Deyna/Tagg

Gender: male

Species: otter

Appears In: The Taggerung

Mentioned In: Triss




Deyna - possibly derived from deyrnas, the Welsh word for "realm" or "kingdom" - is a young resident of Redwall where he lives with his family. He is the great-great-grandson of Deyna (whom he is named after), son of Rillflag and Filorn, older brother of Mhera, adopted son of Sawney, and direct ancestor of Churk, Rumbol, and Skipper (Triss). Like his namesake he has a birthmark in the shape of a speedwell flower on his paw, and only a few days after his birth his father takes him into Mossflower to perform an ancient otter ritual by having his back touch running water. Rillflag is brutally murdered by Vallug upon orders from Sawney, who has come to steal the baby otter thanks to Grissoul's predictions that the next Taggerung will be from Redwall and have a birthmark on its paw. He is cared for by the ferret Chieftain who names him Tagg, and fifteen seasons later he is considered to be the most skilled of warriors. Despite being raised by vermin and constantly pressured by Sawney, the otter possesses a good heart and will not kill another creature. He often argues with his adoptive father and dreams of a mysterious red-walled place as well as an armoured mouse who says "Deyna!" before disappearing. At one point he is ordered by Sawney to kill Felch but he refuses, stating that although the fox is a pitiful creature he will not slay him. He then reveals he has never truly belonged in the tribe before deserting, and Sawney is killed by Antigra not long into pursuing him; Gruven, Antigra's son, vows to hunt him down even though he is secretly terrified of him. During his trip, Tagg meets various friends including Nimbalo and the two stay at the Cavemob home until Gruven's cronies start a fatal landslide, and although he does not catch the stoat he does manage to snatch Ribrow who tells the otter he is actually from Redwall. He eventually makes his way to the Abbey where he finds it being assaulted by Eefera and Vallug, but thanks to the tribe tattoos on his face he is mistaken for a vermin and knocked out by the woodlanders who then throw him into a cell. Upon awakening he learns that Nimbalo has been captured by the enemy and escapes thanks to Broggle, accidentally running into Filorn while searching for a weapon. He finds Martin's sword and storms out of the main gate, decapitating Vallug and killing Eefera even though the former has already shot him in the chest with an arrow. He passes out and is brought to Rukky Garge for treatment, with the ancient otter healer removing his tattoos and birthmark so they can no longer cause problems. At one point he learns that the armoured mouse had been referring to him when he continuously said "Deyna!" and when he returns to Redwall he reunites with his mother and sister, and becomes the first and only known otter to be named Abbey Warrior.