Régimen común

The Desert Rangers were founded by a small band of people who roamed the Wastes after the Great War. These kind hearted people were comprised of rescue workers, federal rangers and other people whose job it was to keep people safe in remote wildernesses. In the time after the Exodus, these wild areas and national reserves were largely untouched by the ravages of war. The original Rangers strode through the Wastes, collecting a great number of people who wished to join their group. The Desert Rangers were formed as the original band of survivors began instructing these people in the realms of survival and combat. In time this group gained a reputation for compassion that matched their martial prowess. The original band of Rangers never intended for their small group to save the world. However, with ever kind act they performed and every bandit that was driven off, the legend of the Desert Rangers grew. This group did not even choose this name for themselves; it was simply the name that people gave them when recalling the stories of their exploits. Many of the brave at heart journeyed across the Wastes in search of the Rangers so that they could join the “cause.” By the time the Desert Rangers were officially organized into a group, the original Rangers had either died off or disappeared. Those who were left took on the most skilled newcomers and

set out on their mission to help needy travelers, protect the innocent, and fight against cruelty.

Organization and Leadership

The Desert Rangers have no formal leadership. A council of senior Rangers convenes on a regular basis in order to manage the long term problems of the group. However the council’s functions are hampered by the fact that its members are all engaged in their own activities in the Wastelands. Most Desert Rangers operate autonomously. These free agents vary widely in their individual approaches and outlooks but all

are sworn to uphold peace and justice.

Certain people have acquired so much respect and admiration within the ranks of the Desert Rangers that other members will flock to their call whenever summoned. Leadership based on charisma and personal authority is not as effective as a more formal structure. However, the scattered and diverse membership of the Desert Rangers precludes a top heavy command structure. There is no rank system within the Rangers. Less experienced members tend to defer to their more respected

counterparts but one Ranger cannot order another around.

Desert Rangers are free to recruit anyone they like into the ranks. Generally an initiation quest or a series of tests is required before a person is considered for membership. Recruits are measured by fighting skills and their ability to survive in the Wastelands. There are no oaths to recite and no creeds to adhere to; a person simply has to have the necessary skills. While Rangers seek out brave and good hearted people as potential recruits, they do not discriminate against those people who have troubled pasts.

Territory

The Rangers roam over a vast swath of territory without defined borders. They maintain outposts and rescue stations throughout the Wastelands, mainly near civilized areas. A few towns have invited Rangers to stay as the local law and these places serve as gathering areas for other Desert Rangers. For the most part, the Rangers do not control anything; they see themselves as servants of humanity.

Martial Capabilities

The Desert Rangers operate as individuals and small patrols, occasionally organizing into large groups for short periods of time. Usually a large group of Rangers will be summoned together to take out a Slaver group or a particularly troublesome gang of raiders. The Rangers work with likeminded people wherever they find them and receive a lot of reinforcement from people they’ve helped, such as town militias and certain groups of Wasteland Tribals outside of the Tribal Nation. The Ranger’s style of warfare is based around quick and fast strikes that deal great harm to the enemy without risking their own personnel. Desert Rangers are masters of stealth and survival. They emerge from the deep Wastes, strike hard and disappear back into the Wastelands without fear of being followed.

Economics

Generous souls, grateful travelers and many honest merchants provide gifts to individual Desert Rangers when they have a little something extra. The Rangers don’t demand payment or collect taxes but they manage to keep going with what they have. As such they have no formal economic system and survive as individuals much like other Wasteland inhabitants. The Rangers do receive material support from their allies, such as the Steel Disciples and the Techno-Reaper cult. Certain Wasteland communities also donate materials and coin to the Desert Rangers, in gratitude for their service.

Relationships with Outsiders

The Desert Rangers are on good terms with anyone who treats others with at least some degree of respect. Their only grudge is against killers, thieves, and Slavers. The Rangers are constantly performing surgical strikes against large Slaver groups. They have also gone up against large groups of raiders, including members of NEMO.

The Rangers have informal alliances with both the Steel Disciples and the Techno-Reaper cult. They do not agree with the philosophy of either group. However, the Desert Rangers are more than willing to cooperate with people whom they disagree with. The Rangers recognize that both groups are attempting to make life better and restore the Wastelands to civilization. Individual Rangers who have connections within these groups act as liaisons between the Desert Rangers and their allies. The relationship between the Rangers, Disciples, and Technophiles is one of mutual cooperation. The Rangers gain access to advanced technology, weapons, and vehicles by cooperating with their aforementioned allies. In return, the Disciples and Technophiles gain access to the best guides and scouts in the Wastelands. It is not uncommon to find a Desert Ranger accompanying a Steel Disciple war party or Techno-Reaper salvage team. These three groups also share information on a regular basis.

Desert Rangers

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Notable Personalities

Desert Ranger Smith: The legendary Ranger John Smith from the Yellowstone area. It is widely believed that

Ranger Smith is not this man’s true name, but that he changed it in order to escape a sullied past. Smith patrols the wild area that was once known as Yellowstone National Park. He protects all travelers within this domain and organizes the locals against incursions by Slavers and raiders. Smith also takes pride in protecting the wilderness from exploitation, this small reserve representing one of the last unspoiled regions on earth.

Desert Ranger Justice: A well known lawman from the region known as Texas. Rupert P. Justice operates far

from the traditional jurisdiction of the Rangers. However, his exploits against Slavers, bandits and criminal gangs has earned him great fame. Ranger Justice’s reputation has trickled back to the Southwest deserts and his deeds in the Lone Star state have gained mythical proportions in the retelling.