travesster

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?))

Hufel is taken aback and takes a moment to assess the situation. He lets out a big sigh and says "Do ya know anywhere we can grab a pint...this may take some time." The old hag smiles and reveals two pints sitting on a small table behind her. "Now go on" she says. Hufel quickly downs the pint and says in his raspy voice "I come from a village not too far from here in the mountains. I was a blacksmith there, a good one at that. The folks there used to always tease me of how obsessed I was with me craft. The funny thing is they wasn't entirely wrong...for all my life that's all ye ever know. That was until I met me wife, Anna. For the first time ever me world was more than just anvils and mines. It was like a whole new world unveiled around me. It was beautiful...she was beautiful. We ended up having two kids, Herbert and Craig. Although times were tough sometimes and our life was nowhere near lavish, we...we were happy." Hufel gets choked up and takes a moment to compose himself. "You see I come from a long history of blacksmiths. I used to take me boys up to the mines often to show them what papa gets up to, Anna would often come along too. I always envisioned Herbert and Craig continuing this long lineage of blacksmiths. They were just about getting there in age where I could entrust them with a pickaxe...just about." Hufel takes another pause as a single tear rolls down his face. "One day...I was showing me family around the caves like I always do. Me boys were getting bored of the same old routes and spots I always show them around and wanted to go down a new route even I hadn't gone down. I refused initially as it's far too dangerous, but as they begged continuously, I eventually gave in.....I should've stopped them. Me boys were so excited they darted down the dark path without a thought in mind, as there footsteps echoed throughout the cave...until it didn't. Their screams, I can still hear their scream!!"

"What happened?" the old hag asked. Hufel trying to catch his breath shakingly says "Goblins. The- They were everywhere. I tried to stop them, but..but there were too many...I was too weak. Anna...then Anna...she...she hurled herself over Herbert and Craig...then she told me to run." Tears begin flowing down Hufel's face as he struggles to form a proper sentence, let alone speak. "And what did you do?" the old hag asks. "I RAN" yells Hufel. "I'M PATHETIC, I'M WEAK, I'M NOTHING BUT A SCUM OF A MAN!" Hufel's screams carried out throughout the town as more eyes begin to peer over to him. "She was always stronger" Hufel softly says. "My life should've always just been anvils and mines." as Hufel puts his pint down and slowly walks away. The old hag gently grabs Hufel arms, stopping him in place "So what brought you here?" the old hag askes in her ominous voice. "I want to become stronger, like Anna." Hufel shakes off the old hag's hand and walks away. The old hag lets out a little grin and chuckles to herself.