syd_splld_strnge

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.”

((How do you respond?))

Robyn bows her head politely, hoping that her discomfort isn't obvious - she had not expected to be addressed so directly, or be recognized.

"Of course. Thank you."

Once she's taken her seat, she allows herself a few moments to gather her thoughts. The damp scent of moss and wood is oddly comforting.

"My name is Robyn Greythistle," she begins, then pauses, feeling uncertain. "Did you know that already?"

The hag smiles, showing glistening gums with a few blackened teeth, but Robyn doesn't find anything malicious in the old woman's face.

"I knew to expect someone, but I did not know whom. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"The pleasure is mine. I shall do my best to give you a story worthy of your time."

"Do not feel inclined to embellish," the hag says, folding her hands loosely. "There is beauty even in the mundane."

Robyn nods, takes a breath, and lets her thoughts flow freely.

"My family lives in a shire between Numendil and Petra. My father is a blacksmith; he wanted to be a knight when he was younger, but once my brother and I were born, he realized that knighthood would keep him away from the family, as well as put his life at risk. I suspect my mother convinced him to stay; she's always been the more level-headed one. When I told my parents that I wanted to pursue a more scholarly life, and showed interest in the Northern Geographical Society, they were...understandably hesitant. Papa was reluctant to let me go on my own, and to be honest, I had misgivings myself. I have some skills, but I'm lacking in experience. For as much as I have read about other places, it is quite a different thing to go other places. But Mama insisted that it would be good for me to indulge my curiosity; she's always said that I'm too bookish for my own good. And it's not as if anyone was scrambling to marry me. In any case, my brother is old enough that he can help Father at the forge, along with a few apprentices. They will...be alright. Until I return." 

Robyn hugs her satchel close to her chest, trying to ignore the burning behind her eyes. So early in her travels, she's still prone to homesickness. But she's come too far to give up now. 

"The world is big, and my life is short. I want to experience as much as I can, and I want to play a part in preserving knowledge for the future."