Bungwen the Hermit was a kindly old mole living on the outskirts of Mossflower Woods in a cave dug into the side of a hill. He met Mad Maudie as she was traveling away from Salamandastron, and fed and sheltered her. Maudie earned his respect after driving away a tribe of nasty lizards which had been assailing him. Out of gratitude, he told her to seek out his friend, Asio Bardwing, for assistance.