The Ironbriar Rangers

The Iron Briar Rangers

The Iron Briar Rangers are an ancient and storied order whose origins reach back to the earliest days of settlement upon the continent of Midwin. Though much of their founding has been swallowed by the mists of time, tales endure of rose-cloaked figures patrolling the wild places, guardians of the frontier and protectors of the common folk. Led by the fabled Nine Knights of the Rose, these rangers aided the early denizens of Midwin in taming the land, offering their swords not only against beasts but in pursuit of justice during times of strife.   The Rangers were relentless in their pursuit of monstrous threats, and it is said that the extinction of many dangerous species across Midwin can be attributed to their tireless hunts. Yet as the wilderness waned and civilization took firmer root, their purpose grew ever more diminished. Following the Goblin Purge of BA385—a campaign in which the Rangers played a grim but decisive role—the great threats that once plagued the land had largely been vanquished.   By BA318, with heavy hearts and little left to guard against, the order was formally disbanded. Many of its surviving members sought new purpose within the Church of the Devout, their formidable skills welcomed by budding religion. The once-renowned red cloaks of the Iron Briar Rangers did not fade, but rather took on a new hue—transformed into the blood-red vestments that would become The Order of the Crimson Vow, their legacy living on in faith and fire.  

New Hunting Grounds

With the discovery of Alboric came untamed frontiers and the promise of unknown beasts, exotic flora, and wild majesty that had long since vanished from Midwin. To scholars, this land offered wonders to catalogue and study—but to others, it offered sport. The thrill of the hunt, and the prestige of slaying that which had never before been seen.   Among the first of these was Baron Edric Vantel, a wealthy noble of the Riverlands of Syvian. In the year A109, driven by both wanderlust and vanity, Edric financed an ambitious voyage to Alboric. For two years he hunted in the wild lands now known as The Gift, returning to Midwin with the hides and horns of strange beasts, trophies unknown to the learned halls of the continent. His triumph drew the eyes of nobles across the land, who flocked to his gatherings in admiration and envy.   Flushed with acclaim, Edric gathered fresh funds and set forth on a second expedition, this time accompanied by a retinue of fellow nobles—eager to carve their own legends into the wilds. Cloaking themselves in romanticism and pride, the group adopted the name The Iron Briar Rangers, invoking the ancient order whose name still stirred the hearts of Midwin’s people. Yet their purpose was no longer protection, but spectacle.   Edric Vantel would not live to see the expedition's end; he succumbed to illness during the voyage home. But his death did not end the tradition he had rekindled. The noble hunters continued to mount expeditions every few years, and in time, formally established themselves as a guild—The Ironbriar Rangers, in name if not in spirit.  

Legacy on Alboric

In the present age, the so-called Ironbriar Rangers continue to roam the wilds of Alboric, though their purpose remains uncertain. Some claim the mantle of protector, yet many are little more than nobles and thrill-seekers in pursuit of sport. Their numbers are made up of wealthy adventurers, sellswords, and minor lords with coin to spare and something to prove. While their services may be hired for specific tasks—most notably by the High Mage Academy of Helioluna, who often employ them to retrieve rare reagents and samples—their true loyalty lies with the hunt itself, not the people of the land.   Their reputation is mixed. Though capable, they are often regarded with suspicion. The Guild of Heroes maintains an uneasy alliance with them, cooperating when necessary but frequently chastising the Rangers for their disregard for the common folk and their careless treatment of Alboric’s delicate balance.   Yet the name Ironbriar endures in stranger fashion still. Tales spread across Alboric of a lone figure known only as the Knight of Roses—a wandering swordsman clad in the weathered plate of one of the original Nine Knights of the Ironbriar. No record exists of how this armor was acquired, but the knight travels alone, offering aid to those in need and upholding the forgotten virtues of the old order. To many, this mysterious figure is a truer heir to the Ironbriar name than the modern hunters guild ever was.