To Jaedran, the definition of "outlaw" is one that is thrown around too much. The picture of what an "outlaw" is is often painted in broad strokes.
Men (and woman) who prey on innocent travelers, on helpless women and children, for example, are outlaws. Men (and women) who murder folks in cold blood in taverns before fleeing with their cash are outlaws. Men (and women) who burn homes and villages to the ground for no other reason than to cause chaos are outlaws. Men who dress and act like honorable soldiers in public but who prey on the innocent behind closed doors and use their power to silence those who speak out against them are outlaws.
A man who hunts and brings justice to all of the above sorts of wretched human beings is not an outlaw - a vigilante, perhaps, but not an outlaw. Many would agree with Jaedran on this principle. Yet many would seldom display such agreements publicly.
You see, to many in the South, Jaedran is an outlaw. Yet Jaedran, in his eyes, in no way meets the requirements for such a title. He may look the part - his dark armour and head scarf certainly don't give him the most inviting appearance, but to dress otherwise would draw attention to himself, something Jaedran particularly doesn't like.
Up North, people see him for what he is; a hunter. More disciplined and militarized men may call him a mercenary - that too, is fine. Traditionally, a hunter hunts wild animals for the good of a community - mostly for supplies like furs and meats, but occasionally for safety too. If a pack of wolves has grown too large, a hunter may be called to cull their numbers. You would never call such a man an outlaw, would you?
To Jaedran, this is no different to hunting Orcs, and again, many would agree. Where some people draw the line, however, is hunting fellow men. Bounties exist all over Middle Earth, but few men these days go actively looking for them. Few men would spend days alone in the woods tracking a group of thieves, waiting for the opportune moment to strike at them in a way that would see them all slain before they had time to draw their blades. Few would sneak into the bustling camp of a heavily armed foe, with his eyes set on one target, and on the gold reward that his head would produce.
Fewer still would take no issue with taking a man's life simply because he saw something he shouldn't have, or for thoughtlessly stealing the life of a man who got in the way of the hunter and his target. Even the most cold hearted of hunters would have some aversion to putting a bolt through the heart of a surrendered man, simply to avoid the hassle of tying him up and making sure he stayed silent.
Most people would agree that a man who kills a Captain of the Guard and sets his head on a pike to send a grim message is the very definition of an "outlaw." Yet most people wouldn't know that the Captain in question was as evil as evil itself, responsible for the deaths of many innocents with only his only selfish motives to guide him. If most people knew that, the supposed "outlaw" would be hailed as a hero.
Yet most people don't know that, and most people never will. Thankfully, Jaedran doesn't live for the approval of others. He doesn't live for extravagant titles, or man's empty praise. A lesser man would be bothered by these things, maybe - but not Jaedran. To Jaedran, so long as his own moral compass is set correctly, the rest of the world can think as they like. Which, funnily enough, is the same mindset a supposed "outlaw" may have.
