Mirwood Ranger Handbook: Introduction

=Rangers of Mirwood=

Often referred to as the “merry men” of the woods, the Rangers of Mirwood Forest are known throughout the realm for their skill in archery and tracking. They share a deep bond with nature and the woodland creatures of the realm. The rangers strive to maintain the natural balance of the forest and the greater Duchy, apprehending poachers and championing the poor. Their relationship with the downtrodden has often put the Mirwood Rangers at odds with the aristocracy of the realm, but their irreplaceable prowess as hunters and trackers has cemented their place in the forests of Mirwood.

=History of the Order=

Since the time of the Arathorian Empire and its presence in the Kingdom of Stormwind - then known as the Kingdom of Azeroth, woodsmen and hunters have roamed the lands. With their dependence on the land itself for their survival, these men and women have taken up arms for countless generations to defend the land from irreparable harm. Thus were the beginnings of the human rangers in Westridge.

The first official organization consisting of rangers was created during the Age of Consolidation. As the young Kingdom of Stormwind stretched out to unify the human-held lands in the southern continent, the populace began to encounter large and unusual creatures with increasing frequency. To help protect the people, a ranger named Merrick Dacus, from the wooded county of Mirwood, gathered his compatriots to track and if need be, kill these dangerous beasts. As more hunters and woodsmen rallied to his call, he named the group simply "The Rangers of Mirwood." Later endorsed by the reigning Duke of Westridge for their heroic efforts, the Rangers of Mirwood were renamed The Ranger Order of Mirwood with Merrick Dacus being knighted and dubbed the first Ranger-Lord of the Order.

The rangers stayed together through several generations, maintaining a delicate balance as they helped the Kingdom expand and solidify its reign over the surrounding lands while also protecting the Wilds. Over time, in part through the efforts of the rangers, relative peace blanketed the kingdom. The rangers began to fade from public view as they contained the real dangers within the dark wooded areas. Eventually, the Ranger Order was seen as a merely a folk-tale. Stories of sightings or encounters with rangers occurred once every couple of years but were typically waved off as over-active imaginations or the result of too much drink.

Only during the Gnoll War of 507 K.C. did the Rangers reemerge from the shadows to aid the Kingdom once more. Led by the Ranger-Lord Tristyn Isaacs, the rangers answered the call for aid from the Duke of Westridge and helped win several key battles against the gnoll armies. Most notable was the rangers' efforts to ride ahead of King Barathen Wrynn's daring assault against the Packlord Garfang. The rangers stayed half a day ahead of the King and his party, clearing out small patrols along the way, and ensured the path was clear for His Majesty and that no gnoll would be able to give advanced warning to the Packlord.

When the Dark Portal opened and the Orcish Horde assaulted the Kingdom, the Rangers of Mirwood fought to the best of their abilities but were beaten back time and time again. They watched in horror as countless acres of forests were cut down or burned - including their beloved Mirwood. With their numbers greatly diminished and their lands demolished, the Ranger Order disbanded as it joined the throngs of refugees headed to Lordaeron.

The Rangers of Mirwood were reformed during the Second War under the command of Sir Paxton Redbrooke, one of the few surviving rangers from the First War and a junior officer in the First Regiment. Donning the mantle of Ranger-Lord, Redbrooke was tasked with the recreation of the ranger order of old and to utilize them to help restore order and balance to the reclaimed lands of the Kingdom. However, in his zeal to serve the Kingdom, Ranger-Lord Redbrooke led almost the entirety of the Order through the Dark Portal with the Alliance Expedition. The Order is believed lost after the closing of the Portal and the shattering of Draenor. To this day, not a single member has been located.

The Ranger Order of Mirwood reformed again shortly after the First Regiment's return from the Uldum Expedition following the Westfall Rebellion. Duke Montclair called for the reestablishment of the Order of Rangers, assigning Sir Brandon Hood to lead them. Under the command of the newly appointed Ranger-Lord, the rangers aided the First Regiment during multiple campaigns.

=Creed of the Mirwood Ranger=

Ranger Code of Ethics

Structure