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Enter the Ranger  by Larner 10 Review(s)
obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/8/2015
That could have ended badly. This power bow seems to be a deadly weapon if it goes clearly through a body. The young Dunedain got lucky. This turns out to be an eventful patrol. First orcs then men and now Dunlendings.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/7/2014
Know this—the more complicated the weapon, the more easily it can break down during use, and the greater the danger it poses to its own wielder should it do so.

A very important information which is still true in our times.

They were very lucky that the power bow only hit the tree trunk. Apparently even the Dunlendings are not really able to control their weapons!

Author Reply: Crossbows as opposed to longbows were rather like handguns compared to rifles--deadly and powerful enough, but with far less accuracy in the hands of a good archer. Power isn't everything, after all!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/7/2014
I'm glad our heroes easily overcame this bank of ruffians. As always an enjoyable read and good to see more of this story.

Author Reply: I doubt these fellows were expecting much in the way of trouble as far as they were off the main roads, so they were fairly easy to overcome. Sorry it's taking so long, but sometimes that's the way the muse works, as I am certain you can appreciate.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/7/2014
I'm greatly enjoying the wisdom and leadership of Baerdion. Aragorn was lucky to have so many worthy mentors.

Author Reply: He needed good instruction to learn how other mortals think, I believe, and Baerdion appears to have been an excellent teacher to be chosen as Malvegern's second and to remain in such a role throughout Aragorn's lifetime until after he became King. Thanks so, Shirebound!

FreyalynReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/6/2014
So glad to see an update of this at last! Thank you.

Author Reply: So glad that the muse cooperated at last. Thank YOU!

ibonekiReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/6/2014
Still my favorite WIP! Thanks so much for updating. I love seeing Aragorn from this perspective.

Author Reply: Oh, I'm so glad you're enjoying following this! There have been several stories looking at how Aragorn might have returned to his own people, so it was interesting to find a different way that might have happened. Thanks so, Iboneki!

FiondilReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/6/2014
I'd forgotten about this story and was pleased to find a new chapter. I hope you continue with it. I'm looking forward to when the recruits learn at last who is in their midst.

Author Reply: I had to do a correction suggested by Rhapsody for an earlier chapter, and for some dumb reason it refused to come easily. Once it was made the rest of this chapter finally came to me!

I do intend to continue with it, and in time they will realize who it is that rides with them, wearing Elven warrior braids. Now, to post the corrected chapter and this one to the other sites where this story is posted! Thanks so, Fiondil!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/6/2014
Well, Orominion was saved by the bell again. He deserves the dressing down he was getting, but it's a shame there was no time for it to sink in properly.

So, the Dunlendings have cross-bows. I have to wonder from whom they got them. In terms of making them, they are more complicated and sophisticated than longbows, and I would think it would be beyond their skills. Hmmm...*looks shiftily towards Isengard*

Author Reply: You are certainly right about Orominion and what he deserves and how he keeps being saved from full consequences for what he "borrows" without permission.

I agree, the most likely source of crossbows for the Dunlendings would be Saruman. And I can imagine that they'd be excited about something that didn't take as much training and practice as it would take to become an excellent archer with a long bow. Thanks so, Dreamflower!

UTfrogReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/6/2014
Thank you for this update. I have been enjoying the story d was so happy to see a new chapter. I like the way Aragorn is learning the ways of his people. Great job.

Author Reply: It's taken time to get this chapter done. I had to go back and do a correction to the chapter called "The Elven Princeling," and getting that done, as simple as the correction turned out to be in the end, seems to have drawn attention away from the chapter that was in progress on the computer! Heh! Thank you! Yes, both he is learning from his new fellows, and they are learning about them as well. It's an ongoing process, I think. Thanks so, UTfrog!

MattReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/6/2014
Nice job on this, not being an archer myself, is the power bow a real device or a device of your fruitful imagination? thanks as always for your hard work on this, looking forward to more whenever it may come forth.

Author Reply: The "power bow" is a name I decided to allow the Dunedain to give to a crossbow. How users of long bows and perhaps horse bows might have looked upon a crossbow is something to think on, I believe. I can imagine the Dunlendings excited to have something that could so strongly shoot an arrow or quarrel, trying to replace skill with blunt force, and that they were introduced to the weapon perhaps by Saruman. It does take a good deal of strength and practice, after all, to become good with a long bow. The idea they might just point and click would perhaps have attracted them to the crossbow.

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