Your character has just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As they look around, their gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. They 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.”
((How do you respond?))
Eyeing up the old crone, Bennet looked her dead in the eyes. "How did you know I'd be coming here... I hadn't even decided until only a few days ago. And I'm a man of no renown, I can't see why someone might have told you." The old woman looks at him, smirking before she bursts out into laughter, "Ahhhhahahahaaaaa. I know of you not from any others. Can you truly not see it yourself!?" Bennet looks around, the candles floating in the air start circling him slowly, "You... are you a..." I stutter, struggling to get the words out. This was his first time meeting one of her kind before. Clearly the constant travel and sleepless nights were getting to him, he didn't even bat an eye at the candles as he first entered. "Are you... a witch?",
The woman looks at Bennet with a smile on her face, "Ahhh yes, yes. It took you long enough. Now, enough of that, as I have answered your question, please indulge me. Tell me your story."
He looked her up and down, her frail stature, the way she spoke, her tone, all of it. She seemed so harmless. Why wouldn't he answer this simple question. It's not like he was anything special anyway.
"Fine. I'm Bennet, just a peasant from another kingdom. My younger brothers were killed, I... I was meant to be taking care of them. Ever since we lost our parents, they were mine to look after. But I just..." He stopped. Tears started welling up in his eyes as he recalled that day. He gathered my resolve, and continued, "The city guards were walking past the hovel which we called our home and my brothers... they thought it a good time to act out. Before I knew it, they were... gone." He sniffled, looking down towards the ground in an attempt to both hide his shame, and in order to collect himself before he went on.
"Either way, I wandered this way in hopes of finding a new place. To start a new life. To forget my old life. There's nothing I truly want to remember." The woman stared at Bennet for a few seconds longer before she spoke, "If you truly want to start anew as you say, take my name. Henceforth, call yourself Buune, Jerreahl Buune, after my own grandfather. He lived a long and full life, and a rather lucky one if I might add. Perhaps some of that might follow you through."
Bennet looked at her, studying her face. She was serious. "Thank you. Thank you so very much. I don't know why you would offer me such an honour, and I have nothing to repay you with. But I promise I'll use his name well."
"Well then, Jerreahl Buune, be on your way. Remember this in the future, and all else will fall into place, I assure you."
Jerreahl turned out of the tent and stepped back into the dingy village which he had arrived in a mere hour ago and sighed. Starting anew, fresh name, fresh body, fresh soul.
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