Legends speak of Priden culture being one of the most beautiful and well preserved from the lost world, and we have suffered to keep it that way. After the great cataclysm our abundant homeland was split, Howlem being one of the larger allods that drifted away, holding few of the treasures of our ancestral history and traditions. Many of our great monuments, totems, and architectural designs were destroyed, but our expertise and strength as a community prevailed. Howlem became the main hub for Priden trade, and training of the best Priden warriors. We were known across Sarnaut for being as close to nature and the balance as any other race. No other tribes had better wardens than ours, and in fact, that still stands to this day. After the world collapsed, the Golases recieved great visions from our ancestors:

visions of war and deciet, of greedy savage hands of the tailless outlanders trying to worm their way into Howlem to devour its richness and culture. We were pre-warned, and so we remained cut off from the rest of the world, training our own communities to be strong should we ever need to defend. Now the time has come where the prophecies are coming true, but we are prepared, for as rugged as we are and primitive as we may seem, we are in fact the least savage race in Sarnaut. We are all about the balance, and so we never abandon the teachings of our ancestors.

II THE RESIDENCE

The sun hastened it's way downwards into the horizon, beckoning nightfall upon Howlem. Nibiru trudged up the steepest path into the mountains and finally sat down to take a breath. She had run almost all the way without a break for water. Settling by a rock she breathed outwards slowly, watching the decorative lanterns that lined the pathway flicker. She pushed her glasses up her face and squinted up at the young guards of residence wearing their traditional uniforms. The Residence was a dignified place, preserved culture and beauty, Howlem's finest homes and the Hermitage temple had all been carved and built into the mountains there many generations ago. She sipped water and fed some to her pet white mouse Jih-Jih, a shoulder companion that her parents had eventually accepted, reluctantly of course. (Luhmi had vehemently protested that food should never be kept as pets- many times before.)

"I'd always thought about going vegetarian, you know." She whispered down to him, chuckling, and then shuddered at the thought of her parent's reaction. Jih-Jih gave a contented squeak and hopped into her backpack.

Nibiru stood up and stepped forward, taken aback by the view. She had been told about the beauty of the Residence many times before, but this was her first time seeing it all for herself. Large stone pathways, winding steps and ritual gardens richly decorated with elaborately designed flags and beautiful tall statues of warriors stood with grace. Tropical fruit trees grew tall as the mountain rock itself, and their beautiful roots intricately marked all of the jungle floors down to the misty waterfalls outside of the temple and river below. As high as the clouds she could see windows of the homes and temples of nobles, a warm glow radiating through the polished wooden panels and stained glass in the sides of the mountains. Moss and flowering vine covered balconies stood robust, aged, and proud. Her chest swelled as she took in all the heritage.

"It's beautiful, huh."

She turned around suddenly, almost toppling over.

"Ath-cha! you frightened meeee!" she giggled nervously. A young priden boy about her age stood right by her, taking in the view himself. He wore simple clothes, had bandaged feet and had long brown dreaded hair with red leather tied into it. Oh his back were a flimsy bow and a few makeshift arrows. He looked very unkempt, but strangely handsome all the same.

"I'm so sorry, where are my manners!"

He stood up straighter, and gracefully bowed at her in a strange western fashion, holding out his paw.

"Ah-rrhou'aah, my delicate flower."

She blinked at him behind her thick spectacles, and stepped backwards.

"I'm not delicate! I'll have you know I'm a great mage- and I'll eat you alive!" she hissed, pulling out her wand and dagger.

He stood there for a moment, eyebrow raised slightly and looking unphased, smirking at her.

"Pff, Whatever you say, miss Great Mage. I have my initiation to prepare for anyway, so I'll see you around. Oh- and welcome to The Residence." He chuckled and nodded towards her as he bounded away towards one of the nearby buildings.

She wondered what kind of initiation he would have. Would he be going to the League or the Empire? or would he be coming back to one of the villages of Howlem to be a guardian?

"Wait- Who are you? I didn't catch your name!... eysh! he's too far away."

She hoisted her backpack up. It was filled with herbs, snacks and a small bottle of water. A small pouch with a makeshift miniature blanket made a cosy hiding spot for Jih-Jih.

Gazing up at the high rocky face of the Hermitage temple she gulped and shivvered.

"Looks like a long trek, Jih. And lots of exploring to do as well. This place is bigger than I thought...There are lots of merchants and vendors and business people and guardians… no wonder Da said some priden stay here for weeks. One tya can only take in so much of... all this!"

Her eyes grew wide with wonder as she began to head onto one of the many large, lengthy stone pathways that wound into each other and up the mountain face.