From Bran

Last week I decided to show Brave a secret of mine. Hidden far in the depths of the myrm cavern there is a mystic mushroom. We both ate a bit of it. Our minds began to cloud and together we had visions. Amazingly, both visions were of the same town. We both describe here what we saw as we explored it together.

The friendly villagers of the town met us and said they would love to sit and chat at their local gathering spot -- the Finlady Pub, they call it, named after a myth of theirs. They told of a woman of the sea who would lay upon her rock and call great ships toward her. Some say she is but a fish. Others say she is undine. But all say she is beautiful.

From Brave

It was the richest town we have ever seen, holding treasures far beyond those which any creatures in our land hold -- riches to dwarf even those found in the Dark Tower or on the secret domains of Centaur Isle.

The town had great dwellings, official buildings, and gardens of which we in Puddleby could only fantasize.

I talked to a leader of one of the clans in the town. He said that their clans have great castles. Six clans share one castle, with a gathering place in the center...this allows them to build more impressive and more secure structures while strenghtening the bonds with their allies.

The most amazing thing he showed me was that with their riches they hired an animal handler who trained a Great Spined Wurm to guard their clan house.

From Bran

In the pub the drunken men began to talk about a creature of great power who came down from caves in the mountains. This often happened just after the snows melted off. It would ravage the town, or so they said before continuing their stories of heroism.

The creature intrigued me. They called it a Barani.

From Brave

The clan leader showed me around their great castle. In the center was a great hall. There were members of all six clans feasting and partying. I heard stories of their adventures through the lands and their quest to cross the great sea soon. They said they have heard of an island chain called the Grey Smokers. I think this may be our Ash Isle.

They told me many interesting stories: how their clans came to be, how they built their castle, and how once a mystic had cast a spell and cursed a clan leader. He was never heard from again.

But they do claim that their castle is haunted by a frightening apparition they call Qual. Maybe it is just the spirit of the cursed. They fear it is much more.

After many hours of wandering this town together in our vision, Bran and I went to the town's inn and fell asleep. We awoke where we had begun, in the safe place of the mystic mushrooms -- deep within the myrm cavern.