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.”
"Oh, I just, uh…" you stutter, tensing up. You eye the crone, then back outside the tent. For a moment, the air thickens with anticipation, until… "Who are you?!" She exclaims confusedly. "Why do you want to know that?" Red speaks as she backs away from the suspicious hag.
"Calm down, dearie... I mean you no harm. I'm just here to hear you, your story." The old woman speaks in a sweet tone
"This is weird... Ok, i will speak with you. But i will keep an eye out! Don't try anything." She nervously sits while sterningly griping her sword. A light cackle in response to the paranoia comes from the dame across her, who then awaits in silence and anticipation.
"I was born of Highlanders, from the lands up north, though i never got to see my homelands. My parents where running away from someone, or something over there, so we settled in the big city, my childhood was calm and fun. I would imagine myself as a paladin protecting my king in the forest for entire evenings. And at night my parents would tell me stories of their day's as fighters, fighting agaisnt monsters and evil. Which you fuel my playing even more."
"Until one day, i came back home from fighting to find my home... Empty. I looked everywhere and my parents where just gone. I must have been, i don't know, four or five years old? It was terrifying. They left nothing behind, not a letter, not a trace of why they were gone. Just Dad's old armor, and Mom's waistcloth."
"I tried to find help but no one would give me more than some pieces of bread and a coin. I didn't know anyone, we had just moved in. Growing up i had to sell most of dad's armor to survive, just keeping the arms for remembering." She looks at the ground, uncomfortable with being vulnerable like this. But the lady's old face is inviting enough to keep her going
"Well... That was most of my childhood, living off the streets, stealing and begging. I had a home at least, and i always carried a knife for protection. Until at about 12 years old. I was trying to steal some shopkeepers stock, and a guard saw me and tried to grab me. I obviously fought back, and the fucker tried to stab me! Stab a ******* child... But well i had my knife for things like this. I don't know how, in my memory it's just a blur, but i fought back, and somehow got away."
"So after harming the guard i tried to run away. But i was found soon after by the leader of the guards in the part of town where i lived. Marco was his name, i thought he was going to kill me or something."
"But that didn't happen. He saw potential in me, and taught me everything i know about fighting and living, he gave me a name, because i couldn't even remember my old one, he gave me food and a place to sleep, because i didn't have a home anymore. But most importantly, I had something to protect, I was born to serve others, and that is my greatest want since he taught me what this means, he gave me something to believe in, because I couldn't believe in anything anymore."
"He was the closes thing i had to a parent after losing mine." Red's hand's now on her tigh as she looks down, anger and frustation wrinkle her face.
"It's fine dearie, you can take your time." She puts her hand over Red's
"The next years i served in the guard, doing little jobs all around, i dreamed of guarding the king and being respected all around. But Marco and I had a falling out over our beliefs. He believed in ridding the world of criminals, but i couldn't agree with him because, well... I was a criminal. After my shifts i would do some mercenary jobs for shady people, i regret it to this day. But i just wanted something more to life, something other than just standing around guarding stuff."
"So i ran away. Never spoke to him again... I miss him but-" She cuts herself off, trying to contain her whirlwind of emotions from coming out.
"Now im trying to be a part of something greater. Be devoted to a cause, a nation, a god. I was so devoted to being part of the guard, but I didn't even give a damn when i just quit and ran away. And when i inevitably regretted my stupid and impulsive decision, i was too far and too scared to come back. And now it's been too long to come back. So I am looking to start anew, serve something or someone. Be someone's knight."
Red starts getting up in silence, she holds the old woman's hand and looks into her eyes. "Thank you for this, i don't know who you are but you have a good heart."
The crone looks up and gently smiles at her. As she gets up, and leaves, ready to find something to believe in.
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