Ranson

Ranson is an echivian poacher from the planet Redrocka, particularly interested in rare or unusual specimens like Kinoko.

Having grown up on a very hot and arid planet known for its scorching sands, rugged terrain and lethal wildlife, Ranson is no stranger to danger. In fact he seems to actively crave it. He knows how to handle himself, and he doesn’t care who he crosses in his pursuit of money. With zero regard for his safety, and no real plans for his future beyond the next bottle of amber nectar, Ranson is that very specific kind of adversary: one who knows exactly what he wants and what it’s worth, and who will recklessly stop at nothing to get it.

Ever since Ranson and his gang first visited Fungaia, sniffing about for lucrative financial opportunities, and ran into the long-eared Kinoko, he has remained hell-bent on capturing the yellow kuparkuke and flogging him to the highest bidder. Say what you like about Ranson, but he knows what animals are worth – and that’s exactly what Kinoko is to him, an animal!

Physical appearance

Compared to kuparkukes, Ranson is a tall and intimidating humanoid figure. He has two arms and two legs, but he also has four eyes and grey skin, and a long snout. He has a distinctive mane, which is exceptionally large, shaggy and yellow, and comprised not of actual hair, but of long, razor-sharp quills, which – as a natural defensive mechanism – become rigid when he’s agitated, scared or distressed, and which can be shot at his foes, though he has no control over this. His hands and feet are black and clawed, adapted for digging.

He wears motorcyclist-style clothing comprising white jeans, a red turtleneck, and lots of leather, including thick riding gauntlets and a bulky pair of steel-plated boots. On his face he wears a large black visor which – aside from simply looking awesome – significantly enhances his vision, giving him a tactical advantage when hunting and poaching.

Personality

On a list of all the things that matter to Ranson, money ranks top. Money is everything to him, and there’s nothing he won’t do in order to get his claws on more of it. When it comes to spreading it around, he’s extremely tight and greedy, cutting every possible corner, cheating everyone else out of what they’re owed. When it comes to his own personal extravagences, it’s a completely different story. He likes flashy weaponry and gadgets, cool leather attire, and high-end, high-performance spacecraft and land vehicles, and he’s more than happy to blow his entire savings on those.

Despite his love for classic cars and other nice things, Ranson has very little regard for their protection and longevity. He’s crashed and burned more spacecraft than you’ve had hot dinners, and he’s walked away unscathed from more fireballs than you’ve… well, you get the idea. Ranson lives every day like it’s his last. He cares little for his own personal safety (and even less for the safety of others), and he rarely plans any further ahead than the next job… or beverage.

Whether sober or off his face, Ranson is both confident and arrogant. He’s very boastful, and he seemingly lacks the ability to feel shame in any capacity. He’s not exactly what you’d call charming, but he has a way of getting what he wants. He has an eager eye for the ladies, and he’s a keen womaniser, forever going on first dates with women, but ghosting them before they can call for a second.

Ranson loves to fight. He has anger issues – not helped by his love of cracking open a tinny – and he’s always looking for someone to take them out on. When he’s not out poaching, screwing his fellow crew members out of their cut, he’s frequently to be found in pubs around the galaxy, causing trouble and provoking tussles. Somehow, no matter how legless he gets, he never gets himself bashed up too badly. Like some sort of four-eyed, mulleted, leather-wearing cockroach, he’s all but indestructible.

Although he has such little regard for the sanctity of life, including that of animals, Ranson is very fond of dogs. He doesn’t actually have any pets himself, for it wouldn’t suit his chain-free lifestyle, but he feels a certain kinship with canids, and he forms close bonds with them wherever he goes. Whether he’s hunting by their side, or drinking a slab on the porch of his caravan with them by his, he appreciates their company, and they’re actually the one thing that will bring out his softer side – so long as no one else is around to see!

Skills and abilities

Unfortunately for any alien who happens to be worth a bit of money, Ranson’s an accomplished tracker. Members of his species enjoy natural, enhanced hearing abilities and a boosted sense of smell, and both of these serve Ranson well when it comes to hunting his prey. He has an eye for animal tracks. If an animal’s been in the area, he’ll have little trouble finding a trail, and he’ll pick up a scent too. His kinship with wild dogs also means it’s easy for him to attract canine auxiliaries when he needs a helping paw.

He’s a skilled brawler. As much as he loves his guns, he’s a better fighter without them. Clearly he’s blessed with a fast metabolism, for neither his heavy drinking nor his excessive consumption of junk food have done much to compromise his physical fitness. He became man of the house aged just 12, after beating up his drunkard father and running him out of town, and he’s been fighting ever since.

Another thing that Ranson has a knack for is screwing people over. As a man with expensive hobbies and… well, not exactly refined, but gluttonous tastes, money is important to Ranson. He loves to receive it, and he doesn’t care much for sharing. He’s happy running with poaching gangs up until the moment that it’s time to collect the prize – then, as far as he’s concerned, it’s every man for himself. His backstabbing and greed have made Ranson many enemies over the years.

He loves eating and drinking competitions, and he’s very good at both. When travelling the galaxy between poachings and sundry odd jobs, he’s frequently to be found sniffing out eating challenges at space’s many eateries. Whether it’s burgers, hotdogs, hoagies, burritos, pizzas, wings, doughnuts, or just good old fashioned beers, Ranson’s conquered them all, and he’s got the t-shirts and hats to prove it. He’s not a bad street racer either. He’s very competitive in everything he does, and winning is everything to him.