RECAP

Tales of the Laederes of the Moss Reivers

Hark now and hear the tales borne on the wind! How it whispers, for these are fell stories of deeds dark and secret. Our oldest friend warns us of the outlaw, of the moss reiver and the most fabled among them, those called the laederes.

It tells of the first Autumn Walker, and the others who followed in his steps. Tales name Caswallawn a coward who forsook his comrades during a feud over the selection of the Welltyn. Casting a hood over his head he ranged all over the lands of the kindred and even defied the ban on the Forest of the Master of Hounds. In his wandering he learned the secrets of baneful herbs and felled Dirrnyg aep Sayer with a single poisoned arrow. So too did he learn what lies hidden beneath the hills and showed Llion aep Jac where to mine precious ore from the boundary of land held by Manwen fech Myfanawy.

How it sings of the Manskrian, whose footsteps are so light as to tread on the air. In emulation of the wind itself she forsook obedience to the laws of the kindred and others of the same bent gathered ‘round her. It was she, at the behest of plotters unknown, who broke the troth of Arthwr the Sailor to Brangwy fech Mai. She encouraged such revelry at a feast that all in attendance were disgraced and none could be called to answer. Deadly she is with knives or any implement which comes to hand and the air turns fiery with the passage of her fists.

The path of a moss reiver is a lonely one but when the wind sees outlaws allied for purpose it is sure to find one such as Garadog within the warband. Humble in his prowess he and those like him lend their spears when a cause is too great or the means lacking for a single reiver. He and thrice-twain more defended Brynmaen from marauding fomori when that hamlet could compel no lawful ally to its defence. His crime must not have been great for in tales he is each time offered a return to his kindred, but never has he accepted. The path of a moss reiver is a lonely one, after all.

Mournfully the wind laments those among the kindred who find themselves in breach of ancient ban through conscience or happenstance. For some redress may be found. For others, trapped by honor fey and scruples dire, only the path of the moss reiver awaits. Of these stands Baeddan aep Ninian, he of the granite giftmake as inviolable as his oaths. Once a captain of the kindred, now he is a base mercenary, called to settle deadly scores between rival claimants when treaties are uncertain. Though his transgression is not known, he labors under the guilt of it and seeks the end he cannot allow himself.

An ill wind blows the misfortune that some kindred lack the same regard for oath and honor. Mere words are only thus in their estimation, ephemeral and without force and even when set to paper are not the match of a sword’s blade. These are the most desperate of reivers, not engaged for task without the compulsion of benefit to themselves. One name rises above the pandemonic mass of outlaws: Drynmor. This calamitous warrior is clad in crude armor and heavy furs and sets stock only in the whetted edge of his axe. The best of the moss reivers support kindred law from the interstices, but Drynmor serves only himself. Of his exploits, monster hunting the the Mountains of the Multitude is the only one worthy of laud rather than infamy.

Gusting from the City of Loneliness and Exile the wind speaks of the handmaids of Penarddun fech Olwenna, that lady who was before the city. Oh, she of queenly mien! Oh, she with the moon at her back! Alone of the reivers she is a peacemaker, a student of the graces which restrain sword-arms, a parser of clauses to unbind a contract without bloodshed. It was an acolyte of Penarddun who entreated Haf the Flint-blade to take up a new name and thus invalidate a treaty directing her fealty. A feud was ended and the lives of Haf’s kin thus spared.

Now the wind departs to places unknown as it wills. There is no more time to speak of the moss reivers or the laederes among them. Many more besides roam the lands of the kindred but their stories shall remain untold this day.