CassiePrism

You’ve just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As you look around, your gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. You duck and step into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raises her head, “What brings you to this dingy town? she begins, then pauses to study your face—”Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestures at a cushion, “Tell me your story.”

"Who are you? How do you know me?" Says Anri, confused. The old swamp hag chuckles " I'm just an old swamp hag, but never mind me, how did you end up here? Anri, starving from her journey decides to tell the hag her story in hopes of finding food or even a place to stay for the night if she entertains her "My name is Anri Blackpearl, a couple days ago it was my birthday and i had just turned eighteen." The old hag questions "A Blackpearl? What might you be doing here, away from the village in the mountains? How is my friend Hyjetta's son doing nowadays? " Anri responds "I ran away from my village and had just barely gotten away from an orc raiding party, they burned down the village and slaughtered everyone in it, i watched my brother get trapped under a bookshelf and burn to death.. I just barely got away after they sliced at my eye, i escaped into the neighboring forest where they lost me" Anri tears up a bit before continuing "I'm sorry but.. my dad died too, the orcs shot him in the leg and while he was on the ground clutching his sword desperately trying to escape they cleaved his head right off.. " The old hag starts to tear too as well "At least Hjyetta may reunite with him in death." Anri's stomach rumbles, embarrassed, she asks the hag while tears flow down her face "Do you have any food? i haven't eaten in days, and a place i may stay as well." The hag, wiping tears off her face gives Anri some leftover preserved food she has, gives her some coins and directs her to a nearby inn "There is a nearby inn, here is some money and stay the night, after you wake up head north, you'll find a thriving town there, also take this eyepatch." Anri thanks the hag and backs out of the tent.