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?))
My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I stepped into the tattered tent. The air was heavy with the musty smell of damp wood and wet moss, and the dim light from the suspended candles cast eerie shadows all around me. I could feel the weight of the hag's gaze on me even before she spoke.
"What brings you to this dingy town?" she began, her voice raspy and filled with mystery. Then, after a moment, she seemed to recognize me. "Ah, it's you. I've been expecting you. Sit," she gestured towards a cushion.
Her words sent a shiver down my spine, and I hesitated for a moment before complying. How could she have been expecting me? I had only just arrived in this strange place, drawn in by an inexplicable pull.
"I... I must admit, I'm a bit surprised," I stammered, trying to compose myself. "How could you have known I was coming?"
The hag gave me a knowing smile that sent chills down my spine. "I see things that others do not," she replied cryptically.
"My name is..." I paused, contemplating whether I should reveal my true identity. But something about this place made me feel vulnerable, and I decided to be cautious. "Call me Thalendir. Thalendir Silversong."
As the words left my lips, the hag's eyes seemed to pierce through me, as if searching my very soul. It was unnerving, yet I felt a strange sense of comfort in her presence, as if she held ancient wisdom that I desperately sought.
"I've encountered strange occurrences on my journey," I continued, my voice wavering slightly. "There's something powerful at play, something beyond my understanding. I seek answers, insights into the hidden forces shaping our world."
The hag nodded slowly; her expression unreadable. "The unseen forces are often more powerful than what meets the eye," she said in a tone that sent a chill down my spine.
"I ask for your guidance," I said, my voice growing more resolute. "Any wisdom you can offer to help me on my path would be greatly appreciated."
As I spoke, I tried to steady my breathing, to show the hag that I was not easily shaken. But deep down, I knew that this encounter would change the course of my journey, and I braced myself for whatever revelations awaited me in this dim and mysterious tent.
