Fallouts and Apologies
Ranger Lore
Ajun was a rich man; a gambler, who tended to lose, but could often make it up with his excellent hunting skills. Until gambling became an integral part of his life, anyways. He became what we know as a poacher; an enemy of the Rangers.
This man, having lost a solid 400,000cc in a bet, had been poaching lobster, for the yellow amber sometimes found within their shells. A Ranger had been following him; had seen Ajun hunting in the wilderness. As logic goes, nobody should have had to hunt that often.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" called the Ranger.
"I am hunting," said Ajun. "I've lost a bet, you see, and I need to earn back my money."
"Surely you can find another way?"
"This is the only way I know how."
"Well... let me explain to you why what you're doing, while able to repay your debt, will offset the balance of nature."
When it was over, Ajun apologized, and picked up an axe for a couple of days until he had a talk with a friend at an inn.
"Rangers? A forgiving bunch if I ever saw one," laughed his friend.
"What do you mean?" asked Ajun.
"It's simple- if they see you again, just say you lost another bet, they'll let you go. They don't have the nerve to really do anything."
"Hmm... if you say so."
So the next day, Ajun was out, hunting snakes for fine snake skin, continuing this for the next few days. For the time, he was unnoticed. However, around Trapper's Paradise, Durant noticed a strange shift.
"Say...," started Durant around the campfire. "Has anyone noticed the large amount of rats about?"
"Yeah... so?" said a new Ranger.
"So... it means the snakes aren't doing their jobs," shot Durant, annoyed. "Has anyone seen many snakes?"
"No, actually," said Vashgout. "That is strange..."
"Hmm...," pondered Ouned, the very same who had encountered Ajun earlier. "I think I may know..."
The next day, Ajun returned to the western edge of the forest, his satchel heavy with coins, and his knife dashed with snake blood. However, his hunt was soon stopped as a troop of Rangers approached him.
"Yeah," Ouned nodded,"I was afraid of that. It's him."
"Wha-" began Ajun.
"Filth..," advanced Durant, grabbing Ajun by the hem of his robes.
"What have I done?!" asked Ajun.
"I'll tell you...," snarled Durant. "You've been hunting snakes, haven't you?"
"Yes... so? There are many still around..."
"Not. Enough. The rat population is getting out of control, have you noticed? No, of course not."
"Wait a minute!" interrupted Ouned, loosening Durant's grip.
The Rangers sat down with Ajun and explained to him how the rat population would soon surpass the number of snakes, and how without enough snakes to control the rats, the rats would flood the wilderness, and cause much havoc. Ajun nodded, he 'understood'.
However, after the balance had been restored, it happened a third time. And a fourth. And a fifth. And over, and over until..
Ajun was mulling around the Iron Labrynth, skinning bears for furs and tigers for their furs. He could feel that much time had passed him by, and he approached the exit. Before he could set foot out though, five Rangers filed in through it, forming a semi-circle around Ajun.
"You again," stated Durant simply.
"Hello," grinned Ajun, used to this sort of thing by now.
"Been... gambling, again?" asked Vashgout.
"I'll bet...," muttered Segal under his breath.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, yes," said Ajun. "I only meant to take a few furs... has it happened again?"
"You knew damn well what was going to happen," said an angered Ouned. "Why don't you ever listen?"
"W-well, wait now," said Ajun, nervously as they began to make an advance on him. "You must forgive me, I-I will stop gambling, s-surely you can forgive?"
The Rangers looked at one another, a stolid look on all their faces.
"So, then... you forgive me, right?" asked Ajun. "I swear, you'll never see me out here poaching again."
There was an ominous silence from the Rangers.
"Thank you for forgiving me again," said Ajun, as he tried to move through them to the exit. However, Michike held out his arm, stopping Ajun.
"W-what? Oh no, please...," said Ajun, his voice quivering.
"Forgive me..."
"We forgive...," said Ouned. Ajun suddenly sighed out of relief, a smile crossing his face. "...those who deserve it."
As Ouned finished his sentence, Ajun screamed.
"No! I'm telling you!" he shouted, as he tried to break past Michike.
He pushed Michike aside, and ran for the exit, however, before he could move far, a Demon Dagger pierced his arm. Ajun howled in pain, doubled over, and quickly, they were upon him.