Hypergirin

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?))

"Karin'ayla, my name is Elkash. Um... I just came to this town hoping for directions, but this is new..." Elkash was somewhat dumbfounded by the crone's directness, but he decide to play along with her and have a seat. "How should I start?" He pause for a bit to recollect what happened until this very moment. Putting a hand on his chin, he close his eyes. After a bit, he start to open his mouth.

"I was a.. thorn in my village." He stutter, seemingly hurtful to say those words with his mouth. "I was always the clumsiest and a coward all my life..", "I'm not good with engaging other people, and have always been timid by nature." He explain further... "Other kins thought I was the weakest one among them. And.. let's just say they were not kind to me." His face scrunchs a bit and he drop his head as he remember those hard times.

As he stop talking for a bit a hag opens her mouth. "What about your family? Tell me about them."

He pull up his head again and open his mouth. "They.." He pause for a bit. "I was raised by my haelun(mother).. my maln(father) was already out of the picture when I was born.", "I always wondered who my maln was. I tried to get the answer from my haelun when I was young.. but she always seemed so hesitant and hurtful. When I grew older I gave up trying to find an answer to that question."

All this personal talk was making Elkash uncomfortable. And even surprising considering his timid nature. But it has been too long since he left his hometown and talked with someone. He tensed up a bit but were able to calm down quickly. "I left my hometown when I finally thought there was no point in me living there." He continued talking slowly "It was a.. tearful goodbye. It is true I didn't have good memories most of the time growing up there, but it was where I was born, and where my family were.."

"My haelun was not happy with me leaving... but she knew I had no place in that village, and what I have gone through. So when I told her it was time for me to leave she couldn't say no.." Elkash remember her putting her hands on her face and seeing a stream of tears coming out of her hands.. but all he could do was hug her for the last time before leaving..

As he remember those memories a tear forms on his eyes. He quickly take his hands and wipe away the tears to conceal his sadness. Trying hard to not show weakness.

The hag just nods in silence listening to all his words. "After gathering some supplies and some worn armor from the local smithy I left home." "I have been traveling around for a bit without a purpose.. but I'm hoping to find and experience new things. Even people.." After a deep sigh Elkash say "Well.. that's my story."

The hag, after listening to his stories speaks once more. "Thanks for sharing them traveler, all I can say for you is good luck to you. I hope you find what you desire." He smile a bit and give an understanding nod to her. After that, he stand up and leave the tent quietly. 'It was a strange experience for sure' he thought to himself... As he step out and walk along the path he wonder what kind of encounters will happen to him in the near future.

[End]