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?)) I stare at her for a second then think, How can she recognize me without my face? I take off my hood, then I sit down. "I don't usually like talking to random strangers, but you've been quite welcoming, I'll tell you." I clear my throat and I adjust my pillow. "It's been a while since I really thought about how I ended up here, but I'll say, it's quite something." I look down and take a deep breath, with sadness in my eyes I continue, "I come from a little village hidden away in the forests of what used to be called Aegrothond. Although our nation wanted to join with those villagers, our town held strong to their roots and stood their ground. We are proud people and we did not want to have our culture changed due to some so called elven people. We fought and fought for the independence for our village so that we would remain the only living elements of Aegrothond left, but we were eventually driven out by so called peaceful elves. We were forced out of Amaethea and we had to survive off of lands we were not familiar with. Eventually my village died out and I along with a small fraction of what we once were are the only living remanence of what Aegrothond used to be and stand for. I alone set out for the separation of Amaethea, but through my travels for the past 3 years, I have realized that Amaethea did not destroy the culture of what Aegrothond used to have, but enhanced and gave it more influence. When I returned to my people with the good news, I was met with ridicule and stubbornness. I now venture for more adventure and to open my mind more. Seeing how only 3 years changed my perspective so much, I would like to see how much 20 maybe even 30 years of travel would change my life. That's why I ended up here." I stand up and take a deep breathe and with a huge grin I exclaim, "Although I have much more to tell you, I have to cut this short. I have a lot more to add to my story and I don't want to spend more time than I must sitting down. Thank you so much for your hospitality!" I walk out the tent and hop back into my boat and row away into a dark swamp.
