Ranger (character class)

In many of the fantasy books you'll read (probably), you will find combatants called "Rangers". These are usually people who are protectors of nature and are skilled in archery, although there are many others that feature them using all sorts of weapons, and even magiks. Much of this depends on the type of storyline you read, such as in the Forgotten Realms series where rangers are the worshippers of a nature goddess and take upon the role of something like druids, protecting nature and slaying foul creatures. Over all, though, you will find that rangers are naturally inclined to be alone from most company, such as commoners, as in the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkein. They tend to prefer the company of fellow rangers, and are extensively trained, which makes them more of an elite class, surpassing the skills of normal fighters and warriors. Another trait that is common is that rangers act like guardians of others, whether appreciated or not, by repelling "evil" forces such as goblins and the such.