n1ru_o

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?))

Lu hesitated, glancing around the dimly lit tent. He shifted his weight nervously and finally looked down at his hands. “huh...” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

The hag leaned forward, intrigued. “Go on, child. Every story has its worth.”

Lu fidgeted with the frayed edge of his sleeve, feeling the weight of her gaze. He took a deep breath, speaking quietly, “I’m from…” He sighs and paused, his eyes darting to the ground. “Just… nomads.”

The hag studied him, her expression softening. “Nomads? Traveling from place to place?”

He nodded slowly, memories swirling through his mind. “We… we looked for jobs, just to get by.” His voice trailed off, and he felt the familiar pang of longing for connection. “Lost track of them… during the chaos.”

“And what do you seek now, dear boy?” the hag pressed, her eyes glinting with an ancient wisdom.

Lu looked up briefly, then back down, his heart racing. He had only recently learned of the Koyo-Kuni Shugonate and felt a flicker of hope. “I… I just wanted to find my people,” he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. “To belong somewhere.”

The hag leaned back, contemplating his words. Lu remained silent, uncertainty flooding his mind about what he truly wanted after finding this place. He felt lost, yearning for a sense of home but unsure of how to articulate it.

“You seek a place to belong, then?” she asked, her tone gentle.

He nodded once, a silent agreement, wishing for a connection he had long been deprived of.

“Even the most unassuming souls can forge a legacy through kindness, child,” the hag said, her voice soothing. “You are not alone in your search.”

Lu felt a flicker of warmth in her words, but still, he pondered his next move, the weight of his silence hanging in the air.