Gnarley Rangers: Lore of the Shadow Bough

The Shadow-Bough Tradition: Hidden Lore of the Gnarley Rangers

By L. Arven, Chronicler of the Old Road

Few groups in the Flanaess command as much respect—and as much quiet speculation—as the Gnarley Rangers. These wardens of the tangled woodlands east of the Kron Hills are already known for their alliances with druids, their unusual tolerance for lycanthropes, and their almost preternatural ability to appear where danger is greatest.

But ask any veteran ranger of the Gnarley about the real heart of their craft, and you’ll hear a whispered phrase:

“The Shadow-Bough takes only the willing.”

Today, we’re going to talk about what that actually means.

Origins of the Shadow-Bough

Gnarley Rangers have always stood at the crossroads between nature, druidic tradition, and the peculiar mysteries of the forest’s more ancient inhabitants. The earliest stories tell of rangers who walked with werebears, learned from old druids, and took oaths beneath the first trees of the forest.

Among these stories is the tale of Druin Leafcloak, a half-elf scout who vanished during the Greyhawk Wars and returned months later with the power to melt into shadows as though they were water. He claimed that the secret had been taught to him by the Dusk Speaker, an ancient treant who dwelled so deep in the forest that even the druids feared to tread.

This ability—part blessing, part burden—became the foundation of what is now known as the: Ritual of the Shadow-Bough. It is not widely discussed. Many rangers complete their entire lives without ever seeing it performed.

But for those who pursue the deeper ways of the Gnarley… the option is always there, waiting in the roots.

Why the Ritual Exists

The Gnarley Rangers have always been understaffed, overworked, and aware that the forest they protect is simply too vast for traditional scouting methods alone. The druids recognized that shadow and stillness were as much tools of nature as tooth and claw.

Thus, they began teaching a select few rangers how to: hide without breaking the forest’s trust evade foes with silence instead of blood become watchers, not just warriors.

The ritual is not meant to mimic a thief’s training. It is meant to elevate the ranger’s communion with the wild.

The Ritual Among the Gnarley

The ceremony is performed only at the Fane of the Midnight Oak, a clearing that appears only under specific lunar conditions and is said to be guarded by werebears of an unusually contemplative disposition.

Within the Gnarley Ranger lodges, the ritual serves three purposes:

1. A Test of Humility

No ranger is allowed to attempt the Shadow-Bough until they prove they can act with restraint. The Gnarley Rangers believe that only those who can control themselves should be granted the ability to vanish from sight.

2. A Bonding Rite with the Forest

During the ceremony, rangers must stand unmoving within shifting forest shadows. Many describe subtle visions—whispers of leaves, memories of ancient trees, or vague presences watching them with approval.

3. The Acceptance of the Wood

The final mark of success is a moment where one's presence simply… lightens. Veterans describe it as “being forgotten by the light.”

 The Werebear Connection

Of all the odd alliances in the Gnarley Woods, the friendship between the rangers and local werebear clans is one of the most respected.

Werebears value:

virtue

courage

stewardship of the wild

These are traits the Gnarley Rangers prize as well.

While they do not conduct the ritual themselves, many werebears act as:

protectors during the rite

guides for candidates traveling to the Midnight Oak

spiritual witnesses, ensuring the ranger’s intentions are pure

It is said that if a candidate approaches the ritual with arrogance, a werebear guardian will simply refuse to let the rite continue—no fight, no lecture, just a firm shake of the head.

And yes, rare stories exist of a Gnarley Ranger being chosen by a werebear spirit and undergoing a voluntary bond of lycanthropy afterward. These individuals become living legends, but the Gnarley keep their names quiet.

What the Ability Actually Grants

After completing the ritual, rangers gain the ability known as Shadow-Melding, allowing them to hide in natural shadow with a reliability similar to a novice thief’s Hide in Shadows skill.

Unlike thieves, however, the ranger’s power is:

rooted in nature

enhanced by level

lost if the forest is angered (a druidic judgment)

The ability is a privilege, not property.

The Shadow-Bough’s Place in Modern Gnarley Lore

Among the Gnarley Rangers today, the ritual remains:

rare

respected

never demanded

It is typically offered to rangers around 6th level, when they have demonstrated not only skill but wisdom.

A ranger who completes the Shadow-Bough is considered a Dusk Warden, a title that holds quiet authority. They are the ones sent to:

track necromancers through bramble-choked ruins

watch the borders of fell domains

gather intelligence on threats too great for open confrontation

To enemies of the forest, they are ghosts.

To allies, they are the whisper before dawn.

✨ Final Thoughts

The Ritual of the Shadow-Bough isn’t simply a magical trick—it’s a spiritual pact rooted in the Gnarley’s oldest traditions. It gives rangers a power similar to thief skills, but in a uniquely druidic, nature-bound way that fits the tone and culture of AD&D 1st Edition