliber. Ta, gentlemen.

>the mites tried it
PFFFFF LOL

>>13715090
What, are they just a different species of goblin?

White Express
Originally formed from an messenger regiment forced to adapt to civilian life. Express men are the best at getting through snowed in terrane. In fact they are the only messengers who remain active between the snows setting in the thaw in spring (Mid December to early March). Called the White Express for the white crest all members own.

Burning Men
These half crazy dare devils are the people who maintain the net work of signal flares on the borders of Amon Ehze. Undaunted by the sheer cliffs, long climes, and precarious bridges of their homeland these brave young people are usually the first to the scene of any thing of note. Their name comes from an practice of suiting of in all of their protective grear and then setting them selves on fire to see who can get it all of without getting burned.

>>13715090

Seriously, what the fuck is their deal?

>>13716110
Oh. Saw this on page 14. Way late, but Mites are basically goblins with less of everything, but damage reduction. They're the only thing in the MM that isn't a small kitten that a kobold has a serious chance of defeating.

Bring it on, greaser, I killed a bunch of Paladins, some crow themed rangers are strictly smalltime.

>>13719282
>laughinggoblinslayer.jpg
Fuck you, buddy.

>>13719319
provided.

>>13719282
Nigga please.