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.” Asteran smiles nervously at the woman, plunking down on the proffered seating. "Uh.. I don't know you, miss. Ma'am. Sorry. I'd be happy to share a little of my story, if that's really what you want. Is that what you want? I'm pretty boring, all around."
The woman snaps her fingers, impatience showing on her features. "Get to the point, please."
"Well." Asteran pauses for a long moment to gather her thoughts while the woman's glare becomes more and more apparent. "I was born into a family, you see. Like everybody else, I suspect. Only, my family happens to be a bit more ambitious than most. I.. well, we want to make a name for ourselves. For our family. Create something to pass on, I suppose. My brother especially. He's driven. A visionary." She glances off, hearing a noise. "Sorry, where was I? Yes, the vision of greatness. See, as a child, I really showed that I wasn't cut out for greatness. Not that bright, you see." She crosses my arms, proudly displaying her collection of bracelets. The woman ignores the gesture. Perhaps not realizing how very hard it is to collect these items while one's brother drags one to and fro. "I like to think I have people smarts. My mother likes to think I've got the brains of a mayfly and the muscles of a gorilla. So I do what I gotta. Make Mum proud, you know? I'm the muscles of the family. Humorous when you consider my stature."
"So an attention seeking, musclebound idiot." The woman sighs, pressing a hand to her wrinkled forehead. "Do you have any positive qualities?"
Asteran feels herself begin to frown. "Well.. I like helping people. And I like collecting things. Are those positive?"
"Oh God." The woman begins to massage her forehead. "I see I have my work cut out for me."
