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.”
"Im here on a job, something about a kelpy in the area." he says firmly, eye focused on the crone, watching her every movement. For a moment, the air thickens with anticipation...
Finally the Hag speaks once more, her voice cold.. it pierces Cliff like a knife through warm butter"I mean YOUR story boy.. what brought you to this line of work? sleeping in filth, moving from dump town to dump town hoping theres a monster near by."
Cliff remains silent for a moment, lost in thought or perhaps.. reliving memories long berried. "My father was a warrior, he taught me how to use a sword. he was a strong man, and his form of teaching was often rather harsh."
Cliff reminisces for a moment longer before continuing "My mother on the other hand, was a hunter. A kind and gentle woman, she taught me how to wield a bow, hunt animals, live off the land.. yaknow, the basic stuff"
The lag laughs as he finishes speaking, her voice low and raspy. "And where are they now boy? how would they feel knowing their child spends his time covered in blood and muck?"
"they are dead, bandits raided our small village and wiped it off the map. i was the only survivor" cliff says coldly as he places a sack in front of him containing the head of the beast he killed.
The hag inspects the bag and the head inside of it, before smiling and handing him 5 gold pieces. Cliff stands to leave, happy to be away from the smell of the swamp and rotting wood.
As cliff leaves he looks back one last time, seeing the hag staring at him with a wide grin. he picks up his pace as he feels a chill down his spine..
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