The forest is cool and silent, and in its shadows moves the fantasy ranger, watching and stalking with an arrow ready to strike. What fantasy world could be without this mysterious character?
A fantasy ranger is typically characterized as a mysterious scout, traveling through the countryside on epic quests, tugging the puppet strings of secret plots.
Here we have listed these expected pieces but also some off-the-wall trigger words that can take you in new and exciting directions, should you wish to go. Have fun exploring and creating the fantasy ranger of your dreams!
Writing Prompts for a Fantasy Ranger
- What might drive someone into the life of the ranger: a debt owed; a sordid past; guilt; murder; a fall from good graces; or an abiding will to watch over others?
- What might bring a ranger out of the shadows? For whom would a ranger shed their secrecy to live plainly among people?
- A ranger is injured and hobbles and drags themselves to a roadway. There they lie when another character, the unlikely hero, comes upon them. What secret does the ranger tell? What promise does the character make to the dying ranger?
- A ranger finds a strange artifact, an object of great power that smells of evil. Despite their better judgement, the ranger uses it and is slowly takes hold of their soul. Now how will this rogue of the shadows be stopped when the evil commands them to destroy others?
- An illustrious book belonging to a powerful religious sect is being transported to a new place of honour in a distant city. A ranger is asked by a high ranking member of the sect to perform an overwatch role, scouting and protecting the book on its journey.
- A ranger leads a party on a mission to retrieve an artifact, but the ranger is actually under the control of the artifact’s dark power, lured by its irresistible beckoning.
- A ranger finds a mysterious door in the base of a tree and can only recall a vague legend, details lost in time.
- A hunter-ranger stalks a strange creature that is out of place. Will the predator become prey?
Fantasy Ranger Descriptors
- quick, deft, agile, dexterous, limber, nimble, trim, supple, acrobatic, light, lithe, adroit,
- spirited, focused, driven,
- brave, courageous, fearless, gutsy, daring,
- committed to a cause, loyal, devout, true,
- hardened, stoic, stolid, staid, fixed, resolute, determined, enduring,
- passionate,
- silent, quiet, stealthy, hidden, reclusive, disguised, anti-social, intrepid, evasive, ethereal, a will-o-the-wisp, fleeting, invisible, secretive, clandestine,
- knowledgeable, skilled, talented, wise, thoughtful, resourceful, ingenious,
- reliable, trustworthy, honest, honour-bound, dutiful, loyal,
- dark, mysterious, evil, wicked, ill-mannered, rude, troubled, twisted, bothered, mad, lost, fallen soul, excommunicated, banished, torn, hurt, betrayed, long-forgotten, estranged, forgotten, faded, lost,
- alert, vigilant, watchful, perceptive, observant, prepared, guarded, careful, wary, cautious, deliberate, keen, savvy, discerning, astute,
- gruff, rough, tough, solid, stalwart, strong, stoic,
- scruffy, bearded, long-haired,
- human, elf, half-elf, dwarf, gnome,
- military, soldier, fighter, warrior, adventurer, druid, scout,
Fantasy Ranger Environments
Though rangers may show up anywhere, they will rarely be in the open, preferring shadows, cover, concealment, or advantageous perches. They will study terrain carefully and have an uncanny ability to remember the slightest detail. Rangers will also dress in camouflage appropriate to their terrain, again looking for any help fading in to their surroundings.
- forest, old-growth forest, ancient forest, pine woods, jungle, copse, woods, taiga, boreal forest, bayou, mangrove, redwood forest, alpine woods, rain forest, evergreen wood, chaparral, briar wood, monsoon forest,
- hills, mountains, ravine, valley, vale, alpine meadow,
- plains, steppes, expanse, savanna, shrubland, grassland, veld, prairie,
- wasteland, barrens, desolate lands, borderlands, waste, cankered stretch, salt flat, dead sea bed, dead woods,
- hideout, cave network, retreat, sanctuary, temple, camp, tent, caverns,
- tavern, pub, inn,
- for a sci-fi spin: disant planet, lone moon, fringe planet, forest asteroid, scout ship, crumbling world,
- strange planes of existence, realm of shadow, dark world, sinister dimension, limbo,
- alley, snicket, nook, alcove,
- backroad, off-the-beaten-path,
- edge of a market, cloister, at the back of the room, at a corner table, off to the side, under the bleachers,
Fantasy Ranger Specialties
A ranger can be a generalist, adept at tracking, hunting, survival, and other such outdoor pursuits; however, a ranger may also have a special focus, training deeply for expertise with a particular weapon, tactic, or approach.
- hunting, trapping, fishing, netting, poaching,
- espionage, diplomacy, intrigue, spying, stealth, influence, politics,
- robbery, theft, burglary, assassination,
- archery, combat, sword fighting, two-weapon combat, hand-to-hand combat, street fighting, brawling,
- sniper, mercenary, swashbuckler,
- detective, sleuth, tracker, investigator, agent,
- dungeoneering, exploration, mapping, cartography,
- knowledge of: history, religion, heraldry, royalty, arcana
- undead hunting, ghost tracking, paranormal investigation,
- animal friend, beast master, nature’s ally, rider, druid, animal charmer, forest master, packmaster,
- magic, divine power, channeling, summoning, charming,
Fantasy Ranger Notes and Ideas
- Though we are callingthis page “fantasy”, these ideas can apply easily to almost any genre: steampunk, urban fantasy, Gothic, mystery, cyberpunk, dystopia, or whatever fusion you want to create.