cowbiys game

Iron and Magic Iron and magic have been intertwined in human mythology and folklore for centuries. Iron is often considered a powerful substance that is capable of repelling or nullifying magical forces. This belief can be traced back to ancient times, where iron objects were believed to ward off evil spirits and protect against witchcraft and sorcery. In many cultures, iron has been associated with the divine and supernatural. The Celts, for example, believed that iron could banish malevolent spirits and provide protection against supernatural harm. The Norse also believed in the power of iron, using it to create magical weapons and tools.

And it’s down to the water’s brim
He’s borne the rowan shield,
And the goldenrod he has cast in
To see what the lake might yield.

I first heard this song on Archie Fisher beautiful album for Folk-Legacy Records, The Man With a Rhyme , where it is called The Witch of the West-Mer-Lands. The PCs are journeying through her forest for an entirely unconnected reason and she becomes impressed with one or more of them, desiring to add them to her personal guard.

The Norse also believed in the power of iron, using it to create magical weapons and tools. In folklore and fairy tales, iron is often depicted as a powerful weapon against magical creatures. This is evident in stories such as "The Iron Man" and "Iron John," where iron is used to defeat and control supernatural beings.

The Witch of the Westmorland

This haunting song sounds like a Child Ballad but is actually a composition of English folksinger Archie Fisher. He recorded The Witch of the West-Mer-Lands in 1976 on his Folk-Legacy album " The Man With a Rhyme" . He commented in his liner notes:

"I have borrowed, for this song, the form of the narrative ballad. The ingredients are a mixture of legend, superstition, and ballad themes brought into focus by the Lakeland painter, Joni Turner. As far as I know, the female centaur is not a creature of mythology, and this role of witch disguise was suggested by the tales of antlered women with bodies of deer seen wading in the shallows of the lakes in the moonlight. There are many pleasant and hospitable inns in the Lake District."

Many first heard this song on Stan Rogers' "Between the Breaks Live" album.
Pale was the wounded knight that bore the rowan shield
Loud and cruel were the raven's cries that feasted on the field
Saying "Beck water, cold and clear, will never clean your wound
There's none but the maid of the winding mere can make thee hale and soond"

"So course well, my brindled hounds, and fetch me the mountain hare
Who's coat is as grey as the west water, or as white as the lily fair"
Who said, "Green moss and heather bands will never staunch the flood
There's none but the Witch of the West-Mer-Lands can save thy dear life's blood

So turn, turn your stallion's head, 'til his red mane flies in the wind
And the rider of the moon goes by and the bright star falls behind"
And clear was the paley moon when his shadow passed him by
Below the hills were the brightest stars when he heard the owlet cry

Saying, "Why do you ride this way, and wherefore came you here?"
"I seek the Witch of the West-Mer-Lands that dwells by the winding mere"
"Then fly free your good grey hawk, to gather the goldenrod
And face your horse into the clouds above yon gay green wood

And it's weary by the Ullswater and the misty brake fern way
'Til through't the cleft in the Kirkstane Pass, the winding water lay"
He said, "Lie down, my brindled hound, and rest ye, my good grey hawk
And thee, my steed, may graze thy fill, for I must dismount and walk

But come when you hear my horn and answer swift the call
For I fear ere the sun will rise this morn ye will serve me best of all"
And it's down to the water's brim, he's borne the rowan shield
And the goldenrod he has cast in to see what the lake might yield

And wet rose she from the lake, and fast and fleet went she
One half the form of a maiden fair with a jet black mare's body
And loud, long and shrill he blew, 'til his steed was by his side
High overhead the grey hawk flew and swiftly did he ride

Saying, "Course well, my brindled hound, and fetch me the jet black mare
Stoop and strike, my good grey hawk, and bring me the maiden fair"
She said, "Pray, sheathe thy silvery sword, lay down thy rowan shield
For I see by the briney blood that flows, you've been wounded in the field"

And she stood in a gown of the velvet blue, bound round with a silver chain
And she's kissed his pale lips once and twice and three times, round again
And she's bound his wounde with the goldenrod, full fast in her arms he lay
And he has risen hale and soond with the sun high in the day

And she said, "Ride with your brindled hound at heel, and your good grey hawk in hand
There's none can harm the knight who's lain with the Witch of the West-Mer-Lands" words & music by Archie Fisher. (c) by author. All rights reserved.

The Witch of the Westmereland/Westmoreland is a piece from the 20 th century written by Archie Fisher and has been performed and recorded by any number of artists, including Stan Rogers, Barbara Dickson, and Kate Rusby. The song features a knight who has been wounded in the field seeking healing. The knight is noted as bearing “the rowan shield” and it is called out as such every time it is mentioned in the song. There’s a few interesting symbols within that – the rowan tree is traditionally associated as a wood that protects its wielder from magical attacks. In Celtic lore, it is a tree that is sacred to the goddess Brigidh and was known to the early Celts as “the tree of life” and associated with purity. Bearers of such a shield would have been considered heralds and potentially as someone on a spiritual quest.

Iron is said to disrupt the magical properties of these creatures, rendering them powerless or vulnerable. On the other hand, magic often plays a central role in stories involving iron. In fantasy literature, magic and iron are often portrayed as opposing forces. Iron is known to be a magical insulator, creating a barrier that prevents magical energy from penetrating or affecting a physical object. This concept is commonly seen in works of fantasy, where iron is used to create magical barriers or to nullify the spells of wizards and sorcerers. Iron and magic also intersect in the world of alchemy, where iron is considered one of the foundational elements. Alchemists believed that by combining iron with other substances and performing specific rituals, they could create magical elixirs and potions that granted eternal life or transmuted base metals into gold. In modern times, the belief in iron's magical properties has waned, and it is primarily seen as a practical and industrial material. However, the symbolism and mythology surrounding iron and magic endure in popular culture. Iron is still often portrayed as a protective metal, used in the creation of armor and weapons to keep us safe from mythical and fantastical creatures. In conclusion, iron and magic have a long-standing relationship in human mythology and folklore. Iron is often seen as a powerful substance that can repel or nullify magical forces, while magic is commonly associated with supernatural powers and enchantments. This interplay between iron and magic continues to captivate our imagination and inspire stories of epic battles and mystical encounters..

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