Firelight

Role

The wilderness of Hiraeth is gripped by a deep darkness during the night, and firelights are the ones who keep it at bay. As they travel the roads between settlements, they ensure that each flame is alive and has enough fuel to burn until the next traveler comes through (which varies depending on how well-traveled the route is). They keep a tally of how many flames they have tended along their way and collect a stipend from each town based on the number of lights on that leg of their journey. Typical fare is one or two copper pieces per light, but this is flexible and will vary based on the affluence and hospitality of the townsfolk (and if they cannot pay in coin, they will certainly pay in food or other goods.)
  Firelights are some of the most reliable navigators of the roads through the vast wilds of Hiraeth, and will often be brought into the folds of trading caravans as guides, though they still perform their firelight duties along the way. Many firelights walk a regular path that they know well, tracing a circuit through a particular set of towns. Others, however, wander all over and may not walk the same road twice.

History

Much like the moth-tenders, the role of the firelight began many ages ago, and has endured the rise and fall of many a kingdom and empire. Though occasionally organized under some formal order or other, the firelight is generally an individual profession and has been an enduring aspect of daily life across Hiraeth far longer than any dynasty.
  The most recent King of the Mountain attempted to formalize the role of the firelights during his expansion of the roadways early in his reign, pushing for a register of Royal Firelights funded by the treasury. This decree proved too difficult to implement and was soon retracted, keeping the firelights free from the control of the king —and consequently, they remained a neutral civilian force in the grueling, bloody rebellion that was to follow.