[LOCKED LOCATION] The Ranger Hall

[Fox]

ranger hall.jpg The Ranger Hall

The Ranger’s Hall of Natura was a businesslike construct that nevertheless managed to be a place of intense beauty despite its slightly militaristic mein. It was a tall and fortified building, the walls made from cleanly-cut and polished granite with graceful, fluted columns of marble all around the building. Each of these columns was fantastically wreathed in a delicate growth of evergreen ivy, the deep blue-green of the three-pronged leaves contrasting nicely with the building they grew over. In Natura, after all, the machinations of the natural world could not be ignored and so the Rangers had a Hall that grew ivy, large trees surrounded it and spread their massive branches over it, and it was here that the Silver Wolves rested their weary bodies after long days spent rambling through the forest.

But for all its simple, understated beauty, the Hall was clearly designed by someone in possession of an excellent military mind: the columns of marble in front of the main doors stood in a row of six in front of a pair of huge, heavy doors that were constructed of massive heavy oak planks, the slabs of wood a full two feet thick and bound with beautifully curving sheets of steel, cut into a design of leaves and vines that curled up the oak doors, reinforcing their strength and adding to their simple beauty.

The columns of marble, so beautiful and so large, stood conveniently in front of the door, just far enough away for the doors to swing out and open (pushing on these doors would merely make them close and lock against each other tighter) and also the columns stood close enough to the doors, and close enough together, to effectively hamper any people who would fancy using a battering ram, although they were far enough apart for, say, one horse to pass through without problem.

The Hall looked like it had been a Barracks of some sort before the Rangers had moved in and while Rangers were known for their roving ways, even they needed a place to congregate, and to discuss pertinent matters. On either door, however, far above the reach of even a Giant, there was one massive “face”, stylised wolf-heads, their solemn faces shown in a full-front position biased from above as if the eye of the artist had been looking at a wolf from above, were sheathed in softly gleaming silver, not snarling but calm and peaceful in their hollow-eyed expressions and conveying the impression of carer and protector. One Elven woman, wearing a smaller version of the wolf-head as a clasp upon her forest-green cloak which designated her as Ranger, was standing in the foyer – she looked up calmly with her dark brown eyes and smiled, then continued on her way.

Silent and watchful, the Silver Wolves would return to their Hall to speak to their Kin, or to pick up on bits of news from the city they were sworn to protect, and though they lived here, their souls belonged to the Naturan forests.

Inside the building, past the massive doors there was a noticeboard. Tacked onto this was a piece of parchment, written in the spidery hand of someone more used to elvish script than common. The Rangers of Natura, the Sentinels against all evil and the protectors of the lands and peoples, were a welcoming and gentle people who nevertheless would defend their beloved lands with bow, blade and cunning.

The notice read thus:

Ranger Courses To become a Naturan Ranger you must have at least: Initiate to Apprentice Druidism (Excluding Animal Shapeshifting spells, and Elements Manipulation Spells) Intermediate to Advanced in Bowmanship Optional: Basic in Dagger or Short-Sword; Tracking and Basic Herbalism or Healing You have the option to train up to Journeyman in Druidism, and all the way up to Mastery in Bowmanship Rangers can also learn Tracking and Basic Herbalism, and when someone becomes a Naturan Ranger (Silver Wolf) then they will receive a Cloak as a reward… tightly woven cashmere, hooded, and with a silver stylised wolf’s-head clasp. The cloak will keep you warm in even the chilliest of winters, will provide a fair amount of camouflage and concealment (as long as you’re not leaping about like a gazelle) and is totally impermeable to water. It shifts constantly from leaf-green to beech-silver, to fog-translucent, and at night-time shows the hue of the shadows under the forest boughs. Rangers must pass a “test” of sorts, a bit like the Quests that the Druids, the Clergy and Bards must undertake, and this shall prove whether or not they are noble of spirit and gentle of heart, a true protector of Natura. The Symbol of the Naturan Ranger is the Silver Wolf and is usually worn as a clasp on their cloak, and sometimes embossed into their possessions. It is not unusual to see someone walking in Natura with a longbow slung over their shoulder, the weapon showing the small symbol of the Silver Wolf’s head. Compulsory Courses will include the learning of: A minimum of Initiate Druidism A minimum of Intermediate in the field of Archery and Tracking with the option to take lessons in both Basic Herbalism and Healing These Druidic spells are to aid our Rangers in connecting with the lands of Natura and the Bowmanship is a requisite of the Ranger course, although students may, in addition to learning the bow, undertake basic studies in the use of a Dagger, and a Short-Sword. Those joining our Ranger-Force will take an oath of Guardianship and are expected to uphold this Oath. Only those who feel in their souls that they are worthy of the Trust of the Goodly Deities need apply. ~ Ranger-Mistress Owaten.

This location is permanently locked. If you have reason to post at this location please begin a new thread with [Ranger Hall] in front of the title. Please note that you must first post in the Moderation Needs thread as this is a moderated location

Originally posted by Nimh and minor minor tweaks by me!