Vale of Mularn
IN MIDGARD’S NORTHERN MOUNTAINS, THE FIRES OF CREATION BURN BRIGHT
From Jordheim’s northern gates lie the vale of Mularn, from which the town is named. Mularn is relatively safe to explore, much like East Svealand, at least as long as one does not wander too far from the roads or recklessly climb mountains.
The town of Mularn is home to a larger-than-average count of dwarves, who when asked why they chose Mularn for their home, will all say that the fires of their forges burn hotter here than elsewhere in Midgard. In fact, they burn with such an intensity that smiths swear that sometimes whispers are heard from the flames, encouraging the fire to burn hotter and hotter until it blazes a trail across the vale and return to its home in the north.
Conversely, when the fires do ebb, thick mists cover the vale and hulking creatures descend from the northern mountains, spilling into the forests and, on the worst of days, into the towns of the vale. None have ever seen these creatures and lived, nor have any ever been killed. At least not that any can confirm. Warriors claim to have taken the heads of the attackers clean off but none have ever confirmed this, as when torches are fetched or dawn arrives, nothing remains but unattributable spatters of blood. Some say the creatures merge with the mists when killed, others that they take the corpses of their dead back up the mountains, into their cave, where they feast on fallen friend and kidnapped villager alike.
As if that wasn’t enough, the western mountains are also teeming with the unnatural. Crones and seers alike say that dark whispers echo from the mountain slopes, and tiny being cans be seen flittering about the near tree tops.
Stick to the northern road and you might make it to Svasud Faste in one piece, where you can cross the threshold of Midgard into the frontier and earn glory in the eyes of the gods, with bloodsoaked axe in hand.
