RANGER

BLACK FURY APEX KINFOLK: RANGERS

"I may not be Garou, but do not underestimate the Black Fury heart that beats within me."

Surprisingly, Black Fury Rangers can be either male or female and are associated with the wisdom and survivalism of their natural environments, be it forests, plains, deserts, mountains, etc. Females fortunate enough to have been born as Apex Kinfolk readily embrace the role of Ranger. For females, it allows them the only true opportunity to be of practical use in the tribe, with the exception as a breeder to other Garou. 

The Challenges of Being a Male Ranger
Where female Rangers have a natural place with their birth families and a typical Black Fury upbringing, male Rangers have a much more difficult path to follow. All males born to Black Fury mothers are traditionally traded to other tribes in exchange for female offspring, or simply given away. Even those males born Apex Kinfolk are given or traded to be raised by another tribe. 

However unlike normal offspring, Apex Black Fury males will naturally develop their Ranger skills and have a temperament and beliefs that reflect their Black Fury birthright rather than those of the tribe in which they were raised. Many (though not all) will seek out Black Fury mates or feel drawn to strong females of other tribes, even though they were raised from birth by a foster tribe. 

An Apex Black Fury male feels no loss of self or respect by associating with strong, dominate women. Depending on the tribe in which the Apex Male Black Fury is raised, this can cause some friction with their adopted families who sense the Apex Kinfolk Ranger does not fit in with the rest of their tribe.  

It is possible that Apex Black Fury-born males may not know or understand their parentage until their abilities begin to manifest, usually around puberty if not sooner. Then it is difficult for even them to deny who they are. Whether they initially embrace or refuse their Black Fury birthright depends on the individual male and how strongly they have bonded to their adopted family and tribe. However for the Apex male Black Fury, they find themselves hardwired to Black Fury beliefs and customs. At the end of the day it is not a fight they can, or even desire, to win. 

Proven Male Rangers are looked upon with a great deal more respect than other kinfolk males by Black Fury Garou due to their special affinity with nature magic and the spirits, making them ideal mates who are extremely valued and sought after by Black Fury Garou. It is not uncommon for female Garou of other tribes to also challenge for Rangers as mates, though some Black Furies may claim male Rangers are only allowed to mate within the Black Fury tribe. This is not really a true statement. It is also believed that a skilled Ranger (male or female) has a better chance of producing a Garou child when mated to a Garou, though this is not a proven fact. Rangers are stereotypically found to be smart, hardy, cunning, and perceptive, in addition to being skilled woodsmen, hunters, and scouts. 

The Path of the Ranger
Rangers have a natural affinity with Gaia and are known for their straightforward common sense. They speak their minds plainly and tend to be robust, wily and perceptive, in addition to being knowledgeable of their natural habitats. Many are skilled in woodcraft, stealth, wilderness survival, tracking, and "nature magic." They also have a tendency to be resistant to the mental magic of others. 

Rangers feel most at home in the woods sleeping under the stars. They serve their Tribe and Sept by hunting, fishing, guarding the encampment, and keeping an eye on nature to ensure none violate her territory or bring trouble to the woodlands they view as their responsibility. The preferred weapon of a Ranger tends to be a bow and melee weapons such as knives, staffs, spears and even short swords or machetes. Hand to hand combat is also within the purview of a Ranger. You won’t find a ranger using a gun or similar weapons, as they feel the devices of the Weaver have no place in the Wyld.     

RANGER SKILLS

◉◎◎◎◎◎: RANGER LEVEL 1 — SURVIVALIST (Buff)

At the first level of skill, a Black Fury Ranger discovers an impressive core of natural and magical passive abilities:

1. Dark as Day: The Ranger has excellent eyesight in all light levels, plus can see and fight in pitch darkness as though it were day with no penalties. 
   • Permanent Bonus: +1 Initiative
     
     
2. True Aim: Rangers using bows and melee weapons have a natural advantage in combat. 
   • Permanent Bonus: +2 Physical Attack
     
     
3. Vanish in Plain Sight: Rangers in their natural environments (forests, deserts, mountains, plains, etc.) have the innate magical ability to hide in plain sight when standing perfectly still. If they move at all, they lose this advantage. 
   • DIF: 80
   • MOD:  Occult, Stealth 
   • Resist: Alertness
   • Permanent Affects: +10 Stealth
     
     
4. Perfect Balance: Rangers are superior natural athletes and can climb, run, swim and jump with an ability that channels their Garou DNA. 
   • Permanent Affects: +10 Athletics/Reflexes.
     
     
5. Look Sideways: Though no Apex Kinfolk has the ability to step sideways into the Preumbra, a Black Fury Ranger has the exceptionally rare ability to “Look Sideways.” When focused, he/she/they can part the veil as if peaking through a curtain and faintly see the shadowy landscape of the spiritual realm. While they cannot open or step through it like a full blooded Garou, nor communicate with any spirits, they may garner a wealth of information at particular spiritual and nature sites regarding the Spirit Realm. 
   • Diff: 80 
   • Mod: Occult, Willpower

◉◉◎◎◎◎: RANGER LEVEL 2 — FLORA & FAUNA (Mental Skill)

A Ranger knows the plants and animals in his or her domain. Specifically, those within the continent in which they were raised. He/she/they knows which plants are edible and can live off the land no matter where they are in their environment. They also know the traits, habits and cycles of the animals, making them exceptional hunters and trackers. 

Permanent: +10 Alertness modifier.   

◉◉◉◎◎◎: RANGER LEVEL 3 — MAGICAL RESISTANCE (Buff)

Rangers have a passive ability to resist all types of mental magic and preternatural abilities of others that are used on them or around them. While far from being immune to spells or supernatural manipulations, they are much more difficult to influence than normal mortals. 

• Permanent: +10 Mental Defense

◉◉◉◉◎◎: RANGER LEVEL 4 — LIMITED TELEPORT (Mental Skill)

While limited to a maximum of 20 feet, a Ranger has the mystical ability to teleport in any direction 360 degrees. This is useful for eluding enemies, such as ducking behind a tree then reappearing behind a completely different tree or rock. Or running into a dead-end alley, then suddenly appearing on the roof of a building or on the other side of a wall.

There are consequences of using this skill though and it takes a great deal of focus to perform successfully. 

• DIF: 80
• Mod: Occult, Willpower 
  • Failure to succeed means you failed to teleport. 
  • Botch (rolling a natural 1-10) means you take 5 HP damage for bashing your body against the closest obstacle
  • Storyteller's decision on additional damage for failed teleports that are not within line of sight, underground, another room etc.

CRAFTING SPIRIT BOWS

Spirit bows are the hallmark weapon of the Rangers and are a prestige item to create and possess. Only Rangers are capable of making them, with the assistance of a Garou Theurge. Before Rangers can make any Spirit Bow, the Player must first have purchased Level 3 in Occult, and Level 5 in Craft.

• STEP 1: Find Bow Tree -  Roll for success to find a useable Maple, Hickory or Osage Orange Tree.
• STEP 2: Roll to craft the bow using the instructions below.
• STEP 3: Acquire the assistance of a Garou Theurge to place a spirit into your bow.
• STEP 4: Both Ranger and Theurge make the associated rolls to entice the spirit into your bow, completing the process. This must be done in the presence of a Moderator or Admin.
• STEP 5: Moderator or Admin submits your Roleplay Note Card to the Dominions of Darkness Admin, who will then send you your Spirit Bow Weapon to place in your Character's Inventory. Spirit Bows are used like any other weapon by clicking it in your inventory to bring up the EXECUTE ATTACK menu during combat.

◉◉◉◉◉◎: RANGER LEVEL 5 — FIND BOW TREE (Physical Skill)

• DIF: 80
• Energy/Mana: 5
• MOD:  Occult, Physical Skill
• Permanent Affects: None

Description:
Ranges are experts in the flora and fauna of their territories. Using this skill, the Ranger can locate and identify the perfect specimens for creating Maple, Hickory or Osage Orange Spirit Bows.

System:
The Player spends 5 points of Energy/Mana and makes a successful roll. The Ranger has then found an acceptable Maple, Hickory or Osage Orange Tree from which a limb can be harvested to make the bow.

NOTE: In the case of finding an acceptable Osage Orange Tree, the help of a Theurge is also necessary. (See Osage Orange Spirit Bow below)

◉◉◉◉◉◎: RANGER LEVEL 5 — CRAFT RANGER SPIRIT BOW (Physical Skill)

• Materials: Roleplayed locating a Maple or Hickory Tree, make a successful roll.
• DIF: 90
• Energy/Mana: 10
• Mod: Occult, Craft
  

Description:
Rangers are not fighters, but at this level they are more than capable of defending themselves. This takes a great deal of skill and can only be attempted when a Ranger has achieved Level 5 in Craft and a minimum Level 3 in Occult. At this point, the Ranger has already traveled deep within a forest to find a perfect tree of either Maple or Hickory. 

Each of these trees creates a different type of Ranger Spirit Bow. This can be a long or short bow, but not a compound bow. Their design can be very simple and utilitarian in appearance or quite ornate, reflecting the Ranger's personal tastes and level of woodcraft skill. 

A Ranger may craft only one of each Ranger Spirit Bow (one hickory and one maple). All special abilities of the Ranger Spirit Bow can only be used by the Ranger who creates it. It cannot be loaned out or given away.

Exception: If the Ranger is defeated in battle (dead or unconscious) and his/her/their bow is taken as a trophy. (This can only be done in actual roleplay and cannot be part of anyone’s created backstory.) When taken as a trophy, the bow's allegiance changes to the person who defeated its previous owner. The new owner receives all the bonuses associated with the Ranger Spirit Bow.

***

Part 2: Enticing a Spirit Into a Ranger Spirit Bow: 

Once the Bow is crafted (see Roll/Mods above), the Ranger will need to find a Garou Theurge in roleplay to entice a spirit into the bow. In the presence of a Moderator or Admin, the Ranger and the Theurge will need to make a successful roll (see Base Rolls below per Bow Type):

• DIF: 80
• Theurge Mod: Occult
• Ranger Mod: Occult

1. Both Ranger and Theurge will need to make their rolls using the Modified Roll feature in the Player's Roleplay Menu (click the FIST Icon on your HUD.)
2. The Ranger's roll is to determine if the called spirit is attuned to the Ranger. 
3. The Theurge's roll is to trap the spirit within the bow. 
4. This can be attempted up to three consecutive times per OOC day, or until both Ranger and Theurge simultaneously achieve their rolls. 

For Example: if the Ranger makes his roll but the Theurge does not, then both must roll again until both Ranger and Theurge rolls 80+ with Occult as a modifier. This represents the Ranger and the Theurge successfully combining their abilities to entice the Spirit into the Bow.

 ***

Part 3: Using Your Ranger Spirit Bow (Resist for bows is Physical Defense)

• MAPLE SPIRIT BOW
  When used to create a Spirit Bow, the wood of the Maple Tree is excellent at storing energy, providing a strong release and higher damage per arrow. Maple also at withstanding the stresses of drawing and releasing a bow and is excellent at absorbing shock vibrations, providing a smoother shooting experience. When using the Maple Spirit Bow, the Player receives a Temp bonus of +20 Physical Attack.

• HICKORY SPIRIT BOW: 
  Hickory has a very strong tinsel strength, so it can be made thin and light with a good snap when released. Because of this, a skilled Ranger can fire arrows two as fast and can potentially deliver much more damage. When using the Hickory Spirit Bow, Rangers get two arrow attacks per action. This allows the Player to fire two arrows at one target, or two targets can be shot with one arrow each within the same turn. (The Player must make a separate roll for each arrow.) In addition, the Player receives a +20 to Initiative bonus simply for carrying the Hickory Spirit Bow and using it on his/her/their first combat attack. This represents how quickly a Ranger can fire this bow due to it being so thin and light.

◉◉◉◉◉◉: RANGER LEVEL 6 — OSAGE ORANGE SPIRIT BOW (Buff)

Description:
The Osage Orange Tree, also called Bow Wood, is known for its incredible natural and magical properties when the tree exists in both the Physical World and the Spirit World simultaneously. This makes it an ideal environment for enticing powerful spirits.

The wood is dense, heavy and never rots, even if buried. The magical properties of Osage Orange wood in the creation of a Spirit Bow has many qualities but is specifically desirable for its effects on the endurance, strength, health and longevity of the Ranger who successfully crafts it. 

Rangers carrying (equipping/wearing) Osage Orange Spirit Bows have been known to live to extreme old age – up to 140 years, retaining much of their youth and virility throughout their lives. Rangers between the ages of 20-100 will appear as if they are in their 20s to early 30s. Those who reach ages over 100 years will appear as if in they are in their 40s with none of the usual signs of old age, such as wrinkles, arthritis, infirmity or elderly diseases. It has been said that Rangers fortunate to have lived this long have died young, healthy and active till their last day. 

MAKING AN OSAGE ORANGE SPIRIT BOW: 
Making an Osage Orange Spirit Bow is no small task, requiring a great deal of skill in multiple disciplines. But don’t let this deter you. If it were easy, everybody would have one. 

The difference between this bow and those made of Maple or Hickory is the spirit which resides in the bow. The Maple and Hickory bows contain a spirit that once walked among the living in the physical world. The spirit that an Osage Orange Spirit Bow houses is imbued with a powerful Nature Spirit.

Osage Orange Spirit Bow Ritual
The ritual to create an Osage Orange Spirit Bow requires that both the spiritual and corporal aspects of the bow exist simultaneously in the physical realm and the spirit realm. This means that the Osage Orange Tree must be found in both the Preumbra and physical world. When this unique tree is found and the bow is successfully created, it embodies not just a spirit, but an aspect of Nature Herself within it. It is this essence of Gaia which makes the Osage Orange Spirit Bow so very powerful. 

A Mark of Greatness
Among Rangers and Black Furies, an Osage Orange Spirit Bow is a distinct mark of nature mastery and bestows great prestige upon the Ranger. Just carrying the bow has been known to create a sense of awe and respect in any Kinfolk aware of what it is. In Black Fury Garou, a male Ranger who carries this bow is considered an exceptionally desirable breeding mate. 

Rangers have been known to die before allowing their bow to be taken from them. This is not just a weapon, it is an extension of themselves and parting with it would be like cutting off the Ranger’s arm or leg. Not only that, but if the Ranger is parted with it for very long he/she/they will begin to show their true age.

System:
Crafting an Osage Orange Spirit Bow: 

1. The Player will need to locate an Osage Orange Tree, using the Level 5 Find Bow Tree skill. But this is just the first part. The Osage Orange Tree must exist in both the Physical World and the Spirit World. If the Roll is not successful, the Ranger must find another Osage Orange Tree.
2. If successful, the Ranger must then “look” sideways into the Preumbra at the same location to confirm if the tree exists in both the physical and the spiritual worlds. Use Modified Roll in your Roleplay Menu by clicking the FIST Icon and rolls 80+ Mod Occult + Willpower to see if the Spirit Tree exists. This can only be done once per OOC day.) 
   
   If the roll is successful, the Ranger must employ the help of a Theurge who can step sideways at that location since mortal Rangers cannot cross over into the Prenumbra. 
3. The Theurge may then cut off and retrieve a 6-foot long perfect limb from the tree. This simultaneously removes the limb in both worlds and allows the Theurge to bring the limb back into the physical world for the Ranger.
   
   
4. Next, the Ranger must roll to craft the bow. 
   • Diff: +120
   • Mod:  Craft, Occult, Physical Skill
   • ENERGY/MANA: 10
   • The Ranger may roll once per OOC day. Once the Ranger has made a successful roll, the bow is finished. There is no need to bind a spirit to it since it already contains the powerful essence of Nature herself.
   • If the Roll is successful, the 3D Mesh Weapon Asset will auto-populate into your Character's Inventory in the Player's HUD. 
   • IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure you have two spaces open and available when you roll so that there is adequate room for your new bow.

Properties of the Osage Orange Spirit Bow

Temporary Affects: (These bonuses are directly associated with the bow and physically carrying the bow worn on the Player's Character. This needs to be a prim worn on your Avatar (carried or worn strapped to the Avatar's back). These bonuses are only applied when the bow is in the Character's Inventory and worn on the Avatar. Should the Ranger lose the bow, he/she/they forfeits all bonuses.)

• +20 Physical Skill
• +20 Physical Attack
• +10 Occult
• +15 Physical Defense
• +15 to Initiative when using this bow 
• Extended health, youth and life, up to 140 years
• The Ranger is immune to magic that effects his/her/their physical body. However, this does not impede spells or abilities that are of a mental or emotional nature.
• Gives four attacks per round. All four arrows can be aimed at one target, or can be shot at up to four separate Targets within the same turn.
• Rolling a natural 90 allows the Ranger to make a fifth action (this can be any other action, such as teleporting to a different location, throwing a dagger, etc., but does not include shooting another arrow).

 These benefits apply only to the creator of the Osage Orange Spirit Bow and cannot be given to anyone else. If the bow is stolen, lost or destroyed, the Ranger will begin to look and age normally within about a week's time. 

For example: if a 75-year-old Ranger (who looks to be in their early 30s) loses their bow, within seven days he will begin to look like his natural age and live out a natural length of life. If the bow is returned to the Ranger before a week's time (or he manages to craft another), the Ranger will resume the benefits of the Osage Orange Spirit Bow.

As long as Rangers carry their bows with them, they will receive all the bonuses and benefits received from the Osage Orange Spirit Bow. The bow cannot be farther than 10 feet away from them at any given time. However it is not a problem if the Ranger is away from his/her/their bow for a day or two, but it will make them feel uncomfortable and incomplete without it.

NOTE: If the Ranger is defeated in combat and his bow is taken as a trophy, it will bestow the following Temp bonuses on the person who defeated the Ranger for as long as that person physically carries the bow:

• +15 Physical Skill
• +15 Physical Attack
• +10 Physical Defense Rolls

If the bow is returned to the Ranger, the Ranger will fully regain all previous bonuses and benefits.