Roasted Beet and Pumpkin Salad

 A Reconciliation of Earthly Forces A dish that embodies the stark, profound duality of the misty forest. The blood-red, earthy beet—ripened deep within the cold womb of the earth—meets the sweet, sun-warmed mildness of the pumpkin. Dressed in a sharp, bitter wild-herb vinaigrette, this meal is ritually crafted to soothe a nervous stomach and clear … Read more

Rosemary and Cranberry Toasts

A tart morning greeting for those who walk the borderlands A breakfast of wild, forest-fresh elegance. When the morning mist clings stubbornly between the ancient trunks of Mistwood and the silver gaze of the White Guardian slices through the twilight, the body craves a wake-up call for the spirit. This dish unites the forest’s contrasts: … Read more

Badger’s Sett Skillet Bread

The Rustic Breakfast A rustic flatbread made without yeast, baked in a glowing cast-iron skillet. Badgers are impatient fellows with surly dispositions. They have neither the patience nor the leisure to wait for yeast dough to rise in the warmth. They want their bread quick, nutritious, and dense—spread with a cool, sharp herb quark that … Read more

The Tavern’s Book of Cooking

Recipes of Ritual Peace Here, at the hearth of the Dark Tavern, the relentless law of claw and fang is suspended. Collected by Fian the Bard. Remember the first rule of the kitchen—it is absolute: That which has the right to sit at the table must never end up in the cauldron. When fox, badger, … Read more

When sun is rising

It was morning. Fian woke up in his bed, and somehow, it was the first time he had truly slept. He had only a hazy recollection of the previous afternoon’s events—sitting beside her as the world around him slowly darkened in the rain. Now, as his mind began to stir, he started to wonder. Why … Read more

A Message from the Post Office

Hello, travelers on the roads all around the Mistwood Forest … You came so far, and finally, you found this message. I have never expected that someone would read the story up do this moment; therefore, I will now give you a very interesting hint: If you now start reading backwards one after another, until … Read more

The Sacred Justice of the Wolves

Worthy travelers, you have surely wondered when I would finally tell you something about the wolves. Well then, I think your curiosity deserves to be rewarded a little. The wolves dwell at the foot of—and high within—the mountains beyond the Mist Forests. This is their land. Anyone wandering those ancient paths should do so with … Read more

Part 2 – Down the Rabbit Hole

It was late afternoon when a dull, rumbling sound shook the ground beneath Fian’s paws. Moments later, the panicked cries of forest creatures pierced the thicket—a landslide. One of the old slate caves at the edge of the moor—its entrance held together by wet roots and rotting wood—had collapsed under the weight of rain and … Read more

Part 1 – Down the Rabbit Hole

Fian sat on the weathered tree stump not far from the tavern, staring at the intricate, winding carvings of his old willow-wood lute. The chill of the moor mists crept slowly but inexorably through his clothes, yet he barely felt it. His head felt like an overcrowded beehive. There were exactly two weeks left until … Read more

Morning Tea at the Tavern

It was a beautiful morning when he stepped out of the tavern. Fian closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nose. The mist of the moor filled his senses—fresh moss, dew on the leaves, and… He looked up and glanced around. “Not again… she really needs a hobby!” he thought, looking about … Read more