Shinrinki Ranger Corps

Two weeks ago we discussed about demon hunter organizations in Tentaika. In today’s blog post we talk more about the Shinrinki’s Ranger Corps.

The Ranger Corps was originally founded to reinforce the defense of the northern border of Hohiro Prefecture and to patrol Kuro no Mori. From the beginning the Ranger Corps accepted recruits outside the samurai caste. The bulk of the new recruits every year are skilled hunters from the peasant caste and poor rōnins. In Hohiro prefecture the samurai magistrate might give a choice to a criminal to join the Ranger Corps instead of suffering the normal consequences of the crime. However this choice is not given to those who committed serious crimes such as murder.

Anyone wishing to join to Ranger Corps is required to have sufficient skills in archery or in any other way of fighting. The training in Ranger Corps is very similar to actual samurai combat training. However this training is packed into two years of basic training. The recruits are trained in the most essential skills and nothing more. In case of the Ranger Corps this usually comprises of combat and survival training. Bushido is briefly introduced to new recruits and the virtues of courage, honesty and loyalty are emphasized during the training. Despite this bushido is almost non-existent within the Ranger Corps.

An average patrol to Kuro no Mori lasts from three days to a week. Each patrol consists of eight to twelve rangers and their job is to lay traps, ambush demons and scout for large demon hordes near the border. Ranger patrol usually encounters demons, often akuma or gaki, every other trip to Kuro no Mori. Each patrol goes Kuro no Mori once or twice a month. Anyone who survives two years in service is allowed to serve the Shinrinki Clan as a full-fledged samurai.

Samurais from other prefectures are often unaware of the extent of the dangers rangers encounter in their daily life. The fact that Ranger Corps are filled with peasants and other members of low ranking castes increases the disdain. Even the samurais who gained their samurai position in the Ranger Corps are often looked down to because of their low birth.

See you next Sunday!