Barda Tharrow
Ranger Knight
Guardian of the Imeryd’s Flow
Barda Tharrow is a Ranger Knight of the Gnarley Forest, a woman of unshakable resolve and unwavering duty. She watches over the Riverland region, patrolling the mouth of Imeryd’s Flow and the surrounding forests, ensuring that the wilderness remains unspoiled and that no threat goes unnoticed. A veteran ranger and healer, she has spent her entire life among the trees, raising her family in their shelter and burying her dead beneath their boughs. As civilization continues to press upon the land, she struggles against the encroachment of mankind, fearing the forest’s wrath—and her own helplessness to stop it.
Appearance and Demeanor
Barda is a middle-aged woman of sturdy build, broad-shouldered and strong-armed from a lifetime of living off the land. She wears simple yet durable garb—forest green and dun homespun, a well-worn leather cloak, and hunting leathers reinforced for protection. Her tall boots are stained with the mud of the riverbanks she patrols, and her shoulder-length brown hair is often left loose and windblown. She carries a heavy longbow, a hand-axe, and a club, with a quiver of goose-feather fletched arrows hanging from her baldric. Her sharp, weathered gaze carries the weight of constant exasperation, as if forever irritated by foolishness and greed.
Roleplaying Hints
- If dealing with those who disrespect the wilderness, be short, brusque, and to the point—sometimes terse to the point of rudeness.
- If dealing with simple folk who respect nature, show motherly concern and quiet wisdom.
- Be deeply skeptical of outsiders—especially merchants, settlers, and lumberers.
- Express frustration at the relentless march of civilization, but temper it with pragmatic realism.
"Every tree felled, every road paved, every acre claimed... the forest remembers, and one day, it will answer."
Background and History
Barda was born in the Riverland woods, raised among the towering trees she now defends. She knows every glade, stream, and hollow of her domain better than any, and treats the forest not as a resource, but as a living friend.
She married within its shelter, raised her children beneath its branches, and buried her husband beneath its roots. Her late husband, Mandro, was a skilled wizard and item crafter, and her daughter, Krina, has followed in his arcane footsteps. Her son, Andreth, has joined the Gnarley Rangers, currently serving under the Ranger Knight of the Dyvers Verge.
- Born and raised in the Riverland woods, where she built her lifelong bond with the land.
- Married a wizard, Mandro, who helped craft several magical items for her.
- Mother to Krina (a wizard) and Andreth (a ranger serving in Dyvers).
- Most local woodsmen and villagers owe her their lives or well-being, creating a vast network of informants.
The Ranger Knight of the Riverland
Barda took on the mantle of Ranger Knight of the Riverland in 572 CY, when her predecessor, Jon Blacksmith, vanished in the Fens of Tor, never to return. Though she has led her rangers well, she now fears that civilization’s advance will destroy the forest’s beauty, awaken its ancient faerie guardians, and bring conflict between man and elf.
Area of Protection
Barda’s jurisdiction covers the Riverland region, stretching from:
- The mouth of Imeryd’s Flow, where she watches for threats from pirates and smugglers.
- Further downriver, monitoring Rhennee Rhenn-folk boats, looking for Iuz spies and humanoid raiders from the Bandit Kingdoms.
- The western border of the Gnarley Forest, where she works with the Green Jerkins, despite tensions over past territorial disagreements.
- Near the Welkwood, maintaining relations with druids and elves who share her concerns about human expansion.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Protecting the river and its settlements from piracy, smuggling, and external threats.
- Patrolling the borderlands, ensuring that settlers do not overstep into sacred groves or elven land.
- Keeping a careful eye on the Rhenee smugglers, ensuring they do not aid Bandit Kingdom mercenaries or Iuzian agents.
- Consulting with druids of the Old Faith, hoping for solutions to stem the destruction of the wilderness.
- Monitoring the growing activities of Chausticlorinus, a green dragon whose recent attack on Randar Redaxe’s fort claimed the lives of several of her rangers.
"The river carries many things—fish, smugglers, and the careless whispers of fools who think the forest is theirs to tame."
Personality and Motivations
Barda Tharrow is a woman torn between duty and despair. She sees the world changing in ways she cannot stop, and it makes her irritable, blunt, and, at times, openly resentful of civilization. Yet, beneath her gruff, pragmatic exterior lies a deep well of compassion.
Driving Motivations
- Protecting the Riverland and its people, even when they frustrate her.
- Preventing over-expansion, fearing that unchecked growth will spark war with the elves and fey.
- Hunting down threats that seek to exploit the forest’s bounty, from pirates to bandits to unnatural terrors.
- Training the next generation of rangers, knowing that she will one day be gone, and someone must carry on her work.
Relationships and Alliances
Fellow Ranger Knights
- Randar Redaxe – Recently sent several rangers to aid his battle against the green dragon Chausticlorinus, but they have not returned.
- Owain Lynwood Terfellan – Shares her concerns about human expansion, though Owain prefers diplomacy while Barda favors firmer action.
Allies and Faction Relations
- The Druids of the Gnarley Forest – Strong allies, but equally frustrated by their inability to stop civilization’s spread.
- The Green Jerkins – Generally friendly, though they remember past incidents when Barda crossed the river in pursuit of enemies.
- Elves of the Gnarley Forest – She believes war will come if humans continue pressing into the forest’s depths, and warns against disturbing the faerie folk.
- Local Woodsmen of the Gnarley Forest and Settlers – Many owe her their lives, granting her access to valuable information networks.
"The elves don’t give second chances. Keep cutting into their woods, and you’ll learn that the hard way."
The Future and Looming Dangers
Encroaching Civilization
- The greatest threat to the Riverland is not war, but expansion—settlers carving out homesteads, villages growing into towns, and politicians seeking to claim more land.
- She fears that this will provoke the elves, druids, and ancient spirits of the forest, leading to violence between man and nature.
External Threats
- Pirate activity on the Velverdyva River is increasing, forcing Barda to monitor smugglers more closely.
- Bandits and humanoids from the Bandit Kingdoms and Iuz have been spotted slipping into the region.
- Chausticlorinus, the green dragon, has grown bolder, and the disappearance of her rangers has left her defenses weakened.
Conclusion
Barda Tharrow is a woman at war with the inevitable. She fights against the tide of expansion, the threat of pirates, and the encroaching dangers from the north. Yet, she does not know if she is winning—or merely delaying the end of the forest she loves.
Her strength is unwavering, but even the mightiest trees can be felled. Will she find a way to preserve the Riverland, or will she be forced to watch it change before her eyes, powerless to stop it?
“Every tree felled, every road paved, every acre claimed... the forest remembers, and one day, it will answer.”
Barda Tharrow Knight Ranger
Medium Humanoid (Human), Neutral Good
Ranger (Beast Master) 12
Armor Class 17 (Leather Armor +2, Amulet of Natural Armor +2)
Hit Points 70 (12d10+12)
Speed 30 ft.
Abilities
STR 16 (+3) | DEX 14 (+2) | CON 13 (+1) | INT 12 (+1) | WIS 15 (+2) | CHA 12 (+1)
Saving Throws
STR +7, DEX +6, CON +5, WIS +6
Skills
Perception +8, Stealth +7 (Adv. in Forest), Survival +9, Animal Handling +8, Nature +6, Insight +6
Senses
Passive Perception 18
Languages
Common, Sylvan, Druidic, Gnarley Ranger Code
Favored Enemies
Goblinoids (+4) & Gnolls (+2) – Advantage on Survival checks to track and recall lore
Ranger Features
- Natural Explorer (Forest & Riverlands): Advantage on initiative, ignore difficult terrain, double proficiency for certain checks.
- Fighting Style (Archery): +2 bonus to ranged attack rolls.
- Spellcasting (Ranger, Caster Level 5): 1st (3/day) – Longstrider, Animal Messenger; 2nd (2/day) – Cat’s Grace, Cure Wounds
- Primeval Awareness: Detect presence of aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead within 1 mile.
- Beast Companion (Sandree, Gnarley Hunting Hound): A loyal and skilled hunting dog trained for tracking and guarding.
Actions
Multiattack. Barda makes two melee or ranged weapon attacks.
Hand Axe +1. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+4 slashing.
Mighty Longbow +2. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8+5 piercing +1d6 lightning. (Uses special alchemical silver arrows.)
Bonus Actions
Swift Tracker. Barda can use a bonus action to track a creature she has seen within the last minute.
Hunter’s Mark. Barda marks a target, gaining extra 1d6 damage on weapon attacks against it.
Reactions
Defensive Shot. When a hostile creature moves within 10 feet, Barda can make a ranged attack against them.
Equipment & Magic Items
- Hand Axe +1, Mighty Longbow +2 (Alchemical Silver Arrows)
- Forester’s Cloak of Resistance +1 (Advantage on Stealth in forests, +1 AC)
- Belt of Giant Strength +2
- Boots of Water Walking
- Torc of Persuasion (+1 to Persuasion & Animal Handling)
- Potion of Cure Wounds (x2), Healer’s Kit, Tanglefoot Bag, Antitoxin
Lair & Treasure
Barda has a hidden stash of 6 moonstones (40 gp each), 9 large pieces of amber (22 gp each), and 16 carnelians (12 gp each) buried under a tree near her homestead, north of Ketter’s Hearth.
Barda Tharrow on the Green Jerkins, Rangers of Furyondy:
"The Green Jerkins? Hmph. They do their job well enough, but they’ve got a strange way of thinking. Too bound up in titles and oaths, too concerned with what some duke or baron thinks of their work. A ranger shouldn’t need permission to defend the land."
"Don’t mistake me—I respect them. They fight bandits, track Iuzian spies, and keep the roads clear. That much, we agree on. But they answer to their lords first, and the land second. I answer to the trees, the river, and the people who actually live here. That’s a difference that matters."
"There’s been tension between us, no doubt. They still remember when I crossed the river in pursuit of a smuggler band years ago. Claimed I was ‘overstepping my authority.’ Bah! If they did their job properly, I wouldn’t have had to cross in the first place."
"Still, when the real threats come—the cultists, the slavers, the monsters slinking down from the Bandit Kingdoms—we find common ground. They’re not bad folk, just too tied to their banners. I’ll work with them when I have to, but I won’t wait for some Furyondian noble’s permission to protect my land."
Comments