Croatian Tales of Long Ago

In a timeless forest glade lives an elderly caretaker named Witting, who has raised his three grown grandsons—Bluster, Careful, and Quest—on his own. One crisp spring morning he sends them into the woods to see if the bees have awakened from winter, a simple task that quickly turns eerie as dawn’s darkness invites the mischievous goblin king, Rampogusto, to roam. The brothers, each reflecting his name, press on, sharing nervous chatter and a hopeful song to summon the mysterious All‑Rosy, the golden‑clad spirit of light.

Their plaintive call summons All‑Rosy, who appears in a dazzling cloak and whisks the trio into a whirlwind vision of the world’s treasures, armies, stars, and celestial wonders. Overwhelmed by the rapid cascade of sights, the brothers finally return to the forest floor, where the radiant youth offers a cryptic charge: they must remain by their grandfather until he departs, repaying his love before ever stepping beyond the glade. This enchanting first act sets the stage for a journey of duty, curiosity, and the pull between home and the vast unknown.